Blacktail Mountain Ski Area to open Friday
Skiers and snowboarders will have full
access to the trails on Blacktail Mountain Ski Area in Lakeside on
Friday, Dec. 10, when the recreational area opens for the 2010-11
season.
“The past two years weren’t as flush as
this year,” said Steve Spencer, general manager at Blacktail
Mountain. “We are going to be 100-percent open. We have good snow
from top to bottom. It’s going to be a great opening day.”
Since Blacktail operates with only
natural snow and not man-made, the opening date varies from
year-to-year. Spencer said that with so much early snow this year
Blacktail probably could have opened even earlier if other
technical preparations had been complete. But, the sudden onset of
snow caught workers off guard, which ultimately worked in crews’
favor, Spencer said, giving them time to get everything ready on
the mountain and allowing for more snow accumulation for a fully
open mountain on opening day.
“It was good to have the time to
prepare the snow,” Spencer said. “A lot of it came cold and dry and
it was good to be able to take care of it the way we needed to to
have the mountain in the best condition possible.”
During the offseason, crews completed
some tree thinning along the runs, but otherwise skiers and
snowboarders who are familiar with the mountain shouldn’t notice
much change in the terrain. That is, however, with the exception of
the terrain park that has been a work in progress at Blacktail,
which opened in 1998.
“We keep working on that every year and
we’ll do a little more this year,” Spencer said of the terrain
park.
The biggest change those visiting the
mountain will see this season will be in the food and beverage
offerings. The Tamarack Brewing Company, which had been operating
the restaurant and bar in the lodge, decided not do so again this
year as the owners are opening a new restaurant in Missoula.
Instead, The Docks has taken over the space and will provide a new
menu for patrons.
“That will be a good change for
people,” Spencer said.
Visitors may also notice a few slight
changes in the lodge as well in regards to some minor remodeling
and redecorating.
One thing that hasn’t changed this year
is the price at Blacktail. Lift tickets and lesson costs were not
increased this year. That, in addition to the prediction of
abundant snow this winter, likely contributed to more season passes
being sold this season than last.
For those who don’t want to commit to a
season pass, but still recreate on the mountain with frequency and
would like to reduce some cost, Blacktail has entered into the “Ski
More” program with two Canadian ski areas. The card costs $74.95
and gives the purchaser an $8 discount on lift tickets at
Blacktail. Additionally, the card allows for a free day pass at
Kimberley or Fernie Alpine resorts across the border. Cardholders
are also given discounts on their second and third days of skiing
at the resorts, a free fourth day, discounts on the fifth and sixth
days, and a free seventh day.
“It’s nice to have that partnership,”
Spencer said.
While the reduced ticket prices will be
a good way for locals to check out new nearby ski areas, this
weekend will be all about enjoying local snow for Blacktail skiers.
As of Tuesday, employees of the ski area were reporting 29 to 44
inches of snow on the mountain.
“It’s wonderful. It’s going to be a
‘bring your powder skis day,’” Spencer said. “They are calling for
more snow between now and Friday too. I’d call it mid-winter
conditions.”
Blacktail Mountain’s lifts start
running at 9:30 a.m. at the ski area, which is open Wednesday
through Sunday except during holiday weeks when it is also open
Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, contact the Blacktail
office at 844-0999 or visiting blacktailmountain.com.