Big Sky Resort, MT :
A Skier's Mountain
The Biggest Skiing in America. Base Camp Yellowstone.
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You'll see what I mean when you get there! Lift ticket pricing below:
Adult (18+) Window Rate $81
Adult Half Day (12:30-4pm) $71
Junior (Ages 11-17) $61
College (with valid ID) $61
Kids (10 and under) Up to two free per paying adult
Seniors (70+) $71
PRIVATE SKI LESSON
My scheduled Group Lesson happily became a private adult lesson for 2 hours. I had the true pleasure of instruction from the very skilled and talented Stewart Chumbley. With his full certification in Alpine, Telemark, Freestyle, and Children, I felt I was in the most accomplished company.
Stewart was very patient, kind and humorous...gently pointing out my mistakes and weak points. I was very happy to hear he was also a trained Nurse, just in case I took a messy tumble. Thankfully, there was no crazy drama; we kept on the intermediate trails so I could practice getting over my tips again.
Contact: 406-995-5743
Cost: Start at $130 for one hour
EQUIPMENT RENTAL
If you own a comfortable pair of ski boots, bring them along on this trip. You'll need them because you'll be skiing more vertical feet than you've ever dreamed of! Otherwise rent it all from head to toe from Big Sky Sports Rental located in the Snowcrest Lodge. We selected the high performance package, which included the Salomon X-Wing 10 wide ski that's great in the powder. Four days of equipment rental with a helmet will set you back $272.00.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT... IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SKIING
ZIP-LINING
If you are an adventurer at heart, try Big Sky's new Zip-Lines. You'll need to sign up through Base Camp, which is located in the mountain plaza between the Mountain Mall and the Huntley Hotel. I recommend the Zip-Line Hike Tour. It takes two hours to complete. You'll hike thirty minutes to reach the three zip-lines that are 350 ft. - 475 ft. long. You'll reach speeds up to 25 mph and will be 45 -60 ft. above the ground. Don't worry- it's easy and anybody can zip-line. You'll be outfitted with helmet, two lanyards, two carabiners and a self-adjusting safety harness. All the equipment is brand new and the zip lines are inspected on a regular basis.
Ten of us hiked up while it was snowing with special traction treads affixed to our boots. For part of the way, we could hear the music being played from the loud speakers at the base. It was cool and fun to be hiking up the trail with the snow falling, music playing, and my zip-lining mates laughing along the way.
The first zip-liner to go was a lady from New York who was determined to experience this even though she wasn't fully healed from a recent accident. She was inspirational and we all bonded with her. Zip-lining will do that to you. The second run is the longest, fastest, highest, and the most fun. You gather speed rather quickly as you sail through the treetops while spinning towards the landing area. If you plan to shoot a video, I recommend holding your "smart phone" in one hand while hanging on.
Zipline: 1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 - April 24 Cost: $69
NEW! Twin Zip: Everything is more fun with a friend! Thrs-Sun. 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 p.m. Cost $25
Contact: 406-995-5769
AND DON'T FORGET THE SCENERY...
YELLOWSTONE WILDLIFE - OLD FAITHFUL TOUR
You will have to get up early in the morning to experience Yellowstone National Park in winter. The shuttle van will pick you up at 7:00 a.m. The trip to the town of West Yellowstone takes approximately an hour.
Upon arrival you'll then board a snow coach. It's actually a regular street van modified with special tracks like a tank so it can navigate deep snow within the park. Make sure you bring your camera to capture the moments. The best place to photograph the wildlife is in the front seat of the snow coach. The windows are not tinted so you can get clear, unobstructed shots of all the animals. On this trip we saw bull elk, moose, coyotes, and a lot of bison. Some lucky people may get a glance of some wolves too.
Natural wonders and beauty will surround you on this journey. We stopped at majestic Firehole Falls, which was a winter wonderland covered in ice and snow. We also saw numerous cauldron thermal features that spat steam, boiling water and primeval smells into the winter air.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the few places on the planet where you'll find such wonders. Be careful not to venture off the guided paths and walkways. The earth shifts here constantly and the crust is only five ....