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Big Sky and Bridger Feb. 3-13, 2012

This is the spot to post your trail and trip reports. Please notify [email protected] when you do so that we can feature the better ones on the front of the website.
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marzski
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@RMacSki 271492 wrote:That's awesome, nice TR! I was talking with some friends about going up to bridger next season because it's relatively cheap. This is very convincing.



With regular snow storms, anyone with avy knowledge who likes steeps can certainly stay pretty happy at Bridger for several days. I stayed at a neat little local motel the first night. Right near I-90 a few miles from downtown Bozeman, next to the road to Bridger, hot tub, free continental breakfast, WiFi, direct rate for a single is $39.



Getting to Bozeman is a bit pricey though. I used frequent flyer miles this time. Have heard that flights to Billings are less, but that's a 4-hour drive.



If you end up in the Bozeman area on a Monday night, the 320 Ranch has a $15 all-you-can-eat prime rib dinner that is well worth the drive. On the way to West Yellowstone, about 15 min past the turn off 191 towards Big Sky.
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
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@skipink 271487 wrote:Score one for the Divas!



Hope you can meet more Divas one of these days. Quite a fun bunch. Diva Week East is at Whiteface but it's a direct conflict with the SS Summit. Otherwise I'd try to go because Whiteface it the first big mountain I ever skied at long ago.
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
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@marzski 271511 wrote:There are trees at Big Sky you would have a very good time skiing. JC warmed up fast. We went up the Challenger lift to do a long bump run on his first afternoon (my 3rd ski day). I'd heard it was nice from the Host the day before. She was right. But a bit unnerving to have to watch out for rocks on the traverse around the top after getting off the lift.



oh ok, I'll just have to make the occasional visit to Big Sky also. :) we were all bump runs in Colorado this year since that was the only thing really interesting once the little snow skied off. Actually, did you into Moonlight as well, or even notice the difference?



time to start planning for next year !
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@pagamony 271551 wrote:oh ok, I'll just have to make the occasional visit to Big Sky also. :) we were all bump runs in Colorado this year since that was the only thing really interesting once the little snow skied off. Actually, did you into Moonlight as well, or even notice the difference?



time to start planning for next year !



Do you mean Moonlight Basin? It's a separate lift ticket. We did go over to the the shared lift, called Iron Horse. But mostly to see the runs off the backside of the Challenger lift. Also stopped in to see the base lodge. Not quite as posh as Snowbasin, but still pretty cool.







My sense of Moonlight is that unless you can do the steeps on the headwall, what it has to offer is mainly long, long blue groomers. Not nearly as much pitch as on the Big Sky side. One group of guys I met on the plane flying in spent a day at Moonlight. It's an informal bunch of about 20 who have gotten together to share a house and ski somewhere every year . . . for the last 30 years. The assessment was that it was boring. The local Diva and others who had skied Moonlight at some point didn't recommend checking it out either. There is a reason the lift ticket is cheaper.
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
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That was a great report Marzski, I've seen other ones posted about Big Sky but this one leaves me thinking I MUST someday get out there



I bet conditions up High could be grueling on a bad day
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@marzski 271556 wrote:Do you mean Moonlight Basin? It's a separate lift ticket. We did go over to the the shared lift, called Iron Horse. But mostly to see the runs off the backside of the Challenger lift. Also stopped in to see the base lodge. Not quite as posh as Snowbasin, but still pretty cool.







My sense of Moonlight is that unless you can do the steeps on the headwall, what it has to offer is mainly long, long blue groomers. Not nearly as much pitch as on the Big Sky side. One group of guys I met on the plane flying in spent a day at Moonlight. It's an informal bunch of about 20 who have gotten together to share a house and ski somewhere every year . . . for the last 30 years. The assessment was that it was boring. The local Diva and others who had skied Moonlight at some point didn't recommend checking it out either. There is a reason the lift ticket is cheaper.



I like the mountain goat on the chimney tho...
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@marzski 271513 wrote:With regular snow storms, anyone with avy knowledge who likes steeps can certainly stay pretty happy at Bridger for several days. I stayed at a neat little local motel the first night. Right near I-90 a few miles from downtown Bozeman, next to the road to Bridger, hot tub, free continental breakfast, WiFi, direct rate for a single is $39.



Getting to Bozeman is a bit pricey though. I used frequent flyer miles this time. Have heard that flights to Billings are less, but that's a 4-hour drive.



If you end up in the Bozeman area on a Monday night, the 320 Ranch has a $15 all-you-can-eat prime rib dinner that is well worth the drive. On the way to West Yellowstone, about 15 min past the turn off 191 towards Big Sky.



Bozeman has airfare sales that last through the year in the summer and early fall. it's been frontier the times Ive seen them.
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Ski4Fun
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Lone Peak Tram.... some if the most challenging stuff I have ever done from a ski lift. The Gulleys etc.... some fine skiing. Looks like a blast of a trip. Did you get a chance to drop into Moonight Basin... what a bargain over there. I think we did $50 lift tickets there.



And I forgot to ask about Bridger.... what was that like? never been...



Gotta love Big Sky!!!
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@Ski4Fun 271635 wrote:Lone Peak Tram.... some if the most challenging stuff I have ever done from a ski lift. The Gulleys etc.... some fine skiing. Looks like a blast of a trip. Did you get a chance to drop into Moonight Basin... what a bargain over there. I think we did $50 lift tickets there.



And I forgot to ask about Bridger.... what was that like? never been...



Gotta love Big Sky!!!



Since we were getting daily tickets on a group rate, didn't bother with Moonlight Basin. Look back in the thread for other reasons.



Did you want to know more than what I posted before about Bridger? Note that I'm not the type to deal with hiking and places that require avy gear and knowledge. Lots of that in a normal season at Bridger. Not so much this winter . . . too many exposed rocks.

http://www.skinc.com/messageboard/showp ... ostcount=2
2023-24: Wolf Creek in Dec, Massanutten in Jan, Feb; GT, Big Sky; Crested Butte; Alta/Snowbird in April.
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Sweet pics. I've wanted to head out to Big Sky for a few years. Nice TR. Thanks!
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