Winter 2011-12

With the blinding sun streaming through my frosted windshield, I drove toward the M trailhead early on a cold morning. Just to be prepared, nearly every piece of skiing equipment I owned was packed into the trunk of my car…

Avalanches and aphorisms on Mount Blackmore. “If you get buried down there and die,” Kent asks, “what do you want inscribed on your tombstone?” Right now, my friend’s question—and his matter-of-fact tone—couldn’t be more…

The growth of an ice boating community.Blasting across the frozen wasteland of Canyon Ferry Lake, the skinny fiberglass frame of the ice boat rattles like an unbalanced washing machine. Hardened-steel runners spit ice chips…

On a Friday morning in early February, 1971, George Claggett called up from Bozeman, just over the hill from where I lived in Ennis, to inform me that we were getting too fat from sitting behind our desks all winter and it…

One woman's plea for the manliness of yesteryear. Back in the day, men had a formidable reputation to uphold. To be a man was to be strong, enduring, and capable of killing an elk with your bare hands. Chest hair and an…

Debts paid properly.There’s no such thing as a free lunch. So in the interest of preserving karmic balance, if a buddy does you a solid and saves you from a long afternoon of sitting in the lodge—say, fixes your bindings,…

Once the domain of hardened alpinists, ice climbing has come a long way in its evolution and now anyone (thanks largely to modern equipment and Gallatin County snowplows) can enjoy a sense of adventure, complete with…

A tasty dish made with bison meat. Between Yellowstone Park in the south, Ted Turner in the middle, the National Bison refuge at Moiese in the northwest, and all of the smaller bison-ranching operations in between, Montana…

For the average outdoor enthusiast, winter can be a difficult time to squeeze in a fun-filled overnight or multiday adventure without freezing your buns off or breaking the family budget. Sure, a few days and nights in a…

Beyond the slopes at Big Sky.Stretching a cavernous 1,500 feet from the top of Chet’s Knob to Tippy’s Tumble, Big Sky Resort’s Twin Zip spans the entire base area. But such sprawling magnitude isn’t the only bennie of this…

Snow fell late in the season last year. So in spite of the nearing arrival of spring with pleasant dreams of sunshine and warm rock, there were untouched fields of snow demanding attention.With the sun just starting to…

The greatest gift given to Bozeman-area skiers since the Lone Peak Tram has certainly endured some growing pains during its infant years. When the Slushman’s lift started turning three seasons ago, it immediately opened…

East has it, too. Bozeman insiders know that for those of us who love the great outdoors—especially in the winter—the Gallatin Valley’s offerings can’t be beat. But, hey, sometimes you just need to get away. We live in a…

Want to ride like the wind across a frozen wonderland? Jump in the car and head south. Situated high in the mountains at an elevation of 6,667 feet and in the center of a 400-mile snowmobile trail system that spans three…

Even for extreme yokels, buying local can prove a challenge—especially when you’re looking to outfit yourself for the brutal chill of a Montana winter. One Bozeman company, Alpacas of Montana, has faced this issue head-on.…

With the Occupy Wall Street movement gaining momentum across the country—from Wall Street to Oakland to demonstrations here in town—it’s clear the American people are fed up with the way things are now. For some, the “…

For the past two seasons, I’ve been taking my four-year-old up to Bridger for laps on the Snowflake chair. I’m sure there are plenty of other Bozemanites out there who, like me, are making the sometimes-painful transition…

In some places, staying inside during winter is standard procedure—but not in Bozeman. Snow, hail, whipping winds, or below-freezing temperatures? Bring it on! And just like us, our kids don’t let a little snow stop them…

It’s late November. It’s dumping—the first good snow of the season. I’m standing on my porch watching the white flakes fall seamlessly out of the darkness above, letting them gather in my hair, on my jacket, on my eyelashes…

Between your job, family, and skiing as much powder as possible, there’s little time left for training. That’s where this workout comes in—you can do it anywhere and no weights are required. It will help you build leg and…

