‘Biggest opening’ in a decade

Big Sky Resort celebrates 1,500 acres, temporary park tow rope for 51st season opener

By Mira Brody VP MEDIA

There are few sounds sweeter to the ears of those who revel in snow sports than that of explosives in the morning echoing off the ridgelines of their favorite mountain. Sure enough, after a couple early winter storms in nearby mountain ranges, sporadic booms from avalanche mitigation efforts greeted skiers and riders at Big Sky Resort’s 51st opening day on Nov. 27, as well as periodic snow flurries that eventually made way for an afternoon of bluebird skies.

“[It’s] by far the biggest opening we’ve had in at least in the last 10 years,” said Adam West, vice president of mountain operations. Standing at the top of Swift Current 6, he gestures with one arm toward Andesite Mountain to the east, and with his other arm toward the Challenger chairlift, calling the opening “wall to wall.”

West and his team were able to open 1,500 acres of terrain, more than initially anticipated,  encompassing over 60 runs accessed by Ramcharger 8, Swift Current, Challenger, Explorer, four base area carpets, and by popular demand, a park tow rope.

As an added bonus, opening day-goers were greeted by a spinning blue rope in the temporary base area terrain park to whisk them up to their next park lap. The addition did not go unnoticed for long and soon had park fans whooping and flying over features to cheering onlookers.

“We decided to—for the early season until our main park Swifty is open—we decided to rent a tow rope … So that will be there for the next three weeks, and then once our main park is built up we will remove that,” West said. “We’re also just trying it out. We try out these fancy D-Line lifts, maybe we’re overlooking the tow ropes too.”

Tomorrow, the resort will increase skiable terrain to 1,800 acres and 70 trails with the opening of Powder Seeker lift and terrain in The Bowl. West expects Lone Peak Tram to open by the coming weekend. The Madison Base Area, in correlation with the new Madison 8 chairlift, is projected to open Dec. 20.

In addition to humans, canine staff members expressed excitement toward opening day, particularly Hank the avalanche cattle dog. Hank is seven, and has been working alongside owner and ski patroller Max Erpenbach since he was six months old. Hank works alongside five other canine coworkers, including the team’s newest addition as of last season, a one-year-old yellow lab named Chester.

“As soon as I put my skis on the snow he starts barking at me,” Erpenbach said. “Riding up the lift, he’s kind of whiny and shaky, he starts to get really excited, and then the last five towers of Swift Current he starts barking, he’s just so excited.”

Avalanche dogs like Hank go through extensive training to work on the mountain, thanks to Montana Avalanche Dogs, a nonprofit that helps train and certify dogs for avalanche search teams across the state.

Erpenbach said with all the snow, the Big Sky Ski Patrol team—dogs and humans—have been working hard to ensure accessible terrain is safe or guests.

“Obviously it’s way more exciting when we have a bunch of snow,” he said, noting the explosives locals have been hearing throughout the week. “A big part of our safety culture is that we won’t open avalanche terrain on a whim.”

Everyone knows a strong work ethic pairs well with the ability to have fun—Erpenbach said the highlights of Hank’s days are greeting each of his coworkers before loading the lift in the morning, and taking his end-of-day run down Harbor’s Halfpipe.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, West voiced thanks to his team for a successful opening day, and season ahead: the ski patrol team, maintenance, snow surface, terrain park, grooming and snowmaking teams, as well as mountain hospitality.

“As the saying goes, it takes a village,” he said.

The snowy conditions, impeccable weather and room to roam was not lost on skiers.

“Guests are so spread out today because we have so much terrain,” West said. “Usually we’re all kind of packed into the base area and you get a ton of atmosphere down there, but today—everybody’s just out skiing.”