As a skier I look forward to the winters, we get both Pacific and Arctic weather so the winters are cold enough to keep deep powder around in the mountains but

As a skier I look forward to the winters, we get both Pacific and Arctic weather so the winters are cold enough to keep deep powder around in the mountains but warm enough to stabilize the snowpack and reduce avalanche danger for backcountry skiing. The climate is actually reasonably mild in the valley (3,500'), it snows but it usually melts within days or weeks if it is a very cold spell. I'm able to run outside all winter long wearing a light fleece layer and occasionally using microspikes for traction if it is icy. The local ski area is in a pass at 7k feet and closes if it gets much bellow 0 F which only happened a couple of days this year. Missoula and the Flathead vallies to the north get inversions causing haze in the valley bottoms much of the winter but the bitterroot gets more sunny winter days.