A Wilderness group wants top-bar protection for the high-stakes Custer-Gallatin National Forest. But can they get it?
Our backyard is one big map. A net strung with mountains and meltwater, its webbing sustains us. We…
Harvesting corn in the Tobacco Roots.
A close look at any of Montana’s mountain ranges will reveal that many mountain and river names are recycled over and over again, creating repetitive and unoriginal place names.…
Showing up when it matters most.
Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good men should look on and do nothing. —John Stuart Mill
There’s a lot of history surrounding Adobetown Rd. in Madison County. It…
Celebrating Bozeman's underrated season.
“Music is the space between the notes.” —Claude Debussy
There’s an expression used in mountain towns: “Come for the winters, stay for the summers.” This adage speaks to the unique…
How are they, really?
Spring is undoubtedly the best season for multisport. The season’s dynamic nature calls for flexibility in our outdoor pursuits, lending the best of all worlds in recreation. Whether it’s skiing and…
Springtime local lore.
The Beartooth Mountains outside of Red Lodge have everything necessary to be coined a “natural playground.” Their gigantic buttresses of granite hold snow well into the warm months, offering local…
It may seem silly to go looking for reasons to call people out—but the fact is, bad behavior exists, and it needs to be called out, in order to preserve the better parts of our great state. We can’t let this thing burn to…
High times with Johnny Bozeman.
By now, you’ve heard the news: marijuana, at long last, is legal in Big Sky Country. Just this year, a blunt-load of readers have written in with questions pertaining to how this new…
Springtime's most striking hatch.
At long last, it’s the season of rebirth, when long-dormant life rises from its snowy sleep into the bright and burgeoning warmth of spring. Humans are no exception—all around southwest…
WTF is with all the acronyms?
Acronyms, in the most practical sense, are used to abbreviate commonly-known titles. FWP, for example, is a lot easier to say than Fish, Wildlife & Parks. But these days, people are…
The Bozeman Bike Kitchen.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” —anonymous
It isn’t often that knowledge comes free. A lot of it is quite expensive. Just look…
The story of a life-changing turn.
The day started like any other Saturday in mid-April: alarm sounding at six, coffee dripping in the pot, clear blue skies, a big day planned. Spring skiing was in full swing, and we…
This season's celestial roll call.
When we hear about spring lineups, we might think of baseball—crisply uniformed rosters, hot dogs and beer, organ music wafting over the ballpark. But you also get lineups in the sky, and…
The dramatic geology of Hyalite.
Why does Hyalite Canyon have such a high concentration of amazing ice climbing? Oddly enough, because it used to house an active volcano. Let’s go back to subduction—recall from “Rocky…
Treating chronic pain from the inside out.
Ahh, springtime in Montana—so many things to do. Along with hiking, biking, fishing, and rafting, many of us will be dusting off the bunnies on some chronic aches and pains…
Maximizing the human-canine bond.
It’s true that dogs are some of the best companions. But as with all relationships, a good bond doesn’t form without proper effort. Follow these guidelines to ensure you and your pup stay…
Spring car-camping tips.
“Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.” —Walt Whitman
At last, after a full winter of being pent up indoors, it’s time…
Wildlife photography the right way.
Spring offers abundance, both in ecological life as well as opportunities to capture it. As a wildlife photographer, spring means cubs, fawns, nesting birds, and everything in between.…
The Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) designation is the strongest protection available for any waterbody in Montana. An ORW designation prevents the Montana Department of Environmental Quality from issuing a permit to…
And what tools can be used to do so.
Anyone with a soul who has ever fished, paddled, or even just laid eyes on the Gallatin River wants to see it protected. More than any feature in Gallatin County, our namesake river is…
Doug Peacock has a new book out.
The swish of snowshoes through the lodgepole pines was almost undetectable, the sound mixed with the brisk spring breeze. The swishing quickly turned to wallowing as a man with a faded army…
A whitewater subculture's growing popularity.
On a warm spring day, we checked the streamflow. There was still snow on the ground, but in the sun you could wear just a t-shirt. I felt a combination of excitement and…
Introducing a Montana 100-miler.
With ultra-running becoming more and more popular, Montana is long overdue for a race that reflects the hardiest of our mountain-running culture. At least that’s what Megan DeHaan thinks.…
Deceiving wild turkeys in spring.
The river was wide and muddy. Cottonwood stands flanked it on both sides. Beyond them, a labyrinth of breaks led into the high country. The sound of the gobble echoed across the entire…
Mike Garcia is a whitewater man and a local outdoor legend. In 1979 he opened Northern Lights (then called Headwaters) and started selling kayaks. He was a partner in Mountain Whitewater, the first rafting company that…
A Brighter Blue
by Audrey Steinfeldt
Mountain bluebird ushers spring
Riding on your cobalt wing
Flying through the firs and pines
Resting on an old fenceline
A brighter blue against the sky
A flash of brilliance streaking…
A hearty, hefty pot roast.
