#Bridger Bowl Ski Area

[k-star-holic]

HYUNA, I went to the GUHROOVY room.

[lexidoesrequests]

Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Bozeman, Montana // Aaron Rustan Looking for the perfect ski destination? Look no further than Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Bozeman, Montana. Aaron Rustan's captivating images will have you dreaming of hitting the slopes in no time.

[tomnlinson]

Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Bozeman, Montana // Aaron Rustan

Escape to the winter wonderland of Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Bozeman, Montana. Let Aaron Rustan's stunning photography inspire your next snow-filled getaway.

[moon-skin-93]

Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Bozeman, Montana // Aaron Rustan Looking for the perfect ski destination? Look no further than Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Bozeman, Montana. Aaron Rustan's captivating images will have you dreaming of hitting the slopes in no time.

[garrettfuckingkoval]

Bridger Bowl, MT

[thelastchair]

Powder Magazine

(Written by Sam Cox - December 28, 2020)

Growing up in Montana, my winter free time was consumed by skiing. Big Sky was the destination when I was barely old enough to walk. Eventually we made the move to Bozeman and Bridger Bowl became my second home. During the early years, my family made the trek to a handful of Warren Miller movies when they were on tour in the fall and Snow Country was the magazine subscription that landed on the coffee table. I was vaguely aware of Jackson Hole, Snowbird and Squaw Valley and my father would occasionally regale me with tales of skiing (read Après) in Germany when he was in the Army. At some level, I already understood that there was something special about Bridger, but realistically, my sphere of outside influence was quite small. Christmas of 1989 turned my entire world upside down. My aunt and uncle are longtime Salt Lake City residents and Brighton skiers. Typically they would send a package each year with the customary cookies, toffee and a card. However, this year they sent two VHS tapes and a magazine - Ski Time, Blizzard of Aahhh’s and a copy of Powder. Things would never be the same for me. Scot Schmidt became my hero, Greg Stump was taking skiing into uncharted territory and above it all, Powder created an eloquent voice for our sport and was the fabric that held things together. Even at my young age, everything that I’d intuitively sensed before was distilled into a potent desire to devote myself to the simple pursuit of being a skier.

Johan Jonsson, Engelberg, Switzerland - Photo: Mattias Fredriksson/POWDER

Powder was founded in Sun Valley by the Moe brothers in 1972 as an annual portfolio of The Other Ski Experience. After several years of running the magazine, Jake and David Moe sold Powder to the owner of Surfer Magazine. A repurposed aircraft hangar in San Juan Capistrano became the new home of skiing’s most prestigious publication. Over time, there was an ebb and flow to the size of staff and cast of characters, each person leaving their unique mark. For decades Powder weathered corporate acquisitions, office relocations and the constant metamorphosis of the ski industry - never losing its voice, Powder remained the benchmark. It was a source of creativity, inspiration and a defacto annal of history. For many it was also a shining beacon, a glimpse into a world filled with deep turns and iconic destinations - even if this world could only be inhabited inside the constructs of your imagination.

My story and the impact Powder had on the direction I would take is hardly unique. The magazine left an indelible impression on countless skiers. When the news broke this fall that operations were being suspended indefinitely, a heartbroken community took to social media to pay homage to the magazine and how it changed their lives and in some cases, careers. This is my version of a tribute and it’s definitely not perfect. In order to gain some perspective, I reached out to former staff members - a collective I admire and respect. It’s an attempt to articulate the essence of Powder, capture its influence on the skiing landscape and give credit to the people who made it come to life. 

Bernie Rosow, Mammoth Mountain, CA - Photo: Christian Pondella/POWDER

HANS LUDWIG - The Jaded Local

“Skiing has always been really tribal and one of the last vestiges of having an oral history. Powder was a unique concept, because they weren’t really concerned with the family market. They were just concerned about being really into skiing. Growing up in Colorado and skiing moguls, my coaches Robert and Roger were featured in the early Greg Stump films. Being in their orbit, I knew a little bit about skiing culture and what was going on out there, but didn’t have the whole picture. The Stump films resonated with me, but Ski/Skiing Magazines didn’t really do it for me. Powder was the door that opened things culturally, it was the only entry point before Blizzard of Aahhh’s.”

“Something that nobody gives Powder credit for, is sponsoring the Greg Stump, TGR and MSP movies and giving them full support right from their inception. It legitimized those companies and helped them become one of the catalysts for change and evolution in skiing. Ultimately this change would have happened, but at a much slower pace without the support of Powder. Getting support from Powder meant they’d weeded out the posers and kooks and what they were backing wasn’t something or someone that was “aspiring” they were a cut above.”

“Powder brought a lot of things into the mainstream, raised awareness and helped to legitimize them: Jean-Marc Boivin, Patrick Vallencant, Pierre Tardivel, telemarking, monoskiing, snowboarding, the JHAF, Chamonix, La Grave, Mikaela Shiffrin, fat skis pre McConkey, skiing in South America….the list goes on.”

“I had some rowdy trips with Powder. Writing “Lost In America,” I went Utah-Montana-Fernie-Banff-Revelstoke via pickup truck, only backcountry skiing and camping in the mud. It was a month plus. I did another month plus in Nevada, which was after back to back Jackson and Silverton. Total time was two plus months. That was fucked up, I was super loose after that whole thing. So many sketchy days with total strangers”

“People forget that Powder was around long before the advent of the fucking pro skier. Starting in 1996, the magazine was in the impact zone of the ski industrial complex. There is limited space for content each season. It was a challenge to balance the pressure coming from the athletes and brands to cover something that was going to make them money vs. staying true to the Moe brothers original intent and profiling an eccentric skier, a unique location or even fucking ski racing.”

