Whitefish Mountain Resort to Open Runaway Train
Ribbon will be Cut on New Freeride Mountain Bike Trail Saturday
WHITEFISH, Mont. – Whitefish Mountain Resort will host a party and ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, August 16, to celebrate the opening of “Runaway Train”, a new freestyle downhill mountain biking trail on the slopes of Big Mountain.
Mountain biking enthusiasts, resort officials, and the U.S. Forest Service have been working together for more than five years to build the trail.
Around three miles long, Runaway Train took less than a month to complete once construction began. It received finishing touches the previous weekend courtesy of Mother Nature and the rain she brought to pack down the dirt.
“All of our trails, including Runaway Train, are in remarkable condition for this time of year. Last weekend’s rain really knocked the dust down and packed some loose spots,” said Josh Knight, who oversees mountain biking operations at the resort. “It’s going to be a great opening day for the Train.”
Saturday’s festivities will include music, food and drink specials at the Summit House, and a ribbon cutting ceremony at high noon.
“We’ll actually allow people one run in the morning if they’d like,” said Knight. “But then we’ll close the trail at 11:30, gather everyone at the Summit, and make a big to-do out of cutting the ribbon.”
The trail was built by the resort’s mountain biking staff, a bevy of volunteers, and May Lawn and Home Care, a local business who provided machinery and dirt-working expertise. “Don’t let the name fool you,” said Knight. “They are serious mountain biking enthusiasts, and they built us an amazing trail.”
Several local mountain bikers volunteered their time to assist with the hand work on the trail. Those who have ridden it have compared it to Fernie, Whistler, and other well-known mountain biking destinations.
Runaway Train includes more than 29 berms, 6 rock drops, 1 rock wall ride, 3 natural terrain wall rides, more than 24 jumps of varying sizes, one large technical section of single track near the top, and a ‘flowy’ section on Russ’s Street at the end.
Knight says he would classify the trail as just in between the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) definitions of intermediate and advanced trails. The resort will be distributing updated trail maps that include Runaway Train marked as a black diamond. The other lift-accessed trail, the Summit Trail, is marked as a blue square.
“This trail is the first step in our evolution as a mountain biking destination,” said Knight. “It’s a different kind of trail, for a different kind of rider. It was built from the ground up by people very familiar with the current state of the sport, and it is by far the best lift-accessed trail in the state.”
More information about Runaway Train and Saturday’s festivities is available from the Events Department at the resort at 406/862-2911.
** Note: The following images of train construction are available for publication with this release. Please credit Whitefish Mountain Resort. **
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About Whitefish Mountain Resort
For more than 60 years, Whitefish Mountain Resort has been America’s favorite destination for good times, good people, and great snow. Rising above the historic railroad town of Whitefish, in beautiful northwest Montana, the resort has gained notoriety for its laid-back vibe, world-class skiing, and spectacular summer recreation. Boasting more than 3,000 acres of bowls, chutes, and glades, and more than 300 inches of Rocky Mountain snow, Whitefish’s Big Mountain is the quintessential skier's mountain. Ranked in the top 20 in SKI magazine’s annual reader survey, it is just as well known for a pleasant lack of lift lines as it is for friendly people and deep powder.
When the snow melts, summer brings the breathtaking Walk in the Treetops canopy tour, lift serviced hiking and mountain biking, and breathtaking views of Glacier National Park, the Flathead Valley, and the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the resort. Just minutes away from downtown Whitefish, the Mountain Village offers a full range of amenities, including fine dining, shopping, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. For more information on visiting Whitefish, visit skiwhitefish.com or call 877-SKI-FISH.
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