Montana Snowbowl, MT: March 17, 2021

ChrisC

Well-known member
Another day in the Great Grey Northwest.....Cloudless and nearing 60f in the valleys. The last time I skied MT Snowbowl was 2006 - foggy, snowy/rainy and wet. The big difference now - I could see where I was skiing.

However, some things are the same: access road is horrendous, the lifts are ancient and not keeping up with local population growth (hate to ski it on a popular day) but the front face trails are as steep and bumpy as ever. This really is one of the tougher resorts in skidom. And it has a great friendly local atmosphere.

By March, Snowbowl adjusts its schedule (closed on certain weekdays) and moves its opening to 10 am (to 4:30) to address Daylight Savings Time change. My primary goal was to ski the long front side bump runs - West Ridge, West Bowl, East Bowl, Far East - and the new lift Snow Park. The laps take almost 45 minutes so your ski day is limited. Awesome to see some kids around 5 ripping it up!

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Entrance to Snowbowl

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Initially, I gravitated to the new terrain on the Snow Park lift since surfaces were still frozen - but that was not a smart move since it faces west. The trail map does not really show that orientation. I had to return later in the afternoon to take an additional run when the snow had softened. But it's a pain to get out to the Snow Park lift....the slated 2 new lifts really need to get installed (liftlines are cut). Great views though....

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I took a few laps on the LaVelle Creek chair groomers - which retained their packed powder surfaces - until the front side expert runs softened.

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I started with West Bowl (think it's my favorite)

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West Ridge - overview and run

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East Bowl

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Grizzly - starting to lose cover at base
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Overview of East Side Runs
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Funky base lodge
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Overall, Montana Snowbowl is one of the most exhausting areas to ski due to long bump runs. I retreated back to Missoula to one of the local breweries...and a nap.
 
ChrisC":3aex2ybb said:
I started with West Bowl (think it's my favorite)
A couple of weeks must make a difference is stronger sun. West Bowl was a great run but no one was skiing it until past 1PM. East Bowl was in prime form when we hit it around noon.

ChrisC":3aex2ybb said:
Overall, Montana Snowbowl is one of the most exhausting areas to ski due to long bump runs.
Absolutely. I'm very impressed with the 33K you skied. I was quite worked by 22K on my first visit in 2012. This year we skied 23,700 but probably at least half groomers. I was showing Liz around and wanted make sure we weren't trashed before skiing Discovery the next day.
 
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