Full Circle - Photo: MJ Carroll

KEITH CARLSEN - Editor

“When I was young, Ski/Skiing didn’t do anything for my spirit, but Powder lit me up. It ignited a passion in diehard skiers and gave them a voice and community. It was focused on the counter culture - the type of people who rearrange their lives to ski. This was in direct opposition to other magazines that were targeting rich people, trying to explain technique, sell condos or highlight the amenities at a ski area.”

“Skiing has always been my outlet and mechanism to get away from things in life. My two talents are writing and photography, so I enrolled at Western State with the direct goal of landing an internship at Powder. Even at 19, I had complete focus on the direction I wanted to take. If it didn’t work out, my backup plan was to be a ski bum. 48 hours after graduating, I was headed to southern California to live in my van and start my position at Powder. When the decision was made to close the magazine, it was really personal for me. Powder had provided me direction in life for the last 30 years and I needed some time to process it. In a way, it was almost like going to a funeral for a good friend - even though it’s gone, the magazine lives on in all of us and can never be taken away.”

“It was, and will always remain, one of my life’s greatest honors to serve as the editor-in-chief for Powder Magazine. It was literally a dream that came true. I’m so grateful for everyone who came before me and everyone who served after me. That opportunity opened literally hundreds of doors for me and continues to do so today. I owe the magazine a massive debt of gratitude. Every single editor was a warrior and fought for the title with their lives. They were doing double duty - not only from competition with other publications, but the internal struggle of budget cuts, staff reductions and trying to do more with less. Powder never belonged in the hands of a corporation. The magazine spoke to an impassioned community and never made sense to an accountant or on a ledger.”

Trevor Petersen, Mt. Serratus, BC - Photo: Scott Markewitz/POWDER

SIERRA SHAFER - Editor In Chief

“Powder celebrated everything that is good and pure in skiing. It highlighted the old school, the new and the irreverent. The magazine also called bullshit when they saw it. It was a checkpoint, a cultural barometer and an honest reflection on where skiing has been and where it’s going.”

“My involvement with Powder came completely out of left field. I was never an intern or established in the ski industry. My background was strictly in journalism, I was a skier living in Southern California and editing a newspaper. I knew that I wanted to get the fuck out of LA and Powder was that opportunity. It was a huge shift going from my job and life being completely separate to work becoming my life. Literally overnight, Powder became everything - friends, connections and part of my identity. It derailed my trajectory in the best possible way.”

Brad Holmes, Donner Pass, CA - Photo: Dave Norehad/POWDER

MATT HANSEN - Executive Editor

“Keith Carlsen was a man of ideas, he had tremendous vision and influence. He came up with the ideas for Powder Week and the Powder Awards in 2001. In some respects those two events saved the magazine.”

“Powder was the soul of skiing and kept the vibe, it changed people’s lives and inspired them to move to a ski town. As a writer I always wanted to think it was the stories that did that, but in truth it was the photography. Images of skiing truly became an art form, 100% thanks to Powder Magazine and Dave Reddick. Dave cultivated and mentored photographers, he was always searching for the unpredictable image from around the world and pressed the photographers to look at things from a different angle.”

“It sounds cliche, but writing a feature about Chamonix was the highlight for me. Sitting on the plane, things were absolutely unreal. I linked up with Nate Wallace and the whole experience from start to finish was out of my comfort zone. Ducking ropes to ski overhead pow on the Pas De Chèvre, walking out of the ice tunnel on a deserted Aiguille du Midi right as the clouds parted, late nights in town that were too fuzzy to recall. The energy of the place taught me a lot. I didn’t have a smartphone and there was no Instagram - I had time to write, observe, take notes and be present with who I was and with the experience. As a writer it didn’t get any better.”

“The true gift of working for Powder, was the once in a lifetime adventures that I wish I could have shared with my family, I was so lucky to have had those opportunities. It almost brought tears to me eyes.”

Peter Romaine, Jackson Hole, WY - Photo: Wade McKoy/POWDER

DAVE REDDICK - Director of Photography

“Just ski down there and take a photo of something, for cryin’ out loud!”  “I’ve found that channeling McConkey has been keeping it in perspective. Powder’s been shuttered. That sucks. What doesn’t suck is the good times and the people that have shared the ride thus far and I’m just thankful to be one of them. There’s been some really kind sentiments from friends and colleagues, but this must be said - Every editor (especially the editors), every art director (I’ve driven them nuts), every publisher and sales associate, every photographer, writer, and intern, and all the others behind the scenes who’ve ever contributed their talents get equal share of acknowledgment for carrying the torch that is Powder Mag. There’s hundreds of us! No decision has ever been made in a vacuum. Always a collective. At our best, we’ve been a reflection of skiers everywhere and of one of the greatest experiences in the world. It’s that community, and that feeling, that is Powder. I’m not sure what’s next and I’m not afraid of change but”  “There’s something really cool about being scared. I don’t know what!”

Scot Schmidt, Alaska - Photo: Chris Noble/POWDER

DEREK TAYLOR - Editor 

“Powder was the first magazine dedicated to the experience and not trying to teach people how to ski. It was enthusiast media focused on the soul and culture. It’s also important to highlight the impact Powder had outside of skiing - today you have the Surfer’s Journal effect where every sport wants that type of publication. However, prior to their inception, everybody wanted a version of Powder.”

