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After hiking up to the ridge the day before, we took 1 run in the resort and prepared for the hike up to the top of the Ridge.
The Ridge is within the boundaries of Bridger Bowl. The requirements are that you must have an avalanche transceiver on, a shovel and a partner to climb to the top. It is another 600 feet of elevation above the top ski lifts. There are 2 gates to access the ridge and then you are on your own. When one descends from the top there are many challenges. The top of the mountain is full of cliffs, steep chutes and you have to be aware of what is below you so that you don't get trapped. This area received over 4 feet of snow the week before so there was good coverage in the chutes.
Here are a few pictures of our final day at Bridger Bowl. It was a very good day on the snowboards. With the high winds and a bit of new snow overnight, there was good snow on the north facing chutes and in the trees.
We hiked to the top and strapped into the boards. I dropped in first and got some good turns, then waited for Weez to snowboard down.
Weez went past me and hunkered down behind some trees. Then I dropped down the chute.
Weez dropped into a bowl to finish the snowboard run from the top.
After a lunch break, it was into the trees we go. The trees on the south end of Bridger are spaced apart and are at a good steepness so that it is a blast to weave through them at speed. With the high winds from the night before, there was a nice layer of fresh snow.
Fun to whip through the trees.
With the sun setting in the west and the winds kicking up, it was a great visual of the ridge line. The sun was lighting up the blowing snow. It gave the effect of fire and smoke above the mountain.
It was a rewarding trip to Montana. Several hikes up above the lifts toward the Ridge and some challenging steep snowboarding. Bridger Bowl is a resort with many challenges. Steeps, cliffs, trees and much natural terrain.
It is always...Good Times!!
