2012 Montana Conditions, Stoke and Whatev Thread

[Bobcat Sig]

Might head up for some biking/brewfest action. Never done BS liftserved and would like to check it out.

Bring your gear; all of it. And spare parts and tubes and tires. And teeth fillings. Lift served at Big Sky is ok, but you're pretty much shredding skree all day. Word is that most of looker's right is closed - which, incidentally, is where most of the dirt located. Stick to Soul Hole and Buffalo Jump. The great thing is that Big Sky finally invested in proper bike carrying chairs.

See you up there.

[yeahman]

Bring your gear; all of it. And spare parts and tubes and tires. And teeth fillings. Lift served at Big Sky is ok, but you're pretty much shredding skree all day. Word is that most of looker's right is closed - which, incidentally, is where most of the dirt located. Stick to Soul Hole and Buffalo Jump. The great thing is that Big Sky finally invested in proper bike carrying chairs.

See you up there.

Big Sky have anything like the new bike park at Discovery? The photos Disco has been putting on Facebook look pretty rad...

https://www.facebook.com/SkiDiscovery

[tom tuttle from tacoma washington]

Lots of new trails being added at Big Sky. Just got a FB post alerting that the connector from Big Sky base area to Moonlight Trails is completed (or close). Ran into a trail builder from up around Whitefish who is building a connector from Spanish Peaks to the Big Sky base area.

Soon to be a legit XC network.

Also told there are plans for much more in the way of professionally designed and built DH trails on Andesite, also where the dirt is.

Now the sobering part.

I have lived in the area a long time and have never seen a summer like this.

Big Sky is on the map of everyone who is disenchanted with their little piece of paradise and they are going to be moving to Montana.

The plans for the Big Sky area are quite grandiose and from what I have experienced living in several other pieces of paradise, meaning that if you loved what made Big Sky, it will soon be very different.

The goal for this winter is 600K skier days.

Vail/Park City here comes Montana.

I am beginning to plan my exit strategy.

[montanaskier]

Growth happens but it's a LONG ways from becoming Vail/Breck/Park City

[mntlion]

If MT is too busy, where to you go???

[ghosthop]

I heard banff is alright

[Gaffney10]

Big Sky will never be "huge" thanks to the fact that the nearest Metro Area is 6 hours away.....

[Harry]

Just got a FB post alerting that the connector from Big Sky base area to Moonlight Trails is completed (or close).

I went up that trail the other day from the Big Sky base to the Pony Express parking lot. They did a great job, it has a really nice flow both directions. I saw it kept going to Moonlight but I didn't follow it further.

Why is there a basketball court at the Pony Express lift ? Any idea ? The hoop is set in concrete so whoever put it there intends for it to stay there.

[Viggen]

Harry, glad to hear you enjoyed the trail. Been working on that on the weekends. It indeed heads up to Moonlight Lodge and there is a second down hill specific trail starting at the lodge that will end up dropping you between free skier parking and the black bear. Top portion of it was riding well today.
Hopefully in the next few weeks more new trail will be opening up connecting to Spanish peaks, where another few miles of trail has been built this spring.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using TGR Forums

[Harry]

^^ you must be the Whitefish dude mentioned earlier. Grippen is your brother ?

[mntlion]

Grippen is your brother ?

yes, they are related

[Viggen]

Yep, Gripen is my brother. The company I am working with is out of Whitefish as well.

[butterscotch]

Big Sky have anything like the new bike park at Discovery? The photos Disco has been putting on Facebook look pretty rad...

https://www.facebook.com/SkiDiscovery

nice! might have to go check that out.

Big Sky will never be "huge" thanks to the fact that the nearest Metro Area is 6 hours away.....

exactly. it would be nice if boyne would accept that big sky's identity is not to be the next the vail, and try to develop their own identity instead.

[Harry]

Harry, glad to hear you enjoyed the trail. Been working on that on the weekends. It indeed heads up to Moonlight Lodge and there is a second down hill specific trail starting at the lodge that will end up dropping you between free skier parking and the black bear.

