Big Sky Resort : Skiing Andesite Mtn.

View from Top of Andesite Mountain.

Andesite Mountain is a small peak that rises abruptly up from the Mountain Village base area at Big Sky Resort. While the peak itself isn’t that high at 8,800 feet, the peak still provides a nice vertical rise and has a great network of intermediate and expert ski trails. I actually think the best intermediate skiing and snowboarding is found on this mountain – so if you like to ski groomed intermediate ski trails, be sure to check out this area. Two express chairlifts service this terrain – allowing skiers to ski some significant vertical during the course of the day if they want to. The skiing on Andesite Mountain is explored on the rest of this page, divided into two sections – the Front Side and the Back Side.

See Map of Andesite Mountain

Front Side of Andesite Mountain

The front side of Andesite Mountain is that portion of the mountain which faces the Mountain Village base area. The vertical rise on this section is 1,160 feet. The Ramcharger Express Quad services the front side of Andesite Mountain – and makes for a very quick ride up (only a 5 minute ride).

The front side of Andesite Mountain at Big Sky consists primarily of intermediate runs – all of which are excellent. The trails are generally wide, well groomed and have very nice variety – with lots of twists, turns and some steeper spots thrown in here and there. Moreover, several gladed ski trails which have an “intermediate gradient” can also be accessed from the front side of Andesite Mountain. These two ski trails are called Blackfoot and Ambush Glades. Both of these trails make for a great way for intermediate skiers and snowboarders to learn the basics of tree skiing on terrain that is neither scary nor death defying. Best of all, if while skiing these two trails you get psyched out by the bumps and trees, it is easy to cut off the trails and get back on the groomed intermediate runs which run parallel to the glade runs.

More advanced skiers will find more tree skiing in a sort of tucked away and forgotten about place on Andesite Mountain. The Blue Room, Low Dog and Colters Hell ski trails – all rated a single diamond – provide a massive glade skiing area on terrain that is only moderately steep. Just be advised that if you ski down these trails you either have to take a Poma lift to get back to the Ramcharger Express lift or ski down to the bottom of the Thunderwolf Express Quad – which can be kind of a long, flat run.

Terrain on the front side of Andesite Mountain.

Beginner skiers and snowboarders also have a few nice trails to learn on, too. The Pacifier is a beginner run from top to bottom, although the top part of the trail is awfully flat and rather boring. For the more adventurous beginner skiers, consider cutting down the Safari ski trail instead. While this trail ends on an intermediate ski run, Hangman, the lower portion of Hangman isn’t very steep. A beginner skier which is familiar with the very basics of skiing should be able to get down the trail without incident.

Back Side of Andesite Mountain

The back side of Andesite Mountain has one of the best intermediate ski runs at Big Sky, at least in my own opinion. Moreover, the back side receives much less skiing pressure than the front side does. As such, if you happen to be at Big Sky when there are crowds, consider escaping to the back side of Andesite – as you probably won’t have to ever wait in line. The back side of Andesite Mountain is serviced by the Thunder Wolf Express Quad and has a vertical of 1,700 feet.

For those who like to ski intermediate ski trails that also have some “variety” to them, be sure to hit three excellent trails found on the back side, Madison Avenue, Elk Park Meadows and Elk Park Ridge. These are excellent intermediate ski trails – with a nice, steady pitch and with lots of variety – including some trees thrown about in the middle of the trail.

Great intermediate skiing on the back side of Andesite Mountain.

Moreover, intermediate skiers can “get a taste” of skiing on ungroomed, open terrain by simply hopping off the groomed part of the trail and heading into the ungroomed section on the adjacent Elk Park Meadows ski trail. While Elk Park Meadows isn’t groomed, it has a very “intermediate” level pitch. As such, this ski trail makes a great learning ground for off-trail, bump and light tree skiing. Just watch out for the occasional rock during low snow years – the southern exposure of this trail and its lower elevation leads to faster melting than what is found elsewhere at Big Sky Resort.

Expert skiers also have a nice variety of terrain to hit on the back side of Andesite Mountain. The double diamond Snake Pit trail provides for some very steep tree skiing while Bighorn and Broken Arrow provide for some challenging bump skiing. As the sun can frequently warm this part of Big Sky resort up a bit more than elsewhere, the bumps can be soft during sunny weather – which of course is nice. On the flip side, though, during freeze-thaw-freeze periods, the bumps on the back side of Andesite Mountain can get really hard and icy, too!

Beginner skiers will not find any terrain on the back side of Andesite Mountain that is served by the Thunder Wolf Express Quad. Happily, though, Andesite Mountain actually has two backsides. This second backside, which is served by the Southern Comfort triple chairlift, consists almost entirely of beginner ski runs. Best of all, beginner skiers will have some excellent vertical to ski on – more than 1200 vertical feet.

The beginner terrain on the back side of Andesite Mountain is only lightly used. As such, if you are a beginner skier or snowboarder and want to ski in an area not heavily used and well away from the many expert skiers that whiz around the mountain – make a point of heading back to this area. The trails are well groomed and, somewhat unique for beginner terrain, have some very nice variety.

Next Page : Big Sky Resort : Skiing Summary

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