Fall 2021

And our checkerboarded present. A history of patchwork land ownership in the west. To prove legal title to land, one must trace it back to the man who stole it.—Lloyd George, former Prime Minister of the UK Right…

A golden eagle riding the currents

Sharing the rope with Conrad Anker. Climbing in southwest Montana is special. With so many crags, and so few people, we frequently spend our time in solitude, sharing an entire cliff with a partner, not another soul in…

An angler tests his luck on the Big Hole

Trying to make sense of Montana’s 2021 legislative session. Those of us who live in Montana have chosen to do so for a variety of reasons, a list that does not include high wages, a moderate climate, low taxes, and the…

A breakdown of hunting mojo. My late father’s pocket copy of Webster’s Dictionary defines superstition as “a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception…

How bad can it be? Few outdoor experiences cultivate an impact as powerful as hunting. Wild, primal nature abounds with lessons—enjoying solitude, engaging all your senses, stalking prey, learning to kill quickly and…

Head west for a Bitterroot multi-sport. Bozeman has it all, there’s no doubt about it. And when a place has it all, it’s hard to venture out into unfamiliar territory. But there are plenty of treasures west of the…

Observing fall, year after year. The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. —Alan Watts Autumn, our season of change, is upon us again. The days of amber, and the…

If you like the view, live in town. Bozeman isn’t getting any smaller, and neither are the houses going up on the outskirts of town. Make no mistake: we understand that this is an inevitable result of growth. But there are…

Back in the early 1900s, biking looked a little different ‘round these parts, but you better believe people were still gettin’ after it on two wheels. Seen here is William Ginn, posing inside his bicycle shop sometime…

An outdoor clothing bloodbath. In southwest Montana, we’ve always been proud of our blue-collar heritage, passed down through generations of ranching, mining, and laying track across the West. Although plenty of these…

Calling labels into question. I have a friend who is passionate about wine. If asked, he, without hesitation, could pair the perfect wine with a soggy, half-eaten berry pomegranate chia-flavored Clif Bar found floating in…

A guide to loaning outdoor gear. When it comes to loaning gear, there are unwritten rules by which we all must abide—especially in the West, when virtues like honesty, loyalty, and integrity are held so highly by all. I…

A new vision for public-land access. Much has been written about the abundance of huntable land Montana has to offer, but little is known of the hundreds of public parcels sitting in isolation. Historically, setting foot…

An affair with the Bozone. I’ll get straight to the point: I have beef with Bozeman. Sure, it’s got all the usual traits of a mountain town: full of transplants (I’m calling out every one of you that complain about the…

Hunter education depends on volunteers. Fred King enjoys disconnecting from the busyness of life and reconnecting with himself each year through three traditions: cutting firewood, cutting a Christmas tree, and harvesting…

The beginning of Earth's story, told by Montana's highest peaks. Bozeman is surrounded by mountains, and we all know that mountains are formed by geologic processes. That’s why so many geologists hang out in the mountains…

How to avoid injury this hunting season. For many Montanans, hunting season is highly anticipated each fall. It provides us with a chance to get out into the backcountry, spend time with friends and family, and hopefully…

How to stay on the singletrack this fall. With the aspens turning golden, and dustings of snow in the alpine clearing the air, all-day epics on high-country singletrack are in order. After a whole summer of riding, let…

Tips & tricks in bear country. We are lucky to live in the great state of Montana for countless reasons, including this: bears live here, too. As grizzly-bear populations expand back into their historic range, the…

Tips on winterizing outdoor gear. Don’t start today by doing yesterday’s work. —Deniece Schofield As the year winds down, warm weather activities come to an end. We squeeze in a final float, take the last ride, and go on…

Advice for better orienteering. Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of the natural. —Ralph Waldo Emerson If you’re like most people, you carry your phone into the woods, using software such as…

Re-thinking the concept of courtesy. Most of us are courteous people. At least in Montana, anyway. So when we find ourselves intruding on others, we back off. Which is the proper behavior, right? Well, maybe, maybe not.…

Bozeman's wild wallpaper. Try as we might, we can’t spend every waking minute of our lives in nature. We sojourn to the mountains and rivers, our minds focus on the present moment, and we start to feel as though this…

Nonconformity has its benefits. “Hey Jeff. C’mere.” I heard Vince call as he readied the boat. “Let’s show these guys how it’s done.” We were at a popular boat ramp on a popular Montana river. The morning put-in, or…

A fall multi-sport close to home. Bleached by sun and sculpted by wind, a dead tree clings dramatically to a small rocky ridge at the high point where the steep climbers’ trail intersects the official Chestnut Mountain…

Wounding is the worst part of hunting. Her hind leg flopped lifelessly as she ran. Now, it was nothing but a piece of extra baggage she had to haul across the prairie on her way to a slow and painful death. The pit in my…

15 years of Huffing for Stuffing. It was on Thanksgiving Day 2007 that hundreds of participants lined up outside the Bozeman hospital in running shoes, windbreakers, and costumes to take part in the inaugural Huffing for…

Top 10 ways to welcome the snow, sans skis. Predictably, sometime in mid- to late October, southwest Montana gets slammed with a huge cold front that brings lots of snow to the mountains. We suddenly forget about hiking,…

The sound of a bird can changeyour mood or your lifeYou don’t need to see the birdYou know what it looks likeThe bird doesn’t need to see youto know what its song has done

And like a ghost, the hunter is there, as if formed from thin air on the limbs of the trees that once hid me, to let his arrow fly through the wind and the brush, a cruel sharpness leading the charge. As the forest grows…