“Neil Stebbins and Steve Casimiro deserve a lot of credit for the magazine retaining its voice and staying true to the core group of skiers it represented.”

“Keith Carlsen is responsible for the idea behind Super Park. This was a time when skiing had just gone through a stale phase. There was a newfound energy in park skiing and younger generations, this event helped to rebrand Powder and solidify its goal of being all inclusive. Racing, powder, park, touring - it’s all just skiing.”

Joe Sagona, Mt. Baldy, CA - Photo: Dave Reddick/POWDER

JOHNNY STIFTER - Editor In Chief

“What did Powder mean to me... Well, everything. As a reader and staffer, it inspired me and made me laugh. I learned about local cultures that felt far away and learned about far away cultures that didn’t feel foreign, if that makes sense.”

“But I cherished those late nights the most, making magazines with the small staff. Despite the deadline stress, I always felt so grateful to be working for this sacred institution and writing and editing for true skiers. We all just had so much damn fun. And it didn’t hurt meeting such passionate locals at hallowed places, like Aspen and Austria, that I once dreamed of visiting and skiing. The Powder culture is so inclusive and so fun, I never felt more alive.”

Doug Coombs, All Hail The King - Photo: Ace Kvale/POWDER

HEATHER HANSMAN - Online Editor

“Powder is a lifestyle and an interconnected circle of people. It’s about getting a job offer at Alta, opening your home to random strangers, locking your keys in your car and getting rescued by a friend you made on a trip years ago. Through the selfish activity of skiing, you can create a community of people you cherish and can depend on through highs and lows.”

Ashley Otte, Mike Wiegele Heli, BC - Photo: Dave Reddick/POWDER

The contributions of so many talented individuals made the magazine possible. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who shared their experience at Powder with me. Also, I want to thank Porter Fox and David Page for crafting inspiring feature stories that I enjoyed immensely over the years.

After the reality set in that the final issue had arrived, a void was created for generations of skiers. I’ve been focused on being thankful for what we had, rather than sad it’s gone. It’s a challenging time for print media and I wholeheartedly advocate supporting the remaining titles in anyway you can. In a culture driven by a voracious appetite for mass media consumption and instant gratification - I cherish the ritual of waiting for a magazine to arrive, appreciating the effort that went into creating the content and being able to have that physical substance in my hand. Thanks for everything Powder, you are missed, but your spirit lives on.  

Captain Powder - Photo: Gary Bigham/POWDER

[treslechesfan-tbolfan]

Drericka skiing FanFiction

For @erickadracula as I promised her this

This beautiful thing only took me two days to write.

Ericka and Dracula had never tried skiing before so they decided along with Mavis, Johnny and Dennis to come to Bridger Bowl a ski resort in Montana. They were esthetic to finally see snow and discover something new. Ericka was the one to suggest that they all go. She said, “Hey guys, I found this cool ski resort in Bozeman, Montana.”

Dracula said, “What’s this “Montana” about?”

Ericka giggled, “You know how Johnny is from California, well it’s another state in the USA.” Ericka explained. Johnny Mavis, and Dennis were excited to spend some time with Ericka. They attentively listened.

Johnny, Mavis and Dennis were up for anything that brought them closer together.

Dracula pondered, “How much does it cost for a ticket at the resort?” he asked.

“For a day $63. For a season $245.” She replied statistically.

Dracula picked her up and spun her. “ I love you so much, my little dove.”

Ericka laughed. “Me too.”

At the airport, Van Helsing watched his great-granddaughter go through security with his son in law and his family, with tears in his eyes. He waved to Ericka as she waved back to him as she disappeared from view. He sighed, “Whelp, I have to get back to work.” He agreeably was put in-charge of the hotel while they were away. He left feeling sad but happy.

After they got through security, Dennis excitedly ran to their gate; E66. Mavis and Johnny chased after him leaving Ericka and Dracula behind them looking bewildered. Dracula then got a mischievous glint in his eye, and he grabbed Ericka and sprinted supernaturally fast and ended up beating Dennis with 2 seconds to spare. Ericka giggling the whole way.

Dennis said, “Aw come on, Papa Drac.” He fake pouted. Dracula began tickling him. He laughed out loud. Johnny and Mavis finally arrived. Johnny, being totally exhausted from having to keep up with Mavis, collapsed in the Gate’s waiting area chairs with all their stuff. They all sat down and waited when their plane began boarding and soon their zone was called and they began their descent into the plane and took their seats. Ericka and Dracula were in first class while the others were situated in the Main Cabin.

Ericka was beyond excited to spend some quality time with Dracula before they skied as a family. She began kissing him when a flight attendant walked by and gave them an annoyed look. They parted embarrassed and decided to watch all the Despicable Me movies and their own movie; Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.

At last, they landed in Minneapolis-St. Paul to catch the flight to Bozeman. It was approximately afternoon time in MSP. They decided to grab some lunch at Chilli’s, a restaurant, in the mall portion of the airport. After lunch, they headed to their gate; Gate F15. They soon boarded all of them seated in the main cabin this time. Dracula, Dennis and Ericka were seated together while Mavis and Johnny sat next to them across the aisle. The plane took off shortly there after. Ericka playing with Dennis while Dracula slept along with Mavis and Johnny.

Before long, Ericka caught sight of a glorious view outside the plane as it soared over the snow covered mountains with the sun glinting off of the snow. She woke Dracula and and told him to look out the window. His eyes widened as the sun started to set on this wonderful day.

