Blacktail Mountain Ski Area announced it will open Dec. 18.

Steve Spencer, the ski area’s general manager, said he had been hoping to open last weekend, but the system of warm weather at the beginning of the week delayed the opening.

“We had the Pineapple Express come through here and had rain all the way to the top,” Spencer said. “This morning it was pretty much a sheet of ice, but it’s been snowing all day and getting covered up real well.”

Blacktail’s opening is later than usual, he noted, but all of the runs should be open. By midafternoon Thursday, he estimated the mountain had received three inches of new snow.

“We could open the top half right now, but I think it’s a little early to do a marginal opening. I’d rather have a good-quality first day.”

The resort will be open every day through Jan. 3, then go to its Wednesday through Sunday schedule.

For people wanting to learn how to ski, the resort offers group and private lessons.

Lessons last for two hours each session. Alpine lessons available to skiers age 4 & up meet daily at 9:45 a.m and 12:45 p.m. Snowboard lessons available to boarders age 8 & up and they meet daily at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Mini Mights is a special 1 hour session for skiers 3-5 years old. The cost includes the 1 hour lesson, child rentals, and lift ticket. Mini Mights meet at 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 pm.

blacktailmountain.com