3/26/2013 7:32:00 PM

THERE'S NOTHING BETTER than spending spring break in Big Sky Montana. I drove an easy 12 hours from Minnesota across the flat lands of North Dakota and ended in my favorite place, Big Sky. As I drove up the mountain toward towering Lone Peak, my heart began to race with excitement. I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish this spring break and skiing was at the top of my list.

I got to spend my first day on the mountain getting my legs back under me on some long groomers. Big Horn, being one of my favorites, was a nice long blue to start things off. Throughout the week my skiing returned to what I was used to and before I knew it, I was back to taking on the steeps of Lone Peak.

Every time I ski at Big Sky I am brought down a new route, and it always amazes me the amount of great skiing that is out there. Throughout the week I was lucky to be able to ski with my boyfriend Kipp and good friends. I got some beautiful sunny spring skiing in, and a couple days of fresh snow as well; something a girl would write home about.

One of my favorite Nordic venues in the nation is Lone Mountain Ranch (LMR) and just a 5 minute drive from the resort. LMR has 2,200 vertical feet of manicured groomed trails winding through the woods with open meadows that offer breathtaking views of Lone Peak.

Taking a day off from Alpine skiing to get my cardio on, my good friend Amber drove down from Bozeman to join me for a day out on the trails. We started in the meadow where the skiing is easier and progressed up towards the tree trails. After a few hours of kicking and gliding we set out for the upper mountain to enjoy a drink and a snack at Carabiner by the warm fire.

Friends, fresh air, and fresh snow are what spring breaks in Big Sky mean to me.

-Kari Lunemann

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, powder, technical terrain, face-shots, nordic skiing, nordic, lone peak, lone mountain ranch, spring break, big horn, challenger,

Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General

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Skiing Big Sky's Private Powder

3/22/2013 9:07:00 PM

Ben Brosseau getting deep

AFTER GETTING A brief glimpse of spring last week, winter resumed and we were happily reminded that ski season is not over. Beginning late last Saturday, winter returned in a BIG way depositing 5-7 inches of snow on the lower-mountain with even larger totals found on the peak and since then we’ve received well over a foot of snow setting us up for another great weekend.

No matter where I went on the mountain and no matter the day, the skiing was great. Big Sky’s wind grooming machine was hard at work the days we didn’t get any new snow overnight and our consistent storms provide the powder it feeds on.

After our most recent storm from Wednesday night that dropped 10+ inches in pockets across the mountain, my friends Sharron, Mark, Aaron, and Hartman headed for Dakota and Shedhorn where were royally treated to what seemed like our own private powder playground. First hitting up Dude Park before venturing to Dakota and Rockville, the lack of tracks we crossed 2 days after the storm only added to great terrain we had to play on.

Before parting ways and to finish the morning off on the right foot, we sought out Chicken Bowl and its untouched steep shots. The silky smooth powder was a treat and I gladly opened it up arcing a few big GS turns out the bottom before meeting up with rest of our crew. After exchanging high fives and pole taps we went our separate ways with emails and projects beckoning me back at the office.

Another great day skiing Big Sky’s many secrets.

-Kipp Proctor

Snowboarding the Bone Crusher trees

Parker about to send it in Rockville

Huntley Hot Tub: The ideal place to unwind after a day on the mountain

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, powder, dakota, shedhorn, rockville, dude park, big sky's secrets, private powder

Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General

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Showing Old Friends the Ropes

3/12/2013 5:29:00 PM

The Shedhorn Grill was the place to be for lunch last Saturday as the sun kept everybody on the deck nice and warm

Last weekend I had the opportunity to show three former college roommates around Big Sky Resort for an awesome day of skiing and sunshine. The four of us have a long history of skiing together, mostly on the East Coast where we went to school. While I am used to tram laps and hiking to find the powder stashes, my buddies are for the most part intermediate skiers, and I was looking forward to giving them the full mountain tour.

We started our day at the Moonlight Lodge where they purchased Biggest Skiing in America tickets. After a few cruisers at Moonlight, we made our way to the Mountain Village base area just as the sun really started to shine. After a quick run down Calamity Jane, we headed up Andesite to chase the sun. We started with the wide open feel of Ponderosa down to the Southern Comfort lift, then enjoyed the perfect corduroy down Bighorn and Elk Park Ridge. Feeling hungry, we ripped down Tippy’s to the base area, up Swiftcurrent and then down Cow Flats over to the bottom of Shedhorn.

