Spring 2006

Creekboating in southwest Montana. The ephemeral blue ice floes yawn and stretch in the brilliant reflection of snow-covered peaks. A steady drip soon becomes a trickle; the water glistens between the precipice and the…

At the dawn of 2005, we asked Outside Bozeman readers to document their most illustrious Suby tales — stories about Subarus and their place as one of Montana’s most honored vehicular residents. We figured it was high time…

A spring bike ride in Yellowstone Park. In the height of summer, cycling on any of Yellowstone National Park’s main roads seems to be one of those chance adventures where the rider's survival is arguably a matter of luck.…

Portrait of a climber.We Montanans are not generally known for our exceptional water polo players. Nor for our contributions to the beach volleyball athlete pool. The Big Sky state tends to produce athletes and adventurers…

The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope. —Wendell BerryHow do you define the term…

The crown of the spring sky. Ah, spring—when a young cowboy’s fancy turns to thoughts of, well, calf-roping and branding and the sorts of things that make boy calves sing soprano. And as if to remind the cowpuncher of his…

An interview with music legend Leo Kottke. For the last 35 years, Leo Kottke has been considered one of the most talented and innovative guitarists around. His most recent album, Sixty-Six Steps, recorded with Phish…

Intelligent design would be just fineby me if the people who came up with suchideas stripped down and spent as much timeas they could naked. That way we'd see the touchof the creator as he/she intended it. Take buttsfor…

Chasing Montana's largest bird.Early April marks the season-opener in Montana for North America’s largest upland game bird, the Wild Merriam turkey. Although Montana falls well outside the Merriam turkey’s traditional range…

Lots of rafts are showing up on Montana’s rivers lately, and with good reason. They’re fun, safe, stable, and take you places with friends. With all the choices out there, let’s take a look at what fits for our rivers.…

When the farmers’ markets open in the spring, a bike ride out to Bogert Park or the fairgrounds for some morning air and conversation with friends is a favorite activity. Talented young musicians serenade the crowd with…

An ice cream sandwich— I like vanilla. I've eaten my beans, I've eaten my dinner. My hands are sticky, I have no napkin. Could wash them right now but that ain't gonna happen. Wipe them on my shirt? It will leave a stain. I…

When matching wines for most dishes, I often look to the sauce or seasoning. Yeah, you can play it safe with the “white with fish and red with meat” routine, but that doesn’t always work, and it’s not always fun either. And…

In Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize-winning trilogy, Mourning Becomes Electra, the protagonist’s grief becomes her source of strength. The sorrow shared by family and friends of those who have perished on Montana roads is…

Many times in the dental office, after patients have answered a page full of questions about their general health and any medications that they are taking, they will ask me why I need all of that information just so they…

For most of the winter, warm days and cold nights create hideous, shin-slicing crusts. Yet in the spring these same conditions make dreamy “corn snow.” Deep powder reigns champion on my fun meter, but corn skiing is a close…

The annual Cold Smoke Awards at the Emerson. Every April folks from around the state gather at the Emerson Cultural Center to celebrate the winter that was. They come dressed in old-school ski garb and quickly fill the…

26–total personal income, in billions of dollars, of Montana residents in 20043–Montana’s rank (if it were a person) in world’s richest individuals19–percent increase in average purchase price of housing in Montana from…

My dog is all nose. Black and quivering, it leads him headlong after any whiff of nonsense. Like the day I came down from Mystic Lake. My dog trotted by the creek, snuffling after squirrels but coming when I called. Around…

After a hard day outside, when you feel so sore you can barely move or so cold your toes might snap off, just head to one of our nearby hot springs and melt your discomforts away. With everything from primitive springs…

From my perch on a crumbling, volcanic overlook, I faced a small, grassy basin and a shallow, broad lake. To my right, Palace Butte guarded a cliff edge where Twin Falls tumbled abruptly from the basin into the main Hyalite…

“There is nothing more practical in the end than the preservation of beauty.” —Teddy RooseveltWhen I first heard about Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22nd, I was ecstatic. Now there was a holiday I could get…

