winter fun guide, february 4, 2012

Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012 1

WIN

TER

FUN

GUIDE

Look inside for:· Fun snowshoe haunts· Relaxing hot spring destinations· Perfect Montana winter adventures

2 Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review, Saturday, February 4, 2012

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WHITEFISH

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About 50 years ago, the community of Whitefi sh said “Enough!” to dull, cold winter days.

Though the skiing at Whitefi sh Mountain Resort is always magnifi cent, it’s not hard for the winter blahs to slip in.

So town leaders came up with something creative that still goes on: the Whitefi sh Mountain Carnival.

The annual celebration of snow, fi reworks and general community fun returns for its 53rd year Feb. 3-5. This year’s theme is “Fiesta Pecado Blanco,” which literally means “Whitefi sh Carnival” in Spanish.

Celebrants can take part in everything from a torchlight ski down the mountain to a parade, to concerts to contests. And yes, there will even be yetis, part of the myth that has sprung up over the decades.

The offi cial legend of the festival centers on Ullr, the Nordic god of snow who traditionally reigned over winter activities in the Northern Region.

Forgotten by his subjects, Ullr moved to the Flathead Valley and claimed Big

Mountain (now known as the Whitefi sh Mountain Resort) as his home. Soon, he

joined with human settlers to fi ght off evil yeti snowmen as they attempted to

kidnap the queen and disrupt the Holiday Village’s festivities and

assert their right to Big Mountain.

It’s become a yearly attack and retreat by the snow creatures, with Ullr and followers sending them fl eeing back to the valleys beyond the mountain, where they plan future raids.

During carnival time, yetis can be spotted around town trying to cause mischief and scare guests, until mountain men show up to chase them away.

Past carnival events have included everything from community concerts, food, crowning of the Grand Ball at Grouse Mountain Lodge, and other general mid-winter fun. There’s even the chilly Penguin Plunge, where hearty souls take a quick dip into the icy waters of Whitefi sh Lake.

Some let everyone and anyone participate for free, others are more private and have a cost, such as the gala Winter Carnival ball, which usually fi lls up quickly.

Beyond the three-day carnival, there are many activities and traditions from January through March, and many restaurants or lodging establishments offer stay-and-play specials or info about other recreational opportunities.

In addition to the Carnival fun of the Carnival, there are other fun events planned this winter, including a Mardis Gras celebration on Presidents Weekend, Brewfest, Dummy Derby and the Pole, Pedal, Paddle Winter Triathlon.

For more details visit www.whitefi shwintercarnival.com/ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Whitefi sh-Winter-Carnival/204250248788?v=info

Event tickets are available at the Whitefi sh Chamber of Commerce, info@whitefi shwintercarnival.com


It’s a Beautiful Day in Paradise!

Featuring Riverside Suites, Canyon Cabins & Glacier Lodge, Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, located just 2.5

hrs. from Spokane, offers fine dining along with their mineral hot springs pools.

Visit us online atwww.quinnshotsprings.com

or call406.826.3150

Jackson Hot Springs Lodge offers amazingsnowmobile trails, fly fishing and

nearby skiing at Lost Trail & Maverick Mountain.

Nestled between the Bitterroot and Pioneer Mountain Ranges in beautiful Southwesten Montana,

Contact us at 406.834.3151or visit us online at

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Perfect for your Special Events!Two Great Hot Springs Locations Winter fun is a ‘shoe-in’

with snowshoeing

Snowshoe fans say the activity is an ideal way for people to experience the outdoors. Participants don’t have to spend much on gear, and there’s a very easy learning curve.

Today’s snowshoes are also different from the classic oversized tennis racket-like shoe of the past. They’re now made of heavy-duty but lightweight plastics with metal cleats. Some models have fl exible bindings so the foot can easily move within the shoe.

Snowshoers don’t have to be in great physical condition either. Essentially, anybody who can hike can snowshoe.

In the Inland Northwest, there’s no shortage of great destinations for snowshoeing. Here are few to get you started:

Mount Spokane: The ski area and state park features miles of trails for all abilities. A parking lot and trail head are at a hairpin turn halfway up the mountain. The trail is an old service road easily negotiated by beginners. For a greater challenge, try trails branching off from the main one, heading up to the summit of Mount Spokane, westward toward Mount Kit Carson and elsewhere.

