Resort breaks skier visits record

With 14 days still to go in the ski season, Whitefish Mountain Resort has broken last year’s record for total skier visits.

This year’s total of 346,860 and counting has surpassed last year’s record season. On Monday the resort estimated it would likely break the 350,000-skier mark as well.

March 3 saw 6,619 skiers flocking to the mountain on a bluebird day, an excellent day in all regards and a rarity for late in the season.

“We have been very fortunate to have yet another season of above average snowfall to compliment the loyalty of our season passholders as well as our returning out-of-town guests.” Whitefish Mountain Resort CEO Dan Graves said, “At the same time we are seeing continued growth, we’ve been pleased how the addition of East Rim/Chair 5 has helped to disperse our guests in such a way to maintain the experience of uncrowded slopes.”

This year also marked a record for preseason winter season pass sales yielding its most season pass visits in its history. The number of skier days passholders have skied this season will likely surpass last year’s total.

The mountain has also been on pace for a record snow year, though precipitation in the first half of March has slowed progress.

As of presstime the resort was reporting a total to date of 376 inches of snow at the resort. The record being chased is from the 2007-08 season, which saw a total of 426 inches.

However, a couple of snow-filled weeks could have the resort moving past last year’s total of 407 inches.

February saw a total of 121 inches on Big Mountain, which is far ahead of the 10-year average of 55 inches for the second month in the year. This February saw snow falling on 22 of the 28 days of the month.

The resort officially passed 300 inches of snowfall on Feb. 24, which is the second earliest date reaching the milestone in more than a decade.

Whitefish Mountain Resort will close for the season on Sunday, April 8.