Summer 2015

Features

  • The Grandest Gallatin

    Climbing Electric Peak. Electric Peak is one of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s most dominant mountains, rising nearly 5,800 vertical feet above the Yellowstone River as it drains northward out of Yellowstone National Park…
  • Shifting Gears

    Fishing by motorcycle, from Bozeman to the Castle Mountains.The formula for happiness in my world is simple: ride, fish, camp, repeat. I like to avoid the banalities of interstate travel, so I ride a so-called “adventure…
  • Biking Boom

    Downhill riding gets a boost in the Big Sky.There are downhill mountain-biking destinations in North America whose mention conjures images of loamy trails with hand-finished berms and painstakingly designed freestyle…
  • The Forgotten Fork

    Two days on the Jefferson River.“Watch out for rattlesnakes,” a middle-aged blonde warns as we strap our dry bags onto our paddleboards at the Silver Star boat launch, 11 miles north of Twin Bridges. “They’re on land and in…

Departments

  • Rapid Fire

    A guide to running Bear Trap.  It’s Sunday at 7am. Under normal conditions I’d be off in the nether, stumbling through some primal log-sawin’ narrative. Today, however, I’m living the dream, and as I pull into Mama Mac’s…
  • Hear Me Roar

    On gender equality in sports. Montana’s endurance sports have a reputation for bringing crowds of talented, friendly athletes together. An accommodating environment encourages everyone to get involved. But even in this…
  • Tree ID

    Categorizing conifers.Think all conifers are pretty much the same? Think again. Next time you’re in the woods, use these simple ID-techniques to better understand your environment. 
  • Ethical Appeal

    The Hunt Right campaign explained.  Long before the heat of summer gives way to cool autumn nights, the hunt will begin—and with it, the inevitable ethical dilemmas that confront sportsmen in their pursuit of game. To help…
  • Shooting School

    Repentance and redemption at the Granite Creek Range. The shriek of a red-tailed hawk fills the air as I relax and settle into position. Spilling out before me is a series of targets: orange silhouettes the size and shape…
  • Rub It Out

    Massage for runners and cyclists.So you’re training incredibly hard for a triathlon or the Ridge Run and you notice some pain running down the side of your leg and into your knee. Your running partner’s been complaining…
  • Home on the Range

    Summer at the CB Ranch.A weekend at a guest ranch is a rite of summer for any visitor to Montana. Horseback rides through the pine, steak dinners, sunset views: it doesn’t get better than that. This summer, head to the…
  • Planning Ahead

    Stay ski-fit with dryland training. You don’t have to trade your summer recreation for hot days in the gym in order to get ready for ski season. Take a few notes from the Bridger Ski Foundation’s (BSF) dryland training…
  • The Pillory

    O/B’s answer to outdoor offenders. I harbor limited faith in self-governance. Nothing underscores this more than my wish for Apple to equip computers with email breathalyzers. Many mornings-after might have been prevented…
  • Unintended Consequences

    You may be doing more damage than you think. It’s a classic summer day on the water: the afternoon passes quietly, the only sounds are the riffling river and the sigh of a reel slipping line. This is what we live for as…
  • Grand Prismatic

    From a local's perspective. Yellowstone National Park can be one of the most freeing and unique places in the world—if you know where to go. The majority of Park visitors never leave the well-maintained boardwalks or RV-…
  • Yellowstone CSI

    Canyon wolf pack edition.Driving down from Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone Park, we spotted four wolves on the road, coming our way. It was the Canyon pack: the alpha pair and two others. They left the road and moved uphill,…
  • Beautifying Bozeman

    Local artists turn utility into art. Three years ago, the plain grey traffic box on the corner of Wallace and Main was given a trial facelift by local artist Krista Morey and the Bozeman-based urban beautification company…
  • Motor Ahead

    Outfitting your backcountry rig.If you’ve ever found yourself sitting nervously in your trusty steed on your way to a forest service campsite deep down a mountain road, you’ve probably had that feeling in your gut that…
  • Threeway

    An athletic ménage-a-trois.That’s right, summertime is triathlon season, which means you can do it three ways with some of your favorite friends and competitors. There are races in all the major Montana cities and we have…
  • Along the Waterfront

    Enticing Ennis Lake.Just north of Ennis is a reservoir that, viewed from the surrounding mountains, looks like the haphazard puddle of a spilled bucket. Though small and shallow—the deepest sections mark out around 20 feet—…
  • Circular Flow

    Unexpected benevolence saves the day.We pulled into camp at Sunset Cliffs as the sky collapsed upon us. The strobe pulse of lightning along the rims of the river canyon set off peals of thunder. First some hail, and then…
  • Western Hospitality

    Small-town vibes with big-mountain highs.When you think of West Yellowstone, you think of the Park. However, long summer days provide access to so much more. Whether you’re fishing blue-ribbon streams, hiking in pristine…
  • Serpent in the Garden

    Avoiding rattlers in southwest Montana.If you have pets in Montana, there’s one type of snake you have to worry about, and that’s the western or prairie rattlesnake. While this is a relatively docile species, snakebites…
  • Kiddin' Around

    Family time outside. Montanans know how to make the most of our short but amazing summers, and we like to take our families along for the ride. Whether you do it yourself or go with an expert, you’ll find enough trails and…
  • Kicked into Shape

    Benefits of boot camps.Boot-camp fitness classes are popping up all over the Gallatin Valley, and for good reason: they’re a great way to accelerate one’s fitness and prepare for an active summer season. They also help…
  • Counting Wolves

    Montana's wolf population explained.Wolves, as many of our hunters learn, can be hard to find even when you’re looking for them. They’re smart, elusive animals that can travel great distances in a short time. And that’s…
  • Big Bird in the Sky

    Swan on the wing.Of all the fowl that soar the skies or glide the waters of the Rocky Mountain West, none is larger—or more elegant—than the trumpeter swan, the biggest native North American bird there is. You can see them…
  • Less is More

    Tying the Clouser minnow.In the 30-plus years I’ve been fly fishing, the general trend in streamers has been to make them bigger and uglier—and thus more unwieldy to cast. From zonkers to double-bunnies, articulated fat-…
  • Public Victory

    Lands win in the legislature.Earlier this year, Montanan recreationists of all stripes—from hunters and fishermen to mountain bikers and backpackers—beat back a dozen bills aimed at transferring ownership of American public…
  • Spinning Yarn

    How to tell an adventure story. Call them fish stories, tall tales, flights of fancy, or yarns—whatever term you use, the stories we tell about our outdoor adventures can be as much fun as the adventures themselves. The…
  • Park Paddling

    Paddling bill redux.Wyoming representative Cynthia Lummis is taking another stroke with her park-paddling bill. HR 974, the Yellowstone and Grand Teton Paddling Act—which would allow the use of hand-propelled vessels on…
  • Trail Time

    Gallatin Valley Land Trust summer walks.In an effort the make the Main Street to the Mountains trail system more accessible, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) offers guided trail walks throughout the summer. Beginning…
  • Bozeman vs. Kalispell

    In-state showdown.It’s been over two years since Bozeman squared off against another town—perhaps we’ve run out of worthy adversaries. Or maybe we’ve just been looking too far afield. What better way to re-test Bozeman’s…
  • Outlook - Summer 2015

    It’s open season. Trails wait for fresh footsteps, jagged ridgelines call out, anticipating our arrival. Take time off from a fast-paced place and bask in the easy drawl of summer. The world is fresh, dripping new in hues…
  • Slow. It. Down.

    And let summer do its thing.Beware the barrenness of a busy life. —SocratesLike many others, I live mostly by my calendar. If something’s not scheduled, underlined, and circled in red ink, it usually doesn’t happen. This…

Gear Reviews

  • Review: Get the Gear

    Your ride is only as good as the gear that gets you from A to B. Here's a rundown of the season's best. Smith Optics Forefront Helmet Smith is a lot more than just optics these days, and the Forefront helmet is proof of…
  • Review: Nemo Wagontop 4P

    When it comes to car-camping, sleeping in a cramped backpacking tent is just silly. NEMO’s new Wagontop 4P tent combines modern design, quality materials and construction, and ridiculous convenience for civilized camping…
  • Review: Saucony Peregrine 11

    I’ve never been one to pontificate about a trail shoe. Hell, up until three years ago, I’d run in whatever was on the bargain table. The Peregrine from Saucony has changed all that. This trail shoe is the perfect…
  • Review: Garmin echoMAP 43DV

    When fishing a large lake like Hebgen, one of the keys to success day is knowing where the fish are and what the lake bottom looks like. This is where having a good fish-finder on my kayak comes in handy, and the echoMAP…
  • Review: Nemo Puffin Blanket

    Most of us have that special, multipurpose blanket—the one in constant movement, from couch to camp, back yard to the back of the truck. Mine’s an old army blanket, and I love it; but I have yet to find a bedmate who will…
  • Review: Pristine Ventures PR 49

    The idea of packrafting a river deep in the wilderness is exciting. Doing so with a couple hundred pounds of fresh elk meat—now that’s an adventure. The PR-49 from Pristine Ventures makes this type of epic Montana outing…
  • Review: Astral Brewer

    If you’re a recreational or professional waterman looking for a do-it-all shoe for the summer season, look no further than the Astral Brewer. This is an extremely lightweight water shoe designed for whitewater kayaking and…
  • Review: Railblaza C-Tug

    One of the most challenging things about kayak fishing is transporting the considerable size and weight of the boat from my vehicle to the water’s edge. When fully loaded, my boat weighs well over 100 pounds, and at 12 feet…
  • Review: Pearl iZumi Summit Glove

    If you’re looking for lightweight protection on the singletrack this summer, the Summit Glove by Pearl iZumi is a good option. It’s relatively breathable and the polyester-and-rubber construction keeps bulk down but utility…
  • Review: Kokatat X-Jacket

    Combine Montana’s notoriously volatile weather and the inherent lack of storage on your oversized surfboard, and you’ve got a recipe for discomfort. Which is where the Kokatat X-Jacket comes in. Designed specifically for…

Additional Articles

  • Wood's Wisdom

    Tips from a champ.Former World Championship silver-medalist Bill Wood teaches long-range shooting techniques at Granite Creek Range near Virginia City. Here are Bill’s top tips for shooting well—both at the range and in the…
  • Bagged

    Climbing high in Paradise Valley.Mount HolmesJust south of Electric, Mt. Holmes tops out at 10,336 feet and makes for a long all-day climb. You’ll gain almost 3,000 feet of elevation over 11 miles, and should plan for five…
  • Outdoor Strength

    Off-season workouts for skiers.Every skier can benefit from at least 30 minutes of strength training twice a week. Again, keep it fun, and keep it outside: at the park or in an alpine meadow in the middle of a hike. Here…

Book Reviews

  • Montana Required Reading, Part III

    A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting. —Thoreau Reading, especially reading books, and especially…

Newsletter

Outside Bozeman OutPost Newsletter

Sign up here to be added to our OutPost mailing list. You'll be apprised of weekly goings-on, contests & giveaways, and great local content. We'll also let you know when a new print issue hits the stands and when our digital edition goes up online.