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

Big Music Big Sky

9/3/2012 2:50:00 PM
Franti Crowd - Say Hey
SUMMER'S WINDING DOWN but up here at Big Sky we had plans for a huge finale. Chamberlin Productions was on the scene setting up for what ended up being an absolutely amazing evening and event. That’s right; the 2nd annual Spruce Moose Festival was here in town with Michael Franti and Spearhead as the headliner and special guest The Whigs. Presented by The Moose Radio with the help of Chamberlin Productions, the Spruce Moose festival drew a huge crowd here at Big Sky Resort this past weekend. And with Chamberlin putting it on, you can rest assured that it was an awesome show.

While many of us show up when the doors open and are blown away by the scale of major music venues, most of us don’t know what goes on during the set up. Production companies complete these feats in just a matter of days and at a scale that most of us can’t begin to comprehend. Working like a finely tuned machine and with a great deal of blood (hopefully with none spilt), sweat, and tears; production companies like Chamberlin set the stage for memorable evenings that last just 5 hours but become permanently ingrained in our minds for a lifetime.

Chamberlin has been around for a few years now and has become the go to for large events in the region like our now annual Rail Jam held every winter. They’re so dialed, that they can set up a venue for 5,000 people in under 3 days. We’re talking the works here too. Fencing to corral the crowd and keep out the non-paying hooligans, VIP lounges that bring mad swagger, high-end stage and lighting that rivals most any show around, and the all rest facilities that any attendee needs when consuming a few festive libations.

The first day is usually the frame work of what will be the entire venue. Fencing and markers are placed throughout the area to mark where the stage and vendors will be setting up. This requires staking fences, marking obstacles, and lugging around/placing large sections of fence much to the chagrin of the event staff. Day 2 is little more exciting. The stage usually arrives mid-day and that’s when things really start coming together and looking like a real show. With some fine-tuning to get it adjusted just right, the stage is set and the lighting and sound wizards go to work. Soundboards, scaffolding, and miles of extension cords are set up to meet the needs of the entertainers and crowd. On the third and final day Chamberlin Production’s masterpiece is finished. Sound checks and a few rehearsals are the last hurdle to overcome before the show goes on.

With a little rain Friday night and Saturday afternoon the standing area in front of the stage got a little muddy but that wasn’t going to stop the show from going off. After the clouds cleared and provided us with an amazing sunset, Franti and The Whigs went on and absolutely rocked the house. One of the most memorable parts of the evening was when Franti filled the stage with kids from the crowd and had one little boy sing the chorus of “Say Hey (I Love You).” Chamberlin set the stage and Michael Franti and Spearhead rocked the house for what ended up being a fantastic night!
 
-Kipp Proctor

Set Up 1 Set Up 2 Set Up 3 Set Up 4 Sunset
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The Family Vacation: A Win For Mom

8/28/2012 3:30:00 PM
mom-and-me

WHEN MY MOTHER, a 4th grade teacher of 25 years told me “I want to go ziplining.” I thought I heard wrong- “say again, I think the connection is breaking up.” “I want to go ziplining," she repeated. "It sounds fun and it’s something I have to try.” As luck would have it the town I live near, Big Sky, Montana happens to have a popular zipline course that many Yellowstone Park visitors frequent for an out of car experience. So, I said “heck yes, let’s do it!” 
After we hung up, I thought about how my mom would never even ride the Ferris wheel, forget a roller coaster. She preferred the low ride of the tilt-a-whirl. Now this new zest for heights was shocking, yet something I could wholeheartedly get behind.
The plan was made for her to come out to Montana to zipline. 
It was a beautiful July afternoon with thunder heads building on the horizon. I picked mom up at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and we headed south to where our adventure was waiting.  It was a Friday evening and we had a night to get ready for tomorrow was our big day. We needed a good meal and a good night of sleep. Word around town was that the best spot for a bite was the Friday Night BBQ at the Bunker Bar & Grill, so there we went. Perched overlooking a willow patch on the Middle Fork of the Gallatin River with expansive mountain views we devoured citrus marinated Salmon, zucchini, eggplant, summer squash and potatoes all grilled to savory perfection. Then for dessert a “build your own” Strawberry Shortcake with lots of velvety homemade whipped cream.
 
