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Summer 2021

Features

Departments

  • water bottle collage
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Choose Your Vessel

    Comparing the merits of water bottles. Gone are the days of canteens and bota bags—water-bottle options abound nowadays, with dozens of styles, shapes, and materials from which to choose. O/B reviewed the most popular…
  • deer encounter, true tales
    Culture: Around the Bozone

    Deer Me!

    An eerie after-dark encounter. “The night was clear, and the moon was yellow, and the leaves came tumbling down.” That, purloined from the 1958 Lloyd Price song “Stagger Lee,” sets the scene for the night of my encounter…
  • stuffed elk backstrap
    Culture: Food & Drink

    Rolled & Ready

    Stuffed backstrap makes a stellar summertime supper. From a hunter’s standpoint, the summer drought may seem grueling. But from a culinary perspective, it provides a convenient and uninterrupted occasion to explore diverse…
  • rock climbing, mount cowen
    Activities: Rock Climbing

    Raw Exposure

    A candid account of climbing on Mount Cowen. Our first trial arrives at the trailhead. It’s not clear whether we’re still on the road or in a pullout; a few cars are stationed irregularly across the uneven dirt so we park…
  • fishing, fish dog, fly fishing
    Activities: Fishing

    Federation of Fish Dogs

    Streamside mischief on the fly. Like many anglers, I take my dogs fishing with me. The older one knows the drill pretty well: stay on the bank, don’t swim in the holes until I’m done, and don’t help with the release. The…
  • hiking, backpacking, mountains
    Activities: Camping

    Through a Child's Eyes

    Backcountry travel with young'uns. Older people often talk about their regrets in life, how they wish they would’ve spent their youth more adventurously. I doubt that I will ever be one of those people. Before we got…
  • Sphinx mountain, madison range
    Activities: Hiking

    Mystery in the Madison

    Hiking Sphinx Mountain. Rising high above the Madison Valley, punctuated by deep, wide ravines on all sides, stands Sphinx Mountain. If you drive Hwy. 287 in the daylight, you’ll be hard-pressed to miss it. This near-11,…
  • cooke city, yellowstone,
    Culture: People

    Ghost of Cooke City

    Following Hemingway through Yellowstone. The steep, snow-covered mountains near Cooke City, at the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, have long drawn visitors from around the world to ski, snowmobile, fish,…
  • farming, organic farms, strike farms
    Culture: The New West

    Stayin' Alive

    Small-scale stewards of the Gallatin Valley. Farmers produce valuable goods, of course; but also conserve soil, the conserve water, they conserve wildlife, they conserve open space, they conserve scenery. —Wendell Berry…
  • mountain biking, stone creek,
    Activities: Mountain Biking

    Chain Gang

    Managing Bozeman's biking surge. With 800 miles of trails to manage and many different user groups to accommodate, the Bozeman Ranger District has a lot on its plate. But recreation is just one part of the picture. The…
  • camp pad thai, backcountry cooking
    Culture: Food & Drink

    Fare Well

    Making backcountry meals more flavorful. We’ve all experienced it: the end of a long day out on the trail met with dried potatoes or instant ramen, leaving you unsatisfied and undernourished for the next day’s efforts. But…
  • paddle-tailed darner dragonfly
    Nature

    Enter the Dragon

    All about Montana's most prolific predator. The most efficient predator in southwest Montana isn’t the grizzly bear, wolf, or mountain lion. It doesn’t have huge claws or fearsome fangs. Its body isn’t covered by fur or…
  • hiking, Sacajawea, Bridgers
    Culture: Dogs

    High Alert

    Considering altitude for canine companions. Practicing veterinary medicine in Big Sky, at up to 10,000 feet of elevation, I see and treat many cases of pulmonary edema, altitude sickness, and heart disease in horses and…
  • mountain biking, falling,
    Training: Injury Prevention

    Solid Stance

    The fine art of falling. Summertime: the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the mountains are calling. If you answer that call with vigorous running or biking, at some point you are probably going to fall or…
  • exercise, kegels, keeping it tight
    Training: More

