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Joe on the go: Vice President Biden pays visit to Big Sky
By JOLENE KELLER Lone Peak Lookout

For the second summer in a row, the Big Sky community welcomed members of
the Obama administration while they and family members visited Yellowstone
National Park. Vice President Joe Biden and his family stayed at the Summit
Hotel and took part in many of the classic outdoor activities in the Big Sky
area over the past weekend.

Big Sky resort has become a safe haven for prominent figures to set up
residence while visiting Yellowstone. Just last August, Big Sky and the
Summit Hotel hosted President Barack Obama and his family as he made a
national parks tour that included Yellowstone National Park.

"The feedback from the White House staff with last year's visit was that we
offer the right facilities, professional team and plenty of outdoor
activities so we were a natural choice for the vice president to visit as
well," said General Manager Taylor Middleton. "We take great pride in
providing memorable vacations for all our visitors, and we're truly honored
to have that opportunity with the White House two summers in a row."

Over the weekend the vice president and his family hiked Beehive Basin,
guided by the Big Sky Institute, went whitewater rafting with Geyser
Whitewater and golfed at Spanish Peaks.

Katie Alvin, Big Sky Community Coordinator, got a call from Taylor
Middleton, asking her and experienced guide Denise Wade to take Biden and
his family for a hike up to Beehive Basin.

"They were incredibly fit," said Alvin. "And they were all about getting up
there. One of the sons said, 'When Dad sets his mind to something he wants
to get there,' and I thought, you probably don't become vice president by
dilly-dallying."

The group had lunch at the lake and some of the grandkids splashed around in
the shallow alpine lake to escape the heat — which was the subject of lots
of laughter considering the heat wave that has been baking the East Coast
this summer.

After a break at the lake the group began their descent. Biden had an
important tee-time at the Spanish Peaks golf course. Despite the time limit,
Biden greeted the hikers he encountered, petted their dogs and even stopped
for a photo with several young hikers.

"The group was very generous," said Alvin. "When the trip was over Biden
shook our hands and gave us each a Vice Presidential Challenge coin and told
us the next time he sees us, if we didn't have the coin we'd have to buy
drinks, but if we did he would buy the round. We look forward to that
opportunity," she laughed.

Also during the weekend Biden and his family, a crew of 11 and an entourage
of Secret Service agents — requiring a total of five rafts — took
advantage of the warm summer weather for a daylong trip down the Gallatin
River with Geyser Whitewater Adventures.

The group floated from Deer Creek through the "mad mile" to the Storm Castle
takeout, having lunch at Moose Flats. During the lunch break the vice
president chatted with the guides.

Prior to the trip Eric Becker, owner of Geyser, spent a week with the Secret
Service agents and a rescue team, taking them out ahead of time to go over
logistics and safety. During the trip there were two family boats, and the
other three were loaded with security people and over 300 pounds of medical
and security equipment.

"The trip went great — it was a highlight for them," Becker said. "They
went swimming and rafting, so it was super fun day for everyone —
including the guides."

According to a press statement released by the White House, Vice President
Biden was visiting national parks last week highlighting the Recovery Act
funding the parks received.

"As part of Recovery Summer, on Monday and Tuesday (July 26 and 27) the Vice
President will visit Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks, where $25
million in Recovery Act funding is creating jobs and jump-starting
previously-deferred construction and maintenance projects. More than 1,000
workers have already been part of the 17 Recovery Act projects at
Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. Overall, there are 800 Recovery Act
projects underway at National Parks across the country this summer – eight
times as many as there were last summer," the release stated.

There are 14 stimulus-funded projects worth approximately $12 million either
in the works or completed in Yellowstone, according to the Department of the
Interior's Recovery Investments website. They include: resurfacing the south
entrance road; demolition and replacement of substandard trailers used for
park service employee housing; and installation of a hydroelectric generator
near Mammoth Hot Springs.

The Obama administration has been a big supporter of the national parks.
President Barack Obama and his family vacationed in Maine's Acadia National
Park earlier this month, and visited Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon last
summer.
--
Eric D. Schwerin
Rosemont Seneca Partners
(202) 333-1880
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.co