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Small Montana ski resort opens after last-minute snow boost

A chair full of skiers ride to the summit of the Big Mountain near Whitefish, Mont., in January 2001. The slopes of Blacktail Mountain ski area can be seen peeking above the clouds in the background at left. Blacktail opened Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, for its 20th season. (Robin Loznak / Daily Inter Lake)
Associated Press

LAKESIDE, Mont. – A small Montana ski resort is open for the holiday season thanks to a last minute boost from this week’s snow.

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area south of Kalispell opened Saturday for its 20th season with a total of 38 inches of natural snow at the summit, enough to make all of its terrain available.

The Daily Inter Lake reports that the resort lacks the snowmaking equipment that bigger resorts use, making it hard to guarantee an opening date.

Blacktail general manager Steve Spencer says the prospect of opening by Christmas didn’t look good a week ago after a warm and dry start to December.