Spring 2018

50 Years of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Here on the northern edge of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, we sit perched on the headwaters of the continent. The mighty Missouri, Green, Yellowstone, and Snake river…

For these three stalwarts of southwest Montana's recreation scene, building an outdoor community is a labor of love.  Bozeman didn’t become an outdoor town by accident. Over the last several decades, many, many people have…

Finding one's place in the grand stream of things. On evenings when the spring thaw is going full blast, I like to sleep with the bedroom window open. Though I live just two blocks off Bozeman’s Main Street, I can hear…

Ascending Black Mountain.  Black Mountain is the highest and most spectacular mountain in the Western Beartooths north of Mount Cowen. It owes its stature to the tremendous erosive power of Pine Creek and the Pleistocene…

A standup turkey hunt.   All of us, from time to time, need a plunge into freedom and novelty, after which routine and discipline seem delightful by contrast. —Andre Maurois Variety, of course, is the spice of life—and…

A weekend at Montana’s outdoor multiplex.   “In the spring,” Tennyson famously penned, “a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” That may be true in the city, or in the insipid suburbs; but around here,…

An epic crash on Montana's steepest creek.  Shouldering heavy kayaks, we opened the gate and started up the rocky trail. One mile of steep hiking separated us from our put-in rapid. The crew consisted of Joe, Connor, Nick…

DIY rooftop rod-holder.  Set-up and break-down of a fly rod takes time, and if you’re moving around, rigging up at every spot—or worse, waiting for a hung-over friend while the hatch is on—it gets old real quick. Which is…

Inside all of us is the spirit of adventure—a longing passed down through the ages, from the first man and woman who set off into the unknown, leaving behind the comfort and safety of the cave to climb a distant mountain,…

Redefining “down by the river.”  If millennials have shown the world anything, it’s that people in their 20s really do have it all figured out. One example of this unprecedented generational wisdom is the phenomenon of #…

Where to fish this spring.  In March and April, there exists the perfect scenario for the spring angler: it is pre-runoff and our favorite freestone rivers are low and clear. But what happens when the sun swings high…

Getting after it together.   I’ve always been more of a tomboy than a girlie girl. I grew up driving combines and tractors and taking laps in my brother’s sprint car after Saturday-night races—for whatever reason, it…

The Madison Valley’s oldest butcher.  Today, when we get a hankering for a burger or steak, we swing by the store. However, for the Native Americans that traveled through our valley, harvesting meat was far from easy.…

A multifaceted kick-off to warmer weather. Like most folks around here, I love winter—but by spring, sun and warmer temps become a psychological necessity. I also need to sleep outside, and since I’m not an idiot, I don’t…

Spring climbing on Billings’ Rimrocks.  Spring in Bozeman can be tough for climbers—the ice is long gone, but most of the local rock isn’t quite dry or warm enough for climbing. Plus, after months of wading through kids at…

Nice and easy along the Boulder.  Natural Bridge State Monument is located in the main Boulder River valley 25 miles south of Big Timber. The area is named for a limestone arch that once spanned the river. The 25-foot…

Across the Gallatin Range.  Crossing the corniced ridge, my ski partner Zach Altman and I looked down on the transitioning land. In the valley, brown gave way to green while snow blanketed the crest; spring wouldn’t be…

A few of Bozeman’s piscine practitioners.  As many famous writers have noted, fishing is religion to Montana anglers. And few churches are more well-attended than the Temple of Bozeman, where congregants receive the word…

A Bozeman dog-owner quiz.   As the old saying goes, there are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Same thing goes for good dogs. Point being, dogs are what we make of them. So the question is, are you and your dog well-behaved,…

Reconciling the outdoor dichotomy.  We all have dreams—some big, some small—that fuel our outdoor ambitions. A bigger fish, steeper ski line, harder climb, or faster race can be the ultimate motivator, pushing us to new…

This spring, ride in town.  Come spring, dry trails are more valuable to local mountain bikers than all the Treasure State’s oro y plata combined. We champ at bit for tacky dirt on which to ride, but the reality is,…

Running the Black Canyon trail.  For the last four years, I’ve celebrated the arrival of spring by stashing my skis in the closet and lacing up my running shoes. I leave the mountains and head down to low country near the…

DIY cost-savers for kids.Being an outdoor parent can be expensive. Kids are constantly growing and interests shift from day to day. But there’s no need to break the bank to keep your children outside and properly outfitted…

Book reviews for spring.  For some Bozemanites, spring means multi-sport. For others, it means mud. If the ficklest of seasons has you indoors, here are some books to consider. Montana’s Hot Springs After a long day…

The stars and pants align.  As our crags begin to thaw out, climbers will shed a few puffy layers in preparation for their spring rock projects—their native climbing pants accompanying them in both successes and failures.…

Anticipating warm-weather avalanche problems.  There is no better time for backcountry skiing and riding than the spring. Long days, comfortable temps, sunshine, and deep snow—perfect. With the changing season, however,…

Reading the signs left behind.  Clumps of whitish-grey fur cover the ground, scattered across an oblong area a couple feet across. In some places the clusters are tinted red. The scene resembles a plane wreck on an empty…

