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The Grand Tour

By Bill Croke on 8.10.09 @ 6:08AM

All roads lead to Yellowstone -- but will the Big Sky be big enough for our president this week?

According to the Bozeman Chronicle, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will visit that Montana city on August 14, where the president will hold a "healthcare reform townhall meeting" in an airport hangar at Gallatin Field. Law enforcement in the area have been officially notified of the Obamas' visit. "He's definitely coming, that much is clear," Bozeman Mayor Karen Jacobsen told the Chronicle. Josh Holland, an Avis agent at the airport, let slip to the paper that the Secret Service has reserved 30 cars for the use of the president's support staff. This last probably annoyed the White House, which, as usual, is mum on travel details for security reasons. As of this writing, the itinerary is unknown.

But rumors are swirling in the regional media (the Chronicle, Billings Gazette, NewWest.net). The visit will likely last two days and might include a "swank fundraiser" somewhere at the Big Sky resort complex, and an overnight stay at the upscale Sun Ranch resort in the Madison Valley. That would explain the need for those 30 rental cars. But locals who might have some idea about the itinerary are understandably tightlipped. Sam Byrne, of the Yellowstone Club at Big Sky, has "no knowledge" of a fundraiser. Adam DeFanti of the Sun Ranch said, "We would be honored to host Mr. Obama, but at this time, there is no such plan."

A townhall out here is certainly no different from one held in the D.C. suburbs, except for the logistics related to additional local stops. They don't call the West the land of wide-open spaces for nothing. I don't begrudge the Obamas some sightseeing, but with the administration paying lip service to its green credentials and aspirations, this visit has more than a touch of hypocrisy attached to it. Based on the rumors, let's look at a possible itinerary.

It's 51 miles from Bozeman south to Big Sky following the twists and turns of U.S. 191 up through Gallatin Canyon, a nightmare of a heavy traffic, two-lane road, thanks to Bozeman's and Big Sky's growing pains over the last two decades. The Secret Service could close the highway for the SUV motorcade, or the Obamas will helicopter to Big Sky, the latter more likely (wonderful views of the mountains and the Gallatin River, Mr. President). Either way -- depending on their deployment -- much of that 30 car entourage will drive up the canyon.

After golf, lunch, plutocratic fundraising, and whatever else is on the schedule at Big Sky, it'll be off to the Sun Ranch for dinner and a cozy night at the Lodge. Oh, and I forgot, the president's fly fishing lesson. During a 2008 campaign stop in Butte, candidate Obama expressed the wish to return sometime to the Treasure State (sorry, I couldn't help but allude to that possible fundraiser again) to learn the arcane angler's art.

The Obamas have two ways to get to the Sun Ranch. They could quickly helicopter over the 10,000 feet crest of the Madison Range (that could induce Secret Service queasiness as aviation of that sort is always problematic, mostly due to weather) between Big Sky and the Madison Valley, landing either at the Sun Ranch (if that's possible) or at the small airport at nearby Ennis, Montana. Or the motorcade could drive around the southern spur of the Madison Range by proceeding south on U.S. 191 for 39 miles and making a right turn on U.S. 287 and driving 49 miles back north and down the Madison Valley (great views of Hebgen Lake, Mr. President) to the vicinity of tiny Cameron, Montana, where the Sun Ranch is located (I recall a fine autumn day fifteen years ago when I fished that same stretch of the Madison River; you'll love it, Mr. President!).

On day #2 it's back to the airport in Bozeman (Air Force One freshly washed) by the direct route north down the Madison Valley on U.S. 287 to Montana 84; or the Obamas fire up the chopper. It's 67 miles from the Sun Ranch to Bozeman. Depending on how the presidential motorcade and those 30 cars are deployed, just one vehicle would put 206 miles on its odometer to travel the whole two-day loop.

According to an ABC News radio story heard while writing this, the Obamas plan to take daughters Sasha and Malia to Yellowstone National Park during this two-day mountain sojourn (I can't keep up with them). Well, it's 91 miles from Bozeman to West Yellowstone, the West Entrance to the Park. It's 48 miles from Big Sky to West Yellowstone. It's 58 miles from the Sun Ranch to West Yellowstone. Or the Obamas helicopter (from wherever) to a central location such as Old Faithful or the Yellowstone Lake-Fishing Bridge area. Many of those 30 cars will be driving on the Park's roads. You get the idea.

