The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center has challenged the area ski patrols to compete in a friendly event against each other at Bridger Bowl’s King and Queen of the Ridge this Saturday.
The competition invites skiers and snowboarders to hike and ski the legendary Bridger Ridge as many times as possible in a day, and earn pledges while doing so. It’s the GNFAC’s second largest annual fundraiser.
Moonlight patrollers Taylor Woodward and Pete Owens have risen to the challenge, and will enter and hike their butts off for the honor of Moonlight Basin, according to patrol director Randy Spence.
Big Sky will send Dave Brown and Tim Haslitt, who have likely been hanging out on the summit all year, and so have strong lungs.
Jason Heath and Shane Cottom are on board from Bridger, and have the home team advantage.
Bridger Bowl first created the competition because the history of Ridge hiking was a big deal there, said Doug Wales, Bridger’s director of sales and marketing.
“We thought it would be fun to have a competition. It’s always been a status thing–how many ridge hikes can you do in a day… It’s been a fun event, and has been really amazing to see what these folks can do.”
More details:
The 10th Annual King and Queen of the Ridge ski/hike-a-thon will be held at Bridger Bowl this Saturday, Feb. 11. All of the proceeds go to the Friends of Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center to promote avalanche education in Southwest Montana. Kids and families are encouraged to hike too! You can help raise money two ways:
1). Get pledges and hike the ridge. You don’t have to do 20 laps–you can get flat pledges and hike just once.
2). Sponsor someone. If you don’t have someone to sponsor, consider sponsoring the GNFAC since they’ll be hiking for dollars. Email mtavalanche@gmail.com with a pledge.