With the peak looming above, we enjoyed a leisurely and delicious lunch in the sun at the Shedhorn Grill, then I tested their skills down Larkspur and Jock Strap. We did two laps in the Sunlight Bowl—easily the best turns of the day in the soft, springy snow—before taking the Duck Walk all the way over to the Triple Chair. We did two quick laps in the Bowl and Upper Morning Star, before finishing the day with some fun turns down Lower Morning Star and Mr. K.

After getting in nearly 24,000 vertical feet, the East Coast boys were beat, but not too tired to enjoy some well-deserved beers on the deck at the Carabiner to end the day. The next day they were on a plane back home, and I was relishing in the fact that I am able to live in this amazing place we call Big Sky.

-Brian Hurlbut

Brian Hurlbut is the author of the Insider’s Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (Globe-Pequot Press) and Montana: Skiing the Last Best Place (Great Wide Open Press). In addition to previous positions as the Managing Editor for the Big Sky Sun and the Arts and Entertainment Editor for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, his writing has appeared in the Oregonian, Montana Quarterly, Montana Magazine, Luxury Living, Big Sky Journal, Yellowstone-Teton Country, Big Sky Magazine, Western Art and Architecture, Outside Bozeman and more. He lives in Big Sky, Montana.

Kevin Bailey enjoys the soft snow down Sunlight with Lone Peak looking above

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, powder, skiing, tram, shedhorn, biggest skiing in america, moonlight

Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General

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Conquering Lone Peak

3/6/2013 10:07:00 PM

WHEN IT COMES to conquering mountains, Lone Peak is one hell of a monster to take on. Whether you’re tackling on the steeps of Challenger or the high alpine exposed terrain from atop Lone Mountain’s 11,166 ft. summit, Big Sky is sure to challenge. So when my friend Johnny who was visiting said he was up to task, I gladly agreed to show him the ins and outs of what makes Big Sky BIG.

Day 1: Having never skied off the summit we first tackled Liberty Bowl. While the peak was socked in, we navigated our way through the snow fences and straight to the gut. I informed him to follow the green dots down and to use them as a point of reference. The powder was deep and after reconvening at the bottom, I knew Johnny was thrilled by his trademark large grin. We ventured on to the base and finished our day poking around the lower mountain in the trees chasing powder.

Day 2: Having had a taste of what Lone Peak offered, Johnny wanted more. Since he had already checked off Marx with another friend of ours the day before, we decided the best next step would be to take on Lenin. While offering the same southern aspect as Marx, Lenin is steeper with a bit more of a pinch than what most vacationing skiers are used to, but that didn’t stop Johnny. He confidently took it on as if we were skiing Mr. K and once again show up at the bottom (maybe a bit more out of breath than other Mr. K) with another huge grin.

Final Day: Still wanting more, Johnny requested that we seek the peak once again in hopes of checking off one more steep, technical run. After having seen the Dictators while skiing Lenin a few days prior, we set our sights on D1. With a storm quickly moving in, we headed straight for the tram. Traversing from the top of Lenin we made our way to the top D1. Looking down the rock walled run we pointed our tips downhill and went for it. Johnny precisely navigated his way down and we met up just above the traverse to Lenin. Pole taps/high fives were a given and of course Johnny’s smile accompanied them.

We next ventured to Challenger to check off the final steeps that Johnny hadn’t skied yet. Once again Johnny killed and we headed for the base. Sending Johnny on his way wishing him safe travels back to LA, we exchanged hugs, a few fist bumps, and of course the plan to take on the rest of the peak next year.

Interested in checking out some of these great spots? Look into the mountain guide program offered through Mountain Sports School.

-Kipp Proctor

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, powder, liberty bowl, face-shots, dictators, marx, lenin, conquering steeps, challenger, challenging skiing,

Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | Snowsports

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Skiing With Legends Under Bluebird Skies

3/3/2013 2:48:00 PM

Skier: Dan Herby Photo: Freeride Media

CONSISTENT SNOWFALL, FREE refills and good friends have made for an amazing few weeks here at Big Sky Resort. Whether it’s a fresh 6 inches overnight or a bluebird day with knee deep recirculated powder, the mountain has been skiing great.

