Whitefish, MT – Whitefish Mountain Resort will open its new and improved Zip Line Tours and the Alpine Slide on Friday, with Mountain Biking, Scenic Lift Rides, and Walk in the Treetops Tours set to open June 26.nThe ski and snowboard resort near Glacier National Park in far northwestern Montana will operate seven days per week for summer activities from June 18 until Labor Day, Sept. 6. After that, all activities will be available Fridays through Sundays until the end of September.

Whitefish Mountain Resort’s popular Zip Line Tour and Alpine Slide were new for Summer 2009, but the resort has already embarked on an expansion. Crews are putting the finishing touches on two new zip lines for the tour, bringing the total to six and making an average tour about three hours long. Both new spans are higher and longer than any of the original four, each new span being approximately a third of a mile long and more than 300 feet above the forest floor.

“If there’s one thing we heard from people after they rode the zip lines last summer, it was, ‘That was awesome!'” said Donnie Clapp, spokesman for the resort. “If there were two things, then the second was, ‘More Zip Lines!’ We figured as long as we were building zip lines, we ought to build very long, very high zip lines.”

A grand opening celebration for the Zip Lines and Alpine Slide is planned for this Saturday, at the Base Lodge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bee Broadcasting will be broadcasting live from the Base Lodge Patio on 103.1 The River, B98.5, KOOL105, 106.3 The Bear, and Hank 95.9. The Base Lodge Café will have food and drinks available hot off the grill and straight from the cooler.

Zip Line Tours will be discounted to $49 during early and late season (June 18-27 and Sept. 10-26), and will otherwise be $75. The two new spans are slated to be open by June 25, but could be completed sooner. Additional discounts will be given for tours that go out before the new spans are opened. Tours are led by two guides, include a maximum of 14 guests, and are offered hourly from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those interested may call Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Guest Information Center at (406) 862-2900 for more information.

The Alpine Slide is also opening Friday, offering quick rides and fun for all ages.

“We’re serious when we say all ages,” said Clapp. “Last year, I rode with my 1-year old in my lap and he loved it. Later that day, I was eating lunch on the patio at the Base Lodge and I saw some guests help an elderly woman with a huge smile on her face from her sled into her wheelchair at the bottom of the slide.”

Alpine Slide rides cost $8, but can also be purchased in packs of four for $20. Children under 48 inches tall ride free in an adult’s lap.

On Saturday, June 26, the resort will move into full swing with hiking on the Danny On Memorial hiking trail, Scenic Lift Rides, dining at the Summit House, Walk in the Treetops canopy tours, lift-served mountain biking, and cross country mountain biking.

New for this year, the Easy Rider Lift will be outfitted to carry mountain bikes, giving riders access to the new beginner-friendly Gravy Train trail, as well as easy access for mountain bikers from the Base Lodge to the Lift Plaza and Upper Village.

“We now have a pretty well-rounded offering for mountain bikers of all abilities who want to try gravity-powered biking,” said Clapp. “For beginners and kids, we have Gravy Train, which should be a great warm-up for anyone. For intermediates, we have the Summit Trail, which has been improved significantly over the last couple of seasons thanks to the Flathead Fat Tires and grants they have been awarded. For experts, we have the Runaway Train, which is about as good as freeride trails get.”

Cross Country mountain biking is free at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Lift-accessed mountain biking will cost $20 for two rides this season and $25 for unlimited riding for adults, and less for other age groups. Any lift-accessed mountain biking ticket includes unlimited rides on Easy Rider. Bike Trail Season Passes are available for $149 for adults. 2009-2010 Winter Season Pass holders can purchase a discounted Summer 2010 Bike Trail Season Pass for $129 until July 2.

Round-Trip Scenic Lift Rides will cost $10 for adults and teens, $5 for seniors and kids, and free for Super Seniors (70+) and small children (6 and under). One-Way Scenic Lift Rides, for those who would like to hike either uphill or downhill and take the lift for the other leg, will be $5 for everyone. 2009-2010 Winter Season Pass Holders are entitled to unlimited Scenic Lift Rides during Summer 2010.

The price of a Walk in the Treetops canopy tour, a guided interpretive tour which takes guests on a boardwalk strung 70 feet above the forest floor, has been lowered for 2010 from $54 to $49.

More information on all activities is available online at www.skiwhitefish.com, or by phone at 877-SKI-FISH or (406) 862-2900. Reservations are strongly encouraged for Zip Line and Walk in the Treetops tours, as popular time slots can fill up weeks in advance.