Big Sky Claps Back At Instagrammer For Criticism Of Trail Difficulty

Matt Lorelli
·2 min read
25

The video below shows Instagrammer Stormm Ravenda criticizing Big Sky Resort, Montana for labeling some of their trails as Triple Black Diamonds. Apparently, Ravenda believes that the trails do not warrant such a high difficulty rating.

He also implies that Big Sky changed these trail designations from Double Black to Triple Black Diamonds purely for marketing purposes.

Check it out:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stormm Ravenda (@worlds_greatest_hiker)

Ravenda isn't completely unfounded in his assumption that a ski resort's marketing team would upgrade a trail rating to create some buzz amongst skiers.

Two of my favorite ski resorts in the world are guilty of that- Smugglers' Notch, Vermont and Mount Bohemia, MI both have terrain that's difficulty is slightly exaggerated on the trail map. It's just part of the game.

Here's the catch. Ravenda says that he was skiing one of Big Sky's Triple Black Diamond trails in the video, but the resort's Instagram account isn't so sure.

Here's what they commented:

"Alder Gulch and Cold Springs are double blacks, but"

Oof. Got 'em!

Other Big Sky locals confirmed that the video was filmed in Headwaters Bowl near the Headwaters Lift, a zone that doesn't include any Triple Black Diamonds. See below.

Circled area shows where Ravenda was skiing. Big Sky's Triple Black runs located to looker's right.
Circled area shows where Ravenda was skiing. Big Sky's Triple Black runs located to looker's right.

Most ski resort trail maps come with an important disclaimer about the difference in trail ratings at each ski resort.

It usually reads something like: "Trail ratings are relative to each resort. A blue square at (insert name of resort) may be different from another resort. Blah, blah, blah."

Basically, you won't know exactly how a mountain rates their trails until you ski them.

Take Sun Valley, Idaho for example. Bald Mountain is so dang steep that the majority of Green Circles on that mountain are actually extremely fun groomed runs that hold a decent pitch.

Meanwhile, resorts like Park City, Utah have long, meandering Green Circle runs that are better suited for beginners and intermediates.

The point is that every ski resort is going to rate trails differently, and there's really no sense in complaining about it. Ultimately, who cares?

I will say, however, that if you're going to criticize a ski resort for improperly rating a trail, make sure to at least get the trail right...?

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