'Waiting on Mother Nature'

Eager skiers and snowboarders will have to wait another week before hitting the slopes at Turner Mountain. While scheduled to open on Dec. 19, volunteers had to push the date back a week due to a lack of snow.

“We’re just waiting on Mother Nature now,” said Bruce Zwang, president of Kootenai Winter Sports Ski Education Foundation.

If the current schedule holds, Turner will open Dec. 26 and remain open daily until New Year’s Day. After Jan. 1, Zwang said the group will switch back to its usual Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule.

In anticipation of opening amid the coronavirus pandemic, volunteers have taken extra precautions to ensure visitors’ safety. Zwang said plastic dividers have been installed within the ski lodge and seating will be limited at the cafeteria-style tables inside. On days when the weather complies, heated outdoor seating will be offered. Visitors can also grab meals from the lodge’s take-out window.

While a line may occasionally build up in front of the lift, Zwang said visitors naturally social distance when waiting, on account of the spacing created by their skis and snowboards. Nevertheless, volunteers ask that visitors wear masks while waiting in line. Groups visiting the mountain together are encouraged to ride together and singles are advised to ride alone.

During this year’s busy off-season, Zwang said the organization completed a logging project between Chans Run and the lift line. The most notable improvement made to the course this year, the project cleared trees that were growing too close to the lift and greatly improved Chans Run.

Turner Mountain volunteers are continuing fund-raising efforts in hopes of purchasing a new groomer. Since September, the group has gathered donations to replace one of Turner’s two aging machines. These vehicles, which improve conditions by packing snow, are essential to making mountains accessible to beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders.

Zwang said the group hopes to acquire the new groomer sometime this winter.

Anyone interested in adding to the fundraising effort can contact the organization at 406-293-2468 or by mail — care of the Kootenai Winter Sports Ski Education Foundation — at P.O. Box 210, Libby, MT 59923.