The Bright Side

Shifting perspectives on winter in Montana.

“Bozeman’s a winter town.” For the uninitiated, it might be hard to believe—Montana winters are certainly known to be brutal. When the trails are buried, the air stings with cold, and the darkness settles in, the long nights can bring on a deep melancholy, one that feels as though it’ll last an eternity.

Trust me, most of the folks around here have felt it at some point—myself included. When I first moved to Bozeman, I didn’t own a single pair of skis, not to mention having the money for a Bridger pass. That first December was tough—and lonely. Still, people would casually say things like, “I hope April’s a good snow month,” or “I’m not ready for spring.” What? Do they know something I don’t?

Waist-deep powder days might be icing on the cake, but they’re not the only reason we’re here.

Turns out, they knew a lot. In the years since—thanks in large part to the crew that puts this magazine together—Montana winters have blown open for me. This issue (Winter 2024-25), more so than any others I’ve worked on, is a reflection of exactly that—the diversity and excitement of the snowy months in Bozeman. In compiling this iteration of the magazine, we reflected on our best memories from last year, and as luck would have it, we managed to capture most of them on camera—and those photographs now speckle the ensuing pages.

From sunset skating on “wild ice” at Headwaters State Park until our feet blistered and the smiles froze on our faces, to an ungodly early morning of frigid winter canoeing with new hunting partners, we captured the subtle moments that make it worth sticking out Montana for another year... and another year... until it turns into home.

But behind all our outings and activities lies an ever-growing appreciation for this place, and the people who make it unique.

Waist-deep powder days might be icing on the cake, but they’re not the only reason we’re here—as you’ll soon see. We’re also here for frozen waterfalls, pickup hockey at Cattail pond, freshly groomed Nordic trails, skin tracks high into the alpine, and the serenity and solitude of snowshoeing the winter woods. We’re here to mountain bike every month of the year (don’t believe it? Read on), to critique—and predict—ski fashion, to debate the merits of ski-touring with dogs, and to be the first ones to ride the new Bozeman-to-Big Sky tram.

But behind all our outings and activities lies an ever-growing appreciation for this place, and the people who make it unique. Sure, the town might have its drawbacks—high housing costs and tracked-out ski tours, just to name two; but it’s still got a whole lot going for it. Don’t take my word for it, though. Flip through the winter issue and let your neighbors, coworkers, and chairlift companions tell the story. Yes, in fact, Bozeman is a winter town. We’re pretty dang sure of it.