Bozeman: is it really that bad anymore?

  • Thread starter Deleted member 53219
  • Start date
Explain the "defacing of Lone Mtn peak" please. What happened?
They’ve built so many of these mega buildings across lone mountain and Moonlight Basin I couldn’t even give a guess on how many, or the total cost/value… value to most of us is worthless. It’s a disgusting display of wealth. It reminds me of slave-peasants building the pharaohs pyramid or something…
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3996.png
    IMG_3996.png
    2.7 MB · Views: 59
They’ve built so many of these mega buildings across lone mountain and Moonlight Basin I couldn’t even give a guess on how many, or the total cost/value… value to most of us is worthless. It’s a disgusting display of wealth. It reminds me of slave-peasants building the pharaohs pyramid or something…
I worked construction up at Big Sky for about three years '90-'93. Had enough back then driving the canyon. It's pretty depressing to go up there now.
 
Deforestation, residential development, unimaginable number of ski runs ... prime habitat, open space, and wild places gone forever!
It's funny to compare skiing culture (and public attitude) in the U.S. vs. Europe. In Europe nobody would even question a tram to the top of the mountain, they are all over the place. Hundreds of ski areas, maybe thousands. Climbing and skiing are such an ingrained part of their culture, they don't look at it the same way. If you told them one mountain in Montana got sacrificed for the skiing, they wouldn't even know what you were talking about. In America, a major new ski area hasn't been built in years, and it probably never will be again, it's that hard. Not saying it's good or bad, just very different. Skiing in Europe was really eye opening to me. (Canada too, for that matter.)

As for "blowing off the top of the mountain," that's pretty exagerrated. Yeah they flattened some rocks, BFD. The new tram is far superior to the old tram, and the summit doesn't really look much different to me. Admittedly, I'm a hardcore skier, so I don't look at it the same way you do. I'm addicted to the steep alpine terrain that can be skied from the summit of Lone Peak. Best and most unique skiing in America IMO. (But pales in comparison to Europe.)
 
It's funny to compare skiing culture (and public attitude) in the U.S. vs. Europe. In Europe nobody would even question a tram to the top of the mountain, they are all over the place. Hundreds of ski areas, maybe thousands. Climbing and skiing are such an ingrained part of their culture, they don't look at it the same way. If you told them one mountain in Montana got sacrificed for the skiing, they wouldn't even know what you were talking about. In America, a major new ski area hasn't been built in years, and it probably never will be again, it's that hard. Not saying it's good or bad, just very different. Skiing in Europe was really eye opening to me. (Canada too, for that matter.)

As for "blowing off the top of the mountain," that's pretty exagerrated. Yeah they flattened some rocks, BFD. The new tram is far superior to the old tram, and the summit doesn't really look much different to me. Admittedly, I'm a hardcore skier, so I don't look at it the same way you do. I'm addicted to the steep alpine terrain that can be skied from the summit of Lone Peak. Best and most unique skiing in America IMO. (But pales in comparison to Europe.)
Nobody is comparing American forests and wild places to Europe, other than you. It's apples and watermelons different. I get it; many of my family are avid downhill skiers. My grandsons skied as youth for the Big Sky Ski Foundation. Good for you; good for them.

But if your idea of a great trip to the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness is by tram, so that you can ride in and ski it ... then we'll just agree to disagree on the subject of developing wild places for whatever mechanized access to recreation.
 
I’d say it’s more about the development around those ski resorts than it is the ski areas themselves. Big difference between how it’s down in Europe (or quite frankly any where in the world) vs. the US. Look no further than the closest thing to a new resort in the US - Mayflower Resort, now subsumed by Deer Valley as Deer Valley East. The entire master plan of the thing is about maximizing sellable ski-in / ski-out real estate, not so much the skiing experience. It’s more similar to country club golf courses than older alpine ski hills - a bunch of ski runs bordered on all sides by billionaire mansions. Wildlife can coexist with ski hills. But when it’s surrounded by so much residential development, not so much.
 
It's funny to compare skiing culture (and public attitude) in the U.S. vs. Europe. In Europe nobody would even question a tram to the top of the mountain, they are all over the place. Hundreds of ski areas, maybe thousands. Climbing and skiing are such an ingrained part of their culture, they don't look at it the same way. If you told them one mountain in Montana got sacrificed for the skiing, they wouldn't even know what you were talking about. In America, a major new ski area hasn't been built in years, and it probably never will be again, it's that hard. Not saying it's good or bad, just very different. Skiing in Europe was really eye opening to me. (Canada too, for that matter.)

