Summer 2012

The rain put the mosquitoes down. It came slowly at first, pushing up in the pines, spattering against the tarp. It always sounds as if it is raining harder than it really is when you are lying under a tarp or a tent. I…

Pain, struggle, and catharsis in the Montana mountains. I am climbing Granite Peak, the highest mountain in Montana, and sweat keeps greasing down my brow and burning into my eyes. I’m choking back vomit and my spine feels…

The history of Big Sky Wind Drinkers. A sprawling mass of letters, newspapers, photos, and scribbled, scrap-paper notes covers Kay Newman’s kitchen table. A thick three-ring binder plops down with a thud. The binder bulges…

Bozeman's favorite. After a successful ascent of Mount Blackmore in 1872, members of the Hayden Survey were very intrigued by the craggy gorge at the head of Middle Canyon, which is today’s Hyalite Canyon. Geologist Albert…

Hootin’ and hollerin’ aside, rodeos are some of the best events of the summer. Check out traditional bull riding and calf roping, or see what wild cow riding and mutton busting are all about. Crack open a cold one and kick…

In Montana, attacks on runners and hikers are rare, and most women are assaulted by men they know in places they consider safe—but statistics are no consolation. When alone on the trail, be on the defensive and increase…

Brooking no limit on the sex or size of their fun Throwing themselves and money into the Big Sky The seasonal hatch awakens a feeding frenzy. Only remembering bits and snatches of places Commended itineraries blurred by…

Women in Wonderland: Lives, Legends, and Legacies of Yellowstone National Park (Riverbend Publishing, $20) tells 12 stories of heroism and straight-up girl power. Author Elizabeth A. Watry, who also penned Yellowstone…

On warm summer nights, there’s nothing better than a big, juicy burger. But if you’re looking for something a little different than a standard beef patty, how about lamb? With a Mediterranean twist, this burger has been a…

Summers in Bozeman just wouldn’t be the same without a cold one in your hand at the end of the day… but just any ol’ brew won’t do. A good summer beer should be light and refreshing—something you can enjoy several of while…

On the first dive, nothing feels right. You can’t float, or you float too much, and the plastic regulator in your mouth tastes like car tires. But by the third dive, you’re a goldfish. You find neutral buoyancy in a second…

Love snorkeling and scuba-diving but can’t afford a week in the Caribbean? Think there’s nowhere to dive around here? Sure, Bozeman’s no Cozumel, but consider this: between tourists and locals, some two million people swarm…

Nearby and easy get aways. From the Tobacco Roots to the Gallatin Range, the mountains around Bozeman hold stunning alpine lakes perfect for an overnight camping trip—but sometimes, you want to get outdoors without trying…

Finding the "treasure" in Treasure State. With no educational level, dollar amount, or age requirement necessary to begin, rockhounding—the collecting of rocks and minerals—is an enjoyable way for the whole family to spend…

A runner's journal.June 21This is the summer I finally whip my body into optimal shape. My goal is to average 40 miles a week and then celebrate my summer of discipline by entering the Bozeman Marathon in September. I would…

If you’re not riding in the Tour de France this summer (don’t snicker—last year, Bozeman’s Tejay van Garderen did), there’s still time to sign up for the fourth annual Tour de Bozeman, taking place Saturday and Sunday, July…

My vision for a bold and fresh new way to explore the rivers of Yellowstone Country was born on a redeye flight back to the Treasure State from the Garden Island of Kauai. While I began my odyssey of paddling the whitewater…

Our plane floats off the runway in what seems a distance far too short. I’ve flown enough to know this is how flying was meant to be—light and fast—which is much more enjoyable than cramming into a tube with a few hundred…

Think Big Sky is only fun in the winter? Think again. Over the last few years, Big Sky Resort has been ramping up their snowless activities, building a tasty menu of summer options that’s nearly on par with their wintertime…

The Bozeman area, renowned for hosting organized events for every sport and ability level, also provides for the true fitness masochist. Enter the Madison Trifecta: a marathon, duathlon, and triathlon, all rolled into one…

There’s a tradition I repeat twice a year, every year. It begins in late May three miles east of the tiny mountain town of Pony, Montana, at the Karl Ohs Ranch. In the song of a spring morning, we start a drive of momma…

