4/15/2013 10:05:00 AM

Mountain Village & Lone Peak 3-27-13 on the snow shield (sized for web)

Great coverage to finish the year and a new shield to proudly wear

WHERE DID THE season go? It seems like just yesterday I was writing my first blog of the winter and getting pumped for another great season. But I guess the saying holds true; time does fly when you’re having fun.

From opening day turns and turkey to goggle tans and spring bump runs, it’s definitely been another season to remember. Lone Peak delivered as it always does and dished out its consistent cold smoke, long and smooth wind buffed runs, and gladly allowed us to bounce around its massive playground.

Powder days were plentiful with one of the snowiest Februarys that I can remember. No matter the day it seemed like the skiing was going to be great. Even starry nights were met by bluebird mornings, and sometimes to our amazement, a bountiful blanket of 18 inches of fresh for us powder hounds to enjoy. It was truly a winter of plentiful smiles, high fives and pole taps.

To top off the great snow, Big Sky had you covered with entertainment. Events and festivals like Way Alt West Fest kicked off the New Year and old favorites like Big Sky Big Grass, Dummy Jump and Pond Skim continued their reputations as guest favorites.

Then to really place a cherry on top, our guests (you) shared your exceptional experiences with OnTheSnow. The result: OnTheSnow honored us for the 2nd time in 5 years with their Visitors’ Choice Overall Best Resort in North America. Thank you for your support, it means a great deal to us to be your favorite and thank you OnTheSnow for this wonderful award, we’ll wear our badge proudly.

While our 39th winter season is sadly coming to an end, we have our 40th Anniversary to look forward to and if it’s half as good as this year it’ll surely be another to remember.

-Kipp Proctor

Lone Peak looking great on opening day

Marx opens for the first time November 29th

Katie and Margo from the Sales and Marketing team out having fun on the hill

Logan snacking on some powder

Consistent snow kept the resort looking fresh

Multimedia Coordinator - Chris Kamman shredding powder on the other side of the lens

Terrain Park Crew raised the bar with their offerings and care of the features

The Smash Life Banked Slalom continued to grow and brought in pro riders from around the country...and the attention of our local goats

Gorgeous sunrises...

and breathtaking sunsets

Smooth wind buff on the Peak

Andy Thorn, Drew Emmitt and Bill Nershi on stage at Big Sky Big Grass

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Wet and wild time at 10th Annual Pond Skim

Another great season at Big Sky Resort

Tags: montana, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, ynp, big sky, big sky resort, activities, events, pond skim, wind buff, lone peak, tram, sunrise, sunset, onthesnow.com, onthesnow, visitors' choice, overall best, big sky big grass, dummy jump, pond skim, way alt west fest, 40th anniversry

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Sink or Skim: The Essential Guide to Pond Skim

4/11/2013 11:29:00 AM

Rule #2: Keep your tips (or nose) up

COMING INTO ITS 10th year, Big Sky’s Annual Pond Skim is known for its creative pond designs, upbeat atmosphere, and of course, spectacular acts of skimming and sinking.

Having participated every year except for the 2008 Skim (had broken my back the week before); I’ve learned a great deal from my many skimming experiences. Here are a few tricks of the trade:

1. Have FUN: Dress up in an outrageous costume, act wacky, but most importantly, put on your best smile, you’re on camera.

2. Keep your tips up: The one sure way to sink is to dip your tips so keep them up.

3. Speed is your friend: There’s no such thing as too much when it comes to skimming unless you’re looking to get wet.

4. Use your powder boards: The wider the better and rocker is your friend. Think about it, what would you like to be on if waterskiing?

5. Don’t fly high: Airing it out into the pond is difficult and you’re likely going to go for a swim if you do. Instead of going big, absorb as much of the jump (if one is present) as much as possible to carry your forward momentum into the pond.

6. Watch out for sharks: As if skimming wasn’t hard enough, pond attendants add to the challenge with inflatable swim toys that will trip you up if encountered. So plan your route when entering the pond, you might just need to do some on water dodging.

Remember; have FUN and keep those tips up, you’ve got the warm cheers and support of the crowd behind you. Happy skimming!

-Kipp Proctor

Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man

When pigs skim...

Tags: montana, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, ynp, big sky, big sky resort, activities, events, pond skim,

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Dear Big Sky Social Media Fans

4/5/2013 10:48:00 AM

2 upcoming rippers. Watch out ski world, these boys mean business. (Noah left, Isaac right)

Dear Big Sky Social Media Fans,

I have checked out your Facebook page on numerous occasions and being a full time blogger for Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah, I found it humorous that your blogger seems to be completely incognito (I, on the other hand...am not). Really, unless you happen to be privy to your mountain’s inner workings, you might never know who is posting information about your mega resort on it’s FB page and elsewhere. Well, lucky me, I found out. He (yes, it’s a he and not a she) could very well be one of the best things at Big Sky...behind the skiing, scenery and of course, the Euro-looking Lone Mountain that looms over the valley like an extreme snowy playground just daring you to show up with your A game.

