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 got snow ?              News from The Steep, Deep & Extreme International Big Mountain Slopes

9.20.2005



Hit List
Matchstick Productions unveils their Latest ski flick at the Tahoe Area Premier of THE HIT LIST, coming to the Olympic Village Lodge on Friday, October 1. Shot on locations such as Whistler Blackcomb, Mica Heli Guides, Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, Crested Butte and Keystone Colorado, California, and the unexplored remote inlets of British Columbia, The Hit List is sure to get us fired-up. Come support the allstar cast of local athletes such as Shane McConkey, Ingrid Backstrom and other industry superstars. Two Shows! 7pm and 9pm. MSP Films
100% Hardcore (Solid "E" Ticket, rippin' X-treme steeps, footage ! )



BIG SKY, Mont. – Like your ski areas Interconnected in a huge way?

Two Montana ski resorts are pooling resources to form one of North America’s largest interconnected trail networks: Big Sky Resort, the famed Montana ski resort envisioned in the ‘60s by TV news legend Chet Huntley, and Moonlight Basin, which made headlines two years ago when it became the first new destination ski area to open in the U.S. in more than 20 years.

The two resorts share the same mountain – Lone Peak, roughly an hour from Bozeman. The resorts even shared several trails and a lift in the past. But previously, it was necessary to purchase a ticket or season pass from each if you wanted to ski them both.

This year, skiers and snowboarders have the option to purchase tickets and passes allowing unlimited access to both resorts.

The combined pass provides lift access to hundreds of acres of stunning summit snowfields that were previously accessible only by hiking. Combined, the two trail networks offer nearly 5,300 acres (2,145 hectares) of skiable terrain and the second-biggest vertical descent in the US, at 4,350’ (1,326 meters). Between them, the two resorts operate 23 lifts.

The interconnect is the result of ongoing discussions between Stephen Kircher, a principal of Boyne USA Resorts, owner of Big Sky Resort, and Moonlight Basin partners Lee Poole, Joe Vujovich and Keith Brown.

“This region is the last great major ski destination in the U.S.,” said Taylor Middleton, general manager of Big Sky Resort. “By offering joint ticket products, Big Sky and Moonlight Basin will offer what may well prove to be the largest amount of skiable terrain in the nation. And given that we have famously low skier density, the expanded trail network will provide even more elbow room for our guests."

Joint lift tickets are a rarity in the United States. Only two other pairs of resorts – both in Utah - offer interconnected lift and trail networks and joint ticket products while maintaining separate ownership.

www.moonlightbasin.com
Courtesy of D. Schieffer with Big Sky Resort"

Agreements for feeds with Big Sky Mt. and Crystal Mountain Wa. reached for 2005 - 2006 season