March 22, 2013
We are finished grooming for the season. Thanks for a great winter!
Glacier Nordic Club
a Montana Community Ski Club
Glacier Nordic Club on Facebook
March 22, 2013
We are finished grooming for the season. Thanks for a great winter!
The trails were great this morning. Tracks and all. Thanks Marc!
Is there an online map of the Big Mountain Nordic Ski Area? I can’t find it on this site.
And a map showing how to get there from Whitefish? We are visitors from out of town who are interested in skiing and donating. Thanks.
Tom and Lisa from Helena
Hi Tom and Lisa, Thanks very much in your interest in the Big Mountain Nordic Ski Area.
At this time we are unable to provide a map of the Nordic trails on Big Mountain via a our website. This has been frustrating for us and for the skiers, too. But we’re working on that. As a consolation, maps are periodically posted along the Nordic trails.
You’re best bet for finding the trail head is to go Guest Services at the Base Lodge at Whitefish Mountain Resort. As you head up Big Mountain Road to get the resort, then pass the sign indicating that you’ve arrived at the resort, take your first right off of Big Mountain Road; a sign (it is small, on a wooden street post) will mark the turnoff for the Base Lodge. Drive to the Base Lodge; there are 30 minute parking spots close to the entrance. Go to the second floor of the Base Lodge to Guest Services. Someone there can direct you on where to park and how to get to the trailhead for Nordic skiing.
This is our second year grooming on Big Mountain, and due to the good graces of the folks at Whitefish Mountain Resort. We’re slowly pulling our signage together. Sorry if any of this seems confusing.
Let us know if you have any more questions.
GNC
Very helpful. Thank you.
TD
What a fabulous day to be on the snow. We started at the mtn about 9:00 this morning with a wild ride down to iron horse trails-grooming on the mtn had not started yet and lots of use yesterday was evident. Iron horse was just finishing grooming up as we started on their trails. First tracks is so awesome. We had a great ski and headed up to big mtn trails were we ran into Marc busy setting fresh courderouy for the afternoon folks. A little soft but so nice. It is so great to see all the people enjoying the trails. What a gift to have in our backyard. Brenda Winkler
Thanks so much for the grooming! Is there any chance the upper sections above the Iron Horse loop (Haskill road to parking lots) will be set with track for classic skiing after the groomer repairs are completed?
ps- the guy walking his dog down the middle of the trail and then complaining about club members has some real issues.,, Geez.
Hi Chuck- thanks for the positive feedback. Grooming and skiing the Big Mountain Nordic Trails has been a goal for a lot of club skiers for a long time. We are very happy to be there!
Yes, if all goes as planned, we will be setting classic track on the trails above Iron Horse.
Any chance you have maps of the trails that you can bring to the Guest & Info Services desk at the Base Lodge? We have so many people asking! Thanks!
Thanks Jessica, we’ll send you the pdf.
It’s so nice to be back home. I skied Big Mtn and Iron Horse trails this morning with my sweetie today. Lots of folks out enjoying the trails. So good to see. Big Mountain was a little soft/punchy expecially on the climbs. Iron horse was fast and packed really nice with firm classic tracks.
Just want to say a huge thank you the the club for grooming on the mountain!! I’ve been skiing the track everyday at lunch- what a treat to have it back in use.
Hi Laura, thanks very much for your comment; it means a lot to us.
We are so thrilled to be able to groom Big Mountain trails. Sending a similar note to the folks at Whitefish Mountain Resort–they are the ones who allow us to groom up there–may help support future grooming operations on the Big Mountain trails. WMR’s contact info is listed on its website: http://www.skiwhitefish.com.
Yes, usually done by 11.
thanks, it was a ton of fun today as always!
marc are you still grooming every day?
Brenda
Yes, in reference to Steve’s comment about walkers and ski tracks. Trail etiquette would suggest that walkers stay to the side of the trails.
Thanks for the suggestion; we may have some “No Walking on Ski Trails ” signs. I’ll look into it.
Perhaps we could make some signs about ski trail etiquette.
Tracy, are you referring to the footprints?
There were more footprints from walkers than ski tracks yesterday. Frustrating!
They just don’t get it.
Hi Marc,
Thank you for all your hard work on the mtn. The skiing has been fabulous. Also, a big thank you to the GNC board.
Paul Conrad
Thanks Paul!
Hi Marc,
Thanks for your message. That’s great the you took the track setter up to the trails on the hill! I’ll be happy to encourage folks who ski to support the cost of the grooming through financial support. I’ll also pass along encouragement for support from WMR for the trail grooming.
I understand that the mountain asked that the club continue grooming through the holidays. Hopefully they are providing some financial support the the club as well.
Good morning,
Thanks for grooming the mountain nordic trails. Will the grooming up there continue through January/February? If so, it would be great to have a classic track set, even once a week. Good hard wax conditions up there now. Thanks.
Hi Chris,
Glacier Nordic Club is having a board meeting this Monday January 7th. We will take a look at our budget and decide if we are able to continue grooming for the rest of the winter on the Big Mt Nordic Trails. I am the groomer for Glacier Nordic Club, and I have also been wanting to start laying some classic track. I brought our attachment up yesterday, in fact, but had some issues with the electrical connections. We are trying to do the best we can with the resources we have. Thanks for your interest! Be sure to let Whitefish Mountain Resort know how important these trails are to the nordic community, and encourage all your ski friends to buy Glacier Nordic Club memberships. We welcome all comments and suggestions. We are very excited about the future use of these trails. Thanks again!
Marc Venery
Ditched the nephews (snowboarding) 20 km of fresh tracks. I love Big Mountain ski trails. Thanks Marc. Love the signs.
BW
The trails are awesome! Thank you WFMR for allowing the Glacier Nordic team to continue grooming the trials!
Very nice…thanks.
yippee. will be home soon! Brenda
ah…so Anonymous is YOU! C ya Brenda. Safe travels.
TAM says
Thanks for grooming, I love to ski in the old growth.
Thanks TAM, so do we
Wow does this mean there will be xcountry trails at Big Mtn all season? you are going to keep grooming them!!
Hi Brooke, If we overspoke, we’re sorry. Big Mountain originally let us groom on its Nordic trails until the 21st. With poor snow coverage on the golf course, they are allowing us to start up grooming again. For how long, though, we don’t know. Stay tuned.
Yes, i would like the trails at the Big Mountain to continue to be open. i will pass along a comment to them as well.
thanks
Thanks for your opinion cbm. Good news- WMR has agreed to let us continue grooming the Big Mt Nordic trails. Thanks for your support!
Big thanks to you and the great gentleman at Glacier Cyclery & Nordic. We have lots of info to plan our week now!
Can you skate ski on these trails?
yes, these trails are groomed for skate skiing
We just arrived and would love to xcountry ski. Where would we pick up the trails you mention above?
The Big Mt Nordic Trails are accessed from the Willow Lot at the base of Whitefish Mountain Resort. A short walk up the road from the Willow Lot will bring you to the trail. Trails are mostly advanced to expert only- lots of hills. New trail signs are being made, and are not installed on the course yet. Ski At Your Own Risk. Thank you for your interest in the Big Mt Nordic Trails, groomed and maintained by the Glacier Nordic Club.
Skied 20 km this morning between Big Mtn and Iron Horse. Both areas are packed and rolled. Big Mtn Still pretty soft but so much fun. Thank you Marc for grooming big mtn. Lower Gopher to Chair Nine is a bit uneven and narrow. Iron Horse was groomed with beautiful corduroy. No tracks set as of 10 am at Iron Horse but the groomer was still out. Brenda Winkler