Although, some of you reading this may already be friendly with so-called blogger, I promise I am not going to expose his desire for anonymity but only share with you what he shared with a (I’ll admit it) self-absorbed skier/blogger from Utah and my crew of little men who found a new stomping ground deep in the southwest corner of Montana.

Over the past few weeks I have been continually asked why I decided to take my family to Montana for spring break to ski when I live in a state which is overrun with out-of-towner’s during March, who specifically come to Utah for world class skiing. I love Utah. I love skiing, living, and playing in the Beehive State but, every once in awhile I need the unknown, something unfamiliar and different. I need to go somewhere that gets my blood rushing and I need to ultimately step out of the Utah bubble for just a moment. Generally, this desire sends me packing to Wyoming and the steeps of the Hole but, I have begun to know that mountain like I know the Cottonwood’s and it was time for something completely foreign.

Although, flying into Bozeman was an option, the drive from Salt Lake City to Big Sky was a breeze. Five hours to West Yellowstone and another forty minutes through some of the most spectacular country in America. I wouldn’t have traded that drive for a quick flight any day. I may have traded out my two boys though...

Who knew Big Sky was so close and so accessible? I sure didn’t. I guess that is why it has taken so long for this Utah transplant to discover what you guys reading this have known about forever. Thanks to your ambiguous blogger who happens to be a little higher up the totem pole than social networker, my family and I were able to crash at the best Big Sky has to offer (although, I believe a dorm room at the hostel would have been satisfactory to have been able to ski three days at your mountain).

I know, I know, I am a bit jealous of myself even as I sit in my house looking out at the snow capped Wasatch writing this. I was just thinking this morning that I wish my boys, Noah (10) and Isaac (7), could eat at the Summit’s breakfast buffet every morning. It would save so much time and energy (for myself). That buffet killed it! It was hard to ski afterwards but, trust me...we did! In fact, most of the food we had in Big Sky was fantastical.

From here on out, I am going to refer to your completely rad blogger who ended up not only being the person behind the e-mails and text messages but who ended up being a guide, friend and even (whether he liked it or not) Isaac’s favorite play thing, as K. Bottom line is, K hooked us up (maybe not with some certain nachos) but he made our trip. Generally, I run into a small mountain office on these writing gigs of mine, say hello, shake a hand, grab some tickets, promise to send finished copies of articles written and that is that. Peace out. K became part of our experience. It was unexpected but in a perfectly good way.

I am sure I could have picked up another cute guy to show the fam around or someone else to lead my 10 year old into the Dictator Chutes or someone to race down the widest, most perfect cruisers I have ever seen, but no one would have been more successful than K. Even when K wasn’t around, he sent us off with good directions and recommendations. My husband was also impressed. Okay, this blog just got boring...he’s taken ladies. My husband and K, they are both taken. A few years and you might get lucky enough with Noah or Isaac. Keep your fingers crossed. Anyways, the bottom line is that your locals, especially K, know and love your mountain and are happy to share it with outsiders.

Some things that I learned about your neck-of-the-woods is that the town of Big Sky is MUCH smaller than I expected. This is not entirely bad as Bozeman is bigger than I anticipated and a short drive away. K says he can drive back from shopping in Bozeman and his ice cream is still frozen. I don’t necessarily buy that one. Certainly, the liquor laws are a far cry from Utah’s...I swear the beer runs freely from the taps here. I learned that although alcohol is a primary food group at Big Sky, the locals don’t seem to notice or mind the dizzying amount of white crosses that dot the roadsides. I came to Big Sky to ski BIG terrain but, bring a shovel, beacon and probe as they won’t let you into the serious stuff without it...dang (sort of). I learned that the big in Big Sky really means BIG! Who knew that there are two other skiable mountains within steps of Big Sky? Moonlight Basin and The Yellowstone Club (Although, unless your Bill Gate’s illegitimate child, you are probably not skiing the club any day soon) make this skiable playground the largest in America! Your mountain is huge in a million ways. I was also blown away by all the beginner and intermediate terrain that your mountain has to offer. Shocked...completely shocked! This mountain should be on any diverse families hit list! I learned that I couldn’t possibly ski or come to know your mountain in a measly 3 days of skiing...it is that BIG!

