Hiking Fools Exploring Glacier National Park
By Rachael Seymour
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” This famous quote was written by outdoor enthusiast John Muir in 1873, in a letter to his sister about his most recent adventures in the wild. He told her about how tired and hungry he was, and how grueling the experience was. And despite it all, he was eager to go back. Since then these words have struck a chord deep within anyone who longs to strike out against into the wilderness, those who hunger to see what’s around the curve of a hill and what’s beyond the horizon. No doubt these words echo within the minds of those who venture out into the world of Glacier National Park, with every intention of heeding that call. Unfortunately with over 150 trails to choose from in the park, all with varying degrees of difficulty, it can be a little overwhelming to figure out where to start heeding.
Fortunately, modern outdoor enthusiasts Sarah and Josh Kroll have your back, with their podcast, Hiking Fools. In it, they discuss hiking trails
throughout the park, tips and tricks for accomplishing it, and little anecdotes about their travels throughout Glacier.
“We just wanted a resource out there for people to go to, where people could enjoy the park as much as we do,” says Josh. “It's a big passion of ours and we're constantly exploring its boundaries. We have unique insight and bring a personal perspective from our own adventures. People listen to podcasts all the time, everywhere about all types of things. They might as well listen about hiking and Glacier Park.”
Just by looking at them, Josh and Sarah appear as your average couple from the Flathead: Athletic and cheerful with an easygoing air to them. When you talk to them, they radiate a quiet friendliness that easily draws you into their orbit. Voices you could easily listen to for 20 minutes at a time talk about the famous Gunsight Pass trail, how to get to the historic Sperry Chalet, or how to pack for a day hike.
Josh and Sarah first met in 2005, when they were just a couple of kids doing seasonal work at Lake McDonald Lodge. They bonded over how much they loved working at the park, na-
ture and even had their first date hiking around Lake McDonald. When Sarah went back to Michigan at the end of the summer for college, Josh followed her. They got married shortly after her graduation and, hearing the call of Glacier again, chose to move back to Montana to raise a family.
They built their life together here, all the while trekking their way over mountains, through woods and around lakes. One day they noticed how, in spite of all the information written about Glacier and its landmarks and wildlife, the couple began to wonder if there was a need for someone to come with hands-on experience and stories to spread the word about the park and all its trails. Gradually some bits of an idea started to form: They had some radio experience when they lived for a few wintery months in Wisconsin and decided to host a show at the college music station to pass the time. Josh even has some experience in the audio limelight, often voicing commercials for his job. And of course, they love to talk about the outdoors and our roles as humans to protect it. The pieces slowly began to come together: Start a hiking podcast about trails in Glacier National Park, offering information built from their own experience for someone who’s eager but unfamiliar.
According to Sarah, there's no specific process in choosing a trail to talk about for the podcast. Sometimes they choose the popular one, the one with all the coolest views and the one that’s the easy stroll for all the novice nature enthusiasts. More often than not, it’s whatever trail they chose to trek at that time. Sometimes, however, it’s more than just what’s in front of their feet. Sometimes it’s a gut feeling, she feels like she’s being moved by the Lord to speak about a certain trail or place, only to watch the unseen threads connect to one another in the end and see why this trail was chosen.
Sometimes they're not even talking about a trail, but hosting wildlife conservation experts. They understand the opportunity they were given and they want to make sure that they use their platform for more than just tips and stories on trails. One of Sarah’s biggest passions is conservationism and loves to bring to light the impact we have or could have in the world.
“We bring on a lot of wildlife biologists and environmentalists,” she says. “We wanted people visiting the park to enjoy it as much as we do and just let people know how important this protected area is and so many other places around Glacier, all these connected corridors, they're all super important. We know that Glacier is super popular. A ton of people come, and that can be a little annoying for locals, you know. But we have to remember that we're expanding our audience, towards people to enjoy places that are wild. Have them come in and see how important this
to enjoy it as much as we do.
wild protected area is, and how we need to fight for that.”
Josh adds, “They might go back to where they live and have a better respect for their areas that are protected.”
When they host wildlife conservation experts, the Krolls donate a portion of the proceeds from those episodes to their guest’s cause.
Even with their busy lives, Sarah and Josh still run just as much through the mountains, now with two children in tow, their oldest being 14. At this time he’s more interested in climbing mountains than just a regular day hike, but the love to be outdoors is there. The Hiking Fools podcast has over 40 episodes at the time of this article, and the Krolls are prepping and planning for the up and coming popular time of the warmer seasons.
With its snowy peaks, deep valleys and crystal clear lakes, it’s no secret that Glacier is one of the most beautiful places in the US. For those visiting and just want to make the most of what little time they have in our beautiful region; or for so many, the park sits right outside their door, desperately waiting for those who want to explore its wilderness. But it’s difficult to know where to start.
And as fun as it is, hiking isn’t always a walk in the park. Anything from going out in the wrong season, to packing one snack less than what’s needed, to the change in the weather you swore the weather man said won’t happen until tomorrow; when braving the elements, always expect the element of surprise. But even when it seems like it might be easier to stay in, Sarah and Josh rely on their own personal motto that’s become the Hiking Fools slogan: Always Go.
Always go for it, even when it’s raining, even when it’s the afternoon on your day off. Always go because you never know when the sky clears up, if this time in the wild is exactly what you need to recharge. You’ll never know unless you go. Provided with the right equipment of course, and the knowledge whether this current trek is the right one for you. With the Hiking Fools podcast, the right answers can be just a few button clicks away. So next time you’re out heeding the call of the mountains, keep your ears peeled; you never know when a couple with some familiar, friendly voices just might pass you by.
