Summer 2011

A high-alpine misadventure. Like the fabled mountain man Jim Bridger once quipped, “I can’t ever remember being lost, but I do recall being considerably confused for a few days.” I can attest to not knowing exactly where I…

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Here I was, languidly enjoying coffee at 10am after spending the night at a designated backcountry campsite on Slough Creek, when the backpackers who reserved the site for that evening began…

A journey on the old Yellowstone River. A float trip down the Yellowstone River had been tumbling through my mind for eight or ten years. Finally, in 2009 when I had just about given up on the possibility, the perfect…

Whitewater canoeing in southwest Montana.From our vantage point a quarter-mile upstream, Doug and I could see the whitecaps: a long lane of foaming whitewater separated from the main surge by a thin strip of land. Several…

How a chunk of rock changed the weekend. The Crazy Mountains run north to south through Montana in a seemingly perfect angular form, like the bottom of a carnivore’s jaw. And though highways run parallel to the range on…

It might seem that our society’s concerns for fossil-fueled dependence have only transpired within the last few decades, but as it turns out, research and development of more sustainable fuel sources dates back to the 1800s…

For almost a decade, news stations have inundated the American public with stories of wounded veterans returning from combat, only to face an uncertain future due to their newly-acquired injuries. We know that countless…

As the old joke goes, whitefish are great smoked, but they’re hard to keep lit. That’s right: smoked whitefish—something many fisher folk have heard of but have never actually tried. Any traditional charcoal barbeque will…

Wanna give fly fishing a try without spending hundreds on gear (and potentially finding out it’s not the sport for you)? The folks over at Phasmid Rentals can arrange just about anything for you. Aptly named after organisms…

We’re taking a new twist on the ol’ Bozeman Vs. theme and pitting our backyard national park against Montana’s other famous backcountry get-away: Glacier National Park. But which is the champion? Read on to find out.Main…

The Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT), the City of Bozeman, and many other partners are working this summer to fix problem areas on trails around town. Here’s what they’ve been up to.Sourdough Gets a Facelift After…

It’s a beautiful late July afternoon. You and your best friend are biking your favorite singletrack: the Wall of Death. Out in front, as you maneuver a challenging downhill stretch, you hear your friend let out a yell. You…

Translating bike-lingo. “Dude, I had brutal chainsuck on that compound disappearing hill and had to dab twice. Then I did a little crotch testing over the stump—wang chung in a big way. Did you pass that brand whore roadie…

You’ve thought about it. Some of your friends do it. However, you’re not quite sure how to do it. Don’t be intimidated—participating in your first triathlon is a wonderful endeavor that you can accomplish. The most…

Running injuries are very common—up to 60% of runners get one while training or racing. Most of the time, the injuries are damage that occurs due to repetitive stress. After all, a typical runner takes over 5,000 steps…

In a rapidly growing western landscape, the ability to assimilate into the local culture is a skill and even a gift. There are certain cultural norms, such as driving through small towns like Gardiner with your steering…

Because Montana doesn't come free."Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles and adds significance to all you do." –Norman Vincent PealeLightning flashed on the horizon as we launched into the Gallatin’s…

In homage to the days of Lewis & Clark, the 48th annual Yellowstone Boat Float will launch the morning of July 8 from Livingston and continue downstream—covering 95 miles of historic river bottom—to Laurel by July 10.…

The clock starts and dogs bolt into the field with their masters close behind. It’s a perfect bluebird day here at the National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA) field trial, and the energy level is already sky-high. As…

With gear-bedecked fishermen floating and wading our rivers all summer long, it’s clear that fly fishing has become one of the most popular activities in southwest Montana. And for good reason: it’s exciting, rewarding, and…

Camping in Montana just got a little easier, if somewhat less spontaneous. This year, campers can reserve their spots in any of 20 Montana state parks via a new reservation system, which includes both online and telephone…

How to keep your stuff organized. There's never a bad time to get your gear organized. You’ll know immediately what you have and be able to access it quickly and easily… not to mention the money you'll save on not…

Did you know there’s a wild garden around you? It’s available for your viewing pleasure during easy ambles on trails around town and on steeper stretches that reach up to 10,000 feet. Some of the flowers are like jewels…

Southwest Montana is blessed with hundreds of alpine and subalpine lakes, also known as tarns. Gifts of the glaciers that also carved our iconic mountains, these sparkling little lakes make perfect destinations for…

“Careful with that stick,” I warned Tanner, my five-year-old nephew, as he waved it wildly about like a symphony conductor testing a new baton. “Don’t worry,” assured Missy, my sister. “Tan wouldn’t hurt a fly.”Three…

How much caffeine is too much? We've all done it: lacking energy for that afternoon ride, or trying not to fall asleep at work, we reach for an energy drink. Sure, it beats that pesky sleepiness into submission and keeps…

A summer migration of visitors. More guests, guests in summer pouring into the homes of all southwest Montanans like water through a breach in the earthen wall of the other nine months, friends and family compressing the…

