Montana Skiing Road Trip

Putting the chains on for Snoqualmie Pass as we left Seattle

Turner Mountain

John and I on the lift at Turner

Our good friends John and Katelyn often head south from Alaska to visit us in at some point during the winter. Last year we went to Hawaii but this year I had something different in mind. I found out a few months ago that our friend Richard would be in Whitefish, Montana this winter for a med school rotation. It didn't take me long to decide that a ski trip was in order. Originally all four of us were going to head to Montana, but busy and conflicting schedules left just John and I to make the trip.

We started the vacation with a day trip to Stevens Pass. The 6-8 inches of new snow was great and left us tired and sore. Luckily the next day was a rest day as we drove to Sandpoint, Idaho to ski at Schweitzer Resort. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate and high winds and cold weather keep the lifts closed. So we took a second rest day and decided we would try to ski at Schweitzer on our way home. We headed northeast to Libby, Montana were we were able to visit and stay with John's grandfather. The following day we headed for a small ski area out side of Libby called Turner Mountain.

The mountain has been rated the best lift assisted powder skiing in the states, and there is a reason why. Turner mountain is only open Friday through Sunday. That meant that all the cold snow that had accumulated during the week was there waiting for us. Friday proved to be sunny and cold and the snow was great. We were impressed at the terrain that this one-lift mountain packed in. With so few people there, the slopes stayed soft and fluffy all day.

After skiing at Turner Mountain, we headed to Whitefish to meet up with Richard. I was excited for the three of us to hang out together and have fun for two days. This was the first time all three of out had spent time together since climbing Denali in 2007.

To be continued...