Big Sky Montana

In March Stuart and I went skiing in Big Sky Montana having seen a commercial for it the previous year while we were in Breckenridge – ‘the biggest ski area in America’!  It is a bit of a hop to get there going via Denver into Bozeman and from there the public bus to our accommodation at the bottom of the mountain, just about an hour from the airport.
We decided to stay at Bucks T4 mainly because they offered a really good deal on lift passes and they had a bar with the best food in the area, and since we didn't have any transport booze and food were a great attraction for après ski  fun (plus there was also the outside hot tubs!)
We took the first free shuttle bus up the mountain every morning to be first in line when the lifts opened.  However, there was never any lines – what a difference from the bun fight at Tignes first thing in the morning!  

	First morning outside Bucks T4 waiting for the shuttle bus up the mountain.  Although Stuart was happy standing without his jacket – it was pretty chilly I was wearing all my thermals!
	First glimpse of Big Sky from the shuttle bus. The top of Big Sky is at about 14,000ft. The flat ground in the foreground is a golf course in the summer – I think you would need more than orange balls to play it at this time of year!
	Carving the white stuff with not a sole around that is what I call skiing – and look at the sunshine.

The only time in honesty we did have to wait for a lift was taking the gondola up to the peak.  We had gone from sea level to 14,000ft in a couple of hours and I had my first experience of altitude sickness.  When we got to the top it was very cold and windy and I started to feel short tempered and sick.  Stuart wanted to take photos but all I wanted to do was get down.  As we were going down I had a real urge to just lie down and go to sleep – but I knew if i could just lose some more altitude I would be alright.  I said to Stuart I would see him further down and almost immediately when I skied back to the tree line I started to feel better.  We never made back up there due to high winds that closed the gondola so I was glad we did when we did.
After a hard days skiing you need the après ski including a soak in the to rest those tired muscles.  Since we were staying a week and it appeared most people were only there for few days we quickly became the regulars and would get greeted by the bar staff get served our usual drinks – you know just like your local would!  Anyway we also managed to talk to other people at the bar and listen in to other peoples conversations!

	Hmm hot tube with beer and wine – very civilized! Just don't expose any part of your body above the waterline otherwise you will freeze!
	Bucks T4 make some of their own liquors – maybe some ideas for Demijohn!  There was bacon bourbon, apple cinnamon vodka and pineapple vanilla bean tequila!  We tried them all – the bacon one was a little strange but tasted ok!
	Then we made friends with a couple from Canada and we got talked in to doing a shot-ski!!  Yes, an old wooden ski with holes cut out for the shot glasses.  The trick is to all tip and drink at the same time
	otherwise you will be wearing your drink. Note set up and execution!
	all good – we are all smiling at the end!  I think I remember we did it twice!!

After a wonderful week of brilliant snow, empty runs and lots of great food it was hard to leave.  If you are thinking of a place to ski I would tell you to go here but then again I don’t want anyone else discovering it!

Bozeman Airport – security is grizzly!!