May 9th | Saturday |10AM to 3PM
Flathead Valley Fairgrounds Expo Building
Join us for a refined celebration of parenthood at the Beyond the Bump Baby Fair, set in the heart of Flathead county, Montana.
Curated local and regional brands, expert resources, and thoughtfully designed experiences come together to support expecting parents, new families, grandparents, and those who love them.
This is more than a baby fair-it's a beautifully intentional gathering created to honor every stage beyond the bump.
b eyond the b ump b aby Fair @beyondthebumpbabyfair
Welcoming a new baby into the world is one of life’s most beautiful and transformative moments.
i t can also bring an overwhelming wave of questions, decisions, and emotions for families navigating pregnancy, birth, and the early months of parenthood. i n the Flathead Valley, one local company is working to make that journey feel more supported, more informed, and far less intimidating.
t his spring, Goodnight b aby Co. will introduce the b eyond the b ump b aby Fair, an event designed to bring families and care providers together in one welcoming space. t he fair aims to connect expecting and new parents with the resources, professionals, and businesses that exist
Money, Mindset, and m ontana
By Jessa Ash, Investment Advisor –Fisher Investment Strategies
If you’ve lived in Montana long enough, you know this place has a way of changing how you think. The mountains make you breathe a little deeper. The seasons remind you that everything has a rhythm. And the people — well, they’re the kind who look you in the eye, tell you the truth, and expect the same in return.
It’s one of the reasons I’m thrilled to be opening a Fischer Investment Strategies office in Kalispell this March. After years of working with clients across the Flathead Valley, it felt like the right time to plant deeper roots in the community I already love serving. And honestly, there’s no better place to talk about money than a place that naturally encourages perspective.
Because here’s the thing: financial planning isn’t really about money It’s about clarity. It’s about confidence. It’s about waking up in the morning knowing you’re building a life that feels like yours.
And Montanans — women and men alike — are hungry for that kind of clarity.
Why so ma N y PE o P l E f EE l behind (and why they’re not)
One of the most common things I hear from clients is: “I feel like I should know more than I do.”
Let me say this clearly: you don’t need to know everything — you just need someone who will explain things without making you feel small.
Financial jargon has a way of turning smart, capable people into folks who suddenly
doubt themselves. But when you strip away the noise, most financial decisions come down to a few simple questions:
• What do you want your life to look like
• What resources do you have
• What’s the smartest way to connect the two
That’s it. That’s the whole game.
Once people see that, they stop feeling intimidated and start feeling empowered.
t he Montana M indset: practical, grounded, and future‑focused
People here don’t want flashy strategies or complicated charts. They want straight talk. They want to understand how their retirement plan works, whether they’re saving enough, and how to make decisions that won’t keep them up at night.
I’ve had clients walk into meetings wearing ski boots, still dusted with snow. I’ve had
others bring their toddlers, their dogs, or their mother-in-law. I’ve had people show up with a shoebox full of statements and people who’ve never opened a statement in their life.
And every single one of them has the same goal: “Help me feel in control.”
That’s what I love about this work. It’s not about selling products or pushing trends. It’s about helping people understand their own financial landscape — the same way you’d study a trail map before heading into Glacier.
w hy i ’ M opening an office in Kalispell
For years, I’ve been meeting clients in coffee shops, at kitchen tables, and over Zoom. And while I’ll always meet people wherever they’re comfortable, it felt like time to create a space that reflects the kind of experience I want clients to have: calm, welcoming, and grounded.
Photo by Rusty Cash
p eople here don’t want flashy strategies or complicated charts. t hey want straight talk. t hey want to understand how their retirement plan works, whether they’re saving enough, and how to make decisions that won’t keep them up at night.
Kalispell is the perfect home for that.
It’s central, it’s growing, and it’s full of people who care deeply about building stable, meaningful lives. Opening an office here means clients can drop in, ask questions, bring their paperwork, or simply talk through a decision without feeling rushed. It also means I get to be more accessible — not just as an advisor, but as a neighbor.
w hat i want Montanans to K now about M oney
If I could sit down with every person in the Flathead Valley and tell them one thing, it would be this:
You are fully capable of understanding and managing your financial life.
You don’t need a finance degree. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to have everything figured out.
You just need someone who will walk with you, explain things clearly, and help you make decisions that align with your values.
Money doesn’t have to feel stressful. It doesn’t have to feel confusing. And it definitely doesn’t have to feel lonely.
a new season, a new space, and an open door
As I open the Kalispell office this March at 134 1st St W, my goal is simple: to make financial planning feel accessible, personal, and even — dare I say — enjoyable.
Whether you’re starting a business, preparing for retirement, navigating a 401(k), or simply trying to get organized, you deserve guidance that feels human. You deserve someone who listens first, explains second, and never makes you feel like you’re asking a “dumb” question.
There are no dumb questions in my office. Only conversations. Only clarity. Only next steps.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “Maybe it’s time I finally get my financial life in order,” then I’d love to meet you.
Because we don’t just plan for the future — we build it.
I Want Her Job aria stewart Senior Director of Global Brand Studio and Sample Operations, lululemon
Aria Stewart is the senior director of Global Brand Studio and Sample Operations at lululemon. She is a Montana native who has built a career in film, TV, and photo production over the past 18 years at companies including Disney and Hasbro. Aria joined lululemon in 2016 to lead global brand studio production and operations, first in Vancouver, B.C., and now in Los Angeles. Aria and her team deliver innovative, high-volume photo and video content for lululemon’s global brand marketing channels. She also manages the product sample flow for teams across lululemon, driving seamless cross-functional collaboration to meet creative and commercial objectives.
