BIGFORK...by Bear Dance: By Process of Elimination......

JUST FOR FUN

JEWEL BASIN SNOW DEPTH (this is in the parking lot for the hiking area, and keep in mind -- these numbers represent the settled base, not total snowfall):

10/07.........2"
10/09.........5"
10/13.........8"
10/15........11"
10/25........17"
10/28........27"
10/31........34"
11/07........28"
11/14........31"
11/21........30"
11/25........36"
11/28........42"
12/07........28"
12/15........45"
12/21........61"
12/30.......54"
1/4............75"
1/5............83"
1/6............93"
1/12..........82"
1/19..........85"
1/31..........81"
2/06.........91"
2/13.........98"
2/23.........93"
3/10........104"
3/23........107"
4/01........112"
4/10........114"
4/15........129"
4/28........101"
4/29........138"
5/04........148"
5/05........158"
5/12........139"
5/20.......108"
5/21........112"
5/26........108"
NOTE: You'll notice the snow levels dropping -- normal for this time of year -- but they're actually dropping at a much slower rate than normal. This is due to cooler temps each night, which allows the snow to either re-freeze or solidify, thus slowing down the melting process. Many of the locals have commented on how late in the season the snow seems to be staying on the mountains, and this bodes well for preventing a fire season this summer. We'll still be dependent on a few well-timed rain showers as summer progresses, but we're off to a pretty good start!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

By Process of Elimination......

As I look at the headlines from around the country this morning, I feel sorry for everyone else but us. All these poor folks in areas of the country that aren't accustomed to cold weather, and they're getting the worst winter in decades. If it isn't the cold, it's the wind. If it isn't the wind, it's the snow. Sometimes it's all three. Even Florida farmers are dealing with freezing temperatures. Hope no one wanted affordable orange juice prices this summer.

And yet, there's this little place in the northwest part of Montana, in the northwest part of the country -- Bigfork -- that's just been hit by a winter storm. But it's nothing like the eastern two-thirds of the country. Just a six-inch or so layer. Enough to make things look pretty, but not painful. And just about perfectly, the snow has been more than generous in our higher elevations. I know I've mentioned this once already, but our local ski hill (Big Mountain) reported this morning having the deepest snow in the whole country!

Sure, you could go brave the crowds in Utah or Colorado. Then you'd be able to tell your friends you went to some posh Rocky Mountain resort, and they'd all act like they're jealous. It'd cost you a third of your kid's college education, and the crowds would resemble Christmas Eve in a mall, but you could brag about where you went. OR, you could come to Bigfork, ski at Big Mountain, not have a single lift line to deal with (I'm not kidding), have the best snow in the country, pay way less money...and be able to brag to your friends about having found one of the best kept secrets this country has to offer.

Till then, we'll be here enjoying it.