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Blacktail Mountain Ski Area to open Friday

by Jordan Dawson
| December 9, 2010 1:00 AM

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.