The season’s astronomical bucket list.   Spring in Montana: when snow turns to mud and we bet on whether the tender new shoots and flower buds will survive the errant late frosts—and if the snowmelt will overflow the…

Hot-smoked trout.   Due to their manageable size, even texture, and awesome flavor, trout are a perfect fish to hot-smoke. Great for a meal or an appetizer, smoked trout can also be combined with a plethora of other dishes…

—Haliaeetus leucocephalus Architect of twigs and sorrow,she nests in the oldest forestsbelow the tops of dying trees;most of the eggs too soft to survive.  Still, she builds up a brooding basketdecorated with a spray of…

Alexander Pope did say it best:True wit is nature to advantage dressed.And since mankind will endure and prevail.‘Tis only fitting we study his travail.  But all springs first from fertile earth,And therein lies true…

Fecundity, a veterinary term, livestock to configure; Wives, students, parents, Thymallus arcticus—Salmonids expected to deliver: Trout; Birth more, suckle, hustle, hybrid vigor, Spring yo mama that profligate trigger.…

A plan to protect Big Sky’s water. As the days grow longer and warmer, our local rivers roar back to life after a long, quiet winter. Paddlers and anglers return to enjoy the abundance of water. Soon, the rivers’ roar will…

Water is always working, reorganizing the land. —Tim Palmer, Endangered Rivers and the Conservation MovementIn spring, water is released from the bonds of winter, let loose on the land. It’s impatient in its freedom,…

Getting your raft river-ready.  A new season means new gear—or rather, old gear that needs to be dug out of the closet, shed, or garage and put back into the rotation. One such item that is frequently neglected is the raft…

Montana raptors play copycat. In 1978, there were 12 known breeding pairs of bald eagles in Montana. Over the next 34 years, thanks to extensive national recovery efforts, the nesting population steadily increased. In 1995…

Adjusting your bike seat.  For valley cyclists, the first warm days of spring signal a shift from powder to pedals. Road biking is typically devoid of the aches and pains of more jarring pursuits, but as the rides get…

Protecting our public land. Public lands are getting a lot of attention these days, and not for good reasons. Our incredible conservation legacy is more threatened now than it has been in decades. These are the mountains,…

Capturing the kits at play. It’s late spring, the animated season of rejuvenation, when new life abounds amid a profusion of color. Buds burst open and birdsong fills the air. Baby animals, such as this lively fox litter I’…

Tying the Mega Prince.  Designed on the Madison River by fishing guide, fly designer, and shop owner Dan Delekta, the Mega Prince combines many great flies and materials. The end result is a mega-fish catcher! How could a…

It’s spring, and you know what that means: it’s time to load up the car and take a road-trip to your favorite climbing, biking, or trail-running destination. Here are some stats to consider as you plan your next journey.…

Helping hands for public lands. Amid the recent public-lands whirlwind sweeping the nation, you might be inspired to roll up your sleeves, tighten your bootstraps, and get involved. No matter your age, abilities, or…

Load up the whole family, or any friendly foursome, and hit the trail together with Yakima’s FullSwing bike rack. Padded arms, two-point straps, and a built-in cable lock keep up to four bikes safe and secure, and the…

Salomon’s Bonatti WP isn’t the perfect wet-season jacket, but it makes a strong case. It’s lightweight, packs down into its own chest pocket, and provides great protection against rain, sleet, and wind. The jacket is…

With all the doodads and thingamajigs dangling from fly vests these days, it can be difficult to know where necessity stops and excess begins. One arguably indispensable doohickey is the Headgate Tippet Holder from…

Slip on Stio’s Sweetwater fleece hoodie and it will become a quick favorite. What you’ll appreciate most is its versatility—wear it to work with a skirt, under your ski jacket as a midlayer, and around the house with pajama…

A pack for all seasons "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Einstein's famous maxim seems to have been applied to the Tarak Del Dia, a 20-liter skiing/climbing pack from Cotopaxi. Gone are…

Usually, we train cores by drinking beer and eating wings. But now that we’ve gamed our cores with the Professional core trainer from Stealth, we might finally get those coveted six packs of abs everybody talks about.…

The MPOWERD Luci Pro Series inflatable solar lantern is possibly the coolest outdoor contraption I own. It recharges quickly using the two-way USB port, and can hold a single solar charge for up to two days. It’s super…

For an impromptu nap or overnight on early-season hikes or river trips, you can’t beat the Roo Single hammock by Kammok. At a wispy ten ounces and stuffing down to the size of an apple, you won’t even know you’re carrying…

Like many outdoor enthusiasts whose hobbies outnumber their savings, I must choose my gear wisely—new skis are purchased only at the expense of a new bike, and so on. My rain jacket from First Lite, however, is an exception…

Search no longer for lightweight backcountry food that’s both tasty and nutritious. Good To-Go’s Granola is breakfast, lunch, or a snack, with 580 calories and natural ingredients to keep you going all day. Rip open the top…

This chalk isn’t going to keep you glued to small holds, but it will keep those holds looking better. Wall Street Gold is the first of its kind, a rock-colored chalk meant to lessen the impact of climbers on the places they…

When I think bison wool, I think thick, durable, and warm—as in capable of plowing trenches through snow as our national mammal. The Buffalo Wool Co.’s Bison Merino Sock confirmed my suspicion, especially on the thickness…