photos and words by Gregovich Berkory

After hitting an active storm cycle in Jackson, it was time to pack Beast Road and head north.

I’ve never skied Montana (sadly) but heard it’s skiing damn well compared to most places in the upper 48.

I noticed the potential for some pow Friday and convinced my friend Chad to fly up from the Bay Area and live like ski bum for a few days (dudes getting married soon, better do it now).

We arrived at Big Sky around midnight.

We awoke Friday to 4 inches of cold pow at the base (~6,800 ft) with more expected up top. And the snow was still coming! We immediately darted for the tram to get up near Lone Mountain at 11,100 ft.

Gullies 1/2/3 were skiing fantastic with 6 inches of cold powder and fresh tracks to be had everywhere. The snow was wind loaded and super fast. From there we lapped Challenger chair, as we heard it was holding snow well.

It didn’t disappoint and were able to let the skis ride with nice wide turns. No one around! After taking a short lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon lapping Headwaters Double.

By this time more fresh snow – at least 3 more inches, and blower – accumulated and covered the morning crew’s tracks.

The amount of terrain really seems to spread skiiers out and we were both shocked not only to get lap after lap of fresh tracks so late in the day but also at the complete lack of lift lines everywhere we went.

We really had a phenomenal day and it was honestly some of my favorite conditions to ski – nice wind affected grippy snow topped with a good bit of blower pow on top.

We kept it pretty mellow today simply due to being tempted by lap after lap of barely touched lines, but we both can’t wait to get back here to try some of the gnarlier lines.

Big Sky delivered big today!

SNOW NUMBERS:

FORECAST: