2012 Montana Conditions, Stoke and Whatev Thread

[swimmy]

So with the fancy new tram, sign outs still in the penalty box?

Correct.

[swimmy]

Bridger with a pretty good April Fools joke

[Trackhead]

Peeps on the IG are having heart attacks….

[swimmy]

Peeps on the IG are having heart attacks….

Yep.

Been fun watching the clouds roll through the Bridgers the past few days.

[slcdawg]

As someone who visits Bridger regularly over the years and knows just enough to get in trouble without following local friends, I’d say that Northern exposures are your friend with how much warm and sun there has been this season. The second and third Fingers are good starting places that you can see/scout from the bottom. Also Madman’s is go to for me, half the hike and most all the fun.

But, Bridger sucks… tell your friends

Had a great time skier BB on Saturday after the fog lifted. Thanks for the beta, 2nd finger skied great. Didn't get any more hiking in but N/NE aspects were nice and soft off Schlashman's. Daughter was digging the terrain.

What is the mountain biking like around Bozeman? Looks like some good options about 30 min out of town, is there anything closer?

[byates1]

https://snowbrains.com/taylor-swift-...te-ski-resort/

What. Nothing surprises me anyone.

[Bunion 2020]

Had a great time skier BB on Saturday after the fog lifted. Thanks for the beta, 2nd finger skied great. Didn't get any more hiking in but N/NE aspects were nice and soft off Schlashman's. Daughter was digging the terrain.

What is the mountain biking like around Bozeman? Looks like some good options about 30 min out of town, is there anything closer?

A 2 edged sword. There is good mountain biking but almost all of it requires putting the bike on the vehicle and driving to a trail head.

[byates1]

https://snowbrains.com/taylor-swift-...te-ski-resort/

What. Nothing surprises me anyone.

Maybe April fools

[SUPERIOR]

Big April Fools! Got me for a minute


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[byates1]

Not out of the realm of possibility

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

A 2 edged sword. There is good mountain biking but almost all of it requires putting the bike on the vehicle and driving to a trail head.

This. Just based on the width of the valley etc. If town were built touching up against the mountains like Helena it would be a different story. That being said we have tons of amazing riding and it's worth loading the bike up for a relatively quick drive. Like pretty much anywhere on the planet you can drive a bit and ride trails and see maybe one or two other people. Or just go to Leverich on Friday at 5pm lol.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

Had a great time skier BB on Saturday after the fog lifted. Thanks for the beta, 2nd finger skied great. Didn't get any more hiking in but N/NE aspects were nice and soft off Schlashman's. Daughter was digging the terrain.

What is the mountain biking like around Bozeman? Looks like some good options about 30 min out of town, is there anything closer?

The closest ride where you don't have to drive and can rack up some good miles is riding some combo of Peets Hill > Highland Glen > Painted Hills > Triple Tree. We're lucky to have that much mileage out your door (if you live in town), but it's all really mellow. Which makes it awesome for a lot of reasons, but an experienced biker might be bored quick on a longer travel FS bike. It's more suited to an XC or even a gravel bike.

[Bunion 2020]

^^^ Just started a project to the west of Painted Hills. 160 acres that will include additional existing trails that will tie to Painted Hills.

Living on the west side a gravel bike is a huge asset.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

Oh funny, I just drove by that yesterday and was wondering what that development is. That's great to hear about new trails tying in.

Totally agree. I'm in town, but try to get to River/Axtell Anceney anytime I can on the gravel bike. So fun.

[slcdawg]

The closest ride where you don't have to drive and can rack up some good miles is riding some combo of Peets Hill > Highland Glen > Painted Hills > Triple Tree. We're lucky to have that much mileage out your door (if you live in town), but it's all really mellow. Which makes it awesome for a lot of reasons, but an experienced biker might be bored quick on a longer travel FS bike. It's more suited to an XC or even a gravel bike.

Thanks, that looks close enough to ride from campus.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

oh yeah that's easy - you just ride to the Galligator trail and take that to Peets Hill

[slcdawg]

This. Just based on the width of the valley etc. If town were built touching up against the mountains like Helena it would be a different story. That being said we have tons of amazing riding and it's worth loading the bike up for a relatively quick drive. Like pretty much anywhere on the planet you can drive a bit and ride trails and see maybe one or two other people. Or just go to Leverich on Friday at 5pm lol.

Makes sense. She's gonna go without a car the first year, but hopefully can bum a ride.

[2Harsh]

The silly season for making decisions about buying passes for the '24-'25 is in full swing for me. I see the Ikon base pass requires reservations at Big Sky. Anyone have experience with the BS reservation system? Do weekends get sold out? Other barriers to using the base pass other than the blackout dates?

[yeahman]

The silly season for making decisions about buying passes for the '24-'25 is in full swing for me. I see the Ikon base pass requires reservations at Big Sky. Anyone have experience with the BS reservation system? Do weekends get sold out? Other barriers to using the base pass other than the blackout dates?

I didn't have any problem making an Ikon reservation for my daughter mid-March. You make the reservation through Ikon, not through Big Sky. If you just show up without a res you won't be turned away but you'll get a scolding email from Ikon saying if you do it again your pass may get suspended. (Some lady on the chair told me that.) FWIW Big Sky has not been busy this year, partly bc of low snow but I also get the feeling the whole pandemic/Ikon mad rush is over. Everybody did their Montana vacation, now they are going other places. Also, with the increased tram capacity, I just can't see them turning away Ikon pass skiers or any skiers. You could call Mountain Services and inquire if it ever happened this year. I doubt it.

[toast2266]

FWIW Big Sky has not been busy this year, partly bc of low snow but I also get the feeling the whole pandemic/Ikon mad rush is over. Everybody did their Montana vacation, now they are going other places.

Same deal in whitefish (which isn't ikonic). It was a bad snow year, but some of the pandemic years weren't great either. This year was much, much less busy than the madness 2 years ago.

[2Harsh]

The silly season for making decisions about buying passes for the '24-'25 is in full swing for me. I see the Ikon base pass requires reservations at Big Sky. Anyone have experience with the BS reservation system? Do weekends get sold out? Other barriers to using the base pass other than the blackout dates?

I called the BS ticketing office. The customer service rep said that since joining the Ikon pass BS has never had turn away pass holders due to a lack of available reservations. Good to know.

[swimmy]

Got out for a little hike today with the Mrs. Killer weather.



Ran into WRG at the trailhead. Small world...

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Got out for a little hike today with the Mrs. Killer weather.



Ran into WRG at the trailhead. Small world...

Haha, that was funny. Happened to be out that way looking at some land and the dogs needed to stretch their legs.



Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[toastybroski]

Haha, that was funny. Happened to be out that way looking at some land and the dogs needed to stretch their legs.



Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

Damn if only the Tobacco roots had easier access. Such nice mountains.

[Norseman]

Better access? T-roots have some of the best access around, IMO.

Lots of old mining activity so there are many 4x4 roads that go high, no Wilderness, lots of sledding and rugged bc MTB.

40+ peaks over 10k ft, pretty dense sweet highcountry.