A large logging project, underway throughout the summer on Big Mountain, caused hiking and biking detours and will make for a different skiing experience this winter. 

The Flathead National Forest recently completed the Big Mountain Fuels Reduction Project on the national forest within the Whitefish Mountain Resort boundary. The project included just under 200 acres of active management below and directly adjacent to critical infrastructure on the resort to safeguard operations and utilities.  

The project aimed to reduce stand density and remove ladder fuels, favoring fire tolerant tree species, while using only existing roads for project implementation. 

"We are planning to remove accumulated vegetation and dense trees along Chairs 1, 2, and 4 to safeguard resort operations from wildfire.” said Tally Lake District Ranger Bill Mulholland before the project began. 

The Big Mountain trail crews are currently cleaning up stumps, felled trees and other debris near Chairs 1, 2 and 4. Chad Sokol, public relations manager for the resort, said the crew is making significant headway, but they anticipate some of the work will resume next summer.  

“The fuels reduction project, along with the efforts of our slopes crew, will significantly improve the skiing experience this winter,” Sokol said. “These combined glading efforts have opened up two new tree runs on the front side of the mountain, which we've named Bad Medicine and Big Twig.” 

Bad Medicine descends from skier's right of Toni Matt, just below Good Medicine and Big Twig is skier's left of Toni Matt and descends toward the Chair 4 lift line.  

“We've also made a concerted effort to clear brush and overgrowth mountainwide,” he said. “So far, our slopes crew has tended about 125 acres this summer and fall, including North Bowl Face, Schmidt's Chute, Elkweed, Movieland from Russ's Street to the Danny On Memorial Trail, about half of The Back 9, and a small triangle between Langley and Inspiration. 

"In the Chair 2 zone, the crew also cut brush on Hibernation, Heaven and the middle section of Mully's, meaning there will be less stubble to cover up early in the season.” 

Sokol added no major disruptions or closures are expected this ski season, but the resort will assess conditions and advise caution around any remaining obstacles. 

Two new snowcats and six modern snow guns have joined the resort’s stable to improve its snowmaking capabilities. 

Reporter Julie Engler can be reached at 406-862-3505 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at whitefishpilot.com/support. 

    Thinning near Chair 2 and Wood Lot shown on Oct. 11. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Near the base of Chair 1 after the fuels project, shown on Oct. 11. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    A stand of trees between the ski runs Ed's and Mully's was thinned substantially during the fuel reduction project on the mountain this summer. (Joohn Pieti photo)
  

A stand of trees between the ski runs Ed's and Mully's was thinned substantially during the fuel reduction project on the mountain this summer. (John Pieti photo)