Outside Magazine loves Bozeman

From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:

Outside Magazine has named Bozeman one of the country's best towns of 2010, particularly for skiers. Outside also touted the Bozeman-area's 10,000-foot peaks, crystal-clear streams and rugged wilderness. And it lauded the city's cultural amenities, including the free music concerts -- though it didn't name Music on Main specifically. Each year, Outside picks a couple dozen towns to feature as the nation's best for outdoor enthusiasts. This year it chose 25, but also specified which were home to the best places to cycle, paddle, run, surf and ski. It also named what it considered the best overall outdoor cities in the East and West. The writer also gave a shout out to Bohart Ranch's 18 miles of cross-country ski trails just up the road from Bridger.

And just 45 minutes south of town, "Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin offer a combined 5,512 acres of glades and bowls," Outside said. "Sweet," was Chad Jones' initial reaction to the news. Jones, Big Sky's public relations manager, said it was an excellent thing to hear. "It kind of reinforces what we already know," he said. "It's an amazing place to live and work and recreate. With the close proximity of the ski areas -- Big Sky Resort and Moonlight -- and the biggest skiing in America, not to mention Yellowstone National Park, it's easy to see why Bozeman would be chosen."

Greg Pack of Moonlight Basin echoed Jones' sentiments. "I think it's incredible," he said. "It's something we all know and appreciate about living here." Pack grew up in Colorado and worked at many of the big ski areas there before moving to Montana. He said the skiing here beats anything in his old stomping grounds. "The skiing out here is at a different level," he said. "It's more challenging terrain with short lift lines. When you can get all the skiing you want and you don't have to fight traffic and wait on lift lines ... that's what makes Bozeman appealing."

No South Dakota locations were considered for Outside's list.