Dennis awed in wonder as did Mavis and Johnny.

As the plane landed it taxied to Gate 5. Once they got off their plane and disembarked. Once in the airport they jaws dropped at the size of the airport as it was way smaller than the other airports that they had encountered before. They got their baggage from the baggage claim and rented a Subaru and went to the Hilton Garden Inn and Suites. They awed at the beauty of Bozeman that Bozeman was at night. They could still see the stars with little to no light pollution.

Christmas season seemed to have taken the city by storm. Lights were everywhere. It seemed like the whole city was abuzz with cheer and joyfulness.

Once they got to the hotel they checked in and Ericka and Dracula went in one room while the others were in another room. Ericka and Dracula started kissing one another and one thing led to another to them having sex and then they both fell asleep.

The next morning, Ericka awoke bright and early. Dracula softly snoring beside her. She woke up and she went down to where their complimentary breakfast was and she spotted Johnny and Mavis getting Coffee and doughnuts. Mavis spotted her, “Hey, Ericka, is my dad up yet?” She asked. Ericka shook her head. Johnny went beside Ericka and said, “I can’t blame him the jet lag must have hit him pretty hard.” Mavis was confused. She never felt this jet lag but soon realised that he was in the States for the first time so she knew it must have been hard for him. Mavis took a bite of her doughnut. Soon Dracula came into the room with a big smile on his face holding Dennis in his arms. Ericka whispered to him once he was close, “You’re really good with kids you know that?” He jokingly retorted, “So are you.” They both blushed madly at one another. Mavis looked at them confused. Johnny picked up Dennis, “How did you sleep my little superhero?”

Dennis giggled. ,“I slept well, papa.” He replied between laughter. Dracula kissed Ericka’s cheek. Mavis giggled at the way Dracula and Ericka were acting she thought it was cute. Both of them sat down when Ericka got back up to get there breakfast. She asked, “Dracula what do you want?”

Dracula replied with, “A doughnut, and coffee please.” He watched as Ericka got two doughnuts and two coffees. “Ericka walked back and said, “One for you, and one for me.” As she handed him his breakfast he broke out into his goofy smile which made Ericka laugh.

They decided that they were going to need jackets and turtle buffs (they protect your neck from the harsh cold) snowpants, mittens and gloves and hand warmers.

So they went to Chalet Sports down in downtown Bozeman. It was filled with all of your outdoor sports needs (mainly biking and skiing and boarding). They bought the essentials such as; ski jackets, snow pants, mittens, and poles and gloves. The next day they headed to Bridger Bowl and they were teeming with excitement. Then they saw it, Bridger Mountain. They soon parked and started the long trek up to Saddle Peak Lodge to purchase their day lift tickets.

“So the total comes to; $175 dollars please.”(Dracula counts as a senior being in his 500s) the ticket salesman said. As soon as they got their tickets on and secure they made their way up to Jim Bridger Lodge to rent their skis and boots and helmets.

Dracula struggled to get his ski boots on and on the correct feet. They were just so tight and he had to buckle them up and then he realised that he had put them on the wrong feet. Ericka then helped him get his boots on as she had already gotten her boots on. Johnny being adventurous wanted to try Snowboarding. So he already had his boots, helmet, and goggles on and he held his board upright and had it touching the ground. Finally Drac got his boots, helmet and goggles on. He wobbled out the door with Ericka and the others trailing behind him. He put on his skis then he felt himself going backwards down to the parking lot. He had to fall to stop himself. Ericka ran down to him and knelt down beside him. “Are you going to be okay?” She asked worriedly. She carried him back up the hill and onto the spot where you are supposed to get your skis on. She gently put him down. He got up and brushed himself off and put his skis on and started laughing at his failure earlier. He kissed her cheeks, “I am fine coffin cake.” He said lovingly. Ericka blushed. The family was ready to go skiing at last.

@erickadracula want a part 2 for this?

[localfreshies]

New Post has been published on Local Freshies | Be a local wherever you go

New Post has been published on https://localfreshies.com/how-does-2018-2019-season-snowfall-compare-to-date/

How Does The 2018-2019 Season Snowfall Compare To Date?

While the calendar may read a “New Year,” for skiers & snowboarders the new year starts around Thanksgiving. This is when the chairs start spinning at a majority of the resorts. The NEW YEAR is also a good time to look and see how the 2018-2019 season is doing. And based on what you loved reading in 2018, this is a perfect time to do the North America snowfall comparison. The good news is across the board we’re in MUCH better shape than we were last winter. Again, a huge thanks to Tony Crocker for allowing us to use his information. Curious about past seasons? Be sure to check out his website – Bestsnow.net.

2018-2019 Season Snowfall Compare To 2017-18

Miracle March (2018) last season at Sierra-at-Tahoe

California

The silver lining last year was the Miracle March we had. Before that, the precipitation California got came in the liquid kind. For this year, while we haven’t gotten any of the legendary Sierra storms where we get feet of snow per day, we have started WAY better than the 2017-18 winter. There’s also a few minor storms in the forecast for the 2nd week of January.

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Pacific Northwest

Numbers can lie if you don’t provide a narrative behind them, and the start of the Pacific Northwest winter is a great example of this. On the cover, it looks like they’ve had their typical fast start… but it wasn’t until mid-December that a train of storms dumped over 11 feet at Whistler & Mt. Baker and 4-6 feet farther south. Now with a deep snowpack, it’s game on as usual.

