Moonlight Basin is a ski resort in southwestern Montana, located in the Madison Range of the Rocky Mountains near the resort village of Big Sky. Today, it is connected through a chairlift to the ski resort of Big Sky.

The resort’s land was purchased from Plum Creek Timber in 1992 and began as Moonlight Basin Ranch, a real estate development on the north edge of the adjacent Big Sky Resort. Moonlight Basin progressed slowly; it opened as an independent ski area in December 2003, on the north face of Lone Mountain. The 11,166 foot (3403 m) summit is accessed by the Lone Peak Tram, part of Big Sky. The resort, completely on private land, is adjacent to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area in the Madison River drainage in Madison County. (The Big Sky Resort, also on private land, is in the Gallatin River drainage in Gallatin County.)

Moonlight Basin features the extreme terrain of The Headwaters.  These steep chutes and gullies on the north face of Lone Mountain, once known as the “Nashville Bowl,” can be hiked to from the Headwaters lift (opened in December 2005) or Big Sky’s Challenger lift, both of which unload at just under 10,000 feet (3048 m) above sea level. The resort also features terrain consisting of open bowls, tree skiing, moguls, long groomers, beginner runs, and a freestyle terrain park. A full day adult lift ticket for the first season was $39, for the 2008-2009 ski season the price is $55. The Lone Peak Pass combines Big Sky and Moonlight Basin resorts and is $93 for the 2008-09 season. The combined pass was first offered during the 2005-06 season.

The primary lift at Moonlight Basin is the Six Shooter, a high speed six pack chairlift that climbs 1850 vertical feet (564 m) from the base and is nicknamed “the flying couch.” The Headwaters chairlift connects at the top of Six Shooter, rising another 685 feet (209 m), for a total lift-served vertical rise of 2535 feet (772 m) from the 7000 foot (2134 m) base.  The other upper lift is the Lone Tree quad, installed in 2004 for the second season, which allows access to the gladed terrain northwest of the Headwaters.  Additional lift-served vertical is attained at Moonlight Basin by purchasing the Lone Peak Pass and taking Big Sky’s tram to the summit of Lone Mountain.

The two original chairlifts at Moonlight Basin, Iron Horse & Pony Express, were installed by Moonlight Basin Ranch in the mid-1990s before it was a stand-alone ski area; the lifts were operated by the Big Sky Resort.  Moonlight Basin will also offer a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course (The Reserve at Moonlight Basin) in 2009, coincidentally in the Jack Creek drainage. The par 72 layout will be 7800 yards (7132 m), at an average elevation of 7500 feet (2286 m); the clubhouse is scheduled for completion in 2010. The resort also offers fine dining, spa, and lodging.

The parent company of the ski resort, Moonlight Basin Ranch, has committed a significant percentage of its land holdings to conservation.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, usually the first full week of August.

History

The first rally was held on August 14, 1938, by the “Jackpine Gypsies” motorcycle club,[3] who still own and operate the tracks, hillclimb, and field areas where the rally is centered. The first event was called the “Black Hills Classic” and consisted of a single race with nine participants and a small audience. The founder is generally considered to be Clarence “Pappy” Hoel. He purchased an Indian Motorcycle franchise in Sturgis in 1936 and formed the “Jackpine Gypsies” that same year.[3]

The focus of a motorcycle rally was originally racing and stunts. In 1961, the rally was expanded to include the Hillclimb and Motocross races.[3] This could include half-mile track racing (the first year in Sturgis, there were 19 participants), intentional board wall crashes, ramp jumps and head-on collisions with automobiles.

The Sturgis Rally has been held every year, with exceptions during World War II. For instance, in 1942, the event was not held due to gasoline rationing.[3]

This rally is known as a rowdy affair, unsuitable for small children. Public alcohol consumption/drunkenness and public nudity are occasional problems for the local police.

Cheyenne Frontier Days, held annually since 1897, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA, claims to be one of the largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration in the world. The event, which occurs during 10 days centered around the last full week in July, draws an estimated 300,000 people to the area every year. Lodging fills up quickly during the peak tourist season throughout southern and eastern Wyoming and even into Colorado and Nebraska.

The event features nightly concerts by popular music and comedy acts, a midway, a fair with rides, games, and food vendors, wild west shows featuring Western riding, an Indian village, and a large PRCA/PBR nationally sanctioned rodeo. A common moniker for the event is ‘The Daddy of ‘em All’, based on its long history and the fact that the rodeo is billed as the largest such event in the world.

The event also features free pancake breakfasts sponsored by the local Kiwanis chapter. They are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with nearly 40,000 people taking advantage of this every year. In one week, over 100,000 pancakes are served, along with 3,000 pounds of ham. On the alternate days, the city of Cheyenne hosts a parade. Other attractions include the Native American Village that is free and open daily. Here visitors can experience the traditional Native American culture including pow wows and demonstrations. Not far from the village is Wild Horse Gulch. This is also a free area where visitors can get a feel for the Old West and its traditions.

The rodeo and the majority of the events are centered around the property of Frontier Park, but some of the events such as the pancake breakfasts are held in a different part of the city. The next event will be July 23- August 1, 2010, and that will be its 114th celebration.

Another annual event is an air show featuring the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, which takes place on Wednesday. The Thunderbirds share a long history with Cheyenne Frontier Days as they made their public debut there in 1953 and have continued to perform regularly since then. The ground portion of this show along with static displays and flying of other aircraft takes place on the United States Air National Guard side of the Cheyenne Regional Airport. The Thunderbirds’ main aerobatic display is performed over the campus at the Laramie County Community College.

The rodeo draws visitors from different parts of the United States as well as international visitors. These visitors generally stay in hotels, motels, or in recreational vehicles. Temperatures around 27 degrees C (81 degrees F) and fair weather are normal for the time of year when this event is held.

Cowboy style bars and country and western themed establishments scattered throughout the city of Cheyenne are popular with many rodeo fans and participants, and they file in in large numbers after the night shows.

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