Is 2 Days @ Bridger Bowl Enough?

I have rented FWD on nearly all of my trips due to the obnoxious premium cost of AWD. It depends upon specific location and whether you have to climb/descend steep hills. I've had only 2 drives into the Bozeman/Big Sky region, and the area around West Yellowstone seemed to collect the most snow on the road. The roads in that area were decent enough and not a problem driving on a packed powder surface. I'll defer to local comments about the canyon between Bozeman and Big Sky; it does have a reputation, reminds me of the Walker River canyon on 395 near the CA/NV border which can be difficult in snow.
 
Well, I thought I would put a few thoughts on the subject together, deviating away from the original post slightly as Admin has it spot on in the first response.

Bridger is a fun mountain, some nice groomers on the Alpine and Pierre's Knob if there is no new snow and some decent trails on the Bridger Lift particularly if there is fresh snow. Plenty bumps up there too usually. I've skied Bridger maybe 4-5 times over a number of years and would say that unless there was serious snow I'd not stop for more than a day maybe two at a push. That for me is enough to get a feel for the place and see quite a bit ofthe mountain.

Red Lodge is somewhere I only went once. A friend from Billings always calls it Rock Dodge when I speak to her and although conditions were good when i was there I seemed to recall that tight trees meant it was largely a resort for skiing on piste with the best IIRC out in the Cole Creek area which was deserted. My memory on this place might not be too great though.

I'm a season pass holder at Discovery. Friends stay locally so I have a free couch, they dont ski but are perfect hosts, and for me the backside is some of my favorite skiing anywhere. It may not get much snow in a typical season but I always find some fresh on Granite and Limelight and because of its aspect tends to ski very well and generally is deserted. I just love this place and may see it through tinted glasses but I would spend way more time here than Bridger and Red lodge combined. It is just a superb mountain, cheap, great people and so quiet midweek.

Snow dependant I'd also look to Maverick and Snowbowl which both have some great skiing and Great Divide is also worth a look for a day without any doubt. Nothing stupidly steep at GD but fun none the less.

I dont think I need to say much about Big Sky/Moonlight. I do really like lapping the Headwaters at Moonlight though.

If you dont like really small time America then I dont think P'burg has much to offer. I love it for that, a handful of local bars and one or two places to eat(Bill's back yard grill is the best in N America) but not much going on. Perhaps Anaconda might have more and an easy drive to Disco too.

Accomodation in Montana I have always found to be cheap and readily available although I generally book in advance.

Over the last few years I have always had a 4x4 for the convenience but I'd say in general you would get away with a normal car but that is the risk you take. i've seen 6-12" of snow on the access road to Discovery with just a couple of trenches of a few cars ahead of me. Arriving at Moonlight in its first season in a whiteout in a normal car with over a foot of snow with no effort made to clear it was a pain but I survived. In Scotland we would say something along the lines of "you pays your money and takes your chances".

If you want any specifics give me a shout. Although I am a visitor myself I have spent a lot of time in Montana over the last decade.
 
Sorry for the delayed response.. been in Mammoth/June for a few days.... Thanks for the great synopsis, q.

We are pretty set on Disco over Red Loge now, so I think we have the ski areas set... (Bridger, BS/ML, Disco) probably won't go any further than those as we don't want to be inn the car all week... and would like to do a few other things, like just trying to blend into the local "culture" a little, with maybe some snowshoeing, hot springs, binge drinking....etc.. :-D However, as the time nears, we will pay closer attention to snow base and conditions.

So now, it sounds like the lodging is oru main focus. Thanks for the scoop on P=Burg and Ananconda... (we live in a small mtn town in socal, so we can appreciate small town America) I'm thinking maybe a night in each place.. although there are a couple options near Gerorgetown Lake that look appealing for access to the hill, but not much anything else.

Lastly, between BS/ML and Disco... which area would be a better preference for being at on the weekend? I imagine neither will be a mob scene, but just trying to consider lodging/prices and other things.

Thanks again for the insight, and I might continue to pick your brain occasionally.
 
I've not been myself but I am told that the springs at Chico are around the best in the general area but a little out of the way if your in Bozeman. Plenty other options.