Aria’s creative vision lies in the dynamic workflows she builds and the strong leaders she develops. “My job is all about creating visual content. We’re talking photo and video representations of the brand that resonate with a wide variety of our many different types of guests,” she says. “I help make sure our creative directors are not hindered by operational barriers, and my job is to put the right people in place to bring their vision to life.”
w hen you graduated from Montana s tate u niversity, you moved to the l os a ngeles area, but you weren’t alone. t here were other Montana grads out there with you, right?
Aria: The only people I knew when I got there were other Montana kids, and I was always happy to meet other folks from Montana. I think for the first chunk of my career in LA after college, all my jobs were thanks to people from Montana. The Montanans I knew in LA were a unique group of people who worked so hard and were so dedicated and loyal. We all just wanted
Reprinted with permission Brianne Burrowes
to help each other out. It was a bit of a leap coming from Montana, but I was so excited to do it, because I felt supported. Even if I only had a couple friends there at the time, we were very like-minded, and we were in it together. That made all the difference.
o ne of your first jobs was with Disney. h ow did you end up working there, and then with h asbro?
When the opportunity for Disney came up, I took it immediately, because it felt like it was a great way for me to get into the studio world. I always loved animation, but it certainly wasn't a focus for me in school. That’s where the job was. I started as a PA doing production management type work – working with the feature animation artists. I was there for five-and-a-half-years, and it became my whole life. When I was getting my foot in the door like that, I lived at work. I worked all the time.
After years of this, I felt like I was ready for a change. I moved to Rhode Island, because my partner at the time, who is now my husband, was looking at different grad schools and landed on Brown, which is in Providence. (He also is a Montana guy.)
I landed at Hasbro, the toy company. I think, to an outsider, it looks like I've worked at a lot of different places; but my work, and the skillset I bring to my roles, is the same across all of them. I've always been drawn to work where I can be facilitating creative art. I don't want to be the one making the art, but I love seeing it come to life. And I love removing roadblocks and opening doors.
a nd then life took you to Vancouver, b . c ., and you started your career with lululemon. What drew you to working for the company?
It was a brand that I actually enjoyed. Right from the beginning – even though it was apparel, instead of animation or commercials – I knew that I appreciated what the brand was putting out into the world. And that matters. It has made a difference for me.
I started with lululemon in Canada, and now I'm based in the United States still working for the company. I've changed locations. I've changed titles. I've changed. My team has grown and changed, and so has the shape of the work. I've seen so many iterations of the work while there. It’s a very high-growth, high-change company. Some people love that, and some people don't. I've thrived in an environment where there's always something new
coming down the pipe. I love that unexpected challenge.
When we started, the studio was the photo studio. We shot a little bit of video, but mostly it was photo at that time. During this time, I was located inside the head office, which is in Vancouver. We shot everything there. I think our model roster was maybe four people. Everything was small and contained.
Over the years our product line has grown, and our global reach has grown. We reached a point where we didn't have enough space. We didn't have enough people. We didn't have access to the talent, the models, and the crew to deliver the content that we needed as a global brand. This brought me back to LA, but this time, with lululemon.
What is something you love about your job?
I love managing people, and I love doing budgets. I've always done budgeting work in some capacity. I've never been able to really dive into it and manage the size and scope and complexity the way I do at lululemon. Because it is an ever-changing, high-growth company, there are always new things to factor in. I build so many redundancies and Plan B’s. You have to be creative.
What does your production pace look like?
We do 5-to-12 shoots every week. We must have a team that can deliver in an efficient way at that volume, while also keeping things fresh and interesting, and bringing new life to the work, even though we have to keep doing it every day. We have freelance photographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists, and models who are not lululemon employees. They partner with us – the folks who know the brand and the company really well. We work together to bring a vision to life.
w hat is something you’re working on right now?
Healthy detachment is a big focus for me. I see it as something that is helping me with work, and it's also been a real personal benefit for me, too. I did love those early days at Disney where I was working 14-hour days, 6 days a week. I couldn't
i t was a brand that i actually enjoyed. r ight from the beginning – even though it was apparel, instead of animation or commercials – I knew that I appreciated what the brand was putting out into the world. a nd that matters. It has made a difference for me.
imagine doing that right now. I would burn out so fast. But at the time, I loved it. Over the years, I've come to recognize the importance of knowing how to detach between work and life, knowing when they can come together, and learning where those boundaries are. I spent a lot of years where work was my life.
a ny parting advice?
One of my former bosses at Disney said, “It's all about who you line up behind.” When I first heard that, I questioned, “But what if you want to be leading the line? Why do you have to get behind someone?” The more I've matured, and the more I thought about it, I love it. It telegraphs to me, that in most cases, you are going to be working with others. Understand the importance of the people you're surrounding yourself with.
I've been lucky to have excellent role models in my life and my work life. My hope is that I'm being that person for other people who are lining up behind me, too.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Listen to the full interview on IWantHerJob.com.
Photo courtesy of Aria Stewart.
theElevating Game at Buffalo Hill
Tara Liebert
Becomes PGA Professional
By Mary Wallace
Drum roll please!!!! Buffalo Hill Golf Club is pleased and proud to present its newest PGA Golf Pro, Tara Liebert!
