TR: Big Sky Delivers

Haven't had the opportunity to post a TR in a while but glad to have scored a trip worth sharing. Spent this past weekend in Big Sky with a pretty perfect string of 3 days. I hadn't been back since the tram went in and was curious to get a taste of the 'biggest skiing in America'.
Although I did shred there in 92 :yourock:
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psad7f51e0.jpg

We arrived on Thursday night and skied Friday with a few inches of fresh and good visibility - perfect for getting our bearings, figuring out the mountain layout, and putting some time in with family. By Friday night snow had arrived, and by Saturday morning it was dumping.

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psd70c75e8.jpg

Saturday was full on storm skiing with refills a plenty. 1thelady1 and TheSis enjoying Saturday mornin
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps73ad56ac.jpg

1thelady1 southside pow
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps04ff041e.jpg

TheSis enjoying a stash on the lower mountain
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psffab0f8b.jpg

Yours truly airing it out
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psa67eb379.jpg

and gettin spinny wid it
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psfc39a2c3.jpg

Storm day at Big Sky was a great change of pace from the UT resorts...almost no one around and fresh lines everywhere but right under the lift. The storm wrapped up that evening after dropping about 12" of fresh. And the next morning, skies were blue (and pink and all that other good shit)
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps30d6cc20.jpg

View of Lone Peak from the lower chair
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps05e644a7.jpg

The storm had some decent wind on the tail end and turned the entire mountain into a fresh canvas. Here some early risers get some wiggles under the Lone Peak Triple
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psc5e350ce.jpg

The addition of the tram really transformed the mountain (i recognize being 20 yrs behind on this but hey, new to me). Off the southside on a powder day there are easily 2000ft alpine descents. Feels quite unique, especially with the limited capacity getting people up there. 1TN1 enjoying a long sunny pow shot from the top of the tram
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps0b65b502.jpg

1thelady1 enjoying the tree stashes lower down
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...pse1b8c5c0.jpg

Some mid mountain wind buff
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps8bb57a09.jpg

Sending
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...pse26ca24d.jpg

Then we took a walk up the ridge. Lone Peak tram lookers left, A-Z Chutes off the left side of the ridge and The Headwaters off the right side into Moonlight Basin.
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps8e627860.jpg

The walk was sporty at times with some big exposure underneath, but each of the tougher spots had some additional holds available.
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps96201304.jpg

We headed to the far end of the ridge and skied down from near the peak lookers right
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps12635621.jpg

Looking down
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psf6511c73.jpg

and up
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psc776240b.jpg

Then headed down for some puppy pow
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps0be7931b.jpg

And hit the road headed back south for a beautiful sunset drive through Yellowstone
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psadd46ce5.jpg


A great string of days that reminded me how fun it is to explore new places and old. Thanks for lookin
1TN1

nice....love seeing Big Sky stoke.

hell ya, it always pumps me up to see the big sky stoke.

very nice! challenger did NOT suck on saturday:), but damn was it crowded:wink:

Was there on Saturday. Wish it had been Sunday for me, blue bird versus cloud central. But powder shots were great either day. Nice tr.

Nice! I love Big Sky.

Nice TR, was a good weekend. Another 3-5" forecast for tonite.

Fingers XXXed

Nice! Headed out to Bridger/BS for a 4.5 days starting Saturday. Don't think I'll hit the weather as well as you did, but that pic of Lone Peak got the stoke metered ratcheted up!

Thanks for the stoke!

fresh pow ...
blue bird ...
phat lines ...
skinny wife ...

living the dream dude ...

living the dream !!!

Lookin good down there! Nice timing of the trip!

yay!!!! i love bigsky!!!!!! great post!!!!!!

I must ski there some day. Love that country...

Apparently I've been working too much... Bunion, when'd ya put the rope in on the hike above Hellroaring? People didn't like wrenching their fingers in the mesh?

Nice little TR, glad ya enjoyed yourselves. I like your perspective on the tram. And your '92 photo. I wish I had ski schoolers showing up in backwards hats.

Way to take Mrs. Naton and get it dude.

Love seeing her negotiating the exposed hike, thats a highlight.

only lived there for 8 years or so but those pictures really brought back the awesomeness stoke factor...THANKS!!!! :yourock:

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...psad7f51e0.jpg

ya but no shit, all your pics have hands in front, like this grom...;)

Thanks all. And thanks Tye, we take that stuf serious!! :)

Sweet trip, was there last year the same weekend. Looks like it delivered!

rice bowl lookin niceee

cant wait to get back there this spring

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1thenaton1

View of Lone Peak from the lower chair
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps05e644a7.jpg

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Just love this pic. Really miss driving up there to see L.P. on a blue bird day with fresh pow. Was my home mtn. for 8 years. Have not been back for a while. Need to. Thanks for the stoke!

Just booked 4/8-4/12 to bozeman. Pics look pretty unsucky. Thx for the stoke lookin forward to hittin it.

Awesomeness. Heading out with orangegondola, some non-mags, and possibly MMP (c'mon dude, make it happen!) on Saturday. You just got me even more stoked - gracias!

big sky = worthy

Was at MLB Thursday, Big Sky Friday, and MLB again for the freaking fantastic Saturday. Man it was prime. Glad you had a great time! Hard not to at at a place like that. Saturday's going down in my books as one of my best ski days ever!

Was in the Big Sky area all last week, and Saturday was the best day I got - Too bad I had to get back on a plane on Sunday AM.

And, you said the walk up the ridge above the challenger chair was 'sporty' - I took off for a solo walk on Saturday right about the time that the wind really picked up. The whiteout conditions let me get to within one step of falling off the ridge onto the Big Sky side - my next step was going to be air, maybe about where the next group back is?
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps96201304.jpg

Decided I had gone far enough and dropped into the MLB side, about the 3rd chute/run, Firehole I think? Great snow, would have been epic on Sunday.