Bozeman is certainly a dog town, and summer is when we have more outdoor adventures with our favorite sidekicks. But there’s a fine line between letting our dogs have a life and not letting them injure themselves too badly…

For the past several years, my mother and I have been seeking out new places and spectacular Montana views that even an 89-year-old with limited mobility can enjoy, thanks to my trusty Subaru. Recently, our friend Chuck…

There's no denying the humble enchantment of the mock-Bavarian village in Leavenworth, Washington. It's a blatant tourist trap, but a lovely one—fake lederhosen and all. More important, the granite boulders nestled in the…

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…

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…

Nearly one month after denying allegations that he fabricated some of the stories in his best-selling book Three Cups of Tea, the plot thickened for Greg Mortenson. Michele Reinhart and Jean Price, both of Great Falls,…

Canon and the American Park Network are once again offering free digital photography workshops in Yellowstone National Park; they're scheduled this year for August 1-7. The free workshops—led by nationally recognized…

Where to get good food around Bozeman.Even better than organic food at the Co-op and Rosauer's is local food from your friends and neighbros around southwest Montana. Plenty of options exist these days, both for member…

The assignment was simple. Since mountain bike races have been gaining popularity around Bozeman in recent years, my boss made me go compete in one—despite the fact that I hadn’t been on a bike in roughly a decade and didn’…

This information was published in summer 2011 – check our Race Roundup for updated information.  No more soggy running shoes, dodging snow banks, or fogged-up sunglasses: it’s finally summer! And there’s no better way to…

Camping doesn’t have to be hot dogs on a stick. There are hundreds of easy recipes that can turn a campfire meal into a mouthwatering feast, whether you’re out in the backcountry or just car camping. Begin your evening with…

The Tan Cicada Foam has proved very effective, especially as a second fly behind a salmon fly. In fact, last year I used this fly behind a large salmon fly pattern and caught more fish on it than on the larger fly. And it…

Legendary fly fisherman and conservationist Bud Lilly is at it again—this time, he’s spearheading a new fishing access site on the Gallatin River designed specifically for veterans. It’s called the Veterans’ Fishing Park,…

While hiking along a high bank beside the Gallatin River one day and visualizing my stretch of water for the morning, I was startled by the insistent call of a fisherman down below. “Hey, you there!” he yelled. “You have a…

A barbecue party is an awesome social event: laughing with your friends, grabbing beers out of the cooler, sharing big bowls of snacks. Everything is going great… until you get to the main course. Instead of flirting with…

Independent Power SystemsFounded in 1996, Independent Power Systems (IPS) offers system design, engineering, and installation. The company mission is to provide the highest quality installations using state-of-the art…

Rules of the (dirt) road. It’s a bluebird summer afternoon, hot and dry. As you jog down the dirt road to Beartrap Canyon, every passing car slows to a crawl and gives you the standard Montana wave—and all remains right…

The Hidden Lakes are a series of eight high mountain lakes in the Gallatin Range between Bozeman and Big Sky. The chain of lakes, at the base of a ridge, rests at an altitude of 9,000 feet. The Hidden Lakes Trail begins…

Music in Bozeman and beyond. We’ve all exhausted ourselves enjoying Mother Nature’s struggle between snow and sunshine, skiing one day and biking the next. But as the days lengthen and the temperatures rise, the Pied Piper…

Construction on the Leverich Canyon Trail. This spring, the Gallatin County Resource Advisory Committee committed $8,500 to help reduce trail erosion and increase public safety on the Leverich Canyon Trail. After being…

"I believe the way toward mastery of any endeavor is to work toward simplicity; replace complex technology with knowledge, hard work, and skill." –Yvon ChouinardA resurrected form of fly fishing called tenkara has been…

An increase in outdoor activity sometimes means an increase in injuries, including those to the foot and ankle. Walking or running on uneven surfaces such as trails or river bottoms increases the risk of ankle injuries…

If you’re looking for a new perspective on life, some folks might suggest getting high. But when it comes to photography, this takes on a whole new meaning for Bozeman photographers Jim Harris and Chris Boyer. Using towers…

A tribute to a local legend. What are the odds that a 64-year-old chemistry professor would dream up the legendary Bridger Ridge Run? The pieces started to come together when I visited his home to get advice on putting on…

I saw the two bears from the road while driving. Like a proper tourist, I stopped right in the middle of the road. Since I was on a curve, I did the responsible thing—I turned on my hazards. A minivan drove by and nearly…

Nothing makes for a more pleasant summer evening than strolling the streets, glass of vino in-hand, scoping out inspired works of art. Yep, art walks have become as much of a Montana mainstay as fly fishing and floating the…

Everyone knows that carrying bear spray is essential when a big grizzly sees red—but not everyone knows how to dispose of their half-used or empty cans while staying green. Now, thanks to Counter Assault and The Yellowstone…

Every summer, as the streams clear from the muddy spring runoff, I get a powerful urge to hike and fish the alpine lakes and streams of southwest Montana. Last July, my first foray into the high country was thwarted by a…

