Spring was definitely in the air, and the once formidable snow ghosts were on the wane, their branches of pine emerging from their heavy coats of rime (hard white ice that forms when water droplets in fog freeze to the outer surfaces of objects).

An evening of perfection was unfolding before us, the sky clear and blue, the sun in the Western sky lighting the snowy expanses of the mountain in ways we had never seen before. We needed hats and gloves, but the temperature was glorious with its hint of impending spring.

 

Upon arriving at the Summit House, the mountain's topmost eatery, we headed inside to the bar while our table was prepared. During the day the Summit House serves traditional ski cafeteria fare; bread bowls of chili, pizza, hamburgers, hot chocolate and candy bars. So it was fun to see the transformation to table cloths and linen napkins, replete with flowers and candles.

Quite frankly they could have seated us on folding chairs at card tables and the evening would still have been spectacular, as nothing can compare to the views into Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. (see above photo) Murph behind the bar set us up with a beverage while we took in the view. It's funny, even after six years of living here, the view from The Summit House still takes our breath away.

Visiting in the summer is its own brand of spectacular. The chairlift has gondolas added to it, The Summit House is open for lunch, and the bar is open for drinks. We like to bring guests up for a pint of beer, a game of travel Scrabble, and a view with medicinal qualities.

After shooting some panoramic video of the mountains in the afternoon sun, we were seated at our  table where we thoroughly enjoyed the enthusiasm and knowledge of Mason our server. From the presentation of the wine to the timing of salads and entrees, he did a great job.

We waited for the light to fade before making our way to the second half of the adventure, the ski (ride) down. The general atmosphere of the evening is extremely relaxed. There are no set times for departing down the mountain, the ski instructors (guides) are available as guests are ready. We took the opportunity to wait until we were a few of the last remaining visitors, and were treated to a black sky of twinkling stars matched only by the twinkling valley below us. The moon had not risen, and would not until we were well past our run down and on our way home. Such is the timing of spring as we move to longer summer days where it stays light until late evening.

After a quick safety briefing we embarked on part two of the adventure. The sensation of skiing in complete darkness is similar to space, where the sensation of gravity is alleviated since depth perception is compromised. Our guides were skilled ski school instructors, and there were many breaks along the run to help people retain their bearings.

It was a spectacular evening, and in hindsight we recommend that you be a strong intermediate skier or boarder to participate in the nighttime run. This suggestion should not be considered discouraging in the least, since the comfortable and quite Chair 1 is an option for taking the ride down after dinner. Consider it an opportunity to sit back and relax, taking in the inspirational view, not a care in the world.

After making it down the mountain in one piece we headed to the Bierstube for a celebratory beverage, where we ran into a portion of the staff doing the same. Apparently the Bierstube is the place to be after a day's worth of mountain activities, no matter what they are.

Safe to say that the dine and ski is something we wish we had done sooner. On your next visit to this winter wonderland, take the opportunity to enjoy the view.