Liberty Lake Regional Park: Located at the southeast end of Liberty Lake, this park includes a trail up to a cedar grove—and a handful of trails branch off from there.

Dishman Hills Natural Area: Dozens of trails wind through pristine woods, located south of Appleway Avenue and west of Dishman-Mica Road, in Spokane Valley. One minute, you’re standing a few blocks from automobile dealerships; the next moment, you’re in the middle of a wilderness with the sounds of the city behind.

Riverside State Park: Bowl and Pitcher is just the beginning. Surrounding this natural phenomenon in Northwest Spokane, hundreds of trails wind their way around the river and through the neighboring forest.

The city of Spokane’s Park and Recreation Department offers snowshoeing lessons and guided snowshoeing trips, including some moonlit night trips with dinner afterward. Check with area outdoor recreation stores for maps, equipment or recommendations on beautiful spots or current snow conditions.

For more information on classes offered through the city, go to www.spokaneparks.org.


Fairmont Hot Springs British Columbia, Canadawww.fairmonthotsprings.com

The hot springs is only part of the Fairmont experience. The resort about four hours north of Spokane boasts an impressive ski area, a golf course, a spa and access to peaceful countryside for hiking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and outdoor rec fun.

The springs receives 1.5 million gallons of natural water daily, and visitors can partake of hot and cold plunge pools, a steam room, a sauna and a private outdoor soaking pool.

Guests can stay at lodges, cabins, cottages or camping sites. The skiing area also is described as ‘family friendly’ and includes a Magic Carpet moving platform for easy group ascents or new skiers.

Fairmont Hot Springs Montanawww.fairmontmontana.com

Halfway between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park, Fairmont offers two Olympic-sized swimming pools and an indoor and outdoor soaking pool, there’s also a popular

350-foot enclosed water slide for year-round enjoyment. The water is supplied by a 155° natural hot spring that cools before it reaches the soaking areas.

Fairmont also boasts hotel rooms and a par 72 golf course, plus a spa, tennis courts and other amenities. It’s 30 miles from Discovery Ski Area, which allows soaking at night and skiing during the day. The area is near the Deer Lodge National Forest and there’s easy access to a regional cross-country trail system and snowmobile paths.

Ainsworth Hot SpringsBritish Columbia, Canadawww.hotnaturally.com

Just north of Nelson, British Columbia, at the northwest side of Kootenay Lake, you’ll

fi nd Ainsworth Hot Springs, which offers a U-shaped cave to wade or walk through, a larger outdoor pool, and a small ‘cool’ pool which lets you jump in before heading back where it’s warmer.

Accommodations include a restaurant and a 43-room resort, making Ainsworth a great area to visit for a few hours or days. Guests receive unlimited access to the hot springs, and visitors staying at other motels can pay a day use fee.

The water starts out painfully hot: 117° F. But it quickly cools a couple more degrees when it enters the cave, and by the time it reaches the larger pool, it’s a pleasant 96° F. Water also drips off the cave’s ceiling, creating a natural, fl owing steam room.

SPRINGSHOT

area also

yfi nd Ainswor

Ucwortha louand‘coowhiyou beforback warm

We have quite a few naturally-occurring hot springs not far

from Spokane.

Some are as simple as unmapped warm-water holes in the ground, but the ones worth visiting are larger, modern facilities where mineral spring water is piped into a traditional swimming pool, and there are nearby restaurants and lodging. These make great weekend road trips, especially when combined with skiing or winter sight-seeing.

Here’s a round-up of some of the area’s more popular

destination natural hot springs.

Ainsworth Hot Springs

Fairmont Hot Springs


Quinn’s Hot SpringsMontanaquinnshotsprings.com

Near Paradise, Mont., in the Lolo National Forest and close to the Clark Fork River, about three hours east of Spokane, you’ll fi nd Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort.

The highlight is a series of temperature-controlled mineral pools which are relaxing and said to have health benefi ts. Visitors can enjoy amenities like the Harwood House restaurant or drop by Quinn’s Tavern for TV, drinks and gaming machines.

