Summer 2018

Climbing Mount Wallace.  “So, if you cannot understand that there is something in a man which responds to the challenge of the mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and…

Summers on the Big Hole.   It seems like a lifetime ago.  In the ’70s and ’80s, my wife Pam and I and our two kids would meet my best friend Dick McGinnis and his wife Diane and their two kids on the upper Big Hole River…

Bozeman reacts to Wilderness recommendations. If one were to choose the American city with the greatest wildlands opportunities, few could compete with Bozeman. Mountains rise in all directions, with vast forests and…

The women growing Bozeman's bike community.  At age twelve I lived at the bottom of long, steep hill. I’d pedal my pink Schwinn to the top, spin around, and sail over the hill’s lip pedaling as fast as I could. As I gained…

When ecological systems are free to play themselves out on a large scale, things get a little dirty—and that’s a good thing.  Close friends of mine know that around mid-August, I generally have a hitch in my getalong—a…

Freefalling with DZone Skydiving.  “It’s not looking good,” the pilot, Jon lamented, as he surveyed thick clouds closing in around us. “We’re probably going to need you to reschedule.” I couldn’t help feeling the sting of…

Wild-turkey kebabs.   Traditionally, ground-meat kebabs are made with lamb, and while lamb kebabs are delicious, the meat is expensive. This summer, try some ground turkey on the grill. Not only does turkey blend well with…

Scrambling up the crown of the Absarokas.  Nestled among the high peaks of the Absarokas, Elbow Lake sits waveless and inviting on a hot July day. Above the eastern shore towers the granite walls of Eenie, Meenie, Miney,…

Discovering nature’s bounty. You probably know that dandelion leaves and flowers are edible, but did you realize how many essential nutrients they contain, or that their dried roots can be made into a tea that can help…

Riding West Pine to North Dry. This summer, head over toward Livingston to satiate your singletrack addiction. In the past several years the Livingston Bike Club and many friends have been hard at work improving the West…

Beaver reintroduction in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.  Beavers have long shaped the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, their stick-and-mud dams slowing high-meadow streams and creating sparkling pools that teem with life…

Hiking Yellowstone's boundary trails.  There’s nothing like running your hands over the bark of a scarred tree to get a sense of those who came before, whether it’s the mark of a grizzly, an elk working to shed the velvet…

For wildlife, they're weapons of mass destruction.  If you drive east on I-90 past the Bear Canyon exit, you may notice a section of high fencing along the sides of the interstate. Look more closely and you’ll find four…

Exploring southwest Montana’s state parks.  We all know and love the big national parks at the top and bottom of our state. They’re dramatic, inspiring, and in the summer, they’re crowded. Luckily for us, Montana is rich…

Remembering Mary Vant Hull.  A bench dedicated to Mary Vant Hull sits atop Peets Hill overlooking Bozeman, the city she deeply loved. It’s an apt place to remember the community activist who died on January 1, 2017, at the…

Drones in the outdoors.  On a warm summer morning, a mile up Bear Trap Canyon in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, there’s usually little to hear but the constant harmonics of the Madison River moving swiftly past, the whine of…

A last gasp for a storied tradition.   Long a vast, untamed wilderness, Montana’s north country was civilized in large part due to the Great Northern Railroad, which delivered settlers and supplies from more populous…

Public discourse on public lands. Montana’s wild backcountry is essential to our state. From the high alpine to forested foothills, sagebrush-steppe grasslands to abundant riparian areas—it’s a diverse landscape, and it…

Photographing Yellowstone's summer bison.   It’s uncommon to venture into Yellowstone without encountering bison. At over 4,000 strong, they’re a dominant presence on the roads, on the trails, and throughout the Park’s…

A near-miss with an angry moose.  Like most people who get outside a lot, I’ve had plenty of close encounters with wild animals. I’ve been treed by a bear and by a semi-wild bovine bull; I had to run from a stampede of…

A mini-vacation along the Gallatin.  The first fish I ever caught was on the Gallatin, a 10-inch rainbow that I accidentally hooked while letting out some line; I think I was more surprised than the fish. I haven’t caught…

Tying an effective summer fly. Although the spruce moth has a bad rap for killing millions of acres of trees in the West (rightfully so), it holds a special place in many trout angler’s hearts. Spruce moths tend to flutter…

