Happy 2012!
Have you ever heard of this place - The Yellowstone Club? Basically a members only ski mountain/golf resort plopped right near Big Sky, Montana. If you've ever skied at Big Sky, you may have noticed some of the mega houses off in the woods while skiing down to the Southern Comfort lift. This is a ski hill where bazillionaires and A-listers come to frolic outside the public eye. It's what a place like the Mansion is to Vegas - except even more private.
In any event - I had the extreme fortune to ski here over the holidays. One of the members was kind enough to extend me an invitation here and there was no way I was going to miss out on this adventure.
I'm not sure what I expected going in - I had read somewhere that Bill Gates is a member - so I figured it'd be pretty nice. Now that I'm home and able to look back on the experience, it blew away my expectations.
The skiing terrain was above average - it still doesn't compare in size and variety to a Jackson Hole, Vail, or even Whistler. However, it doesn't need to. Why? Because there is virtually NOBODY on the hill or in lift lines. There's a two seater lift that takes you to the top of a peak where you can get off and either blaze down some double black diamond chutes or head down some black runs through pristine glades and you'll be the only one back there. Want long leg busting blue cruiser runs - plenty to be found. And for those that aren't good skiers? Lot's of nice easy green paths that wind all over the mountain.
I guess I shouldn't be that surprised - this is after all a mountain that only money could buy. How else do you explain the Sugar Shacks on the slopes? Sugar Shacks you ask? Little warm huts that are stocked with candy, cookies, libations, soft drinks, soup, cheese, crackers, etc., etc. . . huts that you just ski up to and head in and help yourself to whatever.
I have some pics that I'll post once I get them transferred over to this computer I'm typing on.
I guess while I was there there were a few celebs around - I did see Jessica Biel hitting the slopes - she's a very good skier. It's kind of hard to tell who's who when everyone is wrapped up in ski gear. But, truth be told, this isn't a place where someone goes to be "seen".
Price tag? I think the current cost to get in is $300,000, plus you have to purchase real estate which runs around $1.5 - $30 million. Drop in the bucket for guys like Gates . . .
More later . . . .
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