Skipping The Lift Lines And Getting In the Backcountry On A Busy Montana Weekend
After a pretty significant storm this past weekend the lines at Bridger Bowl were like I’ve never seen before. We sat in the canyon trying to drive up to the resort before being told the parking lot was full and deciding to turn around.
The next day I decided I couldn’t take the wait again so my roommates and I agreed to head into the backcountry for the day. Avalanche conditions were considerable but there are plenty of low-angle tours in Bozeman so we headed out to History Rock.
It was a chill 3-mile skin up to the top of the meadow and quite enjoyable, even for me. If you asked anyone that knows me they would be quick to tell you that I rarely backcountry ski. I’ll admit it’s part laziness but I also like to get the most out of the season passes I pay for. However, my frustrations with lift lines reached an all time high this weekend and so I made the jump into the backcountry.
The way up was a bit of a pleasant surprise, beautiful views and nice temperatures made for quite the positive experience. My roommate was struggling with some unfortunate gear problems on the way up, but despite this we all had a smile on our faces.
We got to the top of meadows and enjoyed a nice snack in front of the view before transitioning to begin our ski down. We had to do some intense tree navigation with low-tide and many deadfalls but it was still fun nonetheless.
While touring generally means one run, the day was still fulfilling. It always feels better to be moving rather than standing still and this day was exactly the refresh I needed. It’s likely I’ll continue the rest of my season at the resort but I’m grateful for the access I have to the backcountry.
This is a great way to skip the lines at the resort but it’s important to keep in mind avalanche safety measures and stay aware that the backcountry is unmitigated and unpredictable. Only head into the backcountry if you’re prepared with the right education and gear, including an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe.
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