Since the Microdistillery Act of 2005—a state law removing Prohibition-era restrictions on distilling—Montana has become a hub for producing quality, handcrafted spirits. That fine piece of legislation (in our humble…

Approximately 60 miles south by southwest of Bozeman, in the heart of the Madison Valley, lies the agreeable little town of Ennis. Originally a place of annual pilgrimage for the Shoshone, Flathead, and Bannack Indians,…

Montana is graced with jaw-dropping mountains aplenty. But you can’t have mountains without valleys—and Montana’s valleys are as stunning as they come. The Big Hole, the Ruby, the Flathead, the Centennial… but only one is…

There is no mistaking the home of Livingston artist Parks Reece: a five-foot cartoon chicken perches on the mailbox amid animal bones and skulls scattered about the trees and fence posts. “Hi there!” Parks says in a mild-…

Just by turning in my saddle, I could see ten different mountain ranges. The isolated and fierce Crazies, the Big Belts, the Castle Mountains, and the majestic Gallatin and Bridger ranges were to my left, scraping against…

“I hate switchbacks!” It’s a vehement statement and a red flag that can make a dad scramble for coaching strategies to prevent escalation to “I hate this ride” or even “I hate mountain biking.” Creating a positive…

Congratulations, you’re pregnant! As you begin this experience, a million questions will tumble through your mind. One of those might be, “Can I still run?” Most likely the answer is yes. Make sure you check with your…

To bide my time while waiting for my 11-days-late baby to be born, I’d take long walks up a narrow valley in the Absaroka Mountains where I could get out of the wind and into the snow. Despite pleas from an about-to-be…

Bozeman's boulders. In 2011, the City of Bozeman dedicated its fifth and sixth recreational climbing boulders, which makes six more than virtually every other city in America. The Bozeman Recreation & Parks Department…

Not too long ago, I was a fly fishing guide, and most of my trips during the summer involved daily travels of nearly 100 miles. They also entailed towing a drift boat over a mountain pass at 70 miles an hour, burning…

In the realm of ecopsychology, our relationship with true nature—not what you find in zoos, arboretums, or running off-leash around Bozeman—is necessary and integral to our psychological development and long-term mental…

Summertime is play-in-the-water time, and our dogs like to splash around in lakes and ponds just as we do. But the aquatic world around us isn’t always as benign as it looks. As you enjoy the warm weather this summer, keep…

Understanding pepper spray.Dr. Chuck Jonkel of the University of Montana had tried everything: flashing projectiles, boat horns, even synthetic skunk spray. Then, in the early 1980s, in a triumphant moment of inspiration…

In the early morning of July 10, 2010, a sow grizzly and two cubs attacked three people, in three different campsites, as they slept in their tents. Two of the people were injured while the third was killed and partially…

It can get very confusing when researching how to get in shape—society and the media are full of ideas, tips, and tricks to help you become a better you. As a fitness professional, I have two important pieces of advice if…

As an orthopedic sports medicine physician, I see patients with knee injuries on a daily basis. Though it’s a relief to discover that somebody’s pain is from a minor condition like a tweak or low-grade sprain, all too often…

Downhill mountain bikers have “a higher threshold for adrenaline and fear,” says sports psychologist Julie Emmermann. Other PhDs say mountain bikers should “have their heads checked,” “pray,” and “not fall off.” And some…

There’s been plenty of talk about survival lately, what with certain pop-culture franchises sweeping the box office. But when it comes to cutting it in the wild, hunger is anything but a game. I set out with fellow O/B…

On the lookout for heat stroke. Hot summer days in Bozeman usually mean fun and adventure, but if you’re not careful, they can mean something else: heat stroke. In reality, most people who suffer from heat-related illness…

If you’re looking for a go-to summer and fall attractor pattern, then look no further than the Purple Parachute. A long-time favorite among Missoula guides, this fly was fished west of the Divide for many years before…

Summers are short in Montana, so it’s important to get out there and take advantage of what makes this the Treasure State. Montana FWP is happy to help.Where the Wild Things RoamWhen was the last time you visited a Wildlife…