After dinner we rolled ourselves through the Mountain Village past children roping log steers and playing the free mini golf course.  We stayed in the Village Centercondo hotel.  Our hotel donned wrought iron pine cone light fixtures, stone floors and fireplaces. Mom liked the modern amenities with the old lodge feel. “It’s nice to have everything I need, yet still feel like I am on a rustic getaway. I am just not into roughing it anymore, if I don’t have to”. Exhausted, we crawled into our beds, cozying up in our 300 thread count sheets.  There was no need to count sheep.
The Big day had arrived. We peered out the window as the morning light touched the mountain peaks. We decided to order from room service and ate al fresco on our deck. 
At 9 am at the Basecamp, we met up with our zipline guides and rest of the brave group of zipliners. After getting rigged up in our harness, helmets and girth hitched to lanyards, carabiners and pulleys we headed up the trail. As we meandered up through the lodge pole pines our guide Brad told us about the geology of the Madison mountain range through his colorful blue Rayban sunglasses.

The next thing we knew we were there at the first line. In a single file we jumped one after the other and swooped across a mountain meadow with mountain bikers below.  Then it was mom’s turn…She boldly got up on the platform, our guide Angela clipped her on then safety checked “seven, eight, you are rolling straight, go ahead when ready!” Mom nodded slowly, took an unsure step backwards, shot over a look of complete uncertainty or was that fear? “You can do this” I said to her. She turned, nodded and stepped off into flight. I looked across and SHE MADE IT! Next, I stepped up to the platform, locked, loaded, soared. Even my nerves of steel were a little shaken. After a round of high fives with the group and a big hug to mom, we strutted to the second line. We passed blooming lupine (named after the latin word for wolf-lupinus, because their flowers look like a wolf’s tooth) alongside the trail that waved a standing ovation to mom.  

At line two our guide Ashley demonstrated how to flip upside down for a more interesting ride across. Mom stayed with the traditional form of feet first; I opted for head first. The third and final line sashayed us over a ten foot cliff and past a hero view of the Spanish Peaks. We all hooted, hollered and high fived each other. The group was chirping excitedly about their next adventure. Some were off to whitewater rafting, paintball, or the giant swing.  We headed to the Lone Peak Expedition, the tram to the top at 11,166 feet for another breath taking, fear-of-heights busting adventure. 

-Lyndsey Owens
momzip mom-1
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The Making Of A Monster Truck For Lone Peak Expedition

8/22/2012 6:13:00 PM
Lone Peak Expedition Truck
FOR ANYONE THAT has hiked in the bowl area during the summer, they would have a hard time imagining a vehicle driving up those talus slopes. The resort’s heavy duty work trucks make it up there to do service, but how do you transport a dozen guests up there in comfort?

Eric Reed, Big Sky Resort vehicle maintenance manager had the answer. Having once been a competitive “rock crawler” in Utah and Colorado, Eric knew what sort of guts a truck needed to climb this type of terrain, but he also wanted it to ride like a Cadillac AND look cool.

It started with a 2012 Chevy one-ton 4x4 truck purchased from Danhof Chevrolet in Amsterdam/Manhattan MT. A custom body for a similar vehicle for the Vail Adventure Ridge was built by Fred Holz at Valley Fabricators in Gypsum, CO. The truck was sent there to extend the bed and install 11 bucket seats and a canopy frame. 

Once back in Montana, Eric set to work customizing the drive train to make it endure the brutal upper mountain. The front end got a 2” level kit with fender well modifications and the rear got a 5” lift. The progressive leaf springs in the new truck engineering makes the factory ride even better with more weight, and with a differential locker in the rear axle, that means more traction. The beefy rock-crawler quality tires are 35x1250 MTV with Kevlar sidewalls and trail-ready bead-locking rims. At about $500 each, those are some sturdy tires.

