Ralph's Montana Ski Report as of Monday, March 8, 2010
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Just before the start of my 30th American Birkiebeiner ski race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin on February 21, 2009
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Location
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Conditions
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Lone Mountain Ranch at Big Sky
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Monday March 8: 187 F degrees at 8:00am. Forecasted high is 45. Base: 21 inches. 90 kilometers of ski trails and 20 kilometers of snowshoe trails are now open!
Photo: Steve and Juliane Bantz skiing the Ranch Loop at Lone Mountain Ranch, February 12, 2009.
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Izaak Walton Inn at Essex
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Saturday March 6: Base is 8-20 inches. Hardpack and frozen granular conditions reported.
Photo: Jen and Ron Gruber on the Junction Circle trail at the Izaak Walton Inn, March 2005.
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Rendezvous Trails in West Yellowstone
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Saturday March 6: Rendezvous, Dead Dog, Windy Ridge, Volunteer and Deja View groomed this evening, spring snow conditions.
The image at the left is from a web cam at the beginning of the Rendezvous Trails just past the log archway. Check it during the daylight hours to see the actual ski conditions.
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Bohart Ranch near Bozeman |
Monday March 8: 6:00 a m. 21 degrees. No new snow last 24 hrs, clear, yesterday high 45. |
Glacier Outdoor Center,
West Glacier |
Thursday March 4: Base depth 4-10 inches. 6 trails open with spring conditions and wet snow conditions. |
Stillwater Lodge near Whitefish |
Sunday February 28: Has spring sprung?! Not quite yet. We are experiencing spring conditions and have closed some of our side trails due to exposed hazards and/or lack of coverage. The Hellroaring Highway is in great condition!! Murray Mile, Interlachen, and Nordmark Loop are still skiing very well. Please stop in or call for more information. |
Homestake Lodge near Butte |
Saturday March 6: Spring conditions! The warm temps have significantly affected our snow pack. But we're still skiing. Skiing will be much better in the morning, turning pretty soupy by the afternoon. Come get it while its still here. |
Other trails I have reports from:
Please note the date at the end of each report.
Anna skiing at
Red Lodge Nordic Center.
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Red Lodge Nordic Center: Red Lodge Nordic Center is in the middle of this warm March high pressure system that makes us think it's spring. Our Nordic skiing is holding up. Mornings are firm and fast; about 11:00-1:00 is softning up; and 2:00 to 4:00 or 4:30 is usually wet snow conditions, depending on the slope and aspect. Grooming will happen if the temps allow.
This weather is predicted to stay on awhile. Dedicated skiers can always adjust and find good times on the snow! Grant (03/03/10)
Pattee Canyon: Actually skied Pattee yesterday eve. Snow was groomed to perfection.. but almost gone. Could ski about 3/4 of meadow and most of picnic loop. Skied for about an hour, a fitting farewell to a tough winter. Would not expect what was left to be there long. unk poster (03/03/10)
Lubrecht Trails: Skied E to F Wed eve. 600PM and a warm rain at the top of E. Skating was good where there was snow. Lower F below Garnet Range Rd pretty much dirt. Wouldn't want to go down E, bare spots. Downpour by the time I made it to parking lot. Felt like mother nature pulled the plug on this winter. unk poster (03/04/10)
Rattlesnake Trails: Equipment issues will prevent grooming in the Rattlesnake at this time. ckrueger (02/11/10)
Lolo Pass: The Moose Ridge Loop was fabulous on Saturday morning. Temp was 22 at 8:15am. Snow was very firm until 10:30. unk poster (03/06/10)
Mount Haggin: We started at 8:00 with the temp already at 25F. We found a dusting of new snow on top of hard pan. We left the old set tracks untouched since there was no way we could reset them to the same quality. We did freshen up the skate lanes and downhills. Unless the weather pattern changes, we are probably done grooming for this season.
We opened up the detour at the lower entrance to Li'l Cal to bypass the glacier that has formed over the Crooked John Creek crossing. The virgin snow on the detour was about 3 inches of crust on top of about 2 feet of loose powder. Although this area is in the shade most of the time, it makes you wonder how the off-track skiing is going to be this spring. By the time the snow is set up enough to ski on, it may be gone! This has to be the leanest snow year in the 25+ years we've been grooming at Mt. Haggin. John (03/05/10)
Seeley Lake: The 5K loop was groomed 3x with ginzu. The tracks were to hard to reset. The trail(5K loop) is in good shape with a few thin spots and a few icy spots. Skiing should be great today so come and enjoy. The temp was 20F at 8am it is now 36F(11:30am). Sking should be nice till early afternoon. Adrian (03/06/10)
Como Trails near Hamilton: Due to the warm weather, the 550A and 550 roads are melted out. You can drive up 550 if you have good studded tires, to access both upper roads (13200 & 13201). 13200 does have a few dirt stretches that you need to walk, but is very skiable otherwise. Nothing like a little spring skiing! Enjoy it while it lasts. Tony (03/03/10)
Chief Joseph Pass: There has been a scant 1 inch of new snow this past week and the total is now 32 inches. Grooming was not necessary as the tracks set last Friday are still in good shape. The temperature at 9: AM was 24 degrees and overcast; however afternoon temperatures could be in the mid 30's this weekend. Mel (03/05/10)
Moulton near Butte: Moulton hey got about 3" sonw Wed and Thur nights combined and it looks like it was groomed shortly before that. Plenty of coverage, good skiing if you can get there when temps are favorable. unknown poster (03/05/10)
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Back Country Ski Conditions
Avalanche forecasts and conditions at the Glacier Country Avalanche Center and Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. Forecasts are usually posted on Friday and Tuesday. |
Monday March 8:
Conditions vary thoughout Montana. The Northern Rockies have 1-2 inches of crust on top of very loose ice facets. Good skiiing if you can stay on top. During afternoon thaw conditions the avalanche danger increases significantly. Southern locations may have more snow but spring conditions prevail. Some snow is in the forecast for this week but heavy precipitation is not expected.
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The scene on Flattop Mountain near Glacier National Park on March 13, 2009.
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The National Weather Service Map for West Central Montana:
The Hazardous Wether Outlook is for cooler, more winterlike, conditions with some light snow.
That's different!
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Western Montana Snow Depth
Looks like the snow is retreating to the high country except for NE Montana.
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