Not much snow at ski resort but better than last year

Snow conditions at Whitefish Mountain Resort are shaping up nicely with opening day on Dec. 8.

A settled base depth of 30 inches was reported at the summit of Big Mountain on Nov. 26 and temperatures were in the 20s.

The resort has yet to fire up snowmaking machines due to a warming trend predicted in the long-range forecast.

“We’re not going to make any snow until we have sustained temperatures,” resort spokeswoman Riley Polumbus said. “We need it to be in the low 20s or below to make it worth while, and that’s just not in the forecast for a little bit.”

Temperatures are predicted to creep into the low 40s in the valley by Nov. 29 and snow levels could rise to 5,000 or 6,000 feet by the end of the week.

Polumbus says the snowmaking crew is on call and that equipment is already in position for cold enough temperatures.

Groomers have been packing snow on the north-facing slopes to create a base. They’re also using a mower attachment to cut tall grass. Brush was cleared from some gladed areas earlier in the fall, Polumbus said, which should help with early-season conditions.

Still, the 30 inches of snow currently at the summit is more than the resort had last year on Dec. 10 when there was just 25 inches on opening weekend.

Some seasonal resort employees have already returned to work. Ski patrols had their first day at work on Nov. 27. All other employees have orientation next week.