Winter 2024-25

Features

Departments

  • Out of Style

    Over the years, we’ve seen some eclectic outfits take to the ski slopes—and fall away equally as quickly. Curious as to how the trends have played out, we mapped out a timeline, from the early days, to the present, to our…
  • Back to the Future

    Revisiting an O/B expansion project. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Almost a decade ago, in the winter of 2015-16, we launched a series of O/B franchise expansions to other towns and locales around…
  • Game Night

    A savory shepherd’s pie to feed the masses. Winter in Bozeman means game nights. And what better way to complement your favorite board game than with a wild-game dish? The following recipe was inspired by a buddy who…
  • Moose on the Loose

    Close encounters on the trail. It was a classic Montana winter day, with azure skies, blindingly bright sun, and sparkling snow that measured in feet instead of inches. With the trail packed down by early-rising hikers, I…
  • Livin’ the Sky Life

    A new tram in Gallatin Canyon. Anything you can do, I can do better—that was the mantra at a Yellowstone Club development meeting last summer. The subject? How to one-up Big Sky’s new tram to the top of Lone Peak. “It’s…
  • Boots to Fill

    Thrifting a Bozeman legend’s ski gear. As I drank a cup of coffee at the pack rack near the top of the Bridger lift, I chatted with Eddie, a longtime Bridger Bowl ski patroller, when I noticed his purple-and-lime-green…
  • Let ’Em Fly

    Snowball-fight etiquette. “The will must be stronger than the skill.” —Muhammad Ali Snowball fights might be among the most ubiquitous of winter activities, but they don’t come without a cost. Over the last few decades,…
  • Face-Off: AT vs. Telemark

    Setting the skintrack straight. Ski gear seems to be getting lighter every year, with new materials and new designs. If you don’t have the latest and greatest, good luck keeping up on a ski tour—unless you have the lung…
  • Powder Flirt

    Chairlift pickup lines. Riding the chairlift is a bit like speed-dating; you only have a few minutes—well, sometimes 30 at Bridger—to chat up your chairmates. And with only a little bit of skin exposed, it’s up to your…
  • Lightin’ Up

    How well do you know a mainstay of Bozeman ski culture? Every winter, a single beacon of blue light intermittently illuminates above Bozeman—there to beckon all those who chase snow. But whether you’re new town or have…
  • Celestial Swap

    Switching roles with the red planet. “That Mars is inhabited by beings of some sort or other we may consider as certain as it is uncertain what these beings may be.” So wrote astronomer Percival Lowell early in the last…
  • Hittin’ Your Stride

    Tips for a strong Nordic season. Bozeman’s Nordic skiers don’t waste time in winter. Think about it: by late December, you’ve likely gotten out for a handful of groomer days, and you probably have a few off-trail sessions…
  • Cold Hands

    Tips for winter skin care. Montana’s harsh winter climate offers countless recreational opportunities; however, the extreme weather poses challenges to our health—particularly the skin. Though skin is the body’s largest…
  • Rip Like a Racer

    Perfecting the short-radius turn. Skiers who can carve a short-radius arc on a steep groomer can ski anything with elegance: chutes, pow, frontside, and crud. And no one slices more perfect turns than the slalom racers on…
  • 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…
  • Resort Resurrection

    A dystopian vision of Bozeman’s future. “Hi, are you the mechanic, the one who’s skilled at getting old equipment up and running?” “One and the same, Will’s my name,” the young fellow said, as he reached out to shake the…
  • Power Squat

    A new spin on an old practice. It’s a calm winter night in Big Sky. With a new moon, it’s nearly pitch black, and a soft snowfall quietly blankets the mountainside McMansions. For the most part, they’re dark, the occupants…
  • Land Grab

    A Utah stunt has implications across the West. Spend any amount of time hunting, fishing, camping, or otherwise recreating in Montana, and you’ve surely found yourself on federal land. It’s abundant, and we’re incredibly…
  • Safe & Sound

    Winter driving in Montana. “Have you ever noticed that anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” —George Carlin Winter is the preferred season for many Bozemanites, and for…
  • Wax On, Wax Off