When it comes time to be putting the seriousness into my articles for Big Sky, I will look back and remember the fun to be had in Montana because of K.

Thank you for letting us come and explore the mountain that you love so much. We all need an entire season to really understand and explore the steeps and deeps as well as the expansive gentleness of Big Sky’s wide open spaces so, don’t be surprised to see us again someday soon.

Sincerely, Rachael Hodson

P.S. Thanks K for crushing me and putting me back in my rightful place....all that vertical....ahhhh

Noah arcing turns and laying trenches down Dictator 1

The Bowl in all it's unbumped spring wonder

Isaac and I (K) goofing around at the base

K skiing Chicken Bowl

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, dictators, castros beard,

Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General

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An Easter Sunrise Service to Remember

3/28/2013 3:16:00 PM

FEW PEOPLE HAVE the opportunity to experience an Easter Sunday Sunrise Service as spectacular as our now annual one here at Big Sky Resort. Just before the crack of dawn at 6:30am Swift Current begins spinning, transporting attendees up the mountain. At an elevation of 9,147 ft., everyone gathers for the breathtaking Sunrise Service.

Led by local Chaplin, Brad Lartigue, the service begins at 7am. The warm rays of morning sunlight fall upon you as everyone joins together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. At the end of the service, attendees are given the opportunity to either ride back down Swift Current or clip into their skis and make their way down Mr. K and back to the base.

Once back at the base, the Huntley Dining Room offers a delicious Sunday Brunch with freshly sliced ham, an amazing omelet bar, and an endless array of delectable treats and offerings.

After grazing on the Huntley Dining Room’s delicious spread and reflecting on the service, head to the fire pit next Andiamo and Basecamp for the Resort’s Easter Egg Hunt. Beginning at 9am for the little ones (6 and under), it’s always a family favorite.

The gorgeous sunrise, beautiful setting, and great company make for a truly memorable Easter.

-Kipp Proctor

Tags: montana, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, big sky resort, activities, easter, easter sunrise service, easter egg hunt, swift current, huntley dining room, sunday brunch, andiamo, basecamp, mr. k, pastor brad lartigue,

Events | Montana | Skiing | The Way I Ski It | General

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Spring Break - Big Sky Style

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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Spring Skiing and Chasing the Sun

3/15/2013 9:52:00 AM

EVERYONE LOOKS FORWARD to the joys of spring skiing. When tackling the Biggest Skiing in America there are multiple faces and aspects to deal with. Think about finding the good snow early and chasing the sun is key to having a great experience. While the weekend forecast is calling for more snow and cooler temps, the last few days of spring like weather encourage a quick overview of how to follow the sun around our giant Peak.

First thing in the morning (9-10:30am) seek out fresh groomers, head for either Southern Comfort or Mr. K and Upper and Lower Morning Star. These fresh groomed runs will offer a great opportunity to get your legs under you before heading elsewhere. The sun will be shining almost directly on the runs and the snow will still be fast, enjoy.

Mid-morning (10:30am-noon) start heading for more groomed runs down either Elk Park Ridge (off Ramcharger/Thunderwolf) or venturing into the Bowl/other off-piste areas around the Triple Chair. By this time, the sun have softened the snow up enough to be playful and carvable and is the ideal spot to get your legs going just a bit more before venturing up the Tram.

Early afternoon (noon-2:30pm) is a great time of day to head for the The Lone Peak Tram or tackle some of the gladed/back bowls in the Shedhorn and Dakota areas. When the weather permits, the southern facing aspects off the tram will “corn up” and provide an unmatched soft snow experience with over 1,500 vertical feet of above tree line skiing.

Late afternoon (2:30-4 or on a Saturday, 5pm) head back to the lower mountain to finish the day off playing around once again on Andesite and Swift Current. Be sure to head for Andesite on Saturdays when you can ski Ramcharger until 5pm and celebrate the extra hour of daylight.

While spring kindly poked its head in to say hello, winter weather is once again in the forecast so pack some layers because she’s coming back for an encore. See you on the hill!

-Kipp Proctor

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, lone peak, snow, biggest skiing in america, southern comfort, spring skiing, andesite, the bowl, shedhorn, tram, dakota, sunshine, sun,

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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The Way I Ski It: Big Sky Resort's Blog

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The Way I Ski It: Big Sky Resort's Blog

Where did the season go?

Sink or Skim: The Essential Guide to Pond Skim

Dear Big Sky Social Media Fans

An Easter Sunrise Service to Remember

Spring Break - Big Sky Style

Skiing Big Sky's Private Powder

Spring Skiing and Chasing the Sun

Showing Old Friends the Ropes