12/26/2012 12:06:00 PM

OUR DAY STARTED early Christmas morning with our neighbor’s children excitedly awaking in wonder of what Santa had brought them. There is no better alarm than a preschooler and 2nd grader exclaiming “Santa” at the top of their lungs as they run down the stairs. After their gracious reminder that Santa had come, we awoke to find that he had brought more than just gifts, but also a fresh blanket of snow making for the start of an amazing white Christmas.

Like our friend’s children, my girlfriend and I couldn’t hold back our eagerness to share the gifts we had carefully hunted down and chosen for each other. While sipping coffee, we excitedly exchanged gifts and tore into our presents as shreds of wrapping paper fell around us.

After our first course of coffee and gifts, the morning only got better with a delicious homemade breakfast. Eggs, chorizo, oatmeal bread (specially flown in from my Grandma Ruth in Missouri), and mimosas rounded out our hearty Christmas/pre-skiing breakfast.

We ended our morning before skiing with a Google+ hangout that included my whole family. After we overcame a few minor technical difficulties, the hangout mostly went off without a hitch. Clown faces, pirate hats, and snorkels were among a few of the effects used to spice up the conversation in addition to sign language from my speech pathologist sister in times when the sound was disabled (1 of the minor technical difficulties).

Clad in my new base layer and R1 fleece, I set our sights on Lone Peak and were on the slopes before we knew it. Heading straight for the Tram, we navigated our way through the top of Liberty and around the Yeti Traverse to Marx. Santa had truly treated us well as we delighted in the fresh blanket of snow that lay before us. After making a lap through Chicken Bowl, we proceeded to make a holiday tour around the mountain before finishing our ski day off with a high speed groomer lap down Hangman’s.

When we finally arrived back at home, we began to prepare our Christmas feast with the uncorking of a nice bottle of wine. While pre-heating the oven we put the finishing touches on our soon to be eaten prime rib roast, mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, and delicious dinner rolls. Once the roast was in the oven, we began to dine on our deliciously assembled cheese plate and laughed as we watched and quoted National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (“And why is the carpet all wet Todd?! I don’t know Margo!”).

After the feast and once we were able to move again, we ended our evening with dessert and the all-time classic: A Christmas Story. Now, if I could only get over this nasty cold.

-Kipp Proctor

Tags: skiing, montana, big sky resort, yellowstone, yellowstone national park, big sky, powder, technical terrain, tram, lone peak, christmas, santa, gifts, breakfast,

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Santa Skis Big Sky

12/27/2011 9:32:00 AM

Santa rips Mr. K on Chirstmas Day. Photo courtesy of Crystal Images.

IT MAKES SENSE that Santa’s a good skier – after all, he does live in the North Pole where it’s snowy all winter long. What do you think Santa does in his off-season besides practice turns in his back yard?

And what does Santa do to celebrate another long Christmas night delivering presents all over the world? After hopping down the last few chimneys in Montana, Santa gets first chair at Big Sky.

It was a very merry Christmas at Big Sky this year, with Santa continuing his yearly tradition of skiing off the millions of cookies and glasses of milk he polished off on Christmas Eve.

Santa was spotted on Mr. K, in the base area, riding the Tram, and all over the mountain on Sunday, celebrating and spreading Christmas cheer.

- Greer

Santa headed back to the North Pole yesterday, but the holidays in Big Sky aren’t over yet. Check out these upcoming New Years festivities.

Santa hits the Lone Peak Tram. Photo by Jessica Root.

Santa finished up his night by sliding down Powder Ridge Cabin chimneys before hitting the slopes at 9am.

Tags: santa, christmas, christmas skiing, skiing santa

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

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Santa Sighting

12/25/2011 6:01:00 AM

SPOTTED: Santa repelling from Big Sky’s Twin Zip

At 8pm last night, Big Sky guests spotted a jolly man in a red suit zooming across the sky on one of Big Sky’s ziplines before he repelled into the Base Area, distributing candy and wishing happy Christmases to all.

Reports were confirmed by NORAD, which has been tracking Santa’s flights with radar, satellites, Santa Cams, and fighter jets since 1955.

NORAD is now reporting that Santa has finished his flight.

Unconfirmed reports say that Santa will celebrate another successful Christmas by hitting the slopes at Big Sky this morning.

“He has a reservation at the Summit Hotel,” says one insider. “He likes to stay there because he can park his sleigh in the underground parking garage, and housekeeping always leaves him cookies, milk, and Pepto-Bismol to help him relax and recover after a long night of work.”

Skiing at Big Sky is one of Santa’s favorite traditions, the insider says, and Santa buys his season pass months in advance.

Big Sky residents and guests will be keeping an eye out for Santa on the slopes all day today, and expect spottings throughout December 25th.