{"id":91438,"date":"2019-12-01T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-01T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montana-mountains-epic-powder-exceeded-only-by-its-friendly-vibe\/"},"modified":"2019-12-01T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-12-01T12:00:00","slug":"montana-mountains-epic-powder-exceeded-only-by-its-friendly-vibe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montana-mountains-epic-powder-exceeded-only-by-its-friendly-vibe\/","title":{"rendered":"Montana mountain\u2019s epic powder exceeded only by its friendly vibe"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ski
Ski Magazine said Turner Mountain in northwest Montana might have \u201cthe best lift-assisted powder skiing in the U.S.\u201d<\/span>Greg Lindstrom\/The Washington Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While many of those simple ski areas have either grown up or closed down, Turner Mountain<\/a>, a one-lift hill nestled into the northwest corner of Montana, continues to offer skiing the way it was 30 or 40 years ago, when a weekend ski trip for a family of four wouldn\u2019t break the bank.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hear it from people all the time,\u201d says Bruce Zwang, president of Kootenai Mountain Sports, the nonprofit that operates the ski area. \u201cThey tell me that this is just like the hill they skied on as a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bruce
Bruce Zwang, president of Kootenai Mountain Sports, the nonprofit that operates the ski area, at Turner Mountain Ski Area.<\/span>Greg Lindstrom\/The Washington Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

But Turner Mountain isn\u2019t just some ramshackle ski area off in the boondocks. The mountain has been featured in numerous magazines; Ski Magazine<\/em> even declared it might have \u201cthe best lift-assisted powder skiing in the U.S.\u201d It also appeared in \u201cHere, There & Everywhere,\u201d a movie by Warren Miller, the ski bum-turned-filmmaker whose features have helped skiers and snowboarders map out their dream vacations for a generation.<\/p>\n

Getting to Turner isn\u2019t easy. The mountain is at least two hours from the closest airport and requires driving down an old snow-packed logging road deep in the Kootenai National Forest. However, those adventurous souls who do make the trek to Turner will undoubtedly be rewarded with some of the best skiing in their life \u2013 and so much more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s another ski area quite like this in the world,\u201d says Jake Jeresek, who volunteers at the mountain.<\/p>\n

Wildfire cleared slope<\/div>\n

Turner is located 22 miles north of Libby, Montana, a onetime mining and logging town trying to reinvent itself as an outdoor recreation destination. Libby has always worked hard and played harder. In the 1930s, local skiers set up a tow rope and started barreling down a slope at the edge of town.<\/p>\n

\"The
The chairlift at Turner Mountain is run by employees; volunteers do much of the rest of the work.<\/span>Greg Lindstrom\/The Washington Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

By the 1950s, they were ready for something a little steeper, so they set out to find an actual mountain. That search brought them to a recently burned peak in the heart of the Purcell Mountains. Since the wildfire had already cleared most of the slope, all the skiers needed to do was strike a deal with the local forest ranger.<\/p>\n

In 1960, skiers strung up a short tow rope and Turner Mountain was officially open for business. The summer after the inaugural season, the tow rope was replaced with a milelong T-bar that had the distinction of being one of the longest such lifts in North America. Locals often joked that at Turner, the real workout was going up the mountain rather than skiing down it.<\/p>\n

By the late 1990s, the T-bar had reached the end of its useful life, so the mountain\u2019s operator started raising money for a replacement with pint nights at the local bar and other fundraisers. In 2001, the group purchased an old chairlift and had it installed that summer.<\/p>\n

In recent years, nonprofit ski areas have popped up across the country as changing economics and a changing climate make it harder to stay open. According to the National Ski Areas Association, about 30% of its more than 300 resorts across the country are nonprofit entities. Among them is Bogus Basin Recreation Area near Boise, Idaho. Brad Wilson, general manager of the mountain, says he believes independent ski areas that focus on keeping prices low are critical to the long-term survival of the sport.<\/p>\n

\"An
An adult day pass at Turner Mountain is $38. The mountain has 400 acres of skiable terrain.<\/span>Greg Lindstrom\/The Washington Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cNo one is going to pay $200 for a lift ticket for something that they have never done before,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s up to the small, independent ski areas to create new skiers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zwang agrees with Wilson\u2019s assessment and says keeping prices low, especially for locals, is Turner\u2019s primary mission. \u201cSo many people are getting priced out of this sport,\u201d Zwang says. \u201cBut we have the cheapest tickets in the state.\u201d A day pass at Turner is $38 for an adult, $26 for teens ages 13 to 18, and $21 for kids (children 6 and younger ski free).<\/p>\n

An adult lift ticket at Whitefish Mountain Resort, about two hours east of Libby, will set you back $83. That\u2019s still a bargain compared with other places, including Colorado\u2019s Vail Ski Resort, which in 2019 was charging between $160 and $200 for a day on the slopes.<\/p>\n

Volunteers crucial<\/div>\n

Turner can keep prices low because it has just four employees who run the lift and do maintenance; a few others are hired by a contractor that runs the rental shop and the lunch counter in the base lodge. Otherwise, most of the work at Turner is done by volunteers, who get to work each season long before the snow flies.<\/p>\n

Volunteers at Turner clear brush on ski runs, break down and clean the chairlift, and make improvements in preparation for the upcoming season. A few years ago, they built a new groomer shed weeks after the old one burned down. Every volunteer gets a season pass, but Jeresek, who helps organize groomer operations, says everyone would still be there pitching in even if they didn\u2019t get to ski free.<\/p>\n

\"The
The family-friendly Turner Mountain Ski Area offers sledding, and children 6 and younger ski free.<\/span>Greg Lindstrom\/The Washington Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cEveryone is up here volunteering because they really care about the place,\u201d Jeresek says.<\/p>\n

