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What to Expect in Big Sky Country

Corey Rosen / 27.04.2008

In April of 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles of French territory west of the Mississippi River called the Louisiana Purchase for eleven million dollars. In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson put together the Corps of Discovery to explore the Missouri River and to find the Northwest Passage, a non-existent all water route through the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The Corps of Discovery, led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, discovered what is now Montana in 1805.

Even with Lewis and Clark discovering for the United States what is now Montana, this beautiful area had been inhabited by many Indian Nations for hundreds of years. With over 70,000 Native Americans living in Montana, they make up close to 10% of the state’s population. Because the Indian Nations treat the land of Montana as sacred, they expect the Primal Quest as visitors to do the same. In past PQ events, non-profit outdoor education organizations such as the National Outdoor Leadership School and Leave No Trace helped educate racers to ensure the environmental impact of the race was minimal or positive in nature. This year, the Primal Quest athletes, coordinators, and volunteers will work even more diligently to keep this natural oasis untouched and undamaged for the residents and future visitors to Montana.

Located between Bozeman, Montana and Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky has everything an adventure racer could want when it comes to terrain, climate, and atmosphere. Starting at about 7,500 ft. at Big Sky Mountain Village, Primal Quest will range in altitude from approximately 4,000 ft. to 11,000 ft. with multiple ascents totaling over 100,000 feet of elevation gain throughout the race.

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