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Canadian Rockies / Interior BC

Seriously, it always feels like they NEVER have a bad start to a season. 2018-19 ski season yet again is another shining example of this special place. For those looking for their next ski vacation spot, you may want to consider Revelstoke or Banff.

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Northern Rockies

The storm track for the past few years seems to be pointed right at Wyoming & Montana and is still the case for the 2018-19 season. Bridger was able to open two weeks ahead of schedule and Big Sky was able to open more than 3/4 of their terrain by December 15th. Of course, Mr. Consistent himself Grand Targhee is also sitting pretty with a 7 foot base.

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Utah

Compared to last winter, Utah is living high on the hog. A few storms slammed into the Wasatch in early October but they had a long break into November. Luckily, after Thanksgiving four feet fell in the Cottonwoods followed by a couple more feet in December, allowing the majority of terrain to open in the Cottonwoods. Other regions in Utah like Park City are still struggling with only 1/2 their terrain.

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Northern & Central Colorado

Storm after storm hit the Rockies in November with many of our friends nicknaming it “Snowvember.” With early openings of Vail’s original Back Bowl and Horseshoe/Imperial Bowl at Breckenridge by Thanksgiving, the name definitely describes the start well. In fact, Arapahoe Basin was 84 percent open by December 15th. This is the second highest opening for mid-December in more than two decades!

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Southern & Western Colorado

What an amazing start to the winter for them especially when you look at how 2017-18 unfolded. The two shining stars are Aspen & Wolf Creek. After 30 inches of snow graced Wolf Creek’s slopes in early October, they were able to have their 2nd earliest opening ever! While the rest of the resorts are having a slower start, at least it’s more than double from last year.

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Northeast

Talk about a wild & wacky start for the Northeast. For those watching the Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC, you could see that it was one of the coldest events ever. Cold temps plus an onslaught of storms helped set November snowfall records across the area. By December 1st, open terrain was at record highs. Unfortunately, December was a mixed bag of precipitation, cutting trail counts by half in a few places due to some rain events.

Source: Bestsnow.net – Tony Crocker

Compared to 2017-18, the ski season has started pretty darned well all across North America as compared to last year. It’s been a great start to the winter in most parts of the continent with Colorado and the Powder Highway taking the lead.

[travelwithmeslh-blog]

Traveling in the United States

I love traveling internationally and would do it every year if I could, but I also enjoy traveling in the United States just as much! Not only does this usually save money, but each state offers its own unique culture and scenery! The varying cultures from state to state can be so drastic which is exciting for someone like me who loves to learn about different cultures. There are of course the popular spots to travel in the United States like New York City, Florida, Texas, and Chicago, as much fun as these places are I encourage people to find places that are a little less well known. This way it will be less crowded and usually cheaper than the typical vacation spots. Click here to learn more about some lesser-known spots in the US that would be perfect for an upcoming trip!

I have been to 38 states so far and am hoping to visit the rest within the next couple of years. Traveling in the United States can be relatively inexpensive if you plan ahead and use the right resources to save money. Keep reading to learn about three of my favorite places to visit in the United States and some additional resources so you can visit them as well!

Montana

One of my favorite places to visit in the United States is Montana. Most people just think of Montana as a state with not much to do besides hiking. While hiking is a huge part of Montana, there is a ton of other things to do as well! Half of my family lives out in Montana so I have been visiting there my entire life. I have grown to appreciate the state and all it has to offer. I love Colorado but Montana has just as good scenery and mountains and with way fewer people. My favorite town in Montana is Bozeman which is located in the middle of Southern Montana right off of I-90. The population is about 45,600 which isn’t huge but it still has a bigger city vibe to it. Bozeman has 42 parks and 52 miles of trails just within the city limits alone.

                                               Bozeman, MT

There are numerous places to hike or bike in near Bozeman. Drinking Horse Mountain is a newer hiking venue with two trails (one easier and the other harder) that both lead to the 5,522 summit. At the top, you’ll have amazing views of the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges. Click here to read about some other great hiking spots in the Bozeman area! In the winter, check out Bridger Bowl or Big Sky Resort for some downhill skiing and snowboarding. Both of these places are great and have some amazing ski trails and views. Big Sky is a little more popular but is also more crowded and expensive. I personally enjoy Bridger Bowl since it is less crowded, which allows you more time on the mountain and less time waiting to get up the mountain. Big Sky does offer summer activities like golfing, mountain biking, and zip line tours.

Glacier National Park is located in the Rocky Mountains in the northwestern part of Montana. This park has some of the most amazing views in the United States and should be added to an avid hiker’s list. The park has over 700 miles of trails all ranging in difficulty so everyone will find the right trail for them. Glacier has multiple lakes for swimming, boating, and fishing as well. I would highly recommend checking out this park! Montana of course also is home to part of Yellowstone. Yellowstone is a great trip that everyone should try to do at least once. Yellowstone has fantastic hiking trails and areas to boat and fish. If hiking really isn’t your thing then it is just as fun to drive around the park and view the scenery and animals. You can either go camping or stay in a lodge in the park.

                                           Glacier National Park

Outer Banks, North Carolina

Another favorite state of mine is North Carolina and more specifically the Outer Banks. The Out Banks is a group of barrier islands right off the mainland of North Carolina. If a relaxing vacation is more of your thing then this is the spot for you. I personally think that the Outer Banks is a better vacation spot than popular spots like Florida or New Jersey. The beaches are cleaner and less crowded. The island also offers golf courses and cute coastal shops. Many people ride ATV’s in the sand dunes to go sightseeing and view the wild horses that can be found farther down the island. If you are still looking to get some activity in during this trip, the Outer Banks has three Coastal Maritime forests that are perfect for hiking and sightseeing. The Outer Banks is also home to the Jockey’s Ridge State Park, which is a 426-acre park that features the largest living sand dune on the East Coast. I love the Outer Banks and am looking forward to planning a future trip there!