    A guide to tuning skate skis. Nordic skiers are wax nerds—ski wax, that is, although some are equally passionate with other uses. Regardless, a proper coating of wax is essential for a good day of skate skiing. The…
  • The Long Haul

    How animals survive the Montana winter. In the thralls of spring and summer, Montana brims with year-round resident critters, big and small. But when the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, sometimes well into the…
  • Snow-comotion

    A strong case for snowshoeing. It’s nearly a half-mile from the car to our campsite. There’s enough food and gear strewn about in assorted piles and containers to outfit the Russian army—or so I think, as I’m the one who…
  • Into the Open

    A beginner’s guide to low-angle touring in the Gallatin corridor. US Highway 191 travels south through the tight, scenic, and potentially dangerous Gallatin Canyon along the Gallatin River, famous for fly fishing and…
  • Never Winter

    Off-season biking at Lewis & Clark Caverns. In most mountain towns around the West, it’s common to hear about diehard skiers who carve turns every month of the year. It’s possible around Bozeman, too, with a little…
  • Paradise Found

    A multisport to remember. When it comes to all-day winter recreation around Bozeman, things are becoming a bit cliché. It’s all, “Snowmobile here, skin this, ski that, etc.” Throw in some ice climbing or fat-biking as…
  • Big Iron

    Life lessons from a morning bird hunt. We all know how hunting plans go down. Ideas are tossed around, remarks such as, “That would be awesome!” or “We should totally do that!” are exchanged; but then other things in life…
  • Timberland

    A winter weekend in Seeley Lake. As much as I love skiing, sometimes I crave variety in my winter lifestyle. After 40-plus years in Bozeman, I’d been feeling motivated to experience something a little different than the…
  • Down & Dirty in Denim

    Setting a record at Jackson Hole. There’s something about skiing hard by day and sleeping in bunk beds by night that just hits different. It typically means you and a bunch of friends are cramming in someplace to get the…
  • Legends of Hockey

    Old-timers take to the ice. People often say they want to watch hockey, but they have trouble keeping up with the action. Well, there’s an opportunity to view, or play, the game in slow motion: the Legends of Hockey Senior…
  • Power Play

    An organized hockey league brings skaters to the rink. Wild-ice skating and pond hockey are casual, athletic ways of getting on the ice around Bozeman, but for those seeking more structure, there’s an organization in town…

Gear Reviews

  • Review: Stio Environ Bibs

    The ski bib seems to be all the rage nowadays. Pants, while once ubiquitous, are the minority on the slopes now. The reason is simple: the extra protection and adjustability of suspenders are far superior. But my one…
  • Review: Helinox Savanna

    Occam's razor notwithstanding, there's always a better way to do something—a principle that Helinox proved over a decade ago, when they came out of nowhere with a radically different camp-chair design. Like the Yeti cooler…
  • Review: Uncharted Zeus Air

    Click, click, click—the dreaded noise when you turn the truck key, but nothing happens. Click, click, click. Damn. Best-case scenario, you’re in a parking lot and a helpful passerby can jump your vehicle. Worst-case…
  • Review: Smith Liberty Helmet

    When it comes to outdoor sports, safety comes first. With Smith's Liberty Helmet, not only can I keep my noggin’ protected with Smith’s proprietary MIPS safety system, but I can also keep it comfortable and dry. In addition…
  • Review: CCM Jetspeed FT6 Skates

    Pond hockey doesn’t require much gear, but agile skates with good ankle support are a must. CCM’s Jetspeed FT6 Player Skates have a one-piece composite boot for quick energy transfer; and lightweight materials throughout…
  • Review: Seirus HeatTouch Glove

    The Seirus HeatTouch Atlas Gloves are designed for extended trips into harsh, cold environments. The gloves feature 240g of insulation and flexible panels that evenly distribute heat from built-in battery packs across the…
  • Review: Grayl GeoPress Ti Purifier

    On more than one occasion, I’ve had the misfortune of running out of water or having my bladder hose freeze while I’m backcountry hunting or skiing. Hence, my interest in the GeoPress Ti Purifier from Grayl. Simply fill the…
  • Review: Muck Arctic Sport Boots

