With the Thanksgiving holiday comes the unofficial start of the ski season in much of the Northwest. Tuesday marks the start of the Yellowstone Ski Festival, an event that draws up to five thousand cross country skiers to the trails just outside the national park every year.
“We’ve had skiers out here skiing on our trails since weekend when we got a good batch of snow," said Moira Dow, festival's director.
“We are currently in the middle of a winter storm so we have received about five to seven inches of snow overnight and it’s continuing to fall," said Dow.
The West entrance to Yellowstone National Park is still closed until mid-December, but the town of West Yellowstone is seeing lots of activity, because of the festival and the teams getting ready, starting last weekend.
“We have people coming out, especially junior teams coming out to train here early and get a jump on their competitive season," said Dow. "Athletes from all over the country where they’re competitive or recreational are getting a jump. And then our businesses here in town that are staying open, they’re open and seeing this great influx of the population.”
The festival is bringing a lot of businesses in the area out of hibernation. Debbie Clark owns the West Yellowstone Bed and Breakfast.
“Quite a few people in town, and with the new snow I think it should definitely help for the Thanksgiving holiday and the ski races," said Clark.
Companies that depend on the park gates being open, like those that rent snowmobiles to park visitors, are still just getting ready for the winter season. That’s not the case with Chad Reichensperger, who rents snowmobiles in the nearby Gallatin National Forest.
“With the ski festival it is, very busy, especially for the park being closed and all that, otherwise there would be no reason to be in town right now," said Reichensperger.
Reichensperger and other renters of snowmobiles are getting ready for what they hope will be a busy season. He says for those who choose to go into the park, the experience will be a lot quieter and cleaner, thanks to new technology mandated by the park service to cut down on noise and pollution. But if you haven’t been to Yellowstone in the last ten to fifteen years, expect an experience that’s a lot more expensive, too.
“Before a person could pay the ten bucks or whatever it was take your sled, go down and see old faithful for the afternoon and come back," said Reichensperger. "Now, it’s gonna run you 200 bucks a day by the time you get your sled and your guide and your permits and all that."
The Yellowstone Ski Festival, which started today, runs through Saturday. The Western Entrance to the Park is closed, and won’t re-open until mid-December.