Family-friendly Yellowstone.  Bozeman parents, you sure are lucky. You get to live within an hour and a half of two Yellowstone National Park entrances. There’s a lot to see from the car or the boardwalks, but the Park…

The uncertain fate of a Gallatin River icon.  “The old bridge will be removed.” That’s what Gallatin County Commissioner Don Seifert, along with Commission Chair Steve White, told Outside Bozeman. For groups like the…

Imbibe with the tribe.  The pickup tailgate after a blissful singletrack descent; the captain’s seat of a driftboat as the sun dips below the Gallatin Range; the half-light of a campfire circle as your buddy tells that…

Prepping for a successful season.   Just over four miles from the truck by foot and headlamp, we stashed our pack frames in a downed aspen. Another two miles and 2,000 vertical feet put my hunting partner and me in…

Packrafting local waters.   Bozeman summers are short and full of activity. So why add yet another option to the mix? Because variety is the spice of life, that’s why, and trying new things is fun. This summer, try…

A guide to Yankee Jim’s whitewater.  The Yellowstone River, specifically the mighty Yankee Jim Canyon, has the biggest whitewater features in the state. Don’t believe me? Go to any bar in Gardiner this summer and ask the…

Keeping the fun in sport. It’s a pleasant summer afternoon and a group of us have driven out to Paradise Valley to climb at Allenspur. We’ve warmed up on a couple routes we know, and now it’s my turn to start up one we don’…

Summer's alien invasion. No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than our own… (that) across the gulf of space….…

Wilderness gets no second chances. “Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.”—Winston ChurchillMy dad is a fan of home projects, and as a result, I spent much of my youth digging holes, holding boards,…

This summer, lighten up.  After the long slosh and skid of winter finally recedes, the sudden profusion of thawed tarmac, green valleys, and snow-capped vistas cannot but tickle already itchy feet. On any given summer day…

The best stories often come down to the difference between what is perceived and what actually happens. Anyone who spends time roaming the mountains of Montana knows that this difference can sometimes be a chasm.…

The Alterra GTX hiking boots are durable yet comfortable, making them a great choice for long treks through the Montana high country. On a multi-day backpack through Glacier’s rugged peaks and canyons, the Alterras…

On big backcountry rides, performance is king. That’s why I’m stoked about the aggressive outsoles on Pearl Izumi’s X-Alp Elevate biking shoe. The Vibram tread provides awesome traction on technical hike-a-bikes without…

You wake up in your tent on a damp and chilly summer morning, hesitating to unzip your sleeping bag. Unless you’re donning the Pinion down pullover, that is. This water-repellent, ultralight, hooded jacket is a Stio…

Packing enough water for a long run is tough in summer heat. That’s why I’ve started using the Salomon Advance Skin 12 Step hydration vest. This form-fitting pack comes with two 17-oz. soft flasks that ride comfortably in…

With an integrated burner, two 1.3L pots, a lockable pot-gripper, and a lid with an integrated colander, the PrimeTech stove set  gives you a whole new world of backcountry culinary options. The entire setup packs into an…

I was an early adopter of the land-ownership chips from OnX—I’ve had one in my GPS for seven years now. You’d think it’d be hard to sing praise for this handy device every other year, but each time I get the latest…

If you’re protecting your gear and clothing in the 60L Tote dry bag, and it falls out on a dirt road going 30 mph, it’ll be fine—we checked. Also great for rafting and as airline baggage, this versatile dry bag has welded…

The Launch is a trail-riding short that’s ready for the elements. Loaded with great details, plus an effective moisture-transfer-management fabric, these shorts are comfortable no matter how long or hard you’re riding.…

Pearl Izumi continues to develop its mountain-bike lineup by adding a flat-pedal shoe. The women’s X-ALP Launch is a stylish and lightweight sneaker that, despite its looks, is ready for the abuse of a full day on the…

Relax in style anywhere with the Wilderness Backpacker from GCI Outdoor. From upright to fully reclined, this well-built, four-position chair has a cup-holder (of course), headrest, and shoulder straps for hands-free carry…

When you’re ready to take your paddleboarding up a notch—and that means runnin’ the rivers, rapids and all—consider the Quiver by NRS. This extra-wide, highly maneuverable board combines rock-hard inflatability with extra…