Ski The Fish: Cross-Country Skiing in Whitefish, Montana

The Trip

Join the Sierra Club for an exciting opportunity to learn how to cross-country ski in one of the most beautiful ski towns found in the western United States, Whitefish, MT. Utilizing the groomed cross-country ski trails of a local golf course, as well as the groomed cross-country ski trails at Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, we will learn the fundamentals of cross-county skiing while enjoying the proximity of the spectacular scenery of Glacier National Park. Each day we will ski groomed trails accompanied by Sierra Club trip leaders who will share their knowledge of cross-country skiing, building your confidence and skill level to the intermediate skill level. In the evenings, we will retire to a comfortable lodge, eat delicious meals, and enjoy relaxing in the indoor or outdoor hot tub, while visiting with our fellow skiers. 

Numerous Native American tribes utilized the area around and within what is now the Whitefish, MT and Glacier National Park for hunting, fishing, ceremonies, and gathering plants. When the first white explorers began arriving in the region, the Blackfeet controlled the prairies on the east side of Glacier, while the Salish, Pend d’Oreille, and Kootenai lived in the more forested west side of the park.

Today, the 1.5-million-acre Blackfeet Indian Reservation, which aligns with Glacier’s eastern border, is home to approximately 8,600 members of the Blackfeet Nation, the largest tribe in Montana. The Flathead Indian Reservation includes approximately 1.3 million acres of land mostly along the Flathead River and is home to approximately 7,000 members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation.

Day 1: Arrive at the Glacier Park International/Kalispell (FCA) Airport no later than 3:00 p.m. Grouse Mountain Lodge provides van shuttle service from the airport to the lodge as needed for a nominal fee. Please call the lodge at (406) 862-3000 ahead of time to schedule a pick-up time. After arriving at the lodge, please check in and get settled. At 4:30 p.m. we will meet near the lobby fireplace in the main lodge for a welcome/orientation meeting. Following the meeting, we will move to the dining room/restaurant and enjoy our first of many delicious dinners together.

Day 2: After breakfast, we will rent/pick up ski equipment if needed, have a discussion regarding cross-country ski equipment, and then we will head over to the Whitefish Lake Golf Course for our first day of cross-country skiing. Following our morning ski lessons we will return to the lodge for lunch. Following lunch, we will return to the Whitefish Lake Golf Course for our afternoon ski outing. When we are ready to return to the lodge, we will have time to rest a bit and then gather for dinner in Whitefish. Following dinner, enjoy the evening relaxing as you would like.

Day 3: Following a hearty breakfast, we will once again head over to the Whitefish Lake Golf Course for our second day of cross-country skiing. Following our morning ski lessons we will return to the lodge for lunch. Following lunch, we will return to the Whitefish Lake Golf Course for our afternoon ski outing. Once again, when we are ready to return to the lodge, we will have time to rest a bit, enjoy the hot tub, and then gather for dinner in Whitefish. Following dinner, enjoy the evening relaxing as you would like.

Day 4: Today is a rest day and provides an opportunity to explore Whitefish on your own, rent a vehicle and explore Glacier National Park on your own or just hanging out in the lodge and rest. At 5:00 pm we will meet at the lodge and head into Whitefish for dinner. Following dinner, you have your choice of ways to relax at the lodge, including a visit to the lodge’s bar to enjoy any local musicians that may be playing at that venue.

Day 5: Following breakfast we will once again head over to the Whitefish Lake Golf Course to see how much improvement each of you have made regarding your cross-country ski skills. Following our morning ski outing we will return to the lodge for lunch. Following lunch, you have the option of resting at the lodge, renting a vehicle of your choice to explore area on your own, or return travel to Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort for an afternoon ski outing. Following dinner, enjoy the evening relaxing as you would like.

Day 6: We will once again travel to Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort for our final ski outing, enjoying the beautiful scenery and wonderful cross-country ski trails the resort offers. Following our morning ski outing we will have lunch at the ski resort. Following lunch, we will ski a different set of trails at the resort, enjoying the variety of the trails offered before heading back to our lodge. Back at the lodge we will return any rental ski equipment and then gather for dinner in Whitefish, MT. Following dinner, you have your choice of ways to relax at the lodge, including reading a book, visiting the lodge’s bar, or spending time enjoying the lodge’s many amenities.

Day 7: Following breakfast, utilize the Grouse Mountain Lodge van shuttle service as needed to return to the Glacier Park International/Kalispell (FCA) Airport for a nominal fee.  

Note: Daily routes can be adjusted to reflect the ski skill levels of the participants. There may be options to break up the group into slow/fast or beginner/advanced groups, depending on individual abilities. Ski itineraries are subject to change, depending on skiing abilities, interest, snow, and weather conditions.

Getting There

Trip participants will be picked up at the Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, MT and shuttled to Grouse Mountain Lodge at the start of the trip (nominal fee). Trip participants will be shuttled back to the airport in Kalispell, MT at the conclusion of the trip (nominal fee). Free shuttle services will be provided throughout the trip for our travel into Whitefish, MT for dinner.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

The trip includes six nights' lodging and all breakfasts. We will be staying at Grouse Mountain Lodge, a very nice full-service facility located in Whitefish, Montana. The lodge is approximately a 30-minute drive from Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, MT and offers a substantial list of services and amenities.

All transportation is via shuttle bus/shuttle van on the trip: van pick-up from the airport in Kalispell, Montana; all the travel to various ski destinations; and a final van drop-off at the Glacier Park International Airport at trip's end.

Standard arrangements are double-occupancy rooms for all participants. Private rooms are also available, but numbers are limited so reserve yours early. The cost for a private room upgrade for the duration of the trip is $500. Please indicate your preference for a private room to the trip leader and he will inform you of options and payment details.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is designed for beginning cross-country skiers. No minimum skiing ability is required. Individuals should be fit enough to walk a variety of trails in the summer months and should have some basic athletic skills. Most of the terrain we will cover is flat to very gentle rolling hills. Snow conditions can vary from powder to packed powder to slushy and icy snow, depending upon the specific trail and/or weather conditions. Participants should be in fairly good physical shape. Participants may also elect to take a non-ski rest day(s) should they desire.

Equipment and Clothing

Rental cross-country ski equipment (including skis, boots and poles) is available for an extra fee. Equipment and clothing needs include:

• Day pack (30 liter or larger with padded hip belt)
• Small piece of closed cell foam to sit on snow
• Water bottle
• Insulated lightweight thermos
• Sunglasses and/or goggles
• Sunscreen/lip protector
• Camera or phone camera
• Binoculars
• Pocket hand & foot warmers
• Insulating underwear
• Down jacket
• Mid-weight insulating layer -- wool or fleece
• Waterproof & windproof outer layer -- jacket & pants
• Pants -- wool or fleece
• Hat -- warm, with or without visor
• Gloves -- waterproof, insulated (2 pair)
• Mittens -- waterproof, insulated (2 pair)
• Neck gaiter
• Socks -- wool (minimum 2 pair)
• Gaiters -- mid-shin height at minimum
• Insulated boots
• Camp/hotel shoes
• National Park Service Annual Pass (if already in possession)

References

HOW TO CROSS-COUNTRY SKI: Cross-Country for Beginners, Getting Fit for The Trails, Essential Skiing Systems Paperback (Available on Amazon)

Conservation

Whitefish, Montana and Glacier National Park is facing a number of conservation issues today. As in so many wild areas, the clash between wilderness preservation and human use is evident in many ways:

• Global warming. Could Glacier National Park be without its namesake if global warming continues?
• The impact of development around Whitefish, MT and on wildlife and natural resources within the Glacier National Park area. 

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.