Winter 2012-13

A wild trip in the Crazies. With soaring peaks that remain snow-capped much of the year, the Crazy Mountains have drawn me like a moth to flame since I arrived in southwest Montana six years ago. So when my friend Bob said…

The Dos Equis–hawking character dubbed “the Most Interesting Man in the World” has a rival in Bozeman resident Doug Chabot. The 48-year-old was arrested and jailed for a week by border guards in Tajikistan. He spent a night…

Surviving an avalanche in the northern Bridgers. Super Bowl Sunday of 2011 was an unpredicted snow day, and I woke up to a ringing cell phone. It was a close friend looking for a ski partner. Before fully awakening, I’d…

A weekend at Lone Mountain Ranch. I’m kicking and gliding along the impeccably groomed Nordic trails at Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky. Snow-laden trees line the edge of the trail, threatening to drop gobs of snow; North…

Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence. –Hermann Buhl The decision had been made: we were turning back. A careful examination of the snowpack told us to call it a day. We were being cautious, not letting the…

Longing for HomeAfter graduating high school in 2002, I left Bozeman to go to California for college… I know, terrible choice. After a few years there I had to get out, so in 2007 I joined the Air Force and was sent to…

While “brewing” in Bozeman usually brings to mind pints of handcrafted beer, local coffee roasters add their own meaning to the art of Montana brewing. Here are some of our favorites. Ghost Town Coffee Roasters Family-…

Coffee is an integral part of life in the outdoors. From simmering on cowboys’ campfires a hundred years ago to the requisite cup before any early morning outdoor activity, coffee has always been there to give us a little…

After you trim the prime cuts off your animal this hunting season, you’re going to have a lot of scraps. In fact, after bagging an elk, you can end up with over 50 pounds destined for the grind pile. What’s the best way to…

Think fishing competitions are only for the summer? Think again—here are three ice-fishing derbies around southwest Montana this winter.January 26-27Lions Club Perch Ice Fishing Derby, Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Townsend …

The true force behind ice fishing is that it is better than no fishing at all. –Jim Harrison, “Ice Fishing, the Moronic Sport” While many agree with the sentiments of Mr. Harrison, it’s worth considering that winter…

Get your throttle going with these snowmobile events happening in our area this winter.January 11-13Island Park WinterFest. Check out this weekend full of winter events and competitions for all ages, including snowmobile…

Snowmobilers have unique avalanche risk factors built into their sport. Today’s high-powered sleds are capable of reaching new heights at greater speeds, and each year riders venture farther into remote terrain. As a result…

It’s a clear, sunny afternoon at the top of the M, and everyone is taking in Bozeman’s picturesque sights below. You ask yourself, “Does it get any better than this?” The answer is, “Absolutely.” It gets way better, as you…

It was the loudest thing in my world at that moment. Soft brushing sounds resonated like long strokes on stiff canvas. The sound intensified as I opened my eyes and slid from shadow to light. Each turn initiation was soft,…

The Wild West Winterfest at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds returns to Bozeman with Western-style fun for the whole family—including Fido. Back at the festival for its eighth year is the Dog Keg Pull, where contestants hook…

Now that winter is here, high-energy activities for your dog don’t have to end. Consider taking up skijoring, where two of Bozeman’s favorite things—skiing and dogs—are combined for a team-oriented adventure. Skijoring is…

Looking for a new venue for your favorite winter activity? Just head over the hill. Doesn’t matter what blows your hair back—once the snow comes down, you can find it in Paradise Valley.Winter camping doesn’t have to be…

Each winter, the Big Sky area brings us more than just the biggest skiing in America. Here are some of the best events around town and the surrounding resorts that you don’t want to miss.    December 15 – March 31 320…

There’s no shortage of fun stuff for short stacks around southwest Montana during the winter. Branch out and try something new with your little one: ice fishing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, skating. Plus, learning has never…

