Summer 2004

We’re barreling down Interstate 191 in a third-hand Chevy Suburban; the mountains, like shuffled cards, pass by indiscriminately. There’s no fire of which to speak, nor are we being chased; this is Montana, by God, and we’…

A look at Quake Lake. A salty fisherman, staggering to another haunt, pauses mid-weave. Cocking his head to the side, a puzzled eyebrow raised, he listens to the sudden lapping of waves rolling through the wharf to caress…

All about Gallatin Valley BMX and the Westlake BMX Park.We drove past the bicycle motocross (BMX) track on the way to the grocery store. I saw mounds of dirt, choking summer dust, and a white, paint-chipped shack…

Learning about Yellowstone's thermal features.Peering into the surging, superheated water of Ojo Caliente, the rising steam brings an acrid, sulfurous stench to our nostrils. We grimace in unison. The intensely alkaline…

The Bozone from above. Editor's note: This article is from 2004; prices and contact info may not be accurate. Also, Balloons over Bozeman is now Endeavor Ballooning, owned by Colin & Brittany Graham. The Gallatin…

"while wateing for the canoes to arrive I killed an otter which sunk to the bottom on being shot, a circumstance unususal with that anamal. The water was about 8 feet deep yet so clear that I could see it at the bottom; I…

Ever wonder what life was like for Bozeman-area homesteaders in the 1800s? The Museum of the Rockies has taken painstaking efforts to keep the memory of our geographic forbears alive, by recreating a realistic portrait of…

I was enjoying an evening bike ride with my dog, Kirby. Along the way, the trail ran between two ponds and we stopped to watch a large beaver swim around. I was surprised at how close he came to us—I could even see his eyes…

Summertime is the time to be outside, and what better way to soak up some warm sunshine than at one of our fine selection of outdoor eateries? With nearly a dozen open-air choices, you're sure to find one with that magic…

There’s a saying in the magazine business: three to breathe, five you’re alive. We’re not sure exactly what “alive” means, but we do know that this issue marks exactly five years of Outside Bozeman—12 issues and counting.…

Existing is a game of eternal compromise, reevaluation, and modifications. Once in a while, a person comes across something that fits his or her life perfectly. For me, living in my truck was finding a square hole for a…

A relay race unlike any other. We’d done it. Our team ran all the way from Headwaters State Park near Three Forks to Hellroaring Creek in the Centennial Valley—235 miles through spectacular Southwest Montana country. It…

A quick tour through Virginia City.With only 150 year-round residents, Virginia City, the county seat of nearby Madison County, is the least-populated county seat in the State of Montana, barely edging out the 188 fine…

This summer, when the mercury rises and another float down the tepid Lower Madison River sounds anything but refreshing, one might consider loading up the family for a day at Montana’s first state park. Tucked back into the…

July 10, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.Depot Rotary Park in Livingston, MontanaSustainability is…a vision and a journey that promotes environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and community well being. Sustainability is achieved…

No one can say for sure what day the Gallatin River was born. But that doesn’t mean we can’t throw it a party every year.After all, the Gallatin River provides us with priceless beauty, world-class recreational…

Trends with urban sprawl and obesity.Everyone's heard that obesity will soon become America's largest health threat and that two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. Now we know that urban sprawl is part of the problem: In…

Since the founding of The International Federation of Fly Fishers in 1960, the annual International Fly Fishing Fair has become the must-attend event for fly fisher folk around the world. This year’s 39th anniversary show…

Music in the Mountains. Each summer, area residents and visitors head to Big Sky for the annual Music in the Mountains outdoor-concert series, which has featured top-notch national entertainment on the Meadow Village…

Early summer in Southwest Montana is typically striped with muddy, raging rivers full of the melted snows of winter. Most anglers this time of year seek out tailwater fisheries and lakes. The-stout of-heart, however, know…

Bill Johnson just wanted to get his life back on track. After the tremendous high of winning Olympic Gold in the Downhill at Sarajevo, his personal life became a mess. He decided to go back to the beginning, back to the…

The long days of summer are here for us to enjoy... but what to do? Well, load up the car with your camping gear and get out there is what I say. Enjoy Montana for what it is, an outdoor person's paradise. Whether you're a…

How to find a caffeinated constellation.Whether you’re a saddle-weary cowpoke or a wilderness adventurer, there seems to be one gastronomical truth about the Western mythos of outdoor living: at the end of a long, hard day…