 Poster: A snowHead
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Apart from WTFH and me, no-one ever seems to mention Big Sky in these forums. I thought I'd tempt some more of you to consider Montana next year by showing you a few photos. It's a resort that I definitely want to return to, partly for the lack of crowds, but also because it offers so much challenging skiing than I wasn't able to get around it all in a week - although, admittedly, I was hampered by kids.
Here're the pictures. Enjoy. Anyone fancy taking on the Big Couloir (the big chute to the right of lone Peak)?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jonny Jones, thanks for these and how nice to have descriptive text to go with the pics. I reckon you and Ambo Foxy won't find it so quiet next season after your plugs for Big Sky. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks for those, Jonny, do you mind if I share your page to the EpicSki guys?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Wear The Fox Hat, share away. I've silently loitered on EpicSki quite a lot this winter, but haven't yet given anything back to that community. You might help to assuage my guilt a little!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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As a local, I just wanted to add my own plug. Big Sky is a great place to go, and everyone should feel free to visit. (I usually ski Bridger)
No really, both places are great, but Big Sky is definately better outfitted for the on hill ski vacation, with accomodations on the hill and a larger amount of area to explore all week. I enjoy those chutes off Lone Peak, they are some pretty nice skiing, but Bridger Bowl has more to offer in that arena if you're willing to hike. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The 30 inches statistic came from the resort's grooming report. As we all know there are lies, damn lies, and resort grooming reports. But the powder was genuinely knee deep so, after allowing for compaction, the figure is plausible.
Whatever the actual snow depth, I wasn't complaining 
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And you can go to Yellowstone for the day . . .
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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NickW, this is a skiing site, so I didn't post my pictures of Yellowstone. Suffice to say, if you're in Big Sky or Jackson Hole then you need to go to Yellowstone; if you don't you're missing out on one of life's great experiences. Especially if you have kids. Apart from the geysers, hot springs, fumeroles, and mud pots we got close up to more wildlife than I'd ever imagined possible - bison, elk, coyote, eagles: you name it, we saw it. And the scenery was awesome.
And I have you to thank you, Nick. You may vaguely recollect recommending Yellowstone to me some months back - and I'm very glad that you did. I guess that's snowHeads working at its best: one person passing on their advice to help make other someone else's holiday more memorable. 
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Three changes of plane from the UK to get to Montana.
The planes are usually scheduled to land in the final US destination around 11 o'clock at night.
These two points were sufficient for me to scratch Montana off the list.
If they had a more direct service from the UK I might consider Montana.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Latchigo, where do you get that from?
I flew with NorthWest. Gatwick to Minneapolis, then from there to Bozeman (arrived around 6.30pm). Arrived in Big Sky around 8pm.
I guess you could make another stop and arrive at 11pm if you wanted to, but I decide to go for the cheapest flight.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
Latchigo, where do you get that from?
I flew with NorthWest. Gatwick to Minneapolis, then from there to Bozeman (arrived around 6.30pm). Arrived in Big Sky around 8pm.
I guess you could make another stop and arrive at 11pm if you wanted to, but I decide to go for the cheapest flight. |
ebookers. I always look for the cheapest flights first.
I was looking for Bozeman and also Kallispel, when I was considering Montana(rather than just Big Sky)
Flights seemed to go to Salt Lake City( 2 stops however you do it) and then on from there.
If you can do it in 2 hops that changes everything.
Supplementary question:-
I also looked at car hire (by firm) and looked at the same vehicle in different states. Montana seemed pricey compared to other states and some of the car hire desks had shut up shop by 11pm. How did you get on for a vehicle ?
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I got a lift with a friend, but there are shuttle buses go all the time. Also, by arriving at 6.30pm, you have no problem with rental places being shut!
Try Expedia, Opodo or Trailfinders.
Price of flights varies from around £320 when I first enquired, up to £420 when I booked, 4 months later.
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You know it makes sense.
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I started with traveljungle for car hire but had trouble with their website so booked directly with the company they recommended. We had a big car (family of five plus luggage) but paid less than £200 including all taxes. Small cars were much cheaper.
We took 3 flights each way with Delta, but our longest stop was only 1.5 hours. Everything worked like clockwork. If it hadn't, I'd made sure that there were later flights that we could switch to in an emergency. The end-to-end flight time was long, but that's what books are for. The stops gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs and see some decent scenery on take-off and landing - especially at Salt Lake City. Perhaps my years of interailing and backpacking prepared me, but I actually found that I quite enjoyed the trip. 
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FAQ
Whistler this year is serving up 30 inches of ice 
