Summary

Big Sky is phenomenal. It has always been big, but a few seasons ago it acquired two adjacent mountains – small but interesting Moonlight Basin and tiny Spanish Peaks – and so overtook Vail, traditional resort-size leader in the States (now put in the shade by the new Park City / Canyons link in Utah). The area totals 5,800 acres; its lifts can carry 29,000 people an hour; but typically there are only about 3,000 people on the hill. So you get about 2 acres of snow each; or, to look at it another way .... (That’s enough statistics – Ed.)

The point is, skiing Big Sky is unlike skiing anywhere else. As an experienced reporter put it, ‘the busiest runs would be considered empty in other resorts’. The resort has other attractions too. But if you like to amble around in the evening soaking up the mountain village atmosphere, forget it.

Big Sky hadn’t installed a new lift for a decade; then two come along at once (read the news, above). It looks like you won’t need to wait another decade for further major new lifts – the resort has big plans to overhaul its lift system in the coming years.

Blogs, features and news

• Ikon and Epic passes: why US skiing is suffering