2012 Montana Conditions, Stoke and Whatev Thread

[Lev]

I didn't make the final cut, but oh well. This vid is fucking great. Cheers

[mtcham]

^^^ Awesome vid!

[BigSkyfan]

Great video!!! Lots of fun. Girl in pink top and blue shorts hot!!!

[Lomax]

anyone going to Cooke City this weekend?

[powfiend]

anyone going to Cooke City this weekend?

Snow level is 8 to 85 the next 2 days looks like its gonna be a rain fest instead of corn fest... Bear basin was skiing really well the last two days, about a foot up top yesterday and beehive was even pretty good on the way out yesterday

[ODHGABFE]

Saw a mama bear and her two cubs coming out of a den while skinning up bear basin back to beehive, about 40 yards downhill from where everyone tops out on the skin track up the beehive side. Was happy they had just woken up and didn't mind us there, because I was 20 ft away when I saw them. Keep yer head up, don't forget the bear spray, and yer bear awareness..


Will be at Cooke with a bunch of other big sky folks. Been hearing good things from out there lately, hopefully we get lucky with weather.

[powfiend]

Saw a mama bear and her two cubs coming out of a den while skinning up bear basin back to beehive, about 40 yards downhill from where everyone tops out on the skin track up the beehive side. Was happy they had just woken up and didn't mind us there, because I was 20 ft away when I saw them. Keep yer head up, don't forget the bear spray, and yer bear awareness..


Will be at Cooke with a bunch of other big sky folks. Been hearing good things from out there lately, hopefully we get lucky with weather.

Was this yesterday? My dog was growling at something on the way back up around the same location. presuming you followed the skin track straight up through the trees we put in yesterday. Hope things are good down at cooke. decided to take the sleds out to ferry lake tomorrow instead due to colder air mass staying up here more.

[ODHGABFE]

Yeah powfiend, I was the one you saw tumble after landing flat off that tiny air. Ha! I was going to look at that little pillow, we had skied by it, and it turned out to be the entrance to their den.

[Bunion 2020]

We 100% sure it is 4/20 and not 7/20?

Went riding at L&C today and it was freakin hot!

[Lomax]

Cooke was great shredding on the friday before everyone came for cornfest. beehive looks like the place to be tomorrow in the AM.

[MTColdsmoke::]

Beehive was amazing on Saturday!! Love the spring storm.

[ODHGABFE]

Great turns were had in beehive this morning. Didn't get up that high, just past Wilderness, since it was socked in and snowing. About 6" at 9000', nice and dry our first two runs, but by the time we skied our third and final at 12:00 it had quickly gotten wet and heavy; kicked numerous wet slides on the east-facing slope we'd been skiing, wasn't an issue prior to that. No surprise there, as it is May 27th; was still surprised to see 5 separate groups still on their way up at 1:00pm..but who am i to judge. Will probably let things settle for a bit before going out again, forecast doesn't look the most cooperative to skiing.

Wish I had some photos for ya, don't have uploading capabilities now. Have had some good tours this month though. What have you been doing?

[08-15]

I went up Hyalite Creek, just for a hike with the dog. There was quite a bit of new snow, and I saw a skin track of someone who apparently went up there solo and pretty late. I was back at the trailhead in my car by 7pm, that person was not. I took a picture of the license plate and stickers of their Subaru Outback, but don't really know what to do with it. I hope he/she is OK. Stay safe out there...

[BobbyBill]

Was really fun skiing on Saturday the 26th up Beehive/Bear basin over into the Mirror Lake area. Had never been up there before and a buddy toured me around. 5 to 6 inches of creamy new on a well consolidated base. I'm ready for bike season to start again, though!Attachment 116423Attachment 116424Attachment 116425Attachment 116426Attachment 116427

[TijmenDal]

So, I'll be studying out at MSU next year (I'm a transfer student from Amsterdam), which season pass should I go for? Bridger Sounds sick, but I've heard about long lift lines as well as a terrible park. The short ride really appeals to me though.
Big Sky sounds cool too: quiet, nice park, terrain not nearly as nice.

