Summer 2020

Traveling fast, far, and on foot through the rugged backcountry of southwest Montana. A mix of blood, sweat, and mud soaked into the shoes of four runners as they began their descent from Hyalite Peak. It was the 25th of…

Five all-day adventures for the summer season. At times it feels like Bozeman residents are in some sort of arms-race to extremity. Everywhere you look, people lope or bike along, checking heart-rates and Strava times.…

Pursuing cutthroats, goldens, and grayling in thin air. Stumbling out of my tent in the soft light of dawn, I wondered if the fish would be in a similar less-than-lucid state. At 8,400 feet, deep in the Gallatin Range, our…

Thirty years in the making, Bozeman’s Main Street to the Mountains trail system is a recreation success story—and it’s just one part of GVLT’s mission to make the Gallatin Valley a better place, right now and for…

What to look for this season. The Big Sky has some big players in it this summer, with the largest planets in our solar system holding court during our brief and balmier nights. After the sun goes down and it (finally)…

How to avoid a lightning strike. Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee you won’t get struck by lightning. Every bolt of lightning contains about five billion joules of energy, which is enough to power the average home…

Essential ingredients for running and climbing. Whether it’s a weekend ridge traverse or open climbing projects, we owe it to ourselves—and to all our invested energy—to ensure it’s all systems go in the mountains. Like…

A new all-natural metabolic aid. With shelf-upon-shelf of nutritional health supplements to choose from, it can be difficult to know which is right for you. But what if there was an all-natural, sustainably harvested,…

Photographing the bison rut. The bison rut, from late July through August, is an extreme and physically exhausting period for Yellowstone’s bulls, where they lose up to 10% of their bodyweight. The challenges are constant…

Gallatin access points get a facelift. Ever since the mid-’90s, when Paul Maclean took shadow-casting mainstream, scores of anglers have descended upon our little corner of paradise. Many set up shop along the banks of the…

Time & Place This much we know: all things are connected. —Chief Seattle Wind whispers through the firs as I make my way up the mountain. It’s steep, with loose duff over dry, rocky earth; I use the game trails for…

A private-public partnership in the Bridgers. If you’ve visited a Bozeman-area trailhead in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed something: they’re all crowded. This past spring, when schools and workplaces were…

Overnight canoe trips around Bozeman. In the summer, when the weather is warm and our outdoor playground abounds with opportunities for adventure, there appears a strange sense of urgency. How much can we cram in before…

The public benefits of private lands. As we extol our public lands—of which we can be justly proud—let us not overlook the importance of private working lands. For these are the most valuable lands in Montana, in terms of…

Yellowstone Park in the year of the Bug. This past spring was a rough one, but one silver lining for inhabitants of southwest Montana (along with '90s-era traffic and elbow room during the salmonfly hatch) is the…

Introducing your puppy to the trail.  If you think about it, hiking with your dog can subject her to the same maneuvers as an agility course—jumping and weaving between obstacles, maybe even balancing on a log bridge. …

Skiing the Great One. ’Tis the season for the Great Northern Couloir of Naya Nuki; aka, the Great One; aka, TGO. Where, on the Fourth of July, Bozeman skiers assemble en masse, like fishermen at the Mother’s Day caddis…

A breakthrough for bear defense. For decades, there have been just two choices for active bear repellants: firearms and bear spray. Now, there’s a third—a compact pistol that shoots canisters of fragrant, exploding meat…

Photographing birds of prey. Our Montana skies are full of raptors: red-tailed, rough-legged, sharp-shinned, Swainson’s, and Cooper’s hawks; American kestrels; bald and golden eagles; ospreys and turkey vultures; harriers…

Summertime hazards for dogs. With the long-awaited summer season comes sunny days, green grass, and river trips. We have the benefit of living in a beautiful area filled with outdoor activities that are fun for us all, and…

In defense of trashfish. As marked by the publication of Isaak Walton’s Compleat Angler in 1653, people have been getting fishing line tangled in branches for at least three and a half centuries. Catch-and-release angling…

Two decades with the CGNF. Over the past 20 years, the Custer-Gallatin National Forest has experienced many changes. A big one was the consolidation of the two separate forests in August 2014. The now 3.1-million-acre…

20 years of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. If there’s anything the year 2020 has reminded us so far, it’s that life is more complicated than it used to be.  The past 20 years in southwest Montana have brought new…

