Fireworks above Big Sky's Town Center
THERE'S NOTHING more American than the Great Outdoors, and no better great American landscape than Montana. So reaching my goal of an ultra-American Independence Day in Big Sky wasn’t so lofty. Still, last Monday I set out for the record of most American 4th of July.
It started out with clear blue skies and a 10k race on a trail through tall grasses and wildflowers surrounded by mountains. The same Mountains Lewis and Clark crossed on their epic journey West in 1805. Not too shabby.
Next was rafting with Geyser Whitewater on the Gallatin River– the setting for Robert Redford’s classic A River Runs Through It where American heart throb Brad Pitt cast his line for the 1992 film. Nothing screams “U.S.A.” like a Robert Redford film, and the Gallatin Canyon is an iconic American waterway. Everyone sported red, white, and blue flare, and as my boat navigated the unusually high waters we cried out in patriotism:
“America!”
“The Liberty Bell!”
“George Washington!”
“The Bill of Rights!”
“John Hancock!”
“The Red Coats are coming!”
These were our battle cries through each raging rapid. Raft America would prevail!
Post rafting was beer and BBQ time. After a brief storm the hot sun came back out, illuminating a perfect rainbow on the golf course behind my house. I drank a Bud. I ate a hotdog. I saw a moose.
Music poured from the Town Center 4th of July party, and when the sky finally darkened there was a spectacular display of fireworks. I sang the National Anthem and pledged my allegiance to the American flag, then went to bed to the sound of bottle rockets, content in knowing I would wake up to another perfect Montana summer day.
Mission: Ultra-American Independence Day? Complete.
- Greer
Check out the Big Sky celebration in this awesome video Time Lapse - 4th of July in Big Sky from Chris Kamman on Vimeo.
Raft America, guided by whitewater extraordinaire Danielle Chamberlain, celebrates our nation's birth and a successful run of the Upper Gallatin
July 4th 2011: A perfect summer day in Big Sky
Stars, stripes, and Bud Lights