    Keeping It Tight

    The importance of your pelvic floor. The infamous Madison float that will go down in the annals of pelvic-floor history occurred on a Saturday in 2020. First float of the season, returning to the car on a beautiful hot…
  • Hyalite Canyon, dam, spillway
    Culture: Around the Bozone

    Fuel for Thought

    An update on the Bozeman Municipal Watershed Project. No matter the season, flocks of Bozeman-area residents and visitors converge at the Sourdough trailhead to bike, hike, ski, run, and stroll over lunch, after work, or…
  • Blacks ford, madison river, boat launch
    Culture: The New West

    Loved to Death

    Sharing Montana in a new era of outdoor recreation. My family, along with just about everyone else, looks forward to summer mornings on the Madison River. The water in many parts of the lower Madison is warm, shallow,…
  • stars, astronomy, night sky
    Nature

    Stars & Stripes

    What to look for in the night sky. Summertime is a great time to stargaze. Whether sitting around a crackling campfire or lounging in your own backyard, the nights aren’t going to get any balmier than now. Fortunately,…
  • steve lantz, scuba
    Culture: People

    RIP: Steve Lantz

    "Scuba Steve" built an outdoor subculture from the ground up. When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself. —Jacques Cousteau From a distance…
  • bridger foothills fire
    Culture: Around the Bozone

    Black Friday

    A recap of the Bridger Foothills Fire. The backbone of the Bridger Mountains looks a little different than it did this time last year—8,224 acres different, to be exact. The shock to most folks came with an apocalyptic…
  • map, hiking, yellowstone park
    Activities: Hiking

    Alpine Enlightenment

    A flatlander adapts to mountain country. Nowadays, you don’t have to climb a mountain to learn about mountain climbing. There are plenty of other places to earn an education: clinics, videos, articles, books... you name it…
  • guide to outdoor battle cries
    Culture: Around the Bozone

    Twist & Shout

    A guide to outdoor battle cries. The battle cry is something we all have in us. From the gladiator arena to mountaintops, from the football field to whitewater, each one has its time and place. Varied in form from eloquent…
  • aquacabra, aquatic invasive
    Culture: Around the Bozone

    Under the Bridge

    Strange fish sightings in the Gallatin Valley. Southwest Montana is home to an abundance of apex predators, with grizzly bears, mountain lions, and wolves all sharing the same landscape. And if recent reports are true,…
  • yellowstone vs. the serengeti
    Culture: Humor

    Beyond Compare

    Yellowstone is NOT the Serengeti of North America. Yellowstone Park is our region’s pride and joy. Even though most of its land is in Wyoming, we Montanans like to claim it as our own. Recently, there were substantiated…
  • mountain biking hipster
    Activities: Mountain Biking

    Wheeling Dervish

    A guide to outdoor hipsters, part four. This guy... he’s back for a final lap through the Bozone. Look for him on his bike, adjusting his kneepads and admiring his viper sunglasses from the camera of his cellphone. How to…
  • moose, river, water
    Culture: Arts & Culture

    To a Young Moose

    Before I met you,trotting nonchalantlyalong the barbed-wire fence,I was already in love with your name—Alces alces, words to speak in the mountainsif you become lost& want to know the way. Because I do not know the way…
  • great blue heron
    Culture: Arts & Culture

    Hiker Lady

    If you’re hiking ‘round the Bozonesay hello to Cathy G,a petite pal of mineit’s likely you will see. Triple Tree, Hyalite, Sourdough—on trails with names so sweet.It’s astonishing the miles she logsupon those tiny feet.…

Gear Reviews

  • food and drink, snack pack,
    Gear: Nutrition

    Review: Multiday Meal Plan

    The Multi-Day Meal Plan takes prepping and packing food off your hands, eliminating the guesswork when counting grams for lightweight backpacking trips. Choose from an assortment of pre-set kits, or customize your own…
  • sunglasses, smith
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Smith Parallel 2

