Spring 2009

Whether it’s the quest for monster trout, the search for the Flathead Monster, or the snagging of prehistoric fish, Montana lays claim to some impressive big-fish lore. Here’s a look at some of the best-known Big Sky…

By the time May rolls around, most of us are looking forward to the mountain biking season and miles of twisting and turning single-track bliss. The problem is, area trails usually don’t dry out until mid-June. Solution:…

Throughout history people have been inspired by mountains in different ways. Some for the beauty and solitude, and others for the recreation they offer—such as the challenge of ascending and descending them. In the spring…

A fisherman, Buddhist monk, and a blonde meet on a riverbank in Inner Mongolia.This scenario might sound punch-line perfect, but it actually represents the real-life collaboration between anglers, Mongolian monks, and the…

What a Wednesday in Yellowstone! Whether you just need a lift to Mammoth or Old Faithful, or want to stay aboard for an entire day’s guided adventure, a Yellowstone Park shuttle is the way to go.Leaving Bozeman about 7 am,…

Guidebooks to get you through the shoulder season. Late spring in southwest Montana is a glorious time indeed—wildflowers garnish the foothills, meltwater cascades down matted slopes, and the sun yields more light each day…

I discovered the Zirdle my first season working at the fly shop. It was hidden in the top row of the streamer bin, on a need-to-know basis. Of course, that prompted my curiosity. On my next day off I fished the bird float (…

In Montana, it's a sin to not take a kid fishing. Thankfully, most Montana communities are blessed with ponds and streams managed and stocked specifically for kids. Sadly, I see few kids or parents taking advantage of these…

Urban trails may get overlooked, but they help us thrive by offering opportunities for recreation, alternative transportation, and a higher quality of life. It seems trails ought to be a key part of the valley’s…

How to capture images on the fly.Here's the deal with photographing action: if you don’t get it right, you can't save it later with Photoshop. Out of focus is out of focus. Kathy Eyster, who teaches digital imaging and has…

Lessons from the Gallatin. The ability to easily and cheaply rent professional-grade whitewater rafts in Bozeman is a beautiful thing. It allows inexperienced, impulsive morons like me and my friends to get into potentially…

I used to avoid entering fishing tournaments because of some false impressions I had about competitive fishing, mainly my concern that it had a negative impact on the fishery. But based on my limited experience as a…

"Let's go llamas!" So sings German-born Susi Sinay, with emphasis on the first and last words, as she sets off down the Daley Creek Trail in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. Her refrain is repeated each time we…

DOGMATIC DOCTORIn your Summer 2008 issue Dr. Liz Layne has an excellent article on preventing heat exhaustion in pets. Then Mike England undoes all the good she did in his sidebar about the To-Go Bowl. He says, "Now [that…

Which one is better?   *Approximate number of scoville heat units in a Habanero pepper = 300,000* *Approximate number of scoville heat units in bear pepper spray = 3.2 million* Gary Clutter, a big-game hunter from Bozeman…

Tackling a Bozeman classic. The rock looked flat to me; nothing to grab but tiny protruding nubs. How the hell do people do this? I thought. Our instructor Coop, scampering up the wall easily a few minutes before, had made…

It's time again to take a swing at other cities and see who comes out on top. This issue, we're picking on the tiny little Utah town of Salt Lake City. With a metro area that is home to about 1.8 million people, Salt Lake…

Although some folks are still enjoying what snow can be found, others have already shifted toward traveling on two wheels. Bicycle season is approaching, and nothing kills the spirit of the season more than finding your…

I turned 40 and had a baby and knee surgery all within a year. It took me two years to recover. The doctor told me that with bone on bone in that knee, the one thing I should never do was run. Of course, having been a…

As we trade our skis and skates for bikes and boots, our animals are entering the most dangerous time of year for parasitic disease. Many parasites affect pets, but the two I am asked most about are fleas and heartworms.…

Although humans no longer need to run for basic survival, cardiovascular exercise still helps us to reduce our risk of chronic disease and offers many other preventive benefits as well. A heel strike during a running stride…

As pursuits go there is nothing that turns the proverbial crank quite like a hunt. But alas, spring is not usually considered the season for such things. Although this may be the case, and aside from the hibernation-thinned…

Montana is slotted to receive about $625 million from the new stimulus package, an amount Sen. Jon Tester says will save or create 11,000 jobs in the state. The lion's share of the package, about $333 million, is for the…