As for "blowing off the top of the mountain," that's pretty exagerrated. Yeah they flattened some rocks, BFD. The new tram is far superior to the old tram, and the summit doesn't really look much different to me. Admittedly, I'm a hardcore skier, so I don't look at it the same way you do. I'm addicted to the steep alpine terrain that can be skied from the summit of Lone Peak. Best and most unique skiing in America IMO. (But pales in comparison to Europe.)
Ive skied every year for over 50 years, the last 35 years telemark. Everyone defines themselves as hardcore. 😂 BFD. They used dynamite to alter the summit of Lone Peak, not a garden rake. Then installed a tram. My opinion, scarred the landscape.
Montana has become Colorado.
 
Apt description, and as Hem points out the traffic is "insane". After decades of development, Big Sky and Yellowstone Club continue with uber-expensive construction done by workers and construction related vehicles of all sizes commuting all day long to and from Big Sky through the gorgeous single lane, winding Gallatin Canyon, often almost bumper-to-bumper from Bozeman and Belgrade. The number of human fatalities during just the past year on Die-way 191 is unacceptable. The number of fender benders, wildlife collisions, and near-misses is "insane"!
After forty years of begging and pleading by residents of my little community of Gallatin Gateway for traffic safety measures, recently the MDT engineer publicly announced that "traffic safety issues have been recognized" and a stop light will be installed on the highway at Gallatin Gateway "in a few years". Duh!!! That is little solace for those families who have lost loved ones due to the unsafe, risky traffic conditions. A highway patrolman was heard to explain that the traffic is so dense and out of control that enforcement along the route is almost impossible and is dangerous for highway cops and sheriff deputies.
IMO, the state of Montana has been recklessly unconscionable and irresponsible in allowing this insanity to continue, with no mitigation!
i grew up in gateway off 191. at least its not 70mph anymore, and way less semi's now! We used to play frogger crossing the highway to get to friends houses. Maybe now that they install a light it won't take 10 minutes to get out of my parents driveway...
 
Went on a hiking vacation and stayed 5 days in Canmore Alberta last month. Nice pretty place but I bet it was also less busy decades ago.

I got married in sight of Bozeman a couple weeks ago. Can see where I’m standing from Main Street and pretty much all of the Gallatin Valley. Saw 2 people all weekend - a backpack fisherman and a trail runner. I zoom in on Bozeman - terrible place I tell ya.
🙂

 
Ive skied every year for over 50 years, the last 35 years telemark. Everyone defines themselves as hardcore. 😂 BFD. They used dynamite to alter the summit of Lone Peak, not a garden rake. Then installed a tram. My opinion, scarred the landscape.
Montana has become Colorado.
So...the ski runs didn't already scar the landscape? The real desecration was a few feet of rock removed from the summit. Got it.
 
way less semi's now!
That is not true.

at least its not 70mph anymore,
That is not true. It's 60 mph in the canyon, then 70 mph for a few miles north of the canyon, then 50 mph right at Gateway, then 55 mph north to 4 Corners.
The real problem is that those speedsters go 80 mph leaving the canyon north and do not slow going through Gateway ... including all the semis, which have not decreased in numbers.
Finally when they have to slow for some daring driver entering from Gooch Hill Road or Blackwood Road, then it's under 70 mph for a few miles!
As Hem expressed, "It's insane!" and not getting any better.
 
So...the ski runs didn't already scar the landscape? The real desecration was a few feet of rock removed from the summit. Got it.
Im not going to disagree. And by no means do I profess holier than thou.
I am as guilty as the next person.
But more and more, the steady chipping away of precious grounds bothers me.
 
That is not true.


That is not true. It's 60 mph in the canyon, then 70 mph for a few miles north of the canyon, then 50 mph right at Gateway, then 55 mph north to 4 Corners.
The real problem is that those speedsters go 80 mph leaving the canyon north and do not slow going through Gateway ... including all the semis, which have not decreased in numbers.
Finally when they have to slow for some daring driver entering from Gooch Hill Road or Blackwood Road, then it's under 70 mph for a few miles!
As Hem expressed, "It's insane!" and not getting any better.
It is untrue that the speed limit was changed in gateway in 2010 from 70 to 55? Damn, I could’ve sworn it used to be 70 from the mouth of the canyon all the way to the market, then back to 70 from gooch to right around magenta road. I must misremember things in my old age.
Maybe the semis haven’t decreased in numbers, but the percentage of semis in traffic is less, that’s kind of what I was going for… I still think there’s less than pre-restriction years.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
117,389
Messages
2,155,496
Members
38,207
Latest member
ncaroline797
Back
Top