As for the townhall meeting, it's appropriate that it's about healthcare reform and not energy consumption. And I wonder what Al Gore thinks about this massive weekend carbon footprint and slug to the gut of the American taxpayer?

topics:
Barack Obama, Yellowstone Park, Big Sky, Montana

About the Author

Bill Croke, formerly of Cody, Wyoming, is a writer in Salmon, Idaho.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (26) | Leave a comment

Kitty| 8.10.09 @ 6:43AM

I really hope, Bill, you're able to attend that townhall meeting in Bozeman in order to give us a first hand report. If you do go, watch out for the purple shirts and wear a helmet!
...

roomen| 2.3.10 @ 9:54AM

I agree with your opinion. That's very good tips.
kumpulan bisnis
roomen

hamas| 3.29.10 @ 10:47AM

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Solo| 8.10.09 @ 7:29AM

Hmmm. You forgot to mention the HUGE carbon footprint and the logistics of busing-in all those slathering sycophants to load his "Town Hall" meeting.

"Real" democracy in action.

meyda| 2.3.10 @ 9:55AM

nice information. I like this. thanks
roomeyda
healthy zone

hmmmm| 8.10.09 @ 8:23AM

One potentially self-serving link could be that Bozeman is the hometown of Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson, who spoke at Sidwell Friends School shortly after Obama's inauguration. Both Obama parents attended. Sounds like new BFFs?

RustyG| 8.10.09 @ 8:33AM

I believe at this point we can quit calling the campaign stops to packed partisan houses for The One a townhall meeting. We are beginning to see what a true townhall meeting looks like and I doubt Barry would attend one.

guest| 2.3.10 @ 9:56AM

the best grand tour. online blog
dunia maya

wmm| 8.10.09 @ 2:26PM

But the Obamas are Easterners. On the map it all looks so close!

Yellowstone| 8.10.09 @ 9:48PM

wmm
But the Obamas are Easterners. On the map it all looks so close!

And so flat!

Sue| 8.10.09 @ 10:35PM

This whole thing disgusts me. Regular Americans, a lot of them, visit Yellowstone during the summer months and you're telling me the entire Obama entourage will be there "visiting." I guess the "others" just don't matter do they. They'll just have their vacations ruined by all the hoopla produced by a presidential visit. Didn't the man ever take his family anywhere before he was president?

99.9% of us get maybe two weeks vacation a year, after one year of employment. This self-absorbed egotist seems to just "decide" he and Michelle want to do something and the whole nation is supposed to "jump" up and accept it.

And shouldn't those girls be getting ready to start to school?

Note to Obama: National Geographic's issue just out talks about a possible "eruption."

Just watch the media and THIS town hall; it will be so controlled and orchestrated, the Kremlin should take notes.

Yea, how about ruining the common man's two weeks in Yellowstone.

Kay Ridley| 8.11.09 @ 8:48AM

Bill,
As usual you have nailed it. We're glad we live on the southside of 191 and West Yellowstone. Hope he doesn't fly into Idaho Falls.

Kay

Jim| 8.11.09 @ 12:34PM

Maybe Obama is taking advantage of the Free Park Weekend this weekend. Hopefully, the rest of us won't be Shut Out of Yellowstone in the summer too.

jesse marcel| 8.11.09 @ 5:46PM

I am a 40 year resident of Montana and I would welcome any president except obama to my state. I consider it a real downer when the current white house occupant comes to Montana

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brenda| 8.12.09 @ 8:14PM

I live in Bozeman. I have a small business. All I can afford this summer is two days vacation. We were going to take the kids to the Park. But Now! NOOOOO. Not on the FREE DAY FOR ALL AMERICANS!!!!

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Kristen| 8.13.09 @ 11:37AM

So President Obama and his family are supposed to stay locked up in the white house and not drive or fly anywhere because it uses gas? Or maybe he should drive himself and his family around in a Prius with no security? This article is ridiculous. Do you really want a president that never gets out to meet the people? I wonder if the person that wrote this article has ever taken a vacation, gone out for a Sunday drive, visited a national park, or flown on an airplane.

Imp| 8.13.09 @ 2:04PM

All one has to do is watch either fox news or the daily show to see all the right wing loons shouting down everyone with their "death panel" nonsense at these town hall meetings to know that the left isn't orchestrating these events, get a grip.
That was Bush's MO.

Connie| 8.13.09 @ 4:35PM

Anyone who lives in Montana understands that it's a RURAL area and to get anywhere, you need to drive. And this might shock you, but sometimes we need to drive hundreds of miles for healthcare and other basic necessities. Is this seriously the premise of your article? You people are grasping at straws.

Raoul Ortega| 8.15.09 @ 11:18AM

So President Obama and his family are supposed to stay locked up in the white house and not drive or fly anywhere because it uses gas

The are while they sanctimoniously lecture us about our "carbon footprint" and tell us to avoid going to Orlando or Las Vegas. I'll believe there's a "climate change" crisis when our Masters on the Potomac behave like there's a crisis.

Ana| 8.15.09 @ 11:46AM

I would welcome any president except obama

mendjaya| 2.3.10 @ 12:28PM

that's great post..thank you
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