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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 7:22:15 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Spaffy on Jan 25, 2022 7:22:15 GMT -5
I swear we had a topic but it must be buried in another one.
BIG SKY...
must ski runs? Insider info? Favorite restaurants or off hill activities? What to do if you take a "rest day"
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 7:38:29 GMT -5
Post by levy24 on Jan 25, 2022 7:38:29 GMT -5
Montana Jacks is good for an apres ski beer. Riverhouse BBQ is worth driving down the road a bit for. Anything off Lone peak is an obvious choice because we don't get to ski terrain like that very often. I really liked a trail called Bears den or Bears lair off the Thunderwolf chair.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 8:49:07 GMT -5
Post by hawk on Jan 25, 2022 8:49:07 GMT -5
Talk to MB He has been out there a bunch. Yes ski Lone peak. But go on the website and read the tram FAQ. You have to purchase tickets separately and I think they are first come to keep the line down. So lone peak. I would ski: Lennon, Marx and the dictators. Nice and steep! Also ski lIbertry bowl down to the glades that surround the Dakota lift. That is a really long run. If the snow is good ski over to the gullies travere and wrap around back to the tram bottom if the line is not long. That is a nice steep run also. Else where: Check out the glades and trails between the Ramcharger and thunderwolf lifts. Fast lifts and sometimes untracked areas. Off of Challenger, Big Rock tongue. Off of Headwaters. Do a short hike to Headwaters bowl, Alder Gultch and Cold Springs. Very good and the hike keeps them in good shape. If you continue on that ridge line, the skiing gets technical really fast. Only go in good conditions. Real steep and the hike is a knife edge. You will see. Go to the Riverhouse. Really good home cooked meals and great barbegue. Also live music. I was not that impressed with most other places but it may have changed. I have not been an a few years.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 10:03:42 GMT -5
Post by Barker on Jan 25, 2022 10:03:42 GMT -5
I think most of the lifts have been replaced since we went out. Terrain hasn't changed except many now being rated triple diamonds. Amazingly big place! Hawk is right about the extra ticket for riding the tram this year, locals in a FB group pointed out you can hike up quicker than the tram line takes. No matter how much snow they have some rocks still stick through and sometimes they seem scattered around groomed runs, so buy insurance if you rent skis. For a day off, take a tour of West Yellowstone - amazing place even in winter.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 12:08:14 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by garcia on Jan 25, 2022 12:08:14 GMT -5
My son Ethan is a lifty there and works as a waiter at the restaurant in town Copper Whisky Bar & Grill its one of the best in town. North Yellowstone is the only part open in the winter unless on a snowmobile tour i believe. North is very cool if you just want to drive around and see Buffalo,elk wolves... there is a hot spring that flows into a river that you can get in even in winter! He may be able to show you around the mountain on a day off. They haven't had much snow regrettably hope it changes as my wife and I are heading out in March.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 12:29:19 GMT -5
Post by MonkeyBrook on Jan 25, 2022 12:29:19 GMT -5
Hawk has it right, agree w everything he said. Great place, so much terrain. And the Turn and Cantle is one of the better restaurants you will ever find at a ski area...highly recommended but bring your wallet. The Cabin is also amazing. Best think about BS is buy a beer in the grocery and carry it around anywhere including your car, no open container law.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 13:48:22 GMT -5
Post by Machski on Jan 25, 2022 13:48:22 GMT -5
Talk to MB He has been out there a bunch. Yes ski Lone peak. But go on the website and read the tram FAQ. You have to purchase tickets separately and I think they are first come to keep the line down. So lone peak. I would ski: Lennon, Marx and the dictators. Nice and steep! Also ski lIbertry bowl down to the glades that surround the Dakota lift. That is a really long run. If the snow is good ski over to the gullies travere and wrap around back to the tram bottom if the line is not long. That is a nice steep run also. Else where: Check out the glades and trails between the Ramcharger and thunderwolf lifts. Fast lifts and sometimes untracked areas. Off of Challenger, Big Rock tongue. Off of Headwaters. Do a short hike to Headwaters bowl, Alder Gultch and Cold Springs. Very good and the hike keeps them in good shape. If you continue on that ridge line, the skiing gets technical really fast. Only go in good conditions. Real steep and the