ré • AD publication
April/May 2014
Winter Wrap-Up
IN THIS ISSUE Page 5
Meadow Village Center Happenings
Page 13
Pond Skim
Top: Pond Skim, Glenniss Indreland. From Left Below: Snowshoe Shuffle, Yellowstone bison, spring flowers, ski racing - Mike Coil.
Yet another winter is winding down after an actionpacked few months full of snow, fun and entertaining events. Having begun early this year, winter seems to have gone on for a long time and snow continues to fall. The great news is that the skiing was phenomenal this year, and we head into the spring and summer seasons with well above normal snowpack levels, which bodes well for any potential drought. The bad news is that that time of year is here when it’s not always easy to live in the mountains. While, in other places in the country, rain is falling, flowers are beginning to poke their colorful heads out of the ground and trees are showing their leafy buds, Big Sky is still covered in the white stuff and the white stuff is still coming down. As fortunate as we are to live in a ski resort where the conditions are often incredible, there’s always a downside. However, take this opportunity to travel and enjoy spring in other locales, revel in the peace and quiet, watch for new baby animals and enjoy the sun while you wait for summer. It’ll be here before you know it. Ski racing has ended another season (see results on YSL championships in this issue) and many of the racers are donning soccer cleats and heading for the fields. Sports at Ophir School are also winding down. Basketball has finished and golf, one of the last sports of the school year, is just beginning. Before we know it, the school year will have ended as well, and that glorious summer season adored by children young and old will be here, complete with shorts and sandals taking the place of jeans and winter boots, and schoolbooks shelved ‘til Fall. While most of the events are over and things are winding down, the rescheduled (due to extreme cold) Howlin’ At the Moon Snowshoe Shuffle takes place on April 12th, from 5:30 to 8:30PM at the Madison Village Base Area. The Shuffle, now in its 13th year, benefits the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter (HOV) and has become a much-loved event for both locals and tourists. Attendees (with or without their best canine friend) are invited to join the pack for a delightful
evening of snowshoeing along a torch-lit path followed by a deliciously warm chili dinner at the base upon return. Music and a raffle will offer the chance to win many great prizes. Registration begins at 5:30PM, with the Shuffle ensuing at 6PM. Tickets can be purchased at Big Sky Resort and HOV and are just $25/person; children 10 and under are free. Tickets include the snowshoe hike, chili dinner, music, raffle and goody bags. Snowshoes are also available for rent. For more information, call Big Sky at (406) 995-5000 or Heart of the Valley at (406) 388-9399.
Page 18
Big Sky Ski Racing
Easter, while often a muddy, snowy holiday in Big Sky, has a wonderful chance of being warmer, drier and more spring-like as it’s at the end of April. March Easters, of course, stand no chance. So grab your Easter baskets and head to the Corral for the annual egg hunt or to Madison Village Base Area for their egg hunt. Church services at the Big Sky Chapel are plentiful, including St. Joseph’s of Big Sky Mass at 8AM, All Saints in Big Sky (a ministry of the Episcopal/Lutheran [ELCA] Churches) at 9:30AM and a non-denominational Big Sky Christian Fellowship service at 11AM. There are also services on the mountain at Big Sky Resort. Call (406) 995-5000 for more info on services and times. Another much-anticipated event marking the official almost-end of the ski season is the Pond Skim. This not-to-be-missed event marks the passing of the winter season and is full of fun and hilarity. See the story in Section B for details. Whether you head into Yellowstone National Park before the tourists come, watch for the new orange baby bison, pull your bike out of the garage or just take a nap, enjoy the peace and quiet of the offseason because, before we know it, another winter will be upon us. Cheers to the passage of another fantastic winter season! - By Elizabeth Severn-Eriksson
page 2
Big Sky Community
page 4
Community Events
page 14
All About Animals
page 19
Skyline Bus Schedule