WELCOME TO SUMMER AT WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT!

UPDATE: The Runaway Train freeride downhill mountain bike trail will open tomorrow, July 2nd. Get up here and be sure to look into summer season passes for mountain biking before the price goes up on July 4th. It's a waaaaaaaay better deal than getting one-day tickets every time you come up.

Xerophyllum tenax (syn. Helonias tenax) is a grasslike perennial in the family Melanthiaceae, closely related to lilies. It can grow to 15-150 cm in height and grows in bunches with the leaves wrapped around and extending from a small stem at ground level. The leaves are 30-100 cm long and 2-6 mm wide, dull olive green with toothed edges. The slightly fragrant white flowers emerge from a tall stalk that bolts from the base. When the flowers are in bloom they are tightly packed at the tip of the stalk like an upright club.

Don't believe this scientific description of bear grass? Do yourself a favor and come up here, do a little research and make your own assessment. The bear grass is absolutely awesome on the lower half of the mountain, including many areas along the Danny On and Summit Trail. Be sure to bring your camera.

Speaking of bear grass... did you know that the trail you hike on to get to Walk in the Treetops is actually called the Bear Grass Trail? If you've never experienced a guided tour through the canopy of a mature Montana forest I highly suggest giving it a shot. Give us a call in the Ticket and Information Center to make your reservation - be sure to hurry as spots always fill up fast!

More than a full week is on the books already for the summer season up here at Whitefish Mountain Resort and the zip lines and alpine slide are looking great. Clients are having a problem with the perma-grin glued on their faces after reaching speeds of up to 50 MPH on zip #3 or railing down the alpine slide under beautifully sunny skies. You can visit the activities page for more info on these new attractions.

Trail Update

Have I mentioned yet that Runaway Train opens TOMORROW????? Call in sick for workand come get truly sick on the Train. Crews have been working arduously to bring you the 29 berms, 6 rock drops, 4 wall rides, and 24+ jumps that only the regions' premier lift serviced DH trail can deliver. The Train is in better shape than it's ever been in and we're on track for some killer weather this weekend, so come celebrate your Independence Day with an adereline-filled, slog-free joy. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

After spending the past 3 weeks on our trails up here at WMR I can comfortably say that our trail network is in fantastic shape. A few trails are still closed for routine late spring construction - namely Question Mark, the lower half of Dave's Dive, the Skills Park, and a few trails down in our Nordic Center. Please follow all trail closures as they are there for everyon'e safety. Beyond the obvious - that it's dangerous and against the rules to rideany closed trailuntil it is open - it is also downright disrespectful to our bike crew. We've worked hardto bring these trails to you, so please respect that effort by waiting until we openthem to ride them. It will be worth the wait, I promise!!!

Danny On - The Danny On is completely free of snow on the lower 2 miles. Once upward hikers cross Runaway Train some patches of snow appear, and they become more frequent by the base of the Bigfoot Tbar. The Flower Point Loop is still underneath some snow, as is the east facing portion of the east rim loop. Everything on the trail is marked to the best of our ability so please do your best to stay on the Danny On. Don't forget - absolutely NO HIKERS on Runaway Train! Some of our guests have reported bear sightings on the eastern side of the resort (on the Danny On) over the past few weeks so - as always - please use standard precautions for interactions with wildlife. I spoke with a couple visiting from Ohio yesterday and they claimed to have seen 3 or 4 deer and a bunch of grouse. Did I mention that you should bring your camera?

A new central trailhead will be going up in the village area next to Hellroaring Saloon around July 15. It will be a great place to start if you are heading up to the trails on Big Mountain, whether for hiking or biking

As always, I really hope to see you up here this week. If you take the Big Mountain Express (chair one), feel free to stop in at the patrol cabin at the summit and say hello. If you bring your bike (or rent one from Snowghost Outfitters) maybe we can even take a lap together.

--Jim, WMR Bike Patrol