Reported (October 2nd, 2020)

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Current Summit Weather

Summit (6,817 ft./2,078 m)

Terrain Status

Lower Mountain (4,464 ft./1,361 m)

Deep thoughts by Maren*:

Dear Fellow Skiers and Snowboarders,

We are so excited to have you all back for the 2020/21 Winter Season! With upgrades to Hellroaring Basin and La Niña in the forecast, there’s a lot to look forward to!

In the Spring, we began a multi-phase project to increase accessibility and improve terrain variety in Hellroaring Basin. The Hell Fire run was regraded to fix the negative grades. New runs were cut, six zones were gladed, and a new lift line was cut in preparation to have the chairlift move in summer 2021. The Basin will be an entirely new experience this winter!

According to the National Weather Service we have a 75 percent chance of La Niña this winter. La Niña refers to a phenomenon that brings wetter winters to the northern Rockies. This happens when changes in the ocean’s temperature cause tropical thunderstorms to be more concentrated and intense on the far Western edge of the Pacific Ocean. A high-pressure system develops off the California coast and pushes the jet stream and winter storms north to the Pacific Northwest (yay for us).

2017/18 was the last time we had a La Niña winter. That season, we racked up a ton of snow with more than 400 inches and had some awesome powder days.

With all the snow excitement we want to keep you and our staff safe from COVID-19 exposure. Masks must be worn in chairlift lines. While skis and boards let us socially distance from front to back, maze configuration doesn’t allow us to socially distance from side to side. You must load the lift in self-identified groups/households. There will be no singles lines. If you feel comfortable loading the chair with another group, we strongly encourage mask wearing on the lift.

The Summit House, Base Lodge and Ed and Mully’s will all be open, but we ask you to wear your masks inside and limit your time. This way, everyone has a chance to refuel and warm up. Dining areas will be capped at 75 percent capacity. Bar seating won’t be available, and we will have Plexi glass barriers at high points of contact. Sanitation crews will work every day to clean as guests come and go. Those who bring their own lunch are encouraged to eat at the village. Or if you want to have some “me time”, we encourage you to tailgate from your own vehicles! The Base Lodge will have tents on the patio for added seating and we are looking into additional seating options for Ed and Mully’s as well.

Let’s make this a fun and safe Winter Season for everyone!

We know you have lots of questions, please refer to our FAQ PAGE for answers.

If you have concerns you can email us at info@skiwhitefish.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Flathead Avalanche Center's current advisory.

*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 - Great Northern

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.