A small fly for big trout. If you’re not privy to Hebgen Lake’s chironomid (lake midge) hatches, treat yourself. Swarms of buzzing gnats entice the trout—if you listen closely, you can actually hear the hum. And Hebgen’s…

Keeping our rivers wild and scenic. It is hard to over-exaggerate how much Montanans love rivers. From Class V rapids to 50-mile riffles, rivers are the arteries that pump life into our state’s outdoor heritage, recreation…

Running helmets hit the market. These days it’s easy to imagine that everyone in the world has suffered a major head injury. Just join a protest or political rally—it’s like being in a live-action infomercial for TBI.…

Under a Montana sky, blue-black with smoke from August fires,the weight of my line unspools, pushing away from the fly rod   in cursive loops. Where the water calms, the cliffside shimmersin the creek’s mirror, looking…

The doors of the brook trout’s pink gills open and close as it wriggles in my palm, back  yellow and black, variegated like coral. Light appears  at the fish’s exposed sides, and the sound of water  collects in backwash…

Tallying the spoils of war. The quarterly face-off—it started in 2006, when Bozeman, then a smallish Montana mountain town, felt its oats and started squaring off with similar towns across the country. We came out swinging…

Cast-iron cooking over the campfire. From the campfires of adventurous explorers across the Rockies to the great chuckwagon trails, cast-iron camp ovens have been an integral part of forging the American experience. Paul…

A bucket-list fishing trip. Most anglers dream of a true backcountry fly-fishing experience. Getting away from the bumper-boats on busy rivers and the crowded roads of the summer season; climbing high into the mountains…

Water-purification options. Few things ruin the outdoor experience like intestinal parasites. Though the symptoms of Giardia often don’t set in for a while, when they do, you’ll wish to High Heaven you’d been more careful—…

Foraging while you play. Like locally sourced food? Summer’s a great time to keep an eye out for organic grub in the area to supplement camping dinners, post-hike barbecues, and fishing trips. Foraging—from the Old French …

Suffering through summer. A few years ago, I rolled out of my car at 2:30am to tackle the Grand Teton in one day. After a successful jaunt up the Owen-Spalding route, I drove into Jackson to enjoy a few beers with some…

Caving in to creature comforts. It didn’t sink in until I began to fill the cooler with ice. Wait a second. We don’t need a cooler. This thing has a fridge. And so began a series of adjustments, from our normal car-…

Three tips to a faster recovery. After a long, muddy spring, it’s finally time to hit the trail. Since summer goes by in an instant, you want to make the most of it, and no one likes passing up a hike or ride from being…

The story of a one-horse town. They say he stood five-foot-two, based on Civil War military records, but his character and perseverance must have made up for what he lacked in height because the man called Tecumseh Smith (…

Leisurely climbing at Natural Bridge. On a warm and cloudy Saturday April morning, we pack up the truck and head for Natural Bridge. It’s south of Big Timber, in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest, and was named for a…

Pick your poison near Pony. The area around Pony overflows with outdoor opportunity—whether you’re a hiker, biker, climber, skier, or angler, there’s tons to keep you busy for a day, for a weekend, or all summer long.  …

Don't overlook Montana's other fishy options. A gleaming trout may be the holy image of fishing in Montana, but there are a lot more species swimming around our pristine waters. Consider these other fish for a fun catch…

Be considerate of private landowners.  The weekend looked to be a beaut. Cup of coffee in hand, I contemplated how to enjoy the great outdoors after a long work week. Suddenly the dog bristled and growled. Heading out…

Hot and dry—that’s summer in Montana. On those long hikes where water’s scarce, keep your hound hydrated with the Collaps-a-Bowl by Kurgo. Strong and sturdy, it holds a whopping 24 ounces and flattens for easy storage after…

There’s something extremely satisfying about cooking over a natural fire. But when backpacking, there’s generally something extremely inconvenient, too. Not so with Patagonia’s Wood-Burning Stove, a clever, cone-shaped…

LOWA’s Walker GTX is a lightweight, waterproof, breathable, sneaker-inspired walking shoe that features a seamless Gore-Tex lining to reduce hot spots, and LOWA’s speedhiking sole to ensure superior traction on both trails…

Food cooked over charcoal tastes better—but when floating the river, or out of space in an overloaded vehicle, a gas stove is the only option, right? Wrong, says Fire & Flavor, whose HERO charcoal grill brings the best…

