Welcome to the Buck’s T-4 blog. This blog is intended to alert the world what is going on here in Big Sky, Montana and to showcase “the last best place on earth”. This isn’t an advertisement so you don’t have to run, just good old conversation and fun. Whether you are at a desk in Chicago, a café in Alsace or down the road in Bozeman, take a minute each week to read the Buck’s blog and escape just for a moment.
My name is Erin, and I will spearhead this blog, but I encourage others to contribute.
Just a quick introduction to Buck’s first. Buck’s T-4 Lodge is located in Big Sky, MT between the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park and Bozeman, MT. Buck’s is a popular place to stay for skiers (Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin are located just up the road and accessible by free shuttle) and summer road trippers. We have 2 restaurants on property including a casual pub and our famous Buck’s Main Dining Room which offers elegantly prepared wild game, hand cut steaks and seafood.
Okay enough of that marketing business. Let’s talk about the real reason this area is so popular and why so many come to visit.
We have had a pretty fun filled weekend. Each week on Thursday nights a free concert is performed in Big Sky at the Meadow Village Pavilion. This past Thursday we were lucky enough to have a popular folk band the Wailin’ Jennys. People flocked to welcome these sweetly harmonizing artists. The Wailin’ Jennys are from Canada and perform an incredibly delicate but powerful sound with country roots. The music gives the audience a sense of torment but with a beautiful and redeeming quality that leaves smiles on their faces. The Wailin’ Jennys perform mostly original music but also convert classic songs into their own creative musical style. My personal favorite was Neil Young’s ‘Old Man’. This was truly magical as I listened and watched the sun set against lone peak surrounded by gray and pink clouds to my right and a fantastic vanilla sky to my left.
Right next door to Buck’s on property is Geyser Whitewater, which offers rafting trips down the Gallatin as well as horseback riding, mountain bike rental and an indoor climbing wall. Every summer Geyser gathers a hard working group of raft guides dedicated to making every guest of Big Sky’s experience the best they can. This gets to be awful hard work, so every once in a while the guides need a night to blow off some steam. The guides and a few friends (including me) took a bus down to Belgrade, MT (about 45 minutes away) via a scenic drive up highway 191 to the stock car races. This was my first time at the races and I was incredibly impressed by the cars. The crowd was enthusiastically cheering on their favorite drivers. The guides from Geyser started ‘the wave’ which eventually engaged the entire stadium. This was a great family event complete with a raffle and prizes.
Yellowstone National Park is not far from Big Sky. This past weekend I explored a new area of Yellowstone. I made my habitual stop at Old Faithful, one of my favorite sites, not just because of Old Faithful but the geyser basin it sits in. There are endless thermal wonders situated just off a boardwalk hike near Old Faithful. I also went on a short hike called “Elephant Back” that ascends 800 feet and offers a awe-inspiring vista of Yellowstone Lake. Before returning to Big Sky, I made the (approximately) 15 mile trek into and around Pelican Valley where multiple bison were spotted as well as a mother grizzly with two cubs. Besides the incredible wild life, the views of surrounding mountain, variety of wildflowers and the sun bleached skulls of elk with antlers still attached was well worth the hike.
As I passed back through the gates of Yellowstone National Park, my stomach groaned with hunger. As soon as I entered Big Sky, and the familiar landmarks filled my view I came upon Buck’s T-4. I turned into the parking lot and raced inside with thoughts of tender New Zealand Red Deer, a Montana Strip Steak, Crab legs and Bison tenderloin racing through my head. A perfect way to end a perfect weekend.
Monday night Buck’s featured a Margarita Party with an all you can eat taco bar. Geyser raft guides certainly made sure they were at Buck’s for this event. Kids of all ages gathered around for their chance to hit the piñata, and a great time was had by all.
Hope to see you soon, and until then remember live long and hopefully, you too will experience the richness we are so lucky to embrace here in the last best place.
Word to your mom,
Erin
