Big Sky

Well I arrived at Big Sky on Saturday morning to snow pretty much all day. Fog high on the mountain kept mid at mid-level. Sunday was a bluebird powder day. Both days and today the snow has been outstanding. Cold temps and squeeky snow.

The problem is that there is just not enough of it. The snow cover is low and the rockies are living up to their name. There are rocks all over the place--though less so in the trees.

I was skiing down Liberty Bowl from the top of 11,000 foot Lone Peak in the chopped while on the left sat untouched powder. (The untouched part should have tipped me off.) So I jumped into the deep powder and was stylin’—face shot deep pow, committed and flying. Another skier jumped in behind and was whooping it up. Just then the deep powder became a couple inch veneer over a steep, frozen rock field. I wrecked, both my skis flew off and I slid on my back down the rocky slope about 20 feet. (The guy behind me also fell and lost his ski.) Fortunately I was wearing my pack (body armor) but one rock did hit me pretty hard and necessitated a rest day.
[Turns out I cracked a rib-kh 2_4_02]

Having a great time sitting in a coffee shop looking at the Rocky Mountains after a day of skiing...

Here's a shot of Lone Peak on Sunday, January 22 from the Challenger chair, Big Sky, MT

Keith, Thanks for the update.  I've been thinking about returning to Big Sky in February.  I haven't been there since Moonlight started.  I remember the big terrain, cold smoke powder and the untracked "rock gardens". 

Great Pic! Come back in one piece.

Yesterday I went to Moonlight Basin. Unfortunately, the Lone Tree chair was broken (which provides access to half the terraine). Good thing I had a comped ticket or I would have been upset. Today I was at Big Sky again. For both days the snow remains good. But the conditions have been spring-like with temps in the 30' and 40's with bright blue skies. Hope it snows soon but it doesn't look like it.

Tuesday at Big Sky. Folks were skiing these gullies today...

Folks were skiing these gullies today...
Later

I was at Bridger on Friday. What at great setting and fabalous runs. Unfortunately, the snow situation was sad. Bare under many of the trees and hard crusty snow due to a warm spell. Would love to experience the "cold smoke" of Bridger but I guess it will have to be another year.

Here's a shot of Bridger
Avalanche gulf was in pretty good shape though--a natural half pipe.

I was at Moonlight Basin on Saturday. Within a couple hours of this photo being taken , a boarder jumped into the trees, hit a tree, and died after a long surgery--abdominal injuries and broken pelvis

Was at Big Sky yesterday and the skiing on the upper part of the mountian was "hateful" as described by my buddies. Today at Moonlight it started snowing. Probably not enough to keep me here much longer. I will most likely be at Crystal this Saturday.

Keith,
Thanks for the latest update. Looks like the short term outlook around Big Sky is not very encouraging.