In the June 21 edition of my City Lights column, inspired by the Greatest Place to Stand in the United States contest (for which, please see www.stoodthere.com) I nominated a few outstanding spots in Montana.

I also asked readers to send in their own nominations. You can read the recommendations made by commenters by going back to the original column.

Here are nominations that came in via e-mail.

"The Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness takes all," said Beth Lovec of Billings. "Perhaps the 18-mile horseback ride, required as payment to get there, over some of the roughest terrain imaginable has something to do with it, or maybe it's the pleasure of being so, so far from anything remotely resembling civilization. Finally, though, seeing that we as humans are mere peons to the majesty and forces of nature wins the bet."

Marie Gefers of Billings said she was disappointed to read that no Montana locations had yet made the list on the Web site listed above. She continued: "As a recent transplant to Montana from New Jersey … I am constantly delighted by the beauty of this state. I take road trips as much as I am able, toting my camera with me. One of the places I have visited was Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Montana and Wyoming.

"I decided to upload some of my photos of Bighorn Canyon to the 'stood there' Web site. You can view the photos under search ... select all and enter Montana or search under my user name ... copeseticlady. I hope to enter some of the other places I've visited."

Susan O'Leary of Billings also nominated the lookout at Bighorn Canyon, and sent me a photo of that vantage point with her "handsome husband, Mike" (I put the phrase in quotes not to cast doubt on the description but to make it clear that it was Susan's) standing on the lookout.

From Whitefish, Mike Muldown sent in this nomination: "Montana in general is one great view after another but for my money if I have to name one in northwest Montana, try the top of Big Mountain, especially in winter. If you can wait out the clouds that occasionally reside there you will not be disappointed with the 360-degree vistas of Glacier, Canadian Rockies, down the Swan to Flathead Lake and the valley, the Cabinets and the Salish Range on into Idaho. The best place to view the fata morgana in North America … I think!" (Ed note: the fata morgana effect is a temperature inversion-related trompe l'oeil well described by Gazette Outdoors writer Brett French in this article.

There is a double conflict of interest involved in the nomination sent in by Fran Urfer of Molt, because she and her husband, Jerry, own the Prairie Winds Café, home of the Bluegrass Saturday Breakfast, and I belong(ed) to the mostly defunct band she referred to, the Longtime Lonesome Dogs. Anyway, here's her nomination: "Jerry and I thought that the best place to stand was at the Prairie Winds waiting for breakfast and the Dogs!!"

Another reader who sent in photos was C. Harold Smith of Billings. He wrote: "I felt moved to submit my choice for best place IN THE WORLD. These are photos taken on Beartooth Pass. I have shown these pictures to people all over the world, and they are all envious. Some even state intentions to come visit this most scenic place.

"Leaving these photos to speak for them selves - here I make my stand!" (Unfortunately, for technical reasons too bewildering to mention, the photos cannot be posted. Trust me, they were great.)

Easily the most detailed nomination came from Bruce Keil of Billings, who wrote: "I nominate a spot on the Powderville Road about four miles west of Powderville, Mont., at the top of the Spring Creek-Powder River divide, looking east over the Powder River Valley toward the Chalk Buttes. The time should be just before sunset on a day in October when the harvest moon is rising and just clears the top of the Chalk Buttes. The top of the buttes is dazzling white, the harvest moon is huge and orange, and the fall colors of the cottonwoods paint the valley below yellow and orange. This is a spectacular view, which few have seen. I count myself blessed to have seen it."

As I wrote back to Bruce, I hope to get there myself one of these days - one of these fine October days.

Warren V. Osik, residence unknown, wrote in at some length. Here are some excerpts:

"Just finished reading your article in today's paper and one thing that I disagree with is your statement that you need to do a lot more traveling. I believe that the people who have voted for some of those places like the current leader (the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house) are the ones who need to get out more and see some of the other sights in America!!!!

"Evidently they have never spent any time in the Rocky Mountain states, especially our beloved Montana. … I would say that any place in Montana would be 'The Greatest Place to Stand in the United States.' To see a sunrise over Lake McDonald on a cool July morning, to see a sunset over Flathead Lake on a warm summer evening, to be in the north end zone at Washington-Griz stadium with the 'wackos' during a Griz-Bobcat football game, to watch the Kootenai River flow over the Kootenai Falls between Libby and Troy during the height of the spring runoff, to enjoy the solitude of a river float on the north fork of the Flathead River, to drive the Beartooth anytime of the year especially after it is first opened in the spring, to stand on the Rims as a fierce summer thunderstorm rolls in over Billings, and etc., etc., etc. … There are about a thousand other places I could mention all of which make the Frank Lloyd Wright house dim in comparison." (Excellent nominations, though I would not personally recommend standing on the Rims in a thunderstorm.)

And finally, Carol Sims sent in four photos, one taken at East Rosebud Lake, one on the Beartooth Highway, another at Greenough Lake Campground and the fourth one on the Yellowstone River near Reed Point. She explained: "There are just so many beautiful places in Montana that it's hard to choose which ones are the greatest!"

I arbitrarily chose to include her picture of the Yellowstone because I happen to love the river and think it deserves a nomination. Plus, her granddaughter is just so darn cute.