Escaping the Everyday

We’ve added another ski weekend to our experiences! Initially, we planned to visit Bridger Mountain, but we opted for Big Sky instead. I’m pleased with our decision to change things up, especially since our sitter mentioned that the conditions at Bridger weren’t the best. It’s understandable, considering they’ve only recently opened and Bozeman hasn’t had much snowfall.

Limited Wait for Lifts

We were pleasantly surprised to find that there were hardly any lines, and the trails themselves were not as crowded as what we’ve encountered at other resorts. After researching the resort, it turns out that Big Sky is famous for its minimal lines and uncrowded trails. With 5,850 acres of skiable terrain and a 4,350-foot vertical drop, lift lines are virtually non-existent. Locals and regular visitors even joke that a wait longer than two minutes indicates an exceptionally busy day.

The resort is incredibly large, it has five terrain parks, thirty-nine lifts, and three hundred twenty trails. Jake and I likely covered less than 5% of the terrain, yet it seemed like we explored so much!

Lone Peak Tram

The tram that ascends to Lone Peak is known for offering incredible views on a clear day. Visitors have the option to either ride the tram back down or ski down. The descent consists of black diamond runs, which are not suitable for all skiers. By the end of the season, my aim is to develop the skills necessary to ski a black diamond run and make my way down from Lone Peak.

On the day we visited, it was extremely cloudy and foggy, making the tram ride pointless since we’d only see clouds. It was surreal; as we ascended, the fog thickened, and I initially thought my vision was impaired or the altitude was affecting me because I could see the ground but couldn’t tell whether it was powdery or groomed snow, or even spot any bumps or divots.

Hearing a group of guys who had just descended the same trail commenting on this, I asked jake about it too and he experienced the same thing. The blend of white fog and snow can indeed cause significant visibility issues.

Trails for all levels

What I really appreciate about Big Sky is that they offer trails for all skill levels, and there’s a good variety of them. One thing I’ve noticed is the there’s a decent amount of double blue trails, which cater to advanced intermediates. I attempted one of the trails, and it was quite steep! I managed to get down, but I’ll definitely need more practice before tackling a black diamond.

Throughout the day, I had the opportunity to enhance my technical skiing skills by tackling moguls and weaving through trees. I’m very pleased with my progress. Skiing out west offers expansive terrain, particularly within the forests. Here, trails are evident, yet there’s no single route through the trees; skiers carve their own paths as they traverse the woods. I made sure to stick to areas that were clearly frequented by other skiers to avoid getting lost.

Storage

Skiing out west is a brand new experience for Jake and me! Whenever we arrive at a new mountain, we’re uncertain if we’re allowed to bring our ski bags inside. In Utah, for instance, there was no storage for ski bags; people usually get dressed and ready in their cars before heading to the lodge. Although lockers are available for rent, I find them overpriced just for storing your belongings, including your bag. In the end, we opted for a small locker to secure our wallets and drinks.

When we arrived at Big Sky, we weren’t sure what they did, so we got ready in the car and then went to the lodge. The lodge offered limited complimentary storage for bags, yet many seemed to prefer leaving their bags by the ski racks. The bags I bought a few years back have been incredibly useful. Having all your gear in one place, rather than juggling a backpack and separately carrying boots and a helmet, is a huge convenience. When we got our bags, we weren’t looking for anything pricey, just durable.

If you’re in need of a new ski bag or want your first one, check out my affiliate link below! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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The Food

Despite the steep prices for food at ski resorts, I was quite impressed with the amenities. The base of the mountain had restaurants, an umbrella bar, various shops, coffee houses, the lodge itself, etc.

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of gluten-free food available. As someone who is gluten-free and limits dairy intake due to sensitivities, I often find it challenging to find suitable options.

However, at the lodge, there was an abundance of gluten-free choices. They offered burgers with gluten-free buns, both gluten and dairy-free chili, gluten-free protein bowls, and even gluten-free desserts! This was a change to my experiences at Loon Mountain or Sunday River on the East Coast, where options were previously non-existent for me.

This was a huge win for those that have food sensitivities.

Keep an eye out for next week when we head to Boston! It’s going to be one of our most ambitious journeys in quite a short span.