It’s an admirable title: a true Bozeman girl. After years of careful research, we’ve devised this simple test to see if you qualify as a bona fide Bozeman lady. Each item in the following list gets you one point; add ‘em up…

Sculpted in the snow, From whence they rose to the sky, The wing-tips of birds.  The ermine freezes As the winged shadow passes Over snow on snow.  Brook trout strike flies as Woodcocks explode from cover With whistling…

In your confounded struggle For originality, nights lengthen. The snow falls… Heat departs. Flakes blow yearning hearts about— Graupel stings your summer skin... Wind wails, eyes water. Clouds tumble over the Saddle. Snow…

One snowflake said to another, “You’re a real dick, you know?” Taken quite aback, The other flake replied, “Really? What makes you say so?”  “Well, you just don’t fit in,” The first angrily cried, While ten, twenty new…

The rundown on Nordic skiing in Yellowstone Park.Trail GroomingSome of the trails in Yellowstone are machine-groomed, while others are skier-tracked. Visit travelyellowstone.com, click on “Things to Do,” “Winter Things to…

 Nordic skiing in Yellowstone National Park. One winter morning, after spending the night at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge in the middle of Yellowstone Park, I woke early for a short solo ski tour. The boardwalks around the…

With the snow falling in Bozeman, local biologists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Forest Service, are underway with another season of capturing wolverines. It’s an ongoing project…

What do you envision when you think of “therapy”? If you’re like most people, you probably see a settee in a dimly lit room with “ocean sounds” coming from a CD player. Sound about right? While this is proven to be a…

With more and more food-production designations and corresponding specialty labels, it’s getting hard to tell what exactly you should be eating. What do all the terms and grocery-store labels mean? In an attempt at truth in…

I’ll be honest—the first time I saw a three-foot foam roller, I didn’t get it. What was this big white tube all about? Ten years later, I believe they are one of the best physical health multitasking tools you can own. (My…

Yoga for athletes.Athletes often suffer from chronic back and joint pain stemming from muscle imbalance. By increasing core strength and flexibility, and therefore balance, Pilates can help correct and alleviate that pain…

How to fix boot bang.Once the ski season gets rolling, I often see skiers and snowboarders (referred to collectively as “skiers” from here on out) complain about pain in their anterior shins. It’s called “shin bang,” or…

Winter ski maintenance.Whether you’re an expert skier dropping into steep chutes or just making mellow turns on groomers, staying injury-free this winter ought to be high on your priority list. You can do these four…

The secret to keeping those small nagging pains from becoming chronic injuries is often early intervention. Here are a few tips for some common pains you may encounter this winter.Knee PainSCENARIO: After half a day of…

Avalanche safety is all about information and preparation. To maximize your chances of staying safe in avalanche country, we’ve compiled a list of avalanche “do’s and don’ts.”DO:Visit the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche…

Identifying animals in the snow.Once the snow falls, there’s no better time than winter for “reading sign.” Whether snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or surveying the landscape from a chairlift, picking out animal tracks…

The always-changing conditions of winter in Montana increase your chances of getting stuck outside for the night, whether it's after a day of skiing, snowmobiling, or hunting. When it's cold out, the first survival step is…

Snow caves are windproof, warm, and can accommodate several people. But improperly built caves can kill—trust me, I’ve written the obituaries. The carbon dioxide you exhale is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that…

Move ‘em on, head ‘em up, head ‘em up, move ‘em out, move ‘em on, head ‘em out—Rawhide! Those of a certain age will remember these bouncy lyrics from the theme of the old TV show about rough-and-tumble cowpokes drivin’ a…

Bozeman is a winter wonderland, and there are lots of opportunities in and around town to get out and enjoy it. With the help of Bozeman’s Parks and Rec Department, here are some fun activities at your local parks this…

You’ve heard the saying “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” This could apply to all seasonal photography, but it’s critical to taking great photos in the winter. Here are some tips to help you stay comfortable and…

