Big Sky Blog

According to an article, “Wilderness cave is 2nd-deepest in North America“, in today’s (Thursday, October 25) Billings Gazette, “More people have walked on the moon than explored the gloomy, mud-slicked incline of Montana’s deepest cave — Virgil the Turtle’s Greathouse Cave (in the Bob Marshall Wilderness). Twelve people have walked on the moon while only nine have been to the bottom of Virgil.”

“The cave’s surveyed depth — 1,586 feet deep and more than a mile long — ranked it No. 2 in the continental United States.”

For the complete article, click here.

H/T: BI

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As much of Montana prepares for the first hints of cold weather and snow, the good folks over at Innside Montana offer some great ideas for staying warm:

1. Snuggle up to your honey
2. Crochet a sweater
3. Install a wood stove
4. Invest in a few space heaters
5. Make an appointment to have an energy audit
6. Install energy efficient windows
7. Knit a hat
8. Close the doors to rooms you’re not using
9. Make a denim jacket
10. Install weather stripping
11. Install a gas fireplace
12. Whip up a batch of mulled wine
13. Check your furnace’s filter

Do you have any other suggestions for staying warm on a chilly Montana night?

According to an article, “As Logging Fades, Rich Carve Up Open Land in West”, in today’s (October 13) New York Times, ” … a new wave of investors and landowners across the West who are snapping up open spaces as private playgrounds on the borders of national parks and national forests.”

The article continues, “In style and temperament, this new money differs greatly from the Western land barons of old — the timber magnates, copper kings and cattlemen who created the extraction-based economy that dominated the region for a century.”

For the complete 2-page article, “As Logging Fades, Rich Carve Up Open Land in West”, click here.

H/T: Basil Fishbone/Montana Alliance for Liberty

It’s that time of year – cornfield mazes are a popular October activity, and fit right in with Halloween preparation. There’s a national company called “The MAiZE” that acts sort of like a franchise, and there are four locations here in Montana: Vaughn, Billings, Townsend, and Victor. According to the website, it’s not just about weaving your way through a maze, though; other activities include a “corn tunnel,” hay jump, pumpkin patch, and other fun stuff. Good for dates, for families, office parties, and such. Here’s what some of the Montana mazes look like – bet you can figure out which one is my favorite!

Well, maybe they aren’t exactly “new” bloggers, but they are new to the ever-growing Big Sky Blogroll! Go say hi to our newest additions:

72PPI: “I am graphic designer first and a photographer second. As a result the photos here are mostly color combinations, compositions, textures or typography that catch my eye. Many photos are from my home in Bozeman or my previous home in Portland, Oregon.”

Best Fly-Fishing Montana: “…a unique web based fly fishing resource highlighting some of the best fly fishing on the planet in the Great State of Montana and nearby Yellowstone National Park.”

We’ve got thirteen nominations for “Biggest Big Sky Embarrassments,” ranging from modern-day athletes to Word War I sedition to the 1870s battle of Little Bighorn. Quite a list! But before I post the official poll, here’s a quick look at the nominees:

Ryan Leaf: promising NFL superstar from Great Falls who didn’t live up to the hype.

Montana Freemen: months-long standoff with Federal agents contributed to reputation of Montana as a haven for wackos and militia members.

Ted Kaczynski: the Unabomber killed three people, injured many more, and created one of the longest investigations in US history.

Dempsey vs Gibbons: boxing match held in Shelby was a huge bust in 1923.

Heaven’s Gate: the 1980 movie widely considered one of the biggest flops in Hollywood history was partially filmed in Montana.

The Berkeley Pit: the toxic site near Butte is a mixed blessing.

Custer’s Last Stand: General Custer and scores of his men lost their lives in this battle with Lakota and Northern Cheyenne tribe members.

W.R. Grace Company: lawsuits, asbestos, and mining all play a role in the history of the Grace Company and the town of Libby.

Bison Hunt: the 2005 hunt – the first in many years – pitted hunters against bison advocates.

Lewis & Clark Bicentennial: the “Explore The Big Sky” event generated some interest and tourists, but many questioned the cost-benefit ratio.

Convicted of Sedition: yep, it happened in Montana in 1918 – 79 people were convicted of the crime.

David Lipson: the businessman who tried to trademark the phrase “The Last, Best Place.”

Dan & Don Nichols: the father-son duo that kidnapped Olympian Kari Swenson.

Last year I launched “Blogtober” on my other site — an effort to promote blogging and the people who enjoy blogging. And how do we celebrate Blogtober? Try some of these ideas:

1. Create your own “Happy Blogtober” button or graphic for your site
2. Get one (or more!) of your buddies to become a blogger
3. Invite some guest bloggers to post
4. Spotlight a blogger that you admire, and explain why
5. Implement some nifty new blog-tool or plug-in
6. Give some pointers about blogging (writing, design, etc) so that new bloggers can better understand what it’s all about
7. Explain why you are a blogger: what it means to you, how it has affected your life, etc
8. If you’re not a blogger but have thought about creating a blog, now is the perfect time! If you need help, just let me know and I’ll walk you through it!

The important thing is to celebrate being a blogger and take pride in your hobby! There are lots of Big Sky Bloggers, and they all contribute to the Montana blogosphere; now is the time to strut your stuff!

To give you some ideas, here are some Blogtober entries that I posted on my “Better Living Thru Blogging” site from last year!

So now it’s your turn – take part in Blogtober!