Georgetown Lake I guess has some stuff going on in the winter, I've seen a lot of guys ice fishing and snowmobiling. Other than cabins which I dont know about renting the only option I can think of that is open at present is the 7 Gables. Bar, accomodation and restaurant all built into one. My hosts tell me the food is excellent and the rooms look ok but you really are in the middle of nowhere. A little further down the road to Anaconda is another similar place but it was for sale in April and not open when I was last there and cannot remember the name. You also have a few options down in Drummond but that is a bit far away if your not going to Snowbowl or Great Divide.

Binge drinking is a given, say hello to Gwen in the White Front bar in P'Burg, tell her that a Scottish guy sent you. Time it right and she will be making you free cocktails. Great place.

Generally I've found that out of Disco, BB and Moonlight that Bridger seemed to be the busiest when I have been on the weekend but that said other than the base and lodges it is hardly busy. Pretty much walk onto most lifts or a few chairs in front. Again I've spent more time at Disco, even busy weekends the good stuff is almost always quiet and generally just the lodge struggles to cope a little but I try and just time it right.

Moonlight was very quiet on a Sunday I spent there last season other than the lodge I had lunch in.

I honestly don't think that you have much to worry about queue wise at all. Even in spring break Montana always seems very quiet.

Visit MT
Winter MT
7 Gables
 
snowave":36xn96j4 said:
We are pretty set on Disco over Red Loge now, so I think we have the ski areas set... (Bridger, BS/ML, Disco) probably won't go any further than those as we don't want to be inn the car all week... and would like to do a few other things, like just trying to blend into the local "culture" a little, with maybe some snowshoeing, hot springs, binge drinking....etc.. :-D However, as the time nears, we will pay closer attention to snow base and conditions.

So now, it sounds like the lodging is oru main focus. Thanks for the scoop on P=Burg and Ananconda... (we live in a small mtn town in socal, so we can appreciate small town America) I'm thinking maybe a night in each place.. although there are a couple options near Gerorgetown Lake that look appealing for access to the hill, but not much anything else.

Lastly, between BS/ML and Disco... which area would be a better preference for being at on the weekend? I imagine neither will be a mob scene, but just trying to consider lodging/prices and other things.

Thanks again for the insight, and I might continue to pick your brain occasionally.
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Skiid Disco this past Sat. and Sun., very good early season conditons. Stayed on the backside most of the time and definitely hit a few things but it was excellent skiing. Seven Gables for Apre is a must and then stay in Pburg, you can see the backside runs from Pburg and the town has a real nice vibe. Disco can get busy on the weekends in Feb. and March, but that is a Montana busy so I don't know what you are used to. A mid week powder day at Disco usually means about 20 people skiing the backside Limelight lift :-D .
 
Our trip is coming up in 9 days.... anyone want to give me an abbreviated (or not) rundown on the terrain/lift variability at Bridger? I have taken a few notes and looked at the trail maps, but as always... first hand advice is the best. TonyC... sure would be nice if you had a resort guide to Bridger. :-P I have cut and pasted your big sky/Moonlight guide to my notes. :-)

again, we're primarily looking for the best lifts accessing blue/black groomers, and if there's some fresh stuff, anything up to black off piste, non-gladed. Of course, if I get free of the reigns, I might be able to do some more advanced stuff for myself. 8-[ I think I have a good feel for where those areas might be though.

Thanks
 
You need to get your hands on a transceiver and avy gear for Bridger. Now there is a lift at one end of the Ridge. I'm sure it's still a slog to the other end but that's not the same as a steep 500 vertical bootpack. Even if only the south end of the Ridge is easily chair accessible you'll be able to get multiple varied runs up there without the iron quads previously required. Anyone with advanced or better skills needs to make this effort or you're really missing out on what Bridger has to offer. You will also need the transceiver/avy gear if you want to ski off Lone Peak into Moonlight.
 
Thanks Tony, but that's just not gonna happen for 1 day at Bridger with the lady. I know this is what everyone keeps mentioning, but the lady is just not to the level of that yet. Yes, she can do black groomers, but that's about the max for her.

There's gotta be some decent terrain there other than The Ridge. :-k
 
There is plenty there for a day or two in good conditions, like the 16" today.

