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Events under the Big Sky
We have had a couple of fun weeks here in Big Sky. Buck’s T-4 threw a karaoke party, which was met with great enthusiasm. Not only did many of the Buck’s team members join in and perform their favorite tunes, we had a strong crowd, everybody happy to participate. I had a friend visiting from Chicago, him and I sang ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’ and Willie Nelson’s ‘Whiskey River’.
Buck’s also entered a team in a popular annual golf tournament here in Big Sky called the Hawaiian open. Much of the community and visitors were out in their Hawaiian shirts playing in this best ball tournament. After the tournament everybody gathered at the Bunker for a delicious spread of food and cocktails, including little coconuts and pineapples full of sorbet!
Buck’s also hosted a wonderful wine dinner featuring wines from the Morgan Winery from the Salinas Valley in California. Bradley Martin the Director of Sales and Marketing flew in from California just to be with us for the dinner and educate us on Morgan’s fine wines. Locals and tourists alike had a superb experience. We even received a couple emails from guests who joined some of us team members for the wine dinner. I have listed the emails below.
Willie Nelson played in Red Lodge on Friday, August 22. What a wonderful show. This was the second time I was able to see Willie Nelson live. The first time was here in Big Sky.
I am looking forward to Oktoberfest at Buck’s on September 19. We will have beer distributors featuring German style beers, and a wine distributor with German wines. We are planning for live music and lots of fun. Hopefully I will see you there.
To whom it may concern:
Last night, August 20, my friends and I from Chicago were fortunate enough to attend the wine tasting and dinner at Bucks T-4. We were expecting a wonderful experience with the dinner and wine, and we were not disappointed. Not only was the menu, wine, and food excellent, but we thoroughly enjoyed the young people who are your employees who were seated at our table. They were a very vivacious, eloquent, and professional group and thoroughly added to the enjoyment of our evening.
I feel that it is important for you to be aware of what a valuable group you have working for you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Spicer
Hi Erin
It was a pleasure to meet you at the wine pairing that was held at Bucks last Wednesday night, August 20. I was there with 2 friends from Chicago that were visiting me, and we all had a terrific time. The food was delicious, the wine was wonderful, and the people were friendly. Thank you for any and all effort that was put into organizing this event. We had a great time, and we hope that you will do it again.
Thank you
Judy Lunt
Nashan Photography
Nashan Photography
Why get married in Big Sky? Why not get married in Big Sky is more the question. A couple of friends from Chicago, IL chose Big Sky as their wedding location and destination vacation for over eighty guests, who stayed anywhere from three days to over a week. I joined the party for three days over the wedding weekend, and I will never forget the fun we had.
The weekend kicked off Thursday night, when everybody met for drinks and a new bar in town called Choppers. This new establishment is ideal in Big Sky, since we are such a popular motorcycle destination being right off highway 191, a famous scenic drive. In fact Buck’s T-4 is right on highway 191 and only 100 yards from the impressive beauty that is the Gallatin River, which the highway follows. The Gallatin River is the location in which the movie ‘A River Runs Through It’ was filmed.
I led three men up to Lava Lake, which sits above highway 191 accessible only by a three mile trail that leads directly to an alpine lake surrounded by towering green mountains. The hike is six miles total (three up, and three down) and has an elevation gain of about 1,600 feet. The trail can be accomplished by almost anyone; you must navigate your way around some rocks on the trail. The first two thirds of the hike is through dense lodge pole forest, and then you come upon a bridge that leads over a tumbling creek with small waterfalls. The last third of the hike you find yourself among aspen trees and thimble berries. Once at the top, the men jumped off cliffs into the refreshing mountain lake. We swam, laughed and took pictures. I hope that it was an experience they won’t forget.
I can guarantee that the walk (or full out sprint) on the way down is definitely an experience they won’t forget. As we started our descent back to the trailhead the Montana skies clouded up and not only did rain drench us, but for about one minute we were hailed on. The rain continued our entire descent; I laughed, hooted and hollered as we came down. Once back in the car we were all smiles, joking and recounting our experience. It was good to see that everybody was in good spirits and enjoyed the storm. One man commented that it is so invigorating to be able to face a situation that was not a controlled environment, but a pure act of nature and all its unpredictability. They say if you don’t like the weather in Montana, wait 5 minutes, it will change.
That night after we warmed up in the hot tub, we went to Buck’s T-4 for dinner. We had Dungeness crab cakes to start and each ordered something different so we could trade food and try as much as the luscious cuisine Buck’s has to offer. I had the New Zealand Red Deer, one of the most famous and oldest menu items. Other dishes ordered were the Wild Game Composition (quail, elk and bison short ribs), the Bison Tenderloin and the Pancetta Wrapped Pheasant Breast in a mushroom fideo. We chose a Washington Syrah and a California Red Zinfandel to compliment all the meals. Everybody was exceptionally pleased with the meal, and impressed with our menu at Buck’s. We left full and happy.
