Summer 2019

Confessions of a fly fisherman.   Forgive me Father Maclean, for I have sinned.  Man, fishing is hard. Well, I mean, most fishing is hard. Sticking a worm on a hook and waiting for a bluegill to bite is not particularly…

From downtown Bozeman, the heart of the Gallatin Range is just a bike ride away.  We’ve been following the bear’s footsteps for about a mile now, whistling and chattering nervously. The prints aren’t large and based on…

A restoration success story.   Forgotten. Ignored. Overlooked. Spurned. Maybe even scorned.  The Jefferson River has never had much of a reputation among fishermen. The “Jeff” is the river you drive along as you are…

Why conserving private land is good for all.  When I moved to Bozeman in the mid-’90s, I felt as though I was ahead of the curve, like I’d “discovered” one of the best places on the planet for the lifestyle I wished to…

As part one of a new four-part series, Outside Bozeman caught up with American Rivers’ Michael Fiebig for a conversation exploring the intersection of conservation and recreation. When not working as the Northern Rockies…

Access to the Lionhead area is the result of a rock-solid partnership between cyclists, horsemen, and the Forest Service, a rare case of collaboration where the results speak for themselves. With the Custer-Gallatin…

Rock climbing has definitely hit the mainstream—a recent documentary about a skinny, socially-awkward climber with a death wish won an Oscar. A frickin’ Oscar. Which means either it was a ridiculously good documentary (it’s…

Backpacking the CDT in Montana.  The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is the longest and most remote of the three Triple Crown Trails, the other two being the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail. Stretching 3,100…

Adding style to a summer road-trip.  The last sliver of sun drops below the distant horizon as I slide a cheese-and-bacon quesadilla off the grill and onto my plate. Melted cheddar drips down the sides and bacon grease…

The gift of a mountain meadow deep into summer at rest by a winding brook almost silent a mayfly skitters over the surface leaving her eggs a mule deer observes from a distant hummock my presence a temporary curiosity…

Slowing down at the Woody Creek Cabin.  Solitude is rare; peace of mind more so. Even deep in the Montana woods, our minds race and we’re removed from the moment, stressing about deadlines, bills, social commitments. It’s…

One who borrows brews his own trouble. —AMERICAN PROVERB  Committing to new outdoor pursuits can be daunting. Learning new skills, making new friends, finding new hotspots, and yes, buying new stuff—it all adds up. And…

Yellowstone’s coming to kill us all.   It’s been said (by people who choose to think about really depressing things) that the Yellowstone Supervolcano—a portal of doom the size of Rhode Island that is capable of blasting…

Summer safety tips for dogs.   Caring, active owners, great outdoor recreation, and relatively few parasites and infectious diseases make a dog's life in Montana a little more comfortable than in other parts of the country…

How to right a capsized canoe.  Canoes aren’t likely to tip over, at least when used by calm people in calm water. If you’re not overloading your boat with too much gear, or paddling toward whitewater to satisfy your…

Tales of a fly-shop girl.  I graduated from college on a Friday and on Saturday my Dad and I drove across the country to my grandparents’ place in McAllister. I’d broken up with my boyfriend, so getting far away from home…

Photographing Quake Lake’s winged citizens.   Early, before the wind came up and disturbed the glass-like surface, I slid my kayak into the lake. I pushed off with snacks, water, and my camera, fitted with a 100-400mm lens…

Classic bike rides on the chopping block.  In Montana, whenever the nearby national forest undergoes a Forest Plan Revision or Travel Plan update, mountain bikers hold their breath. Time and again, updates mean closures,…

The skinny on packrafting.   One of the great joys of outdoor adventure is trying new things—and regardless of how daunting the prospect of a new sport may be, we have to start somewhere. For me that latest somewhere was…

Hiking to Sioux Charley Lake.  The Stillwater River is a major drainage in the Beartooth Mountains. The river’s headwaters begin in an expansive basin high atop the Beartooth Plateau west of Crown Butte and Daisy Pass,…

Hunting marmots in August near the Shields River we found parts of you buried in a sandstone outcrop with tools washed in red ochre Twelve thousand years before you could tell us of your ancestors leaving Siberia walking…

Proper trail behavior around horses. Interactions between backpackers and horse riders often demonstrate humans’ innate hunter instinct. Most of the time, people kindly follow the trail rules and yield to the horse. To do…

Cragging at Allenspur.  A crag that is not too loud and not too crowded: these are the first qualifiers that come to mind when seeking a quick climbing fix. I can’t focus on climbing Gallatin Tower when I can hear an 18-…

When it comes to summer meals, tacos are on the short-list of favorites. From classic cafeteria-style ground beef to more exotic options, they rarely disappoint, especially when combined with your favorite cerveza. This…

Turn up the heat with summer Palomas.  After a long, snowy winter, summer in the Gallatin Valley is truly special. A great cocktail—while on the river, camping, or just on the back patio—only adds to the experience.…

Five not-so-long races.  Hardcore mountain runs have a time and a place, but not every race has to be a sufferfest. Sometimes a 5k, charity run, or other low-key race is the perfect way to spend a morning (or evening).…

Combatting aquatic invasive species. Southwest Montana’s waterways have long been the backdrop of adventure—some long forgotten, and some so famous that they’re re-enacted for today’s audiences. Known to the Blackfeet as “…

A new spin on a classic fly.  The rain is pounding, the wind is howling, and the Yellowstone River has yet to produce a fish. I flop a cast up underneath a streamside bush. My purple Chubby Chernobyl bobs gently on the…

Overlanding in southwest Montana.  If you’ve been out and about around Bozeman recently, you may have noticed Toyota Tacomas and vintage Land Cruisers with snorkels running up the driver’s windshield, heavy-duty bumpers…