                                               Outer Banks, NC

San Diego, California

One last place in the United States that I love is San Diego. This is obviously a well-known place to visit but I feel that it is worth mentioning. My family and I went there on my brother’s Make-A-Wish and it was one of the best trips I have been on. Just like the Outer Banks, San Diego has some of the best beaches I have been to in the United States. It surprisingly was never that busy at the beaches and the beaches were kept relatively clean. The San Diego Zoo was the highlight of the trip. The zoo is so large that most people opt to take a bus tour. This was a great way to see the entire zoo in just one day. It made stops at the large attractions which allowed people the opportunity to hop off and actually explore the exhibit. There are multiple different communities in San Diego each with a completely different feel from one another; it is really fun to shop and explore each community. I have not personally been here, but the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a large feature of the area. This park is the largest state park in California with 600,000 acres. Visitors can hike the 110 miles of trails or explore the 12 wilderness areas.

                                              San Diego, CA

Amtrak

One thing about traveling the United States is that flying can often time be very expensive. This often causes people to shorten their trip or not even consider flying somewhere. I have just recently started looking into the Amtrak for my future trips in the United States. This summer I was hoping to go back to Montana with a friend but the airfare was too expensive for me. So I instead looked into taking a train ride out west instead. The Amtrak offers vacation deals and is relatively inexpensive if you plan it the right way. For my trip, I will either take the train from Chicago all the way to San Diego or I will take the train from Chicago to Seattle. Both of these trips take about 2 ½ days and is about $250 round-trip.

This is a great way to see a large part of the country for a pretty cheap price. The Chicago to San Diego train makes stops in Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and ends in California. The other option travels from Chicago to Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and ends in Oregon. The Amtrak also offers great trips out east or down south all starting in Chicago. If you are looking for a fun road-trip vacation without having to worry about gas or driving long hours, I would highly recommend looking into taking the Amtrak! Not only is it cheap, but you are able to see large parts of the country in just a short couple of days.

I love traveling in the United States just as much as I do internationally! The US has so much to offer and has many hidden spots, like the Outer Banks, that are just waiting for more people to discover! I talked about just three of my favorite spots in the US that I like to visit but each state has its own unique attractions to visit! Check below for some links to resources! Happy traveling!

Montana links:

Bozeman

Glacier National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Bridger Bowl

Big Sky Resort

Outer Banks, North Carolina links:

Outer Banks

Jockey's Ridge State Park

San Diego links:

San Diego

San Diego Zoo

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Amtrak links:

Amtrak

Vacation & Rail Tours

California Zephyr is the train ride from Chicago to San Francisco

Empire Builder is the train ride from Chicago to Portland/Seattle

[k-star-holic]

Hyuna, her ex-boyfriend DAWN and her new profile photo

[zazzledazzled]

Bridger Bowl Ski Area Combo Mug 11oz https://ift.tt/2OkmXwx

[thoughtsofunited-blog]

Colorado

I apologize for the wait, but unfortunately life gets busy and sometimes I do fun things like spend a week in Colorado with my family. So here is a full breakdown of one of the best ski vacations I have ever been on.

I want to preface this post with a request for sponsorship deals from ski areas. Wherever I go skiing gets ungodly amounts of snow. The first time I went out west I skied Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Montana. We extended the vacation after getting over two feet the first day, and then continuing to get snow the rest of the week. Then we went to Steamboat twice, the second time they broke the season record for most snow in one season. Once Vail bought out Afton Alps (my home hill) we started going to Vail, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge. The first two trips were fairly average snow fall years, but when I moved out to Colorado for school, we had multiple days where school was cancelled and one day Vail got 15″ on the front side. After two down years of snow I finally got back out there and we had this March. So if any ski resort people are looking at this I am more than happy to bring my good luck with me and ski your resort for free next year.

Anyway, my family always drives when we go skiing because flying the equipment is so expensive. So driving into Breck on March second was a pain. I drove through freezing rain from the Colorado border into Denver, mom counted 15 cars or semis in the ditch. Normal people might find a hotel, but we knew all this rain had been snow in the mountains and we were not missing a day of skiing. Sunday the snow stick showed over eight inches had fallen overnight.There is nothing sweeter than waking up to the sound of avalanche blasting. My mom, dad and I skied everyday that week except I did not ski Wednesday because of blood sugar :/. The really amazing day was Thursday though. Breck closed most of the peak terrain due to avalanche concern. However around 2 p.m. they opened up peak 6. Now I am not sure how many of you have had the chance to ski in over two feet of fresh powder, but it is absolutely life changing. My legs burned by the time I descended the 1500 vertical feet from top to bottom, but I couldn’t stop getting back onto the chair. Stopping anywhere was disastrous. The two feet measurement for that day came from the base area, up top snow easily reached up into my jacket when I sank down to the packed snow. Every single turn was blissful, steering the tips around to control speed and find things to jump off of was euphoric. Landing and sinking down before my ski tips found their way back above the snow felt exactly like a scene out of any one of my favorite Warren Miller movies. I have skied a lot in my lifetime, but I know I will never forget those turns. The day was capped with a delicious dinner at Hearthstone in downtown Breck, and if you have the means I highly recommend it. Try the lamb and pair it with the Cabernet Franc, I would have driven the 20 hours one way just for that meal.

