Moonlight Basin

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Moonlight Basin
Location:	Big Sky, Montana
Nearest city:	Bozeman, Montana
Top elevation:	11,166 feet (3,403.4 m)
Base elevation:	7,000 feet (2,100 m)
Skiable area:	1,900 acres (8 km²)
Runs:	76+
Longest run:	2.8 miles (4.5 km)
Lift system:	6 chairlifts
Snowfall:	400 inches
Web site:	Official Site

Moonlight Basin is a ski resort in southwestern Montana, located in the Madison Range of the Rocky Mountains near the resort village of Big Sky.

The resort's land was purchased from Plum Creek Timber in 1992 and began as Moonlight Basin Ranch, a real estate development on the north edge of the adjacent Big Sky Resort. Moonlight Basin progressed slowly; it opened as an independent ski area in December 2003, on the north face of Lone Mountain. The 11,166 foot (3403 m) summit is accessed by the Lone Peak Tram, part of Big Sky. The resort, completely on private land, is adjacent to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area in the Madison River drainage in Madison County. (The Big Sky Resort, also on private land, is in the Gallatin River drainage in Gallatin County.)

Moonlight Basin features the extreme terrain of The Headwaters. [1] These steep chutes and gullies on the north face of Lone Mountain, once known as the "Nashville Bowl," can be hiked to from the Headwaters lift (opened in December 2005) or Big Sky's Challenger lift, both of which unload at just under 10,000 feet (3048 m) above sea level. The resort also features terrain consisting of open bowls, tree skiing, moguls, long groomers, beginner runs, and a freestyle terrain park. A full day adult lift ticket for the first season was $39, for the 2008-2009 ski season the price is $55. The Lone Peak Pass combines Big Sky and Moonlight Basin resorts and is$93 for the 2008-09 season. The combined pass was first offered during the 2005-06 season.

The primary lift at Moonlight Basin is the Six Shooter, a six-passenger chairlift that climbs 1850 vertical feet (564 m) from the base and is nicknamed "the flying couch." The Headwaters chairlift connects at the top of Six Shooter, rising another 685 feet (209 m), for a total lift-served vertical rise of 2535 feet (772 m) from the 7000 foot (2134 m) base. [2] The other upper lift is the Lone Tree quad, installed in 2004 for the second season, which allows access to the gladed terrain northwest of the Headwaters. [3] Additional lift-served vertical is attained at Moonlight Basin by purchasing the Lone Peak Pass and taking Big Sky's tram to the summit of Lone Mountain.

The two original chairlifts at Moonlight Basin, Iron Horse & Pony Express, were installed by Moonlight Basin Ranch in the mid-1990s before it was a stand-alone ski area; the lifts were operated by the Big Sky Resort. [4]

Moonlight Basin will also offer a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course (The Reserve at Moonlight Basin) in 2009, coincidentally in the Jack Creek drainage. The par 72 layout will be 7800 yards (7132 m), at an average elevation of 7500 feet (2286 m); the clubhouse is scheduled for completion in 2010. The resort also offers fine dining, spa, and lodging.

The parent company of the ski resort, Moonlight Basin Ranch, has committed a significant percentage of its land holdings to conservation.

The original 25,000 acres (101 km²) was purchased in 1992 by three partners: Lee Poole and Joe Vujovich of nearby Ennis, and Keith Brown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With 17,000 acres (69 km²) sold, the remaining 8,000 acres (32 km²) comprise the ski resort and golf course. Poole is currently the sole owner of Moonlight Basin, having bought the shares of the other two partners. [5] [6] [7]

Snowboarders hiking The Headwaters with Lone Peak in the background

Resort Statistics

Total lifts: 7 - (6 chairlifts, 1 conveyor)
Total skiable area: 1,900 acres (8 km²)
Summit Elevation: 11,166 ft (3,403.4 m)
Base Elevation: 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
Mapped Trails: 90
Longest run: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
Average annual snowfall: 400"

References

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