Some thorny Internet problems prevented me from updating Ski Bum readers on my Odyski for a few days. But they've been resolved, so let's do a little catching up, beginning with Big Sky Resort, Montana's biggest attraction for skiers and snowboarders.

Big Sky in Montana, the first western stop on my Odyski, asserts itself as "the biggest skiing in America" with 5,512 acres on Lone Peak (pictured) and two smaller adjacent mountains.
PHOTO COURTESY BIG SKY

I skied Big Sky Sunday through Wednesday, staying slopeside at the Huntley Lodge, with a lift only a few yards from my room.

Big Sky's size is extremely impressive, comprising 11,000-plus-foot Lone Peak and its southern, eastern and northern flanks. Note that the northern section is actually part of adjacent and interconnected Moonlight Basin. A special ticket (an upgrade to the basic Big Sky pass) is needed to go over there.

The weather was a bit of a disappointment. Zero gorgeous bluebird days and one day (Monday) I skied in a blinding snowstorm. Note that the first photo in this series is an advertising shot; I hardly ever actually saw the summit during my four days of skiing.

The Big Sky base area comprises six large buildings and about as many smaller ones. Being a true destination resort, about 80 percent of Big Sky skiers and snowboarders stay overnight on the mountain or nearby.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Another view of the Big Sky base area. Two of the mountain's four high-speed quads plus two other lifts originate in this area.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

But to compensate for Monday's on-mountain challenges, I took a big noontime break to lunch with three of Big Sky's sales and marketing people: Communications director Dax Schieffer was my host and had been my personal ski guide the day before. National sales manager Brandon Bangs -- whom I'd already met a few months earlier at the Boston Ski and Snowboard Expo -- explained Big Sky's market as a destination resort, while online expert Lyndsey Kiland told me about the resort's Internet marketing.

I told her that the Ski Bum is supported (advertising-wise) by Sunday River and Sugarloaf, two Maine resorts that are now part of the coast-to-coast Boyne Resorts system. (Big Sky is the most famous of the Boyne group.)

The Ski Bum took a long noontime break on Monday to have lunch with three Big Sky marketing professionals, including Lyndsey Kiland.
DAX SCHIEFFER PHOTO

During lunch I also ran into several Mainers. Filmmaker Greg Stump was around, making arrangements to shoot his newest movie, while our waitress hailed from Saddleback.

Expect to meet more Mainers at Big Sky: Special deals are offered to Maine Pass holders, such as the Ski Bum.

There's no doubt that Big Sky is selling a total lifestyle package that ranges from the obvious skiing to a full suite of amenities.

Apres ski scene at Big Sky: "Two Crazy Austrian Bros Revue" hold forth in the Huntley Lodge. Above is Bro No. 1.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Crazy Austrian Bro No. 2, playing Jimmy Buffett tunes in Big Sky's Huntley Lodge.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

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