Montana Ski Patrol 07/08; Mountains.....

Well I have gotten all settled in to my new job on ski patrol at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, MT. We actually started working the week after Thanksgiving and opened the mountain the 14th of December. Prior to that was training and mountain set up. Since then I have managed 38 days of skiing. We work 4 days on, on our normal schedule and the 3 days off usually get spent skiing at Big Sky Resort, Lone Peak, which is adjacent to the Club.

I like the mornings best of all. This is the view on any given morning as we unload the lifts to set up and open the mountain. We typically arrive to work at 7:30 dress, meet and get out the door by 8. The exception to this is on avalanche control mornings which may require an earlier start depending on how much control work needs to be done but even then, you can't bomb in the dark.

Days are spent setting up and sweeping the mountain for changing conditions and possibles accidents. Manual control work (shoveling cornice, z cutting slopes and general snow pack assessment) is done every morning on the steeper terrain and runs are opened or closed accordingly. Our day time work load typically includes drills on toboggan handling, medical continuing ed and/or avalanche transceiver (beacon) drills mixed in with responding to wrecks and general trail maintenance. This is a view of Pioneer Mountain, our main mountain at the Club. It stands at 9860' and offers plenty of steep terrain off the main ridge with excellent tree skiing off the back. In this picture you are looking South, Southwest along the ridge proper. In the background, you are looking down the Madison range toward Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, on the right is the Madison Valley. This is the work mountain.

Next is Lone Peak (11,166') a.k.a. Big Sky Resort. Not to be confused with the town of Big Sky that I live in. There is Big Sky Mountain Resort and Big Sky unincorporated town, MT USA. I live in Big Sky town, play at Big Sky Resort (Lone Peak) and work on Pioneer Mountain. You are looking at the south face of Lone Peak which is lift served from by a tram that runs just over the ridge on the right. Most of the lifts operate just over the ridge, out of site. The south face view shows some of the more challenging skiing. There is a lot of skiing above tree line. This is the play mountain.

All work and all play without infatuation would be a dull life. This is Cedar Mountain (10,719'), ain't she grand. Cedar lies to the west of Pioneer and Lone Mountains in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. This undeveloped peak shows off almost all day, everyday. Cedar will get blocked out by storms but sometimes even under 30-50 mph winds and near white-out conditions if you look up, you can still see her sitting there just as peace full as you please. Cedar Mountain doesn't have the easiest access but offers a world of backcountry skiing, climbing and is just real fun to look at. This is the daydream/inspiration mountain.

My current mailing address is:
Warren Harden
P.O. Box 160091
Big Sky, MT 59716

Shipping address is:
Warren Harden
Glacier Condo # 133
2575 Curley Bear
Big Sky, MT 59716

I hope this finds everyone well and I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.

Best regards from Big Sky!