After a lean start to this season, the Montana clouds finally opened up, dropping 11 inches of snow over the last 3 days at Big Sky Resort. This snowfall, mixed with some high alpine wind, left the slopes immaculate for the Bluebird day this past Sunday. While coverage on certain portions of the mountain remained spotty, if you know where to look, some fresh untracked snow was your reward.
Big Sky has been working over the past three summers to complete the Explorer Gondola, a state-of-the-art Doppelmayr lift system. The new gondola transforms the site of the old chair into the world's fastest gondola at 7.1 m/s (15.9 miles per hour), with a 9-minute ride from the base to the Bowl. Explorer Gondola has 10-person cabins with ergonomic heated seats, indoor/outdoor ski bins, and an all-glass enclosure. This gondola also features Fatzer performa-DT haul rope, which reduces vibration for a smoother, more comfortable experience.