This T-Bar ski area operates on state land but is not open to the public.Vertical rise is almost 600 vertical feet.The lift was relocated to Bear Canyon in 1988.The first few towers and wooden Ts.Lower lift line.Middle lift line.A split tower.Tower 11 is the only half tower along the line.Tall tower near the summit.Top station near Mt. Ellis.Upper station overview.Counterweight.Side view of the top terminal.Top shack.Tower 13.Return bullwheel seen from below.View down the lift’s track.A Hall tower with large sheaves.View down to the lodge.Drive station.
The Mt. Ellis Academy, which is a private Christian academy runs the ski hill and has done so since 1959. It is for students from the academy only. However, it appears Mount Ellis Academy ran the ski hill as a public venue from 1971-79.
This where I learned to ski in the early seventies. There was a single chair chairlift on the opposite side of the main run at that time. There was also a rope tow at that time. No T-bar then, I went through many pairs of gloves.
Also of interest a few of the bars are doubled up to prevent people from riding them as their spring returns are seized. There is also a cool bar storage on the left side of the main lodge, I’ll snag a picture next time I’m there
This T-bar used to be at Bridger Bowl and was donated, not sure which of the T-bars it used to be, but the timeline would roughly line up with the T bar that used to be where the current Virginia City chair is. Some good info on this Youtube video talking about Bear Canyon – https://youtu.be/osgfsCiOz18?si=WcVdiya0dutt17cR
Also, not sure how much MEA runs the lift anymore, as it appears they only used it for their ski the summit event https://mtellis.org/ski-the-summit-3/ every time I have been there this season the t-bars seem to be in the same spot which would indicate that they don’t use it much anymore.
I had a buddy who was skiing there last year when they were using the lift and he said the tensioning was really poor and the haul rope fell off at one point.
One of the local ski shops Uphill Pursuits runs a skimo event every Wednesday as a fundraiser for MEA and that is the only time the lights are reliably turn on on the main run.
I’ve heard MEA has ran into trouble with funding for land lease and upkeep, which is a shame, such a fun area and the main run is incredibly fun headlamp powered night skiing so close to town.
Lift Blog 
How do they get away with it being private?
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The State of Montana gives them a permit for exclusive use of the land from November 15th to April 15th each year.
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Interesting. Do you have to be a student at a certain school in Bozeman to use it?
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The Mt. Ellis Academy, which is a private Christian academy runs the ski hill and has done so since 1959. It is for students from the academy only. However, it appears Mount Ellis Academy ran the ski hill as a public venue from 1971-79.
More info on it here: https://www.mtellis.org/bear-canyon
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When did you get the photos?
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Last week. Good place for social distancing!
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More like a hall lifts have big sheaves
this lift
And so as snow summit
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This where I learned to ski in the early seventies. There was a single chair chairlift on the opposite side of the main run at that time. There was also a rope tow at that time. No T-bar then, I went through many pairs of gloves.
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Also of interest a few of the bars are doubled up to prevent people from riding them as their spring returns are seized. There is also a cool bar storage on the left side of the main lodge, I’ll snag a picture next time I’m there
LikeLike
This T-bar used to be at Bridger Bowl and was donated, not sure which of the T-bars it used to be, but the timeline would roughly line up with the T bar that used to be where the current Virginia City chair is. Some good info on this Youtube video talking about Bear Canyon – https://youtu.be/osgfsCiOz18?si=WcVdiya0dutt17cR
Also, not sure how much MEA runs the lift anymore, as it appears they only used it for their ski the summit event https://mtellis.org/ski-the-summit-3/ every time I have been there this season the t-bars seem to be in the same spot which would indicate that they don’t use it much anymore.
I had a buddy who was skiing there last year when they were using the lift and he said the tensioning was really poor and the haul rope fell off at one point.
One of the local ski shops Uphill Pursuits runs a skimo event every Wednesday as a fundraiser for MEA and that is the only time the lights are reliably turn on on the main run.
I’ve heard MEA has ran into trouble with funding for land lease and upkeep, which is a shame, such a fun area and the main run is incredibly fun headlamp powered night skiing so close to town.
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