There are several cabins and a lodge on the property, and campers can stay at the nearby Cascade National Campground.

The location has several stay-and-play special promotions, like “Ski, Soak and Stay” which includes skiing at Lookout Pass, soaking at Quinn’s and dinner at Harwood House. Other unique offerings include a Murder Mystery evening Feb. 12-13 and the 9th annual Baroque Festival in July.

The owners also own Jackson Hot Springs in Jackson, Mont.,

which offers a natural hot spring pool that

begins at 155° F and cools down to somewhere between 103 and 94° F. For more info visit www.jacksonhotsprings.com/.

Radium Hot SpringsBritish Columbia, Canadawww.pc.gc.ca/voyage-travel/sources-springs/index/radium/radium.aspx

Radium Hot Springs is located within Kootenay National Park and considered the largest hot springs pool in Canada. It’s also on Canada’s Register of Historic Places. Visitors can partake of a pool with temps between 98 and 104° F, or a cooler pool in the mid-80s. The cool pool is open Fridays through Sunday from January until mid-May.

Radium is part of the Canadian Rockies Hot Springs, which also include Banff, and Miette, in nearby Jasper National Park (considered the hottest of the three.) Visitors to either Radium or Banff can receive even more relaxation with a massage or other spa services from the Pleiades Massage and Spa.

Fairmont Hot Springs ResortDiscovery Ski Area Ski Packages!

*Starting at $87.50 per person!*67 Runs - 1,670 ft. Vertical Drop*Four Natural Hot Springs Pools*104 Degrees of Hot Water*Massage and Spa*Casual and Fine Dining

Packages include: Accommodations, lift tickets and waterslide passes. For details visit our websites.

Visit us at www.fairmontmontana.com or www.skidiscovery.com call 1.800.332.3272 I-90 Exit 211, 15 miles west of Butte, Montana

innclude:: Accommmodatti

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Cross Country Skiing & Cross Country Skiing & Snowmobiling nearby.Snowmobiling nearby.

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H a m p t o n I n n K a l i s p e l l406.755.7900 • 1140 Hwy 2 West, Kalispell

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Montana Welcomes Winter

By Tia Troy/ Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission

While La Nina may have taken her time getting here, she’s quickly

making herself at home by dumping fresh snow on nearly 7,000 acres of skiable terrain at Montana ski resorts.

With ski areas ranging from family owned mountains like Snowbowl and Lost Trail to Lookout Pass and the Whitefi sh Mountain Resort – diverse skiing is found in Western Montana. With more than 300 inches of snow each year, there is plenty of untracked terrain.

“Skiing in Montana is really the cream of the crop,” said Racene Friede, Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission. “Whether you’re coming for a family-focused trip or if you prefer challenging

terrain with soft powder bowls, you won’t be disappointed.”

Lift tickets vary from $30 - $66 per day and an average lodging

rate 20 percent lower than the national average, making

Montana an affordable destination.

For a long weekend stay, try the Pay It Forward Ski Package at Good Medicine Lodge, including 20 percent off the room rate and lift ticket when you stay and ski four or more nights,

saving more than $200. www.goodmedicinelodge.com

For on-mountain lodging, try the $79 Hibernation House special at Whitefi sh

Mountain Resort’s Hibernation House, which includes a lift ticket,

accommodations and full breakfast. www.skiwhitefi sh.com

Insider Tip: Taste Montana by visiting Great Northern Brewery in downtown

MONTANASKI


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Stay & SkiSki Packages starting at $104.00* per person

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• FREE S.N.O.W. Bus to Whitefish Mountain Resorton Big Mountain

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Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing,Ice Skating, Dining, & Shopping Nearby.

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Shopping in the States…

Staying with

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Bring your BFF and have some Fun! Shop ‘til your credit cards beg for mercy in Kalispell,Montana between November 1 – December 31, 2011

And you get:

• Overnight Deluxe Accommodations and The GardenInn Sleep System Bed

• Full, hot, cooked to order breakfast buffet for two inGreat American Grill

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For reservations call hotel direct at 406-756-4500, 1-877-STAY-HGI, or online at www.kalispell.hgi.com.

