Bear Paw Ski Bowl has a good season

With warmer weather and dwindling snowfall putting an end to the ski season, Bear Paw Ski Bowl Hill Manager Dave Martens said the slope saw a good year. "We had really good numbers," he said. "It's not a record year, but we had really good support from the community." More families came to cut powder on the local hill this year, he said, adding that the economy and distance and expense of other hills in the state probably kept more people closer to home. "We're just trying to keep it reasonable to people can use it," he said. "So we're lucky, for being on the prairie. I feel that we're really lucky to have a ski area, and it's thanks to The Chippewa Cree Tribe," he said. The Tribe doesn't get a lot out of the hill and puts a lot of effort into it, he added. Volunteers also keep the hill running, he said, including the Eagle Creek Ski Patrol and the Snow Dance Ski Association, because they believe in the importance of teaching youth to ski. If more snow doesn't fall this week, the slope, which has been open since late January, will likely be closed this weekend or next, he said, adding that fundraising will probably be done this summer to start gathering funds to put in some snow-making equipment to keep the slope open longer.