Whitefish Mountain Resort Review
Whitefish Mountain Resort is one of the best place to spend your ski vacation in Montana. The drive along the brown rangelands to the resort is spectacular with many beautiful views along the way. There are heaps of fresh powder you can enjoy and once you feel enough for the day, the hospitality of the locals will welcome you with warm hands. It's definitely worth recommendation. Here's the review by NY Ski Blog.
The beautiful drive to Whitefish from Great Falls along the brown rangelands and then through the Flathead National Forest is only a few miles longer than more direct Route 2, but eliminates driving over Maria’s Pass near Glacier National Park. While Maria’s Pass may be scenic and exciting, if it’s snowing in the mountains, you should check the local road conditions and take a less treacherous route.
Whitefish is a clean, relaxed, crowd-free western ski town with the usual ski shops, cafes, restaurants, and just about anything one would need in a downtown. It seems like a very easy-going place to live so it’s no surprise that there are a fair number of transplants from other places, but the excitement really doesn’t begin until you climb the access road and enter another world at higher elevation.
Similar to the town it’s named after, Whitefish is a really laid-back area with a mellow vibe. The resort was formerly called Big Mountain; however, this name was often confused with Big Sky. One time, several friends planned a trip to Big Mountain but some of them ended up at Big Sky and couldn't figure out where the rest of the group was. Apparently, they weren’t the only ones who made this mistake over the years. For that reason, Big Mountain was recently rebranded as Whitefish Mountain Resort. The logo is pretty cool too.
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The south-facing front side has beautiful views of the Whitefish Lake along with low-angle glades that should be skied before the sun shines. The north side, as one might suspect, holds the best snow. Late in the season, you may find a crusty base on the pitches that get any sun, so pick your aspects carefully.
The locals are friendly, but since there are hardly any crowds, it’s not always easy to meet them. You may run into some as they hike with skis lashed to their backpacks or slung over their shoulders. There are numerous hikes to powder stashes in the trees, so the best strategy is to find a mountain host or friendly local to show you the way. If you’re alone, take an advanced powder ski lesson and have your instructor guide you to the best snow while avoiding terrain traps. Venturing out on your own can be dicey, so always ski with a buddy.
One could spend a full week at Whitefish with no need to ski anywhere else, but there are so many other worthwhile ski areas in Montana. Blacktail Mountain is the closest to Whitefish, with predominantly intermediate terrain. For deep powder on low-angle slopes, try Lost Trail at Powder Mountain, about four hours south of Whitefish. If you’re prepared to cross the border, British Columbia is just under two hours from Whitefish.