Dream Skiing Day in Montana

Well, I’ve only touched a Southern corner of Montana, one time.  Crazy, for a person whom loves trout fishing and alpine skiing!  You bet.  I was traveling on a spring hiking trip with my wife from Yellowstone, headed West on US 20, back towards Idaho.  My initial, short lived adventure through this awesome state of Montana left me wanting to see and do more.

Many years have passed since that trip and I keep telling myself “you will make it back to Montana.” Hence, when my best buds from Michigan, the CEO’s of Epic Planks handmade powder skis posted a competition to write about a dream day skiing snowcat-style in Whitefish, Montana;  I was pumped!  Epic Planks have everything from big-powder crushers to park jammers.  Their site: http://www.epicplanks.com/.

To help us Michiganders get through winter, you have to have a passion for winter recreation.  My friends and I typically backcountry ski the glacial formed hills surrounding Northern Michigan.  It’s only enough to wet one’s appetite.  That’s why most Michiganders whom are serious about alpine skiing are searching out real mountains around the world.  I can’t think of a better spot to seek out, than Montana.

Montana cat skiing with Great Northern Powder Guides would be totally off-the-hook!  Check out their site: http://www.greatnorthpowderguides.com/.    Their accommodations, staffing, terrain and overall professionalism is world-class.  Still don’t believe me, check out Untracked Guides comments on their site: http://www.untrackedpowderguides.com/.  Untracked Guides is out there analyzing, reviewing and publishing their best experiences with heli and snowcat outfitters.  They’ve chosen Great Northern Powder Guides as one of their favorites.  Need I say more?

My ideal day would start out with sunrise beaming over the Montana skyline, signaling the start of a great day.  The night before would have been low-key so I was good and rested.  I would wake-up to the smell of bacon and eggs cooking.  A group of friends, some new and some old, and our guides would plan our day-of-attack over breakfast.  What was about to become a full-out barrage on Stillwater State Forrest in Montana, was in the works.

After breakfast, we’d get geared up for the day.  My pontoon of choice would be a pair of Epic Planks Floaters.  Epic Planks handmade powder skies would be ideal for some massive terrain at Stillwater.  The unstoppable monster truck feel of the floater would easily roll-over anything Mother Nature can throw-down.  We’d all step into the pre-warmed snowcat and begin charging up into the mountains for some backcountry fun.

Reaching our initial drop point would be intense.  By this time, the mountain peaks in the backcountry would be glistening in sunshine, while the valleys below would hold vivid hues of blue and green pines, topped with pillows of powder.  We’d step into our Epic Plank skies, point the tips downhill and launch-off into the abyss.  I can imagine carving through un-touched goodness from early-morning to late-afternoon.   The only breaks I would need would be taken back-up on the snowcat by Great Northern Powder Guides.  Give me two days of this, and I would be one happy Michigander!  I would soak in every second.

I would end both days in celebration.  Sampling the local brew-of-choice would be a must.  Eating a great meal and kicking-back at the lodge would be in-order.  I dream of the day!  It may be closer than I can imagine.  Let’s hope?

By: John Semeyn

Image: Grant Gunderson (http://www.grantgunderson.com/)