Blacktail ski area almost ready to open

Groomers are packing snow at the Blacktail Mountain Ski Area with about 22 inches of snow at the top as of Monday. But no official opening date for their 15th season has been announced yet as the lower elevation regions are still lacking the snow needed for a complete opening.

“We’ve been packing for the last few days and it is looking good, but we need more at the top and bottom,” Blacktail’s general manager Steve Spencer said.

Because Blacktail has an inverted design, with the lodge and parking lot at the top of the mountain, it has the option to open for the season with just the top areas available. But Spencer said a little patience with the weather could mean a full opening within the next week or two.

Last year’s opening day was Dec. 8 and the season kicked off with a full opening.

The latest Blacktail has ever opened was right around Christmas in 2003 or 2004.

“We got a good November dump that nobody else got, it was the luck of the draw,” Spencer said. “That is a nice way to open.”

Blacktail has one snowmaking machine at the lodge where snow can be blown down several of the slopes. However, its reach doesn’t extend far enough to jump-start the season with man-made snow.

“We are pretty much counting on Mother Nature,” Spencer said. “But it is all north slope, so what we get we keep.”

Although Blacktail’s not ready to open its doors just yet, local skiers and snowboarders started preparing for the upcoming season at the Wake Up Ol’ Man Winter party at Tamarack on Saturday where photos were taken for lift passes.

For more information about Blacktail and updated snow reports, go to www.blacktailm ountain.com or call 844-0999.

West shore’s winter sports enthusiasts eager to hit the slopes this week can make the drive to Whitefish Mountain Resort, which is scheduled to open Dec. 8 with 40-inches of snow at the summit and 30 inches at the base as of Monday.