hike is a knife edge. You will see. Go to the Riverhouse. Really good home cooked meals and great barbegue. Also live music. I was not that impressed with most other places but it may have changed. I have not been an a few years. Hawk's ist is all good, I'll just add 2 more. If you are doing the Big Couloir, bee line it to the tram as soon as it opens and get up to the patrol shack with your partner for the run to get on the list early. It is a controlled run and you need all the avi gear (unless you hire a guide, then patrol doesn't check you...go figure. You still need to get on the list with a guide, but not as big of an issue). Off Dictator's cut right if the snow is good towards Castro's wall. While a short line all things considered, it is supposedly the steepest pitch off Lone Peak (steeper than Otter Slide and BC). And if you want to put on a show for the folks driving the highway, hit War Dance off the back of Rendezvous Mountain (this is the run you will see driving up to the base unless it is nuking out). Finally, if you want some quieter runs and the snow is good down low, don't pass on Lone Moose Triple. Some fun Black runs over there and is almost always a ghost town skier/rider wise.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 15:00:01 GMT -5
Post by MonkeyBrook on Jan 25, 2022 15:00:01 GMT -5
Mach, you havent skied BC...come on admit it.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 19:44:34 GMT -5
Post by oldtimer on Jan 25, 2022 19:44:34 GMT -5
Non-ski day: We spent one in Bozeman. Visit the natural history museum. Good take.
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Big Sky
Jan 25, 2022 19:58:01 GMT -5
Post by Machski on Jan 25, 2022 19:58:01 GMT -5
Mach, you havent skied BC...come on admit it. Ask Mrs. Mach.
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Post by melissa on Jan 26, 2022 6:33:35 GMT -5
For a day off definitely do a snowmobile tour through Yellowstone. It was fabulous when I did it, and I’ve always heard the same from anyone else who has as well.
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Post by MonkeyBrook on Jan 26, 2022 8:05:27 GMT -5
My favorite off day activity while visiting Big Sky, go and ski Bridger and drink/eat around Bozeman...each time we have visited the back end of our trip was 2-3 days in Bozeman...great food, bars, breweries and Bridger is a very special place.
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Post by Machski on Jan 26, 2022 10:15:58 GMT -5
For a day off definitely do a snowmobile tour through Yellowstone. It was fabulous when I did it, and I’ve always heard the same from anyone else who has as well. An alternative is a snowcoach tour, but if you go this route, chose the one that uses the True Bombardier snow coaches and not mini buses on treads. Those red sled type coaches can fly (our driver opened it up and had it upwards of 45 MPH!) and you can also chose the option to break off and do a self guided x-country ski or snowshoe portion which will lead you past several off the machine trails geysers/thermo pools and you meet up back at Old Faithfull. We opted for the x-country ski option and it was great! One word of caution if you do West Yellowstone, when you get to town slow down!! In town in the winter, the streets are packed and groomed, not really plowed (due to the amount of sled/snow coach traffic). I know of one board member who totalled their car sliding through an intersection in town on the snow roads.
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Post by hawk on Jan 27, 2022 8:44:52 GMT -5
Unless you are a real good skier and have solid steep techical skiing ability, I would not attempt the big. This is my Friend George Chamberlin. He is a 45 year veteran from Sugarbush who relocated to Big Ski to be with his Family. He is a great skier. He made one mistake at the top of the big and this is what happened. Be careful. I would get a guide to show you the North Snow feilds first before attemting the Big. Big Couloir Tumble
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Big Sky
Jan 27, 2022 14:03:32 GMT -5
Post by MonkeyBrook on Jan 27, 2022 14:03:32 GMT -5
Unless you are a real good skier and have solid steep techical skiing ability, I would not attempt the big. This is my Friend George Chamberlin. He is a 45 year veteran from Sugarbush who relocated to Big Ski to be with his Family. He is a great skier. He made one mistake at the top of the big and this is what happened. Be careful. I would get a guide to show you the North Snow feilds first before attemting the Big. Big Couloir TumbleWe know George, skied w him at BS...did the whole tour of the VT shack w him and Kevin. I knew he was injured had never seen the video. Holy fuck. I have been to BS 4x and have never skied BS, either because of conditions, wind, tram lines, etc. No doubt will do it, but it is pretty fucking scary. He is lucky he is alive.
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