A fowl-proof recipe. At 3am the door swung open. “I’ve waited a long time for this,” I heard, as I wiped my eyes. I gained consciousness and noticed wading boots and a shotgun I hadn’t seen before. “Today’s your first duck…

A weekend in Montana's badlands. Glendivians might disagree, but it would do Bozemanites some good to spend a long weekend in eastern Montana. This region bears a unique allure, with marvels such as the Great Plains…

Hiking the hallowed halls of fall. Hiking in the fall can be tricky. One week it’s steamin’ hot outside and the next week everything is covered in snow. But autumn is one of the best opportunities to check out a new trail…

Maintaining the perfect body temperature while hunting is no easy chore. From glassing on early mornings to stalking through impromptu snowstorms, having a reliable mid-layer is crucial. The Kelvin Lite Down Jacket from…

After strenuous activity on hot summer days, there’s only one thing better than cold water—and that’s cold water with electrolytes and B-vitamins. Enter Gnarly Hydrate, a healthier, less-sugary option than many popular…

With a unique pattern designed by artists in rural India, the organic-cotton-blended Janu Shirt from Outdoor Research sets itself apart from the crowd. Besides an extraordinary style, the Janu is lightweight, moisture-…

Garmin calls its Inreach Mini “pocket-sized peace of mind.” It is certainly true that carrying this device on adventures gives me a sense of security. It also boasts many user-friendly features. Though I don’t plan to use…

When hunting, I keep my kit simple—which means I need one coat for all conditions. From mid-September in the high country to late November on the prairie, the Sitka Jetstream Jacket keeps me warm and dry. This versatile…

I’ve been camping in hundreds of spots around the world, and one of my key rules is to leave no trace. I can't begin to count the number of times I've discovered a beautiful spot spoiled by people leaving a rock fire pit…

I’ve been wearing Costa sunglasses since the 1980s when I first discovered them at a surfing competition at Daytona Beach. I wore them constantly fishing for tarpon, redfish, and snook. Forty years later, I live in Montana…

In a world of high-tech, colorful climbing gear, finding the right fit is overwhelming—there are countless brands, styles, and other options to choose from. However, Climbing Technology has got a one-stop-shop solution that…

As with most things in climbing, balance is key. This is true from footholds and gear placements, to the cord that keeps you safely tethered to your partner. To satisfy the latter, I picked up a 60-meter, 9.6mm Sterling …

Here’s an idea: instead of carrying several different rods in your (requisite) rooftop rod-holder, maybe just have one rod with different tips? That way, you have an extra tip if you break one, and you also have multiple…

Beauty lies in simplicity. The USWE Pace 8’s simple design gets the important details right. Tailored construction with a breathable mesh lining allows for a lightweight fit, free of bouncing and chafing. Well-designed…

Backpacking may be about beauty and solitude, but car-camping connotes comfort & convenience—and the Zenbivy Motobed delivers both in spades. Simply unstrap, roll out, blow up, and climb in. It's as easy as that. The…

Mountain biking in bear country—around here, it's unavoidable. In almost every direction, there's a chance of an untimely encounter with a surprised, protective, or pissed-off bruin. And if your bear spray is in your bike…

The adaptable Zenbivy Light Bed offers autonomy to backpackers of all kinds. From classic mummy bag to plain old pad-and-blanket, the hook-and-loop system allows you to choose how you assemble your sleeping setup. The kit…

Nobody knows wet weather better than sailors, so it's no surprise that the Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity Shell Jacket sheds moisture like a freshly lacquered poop deck. The company has a marine background, and they've put…

From floating the river to picnicking in in the park, a good cooler is a summertime staple. Classic hard-sided coolers may be the standard for longer outings, but for shorter jaunts and when space is at a premium, a quality…

When it rains, it pours—especially in Montana, as those late-afternoon thundershowers hammer the hapless with raging wind and frigid raindrops. To fend off this fearsome weather, quality rainwear is essential. Enter Beyond…

With its light weight, snug & comfy fit, and slick SUPER DWR finish, the Hydro III by Jack Wolfskin is an excellent choice for cool mornings on the trail. This versatile mid-layer repels light drizzle indefinitely, and…

With cold mornings, warm afternoons, and sudden rain and snow squalls, springtime in Montana is variable to say the least. To stay comfortable while chasing gobblers, I picked up a Sitka Mountain Jacket, a lean, quiet coat…

When tramping around the mountains in search of game, a hunter often goes from vigorously hiking to being absolutely still and back again, all day long. This constant start-and-stop routine demands much of a hunting coat,…

Four-Fifths a Grizzly (Patagonia, $28) by Douglas Chadwick changed my perspective on the behavior of grizzly bears. Chadwick, a renowned writer for National Geographic, has studied grizzlies for years. Watching them out in…

Being a proponent of public lands, I was interested in reading Betsy Gaines Quammen’s American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God & Public Lands in the West (Torrey House Press, $19). After watching the events in Bunkerville in…

Among southwest Montana’s most elusive and enigmatic animals are the heavily muscled beasts of the high country: mountain goats and bighorn sheep. And everything you ever wanted to know about them can be found in Greater…

Visiting Yellowstone Park can feel intimidating—let alone trying to check it off your list in just one day. But don’t let your timeframe deter you from seeing all that the Park has to offer. Whether you’re there for a day…

Bryan Schaeffer is at it again with the second book in his "Last Best" series. He came out with The Last Best Ski Montana in the fall of 2020 and didn’t hesitate before starting a new project. In his latest, The Last Best…