There's a reason tourists arrive in droves come summer: to bug you. Their unscuffed hiking boots mock your hard-won, raggedy Chacos; their souvenir-shop tees proclaim showy affection for the state you love best. Inhaling…

If you've ever spend a restless night with your head rolling across a lumpy pile of sweat-soaked clothing, you know how important a good backpacking pillow can be. Problem is, most of them suck—they either take up half the…

After watching a few unsettling documentaries about how disgustingly overprocessed our food has become, it became clear that I ought to start paying attention to what I put in my mouth. Enter Wings of Nature Bars: there are…

For multi-day backpacking trips where space and weight are major concerns, a lightweight, minimalist shelter can turn an otherwise arduous slog into a pleasant stroll through the summer woods. Options abound these days, but…

Summertime in the Rockies calls for two kinds of shorts—a lightweight model that dries quickly, for days spent on the water; and a heavyweight that can take a Montana-style beating. For the latter, you won’t find a better…

I went climbing about 90 days last year—and almost every time, I’d wriggle out of my harness whenever there was a lull in the action. I just figured cramping was a necessary evil. But as soon as I slipped on the bright…

I live on your feet. I keep your toes warm in the chilly springtime flows and I feed you beer when you fail. I protect you from rocks and sticks and I allow you to move freely along riverbanks and bottoms. I am the Scout…

For many years, if a backpacker wanted a solo shelter under three pounds, he or she had to choose between a two-pole tunnel tent, a hooped bivy sack, or a tarp-style shelter. All of these left either livable space or…

And the accompanying cleaner. Help Gaia and your body with the EcoMat Ultra. The mat is 100% biodegradable and recyclable, and closed-cell technology prevents germs, bacteria, and odor from penetrating its surface. The…

If you’re like me, you’ve spent as much time in the back of your truck scouring cluttered piles of fishing gear as you have actually casting for trout on the river. And Murphy’s Law clearly states that your dry-fly box will…

The wet spring weather definitely got me thinking about a good raincoat—something lightweight, easy to pack, and (obviously) waterproof—and the Outdoor Research Helium Jacket gets the job done. The jacket compresses down to…

Equilibrium Light Pad Quarter by Vitalsox are designed to be the ideal interface between foot and bike shoe. They are lightweight and have ankle and arch support, as well as ventilation. The people at Vitalsox also found a…

“Wow, your skin seems brighter,” a friend told me recently. I replied that I’ve been using the Jakaré skin care system—an all-natural, organic system made by Bozemanite Karie Baumann. I’ve tried several products, but one I…

The curative power of glucosamine is well documented, especially for aging dogs and those with joint problems. If your pooch is starting to slow down or feel sore after exercise, pick up a bottle of Hip+Joint from Pet…

If you’ve ever suffered a knee injury (like me), you’ll probably find yourself looking for the best way to avoid a repeat of that dreadful scenario. The first time I laid eyes on the Asterisk Cell Knee Protection System, I…

Sick of getting your stuff soaked while floating? A beefy Dry Box from Bozeman’s Mad Cow Metal Works is the ticket. The standard container (36” x 13” x 13.5”) is a great all-around box, providing plenty of room for your…

Two solid boats for whitewater canoeing. For a good all-around solo boat that’s friendly to beginners yet still satisfies the seasoned river rat, try the Mad River Outrage (blue). At 52 pounds and 12 feet long, this…

A languid horizon beckons the obliging sun to their ephemeral interludethe golden funnel softens as the dancers find their placesmagenta, azure, and crimson swirl in a tryst with cirrus nymphs,slowly the couples spiral…

The dude’s feet are disgustin’Dirty and scarred and scabbedNo more’n stubs with ten digitsLike pink, fleshy batterin’ ramsBut each scab has a storyAnd each scrape a tall taleHe wears his scars proudlyAnd why shouldn’t he,…

The cows watch from the high point of the river, bulls, even buffalo are curious to see what the strange creatures are doing in the middle of the Madison,  wading, some floating with guides. Some are families with spin-…

If exploring the unknown on foot holds any appeal, open up Peakbagging Montana (Riverbend Publishing, $15) and prepare for a long summer—and a lifetime, for that matter—of vigorous outdoor adventure. Author Cedron Jones…

Montanans know all too well the dread-inducing buzz of a rattlesnake’s tail—and how these slithering serpents can cast a dark shadow over an otherwise glorious summer day. But did you know that like other poisonous snakes,…

For more interesting facts about the natural world, check out Curious Folks Ask 2 (FT Press, $20), the sequel to Dr. Sherry Seethaler’s 2009 bestseller. A renowned scholar and science writer, Seethaler explains 188 common…

No Montana summer would be complete without a few days (or a few dozen) spent fishing, and nothing will inspire you to gear up and head for the water quite like Blue Lines: A Fishing Life (Riverbend Publishing, $13) by Tom…

Don’t Chide the Cheese StateEditors, I want to thank you for continually putting out such a quality free publication for us here in southwest Montana. I look forward to it each season. There is one thing bothering me,…