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Big Sky Resort introduces double-blue square terrain


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2 months agoon
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By Mario Carr EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Big Sky Resort unveiled its winter 2023-24 trail map on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Aside from the new Lone Peak Tram, the map shows another significant change: double-blue squares are included in the mountain’s terrain rating system and will now represent about 15% of marked terrain.
Representing “advanced intermediate” terrain, the mountain aims to offer better clarity with regards to the slope ahead. “The increased specificity gives skiers more confidence when making terrain decisions and navigating the mountain,” the resort stated in a blog update on its website. This change follows the resort’s decision to change green circle trails Safari and El Dorado to blue squares. The resort stated that this “created a cascading effect as some terrain historically rated as a single blue, such as Elk Park Ridge and Ambush, would need a recalibration to double blue/advanced intermediate to reflect their steeper pitch accurately.”
According to PR Manager Stacie Mesuda, “This was a mountain operations initiative. Big Sky Resort’s mountain operations team took on the task of evaluating our current terrain ratings and recalibrating when necessary. The rationale was to have each run category be more similar to each other.”
The changes are shown in the updated trail map for winter 2022-23.
A close inspection
Anybody who has skied terrain off the Southern Comfort chairlift at Big Sky Resort has likely witnessed a debacle on El Dorado, the lift-line trail. This former green circle—now a blue square—has a steep section right in the middle, under the chairlift. That section could cause breakdowns including panicked wipeouts as speeds increased, fits thrown by novice children and adults, and many choosing to carry their gear in their arms as they proceed to walk down the slope under the well-ridden high-speed quad. However, experienced skiers and decent human beings would not judge, understanding that El Dorado was not the easiest green-rated run at the resort.
As of now, Safari is the other green trail that has been promoted to blue for the 2023-24 winter season. Instructors in the snowsports program at the resort know just how difficult it can be to take green-level skiers down Safari, with many instructors encouraging their students by telling them that it should be rated a blue square. In fact, many of the greens at the resort present challenges that may remind all skilled skiers and riders just how difficult it can be for beginners to learn how to control their descent down a mountain. Pacifier, while it has been widened, still has its sharp right turn before heading back toward the base—and of course, Mr. K has its infamous headwall.
The ski industry’s traditional rating system of green, blue and black represent “easiest,” “more difficult,” and “most difficult.” That now presents a shortcoming in Big Sky—two runs that were once the hardest of the “easiest” runs on the mountain are likely now the easiest of the “more difficult” runs. Without the double-blue “advanced intermediate” classification, Safari and El Dorado would be competing in the same weight class as heavyweight contenders like Ambush and Elk Park Ridge.
For years, skiers at Big Sky Resort have suggested, “The blues here are like blacks at other resorts.” And while the study needed to substantiate those claims might prove to be an endless endeavor, it is certain that local blues will not be turning black any time soon, only bluer.


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Event: WIA WONDERLAND OPEN HOUSE AND HOLLY JOLLY RAFFLE Date: November 28 Time: 4-7 pm, Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 pm Info: We would like to welcome the community
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Event: WIA WONDERLAND OPEN HOUSE AND HOLLY JOLLY RAFFLE
Date: November 28
Time: 4-7 pm, Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 pm
Info:
We would like to welcome the community to the WIA Wonderland Open House and the Holly Jolly Raffle on Tuesday, November 28,#GivingTuesday. Thanks to BSRAD and the support of the community, we have completed the reconstruction and remodeling of the first floor of our office. Come see our new space and meet some of the amazing people that made this dream a reality. The open house will be on Tuesday, November 28 from 4-7 PM. We will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 PM. After the ceremony, we will have light hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
It is no coincidence that our Open House is on GivingTuesday. GivingTuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and is dedicated to charitable giving. People donate to nonprofits and charities around the globe. We would love you to join us and celebrate WIA’s mission, “Dedicated to community wellbeing by connecting individuals to a network of resources.”
At the Open House, we will start our end of year fundraiser, The Holly Jolly Raffle. We will be selling raffle tickets from November 28 – December 31, the cost of one (1) ticket is $25 and five (5) is $100. The winner will receive 20% of the proceeds from the raffle and a Yurt Dinner for Two with Montana Backcountry Adventures. The Holly Jolly Raffle winner will be announced on January 3, 2024.
*Participants need not be present to win*
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28nov7:00 pm9:00 pmNo Man's Land Film Festival7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Event Type :ArtsEvent City:Big Sky
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The Big Sky Waypoint 50 Ousel Falls Road 7:00pm | $10 Buy tickets here: https://bigskyarts.org/events/no-mans-land-film-festival-2023 No Man's Land Film Festival (NMLFF) is the premier all-women adventure film festival based out of
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50 Ousel Falls Road
No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) is the premier all-women adventure film festival based out of Denver, Colorado, that meets a need and desire to highlight and connect women in pursuit of the radical. We are a collaboration and celebration of humans who are deeply engaged in enhancing the feminine presence in the adventure arena. The goal of this festival is to connect like-minded individuals who are action-oriented, wish to support a shared vision of gender equality, have a desire to experience their passions and environments through a uniquely feminine lens, and above all, love adventure.
Along with cultivating a deep interest in exploring the vastness of our planet from a groundbreaking point of view, we strive to create a history of motivating audiences to implement and inspire change through human collaboration. Our mission transcends the films presented; this festival acts as a platform for progressive thought and movement in the outdoor industry. At No Man’s Land, we aim to un-define feminine in adventure and sport through film.
This year’s films include:
Who are You to Tell A Story?
Directed & Produced by: Erica Hink
Reclaim Your Water: Natasha Smith
Directed by: Faith E. Briggs, Produced by: Kesshaan Cortez, BJ Frogozo, and Purvi Patel
Miles To Go
Directed by: James Saunders, Produced by: Palmer Morse + Matt Mikkelsen
Walking Two Worlds
Directed by: Maia Wikler, Produced by: Maia Wikler + Keri Oberly
Benched
Directed by: Bronwyn Davies
Elevated
Directed by: Palmer Morse, Produced by: Rachel Weinberg
Free to Run
Directed & Produced by: Carrie + Tim Hifgman
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(Tuesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Each year the Arts Council of Big Sky brings a culturally rich artist to Big Sky for a multi-day residence in collaboration with the Big Sky School District.
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Each year the Arts Council of Big Sky brings a culturally rich artist to Big Sky for a multi-day residence in collaboration with the Big Sky School District. During their time at school, the artist works with a partner teacher to deliver two days of workshops that aim to help students build a deeper, authentic understanding of diverse cultures through the arts.
The Arts Council of Big Sky is honored to announce this year’s Artist in Residence World Champion Hoop Dancer, Jasmine Pickner Bell, or Cunku Was’te Win’ meaning “Good Road Woman” in Dakota. A member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe (also known as Hunkpati Oyate), Jasmine is the first woman to hold the hoop dancing Champion title, performing in her brother’s place after his death in a tragic car accident. Originally a male-dominated dance, Jasmine restores the masculine/feminine balance within the sacred circle. While the hoop dance is traditional amongst many tribes in the US and Canada, each tribe has its own origin
story. The Lakota and Dakota people’s story is about being born from the Black Hills as a sacred healing dance.
Time
(Tuesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
45465 Gallatin Road