    Lightweight frame. Wrap-around polarized lenses. Slip-resistant nose and ear pads. Those were the top criteria when I started my search for new, active sunglasses. And I found it all in the Parallel 2 from Smith, plus the…
  • fishing rod, fly fishing, orvis clearwater
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Orvis Clearwater Outfit

    The Orvis Clearwater is designed to be a versatile catch-all style rod at a value price—and that's exactly what I'm finding it to be. I went with the 9-foot 5-weight. Whether it's a big catch, small fish, wide river, or…
  • pizza oven, cooking, fire
    Gear: Misc

    Review: Karu 12 Pizza Oven

    With their line of innovative and convenient outdoor pizza ovens, Ooni has succeeded in bringing homemade, top-notch pizza right to your back yard or campsite. The Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven is compact and…
  • fishing boots, waders, fly fishing
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Korkers River OPS

    I’ve fished small creeks with steep, slippery slopes for years. My old wading boots fit well, but the felt soles were not ideal for hiking through a variety of rocky, difficult terrain, and once wet they filled with water…
  • energy drink, sport, food and drink
    Gear: Nutrition

    Review: Roctane

    Don’t get caught on a long run or ride without an easy source of energy on hand. GU’s Roctane drink mix gives you a blend of carbohydrates from non-competing metabolic pathways, a healthy dose of electrolytes, and small…
  • GCI Sunshade Rocker
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: GCI SunShade Rocker

    For those of us who like shade and comfort, GCI’s SunShade Rocker is a lifesaver. The adjustable sunshade enables you to easily control exposure. Have trouble sitting still? The glide feature lets you keep on rockin’.…
  • Grünerlem 1/2 Maloja
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Maloja Grünerlem 1/2

    I’m not typically one to invest money in sport-specific clothing, but when I tried on the Grünerlem 1/2 from Maloja, I instantly saw the appeal. This quick-drying, moisture-wicking shirt is a great choice for just about any…
  • fuornm Maloja
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Maloja Fuornm

    The Fuornm shorts from Maloja are designed for biking, and they indeed proved to be great to ride in. But I’m not ashamed to say that I’ll wear them for just about any outdoor outing. For one, they’re as comfortable and…
  • Draft Top 2
    Gear: Misc

    Review: Draft Top

    This nifty gadget allows you to cleanly remove the tops of aluminum cans, converting them to cups. While making re-using easy, the Draft Top also improves the experience of drinking. Instead of sipping my après beverage…
  • Capture Clip Peak Design
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Capture Clip

    One of the biggest issues outdoor photographers face is camera availability. Storing it in your backpack is easy, but it comes at the expense of quick access. With the Capture Clip, however, the pack never leaves your back…
  • daypack, backpack, dakine
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Dakine Seeker 10L

    The search for a great bike daypack ends with the Dakine Seeker 10L Hydration Backpack. Separated compartments and storage pockets provide ample room for a first-aid kit, basic repair tools, raincoat, emergency supplies,…
  • NRS Purist Duffle Outside Bozeman
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: NRS Purest Duffle

    Summertime is river time, which means piles of water gear—life jackets, helmets, towels, and other assorted, often-wet items—all stuffed into a bag for transport. With its water-resistant fabric and mesh panels, the Purest …

Book Reviews

  • Home Waters
    Culture: Books

    Book: Home Waters

    For any devout fans of Norman Mclean’s A River Runs Through It, Home Waters (Custom House, $26) is a must-read. Penned by Norman’s son John, this nonfiction account chronicles Norman’s connection with the land, waters, and…
  • Earth, My Dearest
    Culture: Books

    Book: Earth, My Dearest

    A good quotation book is a treasure chest for the mind, full of precious jewels that sparkle and shine, setting the mind afire. Earth, My Dearest (Hatherleigh Press, $12.50) may contain a few tinhorn trinkets—it reminds me…
Outside Bozeman Summer 2021

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