Looking @ Whitefish Mountain - Any Recomendations

F

Flatlander

New member
I am looking at heading out to Whitefish Mountain, Montana for a Spring Break trip with family during the last week of March. I usually drive from Manitoba to Alberta/BC for these trips but friends have pointed out an option - drive an hour to a train station in North Dakota and then sit back and relax vs. drive 12+ hours. This idea I like BUT only if the skiing is worth it. Does anyone have any first hand experience with this resort in March/April.

Any recommendations for on-hill accommodations would also be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Whitefish front side with longest vertical faces south, so much better in January/February than spring.
 
Was there last year for the first time and I thought it was fine.

One of the coldest trips I ever took but the lodging and mountain were very nice.

Was there in January but followed the conditions through the year and they seemed to have great weather and conditions for end of season.

If you are serious about going this year I might have a lodging and ticket option for you. Drop me a line for details.

Lou
 
Link to a recent thread on this topic.

I think I probably for once have the most experience here for the question asked, a miracle on a US based forum for a guy from Aberdeen, Scotland.

I have skied at Whitefish in late March thru early April for over 30 days looking at my records tonight and it has everything. I've skied lots of powder and lots of corn in that timescale, you just don't know what you will get other than a fabulous welcome. On the 23rd March 2011 for example I was skiing 6-12" of fresh snow in bluebird skies and with a similar winter ahead things are looking good for my visit on the 21st and 22nd March 2012. I can't think of many days where I did not have fun or the snow was poor.

The benefit of late March is that Hellroaring is open until the 31st which has some wonderful terrain and great snow. The backside is mostly shorter runs but north facing so good skiing and the frontside for me is always good. Great long groomers and in powder or corn there is a helleva lot of good terrain to keep most people entertained for a week or more.

I've spoken about the Hibernation House in the other thread and the Alpinglow is now gone so thats my experience of staying on the mountain although I have a friend from back here who stayed in I believe the Morning Eagle complex but I may be wrong. I can ask him about that for you to be sure. My advice as before is that staying in town is a better bet for me and not having a car wont hurt you as the free bus I mentioned takes you up and down throughout the day.

Is the skiing worth it? Why do I go back.

If you want specifics fire away.
 
I agree Whitefish is a good mountain and probably way underrated by many skiers. Last year is not a good example for anecdotal evidence. Snow conditions were epic with major dumps over most of western North America in March/April. That said this is not a Jackson Hole situation where the south facing terrain is super steep and you're at the mercy of the sun. As q notes, lots of that frontside terrain is groomed and so would be a typical spring skiing experience with a few hours window of nice corn on most sunny March days. Whitefish has a reputation for clouds and fog and that's certainly what I had in early February 2004. If you get that in March with no new snow after a sunny day conditions will not be pleasant on much of the mountain.

The wide open steep part of Hellroaring faces south and would be a Jackson-type situation. That basin wraps around to west facing and maybe a bit of north with increasing tree density. I'll defer to q and others who have spent more time there to provide details.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top