While entertaining Freeride Media earlier this week, we were treated to soft snow off the peak and a bluebird day to remember. Joined by skiing legends and a stellar film crew that not only can shoot but also rip, we roamed the mountain in search of the perfect shots. Finding excellent steeps through the Dictators off the Tram and fantastic gladed shots in Dude Park off the Shedhorn lift, we compiled a ton of footage that’s sure to please.

Interested in checking out some of these great spots? Look into the mountain guide program offered through Mountain Sports School. Or if you want to see more of these great photos here are 2 albums from their visit: Day 1, Day 2.

-Kipp Proctor

Skier: Desiree' Leipham Photo: Freeride Media

Skier: Scott Evans Photo: Freeride Media

Skiers: Dan Herby and Dan Egan Photo: Freeride Media

Skier: Tommy Frey Photo: Freeride Media

Skier: Kipp Proctor Photo: Freeride Media

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, lone peak tram, shedhorn, dictators, skiing legends, freeride media, consistent snowfall, dan egan, dan herby, powder, fresh snow, bluebird,

Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General

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Early Ups and the Big Couloir

2/23/2013 6:23:00 PM

BEATING EARLY UPS is a hard thing to do; especially on a powder day. Saturday, luck was in my favor when I was invited along by extreme skiing legend Dan Egan and his Steep Camp for the special opportunity to get first tracks through the Big Couloir with a few eager and fearless first timers.

Put on by the resort’s First Tracks program, we skied the lower mountain off Andesite until 8:45 before heading for the Tram. The fresh snow from overnight was super fluffy and provided a great opportunity to warm up and get our legs under us.

Once warmed up we set sail on Swifty and headed to the Peak. After checking in with Ski Patrol Director Jimbo Humphries and a quick safety talk with Ryan Ayers, we clipped into our skis and ventured around the back of the peak to the entrance of the Big. From the top, we sent groups of 2 down the resort’s most illustrious run. The deep snow that had filled in the Big from the previous few days was unbelievable and was an experience that the group participants (Leslie, Mike, and Scott) were stoked to check off.

After skiing the technical top section, I veered out of the Big Couloir proper and headed for the Secret. Thigh deep fluff awaited me as I dove into my first turn, and every turn thereafter until just above the Cue Ball. Reconvening with our group just above the Triple, we exchanged high fives and pole taps after giving everyone a BIG congratulations.

Live big, play hard: BIG SKY.

-Kipp Proctor

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, dan egan, powder, early ups, first tracks, big couloir, ski clinics,

Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | Snowsports

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Expect the Unexpected

2/15/2013 8:45:00 PM

LONE PEAK WAS at it again today after a difficult to explain combination of fresh snow and wind deposited well over a foot of fresh cold smoke on the south face. If the roughly 18 inches of fresh wasn’t enough, we were also graced with a beautiful bluebird day.

My friend and I headed straight for the tram with the expectation to ski some of Lone Peak’s free refills under the bluebird sky. After shooting a few photos from atop the peak, we headed towards the snow fences above Liberty Bowl and this is when we first came upon the unexpected deep that lay before us.

I was shocked, dumb founded, blown away and surprised. Face-shots were plentiful and seemed to never end turn after turn during our top to bottom run. High fives and pole taps were a given at the bottom as we stared back up at the unexpectedly epic run that fell/hit us in our laps.

Lone Peak: expect the unexpected.

-Kipp Proctor

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, powder, liberty bowl, face-shots, unexpected

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The Powder Sneak

2/12/2013 6:01:00 PM

MAGICAL LONE PEAK was at it again over this past weekend picking up more than just a few additional sneaky inches that were reported at the base. That’s right, Big Sky’s angry inch was at it again and those who sought out the peak were generously rewarded.

While it stormed all day and the visibility was somewhat poor, the snow was great. Despite the fact we correctly reported 7-8 inches around the base and mid-mountain, Lone Peak was once again a different world. My first tram lap down the dictators at 11:30 was one of the deepest runs of the day at thigh deep. Nearly every turn through D2 buried me under a cloud of fresh Montana cold smoke. Lone Peak wasn't the only exception with great turns to be had across the mountain. Dakota/Shedhorn in particular provided their usual private skiing experience with fresh tracks to be had still at 3:00pm.

Good friends, deep powder, and magical Lone Peak once again made for another epic ski day.

-Kipp Proctor