Free lift passes at Big Mountain
WSI addresses passholders surprised by summer lift prices
By RICHARD HANNERS / Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish Mountain Resort wants to accommodate passholders who purchased 2007-2008 winter lift passes and then found out the passes could not be used to ride Chair 1 this summer. Summer season adult lift passes cost $99.
Passholders who show their winter pass or some other photo ID at the Lift Plaza Ticket Center — the octagon building near the base of Chair 2 in Big Mountain Village — will receive four free round-trip summer lift tickets and a couple $5 gift certificates for the Ed & Mully's Smokehouse restaurant.
"We realize that we didn't do a very good job of explaining this plan when you bought your winter passes," WSI told season pass holders in an e-mail last week.
In addition, rides down Chair 1 from the summit will be free to anyone — whether they have a winter pass or not. Many hikers enjoy the exercise they get climbing to the top of Big Mountain but dread the pounding their knees take on the descent.
After a summer season of intense construction — last year, the upper half of Big Mountain Road was rebuilt, the new Base Lodge was completed, and both Chairs 1 and 2 were upgraded — WSI is keen on developing its summertime recreational opportunities.
"For a while now, summer has been a side note for us," WSI said in their e-mail. "It has been a time when we said, 'Hey, we should run that ski lift in the summer, too. Maybe people will want to ride it.' And, in fact, people do. But now, we are putting more energy and resources into it than ever before."
Among the new developments for summertime on the mountain:
? Two nine-hole folf, or disc golf, courses are under construction. Workers have fabricated "tones" — the metal rings that folfers aim for — which will be installed on the two courses.
"The courses will be free to use and discs will be available to rent," WSI spokesman Donnie Clapp said.
One nine-hole course will start at the Hellroaring Saloon, loop down to the Base Lodge and end back at the chalet. The other will start at the first course's fourth hole and run to the Base Lodge.
"Workers are clearing the courses now and installing the 'tones,'" Clapp said. "The courses should be ready in a few weeks."
? A new downhill mountain bike trail will be ready for riders this summer. Clapp said there's about 60 inches of snow remaining on the shaded backside of the mountain which is holding things up.
"It's in the way of the new trail, and until it melts out, the old mountain bike trail is pretty muddy," he said.
? Chair 1's gondolas have been retrofitted to fit the new high-speed quad equipment. In addition, the gondolas have gone through a close inspection and upgraded where needed.
"The Summit House will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with full food service," Clapp said. "The Forest Service's Nature Center will also be open."
? Skiers and snowboarders who want to purchase a pass for the next winter season can do so at the Lift Plaza Ticket Center. The reduced adult season-pass price will be $535 through Sept. 30.
The ticket center is now equipped to shoot new photos for lift passes, but WSI is also letting passholders use their old photos if they wish.
For more information on summer activities, visit online at www.skiwhitefish.com.