It's On

Summit County, CO, Grand Targhee, WY and soon to be Big Sky come turkey day. I've been up Bridger Bowl thrice, now. Each time with better results. The snow is here and this will be a winter to remember. Don't do anything foolish that would cause you to miss out. No injuries are allowed until spring. By then you'll be strong and won't get injured. Start hiking if you haven't already. You're behind the curve if you haven't skidded on something by now this season.

Here's Johnny

Johnny Come Lately, my alter ego for the day, finally got out of the recording studio to make a quick boot hike under the new lift at Bridger Bowl. The snow was spring-like refreeze and not completely making it to the lodge by now, many day after the last blast of snow that covered the Bowl. The new lift will complete the transformation of Bridger from a local hill with lots of quick steep, highly aesthetic shots to a ski mountain with long sweeping runs that gently roll to the bottom of the lifts. Every run returns you to the bottom of a lift. There are now only four lifts for experienced skiers, Alpine, Pierre's Knob, Schlausshman's (sp?) and the new Bridger lift. Though, there is unloading at midway there is no more loading at midway Bridger for a quick return to the Ridge without waiting in line with intermediates at the bottom who are accessing the old Deer Park runs. They all look nice without the lift towers although the new Bridger lift does leave from the bottom of Boot Hill. Still, that sweet line by the trees of deer Park is now without towers. I expect good things to come from the changes provided the the uphill capacity can truly be increased.