Jake\u2019s dad, Jon, agrees. Jon Jeresek has been skiing at Turner since the 1970s, when he moved to northwest Montana for a job with the U.S. Forest Service. He has been on the board of directors for 17 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is really a family mountain,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The elder Jeresek is also one of two mountain managers who put in long days to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. On days the mountain is open, the manager gets there around dawn to help coordinate grooming and opens the lodge before the lift starts spinning at 9:30 a.m. Not long before the two-seat chairlift starts to roll, the first skiers pull into the parking lot, conveniently located just feet from the lift line.<\/p>\n

From Turner\u2019s one lift, skiers and riders can access 400 acres of terrain with two dozen named runs. Most of the runs are for intermediate or advanced skiers, although there are also a few beginner runs. One of the runs is named for Jon to mark the site where he skied into a tree, breaking a rib and dislocating his shoulder. \u201cJeresek Park\u201d is the mountain\u2019s only double black diamond (it\u2019s also probably the least intimidating double black diamond run in all of America).<\/p>\n

On most days, it\u2019s not unusual for a skier to have Jeresek Park or any other run all to themselves. That\u2019s because the mountain usually only gets about 100 skiers a day, or 6,000 annually (Vail regularly welcomes 1.6 million annually). Much of the snow at Turner is also likely to be untouched because the mountain is only open to the public three days a week, Friday through Sunday. At some ski areas, it\u2019s likely that every stash of powder will be gone within an hour or two of opening; but at Turner, which averages 200 inches of snow a year, it\u2019s possible to find virgin snow two or three days after a storm has passed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no crowds here, no lift lines,\u201d Zwang says. \u201cEven on our busiest days, it feels like you have the whole mountain to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renting the mountain<\/div>\n

And if you really want to make sure you don\u2019t run into anybody, you can rent the entire mountain on non-operating days for $3,750. Jeresek says the rental program helps keep the ski area\u2019s books balanced and is popular with Canadians who will come south by the busload for a day of skiing on their own private mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cCan\u2019t
\u201cCan\u2019t wait to come back!\u201d wrote a visitor in the guest book at Turner Mountain.<\/span>Greg Lindstrom\/The Washington Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cWe never want to be some mega resort,\u201d Zwang says. \u201cWe want to maintain that hometown feeling where everyone knows your name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

If you go<\/h4>\n

Where to stay
\n Venture Inn
\n 1015 W. 9th St., Libby
\n 406-293-7711
\n ventureinnlibby.com
\n Located 22 miles south of Turner Mountain in Libby, this inn is one of the closest hotels to the ski area. It recently completed an extensive renovation and has a restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner on site. Rooms start at $110.
\n Libby Hostel
\n 427 Thomas St., Libby
\n 406-200-3193
\n facebook.com\/libbyhostelbasecamp
\n The hostel is located just feet from the Kootenai River and is a short walk from downtown Libby and exactly \u201c158 steps\u201d from the Amtrak station. It has two bunk rooms and one private room and can sleep up to eight people. Beds start at $38.
\n Yaak River Lodge
\n 27744 Yaak River Rd., Troy
\n 406-295-5463
\n yaaklodge.com
\n Yaak is a small community about 18 miles north of Turner Mountain, not far from the Canadian border, that offers two bars and this lodge, which proudly welcomes everyone from hippies to hunters. It has eight rooms, so it\u2019s recommended that you book early. Just steps away from the lodge are the two bars: the \u201cworld famous\u201d Dirty Shame Saloon and the Yaak River Tavern. Rooms at the lodge start at $149.
\n Where to eat
\n Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co.
\n 206 Mineral Ave., Libby
\n 406-293-2739
\n cabinetmountainbrewing.com
\n The brewery calls itself \u201cLibby\u2019s living room,\u201d and if you stop in on a Friday or Saturday night, you\u2019ll know why. It also has the distinction of being the first brewery in Montana to be owned exclusively by women. Complementing its lineup of six flagship beers and rotating list of seasonal brews is an extensive menu with panini, sandwiches and salads. Open daily noon to 8 p.m. Panini $8, sandwiches and salads from $7. Beers $3.75 to $5.
\n The Black Board Bistro
\n 803 Mineral Ave., Libby
\n 406-293-4505
\n theblackboardmontana.com
\n This Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Libby is owned by husband-and-wife team Seth and Riley Black. Seth spent 17 years making a name for himself in Denver\u2019s culinary scene before coming home to Libby to open his own restaurant. It features a seasonally inspired menu, and the kitchen tries to source ingredients from local farmers. Open Thursday through Saturday 5 to 9 p.m., closed Sunday through Wednesday. Entrees start at $20.
\n What to do
\n Turner Mountain Ski Area
\n Pipe Creek Rd., Libby
\n 406-293-2468
\n skiturner.com
\n The mountain has one lift, 400 acres of skiable terrain, two dozen runs and stunning views of the Purcell Mountains. Open Friday through Sunday from December until March, depending on snow conditions. Full-day lift tickets $38 for adults, $26 for ages 13 to 18, $21 for ages 7 to 12, ages 6 and under free. Half-day tickets $33 adults, teens $21, kids $16, 6 and under free.
\n For more
\n libbymt.com\/areaattractions\/turner.htm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Magazine said Turner Mountain in northwest Montana might have \u201cthe best lift-assisted powder skiing in the U.S.\u201dGreg Lindstrom\/The Washington Post While many of those simple ski areas have either grown up or closed down, Turner Mountain, a one-lift hill nestled into the northwest corner of Montana, continues to offer skiing the way it was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":91439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[378],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-91438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-alpine-skiing"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91438\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91438"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=91438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}