Summer 2009

Everybody knows about Hyalite Reservoir and Fairy Lake, Bozeman area's "drive-up" lakes. But if you're willing to hike a little, you can escape the crowds and revel in the sunny solitude of these "secret" lakes nearby.…

The first time I saw Ben Selznick, Brad Ludden, and Nick Turner hurling themselves down the astounding creeks and rivers of Montana on the big screen of a Teton Gravity Research movie, I said to myself, “I want to go there…

With all the whitewater roaring through Bozeman's back yard, and the large number of intrepid paddlers who take full advantage of it, stories of boating adventure and glory are a dime a dozen in southwest Montana. But these…

In a world where fly fishing has become a lifestyle rather than a way to catch a few fish, it has become increasingly difficult to cast without casting judgment. Long before A River Runs Through It ran through our rivers…

Every day, one stalwart citizen does the right thing, while another acts like a blithering bonehead. Here's a recap of admirable acts and embarrassing blunders for the summer season.Champs: Belgrade resident Erik Slye, for…

In the past, I've written about options hikers and wilderness groups had to make peace with mountain bikers so the two key constituencies could work together to protect roadless land. One option was urging Congress to pass…

Men, like rivers, become crooked by following the line of least resistance. —Edvard Raasted Well, it took us a few months – the benefits have revealed themselves slowly, like an intense workout regimen after weeks of sloth…

"Here," says West Paw Design president Spencer Williams, grabbing a chunk of fuzz from one of the many machines in the company's warehouse east of Bozeman, "this is where the material gets finalized, ready to stuff the beds…

Sometimes, when the fishing is especially good we stop the moment, the boat in the current. Stop casting, and start smiling. We say to each other, damn, it's like we're in Montana or something. Like this is the Yellowstone…

I lived in Montana for eight years without ever actually leaving "Bozeman." Sure, I skied at Big Sky, backpacked the Beartooths, cycled Yellowstone, and soaked at Norris. However, I never escaped my Bozeman bubble when I…

"Almost ready?" Megan asked."Getting there," I replied while stuffing the tent into my backpack. "You excited?" "Of course," I lied. "It will be fun."My fraudulent response stemmed not from doubt, but from experience. For I…

Sixty feet off the ground, arms pulsing with lactic acid, you call to your belayer: "Watch me!" Your last bolt is a few feet below you, but rather than climbing back to its safety, you put your faith in the system and go…

I waited in anticipation for our excursion to begin, my backpack hefty but lifted by my group's fun spirit. We had taken classes for weeks to prepare for our weekend of camping, and it was finally time to set off. I took a…

So what do you do for fun? Me, I tend to strap 40 or 50 pounds of dead weight on my back and drag it and my ever-heavier carcass up some rock-strewn trail to a windswept, godforsaken mountainside, then pull all the junk out…

What Bozemanite doesn't look forward to a Targhee road trip? Whether it's skiing in the winter or a summer music festival, that Saturday-morning drive south just feels right. With stellar mountain-biking terrain, you’ve got…

It's what's for dinner. During much of the year, warm, windy, and bright conditions can make for a slow day of fishing for big river trout on the Yellowstone and Madison, but in the dog days of summer, big trout will eat…

Anglers know, of all bug hatches hatched, There is one, in particular, that cannot be matched Sometime in June, once the sun warms the eddies, The Madison fills with wild, colorful Betties No two alike, these nymphs flitter…

Although money is tight for many Montana families, there's an abundance of low-cost outdoor recreational activities right outside the front door. From state parks to rivers to fishing access sites, there's something for…

A DIY stove on a budget. If the recession has stolen all your gear cash, don't fret. Embrace your new hobo lifestyle by learning how to make a Super Cat stove. The Super Cat is bare bones, yet extremely effective, made…

The Bozeman Recreation Department helps facilitate a strong, vital and involved Bozeman community through parks, programs, and people and the opportunities available encompass all age groups, ability levels, and interests.…

Ten years ago I was a much younger man. I could hike further, climb faster, and ride longer. I could do it all on energy supplied by a PB&J and a Cliff Bar. Now that my pace has slowed, I've become more interested in…

The sweet swarm that changes everything. The rise is a curious one. Devoid of all precision and subtlety, the violent splash is trailed by a vacuum, capturing the surface tension in a brief and distinct whirlpool. It…

The Bogert Farmers' Market has quickly become one of Bozeman's premier summer events and it happens every Tuesday evening from 5 to 8 pm, starting June 2. This is the seventh year for the Tuesday-evening event, though…

When summer rolls around, Livingston's legendary wind dies down to wisps and breezes. The hills turn green and the snow melts off the Absarokas. Time to plan a day trip over the pass to the original "Gateway to Yellowstone…

Two days in the Yellowstone backcountry with Sunrise Pack Station.The ground passes by beneath my feet. The strange smell of leather, horse sweat, dust, and pine fills the air. The saddles rhythmically creak. I'm taking my…

Summer of CheapBack when mentioning your "stimulus package" was considered inappropriate, summer days were made for gleefully gas-guzzling down Highway 89, kayaks strapped non-aerodynamically to the top of the Land Cruiser…

