Day 3: Lost Trail On the Montana Landscape
by Shanti Sosienski
(January 9, 1996)

Yesterday we went to Lost Trail--a tiny resort ninety-three miles from Missoula in the middle of nowhere. It's only open Thursday through Sunday because there aren't enough people to keep it going the rest of the week. And when it's open there is little to the mountain beyond the small base lodge complete with open pit fireplace, killer cheap food (we had cream of broccoli soup in bread bowls for three bucks), and a lot of friendly people.

No one wears uniforms at Lost Trail, and I don't remember seeing any plastic name tags on the area employees (where do these people live? There are no towns nearby). The trail maps are in black and white and really don't tell you much about the mountain except that the elevation is 8,200 feet, there are no phones at the resort, and the two rickety lifts that service the mountain are definitely circa 1970s with plastic seats. Brrrrrrrrr. The chill factor on the rump is kind of surprising the first time you sit down.

Our designated guides for the day were local shredders Ross Peterson who rides for K2, and Boards Of Missoula Manager Wright Hollingsworth. The day started off a little after ten as we rode up the one chair that's open on Thursday and Friday (the second chair runs on Saturday and Sunday only). Within ten minutes we were at the top of the lift looking out at a perfect powder day. About six inches of fluff had fallen the night before on a thin, crusty layer. The snow below the dust was surprisingly soft and stable, avalanche danger was moderate, so we all agreed this would be our day to hike.

While the single open lift running at Lost Trail that day worked quite nicely in getting us to some decent terrain, there is so much in the valley just behind the resort that it seems almost a crime to not hike it. Had snowmobiles been accessible that day we would have never wanted to leave the area, but they weren't. We did it the good old fashioned way, strapping on snowshoes. Even without snow machines we found lines to boast of just off the lift.

The first run of the morning was a pleasurable as we rolled off the chair, buckled in, and headed down to a cliffy, chutey area left of the chair and through the trees. A perfect rock band allowed Bobi Ray, Wright Hollingsworth, and Ross Peterson to steal the Kodak show that morning. Wright grabbed the award for the best first drop as he maneuvered his way out of a two foot slice of rock onto a perfect plateau, dropping a good thirteen feet, riding it out nicely. Of course Jimmy had put his camera away so all the proof we have of his awesomeness is my words. But believe me when I say it was an impressive flying act.

One of the more interesting and challenging sections of the mountain was a man-made rock quarry with a total 45 degree angle wall that dropped about 40 feet into a deep powder field. Some of the landings were flat, but if the faces were ridden Tom Burt-style, instead of hucked, there weren't landings. Ross, Josh, Billy, Wright, and Bobi began charging it by dropping off the lower parts, working their way further each run down the steep, rocky wall to the highest point on the face. An audience formed, and it became apparent that this is a resort not used to pro snowboarders visiting.

You know these kids look at these lines all day long and say "f--k I can do that, and never do," said Jimmy, as people kept stopping to watch. From down below at the lodge you could hear peoples voices carrying up to the mountain as they watched with awe. It's easy to take for granted what these guys are doing as they launch off the tops of cliffs into the never-ending free fall, but it's resorts like Lost Trail that help put it all in perspective again.

After lunch, Wright and Ross decided it was time to head out of bounds into the newly proposed renovation area of the resort. From the current summit we began the trek up the Nordic trail to the peak of the mountain which was around 8,200 feet. Forty-five minutes later we were breaking trail through the woods to a cliff band we had spotted from the base lodge. It was perfectly powdered with hardly a sign of civilization. A few tracks dotted the landscape, but the cliffs and the powder field below were thigh deep, so we plunged in. Wright and I chose a chute to the left of the cliff band (I am a wimp) and found ourselves in a tight funnel filled with powder mushrooms and snowy walls. For a few seconds we had perfect tight turns and then we let it go as we accepted face shots through an open powder field. About mid-way down we stopped to watch the pros work the rocks. Ross dove out first picking a rough line and ended up eating snow for dessert.

After everyone sessioned the cliff a few times, Josh stole the show by launching an insane line which entailed ollying a rock, riding a spine down a steep stone face, and coming out with his feet below him into the powder field in a smooth landing. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at his contact with the powder after questioning his line. He just sort of smiled the "all in good days work" kind of smile and unstrapped for the hike out.

As we sweated up and out of the canyon back toward the resort, racing against the fast approaching nightfall, all were content with what we found at Lost Trail. No destination resort indeed, but absolutely a real piece of Montana that should be visited if you ever get lost (sorry, couldn't help myself) while driving down highway 93 out of Missoula.

Day 2: Snow Bowl