Is there any October skiing in Montana?

[INDY GS]

So It looks like I'll be in Missoula visiting my little sister during the first of October, and was wondering if there is any hike to opportunities or even ribbon of death. It doesn't have to be spectacular, somthing like St Marys in Colorado would be fine. I just won't have the same free time in Denver that I will in Montana, so would like to squeeze in some turns if possible.

We will be going up to glacier, and also heading thru jackson, then to denver and back to Indiana.

Thanks for any info.

[FreakofSnow]

i'm sure that you will be able to find something in October somewhere in Montana. Here in SW Montana, there are no places that have "easy access" like St Mary's does. Most things that I can think of down here might require long approaches. I would think your best bet would be up towards Glacier NP. Maybe some of the NW Montana maggs might be able to help out. PM me when it gets closer to Oct.

btw - the mtns around the Gallatin Valley are all white as of yesterday. Winter is coming.....

[INDY GS]

Thanks FoS, What do you consider a long approach? I'd hike a few miles if necessary, if the reward is worth the approach. I would hate to hike in 5 or more miles for something as low key as St Marys.

We plan on coming thru Bozeman on the way out. I'll shoot you a PM as the time draws near. It will be here before we know it.

[FreakofSnow]

October is a crap shoot for snow in Montana. There will likely be snow up high, but the question will be - where is the snowline?

In general, at least around here, i have found that Montana is a far cry from the access that you get in Colorado. There just aren't as many roads that get up into higher elevations. So that means that many of the approaches are at least 5 miles. And in October, there may not be much vert to be had.

[iceman]

Maybe something off the Beartooth? I hear Red Lodge is notorious for early dumps (and then no more snow until March) so maybe you could even hike the resort if you got really lucky.

[midget]

Well, they did fire up the gondola an one other chair up in October after a 3 foot storm a few years ago.....It was pretty fun, but I'm doubting that will ever happen again with the current ownership.

[Mountainman]

Don't know about October, but this fucking looks promising for this weekend!

NOW... AREAS OF SNOW WILL MAINLY ABOVE 8000 FEET TODAY IN THE NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE AN INCH OR TWO...MAKING HIGHWAYS SLICK IN SPOTS. PASSES AFFECTED INCLUDE TETON PASS... TOGWOTEE PASS...BEARTOOTH PASS AND MOST PASSES IN YELLOWSTONE PARK.

[Castro's]

Originally posted by midget
Well, they did fire up the gondola an one other chair up in October after a 3 foot storm a few years ago.....It was pretty fun, but I'm doubting that will ever happen again with the current ownership.

That was great! October 15 and 16 we hiked towards Challanger and built a nice sized booter. October 17 I made laps on Mr. K. and not long after we were skiing the bowl. Early season conditions did exist however.