Big Sky, Montana

March 26 - April 4, 2010

Whispering wind blowing through the snow covered trees; glistening crystals 6 inches deep and a groomed trail; we’re THE ONLY ONES ON THE SKI SLOPE!  This is what we experienced our first day skiing.  I was with fellow skiers Connor Smoak and Dorothy Kay when we came upon this incredible experience on Saturday morning on the Deep South run at Big Sky.  Deep snow and sunshine; a Florida skier kind of day.  Just a week ago my friends in Big Sky were telling us to book Fly-fishing trips and Horseback rides; it was 55 degrees.  But the skiers from Florida brought the cold with them.  Over the span of our week we received nearly 3 ft of snow.

The group had varying airline schedules, but everyone was in town by Saturday and we met up with the Daytona Ski Club for our Welcome Reception at Big Sky’s new Base Camp.  Base Camp is a great first stop to book ski lessons, sleigh ride dinners, zip-lining rides, etc.  The very next evening the entire group joined together in Chet’s for dinner.  It was fun to gather after the very first day of skiing and hear everyone’s adventures.

First time skiers Kevin Comer and his son Lance enjoyed learning the ropes.  Lance was in snowboard lessons and Kevin was learning to ski.  Lance called his mom during the week and has her convinced to bring the entire family next year.  Peggy Seibert and her daughter Angela kept adding lessons and ski days to their original plan of only 3 days because the conditions were so perfect.  Dorothy Kay, a Vero Beach resident and excellent skier, skied with both Space Coast and Daytona skiers.  She was seeking out the most adventurous skiers and exploring the vast acreage that Big Sky offers.  I had the opportunity to ski a couple of runs with Alan Drysdale and wife Anita.  They were thoroughly enjoying the slopes and spending time together while their daughter Rhiannon was taking lessons.  Mary Burnett was probably the most adventurous.  Mary did not ski during the week, but was taking advantage of the other activities that Big Sky had to offer.

On Tuesday, seven Space Coast members and three Daytona members took a van tour into Yellowstone.  It was a long day, but certainly something not to miss if you have never been.  The group’s tour entered the park through the north entrance at the Roosevelt Arch.  They spotted bison, elk and an elusive coyote.  They were able to visit the areas of Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley.  Meanwhile Big Sky Mountain received about 10 inches of snow that day.

Wednesday was another beautiful day of sunshine and so much powder that my husband Bill and I traded in our skis so we could try out “powder skis”.  We skied hard all day on Wednesday because we knew that we were dining at Buck’s T-4 that evening.  The adults in the group joined the Daytona Beach club for camaraderie at Buck’s, which is known for its local cuisine.  Former Satellite Beach local Drew Wacker (and now a member of the Space Coast Ski Club) and his wife Drusilla drove in from Colorado for a few days to join the group.  At dinner former Satellite High graduates Kevin Comer, Drew Wacker and myself were able to reminisce about high school adventures.  While the adults were at Buck’s the older children with the group were out to dinner at the Mountain Mall at Big Sky.  Mallory and Casey Donoghue, Connor Smoak and Lance Comer had quite an eventful evening and we found them at the Shoshone pools later that evening.

Thursday was overcast and snowy.  The Donoghue and Smoak families headed over to explore Moonlight Basin.  Due to the proximity of Moonlight Basin and combined with the acreage of Big Sky the two resorts make “the largest skiing in America.” Casey and Mallory Donoghue are now very proficient snowboarders and we let them pick the trails at Moonlight.  After having to lay down in the snow to switch my skis to the other side of me and watching Jennifer Donoghue wrap herself around a tree to switch her skis to another angle, I was skeptical about what runs Casey suggested. So I can now refer to the Donoghue family as the “Daredevil Donoghue’s”.

On Thursday and Friday folks from our group started to head out of town and everyone else left on Saturday.  The Saturday group left at 5am for the airport and that was a good thing; Big Sky received another 8 inches of snow.  I reluctantly left Big Sky on Sunday; it was still snowing.

We had too much fun……Lisa Smoak, trip leader