    Anyone who’s had a brush with frostbite knows the importance of insulated boots. But boots rated down to negative 40? That’s what you get with Muck Boot Co.’s Arctic Sport Boots, thanks to a 5mm neoprene liner and…
  • Review: Screwpop Toolkey II

    For those looking to improve their keychain arsenals, there’s no better addition than Screwpop’s Toolkey II. Weighing in at a mere .65 ounces, this 17-in-1 multitool is an effective addition to even the most austere…
  • Review: Wiley X Ovation Sunglasses

    In the market for a lightweight, durable pair of shades? Look no further than the Wiley X Ovation Sunglasses. Glass safety lenses keep your eyes protected on the jobsite, while fishing, or at the rooftop bar—not that you…
  • Review: SPOT Gen4

    Unlike most of the Lower 48, Montana has countless dead spots, where cell reception is nonexistent. That's a wonderful thing—but it also presents challenges. Namely, when the proverbial feces hit the fan, and you need to…
  • Review: Durango Arena Pro Boots

    Country dancing might seem like a whole different world, but it's got some surprising similarities to the outdoor sports we all love here in Montana. And just like those other activities, it has its own set of gear—…
  • Review: Gnara Go There Pants

    It’s a tale as old as time: you're hiking along and suddenly, you urgently have to go. I don’t mean leave; I mean go. With windchills picking up, no hiker wants to pull her pants down all the way come fall and winter. Enter…
  • Costa Brine Sunglasses Review

    After five or six river trips this year without proper sunglasses, I decided it was time to invest in a legitimate pair. Choosing the right style can be tricky, as it’s challenging to find sunglasses that prioritize…
  • Review: Survival Mode Bars

    At O/B, we're not preppers, per se, but we do like to be prepared for the worst, because every once in a while, the worst happens. So when Roundhouse Provisions sent us some Survival Mode Emergency Ration Bars, we happily…
  • Review: Gregory Alpaca Gear Tote

    Picture the back of a car four days into a road trip: gear strewn across the back seat, snacks scattered everywhere, dirty clothes draped over headrests… it’s hard to stay organized when you’re on the move, whether it's a…
  • Review: Alpaca Sweatpants

    I picked up the Alpaca Wool Sweatpants from Arms of Andes with the primary intention of using them for cold morning runs. In a very short time, they found their way into many of my other cold-weather activities, especially…
  • Review: Boost Oxygen

    For those who suffer from intermittent hypoxia, due to a lack of acclimatization to altitude, mild sleep apnea, or over-exertion, supplemental oxygen can really make a difference. It can also increase energy, improve mental…
  • Review: Stio Figment Kit

    A downhill-ski kit that's durable, weatherproof, multi-functional, and thoughtfully designed to tackle the nitty-gritty details is no longer a figment of your imagination. Stio's Figment Jacket ($499) and Figment Bibs ($479…
  • Review: Flylow Charlie Coat

    Cooler weather took its time making it to Montana this season. But when Old Man Winter finally made his appearance, I stayed comfortable and protected on the mountain thanks to the Flylow Charlie Coat women’s ski jacket.…
  • Review: Arbor A-Frame Snowboard

    Snowboards come in all shapes and sizes. From stubby split-tailed pow slashers, to true-twin terrain-park destroyers, to rock-solid trench diggers, we knuckle-draggers have our pick of the litter. So when I snagged the…
  • Review: Hillsound Trail Crampons

    When the ice forms on our local trails, due to freeze-melt cycles, hiker compaction, or both, conditions get downright precarious. Which is where the Hillsound Trail Crampons come in. Slip these suckers onto your shoes or…

Book Reviews

  • The Heart of the Wild

    Through a series of thoughtful essays by both current and emeritus professors, as well as scientists from around the globe, The Heart of the Wild (Princeton University Press, $27) gives us fresh and inspiring stories of the…
  • Review: Detour Montana

    Montana is big, and it has an incredible history—both natural and human—making it a wonderful place for historians and travelers alike. While roadside signs may pique our interest, pointing us to the site of an abandoned…
  • Review: The Age of Melt

    As anyone who’s visited Glacier National Park knows, the Earth’s glaciers and icecaps are receding. As these swaths of frozen ground melt, revealing previously hidden artifacts, archaeologists have found themselves with…