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Montana is big and beautiful and diverse. You\u2019ll find hunting, fishing, hot springs, but most importantly for skiers: Big Sky. Their tagline is \u201cThe Biggest Skiing in America,\u201d and they don\u2019t disappoint. 5,800 acres of skiing. Among the largest in the United States. Not only is it big; it\u2019s downright scary.<\/p>\n
NBC broadcaster and Montana native Chet Huntley said of the Beetles on their first visit to the United States, \u201cSomeone asked what the fuss was about, and we found we had no answer.\u201d Only a native of Montana would fail to see how big the Beetles would become. However, he did not fail to see the significance of Big Sky.\u00a0 Mr. Huntley was the front man in getting Big Sky started. \u201cGood night Chet and thank you,\u201d from all fans of Big Sky.<\/p>\n
John Steinbeck said, \u201cI\u2019m in love with Montana. For other states, I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it\u2019s difficult to analyze love when you\u2019re in it.\u201d\u00a0 This is how I feel about Big Sky.<\/p>\n
The patrollers will tell you that unlike most mountains where snowstorms deposit pockets of bliss, at Big Sky the powder is at the mercy of the Wind Gods. I cannot exaggerate this reality. Big Sky powder is deposited by wind<\/em><\/strong>. If you ski the steeps, where wind can easily scrape off snow, knowing where the winds are depositing the snow can make the difference between your best and worst runs. Same day, same facing aspects, very different snow conditions.<\/p>\n If you want the best conditions in the steeps, you\u2019ll need to spend time asking the patrollers. Patrollers that have spent more than a year at Big Sky are amateur \u201canemologists\u201d (wind experts). The wind patterns are generally known to the experienced patrollers. Adjacent runs can have dramatically different coverage based on daily wind patterns. I\u2019ve never seen so many steeps that face the same way with such radically different snow.<\/p>\n At Big Sky ignorance is not bliss. The area is filled with in bounds, backcountry lines. It\u2019s easy to get \u201ccliffed out\u201d on terrain, especially on the both sides of the Headwaters Ridge, and the Gullies. Big lines are found on Lone Mountain and Headwaters. You reach Lone Mountain via the Lone Peak Tram. Lone Mountain has three skiable aspects. Back under the chair is the Big Couloir. Off the top and around Yeti and Gullies Traverse are The Gullies. Otter Slide and the Yeti Traverse lead to the Dictater Chutes and Bowls. Liberty Bowl leads to the Bavarians. Lone Mountain is also where you can access backcountry gates leading to Dakota and Wyoming Bowl.<\/p>\n The top of Big Sky is Lone Mountain. It\u2019s the iconic peak you see from almost anywhere in Big Sky. Its accessible by the Lone Peak Tram. I break up Lone Mountain into three general areas; South Face Loan Mountain, the Big Couloir and Gullies, and really Scary Stuff.<\/p>\n This is classic single back expert terrain on Liberty Bowl and more adventurous double backs on the Dictator Chutes.<\/p>\n This is the iconic 50-degree slope run below Lone Peak Tram. No hiking required, but you\u2019ll need to bring your backcountry gear and check in at the Patrol Shack.<\/p>\n The Gullies. These are a series of runs above the Turkey Traverse visible from Powder Seeker. The Gullies are accessible by taking the Yeti Traverse to the Gullies Traverse.<\/p>\n Headwaters Ridge is a ridge of jagged peaks, skiable on both sides, that separates Big Sky from Moonlight Basin. One side faces the Loan Peak Tram. On your first rides up to Loan Peak you\u2019ll look across the cirque and ask can you ski that? You might even see an occasional skier darting between the rocks or straight lining an entrance that sends shivers up and down your spine. You\u2019re looking at runs called Parachute, Three Moons, the Pinnacles, and a bunch of unnamed trails in between.<\/p>\n On the other side, are the more common chutes seen from the Moonlight Basin Side of the resort. Take Six Shooter to get a long look at your options. They include Headwater\u2019s Bowl, Cold Spring, Fire Hole, Hellsroaring, Hell\u2019s Half Acre, the Creeks, the Classes, Whitetail, and Three Forks.<\/p>\n You reach both sides of Headwater\u2019s Ridge by hiking the ridge. However, there are very different entry points for different runs. Conditions and courage will often determine what you can access and how hard you\u2019ll have to work to reach the entrance.<\/p>\nExpert Skiing at Big Sky<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Lone Peak \/ Mountain.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
South Face Lone Mountain<\/em><\/h3>\n
The Big Couloir<\/em><\/h3>\n
Really Scary Stuff<\/h3>\n
Headwaters Ridge<\/h3>\n