I admit it—I love the free bread when dining out. At a restaurant the other night, and after the waiter returned with our drinks, I asked if we could have bread. He replied, “We have gluten-free sourdough or gluten-free…

Considered power spots in nature, hot springs have been utilized by cultures worldwide for meetings, sacred gatherings, purification, and healing. Today, in our scientific era, controlled studies are validating the health…

Owing to the fact that humans have two legs and two arms, many items come in pairs: gloves, socks, shoes, boots, crampons, poles, skis. Most of these items are nearly useless without their mate—just like your humble author.…

How to shoot action sports like a pro. The use of wearable cameras is expanding rapidly in all action sports, and the technology is keeping up with it. Manufacturers are racing toward better resolution, higher frame rates…

Montana’s Second Wolf Hunting SeasonWith more than 16,000 wolf hunting licenses purchased, hunters had the opportunity to hunt in 14 wolf management units with an overall harvest quota of 220 wolves. As of November 8, a…

The Double G is a sweet little pattern that can be used any time there are midges clustering up on the water. It is a must from late fall all the way through to late spring—with its simple materials, it floats well and,…

Andy Rooney nailed a verbal bulls-eye when he said, “Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don’t need to be done.” This is especially evident as I approach hour…

A guide to Nordic lingo. Do you like to sweat in cold weather? Do you like to wear tight clothing? Do you like to ski with great difficulty up hills before flailing down on flimsy gear? Do you know what lutefisk is, and…

Arapahoe Basin, otherwise known as “The Legend,” is a small resort hidden among giants in the Colorado Rockies, just outside Denver. Unlike its money-grubbing neighbors, A-Basin has remained humble. But how does it really…

“Living with the immediacy of death helps you sort out your priorities in life. It helps you to live a less trivial life.” —Sogyal Rinpoche, Buddhist teacher My femur couldn’t be broken. If the thick phonebook of ice had…

The economy is still in the toilet, so a quiver of ice tools just isn’t an option for most ice junkies. A climber needs one tool to rule them all, and from G1 walk-ups to the horizontal madness of the Bingo Cave, Black…

If you’re sick of your kid stealing—and more often than not, losing—your headlamp, get the little rugrat a Bot, the new child’s headlamp from Princeton Tec. It’s got those cute colors and patterns that kids like (way neater…

Sick of trying in vain to tire out your hyperactive pup? Does she consider your five-mile hike a mere warm-up? Then click into your cross-country skis, slip on a Ruff Wear Omnijore, and give your pooch a workout while…

Yes, I put clothes on my dog. And yes, I’ve used a kid’s fleece to cover up my pooch. Obviously, design can be an issue—so let’s just say Higgins was pleased when we got the Cloud Chaser. This softshell offers reliable and…

Of all the survival tools to stash in your pack, a firestarting device is arguably the most important—but neither a lighter nor waterproof matches are immune to a dousing in water (the matches need a dry striker, and the…

During winter, ski tuning gives me an excuse to grab a pint of Plum Street Porter, head out to the man-cave, and hone my ski edges while dreaming of the perfect waist-deep powder run. I love skiing but also have a wallet…

Snowshoes have come a long way since the old wooden tennis-racquets of yore, and the MSR Lightning Ascent is a prime example of modern technology done right. I used and abused these ultralight, super-sturdy shoes in all…

Searching for a lightweight winter glove, I stumbled upon the Backstop by Outdoor Research. Considered a technical liner, this glove is well-suited for activities where normal-weight gloves are just too much. Thin and…

Whether skiing, sledding, or ice climbing, a good base layer can turn the dreaded plea of “Can we go home?” into a euphoric “Let’s go again!” Utilizing its military-grade Extended Cold Weather Clothing System, Cabela’s now…