While this was going on, the graphics team in the Big Sky marketing department was preparing the artwork for a wrap that would feature a photo taken by Jim Nygard with a camera mounted to a remote-controlled aircraft last summer. When the truck was complete, SCS vinylworks in Bozeman applied the decals.

The Lone Peak Expedition began June 28, 2012 and this project was completed on time thanks to a team with a vision and the resources to “git ‘er done”. 

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Windy Pass Cabin

7/25/2012 9:10:00 AM
Gallatin Divide at Windy Pass

FOREST SERVICE CABINS are hot-ticket items come June in Montana – the remote cabins are open for rent, and make for amazing weekend trips to remote and beautiful parts of forest service land.  Campers book months in advance to snag a reservation.
So when I was offered a last-minute chance to use a friend’s reservation at Windy Pass, I jumped on it. 

I rounded up a crew for the trip and we planned to leave that day after work.  Just a few miles from Big Sky, we’d need to take a high-clearance vehicle up a bumpy road to get to the head of the two-mile trail.  With the long summer Montana days, we knew we could make it before dark.

Finally hitting the trail at 8:30pm, the sun was still well above the horizon as we trekked up the fierce elevation gain.  Across streams and through the forest we climbed until the landscape opened up to a field of wildflowers and we saw the Windy Pass cabin perched near the ridge.

The view clearly called for a few verses from the Sound of Music, and my friend Tallie and I immediately broke into song.  This was truly a Maria moment – never had I seen such lush rolling hills surrounded by mountains outside of that classic musical.
The cabin was one small room with bunk beds and two more cots in a small loft above.  The moon was full and rising, and even as the sun vanished around 9:30pm, the moon lit up the night with an eerie silvery glow.  Somewhere not so far off, we heard coyotes howling.

We had packed in takeout pizza from big Sky’s newest joint, Ousel & Spur, and dug into Fig and Prosciutto slices around the small cabin table before topping it off with homemade gingerbread.  Not having to carry sleeping pads, pots, pans, or utensils – the cabin comes equipped with mattresses and cooking staples – we’d also been able to squeeze in a bottle of champagne, just in case the mood struck us.

At 5am, we woke and hiked another 15 minutes to the top of the highest ridge, and watched the sun come up over Paradise Valley below.  I couldn’t think of anything better to celebrate in life than a Montana sunrise, so we popped the Champagne and toasted to the Big Sky.

-  Greer

Photos by Anna Middleton-http://annamiddleton.wix.com/photography

Inside the cabin Snowdrifts in July on Windy Pass Waterfall on the way to Windy Pass
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Mountain Cuisine | The Carabiner: Climb Up to the Alpine Table

7/19/2012 12:07:00 PM
ribs

THE WINDING MOUNTAIN road ends one hour north of Yellowstone National Park at the Summit Hotel, elevation 7,500 feet. Anchored in a window laden corner is the Carabiner Bar & Grill offering views of God’s country. As we stumbled in awe, gazing out at the stunning scenery we were greeted by warm smiles that lead us to a comfortable window seat for two.

The ziplining and whitewater rafting adventures from the day were enough to make me want to eat a horse, but luckily here Bison and Wagyu beef are the stars of Chef Michael Bockelman’s summer menu.  The carte du jour is traditional bar and grill; from lighter fare of salads, soups, sandwiches and burgers to Montana NY Strip and Alaskan Salmon as well as delectable plates of red quinoa salad, smoked tofu sandwiches or Moussaka for the discriminating vegetarian.  Plates ranged from $11-31, allowing for any range of budget.

Outside there is a terrace where vacationers and conference attendees (indicated by the square name tags on white lanyards around their necks) were enjoying the fresh mountain air as they dined.  While inside the room fashions mountain elegance with stone colored walls, black stone accents, vintage French ski resort art hanging on the walls and a cozy fireplace to water glasses with hand holds in them.