According to Robert Stone, author of Day Hikes Around Bozeman, Montana, “The Hyalite Creek Trail is considered the most spectacular hike in the Bozeman area.” And justifiably so. Eleven waterfalls—some modest, some…

Summertime and the livin's easy. Summer’s back—and as usual, there are more activities and events than hours in the day. With so much going on, you’ll need to plan ahead and choose carefully. Here’s an insider’s look at…

There are a lot of good causes that need support, but there are also some well-intentioned groups that have lost their way. Bozeman’s got both, and with all the rhetoric and propaganda out there, it can be hard to…

Walking through the Gallatin National Forest during a light snow in early spring, Mike Leahy scanned the ground for signs of elk. He hoped to find and follow a herd pushed into the mountains by an upscale housing…

Many mountain bikers don’t realize that for every minute they enjoy on their favorite trails, volunteers spent hours manicuring that piece of hillside into flowy singletrack. Trail maintenance is an important and long-term…

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." –Henry David ThoreauIn the office, around town, something just didn’t seem right. I couldn’t place…

Tourists doing tourist-things. Let's face it: we live in a destination town and tourists are a part of life. Luckily, many of them fly quietly into Belgrade, rent an enormous SUV, and plow screaming into a herd of bighorn…

With more races than a Brad Pitt – Angelina Jolie family picnic, southwest Montana’s got your competitive back covered this season—the only trouble is choosing which ones to enter. Here are three we like.There’s no shortage…

The Museum of the Rockies is once again harnessing southwest Montana’s love of fishing to benefit their Yellowstone Children’s Discovery Center, at the second annual TwoFly fundraiser. It’s a two-day fly fishing event…

Think you know your way around Bozeman? Two dollars says you don’t. The Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) just released its Bozeman Trail Map, showcasing its Main Street to the Mountains program and over 20 years of hard…

Last year, Manhattan, MT–based Operation Never Forgotten (ONF) brought dozens of injured veterans from around the country to southwest Montana to ski, ice climb, snowmobile, and dogsled to their hearts’ content. Called…

This little northern oasis has escaped battling us for far too long. Great Lakes, thriving outdoor culture, and a staggering trail system all make Duluth a force to be reckoned with—but how does this Minnesota town stack up…

Paper has its advantages: it doesn’t need a battery, you can grow more of it, and it gives glue a reason to live. But if you just can’t get your hands on our print edition, there’s always the digital one. Here are a few…

In the summer, grilling meat outdoors is mandatory—but what about fish, potatoes, and mixed veggies? Do you really want to be running back and forth from kitchen to patio, frantically trying to monitor each station, and, in…

When packing up for a long day on the trail or river, throw in a Kate’s Bar, a scrumptious blend of all-natural, organic ingredients guaranteed to fill your gut and please your palate at the same time. Made in Victor, Idaho…

Mad Cow beats hungry bear. Specializing in dry boxes, custom panniers, and boxes for gear, Bozeman’s own Mad Cow Metal Works recently received certification as the only box manufacturer on the market that’s both bear-proof…

Nothing beats a collapsible dog bowl for hikes and camping trips, and Mountainsmith’s K-9 Backbowl is the latest portable innovation for your canine counterpart. The simple yet ingenious design is basically a pad that snaps…

Murphy’s Law clearly states that your dog will run off at the most inopportune time—and when he’s far away, or it’s windy out, good ol’ Bridger can’t hear you calling. Throw in the cloak of darkness and you’ve got a…

In a world obsessed with safety and security, Bozeman author Alan Kesselheim is an anachronism—the man takes his pregnant wife and young children on month-long canoe trips hundreds of miles from civilization. Any number of…

If you believe, as Bozeman resident Amy Kelley Hoitsma does, that nature and levity make good bedfellows, then pick up a copy of Funny Trail Tales (Falcon Guides, $10) and stash it in your car or backpack. From an amusing…

Bear Country Behavior: Essential Skills and Safety Tips for Hikers (Falcon Guides, $13) by Bill Schneider covers everything you need to know about grizzly bear interaction, distilled down to a handy, throw-it-in-your-bag…