WOOT WOOT! Nukin' in Missoula

[GoBig1776]

How about some pics of Snowbowl goodness?

[406]

^^^I have some good ones, but cant get them off the camera until trip is over and I get home.

[RootSkier]

windgroomer?

[406]

I got an inexpensive last minute southwest flight to Spokane. Forecast was showing lots of snow for Western and Central Montana. My friend Noah who lives in Spokane was up for a road trip, so we skied 5 ski areas along interstate 90 in Montana, I call it the Cold Smoke Corridor.

Woke up in Spokane to 3" of new snow. Arrived at Lookout, I-90 exit 0, to find about 20 cars in the parking lot and at least 6" of new snow. After ski beer was Bayern Face Plant and Dad made bacon wrapped elk burgers on the grill with Mom's famous fries.


Lookout doesn't have the steepest terrain but can't complain about wide open runs and fresh tracks most of the day. Noah:


Note all the empty chairs. Seemed like some people showed up in the afternoon. But there had to be less than 50 people on the mountain all morning. Me:


Day 2, I-90 exit 101. Montana snowbowl had 12" of new snow. I expected huge crowds, but that never happened. Cousin and I were 10th chair back and there was no line by the time we got back to Griz after bombing down West Ridge. Post ski beer at Big Sky Brewing with a growler fill of Powder Hound.


Cousin on west bowl:


Me in the trees:


Me in the white room:


On the way to Bozeman, Noah and I got dinner in Butte. He ordered 2 wop chops for each of us, which turned out to be a bit much...not sure they have anything for my wife at the Freeway Tavern, but I like the PBR sign.


I will post day 3 & 4 ( Bridger & Big Sky) in the central MT thread.

Day 5, I-90 exit 208. No new snow at Discovery, but we found fresh tracks. Lift ticket was only $24 due to super bowl. I had to catch the airplane in Spokane at 6, we we skied open to 1 pm. Was about all my legs were good for anyways. Stopped in Missoula for a hoagie for late lunch ( always a mistake, but can't help it).








Awesome trip.

[Single Track]

^Cheers, man!

[GoBig1776]

^Fuck Yeah! Thanks, especially the West Bowl pic.

[tetzen]

Great shots! Anyone been braving the sub-zero temps this week?

[stizzmt]

Great shots! Anyone been braving the sub-zero temps this week?

Bowl was closed yesterday and today, -23 on top with 30mph winds according to the point 6 weather station this morning. Probably closed tomorrow too I'm guessing, we'll see about friday...

[stuckathuntermtn]

And in case you needed another reason to stay indoors, Bozeman let some shithead escape police custody and he's armed and dangerous in Missoula. Well, by now he's either hiding or left, it's fucking cold out and he robbed a Taco Bell.

[cloud cult]

Great shots! Anyone been braving the sub-zero temps this week?

Was up Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in the backcountry. Spectacular and beautiful. Hard to regulate body temperature though when you're sweating away uphill.

Some OK turns but a lot of heavy wind damage and grabby snow. Tough conditions for skiing, actually.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Thinkin about hitting up the afternoon ticket. Anyone wanna share a ride from the downtown area? Everyone I know always has an excuse why they can't go skiing.

[RoooR]

Who are you supposed to get in touch with if you want to go skinning at Marshal MT?

[stuckathuntermtn]

I think the owner is the guy who owns Taco Johns.
More importantly: why would you want to?

[Mantana1]

More importantly: why would you want to?

Exercise and to ski powder, duh.

Also more on topic - I was stuck at work today but i heard conditions were awesome up at the bowl. gonna be a zoo up there this weekend..

[stuckathuntermtn]

It was really good in the morning. Started getting pretty skied out by afternoon. I'm also spoiled and out of shape so make of that what you will.

[RoooR]

Exercise and to ski powder, duh.

Exactly. I'm getting tired of riding the spinning bike and don't like to get fat in the winter. Bowl was good Thurs and Fri. Hopefully this Sunday night system pays off.

[senior researcher]

Here comes sickness!WOOT!WOOT!

[stuckathuntermtn]

No wonder I can't find a job, everyone's at the Bowl on a weekday!
Good times

[tetzen]

I haven't hit the bowl much in the last 2 years, but that was the most packed I've ever seen the parking areas. Does no one have a job in this town? Did they not get out and ski the weekend dumps?

[stuckathuntermtn]

Idk. There wasn't a lift line at all, but it got hit pretty hard. And lots of GoPros. I also don't know why about that either.

[creaky fossil]

I haven't hit the bowl much in the last 2 years, but that was the most packed I've ever seen the parking areas. Does no one have a job in this town? Did they not get out and ski the weekend dumps?

leisure and semi-leisure class has grown substantially in the past 2 yrs, way more trustafari and semi-retired-at-30 people here now

[stuckathuntermtn]

There's a lot more retired people everywhere as the Baby Boomers get older. The beaver-tail crew shreds some pow.

[creaky fossil]

There's a lot more retired people everywhere as the Baby Boomers get older. The beaver-tail crew shreds some pow.

the influx I've seen is greater than the mere number of people shifting from work to retirement as a population percentage

and it corresponds to the huge growth in boutiques and fancy restaurants/bars

as well as the huge increase in snowplowing and de-icing activity on the streets

[senior researcher]

Q: How does Pat hold his head up? A:Unfinished zip lines!

[creaky fossil]

Q: How does Pat hold his head up? A:Unfinished zip lines!

kinda hard to finish zip lines when all the town's new transplanted millionaires are complaining that the Snowbowl Road is too rough for them to drive their Tesla up the hill