Day 78, 80
Location: Big Sky, MT
Resorts: 38 out of 40
Home sweet home. Big Sky has been base of The Snow Junkies for the last six years. Tucked away in a corner of southwest Montana, a group of us migrated here years ago to escape the massive crowds that plague Colorado slopes. Snow has been a scarcity here this season…except for when I showed up. Two feet during the week. Take that spring! Old man winter lives again.
The big draw is the 15 person bucket tram that takes you to the top of Lone Peak. Up here you’ll find bowls and chutes and powder up to your knees. On a big snow day, I usually skip the tram which fills up with hour long lines and head over to the rickety Challenger double. Steep faces and snow filled trees can be found over here. If the A-Z chutes are open, they’re worth a hike. Bring a pack…the trail across the ridge can be treacherous.
Of all the sweet irony, my home mountain refused to cooperate with photography the two days I was there (and I was knee deep in fresh snow). I snapped a two pictures from Moonlight Basin on the one day the sun came out. Want to see more pictures? Get your ass on a plane and come out to Montana. It’s one of the best resorts in the world.
The Cheat Sheet:
Big Sky Resort
1 Lone Mountain Trail
Big Sky, MT 59716
Mountain Stats
Snowfall | 400 in (1,016 cm) |
Top Elevation | 11,166 ft (3,403 m) |
Bottom Elevation | 6,800 ft (2,073 m) |
Vertical Drop | 4,350 ft (1,326 m) |
Area Size | 21 lifts | 150 trails | 3,812 acres (1,543 ha) acres |
Night Skiing | No |
Terrain Park | Yes |
Halfpipe | Yes |