Limited terrain and varied conditions will greet skiers and snowboarders Saturday for opening day of Whitefish Mountain Resort’s 68th winter season.

With 25 inches of snow reported at the summit of Big Mountain on Friday, there is just enough coverage to open some terrain on the north facing slopes for the season opener. All total, the resort will open five chair lifts and seven runs.

Chair 1 will open at 9:30 a.m. and Chair 7 will open at 10 a.m. The Caribou, Goat Haunt and Whitetail slopes will be groomed on the resort's back side terrain. With no front side access from the summit, skiers will be required to download on Chair 1, with the final chair at 3:45 p.m.

Additional terrain and lifts may become available during the day or through the weekend and will be determined by ski patrol, the resort notes.

Snow-making crews have been working the lower slopes and village area for the past week where natural snow has been sparse thus far. With the snow guns blasting 24 hours a day, mounds of the man-made stuff are piling up enough for the snowcats to push around.

Near the Base Lodge, the resort will open with Chair 6 and the Big Easy Carpet at 9 a.m. which will provide access to beginner terrain including the runs Chipmunk and the Big Easy carpet area. Chair 3 will be open providing access to Hope Slope and Depot Park including a few terrain features.

The price of a daily ticket will be reduced to $55 for adults ages 19-64, $50 for teens 13-18 and seniors 65-69 and $27 for ages 7-12. Super seniors 70 & over and children 6 & under are free.

Food and beverage services will be 100 percent open this weekend, including the newly remodeled Summit House with food service from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the brand new Village Coffee 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Additionally the Base Lodge Café, Base Lodge Coffee Bar, Base Lodge Bar and Ed & Mully’s will also be open with their regular hours.  

The Kids Center and Daycare will be open, as well as beginner and intermediate lessons at the Ski and Ride School. Additional services available include the Base Lodge Rentals, Village Rentals as well as Base Lodge Traders, Snow Ghost Outfitters and Summit House Gifts.