While Tara is certainly no stranger to Buffalo Hill (she’s been employed there for 4 years), her recent election to the PGA of America marks a significant milestone in her career. She now joins Buffalo Hill Golf’s other golf pro, Jess Roper, along with an elite group of approximately 29,000 PGA professionals nationwide - including just over 1,600 women. When I met with Tara, she had just returned from the high-energy 2026 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida — the premier gathering for PGA professionals, industry leaders, and retailers to explore the latest innovations in golf and participate in advanced education sessions.
What, exactly, do all these recent exciting developments mean? What happens now that she has earned this distinction that illustrates both her talent and dedication to the game? “Well, said Tara rather matterof-factly, “I will continue to enjoy teach-
ing golf and helping to run the day-to-day operations of the golf course. I will also continue to coordinate tournaments and be involved in the Junior Buffs and Ladies Golf programs at Buffalo Hill Golf Club. And I will keep on loving what I do here.”
Tara has been described by some of the staff at the club as the ‘glue’ that holds everything together. She is involved in nearly every facet of club operations: management, retail, tournament coordination, teaching, coaching, and, quite simply, keeping things running smoothly. Tara offers both private and group instruction and leads golf clinics and camps. Yet of all her responsibilities, her clear favorite is teaching junior golf, where her enthusiasm for the game is matched only by her commitment to developing the next generation of players.
Not surprisingly, female participation in golf is experiencing record growth nationwide. Today, approximately 8 million women play on-course golf in the United States, representing nearly 28% of all on-course golfers. The junior pipeline tells an equally encouraging story: girls now make up
roughly 35% of junior golfers — a dramatic rise from just 15% in 2000. Since 2019, women have accounted for nearly 60% of the net growth in on-course participation.
By default, many of Tara’s golf clients are women, but she is equally comfortable working with all genders and ages. Her approach centers on building confidence, fundamentals, and a genuine love for the game.
Tara is determined to teach the “FUN” of golfing for both serious and scratch golfers alike. Her teaching style meets each golfer at the level they are at, and much of what she does (besides teaching and coaching for form) involves helping them feel comfortable on the course and how to continually improve on their personal best. She doesn’t hyperfocus on course etiquette; she just teaches them to focus on advancing the ball and to be mindful of holding up the flow of other golfers. At her ladies’ clinics, she sometimes suggests they stop at the clubhouse for a drink before coming out to practice or play. For Tara, golf isn’t just a scorecard; it’s an experience meant to be enjoyed.
tara has been described by some of the staff at the club as the ‘glue’ that holds everything together. s he is involved in nearly every facet of club operations.
Tara can’t ever remember a time when she didn’t want to be on the golf course. Her grandmother began bringing her along at the tender age of 3. They had a deal - if Tara would swing her club and try to hit her golf ball onto the green on each hole, Grandma would let her ‘drive’ the cart to the next hole (always on her lap). It was how she learned to hit the ball and also how she learned to behave on the course.
She played on both her high school and on her college golf teams and then earned a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati and competed at the highest level of collegiate golf, Division I, all the while earning her Bachelor's Degree in Sports Administration.
After college, she met a boy from Montana and followed him to the Flathead, where she secured a job at Iron Horse in 2020. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love — not just with Montana’s landscape, but with the opportunity to play and experience golf courses throughout the valley.
When the golf professional at Buffalo Hill Golf Club called to let her know there was
new golf enthusiasts, and new systems to improve course tee times and smooth operations. Everyone has been working well together and remaining open-minded about new ideas.”
an opening, she didn’t hesitate. She had already been drawn to the club’s welcoming culture and strong sense of community. The people, the atmosphere, and the energy felt like the right fit — and in 2021, she officially joined the Buffalo Hill team.
Throughout it all, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of a PGA of America membership. The process required passing a background check, registering as an associate, passing the Playing Ability Test (PAT), and completing the PGA Professional Golf Management (PGM) program. It also involved working in the golf industry to gain experience, completing educational levels, and demonstrating high-level playing ability. It took six years, and now she has PGA behind her name!
The golf club experienced some staffing changes over the past year. General Manager, Steve Dunfee, retired - handing the reins over to the capable hands of Ken Bush, and Jess Roper took over as the new head golf pro at the club.
“It’s actually been a great year,” said Tara, “We have focused on preserving many of
The Grill at Buffalo Hill is more than a postround stop — it’s a destination in its own right. The dining room offers a welcoming atmosphere, an impressive selection of beverages, and a thoughtfully crafted breakfast and lunch menu served yearround.
During golf season, the energy ramps up with specialty offerings for Thursday night leagues and the club’s well-known Friday BBQ — a local favorite. The public is always welcome, whether they’ve spent the day on the course or simply want to enjoy a meal. And on a warm afternoon, the clubhouse patio provides the perfect setting to relax, unwind, and take in the surroundings.
The clubhouse itself has a notable history. It was built in the 1930s as part of the WPA (Works Progress Administration) program, which was part of Teddy Roosevelt’s New Deal. After the Great Depression, the WPA implemented public works projects, employing millions of job seekers nationwide. At the time of the construction, the building cost was approximately $10,000. Other WPA projects in Montana included the Anita Dam, Bair Reservoir, airports, schools, museums, and hospitals, as well as a nearly identical clubhouse building at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course.
tara can’t ever remember a time when she didn’t want to be on the golf course.