Friday some friends from my freshman year came up to ski. Since none of my favorite in bounds hiking terrain was open, we decided to get a little bold. Yes there was an extreme avalanche warning, and honestly I was probably the only one that should have continued on past that sign, but no one died and they both got to tell everyone they skied OB trails. After our hike, we had some pizza and beer at the sevens restaurant down at the hotel before going to the hot tub. The firecracker pizza was aptly named, I only thought my tongue would fall off for around a half hour after we left. We capped the day off enjoying snow falling as we caught up in the outdoor hot tubs. the worst part of the trip was the fact that the night before we left, this much snow fell in a 30 minute period.

But hey, I am most certainly not in a position to complain after the week Colorado gifted me with.

Overall, even if you don’t like skiing, try a cold weather vacation. Everyone goes to the beach. How many people can say they jumped off cliffs, or tried dog-sledding, snowmobiling maybe even zip-lining down mountains? However if you have ever skied before, definitely go out to some of the Vail resorts. Most locals will avoid them because they have become a tourist trap, but all that means is that the best terrain is saved for the tourist who can actually ski it.

[notinthenews]

Early season snow pounds Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, ski areas open weeks ahead of schedule

© Doug WalesMidwinter conditions in November at Bridger Bowl ski area in southwest Montana on Monday. While the lifts aren’t operating yet, the locals have already taken to the slopes. A conga line of powerful winter storms parading off the Pacific Ocean over the past several weeks has dumped a huge amount of early-season snow on the Cascades and Northern Rockies, allowing many ski resorts to…

[thelastchair]

The Pandemic

(Written by Sam Cox - March 25, 2021)

It was a year of unknowns and new experiences. Nobody has a playbook for skiing during a pandemic. A couple of winters ago I moved, I still live in the mountains but no longer in a ski town. During a normal season, this means I spend some time on the road. I feel at home in a state of transit - finding solidarity with a meandering ribbon of pavement as it stretches ever onward, away from darkness and toward light, possibilities and hopefully powder.  

However, this winter, my scope of reality was trained predominantly on the immediate local area. Borders remained closed, the snowpack was sketchy as fuck and it didn’t seem worth investing the time or energy to spread my wings and encounter the same setup elsewhere. 

The reservation system at Bridger Bowl is dysfunctional at best, it’s a constant source of frustration. Sadly, it’s the least of Bozeman’s concerns. It’s difficult to watch something you love being destroyed. Admittedly, I’m angry, conflicted and confused because Bridger has been such a significant component of my life for almost 40 years. Everything is perspective, but to me, the community I grew up in is unrecognizable and broken. To a Covid refugee from New England, an adult onset skier with a Sprinter van from the Midwest or someone from the Bay Area with unlimited disposable income/time, it looks like Utopia. The soul is being priced right out of the ski area and city. Soon, the only thing left will be trust funders and tech geeks, languishing as terminal intermediates despite having brand new everything. They’re hell bent on gentrification and single origin, shade grown, organic beef burgers at the ski area cafeteria. Fuck it, the joke is actually on them - Bridger struggles to get 250″ of snow on a massive winter these days, frequently less than 200″ falls during operating. Did I forget to mention the lift lines? People move to Bozeman in droves, all from a “hot tip” in Outside Magazine. It’s unsustainable growth by any metric. I’ll take solace that I was fortunate enough to start skiing there in the 1980′s, long before the masses heard a whispered “Montana” drifting seductively on the wind. Then again, it could always be worse. There are thousands people who suffer from such an acute case of Stockholm Syndrome that they scramble over each other to purchase a season pass at Montana Snowbowl.   

I don’t have the answers to the problems plaguing Bridger Bowl. All you can do is adapt, make the best of it and move on from from situations that bring you down. I’m an old dude with a broken back. I spend a lot of time solo, wandering around the woods getting weird and attempting to ski as much pow as possible. Meadow skipping, skin track sessions, sled laps or riding the lifts. Anytime I can indulge in these activities with friends, I’ll call it a victory.

A couple highlights from the winter of Covid - right turns, left turns and a quick season recap:

[snowlife]

Day 18!  Red Lodge Montana.  After a hefty 7 hour drive up from Snowy Range, WY we arrived at the town of Red Lodge, Montana.

We took a wrong turn when we first arrived in the town, and had to stop and ask some local “turkeys” for directions to the ski area.  (yes there were just random wild turkeys walking around downtown Red Lodge, MT).

Just a short drive up the mountain from the town of Red Lodge, was the ski area of the same name.  It was a quiet Tuesday, and only a handful of other cars were in the parking lot when we pulled in around 10am.  Sunny skies with no wind welcomed us to the slopes, that we found out were firm and fast.

This was my first time skiing in Montana, but having skied a season in Wyoming a few years ago, I found the conditions very much the same.  Firm and fast on the grooms, a little icy on the wind exposed portions of off piste terrain that we tried.  Nothing to complain about, but not the type of conditions to shred 100mph either.  After exploring terrain from 3 of the 5 chairlifts we decided to grab a warm up and check out the German inspired beer bar at the base area.

After filling up, there was time enough for a little more exploration before the day was through.  1 of the perimeter lifts was not operating, although we didn’t ask why, and we skipped the bunny chair located on lookers right of the base area.  Several trails on the perimeter were also closed, most likely because snow coverage was a bit spotty in some off piste ares, and looked a little thin around the trees.  With over 2,000 feet of vert, and plenty of acres to explore with no crowds or lines, Red Lodge was surely a fun place to explore.  I look forward to doing a more in depth write up on it for our Resort Reviews page coming this summer.  Now it’s on to Bridger Bowl, with fresh snow expected tomorrow!  