Whitefi sh. The brewery crafts beer with Montana-lovin’ names like Wild Huckleberry Wheat and SnowGhost Winter Lager.

For a heart-happy alternative to downhill shredding, try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, complete with stellar mountain views. Try a cross-country route over ridge tops, along lake shores and through forests, like the 20 kilometers of groomed trails at Stillwater Nordic near Whitefi sh. Take advantage of Glacier National Park’s quiet season and set out on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. www.stillwatermtnlodge.com

Insider Tip: Leave the driving to the professionals. Hop aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder in Spokane and ride it to Libby, Whitefi sh or West Glacier for nearly instant access.

Western Montana has plenty of options for snowmobiling.

“This area has some of the best snowmobiling trails in the Northwest,” said Friede. “From playing in open meadows to exploring snow-covered logging roads, the possibilities for sledding are endless.”

Seeley Lake – Montana’s Mecca for snowmobiling – offers more than 350 miles of groomed trails in nearly every direction from the center of town which take riders to scenic lookouts and backcountry lakes.

Located south and west of Missoula on the Montana/Idaho border, Lolo Pass provides access to 250 miles of groomed, connecting trails in the Lolo and Clearwater national forests, plus trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. After a day of playing in the Montana’s outdoors, unwind in the mineral pools at Lolo Hot Springs.

For more on winter in Glacier Country, visit www.glaciermt.com.

UPCOMING EVENTSWinter Storytelling Series, Lolo, Jan. 7-March 31 www.traversrest.org Whitefi sh Winter Carnival, Whitefi sh, Feb. 3-5 www.whitefi shwintercarnival.comCabin Fever Days, Martin City, Feb. 10-12 www.cabinfeverdays.com Big Sky Documentary Film Fest, Missoula, Feb. 17-28 www.bigskyfi lmfest.orgSnowboard Jam, Missoula, March 3-4 www.montanasnowbowl.comPond Skim, Whitefi sh, April 7 www.skiwhitefi sh.com


Missoula montana RESERVATIONS:

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Bozeman: 866-782-2717www.cmoninn.com

• Great Location• Free Continental Breakfast• 2-Room Suites • Exercise Room• Arcade Room • Business Center• Great Ski Packages

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Snow Bowl Snow Bowl

Missoula has a lot going for it. It’s a college town, with eclectic galleries and shops, fun night spots and plenty for all ages. It’s also a great stopping point for outdoor recreation fans.

In warmer weather, it’s a good staging location for fi shing and camping adventures. This time of year, visitors get great access to Snowbowl.

“Missoula is a great place,” said Brent Olson, general manager of the C’mon Inn, which offers 119 rooms and easy access to many local amenities.

“Right across the street is the park and ride for Snowbowl, which offers free shuttles,” he said. “People like to stay here and walk over.”

C’mon Inn is also a great après-ski spot, with fi ve hot tubs and an indoor pool. Olson said the community areas and the guest rooms are both great to hang out in.

“We’re also close to downtown, so there’s a lot you can see and do without even getting in your car,” he said.

For skiers less familiar with Snowbowl, it’s nestled in the Lolo National Forest, has a base elevation of 5,000 feet and receives an average

snowfall of 300 feet. The longest run is 3 miles and has a 2,600 foot vertical drop.

Lift tickets are $42 for all day for adults or $37 ½ day. Students/seniors are $39 and $37, and children 6-12 are $19 for either a full or half day. Lessons are available, and Tuesdays in January are considered “Learn to Ski” days with free beginner lift, plus half-priced lessons and rentals.

There are a variety of stay-and-play packages for Snowbowl at various Missoula hotels or motels, and other seasonal promotions in the works. For example, the Snowbowl Cup Gelande Championship Feb. 25-26 features competitors jumping up to 200 feet to qualify for an $8,000 prize. The Girls on Shred event March 3 lets girls compete for free, and the 24th annual Snowboard Jam offers all fun prizes and challenges.

For more details visit www.montanasnowbowl.com/ or www.cmoninn.com/midwest-hotel-locations/missoula/

winter fun guide, february 4, 2012

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