While elk and venison are the staples of many Montanans’ diets, black bear is often overlooked. This furry creature is, however, a delicious way to enjoy the bounty of spring. Montana’s generous…
I’ve always gotten away with borrowing dry bags for raft trips, but after spending more time on the rivers last year, I thought it was time for my own. Nothing less than the best would do, leading me to the Watershed…
The weather is a huge factor when biking in the spring. Some days it’s warm, but most days it’s not. That’s why I was excited to get the Symphony Capri pants from Pearl Izumi. They provide great coverage for rides on cooler…
Several years ago, I was out with my German shorthaired pointer, Seamus; he was just two years old, fast and athletic. Plodding along the trail, I looked up to see several mule deer moving quickly across a slope—with Seamus…
Whenever I see wildlife on a hike or a climb, I usually take a picture to show friends when I get back. Typically, my photos are a jumbled mess of pixels, a result of zooming in too far. However, I’m happy to say that after…
The La Sportiva Men’s Zeal Jacket is an outstanding lightweight breathable mid-layer constructed to handle high-octane winter activities such as ski touring, running, and ice climbing. The jacket boasts a nifty and agile…
In the cold, dark heart of a Montana winter, discomfort comes easy—especially when creeping through a snowy forest, hiding behind a blind on the riverbank, or battling the icy wind as it howls across the prairie. So if you…
Most Montana hunters, at least the ones over age 35, will remember when Sitka first came out. The stuff was mind-bogglingly expensive. Until you got your hands on it—from a friend, on a pro deal, or by some other creative…
The Kuhl Response Short Sleeve has a great contemporary style to go with its advanced materials. Featuring a moisture-wicking, quick-drying polyester textile woven with silver ions, Kuhl's ELÜXUR LITE fabric protects…
Not just another climbing rope—the Beal Opera 8.5mm Golden Dry is an ultralight cord for big, technical missions. It's the lightest single-rated rope on the market at 48 grams per meter, which equates to 5.3 pounds in a 50m…
When I first received the MSR Carbon Reflex 2 tent, I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t missing any pieces. It’s small, compact, lightweight, and easily fits in my backpacking pack. Though on the smaller side for a two-person…
I’ll be the first to admit, I was leery when I first looked at the Gilman Grips. Their claim that they would improve my rowing and that I’d be able to get rid of the oar-rights I’d been using for years, well that just…
I'm the type of guy who is always wearing sunglasses. Be it moving around in the high country, running whitewater, or driving on the highway, I like having my eyes relaxed and protected. The new Adventure Polarized Running…
After years of wearing my brother’s baggy hand-me-downs, nice, well-fitting, female-specific clothing is much appreciated. The women’s Indie Hoodie from Ibex is versatile, comfortable, and fits my body—something those old…
Well, folks, these ain't your grand-pappy's fishing boots. When I pulled Korkers newly updated River Ops Boa out of the box, I thought I'd feel like Terminator wading into the stream on a mission to blast trout out of the…
The Tranquil Jogger from Ibex is the most comfortable and versatile pair of sweatpants I’ve ever worn. Combining the wicking performance of Ibex’s legendary merino wool with organic cotton, the Tranquil is perhaps the…
Within hours of receiving the Patagonia Performance Twill Jeans, I was putting them to the test at a local climbing area. After a few knee bars and drop knees, I knew these were going to hold up well. I prefer the natural…
From its base in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Minus 33 presents merino wool underwear for both men and women. The Women's Woolverino Boyshorts are styled after, yes, boys' athletic shorts, but without the peekaboo…
Versatility is big for me, when it comes to most anything. The Pearl Izumi Coast Workpant is about as versatile as it gets when it comes to cycling apparel. The pants are made mostly with heavy-duty cotton and nylon. They'…
I’ve been trail running for two decades and every pair of shoes I’ve owned has had a heel. Recently, I decided to switch to a zero-drop running shoe, and I was skeptical to say the least. I’d heard horror stories of…
This summer, I have been wearing Costa Blackfin Pro sunglasses on the river. Costa claims that their patented 580 polarization technology is almost 100 percent efficient. Believe it! When I put the glasses on, my entire…
For active outdoor excursions on cold days, a bulky coat does more harm than good—it hinders movement and causes overheating. What you need is a medium-weight layer that's low-profile yet warm—and that's exactly what you…
Rarely do books with fishing in the title presume to be about angling, and Carolyn Keith Hopper’s Fishing with My Father (Carolyn Keith Hopper, $15) is no exception. Inspired by a stack of dust-covered letters she…
Montana has lots of mountains, and where there are mountains, you’re bound to find climbers. But what about Montana’s climbing history? We’re all familiar with the common lore of far-flung places like Yosemite, the Alps,…
When it comes to backcountry skiing, getting up, down, and back safely takes a lot more than physical fitness and athletic ability. Ben Werner’s Backcountry Skiing Bozeman and Big Sky (WS Publishing, $45) is a resource that…