[localfreshies]

New Post has been published on Local Freshies | Be a local wherever you go

New Post has been published on https://localfreshies.com/flipping-over-the-best-pancakes-in-a-ski-town/

Flipping Over The Best Pancakes In A Ski Town

What’s the best part of visiting a ski town anytime of year? Adventure galore! Outdoor fun from skiing to mountain biking to hiking, they all involve a lot of calories being burned. This means you need to fuel up in the morning & what better way to do this then with a stack of melt-in-your mouth buttery flapjacks! After some research and personal experience, here’s the best pancakes in a ski town. Some of these spots we’ve enjoyed while others are on our bucket list.

Polly’s Pancake Parlor

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Image appears courtesy: Polly’s Pancakes Parlor

Located in the heart of New Hampshire’s ski country, Polly’s is the perfect spot to fuel up before hitting Cannon Mountain, Bretton Woods or Loon Mountain. Since the Great Depression (and we’re not talking about the one in the 2000’s), they’ve been flipping their legendary fluffy three-inch discs since 1938. What makes them so special? Well, their organic corn flour is stone-ground on site & served with local New Hampshire maple syrup. You’ll be sure to make it a tradition. If that wasn’t enough, diners can customize their batter with plain, oatmeal, buttermilk, buckwheat, gingerbread and whole wheat.

The Nova Café

Bozeman, Montana

Image appears courtesy: Nova Cafe

While most tourists whisk their way up to Big Sky Resort, the locals and hardcore skiers know it’s all about Bridger Bowl. Just like the ski area, Nova Café is a MUST when in Bozeman. Sourcing local food whenever possible, this lively diner serves up the best pancakes not just in town but quite possibly in the state of Montana. Their mainstay blue cornmeal pancakes are amazing. But if you’re lucky enough to be there on the weekend, the Flathead cherry cottage cheese pancakes are the way to go. As the tourism bureau proudly shouts, you can get them “only in Bozeman!”

The Bunnery

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Image appears courtesy: The Bunnery Bakery & Restaurant

How do you know if a recipe is unique & special? If it’s so good that you can purchase the mix not just at the restaurant as griddle cakes but in their online shop too. Well, that’s what the Bunnery does in Jackson! Their proprietary O.S.M. blend was developed in the 70’s with hearty, whole-grain flour containing whole wheat, oats, sunflower seeds, and millet. Even though it sounds heavy, they’re not. In fact, they retain a light and fluffy texture. Just like the Jackson Hole Air Force, you’ll flip after a bite of these tasty creations.

Penny Ann’s Cafe

Salt Lake City, Utah

Image appears courtesy: Penny Ann’s Pancakes

As the KISS principle dictates, keeping it simple rather than over-complicating it will produce the best results. Penny Ann’s “heavenly hot cakes” are the perfect example. These house-made sour cream johnnycakes are served simply with butter & real maple syrup. And their flavor cannot be expressed in words… but we’ll try. Their sweet-and-tangy formula produces a batter that is light and airy & just simply irresistible. With not just one but three locations and a perennial winner in best of state award for best breakfast, the people have spoken just how good they are.

Sugar and Spice

Mendon, Vermont

Even the Vermont Teddy Bears love the pancakes – Image appears courtesy: Sugar and Spice

Less than 30 minutes from the “beast of the East” known as Killington is a gift shop, working sugar house and diner. It’s situated on a classic Vermont estate featuring maple ice cream, maple sugar candies and of course pancakes inside the restaurant. The clear winner is the pumpkin variety followed by the sugar & spice stack that has their special cinnamon and maple sugar right in the batter. If you’re there for spring skiing, you’re in for a treat! You can watch the sugar makers turn tree sap into maple syrup right on the property. It doesn’t get much more “Vermont” than that.

Poppycock’s Cafe

Aspen, Colorado

After 4 decades of being in business, you can call Poppycock’s an institution in Aspen. This affordable café is everything you’d hope in a pre-mountain breakfast. Sure the French toast breaded with pecans and topped with bananas & grand marnier butter is an awesome option or maybe the corn griddle cakes served with Colorado wildflower honey is tempting. But the star of the show is the old-fashioned oatmeal buttermilk pancakes. These sizzling concoctions are moist inside like a hot oatmeal and match well with the tangy buttermilk. They’re so good that they ship over 50 bags of this batter per week across the country for people to make at home.

The Pancake House

McCall, Idaho

Sourdough pancakes at the Pancake House are amazing

We know what you’re thinking, “Hey Local Freshies®, isn’t this a chain?” Nope, the Pancake House is a local joint in McCall. Before we delve into their griddle options, an honorable mention must be made of their cinnamon roll. The size of a dinner plate (literally), this warm, gooey, and fluffy breakfast dessert will satisfy any sweet tooth minded person. Something a bit more unique for the rest of the country is their sourdough pancake variation. Sour like sourdough bread & smothered in syrup, these pancakes offer up a sweet ‘n sour bite like nothing we’ve ever had before. Definitely an acquired taste, but a must try for any ski foodie.

So, if you’re going for a century ride, climbing a mountain, or just skiing all day long, there’s no better way to carb up for the day than with a stack of cakes & these places will not let you down.

As always, we want to know if there’s another place that should be on our list!