I honestly don't think you will find it hard to find stuff you enjoy, you can see most on the map and from the lifts IMO. I spend most of my time lapping the Bridger Lift and you'll see in my pictures that there is a wide open bowl to the right as you look that is excellent in fresh powder conditions. There are some natural chutes almost under that lift that take you back into the bowl, nothing long but nice for you if the wife wants to take the cat track out to the bowl and meet lower down.

A lot of the terrain from memory around High Traverse are more natural gullies through rocks and can be seen in my 2005 pics. Obviously none of this is groomed other than the cat track that winds its way around North Bowl Road until it hits the bottom of the bowl IIRC.

The Alpine area is very much more mellow and much more groomed terrain although I found it to be quieter still and had some fun and your wife might like that area more if she does not like powder/crud which you will almost always get on the Bridger lift area.

I prefer both those areas to Pierre's Knob but thats just my choice.

I've enjoyed lunch in the Deer Park Chalet on several visits, both Saturday's I've been were busy in there but I got a seat and outside was quiet. The bar at the bottom is nice too.

Here's some pics from Bridger over the years. 34 pics I think starting from the first link and 14 starting in the 2nd link.

Ski Trip 2005

Ski Trip 2010

Out of curiousity what are your plans for the trip looking like now? I'm out in Montana for 2 weeks before I head to Utah. 5 days at P-Burg and Discovery, 2 days up in Kalispell skiing Teton Pass on the way up, a day at Big Mountain(maybe 2) then a night in Libby with a day at Turner and a day maybe at Schweitzer. Turner is the final Montanan resort for me hence why I am heading up there before heading back for another 5 days in P-Burg and Dscovery.

Anything else you want to know give me a shout :-D
 
Thanks, q. I'm probably just thinking about it too much. I just don't want to waste 1/2 a day plucking around in terrain/lifts that look good on a map, but suck in reality. So... sometimes it's nice to get some pointers ahead of time. That's kinda part of going to a new place, however....

We haven't figured out the exact dates on where we're going to be at each place, but we are going to Bridger, (1 day)... BS/MLB/ (2-3 days).... Disco (1-2 days) on our trip. We get into Bozeman on March 1 and leave on the 9th.


So yeah, if you're in the area around that time, let me know.. I'll let my lady buy you a beer or 2.

Thanks for the info.... Nice picts, btw. :-D
 
Tony Crocker":evq4fov6 said:
You will also need the transceiver/avy gear if you want to ski off Lone Peak into Moonlight.
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Not any longer. Moonlight stopped requiring avy gear last year for the North Summit Snowfields. You just have to do it in groups of 2-4.

snowave":evq4fov6 said:
I'm probably just thinking about it too much.
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Yep.
 
Sadly I am missing you by a week as I fly out on the 16th.

This week is shaping up to be very nice with new snow all week so early March is looking good.

Enjoy!
 
bummer...

but yeah, conditions have been looking great lately.

what's your favorite watering hole on P-burg? I'll leave a beer for you...
 
Something to keep in mind, Lost Trail is open Thursday thru Sunday, so if you can time it to ski on a Thursday with fresh snow the skiing can be good. Same applies to Maverick.
 
haha!

The White Front in the town centre is what I'd class as a working mans bar and is my regular. I know a few of the barmaids in there but if Lorraine or Gwen are on duty tell them a Scottish guy will be back shortly, pretty sure they will get who it is(Quintin or Q). Around 5pm is normally when you might get some cocktails as the barmaids normally have something when they change shifts!

Hard to believe that I first stopped in there with my dad and brother back in 2002 and I have been every year since. It was pure chance we choose that bar and pure chance we stayed in Bill's motel at that time in Drummond. Bill has been a friend ever since and I now stay with them in their house when I come out each year.

Never really headed into any of the others other than the Sunshine Station as my friend Bill works in the store part til 9pm most days. Pool night in the town is a Tuesday so you will find a few locals in all the bars that night but midweek is usually pretty quiet.

I went into the 7 Gables at the end of the Discovery road last winter, worth a stop in there after skiing.

If you were to head down to Drummond stop in past and say hello to Mike Coyle at Coyle's Canyon Bar, really nice guy.

The first pic below is Gwen with my friend Mike Richards and me. The next one in the set is Bill on the left and Mike Coyle to the right of Mike Richards.

Pics

P-Burg is also home to a wonderful sweet shop.

Link

I just cant wait to get back there now :-D
 
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