Day ???, Bozeman to Big Sky

Montana

Our plans are (were) back on track to ride from Bozeman to Big Sky, following the Gallatin River for about 50 miles.  Last night we stopped by a bike shop that we were passing to ask about the ride along the Gallatin highway.  Both of the people at the bike shop looked at each other and says “No way, it is a suicide ride that they would never do and which you should not do!”  Yikes!  We'd already experienced some pretty scary Montana roads and their warnings put the fear of Montana drivers into us.

They explained that problem is that the road is super narrow and winding with absolutely no shoulder and with guardrails on the white lines.  Both of the told us emphatically that we should figure out some other way to get to Big Sky.  But the problem is that the Gallatin highway to Big Sky puts us on track to get to West Yellowstone and the ride-around route would really mess us up.

Time for some quick recalculating.

After much creative route alternative investigation, Lorie struck on the idea of some kind of shuttle from the Bozeman airport to Big Sky.  We started calling.  The first call was to a bus company, but they don’t run on Sundays.  Next, a private “taxi” service.  They said that they make the run (for a mere $280) but they wouldn’t allow a bike in their van.  Strike two.

Then Lorie found the Skyline bus, which is a semi-public bus service that is primarily for people who work at Big Sky but live in Bozeman.  It runs numerous times per day and is only $5.  But can we get the bike on?

We had about 15 minutes until the last run of the day on Saturday night – we wanted to see the bus to see if we had a chance.  I called the bus headquarters and the guy said that they have a bike rack on the front of the bus but it would not fit a tandem, but he said that we could put it inside.  We then rushed over to the bus stop and found the bus there waiting.  We said “hi” to the driver and asked about getting a bike on board.  He said that he didn’t see a problem so long as we could strap it in.  That’s no problem as I have 4 good straps.  Perfect.  Home run.  We will grab the first bus on Sunday morning at its first stop and get a ride to Big Sky.

Meanwhile, we still had to drop the rental car at the rental place, and the hotel said that we could leave the bike there and they’d give us a ride back.  So we drove over to the rental place and dropped it off and the hotel shuttle arrived.  The guy who is driving the shuttle is a retired National Park Service ranger who worked at both Yellowstone and the Teton National Parks.  He now runs a guide service into both parks for private tours, driving the shuttle for the hotel on weekends.  He was super nice and gave us about 45 minutes of the best advice for routes to follow through Yellowstone and the Tetons, what to see, what to avoid, etc.  Local knowledge is a real asset, and when delivered by a person who really knows the territory and has a clear passion for it, so much the better.  If you’re ever in Yellowstone and want a good guide, check Gregory Muller out at http://www.yellowstonewildlifeadventures.com/index.html. 

Great planning and we figured that we had it wired, so beer time at Bridger Brewing (Bridger Bowl, and good local ski hill, is about 20 miles outside of Bozeman):

Beer

And some food.

Food

Sunday a.m. and we are at the bus stop at 6:30 when the bus pulls in.  But the driver of this particular bus is who Tim H. would call “Mr. Happy.”  Mr. Happy looks at Das Bike exclaims in his happiest Sunday morning growl that “there’s no way that I’m going to put that thing on this bus!”  We explain, plead, cajole, and do everything we can to convince him that it’ll fit, attached to the big space at the wheelchair lift without blocking a single seat or the aisle.  But Mr. Happy isn’t having any part of it.  He said that he’d have too many passengers this morning (oh, come on, at 6:30 on a Sunday morning?) and that it would block seats.  It was a bad morning maybe, after perhaps a worse night for Mr. Happy. 

I gave up, knowing that Lorie is unrelenting and wouldn’t give Mr. H a bit of slack.  Finally it worked.  With Lorie beating the guy up, and with Mr. Happy saying something undoubtedly creative under his breath, het told us that we can put the thing – i.e., Das Bike, on the bus.   “But hurry up” he says, “I don’t have time for this!”

We quickly pull the wheels and strap Das Bike in place, right where we said it would fit, and sure enough, it fit just fine.  No seats blocked, not aisle blockage, nothing.  Not another word from Mr. Happy. 

Mr. Happy!

The ride to Big Sky was fast and we were indeed glad that we did not ride it.  The road is super narrow and the cars drive way too fast, which seems to be endemic in Montana.  We got off at the second stop in Big Sky, which is the main village where all the 13 worker bees got off, too.  It took us about 1 minute to get Das Bike unstrapped and off the bus and we waved Mr. Happy off on his happy drive for the day.  Bon voyage!

We’re in Big Sky at 9 a.m. on Sunday.  Check in at the “lodge” where we are staying isn’t until mid-afternoon, but they are very accommodating and let us put our bags in the storage room and said we could store the bike, too.  But we’ll go out to ride around the area and find a hike for the day.  The first ride was up to the ski area, which is about 6 miles up the hill and about 1,200 feet up.  The mountain is pretty big and they say that they have 23 lifts (several t-bars and the moving escalators for kids).  There are tons of condos and hotels and the like.

Entrance to Big Sky resort area, ski area

Our first moose sighting (actually, it is a decoy.  There was an archery contest.

Lone Peai (appropriately named); the tram goes to the top at nearly 12,000 feet

A quick ride down, then a hike to Ouzel falls and the day was pretty much done.  

Ouzel Falls, a pretty if unspectacular falls

But there is a free Shakespeare in the Park thing tonight just a short walk from where we are staying and we will go to that – Taming of the Shrew by a traveling theater group.  Should be fun!