The following day, many of the eighty out of town guests went whitewater rafting with Geyser Whitewater, on property at Buck’s T-4.
After rafting I met a couple men who had rented mountain bikes from Geyser and we went to Porcupine (just a mile south of Buck’s T-4) and went for a mountain bike ride. Mountain biking is extremely physical, and can be very muddy. It was certainly both this day. Both men impressed me with their dedication to the steep climbs up the hill, and the wildly amusing downhill sections. We returned to the car covered in mud, but our white smiles shined through. I was pleased to hear their exhilaration and they seemed to take great delight in getting utterly filthy.
That night we headed to an elegant wedding under the beautiful Montana skies, thunderheads loomed and threatened in the distance, and three extraordinary rainbows shone brightly in the blue sky. Montana has a wonder all its own, fiery sunsets against grey and purple layered mountains, brilliant rainbows, and the surreal sky with thunderheads and blue sky together all looking down on golden fields and green mountains. I have travelled many places but few ever match the vivid majesty of Montana. I am so glad that this bride and groom chose our beautiful location for their lifeline commitment to one another. I can think of no better place for such a sacred vow.
FYI – Buck’s T-4 is a popular location for weddings, and other events. Buck’s can accommodate groups any size from 10 to 200 people and we have outstanding catering services.
It’s been real,
Erin
What is summer in Big Sky like? Heavenly, to say the least. There are not words to describe the gorgeous sunsets I’ve witnessed this weekend. Friday evening I headed down to Buck’s T-4 to treat myself with a little Montana surf & turf for dinner. On my way down the mountain I caught a glimpse of the sky behind me. The sky looked as if it was on fire, bright, fantastic colors beamed from behind the silhouetted mountains. I pulled over and got outside to watch for a few minutes with awe and great appreciation for the dumbfounding views I am so privileged to witness.
My dinner was also amazing, which included a pan seared elk chop cooked to order perfectly, sautéed lobster with peppers, tomatoes and roasted garlic and a saffron Serrano ham orzo. The bartender suggested a wine pairing of Crios malbec that complimented the food extraordinarily well.
Saturday was a scorcher so I headed to the pool, rested and sun-bathed surrounded by spectacular mountain views.
Sunday was a busy day; I started out by heading to the Big Sky Resort on my mountain bike. From the base area I rode up a trail on Lone Mountain called ‘middle road’, it is a gradual climb, but at over 7500 feet, it certainly gets the lungs working and the heart pumping. The trail will eventually bring you to the top of Andesite Mountain, or you can choose to ride a fun single track through the woods and splendor on the way down. I chose to be adventurous and ride the single track. What an incredible ride, twisting around turns, over rocks and through wildflower patches. As usual there was a wildlife spotting on the ride; I saw a doe resting in the sun on a ski run enjoying the spectacular summer day.
After the mountain biking, I jumped back in the pool to cool off. I cooked a deer steak for lunch and then headed down to Geyser Whitewater (on property next to Buck’s T-4) where I met some friends and our trusty guide and friend Bob. Bob has been guiding whitewater trips since the beginning of time and I was excited to do the Gallatin River like I have never done it before….Bobber style!
Five of us gals jumped into Sweet Pea (Bob’s boat) in an afternoon shower, as soon as we hit the water the sun came out and the surrounding mountains sparkled. The Gallatin river flows through a canyon with high reaching mountains on both sides, spectacular cliff wall and it is home to much wildlife including a small doe we saw posed on the shore of the river as we floated by. The view was astounding as the sun glistened across the water, and the foliaged framed the river and Spanish Peaks stood tall and strong in the background.
The float trip was full of fun and jokes, I am pretty sure my stomach muscles are sore from laughing so hard. Bob has legendary stories from all his years of experience guiding whitewater. A couple of the girls on our trip were new to rafting and were tickled with excitement at every bend in the river. We hooted and howled when each drop of refreshing mountain river water touched our skin. We snickered at the ones that got drenched and waited for our turn as others poked fun at us back. Bob took us through lines in the river I had never experienced and with the ease of a seasoned professional. He had us tied in knots with thrill.
The girls thanked the Bobber with a bottle of every river guides favorite juice; Maker’s Mark and made him a home cooked meal. (Always tip your guide.) Now that’s good old Montana hospitality.
As I headed back home, I noticed yet another breathe-taking sunset, pink, red and gray clouds darting out over green Montana fields with the mountains lining the horizon. Once again, I had to pull over and savor the moment. One thing I try never to do is take this grand state and all its’ wonder for granted.
All good all the time,
Erin