Bozeman summers are perfect for taking your yoga practice outside. Not only do we have comfy temps, low humidity, and relatively few mosquitoes, you can't beat the inspiring scenery. So mosey your mat over to a spot with a…

A short drive down the road will take you to West Yellowstone, where a host of events and activities await you this summer.The Wild West Yellowstone rodeo kicks off June 18-20 and keeps going on several subsequent weekends…

To reach the next level in your chosen sport, there is, of course, the old manner of simply "training harder." Clearly this approach works to an extent. But think of the times when you had your best performances. Were you…

Worrying about what could go wrong shouldn't keep you from getting outside this summer. Risk is a part of life, after all. But beware: some outdoor critters have their sights set on taking you down should you get on their…

Roadies are disgusting. No, I'm not talking about the too-cool stoner hippies who follow crappy jam-bands around and eat a balanced diet of Hong Kong acid and organic granola. I'm talking about a far more foul, offensive,…

Learning fishing lingo. The first time someone asked if I had a woolly bugger, I immediately blew my nose to check. To avoid embarrassing equivocations, read up on the fly-fishing jargon below, and put the Kleenex down—for…

Ready to acquire yet another victory in the realm of recreational havens much like our own, Bozeman battles Bend, Oregon this summer. Bordered by the nearby Cascade Lakes and the Great Basin's high desert plateau, Bend…

Ennis is an ideal place to stage a low-rent getaway from this summer's revolving parade of guests, weddings, and company barbecues. Known around the world for fantastic fly fishing on the Madison, the town also sports an…

69,567: Miles of highways, roads, and streets in Montana (2006)1,952,737: Registered cars, trucks, and buses in Montana (2006)25: Number of "structurally deficient bridges" in Montana, per U.S. Dept. of Transportation4:…

Climbing cams are kinda like trucks: there are several manufacturers, and they're all about the same quality; what separates them is mainly personal preference. And my new preference is the Black Diamond Camalot C4-if for…

I've historically shunned the backpack-style water bladder; however, since losing-or should I say, "donating" my second SIGG water bottle in as many months-I have given up on the Swedish supercanteen in favor of strapping…

I've reviewed dozens of hiking boots over the years, but few have performed so well on the trail-or fit so well right out of the box-as the Lowa Zephyr GTX Mid. I got them early enough to test a variety of conditions, from…

Ever notice how the item you want always seems to be at the bottom of the dry bag, so you have to pull everything out, then stuff everything back in again? If you're sick of this inordinate susceptibility to Murphy's Law,…

In early April, 2009, vandals wreaked havoc at Dailey Lake Fishing Access site in the Paradise Valley. Using a vehicle, the vandals drove over 12 signs, including several large signs and a visitor kiosk. They also drove…

Be a team player. With more and more people traveling the backcountry, trails are getting crowded. Whether on bike, foot, or in your vehicle, be aware of your environment and give other trail users the space they need-…

Here's what you need to know about Hellroaring Creek:LocationPut-in: From Big Timber drive south about 52 miles up the main Boulder road (Hwy 298) to Sheep Creek trailhead. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle and white-knuckle…

As a child, I fished almost every day-however, I never kept a fish to eat. It wasn't because I embraced the ethos of Lee Wulff, but rather because no one in my family was much interested in cleaning and cooking a fish. For…

There's no shortage of foot races in southwest Montana—you can pretty much run one every weekend from June to September—but here are two of our favorites.Saturday, August 8The aptly named Bozeman Classic (aka, the Sweet…

A survey to assess public needs and opinions on parks and trails in Bozeman and Gallatin County closed in late April, with 1,189 people responding. The survey was the first step in the process to create a countywide…

Another source of fascination for Montanans is the Rocky Mountains. Climber and mountaineer Ed Cooper celebrates this awe-inspiring range in his photographic collection Soul of the Rockies: Portraits Of America's Largest…

For more technical information about spending time in the mountains, pick up The Altitude Experience (Globe Pequot Press, $23) by high-altitude climber Mike Farris. A survivor of the 2008 K2 tragedy, Farris combines the…

Another vital aspect of safety in the mountains is dealing with the weather. Dennis Diclaudio's new book Man vs. Weather (Penguin Books, $14) is a humorous and practical romp through the history and science of climatic…

Perhaps even more important than reading weather is knowing how to properly use that ubiquitous sapphire sheet covering wood piles and old cars across the country. The Blue Tarp Bible (Mountaineers Books, $13) by Ron C.…

Let me start with this: the photographs in this book are truly amazing. If I had to evaluate only that part of Horse: A Portrait (Willow Creek Press; $35), I'd give it a perfect score. Christiane Slawik is a talented…

For a timely, engaging read, check out Bozeman resident Mark T. Sullivan's novel, Triple Cross (St. Martin's Press, $25), a thriller based on the notorious Yellowstone Club and its absurdly wealthy—and often, absurdly…

Equally gripping is Larry Kaniut's Bear Tales for the Ages: From Alaska and Beyond (Alaska Northwest Books, $15), a collection of real-life stories of bear attacks. Twenty-two individual tales include a Montana grizzly…