Yellowstone: Wet, but skiing pretty good

Katie on Upper Gallatin River in Yellowstone

Katie and I at the Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary up Bacon Creek in Yellowstone Park

Safely over a snow bridge over Bacon Creek in Yellowstone

We spent a couple of days at Big Sky Resort, guests of our Helena friends, Dave and Sandi Ashley, who have purchased a condo there.
We're not downhill skiers, so we didn't ski there, but the Ashleys took us about 25 miles south of Big Sky for some backcountry skiing in Yellowstone Park's northwest edge, where it abuts the Madison Mountains and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, just off Highway 191.
It was a rain and snow spring mix  (afterall, this was our first ski of the new Spring) where we stayed, but the Ashleys chose skis in the upper reaches of the Gallatin River and Back Rind Creek into the Lee Metcalf, which are still very wintery.
There was plenty of snow, particularly on the upper Gallatin and we were able to pull turns in some moisture-laden white stuff.
Both areas offered low-angle telemark opportunities, but the kick and glide on the valley floor was superb.  There were several skiers, mostly on tour using Big Sky guiding services, on the Gallatin trip.  No one on Bacon Rind.
We went about 6 miles roundtrip both Thursday and Friday.
Most of my friends from Great Falls go to the extreme northeast corner of the park at Cooke City for their winter skiing.
This trip reminded me of what great scenery and opportunities abound in Yellowstone, and how easy they are to reach.