I was skeptical about safety on a 9mm rope, as I’m used to thick, stiff ropes for outdoor use. However, I immediately felt confident with the Mammut Alpine Sender Dry Rope while both belaying and climbing. The dry-treated…

If you’re an avid mountain biker in Montana, your front tire will kick up rocks and your frame could no doubt benefit from the modular, EVA-foam-backed carbon-fiber protection provided by High Country’s Bike Frame Armor.…

When sleeping solo, I’ve always preferred a hammock—except when it’s raining, in which case a tent is the superior option. Crua’s Hybrid puts the best of both into a single, choose-your-own-elevation package. On the ground…

These are way too nice to wear on the trail. That was my first impression of the Toro Evo GTX Lo from LOWA. With a dark gray leather upper, these hikers look as nice as some of my dress shoes, but their trail performance…

Nothing beats kicking back at camp after a long day on the trail. Except this: kicking back in a rocking chair, the easy undulations lulling you into a euphoric stupor. GCI’s KickBack Rocker offers just that—plus a beverage…

LOWA’s new Innox Pro GTX Lo TF is great footwear for the lazy days of summer. With its low cut and breathable upper, my foot hasn’t overheated in this burly-looking shoe. The Gore-Tex lining repels water on dewy morning…

With the ability to turn fire into electricity, the super-slick Biolite Campstove 2 brings the caveman back to the future. The stove creates a vortex of smokeless flame for a portable campfire that can cook your meals and…

When I first tried on Patagonia’s Dirt Roamer bike shorts, they felt a bit snug—but this turned out to be an ideal fit in disguise. They accommodated my padded liner and the stretch in the fabric allowed sufficient…

If you’re not a chef, you can now pretend to be, with the GSI Outdoors Santoku Knife Set. A durable organizing case secures a 6” serrated knife, 6” Santoku chef’s knife, 4” paring knife, soap-dispensing bottle, cleaning…

With the exception of July and August, if I’m fishing, I’m in waders—so having a comfortable pair is a priority. Orvis has long been my go-to brand and they’ve impressed me again with their PRO Waders. With room for gear,…

On long, arduous outings, occasional re-fuelings are essential. And while energy bars are a dime a dozen, healthy, tasty, filling bars are not. Luckily, our sister-city to the southeast, Jackson, WY, boasts one of the best…

This is the summer I’m stepping up my mountain biking, and next to the bike, the item I needed most was padded shorts. My search ended with the Endura Hummvee II. Overbuilt, like the military vehicle with the same name,…

Eventually, every canoe tips. And the unpleasantness of this eventuality is inversely related to how much you prepared for it. Meaning, stuff all your clothing and bedding in dry bags—and make ‘em good ones. SealLine’s 70L …

We all need a leg up once in a while, especially dogs rock-hopping behind us high up in the mountains. Which is where the Flagline harness from Ruff Wear comes in. Lightweight, with a long, load-dispersing design, the…

The AKU Selvatica Mid GTX boots are the most comfortable, supportive, and efficient hiking boots I’ve tried to date. Lightweight and agile, they are designed to allow a natural range of motion in the feet for maximum…

Weight and bulk usually prohibit boats at highland lakes, but that’s not the case with the Klymit Litewater Dinghy, which weighs only 35 ounces and stuffs to the size of a water bottle. It inflates quickly with a clever…

Montana’s alpine lakes offer some of the most scenic and rewarding fishing available on the planet, but these piscine gems often lie at the end of a day’s hike in wild, unpredictable backcountry. Luckily, Joshua Bergan’s…

You don’t have to be one of the 30 million people who lost their jobs last spring to contemplate vegetable gardening as an alternate—even primary—food source. Whether you want to ease up on the food bank or simply…

Much has been said about the sport of fishing, which is why Jackie Corley arranged this 104-page compendium entitled The Angler’s Book of Favorite Fishing Quotations (Hatherleigh Press, $12.50). Both beloved and less-well-…

Most coloring books are merely filled with cartoons, but Discover Montana Treasures: Bozeman & Beyond (Sintr, $15) is not most coloring books. The older the kids are, the more they will get out of it. That being said,…

"Every wilderness expedition is a spiritual journey," writes Thomas J. Elpel, after spending nearly half a year in a canoe. But Elpel’s expedition started well before his first paddlestroke. With chainsaws, axes, and the…

In his 1930 American Game Policy, Aldo Leopold wrote that we must recognize the landowner as the custodian of wildlife, and that only the landowner can practice management efficiently. Yet, in spite of broad acceptance of…