Montana Skiing: Middle Fork Flathead skiing. Elk, Shields, and Marion Lake.

Its been warm and sunny in the valleys all week, but still winter up here in the mountains. With reports of great snow in the Middle Fork of the Flathead area, Kevin and I headed north for some skiing. We left Missoula well before the crack of dawn on Tuesday met Stewart in Columbia falls and headed east on highway 2 towards Marias Pass. 40 degrees in the canyon with a foot of dirty pine and grime covered snow along side the road made this feel like a spring corn day.
We were greeted by gusty winds as we strapped our boots on at the Elk Mountain trailhead. We followed the trail north crossed the railroad and made our way through the isothermal slush eventually gaining the ridge of Shields. Above 5500' the snow was much more winter-like. Making good time to the sub-summit of Mt. Shields we relaxed on top and decided on our next run. There are many options from here. One could ski south west into the many aesthetic avalanche chutes and exit shields creek, ski west to Shields proper bowls, or continue west and south bowl bouncing the running rabbit traverse. We decided to go for the double-summit skiing the east chute towards Elk Mountain.
After eating cookies in the canyon we ascended the east ridge of Elk Mountain. We decided on skiing the 3000' back strap run rather than the steep exposed east face of Elk due to wind-loading. What a beautiful ski run in the setting sun back to cold beer and warm weather at the truck.
Both of these mountains offer stunning views of the many ski runs on the south end of Glacier Park, Mt. St. Nick, and east to the rolling plains of the rocky mountain front.

Day two more snow and dropping temperatures were on the way. After a relaxing night in our wood heated West Glacier cabin we made a big breakfast and headed for Marian Lake. Marian Lake trailhead is accessed via the groomed ski trails at the Izaak Walton Inn. Once at Marian lake there are many options for all ability levels, conditions, and aspects making this a local favorite spot. We enjoyed a few powder glade runs to the north of the lake. By the end of the day 6" of light snow had fell in the mountains. Snow picked up as the evening went on, near whiteout conditions on the drive out of middlefork. Whitefish picked up at least 3" before we headed south back home and by Kailspell, nothing but rain. Felt good to find winter amiss this spring like December weather.