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Hey guys, looking at going to UM in Missoula and Montana Snowbowl is the closest resort. I did some research and it sounds like it has some pretty sick terrain--to give you some background information, I've grown up in Utah skiing at Alta so I'm looking for something with a similar vibe, park does not matter to me. Anyways, obviously Big Sky and Bridger are the best resorts in Montana but I like being able to head up to shred after class for a few hours, something I'm used to being able to do here in Utah. Anyways, and help/advice is appreciated! I'm just curious what some local's thoughts are on the place.
Pros:
-close to town
-relatively cheap (in the broad scheme of things)
-very interesting terrain when the snow is there
-great backcountry access
-family hill vibe
-the Inn
Cons
-expensive pass for a family ski hill
-monopoly on the close Missoula ski market, so they get away with moves they couldn't if there were other options (management, pricing, strange practices and backwoods mentality)
-south facing, so when the melt comes, it hits hard
-slow lifts
Especially coming from Alta, you'll find it pretty quaint and somewhat lesser in the snow departments. Does that make it bad? No. Snowbowl is far more of a "soul of skiing" experience than Alta at this point in their development.
If you like to ski in the backcountry and tour for your goods, Missoula is just as good as Bozeman. If you're headed to school just to ski, MSU is the better pick. However, some programs are far better at one school or the other, so make those choices carefully (don't go to MSU for writing, for example).