Downing Mountain Lodge is rad!

If you don't know about Downing Mountain Lodge, now you know.  Downing has everything you need for the perfect ski trip:  deep snow, great terrain, huge fireplace, lots of beds, wifi, flat screen tv, hot tub, shower, electricity, heat...  I could on and on about the amenities, but I'll let you go to their website to see for yourself.  After all, its the skiing that matters, and the skiing is killer.

The lodge located in the Bitterroot Mountains just west of Hamilton, MT.  A short 45 minute skin from the parking lot takes you to the circular lodge, which used to be the Grubstake Restaurant.  Upon arriving you can't help but notice the commercial kitchen you get to cook in.

We arrived to tons of fresh snow, but high avalanche warnings.  There is tons of terrain and tons of safe terrain, which is where we spent our time.  From the lodge you skin up 2000 ft to the ridge.  From there you can lap a number of runs.  At the end of the day its a long run back to the front door.

The lodge is super kid friendly and dogs are allowed.  The owner runs a great blog with tons of ski beta for the area.  I cannot recommend this place enough.  Go now, and thank me later.

 Sleep where you lay.

The groms loved the piano.

Short snow pit video:

Now on to the skiing.  Short version here:


Long version here: