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The Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area has been a point of contention since it was established in 1977, but the Gallatin Community Collaboration (GCC) hopes to solve Read more >>
Summer 2017
Tent-care tips. Outdoorspeople know there are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and zipper failure. None are any fun, and I’ll avoid the first two, but hopefully these tips will help you with the latter inevitability. Read more >>Spring 2017
Bozeman mountain bikers have long craved a three-season destination close to town, and thanks to the tireless efforts of Bozeman’s Tim Hawke, they’re going to get their wish. Read more >>Winter 2016-17
Charging burly lines demands burly apparel, and the Berreta line from Dakine offers just that. Read more >>Fall 2016
Montana FWP explains the delisting.“We didn’t work on this for over 30 years to see the bear disappear.” Read more >>
Two things are paramount in a ski boot: comfort and performance. And the sock you choose to wear affects both significantly. Which is why I’ve switched to the Precision-Fit Ultralight from Lorpen. Read more >>Summer 2016
Convenience is king these days, and it doesn’t get much more convenient than the Pinnacle Dualist cooking system from GSI, especially if you backpack in pairs. Read more >>
We’ve all heard the accolades from national publications about the outdoor paradise that is Bozeman and Montana in general. Read more >>
I was looking for a tent that could go from car camping to the occasional backpack, that would have a bit of interior room while keeping a low profile, and could handle a variety of weather. Read more >>
In Bozeman, we’re lucky enough to have millions of acres of public land to recreate on, but that isn’t by accident. Read more >>Spring 2016
At its most basic level, fishing requires a line, a hook, and a lure, three items attainable for under five bucks. How, then, has the industry grown into a billion-dollar one, and how, then, did anglers spend over $900,000,000 in Montana alone in 2014? Let’s take a closer look at the numbers. Read more >>
When my family outgrew our beloved Mutha Hubbard three-person tent, upgrading to MSR’s larger Papa Hubba NX four-person backpacking tent was an easy choice. Read more >>
Gone are the days of weighty, oversized hiking boots—those eight-pound clodhoppers that made the ankles invincible but limited one’s pace to a slow, steady walk. Read more >>Winter 2015-16
Nothing is more essential than a good knife. It’s the ultimate tool and when you buy one, you can never imagine when and where you’ll need it. The applications are endless, and this winter, I’m using a Freescape folding knife from Gerber. Read more >>
I recently had a chance to try out the Alpen Teton 10x42 ED HD (extra-low dispersion, high-definition) and I have to say, I’m extremely impressed with both the feel and function of these binoculars. Read more >>Fall 2015
In the mountains of Montana, even the warmest days can yield chilly nights. For someone who’s always cold, extra warmth is a must in any sleeping bag, and the Lithia Spring SL 15 by Big Agnes delivered just that. Read more >>
Hunting grounds are hallowed places, viewed with great anticipation and anxiety over the bragging, freezer-filling, story-gathering process each fall. But to be sure your time there doesn’t turn to pure anguish, here are some tips to help you prepare. Read more >>Summer 2015
Every once in a while, a product comes around that I won’t shut up about. The Ericksson GTX from Vasque is such a product. These boots were made for walking, and that’s just what I do in them. I walk up mountains; I walk through mud; I walk around town. Read more >>
Quivers may be all the rage these days, but a more minimalist approach has its advantages: less money shelled out, less space occupied in the closet, less time spent fixing gear. Which is why I like my new Sky 5100, made by Bozeman’s own Stone Glacier. Read more >>Spring 2015
The top 10 uses for expired canisters. 1. Replace your friend’s cologne or perfume to punish overuse.2. Convert to a flame-throwing ice-and-snow melter.3. Utilize as aromatherapy for difficult cases. Read more >>
The sounds of silence make wilderness a special place. But the sounds of music make car camping, working out, tuning skis, and adjusting bike chains all that much more enjoyable. Enter the Big Turtle Shell Wireless Speakers from Outdoor Tech. Read more >>
Your Livingston-area activity list. If you find yourself in Livingston this spring, don’t plan on much downtime—the historic Western town is full of fun activities for the whole family. Read more >>Winter 2014-15
When it comes to camp food, convenience and healthiness tend to move in opposite directions—but not so with Good To-Go’s Dehydrated Meals. These slim packets contain loads of healthy ingredients, without all the chemical compounds you’ve come to expect from most packaged foods. Read more >>
Did you know that it’s possible to get the warmth of a giant puffy jacket without wandering the streets of Bozeman looking like the Michelin Man? Read more >>Fall 2014
Delve deep into Yellowstone’s wild with David Peterson’s stunning photo book, Yellowstone: Near, Far & Wild (Farcountry Press, $20). Read more >>
There's more to photography than point and shoot.The world is filling up with images. Online, in our newspapers and even some magazines, snapshots are the currency of the day. And as more creators enter the pool, the water continues to get deeper—but it lacks clarity. Read more >>
Step outsideIt’s still and coldThe mountains shineLike burnished goldAll aroundThe silence ringsYou feel the powerThat wildness bringsThis is the worldAs it was madeThis crystal snowThat virgin gladeHigh overhead Read more >>Summer 2014
I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for in a new cookset for my raft—it had to be compact, light, and it needed components to dish up meals for four people. The Pinnacle Camper integrated cooking and eating system from GSI Outdoors fits the bill perfectly. Read more >>Fall 2013
Alive, the grizzly is a symbol of freedom and understanding—a sign that man can learn to conserve what is left of the earth. Extinct, it will be another fading testimony to things man should have learned more about but was too preoccupied with himself to notice. Read more >>
Over my morning coffee, I sat staring out the window at the Madison River and thinking about things that needed to be done: my job, packing, cleaning, storing things for the winter—and then it occurred to me that this would be a damn fine day to go fishing. Read more >>
Mine is a worthy prey. His home range is expansive, and in his element, he is King of Beasts. His numbers are large and growing. He is smart, he is elusive, and he is dangerous. In short, he is the ultimate hunt, for the ultimate hunter. He is the Touron. Read more >>
For many of us Bozemanites, the first snow of the year is a tease, an alluring look ahead to the oncoming season. We daydream about the incredible powder days, and gnarly runs that we weren't quite ready to tackle last year, but feel this year might be the one. Read more >>
It starts up in the trees: a frail rustling through the leaves brought on by a cold, bracing breeze. Sweeping down through the ground there is a change of hue—an array of a colorful display. Read more >>Summer 2013
On those blazing summer days in Bozeman, sometimes all you want is to grab a swimsuit and some beer and go in search of sweet relief. There are a number of places to swim around Bozeman if you’re willing to look. Read more >>
Have you ever enjoyed a Dutch-oven dinner and wanted to learn to cook one yourself? Well, Carsten Bothe’s Dutch Oven: Cast-Iron Cooking Over an Open Fire (Schiffer Publishing, $30) is the perfect cookbook to get you started. Read more >>
Google Earth is awesome, no doubt, and that fancy GPS of yours is not to be scoffed at—but there’s nothing quite like unfurling a map on the kitchen table and letting a world of adventure appear before you. Read more >>
Yellowstone Yesterday and Today (Golden Valley Press, $45) provides a captivating photographic history of Yellowstone Park. Photographer Paul Horsted recreates historic photographs of Yellowstone, illustrating how the Park has developed over the years. Read more >>
“Multimedia” is a bland and nebulous term, and therefore fails to capture the elegant and symbiotic blend of song and imagery that is Mike Haring’s new DVD, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (self-produced, $20). Read more >>Spring 2013
There’s no shortage of recreational guides out there, but how often do they help anyone but novices? When was the last time you, self-respecting Bozemaniac and expert outdoorsman that you are, found anything original or useful in one? Read more >>
Not that we’re into stereotypes. But we double-dog-dare you not to wind up cracking a Montucky Cold Snack, sharing a chair lift, or splitting a Gobbler from Dave’s Sushi with one of these dudes. You know the type. And if you don’t… behold our guide. Read more >>
A common complaint among the good women of BozeMan, Mantana—apart from the age-old "The odds are good, but the goods are odd" lament—is that the dating humor tends to be male-oriented and disrespectful of feminine sensibilities. Read more >>
The boat slices through the last standing wave and carves smoothly into the placid eddy on my right. The thrill of the upstream rapids courses through my veins while I slowly spin in the calm water. Read more >>Winter 2012-13
Snowmobilers have unique avalanche risk factors built into their sport. Today’s high-powered sleds are capable of reaching new heights at greater speeds, and each year riders venture farther into remote terrain. Read more >>
Once the snow falls, there’s no better time than winter for “reading sign.” Whether snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or surveying the landscape from a chairlift, picking out animal tracks and trails can enhance any outdoor experience. Read more >>
Every so often, a blue light flashes on top of the Baxter Hotel, alerting anyone within view of the tallest building in Bozeman that snow is falling at Bridger Bowl. Read more >>
Believe it or not, there are actually people in Bozeman who get genuinely upset when faced with a couple feet of fresh snow. Read more >>Fall 2012
The shadows stretched long as my wife, daughter, and I drove to our friends’ ranch to catch a few fish on the Madison. Getting out of the car we noticed a commotion above us. Three ospreys flew around erratically; then we saw an eagle, and then another, talons outstretched and beaks open. Read more >>
With winter just around the corner, it’s important to understand the different options for heating your home. Here’s a look at three different ways to stay comfortable when the mercury drops.The Sun’s Radianceby Todd Hoitsma Read more >>
In 1985, Montana formally created Block Management Areas (BMAs), which provide free access to private lands across the state for hunting big game, upland birds, and waterfowl. Read more >>
Oh Dawn, bringer of light,With eternal vision deliver us from night.And color the world, not black, not white,But ambiguous grey, a beautiful sight! Read more >>
I love to touch wood that’s beaver-skinnedand worn to glass by flowing water. There are willow saplings that startle.Bent low by winter snow loadbut still rooted to the bankthey get pulled downstream by the current Read more >>Summer 2012
In 2011, the City of Bozeman dedicated its fifth and sixth recreational climbing boulders, which makes six more than virtually every other city in America. Read more >>
Summertime is play-in-the-water time, and our dogs like to splash around in lakes and ponds just as we do. But the aquatic world around us isn’t always as benign as it looks. As you enjoy the warm weather this summer, keep in mind that there are dangers lurking beneath the water. Read more >>
Hot summer days in Bozeman usually mean fun and adventure, but if you’re not careful, they can mean something else: heat stroke. Read more >>
"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." –Henry David Thoreau Read more >>
This little northern oasis has escaped battling us for far too long. Great Lakes, thriving outdoor culture, and a staggering trail system all make Duluth a force to be reckoned with—but how does this Minnesota town stack up to Bozeman’s endless outdoor opportunities? Read more >>Spring 2012
By mid-March, most Bozeman residents have had just about enough of cold weather. The days are getting longer, and it’s finally time to head outdoors for a little sunshine. Sadly, our outdoor-rec reach tends to exceed our grasp. All too often, bikers are sent back to the car by muddy, snow-clogged... Read more >>
My friend threw an elbow into my ribs. “Shut up,” he said through clenched teeth. The usual chatter of the crag had ceased and half a dozen people froze to stare upward, jaws hanging limp and eyes unblinking. Read more >>
We’ve all seen them. Like a herd of placid bovines at the feed pile, their Subys line up at the trailhead lot, so caked with dust and mud that you can barely read the Sierra Club, WWF, and “Live Simple So Others Can Simply Live” bumper stickers. Read more >>
Wild turkeys, not unlike the namesake whiskey, can bring an otherwise sane person to the heights of elation, the depths of depression, or the brink of madness. Read more >>
Few communities are more dog-friendly than Bozeman. Everywhere you look, it seems there’s a dog waiting for the next hike, bike, ski, or float—and that’s a good thing. But with all this dog culture, it can be easy to lose track of the lingo. Here’s a refresher on Bozeman dog-speak. Read more >>Winter 2011-12
For the average outdoor enthusiast, winter can be a difficult time to squeeze in a fun-filled overnight or multiday adventure without freezing your buns off or breaking the family budget. Read more >>
Shakespeare wrote “thy breath be rude,”but I think thy breath has little attitude.Dullness, neglect, but not vulgarity—of emotions you haven’t even slight sincerity.While your chill betrays some tempered winds,your stillness renders still their sin. Read more >>
The last of the geese have frozen over in my backyard,covered in a foot of snow. I dig one out each weekand thaw it in the fridge—with a high success rate;even the runt is able to take flight after a few days at 50 degrees. Read more >>
Ahead of me Hardscrabblecracks knuckles against clouds.Behind the Bridgers splaycrags in the oystery air.I move to a tango.Skies and poles glide, cut, break.I am partnered by the windagainst whom I tangle, kick.A flake catches my lash, Read more >>
When winter hits, trying to get vegetables locally becomes a seemingly grueling task, whereas eggs, dairy, grains, and meats may still be easy to find. So this winter, use these helpful tips for ways to keep your veggies local this winter. Read more >>Fall 2011
When traveling abroad, have you ever met people ashamed of their native land? (Boulder, CO; Iowa; Alabama; and the entire East Coast spring to mind.) Thankfully, that never seems to happen with our residents. Read more >>
In the second century BC, Roman invaders of present-day France made great fun of their enemy’s attire—they considered the Gauls’ long trousers intolerably effeminate, compared to their cool and manly tunics. Read more >>
It may be hard for homegrown Montanans to imagine an urbane French nobleman in the field chasing game, but author Guy de la Valdène makes it clear, in his memoir The Fragrance of Grass (Lyons Press, $25), that a love of hunting and the natural world transcends c Read more >>
Although any season is a good season for a local brew, fall is perhaps the best. Oktoberfest-style beers typically have higher alcohol content, but these days the name refers to almost any beer of the fall season. Read more >>Summer 2011
In a rapidly growing western landscape, the ability to assimilate into the local culture is a skill and even a gift. Read more >>
In this sophisticated age where motor-driven, auto-focused, auto-exposed digital cameras can be shot while blindfolded and produce a useable image through Photoshop trickery, there is still no electronic substitute for thoughtful composition and deliberate content. Read more >>
Against my grandmother’s advice, I’d like to pass on a rumor. It’s relatively harmless, though I cannot confirm it. It goes something like this. Around the mid-‘60s, a group of women in Japan grew increasingly concerned about their food. Read more >>Spring 2011
Tired of hiking the same old circuit of trails around Bozeman? Check out the new edition of Robert Stone’s Day Hikes Around Bozeman (Day Hike Books, $16) for plenty of beautiful hikes you’ve never done before, all within a 90-mile radius from Bozeman. Read more >>
Whitewater kayaking has long been one of my favorite subjects to photograph. The high energy, emotion, and adventure elements of the sport inspire my photography and continually bring me back time and time again. Read more >>
You should of been here yesterday. I mean spoons was workin’ like Jesushisself was puttin' 'em on the hook. Hell, Roy Dean, he seen Bobby Dontoss a Alka Seltzer where they was rootin' and a little one took it, then a Read more >>
Feelin’ hot, hot, hot! If you’re looking for a little somethin’ to tickle your taste buds, give Oso Loco a try. This versatile sauce goes great with tacos, eggs, chili, or anything else you feel like spicing up. Read more >>
Bungee cords come in many styles, from cheap Wal-Mart flimsies to burly S-hook straps used for lashing big-rig load covers. One flaw common to all, though, is eventual deterioration—nylon bungees eventually stretch out, and even professional-grade rubber degrades. Read more >>Winter 2010-11
There are some places that many women try to avoid, and let’s face it, a locker room full of sweaty guys—along with their stinky, unwashed capilene—is one of them. Read more >>
In winter, it's just as important to consume Vitamin D and Vitamin C as it is to keep up physical activity. However, intakes of these micronutrients tend to decline in winter due to limited sunshine (for Vitamin D production) and limited access to fresh fruits (which contain Vitamin C). Read more >>
Trusting four tiny pins to hold each boot in place in my new bindings took some getting used to. But that is exactly what I do when riding the Garmont Shogun and G3 Onyx. This was my first touring setup, and I really lucked out. Read more >>
Black Diamond’s new Cyborg crampons may not the lightest on the market, but they'll last forever—no need to get new ones when your front points go out; just hop on the Web and order up another set. Read more >>
Outdoor Research has made some great improvements in its Mentor jacket this year. Built with Gore-Tex Pro Shell and fully taped zippers, moisture stays out but the jacket still breathes well. The double-sliding TorsoFlo hem-to-bicep zippers are a nice upgrade. Read more >>Fall 2010
Our lame cowboy carefully gimps up The Bozeman alley, that long Rouse alley. His cane of twisted box elder weighs The gnarled burdens of his range-riddled bones. Leaves as if petals cushion his way. Read more >>
We’re all falling down We leaves on the lam Spinning like sailors Walking on land And land where we may Any land at all There’s a place for each Bright leaf of the fall Yellow, orange And deep, bloody red Read more >>
That brown, tailing in the tail of these riffles, strikes my attractor, my sick joke: black hackles then white rubber legs and a piece of red yarn for a butt. Now here he is, wallowing in the shallows, flashing his Read more >>
Featuring the largest compilation of ice and mixed routes on the planet, Big Sky Ice (self-published, $35) outlines over 600 different frosty climbs. Read more >>Summer 2010
Trying to pick the best places to run near Bozeman is a little like trying to decide between ice cream and candy—they're all so good! So when the editors asked me which five I thought were the best, I had some thinking to do. Long or short? Hilly or flat? Read more >>
In wildlife-rich Montana, it’s common to spot a cool raptor flying overhead—but how often can you identify it? Was it a hawk or falcon? Swainson’s or red-tailed? Prairie or peregrine? Read more >>
Take a road trip this summer over to central Oregon, pick up Rock Climbing Smith Rock State Park, 2nd Edition (Falcon Guides, $40), and prepare to be blown away. Climbing in Montana will never feel the same again. Read more >>
Montana weather is nothing if not mercurial, and even at the peak of a hot, dry summer, you’re bound to get caught in the occasional afternoon thundershower. To keep your valuables dry, pick up a Vancouver Messenger Bag by Pacific Outdoor Equipment. Read more >>
Summer on the Yellowstone River offers the best dry fly fishing of the year. Although the trout key on dozens of different insects, the Salmon Fly, Grasshopper, and Evening Caddis are three of my favorite. Read more >>Spring 2010
With the addition of Slushman’s chairlift, more relaxed Ridge rules, and the opening of side-country access gates on both sides of the mountain, things may feel a little different to those who grew up skiing Bridger Bowl. Read more >>
With all the attention on Canada over the last few months, it was natural for us to wonder about Banff, home to the Banff Center for Mountain Culture and originator of one of Bozeman’s all-time favorite events, the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Read more >>
Looks like the tax bills might be going up for the folks in the Gallatin National Forest's 198 privately owned cabins, many of which were built decades ago when the U.S. Forest Service began leasing federal lands to Americans in the early twentieth century. Read more >>
If you've ever wanted an invitation onto Ted Turner's famous Green Ranch, along the Madison River west of Bozeman, dress as a buffalo and you just might get in. Read more >>Winter 2009-10
The forest, once too thick to ski through, had thinned and opened itself up, granting us the opportunity to explore its altered terrain. Standing on top of the ridgeline, we look down at the burn, toward the ruins and all of the subsequent hillsides that fell victim to the fire. Read more >>
Bozeman-area skiers and snowboarders have plenty of hazards to deal with on the hill: rocks, ice, tree wells, unmarked cliffs, poor visibility, half-stoned trust-funders poaching your line. The last thing you need is an inadvertent run-in with a gaper. Read more >>
I feel a snort. A wet misting of doggie mucus slightly scented with Eukanuba and a deer carcass that McKinley happened upon on the trail the day before. As I was unresponsive to the canine hydrating-facial-mist, my aging Siberian husky stepped up his game a bit. Read more >>
As soon as snow covers the ground, you can count on Bozemanites rushing to their favorite spots for some sweet sledding action. Read more >>
Montana is known for its big skies and even bigger skiing, but how did it all start? Downhill in Montana (Pictorial Histories, $25) features hundreds of detailed photos and documents detailing the birth and development of skiing in Montana. Read more >>Fall 2009
I took the Mystery Ranch Snapdragon on a full-day trail hike; on a long, steep approach to an alpine climb; and on an all-day, off-trail scouting trip deep in the wilderness. The Snapdragon did what Mystery Ranch packs are known for: riding well and making the load more comfortable. Read more >>
I picked up a pair of Flojos (pronounced flo-hos, meaning kick back in Spanish) Primo sandals, not expecting much, but needing some after my veteran kicks had fallen apart. I was pleasantly surprised—they've got great arch support, great cushioning, and a soft feel on the feet. Read more >>
If you need a straightforward, light, and extremely durable messenger pack, check out the Outa Ware Messenger Bag. Read more >>
I take a great deal of pride, as you should too this season, in using the whole animal and all its unique cuts. Any knucklehead can cut a few steaks and roasts, then grind the rest, throw out the bones, and be done with it. Read more >>Summer 2009
Every day, one stalwart citizen does the right thing, while another acts like a blithering bonehead. Here's a recap of admirable acts and embarrassing blunders for the summer season.CHAMPS: Read more >>If this pack could talk, I'm sure it'd say some nasty things about me. Deuter designed the ACT Trail 32 as a technical dayhiking pack with ice axe and trekking pole attachments, a built-in rain cover, and hydration bladder pocket. Read more >>Ever notice how the item you want always seems to be at the bottom of the dry bag, so you have to pull everything out, then stuff everything back in again? If you're sick of this inordinate susceptibility to Murphy's Law, pick up a WideMouth Duffel from Seal Line. Read more >>Nothing says summertime like a bike ride, although your road rash, saddle butt, and helmet hair may say otherwise. Regardless, bust out the lycra and participate in some of these bike-centered events. Your butt will hate you by September. Read more >>For a timely, engaging read, check out Bozeman resident Mark T. Sullivan's new novel, Triple Cross (St. Martin's Press, $25), a thriller based on the notorious Yellowstone Club and its absurdly wealthy-and often, absurdly devoid of moral restraint-residents. Read more >>Spring 2009
Robbins divides Montana into seven regions in this recreationist’s guide to Montana’s public lands. Each region has 50-odd pages of description, complete with color pictures, maps, travel tips, and history to describe its wealth of habitat, wildlife refuges, and state parks. Read more >>Glacier National Park: The First 100 Years (hardback $40) by C. W. Guthrie is a stunning coffee-table book full of history and wonderful old photographs. Did you know that more than 4,000 people attended the opening ceremony for the Going-to-the-Sun Road? Read more >>
Books on avalanche safety have been flying out the doors. They include ABCs of Avalanche Safety by Sue A. Ferguson and Edward R. Read more >>
We are excited to have two new children's books about Greg Mortenson's work building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea (hardcover $17) is written for kids in preschool up to about eight years old. Read more >>Winter 2008-09
Sigmund Freud should have studied the ski area lift line. If he had, rather than screwing around with silly Oedipus theories and catering to his clear obsession with breasts, he would’ve found personalities and behavior of another order: the order of The Line. Read more >>
In 1982, Alan Kesselheim moved to Bozeman and began his writing career. He was done with his job as an outdoor education director in Wisconsin and wanted to come West to the state his dad was born and raised in, and the town—Bozeman—where the woman he had fallen in love with lived. Read more >>
Greg Keeler is a sensible and serious poet who also happens to be laugh-out-loud funny,” says Tim Cahill, an author and friend of Keeler’s. According to Dave Quammen, another friend, “Greg has written lunatic masterpieces. He sings pretty good for such a big guy. Read more >>With gas prices jumping up and down, we figured we'd better check in with our old pal Scott Brown, owner of Desert Rose Biodiesel in Bozeman, and see if he's rich enough yet to buy us whatever we want at the gear shop. Read more >>Fall 2008
One good thing about high gas prices (there are plenty, by the way) is that we’re riding our bikes more. Which means you may find yourself cruising the streets late at night amid Bozeman’s notoriously bike-blind drivers. A new weapon to add to your accident-avoidance arsenal is the SpokeLit. Read more >>With more protein and energy bars on the market than you can shake a ski pole at, it’s easy to be skeptical of newcomers to the scene. I didn’t expect much from Whole Food Country Squares, and boy was I pleasantly surprised. Read more >>Amid a sea of compact headlamps lacking significant differences, UK’s Vizion stands out. Not only is it waterproof—UK stands for Underwater Kinetics—but the bulb is mounted along a battery-pack cylinder that rotates like a socket rather than on a hinge. Read more >>If you missed the one in July, keep your calendars open for next year’s Luna Chix mountain biking clinic at Bohart Ranch. It’s perfect for the beginner to intermediate female biker who wants to gain confidence before hitting the single-track. Read more >>Summer 2008
If you have a camera that allows you to change the lens—a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera—specialty filters will improve the quality of your photographs. So before you head out to take photographs in high mountain country this spring, be sure you have a polarizing filter. Read more >>Dogs, it is often said, are people too. And while that statement may be subject to interpretation, I think we can all agree that like us, dogs do have at least some material needs. Here’s a rundown of some useful pet products for the summer season. Read more >>Montana summers are beautiful, but what if you need to break that been-there-done-that bad mood you've been in lately? During your road trip to Ennis, discover some new cool things to do this summer.Fourth of July Parade & Rodeo Read more >>The Big Hole River is the first choice of any Butte-area angler, with its wide variety of hatches and hungry trout. Just 30 minutes south of Butte on I-15, there is a chance at rainbows, browns, cutthroat, brook trout, whitefish, and grayling. Read more >>Spring 2008
After wandering the mountains of the Pacific Northwest for most of her life, a happy bipedal hominoid named Hairy Ann has finally settled down in Missoula, Montana. “I’m ready for a more urbanized lifestyle,” the Bigfoot-human cross says. Read more >>730 billion: dollars spent on active outdoor recreation in U.S., 200624 million: number of Americans who paddle every year6 million: number of Americans who play soccer15.9: percent of men over age 30 who have been married twice Read more >>After wandering the mountains of the Pacific Northwest for most of her life, a happy bipedal hominoid named Hairy Ann has finally settled down in Missoula, Montana. “I’m ready for a more urbanized lifestyle,” the Bigfoot-human cross says. Read more >>There’s no shortage of energy bars on the market today—my local grocery store, for example, devotes an area bigger than my closet to them—but most have only subtle differences in flavor, shape, etc. Read more >>Even if a thick mane of hair protects your head, you may still need a little extra coverage when exposed to the elements. The Adventure Hat from Sunday Afternoons should be an essential part of all outdoor enthusiasts’ wardrobes. Read more >>Winter 2007-08
The Wild Steelhead Coalition (WSC) is a not-for-profit group of concerned citizens who are committed to reversing the decline of the wild steelhead in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Read more >>In the early 1920s, the West was still relatively wild—many territories had just gained statehood, mine-worker violence had recently erupted across the region, and train robberies were common. Read more >>Fans of ice sports throughout southwest Montana were saddened when the Valley Ice Garden shut its doors to become a cold-storage warehouse. Thankfully, the Gallatin County Fairgrounds immediately provided partial remedy with its semi-enclosed Haynes Pavilion. Read more >>
You can't call yourself a dedicated skier without having read John Fry's The Story of Modern Skiing (University Press of New England, $28). It's simply one of the most thorough and diligently written books on the heritage of skiing. Read more >>Fall 2007
A wicker creel box and bamboo rod would be nice complements to the Filson Fishing Tackle Pack. Despite its old-school style, the pack’s functions are cutting-edge. The two front utility slots offer a handy place to stow nippers and forceps. Read more >>With hunting season in full swing, Montana men are even more prone to gathering in small groups, indiscriminately belching and breaking wind while grunting monosyllabic poppycock. What better time to eschew the male gender? Check out some of these women-only activities this fall season: Read more >>If you happen to be near Ennis, Montana on the Friday afternoon just prior to opening day, your mouth will begin to water from the savory smoke that fills the air. Follow your nose and grumbling gut right down the middle of Main Street. Read more >>Summer 2007
Don’t buy Trapper Badovinac’s Fly Fishing the Solitude: Montana if you’re expecting the author to reveal his favorite fishing spots. Read more >>
I am one of the clumsiest waders I know. I’ve always blamed my lack of grace on poor balance and overexcitement, but after trying the Simms G3 Guide Boots I now blame past stumbles on my old wading boots. Read more >>Big Sky’s community park received a huge boost over the winter when it received an additional 23 acres, finalizing a much-anticipated deal that will one day create one of the most stunning multiuse parks in the state. Read more >>Spring 2007
Here is the second half of our list of good places to donate your used gear. We hope you got off your duff and gave something to the folks in the winter issue. But if you didn’t, here’s your chance to get us to like you again, you lazy son of a bitch. Read more >>Winter 2006-07
Land Navigation Handbook: The Sierra Club Guide to Map, Compass, & GPSby W.S. KalsSierra Club Books Read more >>January 20072-13 MT Audubon Panama Birding Tour. 406-443-3949. 3 Full Moon Snowshoe, Moonlight Basin, 7-10 pm. 993-6000. 6 Spam Cup #2, Freestyle Race, West Yellowstone. rendezvousskitrails.com. 6 4th Fat Ass 50K, 5K, 8 am, Headwaters Park. winddrinkers.org. Read more >>Looking for a way to get more Spam in your house? Then check out our list of what's happening in West this winter. For more information on any of these events, visit the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce at westyellowstonechamber.com.December 16, 2006 Read more >>Although frostbite and numb feet might lead one to take up another sport, one where the possibility of losing body parts isn’t a factor, these things have actually drawn me to snow biking—the frigid temperatures, muttered obscenities, and the sheer willpower of my body working to survive. Read more >>Fall 2006
Convenience is key at hunting camp—after a long day chasing elk through rugged Montana country, the last thing you need is to be stooped over a lightweight backpacking stove, struggling to prepare a hearty supper for you and your famished friends. Read more >>If you spend much time in the backcountry, you know that Mother Nature has a twisted sense of humor. Read more >>Every year, more people engage in winter pursuits and many push themselves to perform “better than last year.” Inevitably, with increased or intensified participation, the number of sports-related injuries also increases. Read more >>Summer 2006
Patagonia stores usually creep me out. Around here, the line is often referred to as Patagucci, and the pricey goods are worthy of the slang. Read more >>
Don’t Forget the Duct Tape: Tips and Tricks for Repairing Outdoor Gearby Kristin HostetterSeattle, WashingtonThe Mountaineers Books85 pages Read more >>I lost a lifelong friend recently. We grew up together in a small town in central Illinois. It’s one of those places that you can’t wait to leave when you’re old enough, but continually find yourself gravitating toward over the course of a lifetime. Read more >>Backpacking through Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica last April, Mariann Van Den Elzen ran into three folks from the Bozeman/Big Sky area. The following week, in Puerto Viejo, two Missoulians on bikes stopped her to ask, “Hey! Read more >>Spring 2006
Lots of rafts are showing up on Montana’s rivers lately, and with good reason. They’re fun, safe, stable, and take you places with friends. With all the choices out there, let’s take a look at what fits for our rivers. Read more >>After selling sprayskirts for more than 25 years, you get to know a thing or two about them. First, the Snap Dragon skirts are the best made we've ever found. This might be because the owner of the company still makes the skirts himself to ensure top quality. Read more >>When the farmers’ markets open in the spring, a bike ride out to Bogert Park or the fairgrounds for some morning air and conversation with friends is a favorite activity. Talented young musicians serenade the crowd with violins. Read more >>Winter 2005-06
When the temperatures plunge to frighteningly low numbers and even the desire to tromp out onto the ice begins to wane, take heart—this is the time to partake in an annual reorganization of your beloved fly collection. Read more >>
A warm spell in midwinter is a strange and disorienting experience. You go to sleep after a long day riding powder and as you lay in bed you can still feel the float in your legs from the board pushing through each fluffy turn. Read more >>Montana FolksBy Durrae and John Johanek, Kurt KellerGuilford, ConnecticutTwo Dot, 2005231 pages Read more >>Fowl Weather n. Local duck and goose hunting opportunities that can create memorable times afield and delectable gastronomic experiences throughout the winter months. Read more >>Fall 2005
Cabela’s — Sidney, NECabela's LST/LSR Fly Rod & Reel Combo - $260www.cabelas.com1-800-237-4444 Read more >>Still Speaking Ill of the Dead: More Jerks in Montana HistoryEdited by Jon Axline and Jodie FoleyGuilford, CTTwoDot, 2005147 pages Read more >>BADLANDS PACKS - Salt Lake City, UT2200 Day Pack - $169www.badlandspacks.com800-269-1875 Read more >>On the river it is still dark, but above the canyon rim the starlings catch the dawn. At first they are three separate flocks, but as I watch they merge into two, then one. Like a formation of fighter jets, they dive and bank and climb in perfect synchronicity. Read more >>Summer 2005
If you've ever had to pull porcupine quills out of a dog's face or wondered why your pal won't stop panting and laying in the shade during a trail run, then you need local veterinarian Sid Gustafson's new book First Aid for the Active Dog (Alpine Blue Ribbon Books, $18). Read more >>Spring 2005
“It is strongly recommended that the Biological Survey continue their campaign in this region without abatement until these pests are greatly reduced in numbers.” —Chief Naturalist Vernon Bailey, Yellowstone National Park, 1915 Read more >>
For Becky Weed and Dave Tyler, co-owners of Belgrade's Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool Company, sheep farming was a grand experiment. "From the beginning," says Weed, "part of our whole motivation behind Thirteen Mile was to see if we could make small-scale agriculture work." Read more >>In the West, designating ownership has always been a straightforward affair: you own it, you brand it. Letters and shapes emblazoned on countless bovine rumps told a rancher what was his—and earned many a careless rustler an appointment with a rope. Read more >>Winter 2004-05
That’s right, Outside Bozeman is moving up in the world. Gone are the closet-sized confines of yore; we’ve expanded into three full rooms and somehow managed to fill them all. Come on by and say hello, we’ll toss a free O/B sticker and pen your way. Read more >>This April, snowy images of chunder sessions, jib tricks, and powder shots will lure Bozeman’s steep and deep fanatics to the second annual Cold Smoke Awards. Read more >>The Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol and local artist Craig Hergert of the Montana Panoramic Co. have teamed up on a fundraiser for the ski patrol's avalanche dog program. Read more >>Fall 2004
The law locks up the man or womanWho steals the goose from off the common,But lets the greater felon looseWho steals the common from the goose.—Anonymous Read more >>
A Sportsman's Life: How I Built Orvis by Mixing Business and Sportby Leigh Perkins with Geoffrey Norman Read more >>Summer 2004
July 10, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.Depot Rotary Park in Livingston, MontanaSustainability is…a vision and a journey that promotes environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and community well being. Sustainability is achieved through the choices we make every day. Read more >>The Bozeman area offers numerous summer recreation activities, including the opportunity to spend these long summer evenings tossing around a Frisbee with a bunch of Bozos. I’m speaking, of course, of Bozeman’s Ultimate team, the Bozos. Read more >>Whether you’re a saddle-weary cowpoke or a wilderness adventurer, there seems to be one gastronomical truth about the Western mythos of outdoor living: at the end of a long, hard day on the range, the ridge, or the river, no Western campfire would seem complete without its coffee pot, ready to ta Read more >>Early summer in Southwest Montana is typically striped with muddy, raging rivers full of the melted snows of winter. Most anglers this time of year seek out tailwater fisheries and lakes. Read more >>Bill Johnson just wanted to get his life back on track. After the tremendous high of winning Olympic Gold in the Downhill at Sarajevo, his personal life became a mess. He decided to go back to the beginning, back to the place where he'd felt successful- going maniacally fast on snow. Read more >>Spring 2004
Ask about twelve-hour workdays stacked up, sometimes in blistering hot or numbingly frigid weather, continuous fatigue, or aches in the body, and Terry Johnson will still insist he has the best job in the world. Read more >>Spring in Bozeman is an amazing time for numerous reasons—the fields turn green, the bears awaken, and the temperatures warm—but for the fly fisher, it means the long-awaited thaw of snow and ice. Read more >>Two hundred and one years ago this month, Merriweather Lewis sat down at a table in rainy Fort Clatsop and gave consideration to an animal the Indians called “pekan,” one he personally referred to as the “black fox.” He described it thus: Read more >>Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area in the 50's and 60's—before business expanded across the Bay into the suburbs, before the dot.com companies redefined the economy—I wondered where the pavement ended. Read more >>Winter 2003-04
I get excited at the thought of fresh powder and start to salivate every time I hear, “a winter storm warning is in effect.” Obviously others share my obsession since each storm is followed by a shortage of workers in Bozeman, as folks call in sick and play hooky. Read more >>From the top of Big Sky Resort’s Challenger lift, the steep chutes, pitched ridgelines, and broad bowls of Lone Peak’s striking northern exposure come into view. A thousand feet below, undulating foothills reveal exposed meadows and sloping, powder-filled tree runs. Read more >>Lindley “World Cup” RacesThe Bridger Ski Foundation and First Security Bank are teaming up again this year to bring the Lindley “World Cup” Nordic Ski Racing Series back to the Lindley Park cross-country ski trails. Read more >>This winter, the MSU ski team will benefit from a newfound recognition in the NCAA: for the first time in 17 years, the men will be eligible to join their female teammates in Slalom, Giant Slalom, Skate, and Classic competition at the national level. Read more >>Fall 2003
Early fall is a temperamental time in Southwest Montana. As night temperatures ease into the 40s, the daytime thermometer might reach 80, but it might also plummet to 30. Snow might collect in the rocky couloirs, or anglers might squeeze 30-proof sunscreen on exposed arms and legs. Read more >>If you spend any amount of time in, on, or near the waterways of Southwest Montana—and whom in this arid landscape doesn’t—chances are you’ve used a Fishing Access Site (FAS) owned by the state and maintained by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). Read more >>Dick Clotfelter has become the most talked-about person in Bozeman. He’s won approval to build a performing arts center, parking garage complex, convention center, hotel, and a new city hall downtown. Read more >>
Our days are much shorter now, the rays of sun have faded in intensity, and the blades of grass have lost their luster. Although the leaves of autumn have merely begun, winter calls to us from around the corner with a northern chill in the air. Read more >>Summer 2003
Like the title indicates, Kalispell’s Ben Long presents a collection of bear stories from across Montana. Read more >>
MARK OF THE GRIZZLY by Scott McMillion Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press, 1998 249 pages Read more >>
In the small town of Willow Creek (not far from Three Forks, Montana), as basketball season begins and ends, Stanley West takes us through the lives of those participating on and off the court in the Blind Your Ponies. Read more >>
Set in the prairies of eastern Montana from 1916 to 1946, In Open Spaces is about the lives of the Arbuckle brothers. First we meet George, a man on the brink of baseball stardom, whose life ends unexpectedly under mysterious circumstances. Read more >>
There are a few places on earth where fishermen’s dreams are forged within a framework of grandeur and natural beauty—an elegant overlay in which fish are a single element among many. Read more >>Spring 2003
From my blocking position atop a rock outcropping, I scan the broad, sage-covered slope below. There's movement to my left. Sliding along like phantoms, a small group of horses has veered out of a narrow gully and wheeled back upslope. Read more >>Sick of seeing grocery bags wrapped around tree limbs as you’re casting for trout? How about those empty Budweiser cans bobbing alongside your boat? If you prefer our local streams waste-free, then join the Gallatin Valley Wad’n Women for a river clean up on Sunday, April 27th. Read more >>Like any other issue that affects us and our recreation around Bozeman, the important thing is to get involved. But unlike many governmental policies, your voice DOES make a difference with the Gallatin National Forest's travel plan. Read more >>Can you say, "Viva Las Vegas?" You'd better start thinking about it, because that's the theme for this year's Pinhead Classic, where dozens of telemark "pinheads" head for Bridger Bowl dressed in wacky costumes to race each other on a specially designed course. Read more >>Winter 2002-03
It's the ever-looming question: When will Bridger Bowl allow access to the backcountry from its north and south boundaries? Bridger Bowl and the Forest Service have been in discussion over this for many years and there are several issues influencing the decision-making process. Read more >>When it comes to outdoor recreation, gear is like money: there’s no such thing as too much. Problem is, gear takes up space, and when you’re loading the car for a multisport weekend road trip, space tends to be your biggest commodity. Read more >>
If you’re like me, riding fresh powder is one of the greatest feelings of all—the type of addictive pleasure that influences life decisions. It’s that addiction that brings us away from the chairlifts and tracked lines of ski hills and into the pristine backcountry. Read more >>Who says Gallatin County can’t hang with the big boys? Big Sky’s own Lone Mountain Ranch, long known for its excellent cross-country ski trails, was recently named best Nordic ski area in North America. Read more >>Summer 2002
If you want to get in some good rock-climbing without the approach and commitment of an alpine climb, "the Canyon" is your spot. Gallatin Canyon’s gneiss formations are close by, just long and exposed enough to get your heart going, and many climbs see very little traffic. Read more >>Summer is here, and that means the hardy trail runners of Bozeman will be out in full force. For those who aren’t ready to attempt the following big runs, hook up with the Big Sky Wind Drinkers every Wednesday night from the middle of May through October for weekly fun runs. Read more >>Our own local marathon, joining the path taken by Lewis and Clark in their expedition west, will return for its third year on September 29th. The 26.2-mile course has had some slight changes this year. Read more >>Get ready for a sumptuous summer of Shakespearean proportions. Montana Shakespeare in the Parks theatre ensemble commemorates its 30th anniversary by performing two of Shakespeare's most entertaining plays, Henry IV, Part I and The Comedy of Errors. Read more >>Winter 2001-02
When it comes to local controversies, last year’s announcement of the Yellowstone Park snowmobile phase-out is hard to beat for right-wing rancor, left-wing quixotism, and just about every reaction and viewpoint in between. Read more >>
Founded in 1990 to “provide the public with current snowpack and mountain weather information and avalanche education,” the GNFAC is a tremendous resource for any backcountry visitor. Read more >>
Few things in Montana have the power to get an adventure lover’s blood pumping and adrenaline racing as much as a field of fresh powder or an undiscovered frozen waterfall that begs to be climbed. But few things also have the power to be so potentially dangerous. Read more >>Large ranches aren’t quite as common around Bozeman as they used to be; beyond the trophy-cabin fragmenting that’s visible roadside, the proliferation of “Cows not Condos” bumper stickers around the Gallatin Valley is evidence enough. Read more >>Summer 2001
Behind the stockyards trout are taking nymphs, so you ditch the evening news and hit the stream. On the first cast you get a rainbow, a piggish wallowing blimp of a fish. It’s headed for the biker bar downstream and into your backing when it finds a rusted turquoise Plymouth fin and breaks off. Read more >>If you're like us, you love the lightness and comfort of breathable waders but can't seem to find anything as durable as those old neoprene jobbers you've been wearing since Don King's last haircut. Read more >>It wasn't long ago that any three-, four-, or five-piece fly rod was considered a "pack rod," reserved for high-country pack trips or stashed in the trunk for the occasional noontime jaunt to Rocky Creek. On the river, two-piece rods were the standard, be you guide or flailing neophyte. Read more >>In the deep green world of its backcountry, a hiker with a small pair of binoculars and an alert nature will get to know, up close and personal, many of the birds of Yellowstone Park. Read more >>It’s 10:00 a.m. on a bright summer day near Yellowstone National Park, and a young golden grizzly bear scampers across the hillside. He tumbles down the bank, landing sideways and ready for his sister to pounce. It’s playtime! Read more >>Winter 2000-01
Chances are you're someone who enjoys winter – as a snowmobiler, backcountry skier, or snowboarder, you probably dream of steep slopes and deep, untracked powder. Or perhaps you snowshoe or cross-country ski, and you cherish the winter woods and the solitude that a blanket of snow provides. Read more >>Sprinkle fish, whole or cut into strips, with lemon juice. Roll in flour seasoned with salt & black pepper. Prepare batter by combining 3/4 cup flour seasoned with 1/4 teaspoon salt & dash of black pepper. Pour in some beer & mix. Read more >>Summer 2000
Hiking Montana's mountain trails is enjoyment in and of itself, but when you add the thrill of birding, it takes on a whole new level of wonder and excitement – like turning a lazy, late-afternoon river float into a safari expedition. Read more >>The river was huge. Swollen and discolored from the previous night's rainfall, it looked like a swirling sea of chocolate milk. Read more >>Through the fog they come, through the early morning mist: two hundred loping crusaders, steely-eyed and sweat-soaked, rushing forward like a herd of wild horses – side-stepping boulders, hurdling fallen logs, and propelling themselves, chests heaving, through the steep and rocky terrain. Read more >>I intended to mow the lawn. I really did. Not that I felt any real need to, but I’d seen someone else doing it, so I thought what the heck, I might as well do it too. Read more >>
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