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Rowdy Ski Resort Hikes

Posted on April 7th, 2007 by gomez.
Categories: Recent Posts, The Ski Diaries.

Sometimes getting the goods involves an exhilirating approach. Access gates open the ski resort boundaries and take powder seekers out and beyond. Many of these gates require you put your skis or board on your back, march up a snow stairway, and traverse ridgelines to access your line. Some of these hikes are pleasant strolls, 10 minutes and you are there, others are more vigorous, steep cardio workouts, and then there are some burly, sketchy, don’t fall here hikes that kick in the endorphins long before the boards are strapped on.
Resorts like Bridger Bowl, Taos, Jackson Hole, Arapahoe Basin, Big Mountain, Telluride, Brighton, Crystal, and Grand Targhee all have legendary hikes that bring snowriders to all sorts of terrain possibilities. There is a certain ski culture directly associated with the locals who rally these hikes on a daily basis. Many apres ski conversations focus on these earn your turns runs.
In my opinion there a 3 resort based hikes in the lower 48 that really tickle the jewels and get the heart pumping well before dropping in. These 3 hikes bring riders to big mountain terrain, but what makes these hikes stand out is the exposure hikers experience getting to this terrain.
Fantasy Ridge, Solitude Mountain, Utah.
From the top of the Summit chairlift, Fantasy Ridge follows a knife edge ridgeline and leads riders to a number of steep, snaking couloirs through the Honeycomb cliffs as well as open bowls like Silver and Days Fork, and tree lined spines like Murphy’s. Walking up Fantasy Ridge hikers navigate the Honeycomb cliffs, one of Solitude’s most distinguished terrain features. Along the ridgeline patrol put handrails in the most gripping locations, falling off either side would not be a pleasant experience. The hike reminds me of a snow covered, mini Angel’s Landing. Utah might be a conservative state but they certainly have some of the rowdiest trails in the US.

Headwaters (Lord of the Rings) Traverse, Moonlight Basin, Big Sky, Montana.
Ok so this is my local mountain and I am biased but this hike is hands down the most exposed trail leaving from a ski area in the lower 48. Accessed from either Moonlight Basin’s Headwaters Lift or Big Sky’s Challenger Lift this hike starts as a benign 20 minute step up. Once you reach the patrol sled you are walking along the Headwaters ridgeline that divides Big Sky’s A-Z chutes and Moonlight Basin’s Headwaters couloirs. Moonlight Basin is one of North America’s newest resorts and before it opened the Headwaters terrain was open on a very limited basis. The terrain used to be named Nashville Bowl, the Gracelands, and the ELVIS couloirs, named so because each couloir resembles its respective letter. 1800 vertical feet of continuous 40 degree plus north facing dancefloors, tight squeezes, spines and cliffs make this terrain the perfect venue for big mountain riding. The A-Z chutes and Pinnacles drop off the south side of the Lord of the Rings Traverse. This side tends to be more tempermental snow wise due to sun effect, however aesthetically the A-Z’s are dreamy. With all the liability issues these days in North America it is amazing anyone can access The Lord of the Rings traverse. There are many sections of the traverse that are especially spicey, falling would entail bouncing off sharp andesite rock. There are no handrails or ropes to assist hikers besides one section that has metal chicken wire to keep rocks from tumbling out. And it is open 95% percent of the time, Moonlight Basin’s patrol has done an exceptional job of getting this avalanche terrain open on a daily basis and letting people get er done. With Lone Peak hovering above, walking along this traverse will make you feel like you are in Narnia. A plea to Lee Poole and Moonlight Basin, change the Headwaters traverse name back to the The Lord of the Rings traverse.

Dead Goat Hike, Moonlight Basin, Montana:
OK I know what you are thinking, this guy is really stuck on his mountain, but the north side of Lone Peak is one of the steepest high alpine ski areas in the world. Lone Peak is very remininscent of the Alps or Andes;grandiose, in your face big.
The Dead Goat hike leaves from the top of Moonlight’s Lone Tree Lift. It scrambles up a steep face and leads to an even steeper slot aided with a ropeline to a crumbly rock and ice ridgeline. Riders can drop into Don’t Tell Mama or Dead Goat from this 30 minute hike. Although the exposure is not as great as Solitude’s Fantasy Ridge or the Lord of the Rings Traverse, the sheer steepness and rockiness of the Dead Goat hike ranks it right up there as one of the rowdiest hikes in the US of A.

Here are some links for more information on great ski hikes throughout North America
Bridger Bowl Ridge Hike
Cold Smoke Awards
Ryan Turner Photography Big Sky Moonlight Basin ski/ snowboard photos
Cody Peak, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Crystal Mountain, Washington Silver Queen Hike
Wolverine Cirque, Wasatch Mountains, Utah
Telluride Gold Hill into Bear Basin
A-Basin, Colorado

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