New this Spring, the golf shop will feature a delightful mix of old and new brands of golf clothing and gear. Additionally, shoppers will also find a curated selection of not-necessarily-golf-related items - leisure-type clothing, jewelry, and other gift items.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club has a robust schedule of events already planned for the upcoming season. Visit https://golfhub.golfgenius.com/, and then search for Buffalo Hill Golf Club or simply put in the 59901 zip code to view the events listings and register for any and all.
After getting her PGA, what could possibly be left to do on her bucket list? Tara has a goal of her own: to play at least one golf course in every state in the U.S. So far, she has checked 14 states off her list — with many more fairways waiting.
Any advice for 406 readers? “Just enjoy the day! Whether you are golfing, working, playing, or resting…there is no need to be hyper-focused or worry about what was or will be. Stay in the present! Live in the moment. Control the controllables and let the rest go.”
“And put Buffalo Hill Golf Club on your list of things to do in 2026!”
m enopause and h ormone t herapy. Why all the confusion?
Written by Gwen Jonas, MD
Menopause, and the perimenopausal transition, are the time of and leading up to a woman’s last menstrual period. As women we are considered menopausal when we have not had a period for 12 months (in the absence of other causes). Menopause occurs because of decreased function of our ovaries and therefore, decreased production of estrogen and other hormones. In the most recent issue of 406 Woman, menopausal changes in vaginal health and how to combat them were explored. Today we will focus on whole body symptoms as well as the not so obvious effects of menopause, and hormonal options for treatment.
Menopausal symptoms are common with approximately 75% of women experiencing what are called vasomotor symptoms –hot flashes, night sweats (often resulting in difficulty sleeping), heart palpitations and migraines. Approximately 45 % of women will experience symptoms of mood change: depression, anger/irritability, and anxiety. In addition to mood changes, difficulty with memory or concentration and sleep difficulties not related to night sweats may be very disconcerting. As discussed in our previous article on menopause, many women struggle with vaginal dryness, discomfort and pain with intercourse. All or some of these menopausal symptoms may last 7 to 10 years.
Equally important are the changes that may occur without symptoms – weakening of bones and increased risks of heart disease. Weakening of bones begins 1 to 3 years before menopause and lasts for 5-10 years. The average rate of loss of bone is 2% per year with a total of 10-12% loss. This can lead to loss of height, fractures and significant pain, loss of mobility, or even neurologic effects.
The transition through menopause is also associated with increasing risks of coronary heart disease. The loss of estrogen leads to a shift toward worse cholesterol and lipid
profiles. In addition, the shift of fat disposition toward the abdomen can lead to greater insulin resistance which increases risks of heart disease.
Managing symptoms and results of menopause can be done in a myriad of ways including non-medication interventions, nonhormonal medications or replacement of diminishing hormones with hormonal therapy. In this article, we will focus on the latter, as for many women it will be the most effective. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of confusion, and confusing information, about the safety of hormone replacement therapy. The data from the Women’s Health Initiative in 2001 left many women and providers alike with the impression that hormonal therapy had greater risks than benefits. This in turn has resulted in many women going without adequate treatment for significant and lifealtering symptoms. But continuing observation of the same women from the 2001 study, as well as other studies in the interim, has revealed that for healthy symptomatic women aged 60 years, or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks. This information has been slow to make its way through the medical community and to the patients who would most benefit from therapy.
The primary goal of hormonal therapy is to raise the blood levels of estrogen back to a level where hot flashes and other symptoms improve or resolve. If you still have a uterus, estrogen will stimulate the uterine lining and therefore it is absolutely necessary to take progesterone as well to protect from over-stimulation and possible precancerous or cancerous changes of the uterine lining. When considering hormonal therapy, discussing your options with your gynecologic care provider can be helpful in balancing the severity of your symptoms, your personal health history and your own beliefs about hormone therapy. In the last two decades, the predominant discussion about hormones has centered around the risks. Learning the details of benefits and true information about risks will be useful in making decisions about therapy.
Potential benefits of therapy include decreases in hot flashes and night sweats, improved sleep, improvements in memory and the ability to think clearly, decreased vaginal dryness and pain with sex, and decreased bone loss and fracture risks. Women often
o verall newer information indicates that when hormonal therapy is started in healthy younger women the benefits generally outweigh the following risks.
experience an overall improvement in feelings of wellbeing. Hormone therapy decreases diagnosis of new onset type 2 diabetes, and may help with blood sugar control in women while it is being used for other symptom management. While the FDA has not approved estrogen therapy to treat depression, research has found that it may be nearly as effective as antidepressant medications in treating depression in perimenopausal (but not postmenopausal) women. In some studies, it appears to prevent depression in perimenopausal women who do not have depression at time of initiation. Importantly, for those women initiating therapy within 10 years of menopause and at ages less than 60, newer data demonstrates decreased risks of heart disease and death from heart disease. In women initiating hormone therapy beyond the age of 60 that cardiac benefit is not seen and risks likely outweigh benefits.
All medications have some potential risks. As with the risks of heart disease, overall newer information indicates that when hormonal therapy is started in healthy younger women the benefits generally outweigh the following risks. There is a slightly increased risk of blood clots in legs or lungs as well as increased risks of stroke with all estrogen containing preparations except vaginal therapy. If started after the age of 65, estrogen may increase risks of dementia. If a woman requires both estrogen and progesterone (due to presence of the uterus) there is a slightly increased risk of breast cancer after 4-5 years of use, but this same degree of risk is not seen with estrogen alone.
