From the Hill

Press release

“Due to excessive snow, Bear Paw Ski Bowl will not open today.” Who thought we’d ever hear those words. But hear them we did on Saturday the 12th of January. Through the years the ski hill has had to close for many reasons like equipment failure, power outage, too cold and our two nemeses wind and lack of snow. But too much snow?! Especially following a year when the hill did not open at all for lack of the white stuff.

Well, conditions on the road south were at best treacherous but that was only to the Taylor Road turnoff. Beyond that conditions worsened dramatically. The icy road became covered with more and more snow as one got closer to the hill.

Ski patrollers and other volunteers had agreed to meet early in order to participate in mandatory lift evacuation training. The early start allowed them to reach the hill, though not without difficulty. The decision to not open was made early in an attempt to stop excited skiers and boarders from attempting the challenging and dangerous journey.

Lift evacuation training was completed and volunteers started heading back to town only to, in some cases get stuck and or, encounter stuck skiers and boarders trying in vain to reach the hill. Vehicles weren’t sliding off the road they were simply getting stuck right in the middle. Shovels, tow straps, and winches appeared and in true volunteer fashion, one by one, vehicles were freed from the cold grip of drifted snow, a testament to the values of north central Montana people.

This longed-for snowfall could not go un-skied. Through the selfless efforts of one volunteer (thanks, Les), a narrow trail to the hill was plowed. On Sunday, throngs of skiers and boarders trekked to the hill undaunted by the still demanding travel conditions. Over 200 people took advantage of the incredible conditions. Words like forgiving, wonderful, unbelievable and other superlatives were used to describe the snow. Soft, groomed powder greeted enthusiasts at the lower part of the hill while thigh deep powder invited expert skiers and boarders to the top. The improbable snowfall opened areas of the hill that are not normally accessible. At the end of the day, with broad smiles, people complained of tired legs and sore muscles. The now deep base promises weeks of wintertime outdoor recreation.