How crowded is Bridger? That's my main concern I think...

[Bunion 2020]

Look into Moonlight Basin, inexpensive pass, excellent steeps, best park in the area, usually non-existent lines and I work there!

BTW Big Sky ain't as quiet as it used to be. The Tram line blows dead dogs.

[TijmenDal]

Look into Moonlight Basin, inexpensive pass, excellent steeps, best park in the area, usually non-existent lines and I work there!

BTW Big Sky ain't as quiet as it used to be. The Tram line blows dead dogs.

Thanks for the advice. Isn't there a combined pass for Moonlight/Big Sky though (or for like just a little extra). It sounds like a pain driving for 60-90 minutes a day to get there though... That's why Bridger appeals to me.

You think I could enjoy myself for a season at Moonlight? Lots of terrain, slackcountry, backcountry and park options?

Thanks in advance.

[08-15]

So, I'll be studying out at MSU next year (I'm a transfer student from Amsterdam), which season pass should I go for? Bridger Sounds sick, but I've heard about long lift lines as well as a terrible park. The short ride really appeals to me though.
Big Sky sounds cool too: quiet, nice park, terrain not nearly as nice.

How crowded is Bridger? That's my main concern I think...

Yeah, Bridger's park sucks ass, that is true. However, long lift lines are a myth, except maybe for the Slushman's lift on a powder weekend day.

[MontuckyFried]

Yeah, Bridger's park sucks ass, that is true. However, long lift lines are a myth, except maybe for the Slushman's lift on a powder weekend day.

Agreed. I think that anyone who complains about lift lines ANYWHERE in Montana are obviously way spoiled by skiing in Montana, and apparently haven't spent enough time at any of the major Colorado, California, or east coast resorts. Spent some great powder days at Big Sky, Moonlight, and Bridger this season, and I don't remember ever encountering any lift lines worth mentioning.

[TijmenDal]

Ok; that's very good to hear. I don't know what you Americans call 'long'.
We in Europe are VERY spoiled when it comes to lifts. Pretty much only fast 6-seaters with a bubble and heated seats and awesome gondola's. Lift lines usually are less than a minute and rarely more than 10 minutes.

From all the movies I've been watching, it looks like American lifts are a little older; what is Bridger like? Good lifts? I see there's only 6 lifts in Bridger, whereas I'm used to lifts with 50+ lifts at the least (once again, spoiled European).
I plan on getting at least 4 days in a week, but don't have money to buy two season passes, so I'm not sure if skiing all the time at Bridger would get boring, especially if it would be a bad year like last ones, where I wouldn't be able to ski a lot of pow/terrain.

[Bobcat Sig]

Yes, we Montanans are spoiled with the lift lines.

Yes, it's true; Bridger is much closer to Bozeman. You will find lines there, even on a weekday if there's been a storm that rolls through. The weekends almost always have a line due to the proximity of Bozeman. Terrain is good, but different than Big Sky.

Yes, Big Sky is farther, but all the lifts are faster and longer. There are some lines. As Bunion mentioned, the Tram line can get horrendously long and you'll inevitably have to put up with some jackwagon who's been in Big Sky two season, calls himself a local and is too cool for school.

Moonlight is also great. The Headwaters area is rad, but like most of Lone Peak, needs some snow pack to be decent. Rarely, are there lines. Though you may wait a bit on weekends at the bottom of Six Shooter, but it's all relative and that line isn't that long.

The bottom line is that whatever pass you choose, it will be a great choice. You have three world class ski areas within 45 miles of Bozeman. You can't go wrong.

Oh, and welcome to Big Sky Country.