Side-effects that may be associated with hormone therapy include nausea, breast tenderness or irregular bleeding. Adjustments in dose may help alleviate these effects. Hormonal therapy is not associated with weight gain.
If a woman decides to proceed with hormonal therapy, there are multiple options: pills, gels, patches, sprays or even a vaginal ring. In general, methods in which the estrogen component is delivered through skin as opposed to orally are believed to have a lower risk of blood clots and potentially less effects on cholesterol. Progesterone is generally given orally and is not associated with blood clots or changes in cholesterol. The lowest dose that relieves symptoms should be used. A women’s healthcare provider can help women work through the options to find the right delivery method and dose.
One area of significant confusion these days results from the term “bioidentical” hormone therapy. Bioidentical refers to hormones that are manufactured to be chemically identical to the hormones women’s bodies make during the reproductive years. There is no scientific data to demonstrate these are safer but some women and providers may prefer these products.
“Bioidentical” should not be confused with “compounded” hormones. Bioidentical hormones are produced by large pharmaceutical companies as well as small compounding pharmacies. Compounding pharmacies can produce products with varying doses and ratios. It is important to realize that while compounded hormone therapy allows individualized dosing, these doses
and formulations may not have been rigorously studied to ensure that the doses have appropriate effect and safety. For instance, the required dose of progesterone to estrogen in a woman with a uterus may or may not be present to ensure the risk of uterine cancer is avoided. Absorption of, and blood levels with, different formulation may not have been well-studied. The North American Menopause Society recommends the use of FDA-approved hormonal therapy for this reason. If a woman feels strongly that she would like to use bioidentical hormones, she should discuss this with her provider and realize there is a long list of bioidentical FDA-approved options. If these do not work for her, then compounding may be an appropriate next step.
If a woman is on hormone therapy, deciding when to stop therapy is important. There is no correct time to stop. Newer recommendations from professional organizations state that therapy may be continued beyond 65 years of age. If symptoms persist beyond this time, a woman and her healthcare provider should discuss continuing or discontinuing medications and arrive at this decision together considering her individual risks and history. Some women, on both estrogen and progesterone, stop after 4-5 years due to concerns about breast cancer. When a woman stops hormone therapy, her symptoms may return. Slowly weaning therapy may reduce the risks of returning symptoms. If symptoms return, reassessing the risks, benefits, and alternatives of continuing therapy for each individual woman is appropriate.
In conclusion, in light of newer data about the benefits versus risks of hormone replacement therapy, each woman should know that it may be an option if she wishes to consider it. If her provider does not feel comfortable providing this counseling, she should make an appointment with a gynecologist who specializes in the care of women to discuss menopausal therapy in more depth.
Gwenda C. Jonas, MD, FACOG is a board-certified OB/GYN who has practiced with Kalispell OB/GYN since 2001.
Dr. Jonas received her undergraduate degree from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and her medical degree from the University of Alabama. She completed her residency at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Board-certified yearly through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.
She has served as Chief of Staff of Kalispell Regional Medical Center, as a Kalispell Regional healthcare board member, and as board chair. She has served on numerous committees at Logan Health, including Medical Ethics, Mass Casualty and most recently as Logan Health Section Chair of Gynecology.
Dr. Jonas specializes in early obstetrics and gynecology, including in-office hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation procedures . She has a special interest in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, as well as treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and infertility. Her passion is providing a caring, supportive, and pain-free environment for women to obtain the care they need and deserve.
Dr. Jonas and her husband, Dr. Ken Jonas, are delighted to call Kalispell their home. They enjoy rafting, fishing, skiing, and kayaking.
CRISWELL
what is your go to spf at glacier M edspa right now ?
Elta MD UV Clear *tinted
why is this your fa V orite ?
This formula is powered by effective yet gentle active ingredients suitable for sensitive skin.
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who is this spf perfect for ?
Patients with sensitive skin, acne prone skin, rosacea, and reactive skin!
what do you lo V e M ost about this foru M ula ? It doesn’t contain dimethicone.
what is the biggest sunscreen M ista K e you see patients M a K ing ?
Skipping your neck and chest!
why is spf especially i M portant in M ontana ?
The excitement of short summers and long summer days lead to lots of sunburns!
LESLIE
what is your go to spf at glacier M edspa right now ?
Elta MD UV Skin Recovery “Green”
why is this your fa V orite ?
It helps to die down my redness from Rosacea and leaves my skin glowing. It’s also great after any procedure to help with redness and healing.
what do you lo V e M ost about this foru M ula ?
I love that this product is mineral based, hydrating, and lightweight. It looks and feels great as a standalone SPF product or under makeup!
what is the biggest sunscreen M ista K e you see patients M a K ing ?
Not wearing quality mineral-based products with minimum of SPF 30 or wearing makeup as their SPF for the day! Most patients also forget to and reapply every couple of hours when outside!
why is spf especially i M portant in M ontana ?
Summers are short and intense so most spend long days in the sun to soak it all in and don’t use the proper protection!
SAGE
what is your go to spf at glacier M ed ‑ spa right now ?
EltaMD UV Clear
why is this your fa V orite ?
Lightweight for daily wear, absorbs easily on skin and layers well under makeup.
who is this spf perfect for ?
EltaMD Clear is great for acne prone skin, sensitive, easily irritated, and rosacea prone skin.
what do you lo V e M ost about this foru M ula ?
Light feel no obvious white cast. Contains niacinamide to help even skin and calm inflammation as well as hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to hydrate and support skin health.
what is the biggest sunscreen M ista K e you see patients M a K ing ?
