Monday, May 10, 2010

Conde Nast Traveller Visits Mountain Sky



Last season, we welcomed Conde Nast writer Rachel Johnson and her family to the ranch for a week of riding, hiking, fly-fishing, rafting, and anything else the adventurous family could pack into their week-long stay. Click here for the online article. Special thanks to photographer Neale Haynes for the wonderful job he did in capturing life here at Mountain Sky, and in Paradise Valley.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Visions of Yellowstone


We are pleased to partner with the Yellowstone Park Foundation to offer guests a very special experience. Together, we have created a package which offers daily opportunities to immerse yourself in Yellowstone's wonders with fun and knowledgeable guides, and return later in the day to enjoy Mountain Sky's gourmet cuisine and the comfort and charm of our Four-Diamond accommodations. During this multi-day program, you will enjoy focused educational experiences that closely examine individual aspects of the Yellowstone ecosystem. You'll learn about the park through environmentalism, photography, geothermal activity, animal tracking and wolf biology via the expertise of our many hosts.

Itinerary:

Sunday, May 30

The action starts as soon as you arrive! We'll get you checked in and give you a brief tour of the property, followed by an optional hike for our wildflower enthusiasts known as the Wildflower Walk. Before the welcome dinner, we'll gather in the Great Room for an orientation to discuss the week's events, and to familiarize you with our staff. Our partners, the Yellowstone Park Foundation, will then introduce Jim Evanoff for his presentation on the history of Yellowstone National Park.

Monday, May 31

After a hearty breakfast, join Jim Evanoff and Michael Leach as your guides for several short tours of various park attractions. Lunch will couple with a one-of-a-kind tour of Yellowstone Lake, which promises to be one of the week's highlights. Upon returning to the ranch, you'll enjoy an hors d'oeuvre and cocktail hour, followed by a gourmet dinner. End this amazing day in the Mountain Sky Saloon by a crackling fire, listening to live music performed by local musicians.

Tuesday, June 1

This will be a day spent enjoying all that Mountain Sky has to offer. You'll have the option of joining yoga instructor Brad Moyel for an invigorating morning session, or you can listen to the birds greet the day on our Sunrise Hike. Explore our nearly-9,000 acres of unspoiled countryside as you ride or hike to our historic lunch site, where you'll enjoy an authentic BBQ lunch. The afternoon will feature fly-fishing instruction at our stocked trout pond, and a restorative yoga session up at the pool facility. After dinner, join renowned photographer Tom Murphy for a slideshow and book signing.

Wednesday, June 2

For our early-bird guests, enjoy wolf watching in the park with Nathan Varley, Yellowstone's expert wolf-tracker. A second trip into the park, featuring Tom Murphy, offers a unique perspective into his Wilderness Photography Expeditions, which he began offering in 1986. After a lunch in the park, return to the ranch for more hiking and horseback riding. During your five course dinner, you'll enjoy Randy Ingersoll's "Music and Yellowstone -- A Natural Connection," a slideshow accompanied by piano. Suzanne Lewis from the Yellowstone Park Foundation will provide her insights into the future of the park as we wrap up this week of sharing the beauty and wonder of Yellowstone National Park with you.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Featured Specials Part One: Images of Montana


If you love to paint or work with pastel, and if you love the outdoors, then we've put together the perfect fall special for you...


Mountain Sky Guest Ranch has teamed up with Aaron Schuerr, an accomplished plein air (outdoor) painter and pastel artist, to offer you "Images of Montana." This all-inclusive fall getaway will focus on developing your painting skills in a breath-taking setting, while giving you the opportunity to take full advantage of our luxururious accommodations, outstanding service, and gourmet cuisine. For more information on this painting getaway, visit our website at http://www.mtnsky.com/specialpackages/painting.aspx.


Instructor Aaron Schuerr works in both oil and pastel, and has an intimate knowledge of the area. He leads several workshops, and is well accustomed to teaching students in an outdoor environment. Known for his "friendly" instructional style, Aaron will help you develop your skills both out in the field, and back at the ranch during critiques and presentations. For a closer look at Aaron and his work, please visit his website at http://www.aaronschuerr.com/.


Having a hard time visualizing this thing? Allow us to help...


Imagine making a trek through crisp fall air from the comforts of your cozy cabin to the hearty breakfast awaiting you at the lodge, a journey kicked off by the sound of the breakfast bell ringing in the still morning air.


The next short trek is down to the corral, where the horse we've paired you with awaits. After just a few rides, it already feels like you're greeting an old friend.


The morning ride takes you through a changing Montana landscape. The grasses, sagebrush, and stands of pine provide a perfect contrast for the splashes of brilliantly colored aspen stands, and the vast blue sky. You can already feel the creative juices flowing.


Your destination will be a historic homestead or panoramic vista, and upon arriving you'll find your easels, canvases, and painting supplies waiting. A buffet table contains coffee, tea, bottled water and soda, along with an assortment of pastries and muffins, and as your wranglers take care of the horses, you help yourself to the food as you set up your easels. Instructor Aaron Schuerr will then start the morning lesson.


Lost in your painting, you hear the call to lunch and turn in surprise. There, in this beautiful setting, is a buffet of king crab legs, turkey stew with biscuits, a greek salad, and a beautifully arranged fruit tray, set up by our staff while you worked.


You'll have the option of continuing to paint at the same spot that afternoon, or taking an early ride back to the ranch to catch an afternoon ride, hike, soak in the pool or hot tub, or nap.


To cap off the day, you'll enjoy a three or five course gourmet dinner, preceded by a friendly critique accompanied by hors d'oeuvres and wine.


If you are interested, don't hesitate to give us a call at 1.800.548.3392 for more information.

Monday, February 1, 2010

A New Face at the Front Desk

Congratulations to Stacy Rose, whose recent promotion to Sales and Marketing Director will also put her in the thick of the action at the reservations desk. She'll likely be the one who answers your phone call or email, and it'll be her smile that greets you when you arrive.

We're excited to have her at the front desk, and we're sure you will enjoy her as much as we do!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Mountain Sky Honored by Inclusion in "100 Best"

We've always known that our exceptional staff, outstanding accommodations, and breath-taking surroundings help us stand at the top of our industry, but we appreciate it when fine publications such as "100 Best All-Inclusive Resorts of the World" agree.

This publication is aimed at consumers looking for one of the industry's hottest trends: The all-inclusive resort experience. Resorts are listed by world region (and in no particular order), and a handy guide in the glossary helps readers find resorts by specific search criteria, including family resorts, couples and singles getaways, those offering horseback riding, and more.

If you ever have a chance, pick up a copy and flip to page 35. You'll find a nice little write up about a beautiful guest ranch in the mountains of Montana, where the horseback riding is sure to please, where the staff always go the extra mile, where the food will knock your socks off, and where people of all ages can go for the all-inclusive vacation of a lifetime.


Saturday, January 9, 2010

A Winter Wonderland


A foot of fresh powder and bluebird skies combined to transform Mountain Sky into a winter paradise this past week. The new snow wiped away all signs of human and animal activity, and seemed to provide us all with a clean slate with which to begin the new decade.

Happy 2010, everyone!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Happy Holidays!

Thanks to our friends from all over the world for the lovely Christmas Cards (and cookies!) that have brought smiles to our faces here at Mountain Sky. We wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season!