I started buying bottled water a few years ago, when I decided to start living by the 64-ounces-a-day rule. At first, the bottles were great. I could put a few in the car, two in my gym bag, and one in the diaper bag. I…

To test the legitimacy of Bozeman’s claim as one of the best towns around, we decided to compare it to similar small cities across the country. First up: Burlington, Vermont, home of the University of Vermont and minutes…

If Bozeman gets a little too “big city” for you this spring, or if you’re just looking for a damn good time, think about heading east. May 19-21 is the annual Miles City Bucking Horse Sale and it is guaranteed to entertain…

In 1993, American climber Greg Mortenson, fresh off a failed attempt at the summit of K2, stumbled into the village of Korphe in the shadow of Pakistan’s Karakoram Range. Despite their impoverished existence, the villagers…

Getting back into step for spring. As an orthopedic surgeon here in Bozeman, I have the opportunity to see a variety of patients with a plethora of different problems. Every spring it’s the same old thing. The office fills…

For the very first time, the Montana Bicycle Racing Association (MBRA) has unveiled a complete summer series. There are nine races in all, beginning in Billings on May 21 and ending in Helena on September 10. The other race…

It seems it’s happened again—the inclement winter weather has reduced the amount that you regularly exercise, and the savory holiday meals followed by decadent desserts have packed your body with some unwanted stuffing. We…

After a long winter in the Montana high country, glacier lilies are among the first color to return that does not crawl or creep or fly. In a sense they do move, though, their bright yellow blossoms flourishing in the bare…

1. Big Hole Valley 2. Pierre's Knob 3. Bangtail Divide 4. Lone Mounting 5. Yellowstone Pork 6. Gettinwood Canyon 7. Cheekhold Hot Springs 8. Beehind Basin 9. Canyon Fairy 10. Gallatin Gayway

I used to think yoga was for sissies, Pilates for the lazy, and Rolf—who the heck is he? As I’ve managed to mature (just a little) through a series of unfortunate mishaps—a torn ACL courtesy of skiing, a strained hamstring…

Imitating bears, becoming possessed by their spirit, and sometimes even becoming a bear are all part of Native American Bear Dances. Bear Dances were performed for many reasons: for the Yocuts it was a harvest rite, the…

Spring into early-season fishing. Perhaps you’ve ventured out during the winter months to favored local rivers when the weather permitted, attempting some deep-water nymphing or looking for elusive midge hatch. Now it is…

If you’re looking for a new creek boat, check out the Dagger Nomad. The Nomad comes in two sizes, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a 120-pound chick or a 240-pound dude. The Nomad 8.1 (8’ long, 25.5” wide, 68 gallons, 42…

For many, Riot kayaks are synonymous with expert-only paddlers. But Riot’s designs, as well as their “brash and youthful” image, have matured over the years. With the Astro 54 they’ve found a nice blend of performance,…

Any day you pull on a dry top is a good day. Even if it’s late winter and 30 degrees at the Beartrap put-in—which is where I found myself testing out the new Lotus Designs Royal Flush dry top. Lotus has a reputation for…

After selling sprayskirts for more than 25 years, you get to know a thing or two about them. First, the Snap Dragon skirts are the best made we've ever found. This might be because the owner of the company still makes the…

Any adventure sport is truly about minimizing the risk, focusing on the task at hand, and proceeding to have the time of your life. Proper gear and knowledge are the best ways to minimize the risk, giving you the peace of…

There is no need to hike naked to a visitor center after your boat is capsized and pinned to a rock midriver. Your friends don’t have to almost die from hypothermia crossing a lake because you chose to save the gear first.…

Ah, spring—when a young cowboy’s fancy turns to thoughts of, well, calf roping and branding and the sorts of things that make boy calves sing soprano in the herd. And as if to remind the cowpuncher of his springtime lariat…

As the snow begins to melt and the trees brighten with their spring colors, anglers gear up for some of the best dry fly fishing the season has to offer. The notorious caddis, the small meat-and-potatoes insect of the trout…

Pursuit of a Unique QuarryBeginning on November 15, 2005, thirty-four Montana sportsmen and women got the chance to participate in a unique hunting experience. With the start of Montana’s first bison hunt in 15 years, these…