Real Estate Information

New Years weekend saw me busy showing homes to 3 buyer groups. 1 local web site contacts, 1 web contact from OK, 1 local past client. Showings from Kalispell to Whitefish, bank owned to not. Lots of variety.

We have had snow and more snow in the valley and on the ski hill. Really starting to pile up. Temps have warmed which we are appreciating.

This weekend starts the guided snowshoe excursions in Glacier National Park. Saturdays and Sundays, just show up with your snowshoes and join in. Lone Pine State Park is offering some guided walks as well.

An exercise on Big Mountain that is somewhat popular and can be seen from the chair lift: skinning up the mountain. Skiers put skins on their skis, walk UP the hill and then ski down, probably a great workout, but I prefer riding up.

Whitefish Winter Carnival activites beginning and continuing for the next month.

Get out there and enjoy winter in the Flathead!

Local government updates:

Residents in the "donut" area of Whitefish are making an effort to get an initiative on ballot regarding who - county, or city - should be able to rule on their planning and zoning issues.

Whitefish ice cream shop owners of Mrs. Spoonovers have fought hard for their sign rights on the building in court and won but now will be closing due to financial reasons. Very sad ending to the little guy finally getting justice.

Flathead County Planning is approving a special zoning area in Lakeside near Flathead Lake. City of Kalispell is proposing increased sewer rates but has tabled a decision for now.

On a weather note, we have had many sunny days this week and the holiday tourists are making a grand appearance on the slopes and at hotels and restaurants. Yesterday morning driving back from the gym, I felt Big Mountain (sorry, Whitefish Mountain Resort) pulling me towards it like a magnet. Full moon, blue skies, sunshine, but alas - it was a day for working. Today however is a different matter. The luxury of a ski pass and the short drive make it a no brainer to head up early, ski and be back for lunch and work.

If the camera battery holds in the cold, will post a photo of the amazing snow ghosts and views later today! Merry Christmas and looking towards a promising new year!

1) I have skied Big Mountain - now called Whitefish Mountain Resort - for 27 years and never tire of being on the hill. I was up there today in the sun and here is the mountain's daily video l 2) Friendly people even in the holiday hussle and bussle

3) 4 seasons - I love the summer and winter, different outdoor activities abound

4) Views of the Rockies and into Glacier National Park

5) Only 15% of the land her is privately owned so millions of acres of wilderness to enjoy with horses, x-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, etc.

6)Only 16" of rain yearly on average, being from Seattle, this is a big +

Christmas events in the next few days:

Alpine Theater Project annual Christmas production is Monday and Tuesday and nearly sold out. Stars from far and wide come into the valley to share their talents.

Restaurants are pulling out all the stops for the holidays, many with new menus. Capers, in downtown Kalispell is again open for lunch in addition to dinner. GREAT spot for a quick meal and their always popular homemade soups. Ceaser salads with chicken can't be beat either. Had an after skiing burger at the Whitefish Lake Lodge yesterday. Always a treat with the lake views. Cafe Kandahar on the mountain has been open again for a couple of weeks, 5 star dining as far as I am concerned.

We were there today, awesome skiing in the sunshine. Here is the video from the mountain:

Holiday activities in the Flathead Valley are picking up speed, see a list below.

Took a drive on the Kalispell bypass (alternate route) last weekend. Speeds up the drive from the north to the south. No traffic lights but roundabouts control access and exit.

Had a wonderful dinner at the Whitefish Lake Restaurant Sunday night. The atmosphere cannot be beat. Log inside, roaring fire, low lights, and great food. Reserve early for Christmas plans. Another restaurant in Whitefish, Latitude 48 on Central downtown, good value and good food.

Events this weekend:

Whitefish Mountain Resort opens to a record opening snowfall. See you there on Saturday! skiwhitefish.com for conditions.

Friday night from 5-9 is the Kalispell Christmas Art Walk. Always fun to stroll around town and visit shops and galleries.

Friday night in Columbia Falls: Christmas lighting and parade. Here is a photo of my Maggie and Molly enjoying the sun and snow this week.

Flathead Living Thankfulness:

1) Awe inspiring views, all 360 degrees, of the Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Ski Mtn - all from my home

2) Flathead Lake to sail on: largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi

3) Neighbors who help each other out

4) Ability to own acreage and have critters, peace and quiet and space

5) 4 seasons of weather and outdoor activities

6) Miles of horse riding trails and wilderness areas

7) Having only 15% of the land privately owned and the majority of the balance there to play in

8) Glacier National Park in my backyard

9) 2 ski areas within minutes of home and with no crowds

10) No traffic - at least when it isn't summer :)

11) Small town atmosphere even though we have grown so much

12) Glacier International Airport so we can get where we want to go

13) Flathead Community College - a great learning facility in our corner of the state

14) Medical facilities that are top notch with staffs to match

15) Great fitness facilities with instructors who have worked in large cities and are very good at what they do

I know I will come up with more, this is just a start of what makes me so thankful to live in NW Montana!

    I am looking out my window on this cold and windy Saturday at the remnants of snow on the roof. Wind chill is brrr! Blanketed the horses, shut the chickens in, left the heat lamp on for the goats and plan on staying inside!

    Kalispell bypass officially opened this week. After decades of discussions the south end starting south of town and ending at Hwy 2, is completed. I frankly thought this would never happen in my lifetime, but there you go, it exists.

    This is still the shoulder season in the valley. Ski hills open the first of December, no summer activities left to do. Thanksgiving this next week will mark the beginning of the busy winter time in the Flathead Valley. I noticed Costco had crowds this week comparable to the summer crowds after a few quiet weeks.

    More next week, enjoy your holiday!

  Took a great Sunday scenic drive the other fall day. North to Whitefish, continue to Eureka, left to Rexford and along the Kookanusa reservoir, south to Hwy 2. Stopped to visit the dam. Beautiful fall colors and scenic drive. Had no idea there were marinas along the way. People out fishing.

  Our local von Trapp kids will soon be seen on the Oprah show. They are decendents of Maria von Trapp of Sound of Music fame. We saw them when they were much younger at a performance in the valley. Fantastic voices!

  Election, election, always in the news these days. County commisioner is one of the biggest races. Judges, state representatives, and various other positions. Have never seen so much news coverage over an election. It is probably that way all over the country.

  SNOW on the hill!  Lots of excitment and here is a short youtube video taken yesterday.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3VfouKoj0E  copy and paste this link. Enjoy!

   Amazing sunrises this week. Red filtered sky over the Swan Range of the Rocky Mountains. Very cold in the morning, sunny and very pleasant afternoons. Finally had our first hard frost this week, so out went the remaining flowers out of the garden. Fall clean-up is complete.

    Flathead Valley Community College culinary arts program is such a jewel in this valley. Chef Howard from NY has a passion for bringing first class teaching and cuisine to his students. We attended the Chef's Table dinner at the college last night. Up to 52 diners pay a mere $38 a piece, to sit at a table in the kitchen with monitors to watch the behind the scene goings on. We were served a 5 course meal with the chef explaining the cooking process and ingredients used. For tonight's Food and Wine Festival fund raising event for the college, the Chef said he was having a #1 graded tuna flown in from Hawaii. It was caught Thursday and is flown to the valley immediately so it is only 48hrs from time of catching to serving guests tonight at the big event.

    Leaves are falling and it is a beautiful time to visit the valley. Showings on my listings have spiked this week. Fall used to be a great time to sell a house but in this market, I don't make predictions any more.