Triple Black Diamonds at Big Sky

[Harvey]

That's less than I thought looking at the map. Not planning a trip. That map is fascinating though.

 

[Ripitz]

This photo shows the Big and the North Summit snowfield with Headwaters front and center.

 

[Benny Profane]

"As Marz pointed out there is an abundance of rocks sometimes hidden just below fresh snow up high and in the bowl. Challenger is known for that. A coworker of mine on her first day in Big Sky pointed it into the untracked, found the rocks and flipped over, chipping a big piece of her hip bone off. They pinned it back on and she stuck it out, healed and was able to finish the season riding again. The rocks are like shark teeth. My understanding is that Big Sky was really one of the first places that embraced wearing helmets outside of ski racing. They are very necessary especially if you are considering skiing these zones."

This is a big downside to skiing that mountain, especially for the first time on fresh days. It's a windblown surface over barely concealed scree rocks that keep the tuners and repairmen down at the base busy, and, I'm guessing, the patrollers, too. I core shotted twice moving over to places that looked so inviting, but the local I was with just shook his head at my folly.

That said, "cheese grater" is a real hoot.

 

[Ripitz]

Incredible! Blind faith!!

 

[Tjf1967]

No doubt there are other places with rowdy terrain. I’m sure marketing has something to do with it. There is definitely a difference though in severity between what they have rated double and triple, so it’s not like it’s entirely bullshit. Maybe they are growing tired of picking up bloody gapers that tomahawked down something that shouldn’t have been attempted and this is their way of warning them. Maybe it will only make the gapers want to do it more.

Were you a dirt bag out there? I went to a party they were having out in the middle of the woods. They build a huge kicker and the young kids and people who thought they were young kids were launching it. Loikle used to be around. He was involved with them. Nice guy showed is around. Brought us to a couple of the sheds. They place is awesome and I'm looking forward to going back. I never did the big side we keep going straight down the north snow field. I should probably hit the big slide this time but now sure I have it in my anymore. My days off scaring the shit out of myself may be behind me.

 

[tirolski]

Were you a dirt bag out there? I went to a party they were having out in the middle of the woods....My days off scaring the shit out of myself may be behind me.

Attaboy ? .

Why the uncertainty though?

 

[raisingarizona]

This is incredible. I really appreciate it Rip.

Breaking this out is a no brainer for me. Definitely not letting it get buried in a Detach vs Fixed Grip thread.

We've got some others with Big Sky experience. I'm hoping they will add to it.

Of the 5000 acres, how much is triple black?

"As Marz pointed out there is an abundance of rocks sometimes hidden just below fresh snow up high and in the bowl. Challenger is known for that. A coworker of mine on her first day in Big Sky pointed it into the untracked, found the rocks and flipped over, chipping a big piece of her hip bone off. They pinned it back on and she stuck it out, healed and was able to finish the season riding again. The rocks are like shark teeth. My understanding is that Big Sky was really one of the first places that embraced wearing helmets outside of ski racing. They are very necessary especially if you are considering skiing these zones."

This is a big downside to skiing that mountain, especially for the first time on fresh days. It's a windblown surface over barely concealed scree rocks that keep the tuners and repairmen down at the base busy, and, I'm guessing, the patrollers, too. I core shorted twice moving over to places that looked so inviting, but the local I was with just shook his head at my folly.

That said, "cheese grater" is a real hoot.

I’m always apprehensive visiting a new place and being in alpine terrain. Apprehensive to the point that I’m like a big wimp. I have to feel things out for a bit before I can actually let go and ski the way I like to. I’m an ok skier but truthfully I’m not a big risk taker and I like to be super safe. It sounds like if there’s a fresh patch at BS that the locals are going around it’s probably a pile of rock.

 

[tirolski]

I’m always apprehensive visiting a new place and being in alpine terrain...I have to feel things out for a bit before I can actually let go and ski the way I like to. I’m an ok skier but truthfully I’m not a big risk taker and I like to be super safe.

Tis wise advice for most days, most places.

 

[MarzNC]

That's less than I thought looking at the map. Not planning a trip. That map is fascinating though.

Niehues was glad he got to do an update for Big Sky. With such a big mountain, it's amazing he could figure out a way to show almost all of it at the same time. But there is no substitute for skiing enough areas to really understand where he had to change the perspective.

Big Sky is in my Top Five for return trips out west. Would be even if Boyne wasn't updating lifts.

 

[Ripitz]

Were you a dirt bag out there? I went to a party they were having out in the middle of the woods. They build a huge kicker and the young kids and people who thought they were young kids were launching it.

I was. I spent 6 winters there, one of them living in the parking lot which is about as dirt bag as it gets. My first year was the fabled 96-97 season that shattered snowfall records, a year after the tram was built. We got there just before Thanksgiving and it snowed for 33 days straight. It wasn’t until after Christmas that it cleared enough to see the views. That was the year an avalanche took out the Shedhorn lift.

The party you were at may have been the underground dirt bag big air contest. If it was in the spring and people were dressed up that was probably it. It usually is in Dude Park in Shedhorn or Chuck’s Run near the Buddha Hut but it moves around and is usually somewhat hidden so as not to scare the guests and their children. Lots of drunken huckin’.

The dirt bag tradition is largely misunderstood by outsiders. It is an intricate part of the mountain culture. The first Dirt Bag Ball was started as a fundraiser for the ski patrol in the late seventies. The way the story goes, two patrollers who were originally from Stowe told of an award there, which was a bag of dirt, given each year to the person who did the dumbest thing. That combined with the description of the vagabond ski bum lifestyle launched the idea. The Dirt Bag Ball has been held every year since then. A powder 8 contest is held usually up in Cron’s Pocket above the tram. Everyone is dressed up and it’s a real shit show. Lots of libations, burning incense and perhaps some psychedelics. The king and queen sit on thrones made of snow and are the unofficial judges. Afterwards there is a downhill parade down Mr. K led by the royalty, but there was at least one year where the queen couldn’t make it and had to ride down in a toboggan. The ball is a big party at night usually at Bucks T4 in the Canyon. Patrol gets together privately and votes on the new king and queen. The honor is given to the best male and female ripper/partier combo. The person who rides everyday. They are usually at the bar at last call and are lined up for first chair the next day. Old kings and queens are forever considered royalty and it is customary to buy them drinks at the bar if you have the honor to meet one. The official Dirt Bag Ball is a big part of patrol tradition and is very much tolerated by Boyne. When John Kircher was owner he participated in the powder 8s and patrol’s end of the year private parties.

There are many offshoot festivities such as the underground dirtbag big air, shack tours and a full moon XC ski from the mountain village 6 miles down the “poop chute” to the meadow, which starts at one bar and ends at another.

Good times. Glad to have lived through it all.