Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

SKI WITH THE BEST let's begin with the most popular ski hill in the area, Whitefi sh Mountain Resort. The 1,214 skiable hectares place it in the top 10 largest ski resorts in the United States. But as we all know, size isn't everything. We dread 30-min- ute waits to get on the fi rst gondola of the day and this is where skiing in Montana shines since crowds are non- existent even during peak season. The terrain at Whitefi sh has options for every skill level and I spent a fair amount of my time on Hellroaring Basin, which had me grinning from ear to ear, especially consider- ing the lift ticket cost me $50 at Costco. After a day on the slopes it's time for every skier's favourite part of the day— après-ski, which basically means having a few adult bever- ages while letting your bones rest. Whitefi sh town has a strip of bars, shops and restaurants to enjoy your post-ski sessions and reminisce on the success of your day on the slopes. HIGHTAIl IT TO BlACKTAIl Whitefi sh Resort is the famous hill in the area, but travellers love discovering hidden gems. Blacktail Mountain sits farther south and above Flathead lake, the largest lake in the USA west of the Mississippi River. With almost 405 hectares of terrain and $38 lift tickets during prime season as well as plenty of other specials throughout the week, Blacktail puts most resorts in the east to shame. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, which can make Wednesdays after a snow dump one of the best places to ride on the continent! Since there are no hotels at Blacktail Mountain you will have to drive past the Tamarack Brewery on your way back to your lodging. Tamarack Brewery was started by Stanley Cup hockey champion lanny McDonald and his family. Speaking of the Stanley Cup, you can actually see it during the annual Pond Hockey Classic staged just outside background: Montana is the fourth largest state in the USA and is well known for its majestic mountains. Chris Hollenderski right: Montana features a number of family- friendly ski resorts. Chuck Haney Fa l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 4 51

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