Ski and snowboard season began today at Whitefish Mountain Resort -- and as always, it was a festive occasion for a town that works hard, and skis harder. It's always such a great feeling to click into my bindings and glide up to the chairlift for the first time, thinking about the season ahead and recalling some of the sweeter moments from the seasons behind.

Skiers are a hearty breed and it was a day for hearty souls, with gusty winds at the summit, temps in the teens, and red, rosy cheeks everywhere I looked. Not surprisingly, I quickly remembered how to do this thing I love so much, and was soon exploring the North face of the mountain, looking for nooks and crannies that were holding some untouched, fluffy snow.

Of course, I had to do my due diligence and test out "Mahogany Ridge" at the end of the day. I found the usual characters saddled up to the bar at the Hellroaring Saloon, The Bierstube, and Ed & Mully's. I'm excited to show the hard-working journalists our beautiful ski mountain this winter -- as well as some of the finer points of the Whitefish ski life off the slopes.