We decided to dive right into the local flavor with a small plate of the Bison Satay paired with a Monchoff Estate Riesling, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2010.   The grilled bison skirt steak was mounted on top of a cold chili and pineapple buckwheat noodle salad with rice pickled vegetables.  The warm tender bison was more sweet than spicy and disappeared rapidly between the two of us, one of us using silverware, the other opting to eat off the skewer.
  
As we continued on we chose the Montana Smokehouse Ribs with a glass of Zenaida Cabernet, Paso Robles 2009 and the Wagyu Noodle bowl with a glass of the Riesling again as recommended by the sommelier.  The ribs were-so-tender- juicy-meaty and covered in a naturally sweet huckleberry glaze with a side of fresh slaw. We had agreed to share, but I didn’t want to. The apex of the bowl of rice noodle was a delicately marbled Wagyu skirt steak that scored the heat of the spicy Vietnamese broth. This was served Montana style where the helping of beef overshadows the vegetables in the bowl.
 
Chocolate Fondue for Two- who could say no in this alpine environment?  With a glass of Dows 10 year tawny we sat grinning across the table at each other bite after bite of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and petit four sec dipped in warm Belgian chocolate ganache. The hedonists that we are, we also ordered a bowl of house made vanilla ice cream with season appropriate strawberry-rhubarb sauce.  Sharing is not so bad, as long as you can share two desserts.
 


Carabiner Bar & Grill, Summit Hotel
1 Lone Mountain Trail, Big Sky, Montana; (406) 995-8078
www.bigskyresort.com
Summer season open daily 11:00am – 11:00pm

Bon Appetit!
-Lyndsey Owens

bison_satay Chocolate-fondue vanillaicecream
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Beyond The Basecamp Excursions: Road Biking The Jefferson River Loop

7/16/2012 1:10:00 PM
Jefferson River Loop
While watching the Tour de France, one is inspired to get on a bike. Some may love the thrill of the peloton, but I prefer big open spaces and nicely paved roads with very little traffic when I ride the skinny tires. Don't worry, if you can't hop the pond to France, the scenery around Southwest Montana rivals anything found in Europe.

This ride takes you along the lazy Jefferson River, through a beautiful rock canyon hiding spectacular limestone caverns deep within its walls. Leaving the river bottom, the vast ranches, potato farms and wheat fields southeast of Cardwell give you a feel for the real Montana. Waving at someone on a tractor is common, and the few cars encountered were mostly accommodating. The only hint of industry is the talc mine near Sappington Bridge.
Fun sightings on today's ride: deer, antelope, pelicans, Canada geese, ducks, osprey, red-winged blackbirds by the dozens, a very alive rattlesnake along with several flattened ones, numerous fly-fishing drift boats and a charming horse-drawn wagon making its way slowly north on Highway 287.
 
Getting there:
A good place to park is the visitors center at Lewis & Clark Caverns state park located on Hwy 2 west of Three Forks. It has nice restrooms and info center replete with maps.  

The trip: 
Ride west along the Jefferson River to Cardwell. This section is the narrowest, an early start can get you ahead of traffic. Turn south (left) at the gas station near I-90 interchange then start the long undulating climb on Hwy 359 to junction of Hwy 287 near Harrison. From here you can turn left to make 35-mile loop or turn right, go through Harrison and out to Pony (in-and-out) returning to same intersection for a 50-miler. Prepare for screaming downhill to Sappington Bridge, back across the "Jeff" then go left (west) to return to parking area passing Rockin' the Rivers concert site. Roads are all nicely paved, most with decent shoulders, caution the narrow sections along the river. The loop climbs in stages with nice areas to catch your breath. Going the other direction means a long steeper hill in the early part of the ride and graceful descent with the Tobacco Root Mountains ahead of you, ending on a slight uphill along the river.

When to go:
This ride is great anytime during the summer, spring or fall.  I prefer the spring and fall for the milder traffic and temps. It's recommended to start early in the day to avoid strong afternoon breezes and possible thunderstorms. 

Tips: If you have an Iphone or Android try Map My Ride, this savvy app will track your ride via your phone’s gps. Stay safe with Road ID, a personal identity system with emergency contact info.

