Bozeman Recognized by National Geographic as One of the World’s Best Ski Towns
By angelamontana

Posted: December 25, 2014
photo3246

(photo via kentshill.org)

 National Geographic named Bozeman one of the world’s top 25 ski towns in an article on their website.  They describe Bozeman as being home to “an old Montana university town of cowboys and ski bums, pickups and unleashed dogs, and two of the premier ski hills in America”.

The adventure capital of the Northern Rockies, Bozeman is an old Montana university town of cowboys and ski bums, pickups and unleashed dogs, and two of the premier ski hills in America. More of a working town than a traditional “ski town,” here overpriced lodges and fine dining are the exception, though there are a few high-end options and classically trained chefs. But being Bozeman, there’s nowhere you can’t wear blue jeans. You don’t come here for the restaurants, you come to ski the two wild Montana mountains. Bridger Bowl is the storied, scruffy little brother, a condo-free, nonprofit ski area 20 minutes out of town and where some of America’s original extreme skiers—Scot Schmidt, Tom Jungst, and Doug Coombs—cut their teeth and began preaching the steep skiing gospel. Hardcore skiers flock here for The Ridge, in-bounds hiking terrain with a murderer’s row of hairball chutes, and the new Schlasman’s Lift accessing expert-only, backcountry-style terrain (avalanche transceivers required for both).

An hour’s drive south of town in the majestic Madison Range, Big Sky Resort is the brash, lusty big brother, a gigantic ski area that offers joint lift tickets with the adjacent Moonlight Basin to create one of the largest ski areas in America. The tram to the vaulting, exposed 11,166-foot summit of Lone Peak opens up a Euro-style world of high-alpine, big-mountain skiing. Beginners and intermediates will find plenty of terrain at both, with Big Sky the deluxe option and the smaller Bridger a no-frills, low-cost choice. Yellowstone National Park, a 60-minute drive away, features back-of-beyond cross-country skiing and wildlife watching.

They also interviewed Bozeman local, Tom Jungst, who recommends local eateries, lodging facilities and rest day activities.  Even though a lot of Montanans want to keep Montana a secret for just us to enjoy, it is quite an h0nor for Bozeman to be included as one of the top 25 ski towns in the entire world…the entire planet.  If you haven’t been to Bozeman for a while, maybe it’s time to remember why National Geographic included this awesome gem of a town in their list.  Pretty cool.

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing