Big Sky has some of the gnarliest ski terrain in North America. Some of their inbound runs include steep, rocky terrain over no-fall zones. For this reason, The Montana ski resort will be rolling out triple black diamond classifications for the 2019/20 ski season.Â
From Big Sky Resort:Â
Big Sky Resort has long been revered by skiers who love the steep, vast terrain and big mountain skiing. Skiing Lone Peak is truly unlike any other resort experience in the lower 48. Big Sky Ski Patrol works diligently to make some of the steepest and most complex inbounds routes open and available to the public.
Triple Black Diamond Terrain
This season, Big Sky Ski Patrol has designated certain trails as triple black diamond to increase guest education and awareness of the risks of skiing high alpine, high consequence terrain. The methodology for designating trails as triple black diamond includes: exposure to uncontrollable falls along a steep, continuous pitch, route complexity, and high consequence terrain. The triple black diamond trail rating is used as a communication tool to encourage conservative skiing with a focus on skiing in control.
Check out the most updated Big Sky Resort trail maps for a comprehensive list of triple black diamond rated trails.
Managed Access
Big Sky Resort has three Managed Access areas: the Big Couloir, North Summit Snowfield, and Upper A-Z Chutes. These areas require thoughtful management of the number of people that can safely travel before conditions and timely rescue deteriorate. All guests skiing in Managed Access terrain are required to sign out with Ski Patrol, carry a beacon, and ski with a partner.