Specialized camera mounts notwithstanding, there’s always that one time you just can’t get a stable base for hands-off shooting. Enter Spiderpodium, a weird-looking but surprisingly useful mounting tool, designed to secure…

One of the hardest things on guns is getting banged around during transport. The best thing for your valuable firearms, then, is a sturdy case—and you won’t find anything tougher than the Pelican 1720 Long Case. This stout…

Who needs water? Everyone, that’s who. And for outdoorsy folks who value hydration more than most, CamelBak’s Rogue Light is a welcome improvement from the classic Nalgene/carabiner combo. Stealth is this product’s strong…

For exact dates, check out our Events page.JanuaryBridger Alpine Community Ski Race—Three-part race series for citizen racers of all ages. bridgerbowl.com/events.Youth Ski League—Bridger Bowl hosts a weekend of alpine races…

January Nordic Moonlight Ski – ski along the shadow of the aspens then relax by a warm fire at the Red Lodge Nordic Center. beartoothtrails.org. Red Lodge Mountain Rail Jam – competitors perform tricks on rails and boxes…

Shakespeare wrote “thy breath be rude,” but I think thy breath has little attitude. Dullness, neglect, but not vulgarity— of emotions you haven’t even slight sincerity. While your chill betrays some tempered winds, your…

The last of the geese have frozen over in my backyard, covered in a foot of snow. I dig one out each week and thaw it in the fridge—with a high success rate; even the runt is able to take flight after a few days at 50…

Ahead of me Hardscrabble cracks knuckles against clouds. Behind the Bridgers splay crags in the oystery air. I move to a tango. Skies and poles glide, cut, break. I am partnered by the wind against whom I tangle, kick. A…

When winter hits, trying to get vegetables locally becomes a seemingly grueling task, whereas eggs, dairy, grains, and meats may still be easy to find. So this winter, use these helpful tips for ways to keep your veggies…

Developed:Bozeman Hot Springs. 586-6492; bozemanhotsprings.coNorris Hot Springs. 685-3303; norrishotsprings.comChico Hot Springs. 333-4933; chicohotsprings.comYellowstone Hot Springs. 833-977-7464; yellowstonehotspringsmt.…

America’s Biggest Skiing gets even bigger this winter. Moonlight Basin offers nine new gladed runs off the Iron Horse lift, as well as a Freestyle Forest with natural features coming together to make a park experience in…

No matter how much our lives can revolve around snow, there comes a day when you just can’t take another minute of ass-freezing ski turns and you want to do something with the family. Fortunately for the residents of…

Ambitious to say the least, the proposed $1- to $3-million Bozeman Ice Tower would be the first large-scale, competition-grade ice climbing venue in the U.S., potentially putting Bozeman in the running for the first U.S.-…

Every season, we receive a few letters from our lovely readers around the Bozone. Sometimes they’re nice, sometimes they’re nasty. And sometimes they’re just plain silly, like this letter from longtime reader and fellow…

Like a cooler version of your overzealous fifth-grade scout leader, the all-new, much-improved, and downright dashing outsidebozeman.com is here to save you from outdoor ignorance. Need downloadable maps? We’ve got ‘em.…

By now you’ve heard about our digital edition—a full-fledged, super-cool online version of Outside Bozeman. It’s getting a lot of traffic! Here were some visitor favorites.  1. How Far Will You Go? If you’ve ever doubted…

Every so often, our attentive and meticulous readers catch an oversight—a proofreading or photo-editing gaffe committed by overworked O/B staff after one too many Chuggles (see Fall 2011, p. 91)—that puts us, quite…

You might not believe it, but there will come a day when you don’t want to go skiing this winter. Either your quads will be too blasted or the thermometer won’t crawl above zero, but you’ll spend one day entirely in your…

Guidebooks are like treasure maps to outdoor enthusiasts, promising rich adventures in previously unknown locations. And Ben Werner’s new book, The Bozeman and Big Sky Backcountry Ski Guide (WS Publishing, $40) offers…