Deep thoughts by Rhyan*:

Friday, Feb. 3 2023:

6 a.m. report:

We have another mostly clear morning on deck today with similar, absolutely stellar snow conditions. Expect mostly smooth and soft corduroy, as well as plenty of tracked powder shots to be found. The forecast calls for partly sunny skies, a high near 27 and breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 23 mph and gusts as high as 32 mph.

The first Biggie Banks Banked Slalom race of the season is going on tomorrow! The Whitefish Whiteout race will kick off next Saturday, Feb. 11. See the event page for more info.

Check back with the snow report around 8 a.m. for an update on open lifts for today.

Have a great day and we'll see you on the mountain!

Pro tips:

• Please consider using the free S.N.O.W. Bus to get to the hill! Route times start early and run late, with multiple stops throughout Whitefish. Check out the schedule here. Carpooling is a great option on weekends as well! Remember, only you can prevent traffic jams on the Big.
• Take a gander at our webcams for current visibility conditions. 
• Call 406-862-SNOW if you would rather listen to our report!

Safety reminders:

• We always encourage folks to ski and ride with a partner. Know the mountain and have a plan. 
• When you exit the marked boundaries of the resort, you are entering backcountry terrain where natural and human-triggered avalanches can occur. The resort does not patrol or conduct avalanche mitigation on those slopes. If you decide to leave the ski area boundary, know the hazards by checking the Flathead Avalanche Center's daily avalanche forecast and carry appropriate gear, including a beacon, a shovel, and a probe.
• Uphill hikers and skiers are required to follow certain routes and rules during the day. Read the uphill policy. 

*This snow report is one person's subjective assessment of conditions at a single moment in time. Actual snow accumulations can vary widely across the varied terrain of this mountain. Topographic features such as exposed faces, saddles, and sheltered areas, as well as wooded zones and even just the aspect of where the slope is facing will greatly affect how much snow settles there. Please also note that the statistics of this report are input by 6 a.m. each day with various "story" updates throughout the morning. Always check with Ski Patrol if you need more information before you decide where you're going.

Today's Open Lifts

*Chair 5 & Chair 8 may occasionally have delayed openings due to avalanche control work. This list reflects the lifts that are scheduled to open today. Openings and hours are subject to change due to changing weather conditions and the safety of our guests.

Today's Run Status

Show:   - All Runs | - Groomed | - Easier | - More Difficult | - Most Difficult | - Most Difficult - Use Extra Caution

Chair 1 - Big Mountain Express

Chair 2 - Swift Creek Express

Chair 3 - Tenderfoot

Chair 4 - Snow Ghost Express

Chair 5 - East Rim

Chair 6 - Base Lodge

Chair 7 - Big Creek Express

Chair 8 - Hellroaring

Chair 9 - Easy Rider

Chair 11 - Flower Point

Chair 12 - Elk Highlands (note: this chairlift and its runs are for homeowners only & not counted in our total run list)

Bigfoot T-Bar 2

Big Easy Carpet

Terrain Parks

Treewell Safety

Skiing and snowboarding off the groomed runs and in deep powder snow is one of the most exciting and appealing parts of our sport. If you decide to leave the groomed trails, you are voluntarily accepting the risk of falling into tree wells or deep snow and suffocating.

A deep snow or tree well accident occurs when a rider or skier falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized. The more the person struggles, the more entrapped in the snow they become. Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents are referred to as a NARSID or Non-Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Death. Fortunately, these types of accidents are preventable.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT TREE WELL & DEEP SNOW ACCIDENTS

This abbreviated information is from http://www.deepsnowsafety.org. Please visit their website to learn more about tree well safety.