Big Mountain to open Saturday
If you live for sunny December days and
don’t ski, the 10-day forecast is looking fantastic. For the snow
sliders out there and local businesses that bank on tourists — not
so much. Sans a brief chance of light snow mid week, no major
winter storms are predicted to hit Montana in the long-term.
So much for La Niña storming into
winter.
Despite the bleak forecast and a thin
mountain snowpack, Whitefish Mountain Resort has decided to pull
the trigger and open this Saturday with limited terrain. They will
offer three slopes on the back side serviced by Chair 7, including
Goat Haunt, Whitetail and Gray Wolf.
Skiers will have to download Chair 1.
Chair 3 and Chair 6 will also operate with limited terrain. Lift
ticket prices will be reduced to reflect the lack of skiing
terrain.
The resort had planned to open Dec. 3,
but spotty snow cover at the lower elevations of Big Mountain
prevented officials from turning on the lifts. Since then, little
new snow has accumulated but temperatures have been low enough for
snowmaking.
“We’ve had a very good week of
snowmaking and feel we have made enough snow for people to come up
to the mountain to have some fun,” Whitefish Mountain Resort
mountain manager Chester Powell said.
About two feet of snow is at the
summit, with less than a foot at the bottom of Chair 7 on the north
side. Ambitious skiers hiked the mountain last week to make turns
on the face and in the North Bowl, but reports are that coverage is
thin in those areas.
The delayed arrival of snow has an
obvious impact on the resort’s winter business. Even with a limited
opening, reports of thin snow could put tourists’ vacation plans on
ice.
Resort marketing director Nick Polumbus
said early season reservations are typically light and that they’ve
contacted guests with reservations and explained the low-snow
scenario.
The ripple effect of a delayed start to
ski season is also felt by resort employees. Lifties, instructors,
cooks and waiters have all yet to clock in. The resort employs
about 500 workers in the winter season.
“The first thing on our mind is our
employees,” Polumbus said, “but they understand this is part of the
deal.”
Off the mountain, December is typically
one of the best months for retail sales in Whitefish. The two
percent resort tax collections in the month trail only the peak
summer months of June, July and August. Last year, nearly $200,000
was collected in December.
Tourists are typically seen wandering
around town by now and lodge reservations start to pick up.
Although the start to December is important for retailers, it’s
Christmas week that is most important.
“Early December isn’t make or break,”
said Jan Metzmaker of the Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau.
“Christmas is incredibly important.”
Polumbus agreed. The days between
Christmas and New Years are typically some of the busiest at the
ski resort.
Metzmaker noted that this isn’t the
first time opening day has been pushed back and that she hasn’t
heard too many complaints from retailers, yet.
“It’s tough when the town’s economy is
based on precipitation,” she said. “We are at the mercy of mother
nature.”
Rhonda Fitzgerald, who owns the Garden
Wall Inn, says reservations typically start to pick up when the ski
hill opens.
“Tourists usually start arriving this
weekend,” she said.
The inn is quiet now, but Christmas
week reservations are strong. She says business lost now will
likely be made up later.
“It all catches up,” Fitzgerald said,
“but it’s nice to have a steadier flow.”
Polumbus reassured skiers that resort
terrain will open as soon as possible.
“One more good storm and we’ll get it
going,” he said. “We’re hoping the long-term forecast is
wrong.”
Other resorts around the state aren’t
boasting record snow totals either. Big Sky Resort reports a base
of 19-38 inches, Lost Trail is touting a 36-inch base, while Red
Lodge in the Beartooth Mountains leads the way with 54-inches of
packed snow. Bridger Bowl will open this Friday with limited
terrain.