Summer 2026

Reasons to slow down this summer. There’s a subtle but persistent pressure that comes with a Montana summer. You feel it in the stacked weekends, the early alarms, the long drives, and in the sense that you should be out…

Edible plants of Montana. How many times have you been walking along a wooded trail when something bright, shiny, or colorful catches your eye? As you impulsively reach for it, your inner voice shouts a warning: Don’t eat…

Big-mountain summer prep. Recently a patient came in to talk about preparing for the Bridger Ridge Run and the Rut in Big Sky. He was already training hard—logging miles, climbing hills, and pushing his aerobic capacity—…

Avian family dynamics. For the birds of southwest Montana, summer has arrived with completed mating and nest-building behaviors. The chicks, eaglets, ducklings, etc. have hatched or will hatch very soon. The female osprey…

The new Mount Ellis bike park. The wheel: one of humankind’s most impactful inventions. The next being Lycra, at least according to road cyclists, skate skiers, and cosplaying fetishists. For others, though, real biking…

What to look for while sleeping under the stars. There’s a reason sensible Montanans always bring a jacket if they’re going to be out at night, even in summer: our largely semi-arid climate usually doesn’t have enough…

The benefits of beef and bison. Whether you’re an active outdoor enthusiast or a committed athlete training for the Ridge Run, you’re no doubt on the lookout for food sources that provide the biggest bang for your buck in…

The rundown on public access. For generations, recreation in Montana has operated on an unspoken agreement: respect the land and respect each other. But landowners who don’t mind sharing a road or parking area are being…

Inside “Distance Dogging,” the new sport that’s sticking its snout up southwest Montana. The next time you’re grinding your way up Mount Blackmore and get the feeling there’s a predator on your tail, you may find that…

Renewal and redemption at the Butte 100 bike race. Some years ago, my father lost his battle with lung cancer. He and I were very close, so after he died, I was dealing with quite a bit of depression. My days were filled…

A day to remember on Hyalite Reservoir. Locals recite a mantra about Montana weather forecasts: “Nine months of winter and three months of relatives.” Right on cue with this weather cliché, our nieces and nephews arrived…

Enantiodromia by Orion Kubat the days have finally caught their breath as the sun rests long in the blue skies over forests bluish in the distance. somewhere a river prescinds from its high-water mark, remnants of spring…