The Bridger Bowl Cloud affect. Every so often, a blue light flashes on top of the Baxter Hotel, alerting anyone within view of the tallest building in Bozeman that snow is falling at Bridger Bowl. The light—a repurposed…

The many ways to say "snow." A while ago, I spotted an article in Outside which discussed the numerous words in the Inuit language for “snow.” The editors of the magazine were impressed that the members of the far northern…

“Suck it up, you worthless lump of bison dung. You suck. Why can’t you be less of a tool and do something right, for once? Stop bitching you whiny little girl. OH. MY. GOD. You’re terrible! Are you going to cry? Are you…

They wait all year for ski season to come around—sometimes they’ll even ask in the middle of summer when they can ski again. Once the slopes finally open, they arrive with huge smiles and excitement in their eyes. We help…

The miserable life of a non-skier. Believe it or not, there are actually people in Bozeman who get genuinely upset when faced with a couple feet of fresh snow. Instead of greedily eyeing the Bridgers or the Gallatin Range…

It’s a debate as old as time, when buffalo still roamed downtown, wolves howled through campus, and the unobstructed waters of Bozeman Creek roared through it all. Surely our ancestors shared many a duel over the issue, and…

The Joan of Arctic Boot by Sorel is a modern twist on the classic boot we’ve all come to trust from the first name in winter footwear. There’s nothing special about these boots—beyond the fact that they’re going to last for…

As a well-endowed and active woman, I’ve always struggled to find the perfect sports bra. Over the years, I’ve tried different bras with mixed results and usually resorted to the best underwire option I could find. With the…

Halfway up a 19,000-foot peak, watching one’s ropemates struggle for solid footing on near-vertical ice, a guy naturally starts wondering how good his gear really is. Luckily, when I found myself in this situation a few…

I’ve never been a fan of standard trail bars, but I do like small energy snacks I can easily stash in my backpack—so I was happy to discover Honey Stinger Waffles. These handy treats are based off the energy waffles eaten…

I’ve never kept up with gear trends too well. I blame my college and post-grad budget—or maybe I’m just cheap. Nevertheless, I’m quickly learning the importance of quality products. Take the North Face Gold Kazoo, an ideal…

Whether you’re scouting for big game, birding for fun, or watching the wildlife in Yellowstone, you need good optics. The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 binocular is perfect for whatever activity you’re doing. Weather isn’t…

I’ve always complained about the weight of all the water bottles I have to pack into the backcountry, and to make matters worse, I tend to deplete my supply quicker than anticipated. These problems have been solved by the…

As an avid snowboarder and general outdoorsman, I’ve worn my fair share of wool socks, shirts, and gloves—and whether it’s on the bottom of my foot or in the dead center of my back, the wool never fails to give me an itch I…

Dean Sauskojus’s Yellowstone: The Ultimate Photo Guide to Yellowstone National Park (self-published, $15) is a great companion for any photographer venturing into Yellowstone. Since it’s an e-book, you can bring it anywhere…

From Spearfish, South Dakota to the islands of the Western Pacific, Making Up Amelia (Yokoi Books, $18) takes the reader on a sweeping journey through time and place, all centered around the disappearance of American…

Remember the old adage about not judging a book by its cover? Despite its outward appearance, Laid-Back Skier (Friday Jones Publishing, $10) isn’t just another kids’ book about skiing; rather, it’s a lighthearted look at…

What makes a great Montana cookbook? Written by Jay Bentley (owner of the Mint in Belgrade) and Patrick Dillon, Open Range: Steaks, Chops & More from Big Sky Country (Running Press, $33) has the right recipe. It starts…

Many wildlife guides claim to be “comprehensive,” but Mammals of Montana (Mountain Press, $32) by Kerry R. Foresman reminds us what that oft-abused term really means. Over 400 pages outline everything you wanted to know (…