Little snow remains from the early powder dumps that blanketed slopes across Montana last month, but don’t count this ski and snowboarding season out just yet.

For ski areas from Lookout Pass to Red Lodge Mountain, this won’t be a repeat of last year, when a round of early winter storms allowed many of them to start spinning the chairs early. But as the last remnants of snow melt from the shaded northern slopes, many are hopeful the long-term forecasts for a cooler, wetter winter will bear out.

As of Friday, Big Sky Resort was planning to open Wednesday.

“We’re hurting for snow right now, but staying positive,” said Chad Sokol, spokesman for Whitefish Mountain Resort. “We’re still looking forward to a great season, and the snow will get here when it gets here.”

Despite averaging more t

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