[BigSkyfan]

IMO...college kid budget, you'll get more bang for your buck with a Moonlight pass, excluding the drive from Bozeman. However, there is cheap public transportation from Bozeman to Big Sky. Beg on this board and you may score day passes to each resort and decide for yourself before you buy. You asked about the Big Sky/Moonlight interconnect pass....cost $1,600...if you have that kind of Jack then no brainer...buy it and ski some of the best terrain in the country and deal with the ride from Boze. Cant speak for Bridger but lift lines are not a factor at Big Sky or Moonlight, plenty of other options when the tram is long.

[TijmenDal]

Thanks for the info Bobcat and BigSkyfan.

I tried reading up on passes.
The 'Gold' pass for Big Sky is 599$, no Moonlight access.
Then I stumbled upon this:
http://www.bigskyresort.com/activiti...t_Sky_Card.asp
I don't understand it at all. Could someone explain?

College pass for Moonlight is 399$
Combined pass is 1016$ for the two.

580$ for a season pass at Bridger...

Wow, this is really a hard choice. One thing that's quite important is that I have NO clue where my friends will be skiing, something that's quite important too I guess. The only thing I know for sure is I won't have to decide until September, lucky me.

So far this is the way I feel:
- Moonlight: Sounds rad, but small, and like Bridger, very dependent on conditions.
- Bridger: Super close by, gnarly, gnarly terrain
- Big Sky: Good park, bigger than Bridger (but not that much)

How are the slack- and back-country options for both? Also, what would be the best way to being able to ski either. Season pass for one (main resort) and then day-passes or...? How do you guys do it? Do you hold seasons passes for all resorts, just one, or do you buy day tickets? Keep in mind I don't really have money and paying 50$ for a day of skiing when you already have a season pass sounds a bit stupid to me...

EDIT: Bobcat, when you say Bridger almost always has life lines, what does that mean? 1, 5 or 15 minutes (or even longer, god forbid).

Thanks in advance.

[08-15]

Thanks for the info Bobcat and BigSkyfan.

I tried reading up on passes.
The 'Gold' pass for Big Sky is 599$, no Moonlight access.
Then I stumbled upon this:
http://www.bigskyresort.com/activiti...t_Sky_Card.asp
I don't understand it at all. Could someone explain?

It's all written there, isn't it? The big thing is that you get the first and last week of the season free. You get some other discounts with it, but they aren't quite as worthwhile, I think. E.g., get a season pass at Bridger or Moonlight, and get this Frequent Sky Card to ski a few days at Big Sky early and late season. It is usually worth it for the price.

College pass for Moonlight is 399$
Combined pass is 1016$ for the two.

580$ for a season pass at Bridger...

Wow, this is really a hard choice. One thing that's quite important is that I have NO clue where my friends will be skiing, something that's quite important too I guess. The only thing I know for sure is I won't have to decide until September, lucky me.

So far this is the way I feel:
- Moonlight: Sounds rad, but small, and like Bridger, very dependent on conditions.
- Bridger: Super close by, gnarly, gnarly terrain
- Big Sky: Good park, bigger than Bridger (but not that much)

Big Sky is quite a bit bigger than both Moonlight and Bridger. And I am not a park skier, but the park at Moonlight looks pretty good, too.

[tone capone]

Of course Bridger has no lift lines when it hasn't snowed in weeks. Any decent pow day though and it's a frenzy up there. Slushmans can have up to an hour lift line, and inbounds gets tracked out very fast on these days. On big days when Slushmans is closed, it's nose to but going up the ridge hike for fresh lines. You can make this cluster fuck more tolerable by following (if you can keep up) a rare Bridger female. It can take time to get to know where to go and when, but the greatest thing about Bridger is getting to know your own nooks and crannies to hit first on a pow day. There is nothing better than when it all comes together for you at Bridger, which is why the locals are such degenerate dirtbags. The best strategy is to make the most of the 2-5 inch days and just mentally prepare for the shitshow that always accompanies big dumps. If it snows more than 5 inches any day of the season, everyone takes off work and school and you drive up there among a train of cars that can stretch for miles.