Bridger Bowl Ski Area

Bridger Bowl is a ski area in the western United States, near Bozeman, Montana. It serves the local population of Gallatin County, including Montana State University. The summit elevation is 8,700 feet (2,650 m) above sea level, with a vertical drop of 2,600 feet (790 m) on east-facing slopes.

Bridger Bowl
Base area in March 2005
Bridger Bowl
Location in Montana
Bridger Bowl
Location in the United States
LocationGallatin National Forest
Gallatin County, Montana
 United States
Nearest major cityBozeman: 16 miles (26 km)
Coordinates45.818°N 110.897°W / 45.818; -110.897
Vertical2,600 feet (790 m)
Top elevation8,700 feet (2,650 m)
Base elevation6,100 feet (1,860 m)
Skiable area2,000 acres (8.1 km2)
Runs75
Longest run3 miles (5 km)
Lift system8 chairlifts
- 1 Quad
- 6 Triples
- 1 Double
Snowfall350 in (29.2 ft; 8.9 m)
Snowmakingminimal
Websitebridgerbowl.com

Located sixteen miles (26 km) north of Bozeman in the Bridger Range of southern Montana, Bridger Bowl is a locally owned non-profit ski area.[1] It provides locals with affordable skiing, great terrain, and outstanding snowfall.[2] The ski area and mountain range are named after the noted mountain man Jim Bridger, and are accessed from state highway 86.[3]

In addition to the existing base lodge and a mid-mountain lodge, a new main lodge opened in 2005 at the base area.[4]

Since 1988, local residents have been alerted to the arrival of fresh snow by a flashing blue beacon atop the Baxter Hotel in downtown Bozeman. Activated every time Bridger Bowl accumulates two inches (5 cm) of new snow, it remains on for 24 hours. Maintenance of the light is a priority, and only once in 20 years was it out of operation for two days.[5]

Bridger Bowl opened the new Schlasman's chairlift for the 2008–09 season, the first lift-served terrain expansion in 30 years. A reconditioned 1976 Doppelmayr double chair, it was previously the "Peruvian" lift at Snowbird in Utah. Named after a miner who died in an avalanche in 1885, Schlasman's has a vertical rise of 1,700 feet (518 m) and adds 311 acres (1.26 km2) of new lift-served terrain for expert skiers only. To ride this lift, skiers are required to carry an avalanche transceiver; partners and shovels are highly recommended.

For the 2013–14 season, Bridger unveiled its new Powder Park and Alpine chair lifts. These brand-new lifts tripled the uphill capacity (3,300 vs. 1,100/hr) compared to the "old Alpine" center-pole double chair that was retired in 2013.[6]

Bridger Bowl is noted for its expert-only skiing terrain known as "The Ridge". There are six sections of the ridge known as Schlasman's, D Route, C Route, B Route, A route, and Northwest/Hidden Gully Areas. In order to ski or snowboard the ridge, an avalanche beacon and shovel are required; most of the ridge is hiking terrain.

Montana State has hosted the NCAA Skiing Championships eight times (1960, 1983, 1985, 1996, 1998, 2008, 2012, 2020), all at Bridger Bowl, with cross-country events at adjacent Bohart Ranch.

List of runs

Difficulty ratings
Green
Blue
Black Diamond
Double Black Diamond
Sunnyside Timmy's Road Buck's Run Flippers
Glenn's Glade White Lightning Devil's Dive Zits
Moose Meadows Boot Hill Southbound High Traverse
Coyote Flats Elk Run Three Bears Bowl The Nose
Sawmill Gulch Upper Sawmill Gulch Avalanche Gulch Exit Chute
Summer Road Good Clean Fun Bronco Tight Squeeze
Mully Road Bobcat Brush Run Out of Sight
Mogul Mouse Wolverine The John DRCS
Chalet Road Maverick Sluice Box
Lower Limestone Cross Cut Freedom
Limestone Crazy Woman Easy Money
Alpine Run Alpine Return Ptarmigan
Rugrat Deer Park Road Deer Park Face
Alpine Access Alpine Face North Bowl Road
Porcupine Three Bears Traverse Powder Hog
Montagne's Meadow Thunder Road North Bowl Run
Powder Park Last Chance
Sacajawea Mayo's
Powder Horn Kurt's
Bitterroot Emigrant
Bridger Run
Pierre's Return
Pierre's Road
Southern Drawl
Missouri Breaks
Colter's
Hanton's Hollow
Emil's Mile
Powder Puff

References

  1. "Bridger Bowl". guidestar.org. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  2. "Bridger Bowl Ski Area". bridgerbowl.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  3. "Bridger Bowl Ski Area". bridgerbowl.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  4. French, Brett. "Bridger Bowl Ski Area expanding again". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  5. "Baxter's blue light back in service". The Bozeman Chronicle. December 19, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  6. "Opening day at Bridger Bowl". The Bozeman Chronicle. December 6, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
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