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A Winter Party

I went over to my friends' 300 + acre ranch just four miles south of Bozeman on a sunny Sunday afternoon around 2 p.m. Other guests were arriving for cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and ice skating. As I drove towards the house, crossing a large meadow, 40 head of Elk were laying down. The lead bull was sitting facing the herd and all of the other Elk were facing him. It was a very amazing sight on a glorious warm winter afternoon. I joined my friends skiing on the groomed trails, skiing next to the Spring Creek, crossing Sourdough Creek, and skiing through the trees past an inviting teepee and ending up at the small pond. A bonfire was roaring, cold beer and wine were stuck in the snowbank awaiting the thirsty guests. An ice hockey game was in progress. As the sun set we all entered the large house overlooking a beautiful pond and congregated in the kitchen. Chili was cooking, the fire was warming us all and we felt the glow on our faces from the day. The Abagail Ranch is available for sale so you can host these wonderful parties, call me to get the details.



Vivian Bridaham, Broker-Owner
406-586-4408

Bell Lake

The Tobacco Root Mountains in southwestern Montana have always eluded me. I have spent years staring at them and only ventured into their terrain once since I moved to Montana almost 10 years ago. This streak broke last weekend when I was fortunate enough to join my fellow backcountry ski partners on a trip to Bell Lake; with rumors of huge peaks, endless terrain and 2 feet of fresh snow. My expectations were immensely exceeded when we finished the 6 mile approach into the Bell Lake basin and the site of the yurt, which would be home for the next 3 days.

Photographer maestro Josh Gage had set up a few days prior and welcomed the rest of us with open arms and photos of the terrain he had been skiing the past few days. Unbelievable to say the least. Our excitement and confidence in the snowpack pushed us high up on Branham Peak right away to a couloir called The Contender. 2,000 feet of 50-60 degree slope, a mere 20 feet wide with hundred foot cliffs on both sides. Gazing back up the line we had skied was overly impressive, perhaps one of the most aesthetic things I have ever skied and only to be witnessed by the herd of 8 mountain goats promenading on the ridgelines above.

With 10 people crammed into a 20 foot in diameter tent, needless to say things were quite cozy. We cooked gourmet meals accompanied with plenty of wine that was carried in conditionally, for this was Valentines Day weekend, and we were with 5 women.

Sunday dawned crystal clear skies and fresh snow throughout the Bell Lake basin. 10 strong, we made our way up to the likes of Bell and Branham peaks, skiing untouched snow throughout the day. Glassing across a valley here and there, sights of our elated crew make their own signatures down pristine lines of powder through rocks, cliffs and chutes brought the feeling of individuality in the mountains and brotherhood together.

Another evening spent in this mountainous paradise chopping firewood, drying out gear, and sharing stories from the day, ever growing in intensity as wine and whiskey bottles pass around and around. This is living, I kept saying to myself, this is what it is all about: Friends and Mountains.

After taking a couple early morning runs down the North face of Bell Peak through a striking couloir splitting the 500 foot rock band, we packed up and braved the steep ski down the canyon through dense forest, passing a crew of folks heading up to share in the glory that is the Bell lake yurt. How was it? they asked. We looked at each other with wide eyed grins, and without much conversation, they knew what they were about to enter. Regrouping at the trucks, sharing high fives and eventually a burger at Café 287 in quaint Harrison, I looked back at the peaks of the southern Tobacco Root range as we drove from the Harrison Valley back towards Bozeman and bid farewell, but not for long.

The Business of Extraordinary Living

In March 2009, the Sotheby's International Realty brand began an exclusive relationship with The Wall Street Journal as the publication's first true, all-encompassing partner using both digital and print mediums to consistently reach its readers. As part of the partnership, the brand created a microsite called "The Business of Extraordinary Living" on www.wsj.com that features custom content, industry blogs and local market information written by Sotheby's International Realty professionals and The Wall Street Journal writers. It also showcases the brand's significant properties.

In 2010, our partnership with The Wall Street Journal will be taken to the next level with the reintroduction of our Business of Extraordinary Living microsite. This microsite will be enhanced to allow for better engagement of our global affiliate network by providing local content to local users within "The Address" a section of the microsite.

Click here to see the latest news and information posted to our microsite: http://online.wsj.com/ad/sir