- Article & photos by Glenniss Indreland
Jefferson River Loop

Horse-drawn vehicle on US Highway 287 in Southwest Montana

Jefferson River Loop

Pelicans on the Jefferson River

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Summer Face Shots: Whitewater Kayaking the Gallatin River

7/12/2012 9:59:00 AM


Thumbs Up for Whitewater in Big Sky Montana

ALL WINTER IN Big Sky, powder hounds talk about the epic face shots of Cold Smoke pow on Lone Peak.

But in summer, there’s a different kind of face shot in Big Sky – face shots of cold water from the rapids on the Gallatin River for whitewater Kayakers.

And while most of the time those exhilarating kayaking face shots are reserved for the seasoned river rat after hours of training and practicing rolls in a pool, I recently found my novice self snuggly sealed in a  dry suit and spray skirt, face-to-face with the legendary Mad Mile of rapids.

I was on one of the first of Geyser Whitewater’s new guided tandem kayaking trips down the Gallatin. It gives novices a unique chance to experience whitewater Kayaking with a personal guide, and pro Matt Larson was giving me the rundown on what to do should our boat flip – a distinct possibility on the raging rapids of the Mad Mile.

“Are you ready?  On three I’m going to flip us.” Per Matt’s instructions, I threw away my paddle, held my breath, and tucked, suddenly upside down, immersed in the cold water.  In another instant, I was gulping air again– Matt had righted our boat.

Both exhilarated and shaking with fear, I was (sort of) ready to head for the rapids.  “Paddle!” Matt yelled, and we launched forward into the first section.

 Rapid after rapid our boat crashed into the water, sometimes with a force that threw my torso back, engulfing me in a wave of the ice cold river.  It was cool and invigorating, and my veins coursed with adrenaline.  Like the perfect powder day on Lone Peak, I was getting river face shot after face shot.

-  Greer

Geyser Whitewater is located in Big Sky just off of highway 191 and leads whitewater rafting and kayaking trips on the Gallatin River.  New this year, you can also book a Zip and Dip tour, including whitewater rafting and Ziplining at Big Sky Resort.

Whitewater in Big Sky Montana Matt the guide Whitewater Kayaking Big Sky Resort Montana
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The Last Best Vacation

7/10/2012 2:35:00 PM
YStone Lake

 JUST THIS MORNING the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported that our beloved Yellowstone National Park hosted some 675,000 visitors during the month of June – a 6% increase over the same month last year and just short of the all-time June record.  One hundred and forty years after its designation as our country’s first National Park, the allure & luster of this all-American vacation hasn’t waned.  In fact, now more than ever, Yellowstone provides the perfect opportunity to escape from the e-mails, step back in time and simply enjoy one’s breathtaking surroundings.
 
Artists Point For example, last week I visited the park with three Wisconsin natives – my boyfriend Ethan and his mom and stepdad.  All of them were simply amazed (and camera-happy) by our uniquely Western surroundings, even before we entered the official park entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana.  Once in the park we saw the bubbling mud fountain pots of the lower geyser basin, followed by iconic “Old Faithful,” erupting a perfect 90 minutes after its last show of glory.  We saw the snow-capped Absaroka mountains in the background and the stunning lupine and Indian Paintbrush wildflowers in the foreground on the banks of Yellowstone Lake.  We stood at Artist’s Point and captured truly art-worthy shots of the lower falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  We saw elk, deer, bison and even a wolf.  Yet perhaps the most amazing thing about our day in the park was that we didn’t get 3G, 4G or wireless coverage, and didn’t need it.  We weren’t checking the latest news on Facebook or Twitter because indeed the best and most exciting news lay in the anticipation of our next roadside wildlife sighting.   When we settled back in Big Sky that evening, with wireless again, we could share our photos on Facebook.  But we could also reflect on the rare and old-fashioned quality time we had spent together.  And providing just that may be Yellowstone’s greatest attraction of all.

Margo

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