Off the Grind

Soon it will be summer, but caches of snow still cling to the mountains begging to be slid upon. There are even a few chair lifts ready to take you there.

Snowbird in Utah will be open for its final weekend over June 13-15.  They may re-open the following weekend if conditions and skier traffic deem it worthwhile.  The Bird is still reporting a 97 inch base.

After near record snowfall on Mt. Hood in Oregon, the Palmer Snowfield at Timberline will be rocking late into the summer. $790 is the going rate for a full summer season pass to the glacier, and $49 for a single day ticket.  The lifts will operate until September 1.

June 9 through July 27 you can get on the Horstman Glacier at Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia. $52 gets a full day ticket with access to a half pipe, terrain park, bumps and sunny glacier shredding.  A full summer pass  is $389.

Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho plans to run the lifts again this weekend. Last Saturday a malfunction with the gondola’s gear box kept the resort from opening for its Silver Saturdays. I called the resort today (May 20) and they say they plan to be opened again on the 24th and 25th. Yet they suggested anyone who is planning to come out to ski call the snow phone on Thursday for an official report.

Silver Saturdays: As long as 1,000 riders per Saturday keep showing up, Silver Mountain will keep running the lifts. The record for the longest season at Silver Mountain is the first weekend in June, set in that little ole winter of 1997.  As of May 17, the resort still had a 125” base at the summit and 57” at mid-mountain. So pack up the skis and head for Kellogg to help set a new record. The rivers are too high anyway.

It’s been hotter than two rats in a wool sock as of late, but the snow still clings to the mountains. Below is an image from Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho from May 19.  Bare spots are showing lower on the hill but the upper mountain is still covered deep.  Cool temps this week should keep the snow a nice corn consistency for the early morning skinners and hikers.

A week spent in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston, Montana conjured up dreams of epic spring skiing and mountaineering in every direction. It was also a great place just to chill out. Take a look.

After a week of T-shirt weather and the first red neck inducing days of the year, you may have forgotten that the Northwest is still in the clutches of the La Nina effect. A little reminder note was dropped across the region this morning as most valley locations across Montana were hit with a dusting of wet snow, on May 9th. The higher terrain saw more accumulation, adding to the already above average snowpack.

Further north in Canada, Sunshine Village was covered with 22 inches of snow in the past two days. And the even better news is that they are still running the lifts. So if you are looking for a quicky weekend getaway, consider crossing the border with the fat sticks on the roof.

Great Divide Ski Area and Silver Mountain ski on! Great Divide near Helena, Montana will be open on April 26th, skiing on 5 inches of new snow, 1,000 acres and 20 trails for only $20. Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho continues its Silver Saturdays and are skiing on 5 new inches and 160 inch base.

The lifts are stopped at most other regional ski areas until next season, but winter just won’t let go, so get out and enjoy those still powdery slopes via human power before that summer sizzle sets in. Many ski areas allow inbounds hiking after closing day, others don’t. Two areas of note that do not allow uphill travel are Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin in southwest Montana. Most other areas allow hiking, but at your own risk because avalanche conditions can still exist.

Bridger Bowl Ski Area has decided to extend its ski season until April 14 due to this year’s epic snowfall totals.  They are calling it “Customer Appreciation Days”.  Beginning Friday April 11th, Bridger Bowl will have 4 lifts operating (Snowflake, Powder Park, Bridger and Pierre’s Knob) with skier services available in Jim Bridger Lodge only. Season passes will be honored the same as during the regular season. All adult lift tickets will be $25. There will be limited snow sports services and no playcare. Bridger is reporting a 118” base with 395” on the season.

Turner Mountain Ski Resort in Libby is also extending is season until the second week of April due to more than enough snow from top to bottom.  Turner is reporting 69” of bas.

Other ski areas open until the second week of April include Moonlight Basin, Big Sky Resort, Montana Snowbowl, Great Divide and Blacktail.

Get your final dose of  lift-served turns while you can!