High Time in Big Sky

Darlene and Brooks arrived in Big Sky right after Karen and Randy headed home and soon invited us up to their beautiful home for dinner.

Before the meal, we took the Eglise Gondola up to hike on a narrow trail through the woods.

Over the course of the hike, happy hour and meal, we enjoyed pleasant conversation.  We may not have solved the world's problems, but we did reach agreement on what some of them might be.

We all enjoyed the visit and repeated the structure with a different delicious meal made by Darlene the next week, joined this time by their son, who shares the name of his dad, so I refer to him as BG3 for clarity.  He mountain biked instead of hiked, but we had a chance to catch up over dinner.

That second dinner on Wednesday kicked off a remarkable string of days.  

Thursday evening, Southern Avenue put on a high energy show for Music in the Mountains despite rain at the beginning.  Julie walked home to take a break until the rain let up, but I stayed to enjoy the music.  She soon returned in dry clothes.

Southern Avenue features a fantastic singer with wide range and great dance moves plus an outstanding lead guitarist.  The supporting cast is all talented, too.  We know Karen and Randy would have found this band much more suited to their tastes than what I would call equally great cowboy music when they were here.

Ousel Falls on Thursday morning, before Southern Avenue

As temperatures dropped, my wet clothes pushed me to go home despite the terrific performance, while Julie stayed to keep on rocking.  I think that was the latest she has stayed for any concert in the park except the annual 4th of July Show, when fireworks after 10 keep her out later than normal.

The following evening, the Arts Council of Big Sky presented "Bravo!"  We didn't attend the festivities and classical concert at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, but we were looking forward to the combined classical and jazz concert scheduled for Len Hill Park on Saturday evening.

Last year, a similar show was the highlight of the entertainment calendar in Big Sky for me. Darlene and Brooks were even planning to join us.

Rain discouraged them from coming after all, and when Julie and I walked to the park, we found a sign announcing the show had been moved to Warren Miller Performing Arts Center because of the rain.

I guess those expensive violins and other instruments of an orchestra that would not all be under the stage's shelter forced this decision.

We doubled back and without changing from our park clothes got in the Escape to drive two miles to the lovely theater that holds less than 300 people.  How will they fit a thousand or more people who show up at parks for such shows?

I'm not sure if people were concerned about fitting into the venue or if they are more drawn by the party in the park than the music, but for whatever reason, there was room to spare for what proved to be another sensational evening of entertainment.

Because we arrived at the park just as the show was scheduled to start, by the time we made it through the doors, we had missed the opening orchestral piece, but we still enjoyed plenty of great music.

The first piece was a modern take on war, "Rhayader," by Montana's own Eric Funk, who drove in from Bozeman to watch the premier performance of his work.

The orchestra played enthusiastically, and while the discordance of post-modern music is not exactly a warm musical embrace, it had some strong moments.

Featured artist Abigail Kent on harp then arrived on stage wearing a scarlet dress that contrasted nicely with the black and white apparel of the orchestra.

I recorded a short snippet that is not exactly representative of this part of the show but does at least show the setting.  I assume there was an announcement to not record before we arrived, because I saw no other cameras present, so this clip would be my only attempt at filming.

The harpist deserved her standing ovation when she returned for a solo performance, but it made me feel bad that similar recognition had not been paid to the entire orchestra, which was terrific throughout.

The orchestra would receive their ovation after they returned from intermission to play Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 (1812). They received their well-deserved ovation at the conclusion after masterfully playing that outstanding classical conclusion to a great program of music.

Following another short intermission, Rhythm Future Quartet took the stage.

These four virtuosos on their instruments played for over an hour, during which they must have played four hours worth of notes.  Even the bass player, who Julie rightly said reminded her of my high school friend Kevin, had flying fingers.

We thoroughly enjoyed the show, once again, and stayed until the end of their encore.

On Sunday morning, we decided to thank God out in the gorgeous natural environment He created rather than going to Soldier's Chapel, taking on Beehive Basin.

I was wearing the "Rubber Soul" shirt our son Jay gave me a few years back, and five different hikers complimented my shirt, sometimes commenting briefly on the Beatles as they gave thumbs up.  It's pretty cool that a band that broke up over 50 years ago is still so beloved today.

Somewhere, Julie found that the trail starts at 7,944 feet above sea level and continues up to 9,279 feet.  With a short rest for an Atkins candy bar at the main lake at the Basin, we finished in 3 3/4 hours, which is what the trail web site said is to be expected.

Her iPhone said we walked the equivalent of 47 flights of stairs.  As she said, "There was a lot of huffing and puffing during the climb."

At that altitude, it is springtime in August, and the wildflowers all around were incredible.

Photos really don't do the experience justice, but I've shared a lot of them in this post.

But even after that awesome hike, that wasn't the end of these concentrated high times in Big Sky.

On Monday evening, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks came to Big Sky's new park by the Wilson Hotel to perform the comedy Twelfth Night.

I believe I've said this before, but if your only experience with William Shakespeare is poorly reading it in your high school class, you owe it to yourself to watch a live performance by an outstanding cast.  

The cast performing for free in Big Sky, for which this time Julie and I had front row seats, could not have been better.

It is simply amazing how these gifted actors and actresses took archaic language and brought it to life through their mannerisms, expressive readings and choreographed movements.

The brilliant director William Brown envisioned a production of this English play written 420 years ago as set in New Orleans, complete with regional music, a taste of Mardi Gras and even clothing you'd find in the Big Easy.  The multi-ethnic acting talents made the illusion complete.

Everyone played their roles to perfection in what I would describe as an ensemble piece where everyone played their parts to the hilt.  As with Beehive Basin and the rest of the amazing entertainment, you have to experience it for yourself.

More of Julie's Photos

Look close to see the man beside the mountainside

More of Wes's Photos

To honor Julie's wishes, I didn't take any photos of her hiking to Beehive Basin, but I wish I had snapped a few while she wasn't looking, as proof that she was here.  I'm always happy to have proof we were wherever the picture was taken and remember about when it must have been.  We can always delete the bad ones.  10, 20 or 50 years later, we're happy to see what we looked like before, how hair styles and fashions have evolved, and our families often find what we think are the bad ones to be the best or at least most amusing of all.