West of the Divide:

Both Lookout Pass and Blacktail Mountain will be open this Saturday for the final day of their 17/18 season. Lookout, which surpassed 500” last week in cumulative snowfall this season, will offer FREE SKIING to all who show up. They will also offer a raucous “Hawaiian Luau” themed end of season party complete with a costumed pond skim competition. Things will be a tad quieter over on top of Blacktail Mountain but they too have reason to celebrate also having had a season for the records. Now, I only wish I had a better forecast for this Saturday…  After a perfect corn snow forecast this week with warm days and sub-freezing nights through Friday a fairly strong cold front crashes the party on Saturday morning with snow showers and gusty SW winds in the 10- 20mph range. Right now Saturday's snow/rain shower chances are around 70% at Lookout and 40% at Blacktail. Even with the passing of the cold front daytime highs will still rise into the low 40’s which in turn may convert those snow showers into rain showers around noon. So instead of sun we’ll get a very springlike, overcast kind of day with a few minor snow/rain showers…not that bad. Lookout generally is well protected from the winds but those winds could be a factor up on top of Blacktail where 40mph gusts are possible in the morning when the front blows through. Either way, get out there and support these ski areas that have extended their seasons for us hardcore snow-riders! Sunday, of course... returns to sunny skies and warm temps. I’ll post an update if there are any changes to Saturday’s forecast. I certainly hope there will be but if not, there will still be lots of fun to be had!!

 

East of the Divide:

Just a reminder that Big Sky is currently open daily through this Sunday and Great Divide will spin their lifts weekends only. Big Sky had one amazing powder day this past Tuesday with close to a foot of light pow and daytime temps that stayed in the low 20’s all day. My how things have changed since then…as this afternoon’s weather check at the Big Sky Plaza was already at 46 degrees.  Look for the weather to stay in a corn-snow perfect spring pattern of sub-freezing nights and 40+ degree days with mostly clear skies right into Saturday. There will be a few puffy clouds this afternoon and tonight with maybe a few hit and miss rain or snow showers. Friday will be clear and sunny with highs in the low-mid 40's.Pond skim Saturday at Big Sky looks to offer up a sunny and very warm day with highs approaching 50 on the lower mountain. Just about a perfect set-up for one of America’s craziest and well attended Pond Skims. Clouds will be on the increase later Saturday afternoon with rain/snow showers possible by early evening. The cold front blows through Saturday night with cool temps (low 20’s) and clear skies greeting snow-rider’s on Sunday morning’s first chair. High temps Sunday will be several degrees cooler than Saturday’s in the low 40’s… but the direct spring sun should soften things up nicely before noon. This weekend’s forecast also goes pretty much the same for the good folks at  Great Divide who have committed to staying open on weekends until the snow melts. “GD” will be about 5-degrees warmer on Saturday with highs around 55. Sunday, the sunny skies continue but with high temps in the upper 40’s. Thanks for reading and I’ll be back early next week with my final post along with the most current Montana snowpack information. Rip it up this weekend!!

THIS WEEKEND'S POND SKIM INFO:

 

BIG SKY RESORT       Saturday April 21st.  Pond Skim starts at 2:30PM just up from the Plaza between Ramcharger and Swiftcurrent Quads. Live Music on the Plaza will continue all afternoon. This is a very popular event with some of the West's Best Pond Skimmers...Get out there early!!

 

LOOKOUT PASS          Saturday April 21st.  Beach Party & Luau ALL DAY with Pond Skim starting at 1PM. Music, food, beer and libations will all be available.  FREE SKIING for everyone but you’ll need to stop by the ticket booth to get your free ticket (and register for prize giveaways too). Thanks Lookout Pass for your generosity!

 

MONTANA AREAS WITH EXTENDED SEASONS:

 

West of the Divide:

 

Blacktail Mountain Resort:     Open Saturday, April 21 (last day)

 

 

Lookout Pass:      Open Sat, April 21 with FREE SKIING (last day)

 

 

East of the Divide:

 

Big Sky               Open daily thru Sunday, April 22 (last day)

 

 

Great Divide  -   Weekends only thru April or possibly May (until snow melts!) Check their website skigd.com  for latest operating status and discounted lift ticket options (30$). GO GD!! 

 

  

Backcountry Reports:

 

West Central Montana Avalanche Center

http://missoulaavalanche.org 

 

Flathead Avalanche Center

 http://www.flatheadavalanche.org

 

Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center:

http://www.mtavalanche.com

 

Geography Key :

 WEST of the Continental Divide

Montana Snowbowl, Discovery Basin, Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Lookout Pass, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Blacktail Mountain, Turner Mountain

 

EAST of the Continental Divide

Big Sky Resort, Bridger Bowl, Red Lodge Mountain, Maverick Mountain, Great Divide, Showdown