Powderhounds rejoice. Blacktail Ski Area near Lakeside will officially open to skiers and boarders on Friday .
With a top elevation of 6,780 feet, the mountain consists of more than 1,400 feet of vertical elevation, with three chairlifts and a handle tow.
Blacktail Ski Area Marketing Director Arin Lever says mountain crews have been getting the base packed and grooming for the past month.
“We’ve been kind of waiting for the last month to really get things rolling, waiting for the snow to come. We’ve been kind of counting it up inch by inch but we’re finally there,” Lever said.
Lever says that as of now, the partial opening includes Olympic lift and the upper half of Thunderhead. She says additional terrain will open if more snow falls Thursday.
“We’ll have about 50% of the terrain open, that being said there is snow in the forecast for Thursday evening, so if we get a nice little dump we will be able to open more terrain,” Lever said.
She added that new features this season include a punch ski card that is good for four lift tickets for just $150. Lever says mountain crews are also working on adding more expert terrain for tree skiing.
Lever says the heart and soul of the mountain is the ski school, teaching beginner riders of all ages how to turn fresh tracks in the snow.
“You know what even grandparents learn to ski, we have a 70-year-old lady who is taking snowboarding lessons this Christmas holiday with us, Blacktail is really a place for the entire family to come.”
Blacktail will be open every day through the holiday season and will switch to their regular Wednesday through Sunday schedule after Jan. 5. The lifts will open at 9:30 a.m. Click here for more information.
The ski area also plans stay open on two additional Mondays -- Martin Luther King Jr and Presidents Day.
