Photos: Opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort

Chair 1 took skiers and boarders from the clouds to the sunshine on opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

Brodie Kneeland, Bryson Fiedler, Eros Jerde and Bensen Jerman skipped school and arrived early to be the first to ride Chair 1 for the 2024-25 season. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

Aaron and Jack Ullrich enjoy a Big Ravine run on opening day. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish Mountain Resort's snow reporter, Ella Kuzyk, skis with friend, Katie Brust, in an inversion on opening day. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

Otto Klein and Colby Minton enjoy the sunshine at the summit before heading down the backside on opening day last Thursday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

A snowboarder pauses atop the anthill during opening day's inversion. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

The stoke was high in the opening day line for Chair 1 on the Big Mountain Thursday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

The line for Chair 1 was full of friends and fun on opening day. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

Most skiers and boarders headed down the anthill and to the backside Thursday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)

| December 11, 2024 1:00 AM

Opening day on the ski hill was grand, with a 40-inch base at the summit and enough snow at the base to leave Chair 1 to uphill duties only. A few branches and rocks were sticking out mid mountain but the blazing sunshine and brilliant blue sky afforded by an inversion made slowing down a pleasure. Chairs 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11, as well as T-Bar 2 and the Big Easy Conveyor Carpet were open and most folks flocked to the backside where the snow was fluffy as marshmallow cream.