The public moves Forest Planning forward.  The Custer Gallatin National Forest recently concluded the final official comment period on the Custer Gallatin Revised Forest Plan documents. The documents were lengthy and…

When a fifth-generation Gallatin Valley rancher wants to keep the family land intact—regardless of all the work it will take—and a fatcat developer comes knocking with dollar signs in his eyes, the Gallatin Valley Land…

Geology along the Pine Creek trail.  Numerous hikes are just outside the door, but a combination of alpine views steeped in multiple layers of geologic time is hard to beat. Perfect for a daylong activity with a friend,…

Kicking your camp meals up a notch.  The warm months are best spent with your family and friends exploring the mountains, rivers, and lakes across southwest Montana. No matter where you are, you’ll be eating, and while…

Local food improves health and performance.   As spring leads to summer, local farmers and ranchers are hard at work producing food for our community. Across Gallatin and Park counties, access to local food continues to…

Flogging dog owners in the pillory.   For the past 20 years, Outside Bozeman has made a habit of calling people out. Sometimes—most times—we’re kidding. But other times, we’re so hoppin’ mad that if we don’t lash out…

  Those whom make trails, and those chumps seen on trails. Every day around southwest Montana, one stalwart citizen does the right thing while another acts like a blithering bonehead. Our trails are no exception, and be…

A fresh start over the pass.  It’s June and a late-spring rain falls on winter’s lingering snowpack. In this narrow window all the plants in Montana are beer-bottle green. The peaks of the Absaroka Range loom like arms…

A different angle on a classic summer activity.  If variety is the spice of life, then novelty is the hot sauce—and if you’re game for a new outdoor activity, you won’t find a more suitable salsa picante than whitewater…

  An update from GVLT.   Exciting things are happening in the Gallatin Valley. At the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT), we’re doing everything we can to keep up with the pace of our region’s rapid development and growing…

Getting outfitted locally, hiking edition.  In the spring, we gave you a rundown about local fly-fishing-gear manufacturers. Then we realized that one of our favorite summer pastimes—hiking—was also well represented by…

We’re all in this together.   “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” —Helen Keller  A climber, smiling ear-to-ear as she ambles back to her car. A mountain biker and his dog cautiously negotiating a…

Gregory’s Swift 20 H2O women’s daypack includes a three-liter water bladder that fits in a separate zippered compartment with a simple clip attachment. The chest harness is magnetic and connects to the bite valve for the…

Nikon’s LaserForce rangefinder binos aren’t just techie-gear masturbation. They are functional, superior (in basic rangefinding, which is all I need) to my Leupold rangefinder, and they allow me to eliminate a piece of kit…

MSR’s Hubba Hubba is a backpacker favorite. But what if you want to go light, fast, and long without sacrificing features?  Enter the Hubba Tour, designed for speedy trekking and bikepacking. It’s loaded with features,…

I’ve always wanted a hitch-mounted bike rack—and Thule’s T2 Pro XT 2 – 2” is just what I had in mind. The sturdy platform holds two bikes with a strap on the rear tire and a ratcheting arm on the front wheel. You can…

Early in the running season, blisters are the norm. While I can’t claim that Balega’s new Blister Resist socks eliminate blisters forever (running with wet feet is gonna happen sometimes), I can say that the socks’ mohair…

Quality optics are a key component of my fishing arsenal, and the Freespool MAG from Smith boasts incredible versatility and killer style. The Freespool utilizes ChromaPop polarized lenses and incorporates two pairs of…

For picnics, daytrips, and après-activity refreshments, the CleverMade Tahoe is a good buy—this five-gallon soft cooler not only keeps 30 cans (plus ice) cold for 24 hours, it stores flat and pops open with a quick pull of…

I’ve taken to running with cushy-soled trail shoes because the thick foam supposedly helps my achy knees. While I’ve had good results with a variety of models, the large sole profiles can trip me up on technical trails…

Pearl Izumi’s Journey model is excellent at one thing: on-trail comfort. The short is lightweight and low maintenance, and the included liner provides stout padding in all the right places, perfect for long days in the…

Climbers are notorious for owning shoes for every condition and climbing style. When it comes to choosing approach shoes, simplify. La Sportiva’s TX4 has a wide forefoot that provides welcome relief from your tortuous rock…

Redington’s Siren women’s wading boots are confidence-inspiring, an important characteristic on southwest Montana’s bigger rivers. Wider soles add stability when wading through rocky streams like the Gallatin, and padded…

Altra’s Timp 1.5 are the comfiest shoes I’ve ever put my feet in. The cushioning provides excellent protection over sharp rocks and roots, combining with a responsive midsole and directional mesh upper to flex smoothly and…

The minimalist craze may have settled somewhat (good riddance, Five Fingers), but one profound principle remains: our bodies need to connect to the earth, not be insulated from it. And that’s what footwear manufacturer Xero…

Published out of northwest Montana, the Whitefish Review is a semi-annual collection of the work of photographers, writers, artists, and poets, as well as interviews with various creative minds, handpicked to create a…

Montana mountain bikers have long craved an updated guide to area rides. With Southern Montana Singletrack (Beartooth Publishing, $30) by Will Robertson, they’ve gotten an update and a whole lot more. True to Robertson’s…

Every year, I vow to learn more about native foliage, from shrub and tree ID to wildflower names to edible plants. For the latter, I’m upping my game this summer by packing along Edible Wild Plants and Useful Herbs (Falcon…

If you’re looking for backpacking adventures within and beyond the Big Sky, Best Backpacking Trips in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado (University Press of Colorado, $15) is the guide for you. With enough breathtaking trips…