The biggest sunscreen mistake I see patients make is under applying and never reapplying.
why is spf especially i M portant in M ontana ?
SPF is crucial in Montana due to the higher elevation. Higher elevation means stronger UV radiation. At higher elevation you are exposed to more intense UV even on the cold days.
other spf options at g M s
Elta MD Tinted/Untinted Options, Truth Treatment Systems ZO Block, Color Science Flex/Glow/Bronze, Epionce Daily Tinted Shield
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who is this sp f perfect for ?
Anyone! I recommend it to my patients that are prone to redness or rosacea or anyone looking to tone down post procedure redness.
Q&A with d r. lynn t roy Naturopathic oncologist
w hat inspired you to become a naturopathic oncologist?
I had multiple friends with cancer at a time when there was not much support available for cancer patients. I was drawn to the complexity of cancer, the availability of new information involving natural medicine, and the challenge of a constantly changing and growing field of medicine. After pursuing additional education in oncology and gaining a lot of experience in the care of cancer patients, I earned board certification in naturopathic oncology.
tell us about your educational background.
I studied Forestry as an undergraduate degree and developed a strong interest in plants and their medicinal properties. I enjoyed researching and harvesting plants and creating my own medicinal teas. With the encouragement of my parents, one a physician and the other a nurse, I pursued the naturopathic medicine program at Bastyr University. Naturopathic medicine turned out to be the perfect fit, and I received a rigorous medical education with an emphasis on botanical medicine.
Do you accept appointments for other naturopathic needs?
Yes, I see a variety of patients, including those that do not currently have cancer. Other professional
interests include mental health, nutrition for all ages and stages of life, and metabolic health.
you are a m ontana native. w hat keeps you in Montana?
I am originally from Butte. I love Montana and our active, outdoor lifestyle. My family is addicted to Glacier National Park and to skiing! We also spend time at a family cabin outside of Seeley Lake.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I enjoy connecting and serving as a resource for people, both patients and colleagues. It is important to me to guide cancer patients through the overwhelming amount of information and advice available about natural medicine and cancer. It is especially rewarding helping patients overcome disease and maximize their health and vitality.
A Whole-Person Approach to Cancer Care Understanding Naturopathic Oncology
In the Flathead Valley and across Northwest Montana, women are deeply invested in their health. They hike, ski, paddle, garden and raise families surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Nature is important to Montanans and an integral part of our health. The time we spend in nature reduces stress, which - lowers chronic inflammation and boosts immune activity.
When it comes to cancer, time in nature alone cannot prevent it. So, the question becomes, ‘what other steps can women take to prevent or reduce the risk of cancer?’ Additionally, one might ask ‘if I or a loved one develop cancer, are there natural medicinal options that can be used as part of my cancer treatment?’
Naturopathic oncology offers an evidenceinformed approach that complements conventional cancer care. At Logan Health, naturopathic oncology is integrated into patient care to support women before, during and after a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Lynn Troy is Logan Health’s naturopathic oncologist and dives deeper into this topic.
c ancer p revention: r educing r isk t hrough i nformed c hoices While no single strategy can guarantee cancer prevention, research consistently shows that many cancers are caused by modifiable risk factors. Naturopathic oncology focuses on helping patients under-
stand those factors and make realistic, sus tainable changes.
Prevention begins with awareness. Diet, environmental exposures and chronic in flammation can contribute to cancer devel opment. A naturopathic oncology physician works with patients to identify personal risk factors and create prevention strategies that fit their lives. Importantly, prevention is not about fear or perfection.
Naturopathic methods include diet analysis exercise recommendations, sleep support, stress reduction, as well as environmental, hormone and metabolic testing as needed. Women are empowered with knowledge and practical tools to support long-term health.
appropriate for every stage of health. Naturopathic oncology emphasizes personalized activity plans that support energy and recovery.
l ifestyle Medicine: s upporting the b ody’s r esilience
Lifestyle medicine is a cornerstone of naturopathic oncology. Whether a woman is aiming to reduce cancer risk or navigating treatment, daily habits matter.
Exercise has a powerful impact on our health. It has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers and improve outcomes for those already diagnosed. Thankfully, we live in a region where outdoor recreation can be a part of everyday life. Exercise still needs to be intentional and
Nutrition is a critical element of cancer prevention and all phases of treatment. Naturopathic oncologists use nutrition recommendations to support metabolic health, enhance gut function, and control inflammation. This improves quality of life when living with cancer and can help patients tolerate treatment. We make cancer specific diet recommendations when appropriate. We develop long term cancer recurrence prevention plans, for example helping women lose body fat and gain lean mass.
Story and photos provided by Logan Health
o
ne of the principles of
naturopathic
medicine is
t reat the w hole p erson: body, mind, spirit.
Stress management is another important aspect of every patient’s health. One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is Treat the Whole Person: body, mind, spirit. As a naturopathic oncologist, talking to patients about stress and developing coping skills is part of the visit. Practices such as mindfulness, breathing techniques, time in nature and restorative sleep are not “extras”; they are essential. For women juggling careers, families and caregiving roles, this support can be transformative.
h erbs and d ietary s upplements: t houghtful, e vidence- b ased u se
One of the most frequent questions women ask about cancer care is should they take herbs and supplements? Which ones? Are they safe and compatible with treatment?
