The bikes are back
Early season downhill trails open for business
It was all downhill for some of the guests at Big Sky Resort’s summer opening on Friday, June 8. Downhill biking, that is. Leading up to opening day, the resort had announced mountain biking trails wouldn’t be ready until June 23. But the day before the summer opening it was announced that, much like early season skiing, the Explorer Lift would be turning for users to access lower elevation terrain.
So on the first Friday morning of the summer season, bike patrollers Regan Christian-Frederick, Tom Moran and Katie Williamson were cruising down the trail en route to the Mountain Mall for some breakfast. They were grinning ear-to-ear and ready for the first summer ever that there would be a full-time professional bike patrol on the trails.
Early season terrain included Easy Rider, Rabbit Run and Otter Slide downhill trails, as well as cross-country options. But on June 23, with the opening of the Thunderwolf Lift, many more trails over on Andesite Mountain will be ready to go. While Ramcharger is being replaced, bikers can still access all their favorite trails by riding Thunderwolf Lift, accessible via Low Dog Road. —JP