Springtime activities in Gardiner. With the ski hills shut down and the local trails slathered in mud, spring’s a great time to jump in the car for a close-to-home road trip—and Gardiner is a great place to start.…

I think my sister coined the term trucker butt during one particularly memorable trip back to Iowa after a Colorado backpacking foray. At about hour 14 of the 16-hour push, I recall, in my groggy haze, gazing over at her…

Mountain biking is not a crime—unless you’re in a Wilderness Protection Area. That’s why the Montana Mountain Bike Alliance (MMBA) seeks a relatively new bike-friendly designation: A National Protection Area, or NPA, for…

Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder where you—went?Have you looked for the North Star lately anywhere around the northeast side of town or downtown? Wasn't it brighter just a few years ago?What’s happening in the…

I feel like I’m gonna hurl.It’s round four of “The Chief,” a brutal combination of power cleans, pushups, and squats. We’ve been doing all three exercises—in rapid succession and with painfully short breaks between rounds—…

Learning the lingo of kayakers. Whitewater boaters, like Trekkies, have a jargon all their own. But instead of completely fictional, original terminology, most river terms also translate into land-lubber. So to clarify, I’…

For those wet winter days spent commuting on your bike or riding in the mountains, the need for a truly waterproof bag is sometimes overlooked. Whether your need is to separate a camera from a waterbottle inside another bag…

I bought a pair of Red Ants Pants at the Bioneers Conference last October and have been wearing them most days since. Based in White Sulphur Springs and made in the U.S., these pants are designed exclusively for women (…

The top compliment a pair of pants can receive is that they are unnoticeable. Such is the case with the Nanda Devi Pant from Isis. When I wear them cross-country skiing, it’s like they aren’t even there. I’m not hot or cold…

I’ve been wearing a baggy men’s down jacket for 10 years. It has served its purpose, but it was time to upgrade to something with a better fit and bit more style. The Niobe Jacket is the cure to my baggy-coat blues.The…

These are not for every Bridger in the bunch. If the most exercise your dog gets is running down Peets Hill to catch a Frisbee, you’re definitely alright with letting him go au naturale on his paws. However, if your pup…

On December 3, 2008, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks director Joe Maurier approved the controversial Royal Teton Ranch Grazing Restriction Agreement, which calls for the National Park Service, a handful of non-government…

Staying local. There are plenty of fun and inexpensive ways to enjoy your own local community and culture right here in Bozeman. The Downtown Bozeman Association (DBA) sponsors several spring events starting with the…

Tips & tricks for better landscaping in an arid climate. When it comes to sustainability, planet and pocketbook are often at odds. Some practices, however take care of both. Xeriscaping, for example, is the wise use of…

Glacier National Park: The First 100 Years (hardback $40) by C. W. Guthrie is a stunning coffee-table book full of history and wonderful old photographs. Did you know that more than 4,000 people attended the opening…

Books on avalanche safety have been flying out the doors. They include ABCs of Avalanche Safety by Sue A. Ferguson and Edward R. LaChapelle (paperback $8), Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper (paperback $19…

We are excited to have two new children's books about Greg Mortenson's work building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea (hardcover $17) is written for kids…

In Great Places: Montana, Chuck Robbins divides Montana into seven regions in this recreationist’s guide to Montana’s public lands. Each region has 50-odd pages of description, complete with color pictures, maps, travel…

50 Recipes for camp and trail. Paying $12 for freeze-dried camping "entrees" that taste like crap is for lazy bastards. At least that's what I think to myself when I'm standing in line to pay $12 for freeze-dried camping "…

Kudos to Kyle Vassilopoulos and First Ascent Press for shedding new light on the many rock climbing gems hidden in Southwest Montana! Inspired by the dearth of current climbing beta, Vassilopoulos has filled a long-vacant…

I met my fly fisherman in the month of January, the off-season. Skiing together by day, dinner together at night… I was blissfully unaware of the compromises I’d soon learn to make to keep things together. Stopping the car…

100 Best Trout Flies for Montana Trout ($25; wildriverpress.com) by Tom R. Pero and Ted Fauceglia, is a fascinating and beautiful little book with the best fly photographs I've ever seen. The selection of patterns includes…

Serving as a complete guide, Montana: An Explorer’s Guide (Countryman Press, $22), covers everything from getting to Montana to where to stay and what to see. This guide’s countless hikes, bikes, river floats, fishing…

The title gives it away; this is one hell of a guide to two of our country's finest national parks. Although you’ll have to leave Montana, these parks have more to offer than you could dream of fitting into just one trip.…