Went up the new XC trail all the way to Moonlight Lodge this morning. I am really impressed by the work you did. Came back via the top portion of the DH trail. Holy shit, that thing is BUFF. Can't wait to see how you route the lower portion.

[montanaskier]

Wife is looking for a fun ride on Friday. She's a monster climber and is looking for something fun and flowy for the down. I thought Blackmore, maybe an emerald lake afterwards? Any other loop or out and back recs?

[Gaffney10]

Wife is looking for a fun ride on Friday. She's a monster climber and is looking for something fun and flowy for the down. I thought Blackmore, maybe an emerald lake afterwards? Any other loop or out and back recs?

Emerald would be fun or you could do History Rock to South Cottonwood. Give the Bangtail Divide a look as well.

[Bobcat Sig]

Wife is looking for a fun ride on Friday. She's a monster climber and is looking for something fun and flowy for the down. I thought Blackmore, maybe an emerald lake afterwards? Any other loop or out and back recs?

If you can shuttle; do Grassy Mountain from Stone Creek all the way down to Bracket Creek. If that's too long, shuttle it from Olson > Bracket. Chestnut is also a good climb that on the down, is fast, fun and flowy.

[Bunion 2020]

If you can shuttle; do Grassy Mountain from Stone Creek all the way down to Bracket Creek. If that's too long, shuttle it from Olson > Bracket. Chestnut is also a good climb that on the down, is fast, fun and flowy.

2nd on Chestnut, especially if the Mrs. is all heart and lungs.

[tom tuttle from tacoma washington]

exactly. it would be nice if boyne would accept that big sky's identity is not to be the next the vail, and try to develop their own identity instead.

Except that Boyne is no longer driving the development bus. They are along for the ride unless their stop comes up.

The CofC meeting at Bucks a couple of weeks ago was eye opening.

[totaliboard]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Scum [Plum] creek is definitely pulling some of the strings in the puppet show that is the cess pool of Big sky resort. anyone care to comment?

[Bunion 2020]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Scum [Plum] creek is definitely pulling some of the strings in the puppet show that is the cess pool of Big sky resort. anyone care to comment?

I think Plum Creek is loooooog gone from the scene.

AFAIK they do not possess anything worth mentioning in the area.

MLB and the Y/C bought their holding some time ago.

[Bobcat Sig]

I think Plum Creek is loooooog gone from the scene.

AFAIK they do not possess anything worth mentioning in the area.

MLB and the Y/C bought their holding some time ago.

This. And combine in the fact that Cross Harbor is most likely driving the bus. Boyne is simply an operator at this point; operations, lifts, HR, employee, services, and the like. The upside is that CH is/will be providing capital for much need upgrades, maintenance or replacement. What remains to be seen is their vision for the future; development, housing, hotels, condos and the like.

For those that seem to know, I'm anxious to hear what you've seen.

[Bunion 2020]

This. And combine in the fact that Cross Harbor is most likely driving the bus. Boyne is simply an operator at this point; operations, lifts, HR, employee, services, and the like. The upside is that CH is/will be providing capital for much need upgrades, maintenance or replacement. What remains to be seen is their vision for the future; development, housing, hotels, condos and the like.

For those that seem to know, I'm anxious to hear what you've seen.

Some of this, some of that is what I have seen. Working as a consultant to SP and MLB. Lots happening right now but other than the welcome addition of more trails it is a bit late in the game for anything to occur this summer.

The Madison Village offices are gone but all the other infrastructure remains.

Big Sky and Bozeman are pretty damn busy this summer.

Gallatin Field has been seeing record numbers.

[Bobcat Sig]

Some of this, some of that is what I have seen. Working as a consultant to SP and MLB. Lots happening right now but other than the welcome addition of more trails it is a bit late in the game for anything to occur this summer.

The Madison Village offices are gone but all the other infrastructure remains.

Big Sky and Bozeman are pretty damn busy this summer.

Gallatin Field has been seeing record numbers.

I was thinking more long term plans, but yes - that all makes sense. As often as I fly in and out here; the valley has been slammed. It was rather evident this winter and I'm seeing that around town this summer. The hotels going up like legos is also a good indicator.

[montanaskier]

Wife rode Emerald and then Leverich today, said both were super fun.