Bridger Bowl is a ski area in the westernUnited States, near Bozeman, Montana. It serves the local population, including Montana State University. Located north of Bozeman in the Bridger Range of southern Montana, Bridger Bowl is a locally ownednon-profit ski area. It provides locals with affordable skiing, great terrain and outstanding snowfall. The ski area and mountain range are named after the noted mountain manJim Bridger, and are accessed from state highway 86. In addition to the existing base lodge and a mid-mountain lodge, a new main lodge opened in 2005 at the base area. Residents of Bozeman are alerted to the arrival of fresh snow by a flashing blue beacon placed atop the Baxter Hotel in downtown Bozeman. First installed in 1988, it is activated every time Bridger Bowl accumulates two inches of fresh snow, and remains on for 24 hours. Maintenance of the light is a priority, and only once in 20 years was it out of operation for two days. Bridger Bowl opened the new Schlasman's chairlift for the 2008/2009 season, the first lift-served terrain expansion in 30 years. Schlasman's is a reconditioned 1976 Doppelmayr double chair lift, formerly known as the "Peruvian" lift, purchased from Snowbird ski resort in Utah. This new lift has a vertical rise of and adds of new lift-served terrain for expert skiers only. To ride this lift, skiers are required to carry an avalanche transceiver; partners and shovels are highly recommended. For the 2013/2014 season, Bridger Bowl unveiled its new Powder Park and Alpine chair lifts. These brand-new lifts tripled the uphill capacity compared to the "old Alpine" center pole, double chair that was retired at the end of the 2012/2013 season. Bridger Bowl is noted for its expert-only skiing terrain known as "The Ridge". There are six sections of the ridge known as Schlasman's, D Route, C Route, B Route, A route and Northwest/Hidden Gully Areas. In order to ski or snowboard the ridge, an avalanche beacon and shovel are required. Most of the ridge is hiking terrain.
