SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., April 18, 2025—Through the sale of 125 carriers from the historic Explore 2 lift, Big Sky Resort raised an impressive $162,600 for three local nonprofit organizations: Big Sky Community Housing Trust, Gallatin River Task Force, and Wellness in Action. 

The March 20 online sale sold out in less than 30 minutes, with supporters eager to own a piece of Big Sky history. The Explorer 2 double was one of the four original lifts that opened with the resort in 1973. 

“We’re incredibly proud to see such a strong response from our community,” said Big Sky Resort president and COO Troy Nedved. “These chairs have carried generations of skiers, and now they’ll live on in new ways—while making a lasting impact through the nonprofits that help sustain our community.”

The funds will be split equally between the three organizations. Wellness in Action provides mental health support to the Big Sky community. The Gallatin River Task Force works to protect and restore the Gallatin River. The Big Sky Community Housing Trust helps secure stable year-round housing for working Big Sky families.

Explorer 2 was retired on March 30 after 51 years of service. The two-stage Explorer Gondola will replace the double. The first leg of the gondola will provide access to the beginner terrain formerly served by Explorer 2. The second leg will terminate at the base of the Lone Peak tram, providing pedestrian access from the resort’s base to the 11,166-foot summit of Lone Mountain.