Naturopathic oncologists offer recommendations to use herbs and supplements alongside mainstream cancer care. They are used to support the immune system, manage treatment side effects, or address nutrient deficiencies. Herbs and dietary supplements are selected based on individual needs and current evidence. Professional guidance is critical for safety.
i ntegrative c are, c lose to h ome
Women do not have to choose between conventional medicine and natural approaches to cancer prevention and treatment but can use both for the best possible outcomes. At Logan Health, this integrative model allows women to receive personalized, compassionate care grounded in both science and whole-person wellness.
Lifestyle medicine and use of dietary supplements and herbs are not social media trends. They are essential tools for women who want to live fully, stay active and invest in their health for years to come.
To learn more about naturopathic oncology services at Logan Health or to make an appointment for care with Dr. Lynn Troy, please call (406) 751-7560.
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Everything in Moderation
By Dr. John F. Miller DDS - SMILE MONTANA
I have lived in Whitefish for the last 15 winters and I did something last weekend for the very first time. This could be the most iconic Montana winter experience, and I had yet to make its acquaintance. I went to Big Sky. More specifically I snowboarded Big Sky Resort for a day with my two boys. Why have I never been? Honestly it’s pretty far, it’s pretty pricey, and if I am going to travel and spend for snow, I’m going to go the opposite direction...into the British Columbia backcountry. So why go now? Easy, my oldest son Banks was in a Slopestyle/Rail Jam competition and I’m pretty committed to not missing these “kid things” as they are getting older and on the verge of flying the coop.
My impression of Big Sky after over ten years of only riding chair lifts at Big Mountain is somewhere between WOW and WHOA! It’s fancy, and big, and bougie, and big, and...you get it. I found myself thinking this is so cool while simultaneously hoping Whitefish doesn’t get like this. It was a warm and sunny day with no new snow
so my son Maxwell and I were crushing groomers and checking out their 8-person heated bubble chair. In other words, having a blast. Banks did great in his comp and not surprisingly Big Sky’s freestyle park was a huge improvement over Big Mountain’s...according to him. It’s super cool, not totally sure it’s my jam.
This trip required approximately 13 hours of windshield time. This required a good audio book (Project Hail Mary if you’re curious), and a solid snack game. I’m going to be fully transparent with you all. Day in and day out I'm quite disciplined physically and nutritionally, but a long road trip is my weakness. Obviously it’s not physically beneficial just sitting for that long. We did do some calisthenics outside Helena however. And nutritionally, phew, it all goes out the window for me.
So here it goes. We drove through the Swan so our supply stop was the Town Pump across from the Blue Moon. Already so basic right? Full disclosure: Sugar Free Red Bull 12-ounce, Kettle Salt and Vinegar chips, Trolli Sour Worms, and Teriyaki Beef Jerky. My son does not drink unhealthy liquids (his personal goal and choice... also, he’s rad) so he had a water, but we shared everything else. When we started the drive, I proposed to Maxwell that we only allow ourselves a snack every half hour. So basically every 30 minutes on the hour and on the half hour we
could each have one chip, one piece of jerky, and one worm. As a weird way of maybe making the trip go faster but mostly making the snacks last the whole way. It felt fun and healthy-er.
Now, as a dentist I will tell you that this was the absolute worst way to consume snacks for optimal tooth health. We all have microflora/bacteria in our oral environments. And we all have a sampling of the same types of bacteria but in varying ratios. When these bacteria are given a source of fuel in the form of carbohydrates they will metabolize (eat) said carbs and produce acid as a byproduct (waste). The two main bad guys that cause tooth decay are Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus, and they produce lactic acid specifically.
This acid lowers the local pH on the tooth surface down into levels that promote the demineralization of your tooth surface, also known as enamel. At the same time the natural process of saliva production, which ramps up during eating (Pavlov's dog anyone?), is acting as our main buffering agent against this acid situation. Assuming healthy salivary function our normal healthy pH levels will be restored in approximately 30 minutes after our last bite of carb laden food. Obviously candy is like jet fuel for these bugs, but it is everything with fermentable carbs such as bread, juice, milk, pastas, Starbucks, etc., that will foster acid production.
b e honest with yourself and your own body.
If you have been paying attention and doing the math, my road trip snacking method would never allow my oral environment (I typed oral cavity at first...I didn’t like it) to return to normal and healthy pH levels. Mine and Maxwell’s teeth were subjected to fermentable carbs literally every 30 minutes. Is this irresponsible of me? It definitely would be, if I snacked like this all the time. But I don’t, and my healthy teeth (no cavities going on 20 years) can 100% survive a brief window of Trolli Sour Worm assault. I would also like to add that I did require a vigorous swish with alkaline water after every 30-minute snacking which greatly accelerated our return towards healthy pH levels, but even if we didn’t we would still be fine.
Famous 19th century British playwright Oscar Wilde is quoted as saying, “Everything in Moderation, Including Moderation.” Which can be interpreted as saying, it’s normal to cut loose every once in a while. I’m not the Dentist who is going to tell you to never eat candy, or to never have your favorite coffee order, or your favorite soft drink. I’m the dentist who is going to tell you to be educated on what those items are doing on a microscopic level in your mouth. Leaving your [insert carb source of choice here, examples include latte, soda, energy drink, Skittles, chocolate, etc.] on your desk and sipping/snacking every few minutes over a few hours every day is hard on your teeth.
I invite you to snack and sip like you're robbing a bank. In and out, smash and grab. The longer you are in there the more likely the cavity cops will catch you. Then you have to go to cavity court and stand in front of the judge... which is me. I know that once I start getting weird it’s time to wrap it up.
Moderation is the message here folks. A bottle of ibuprofen tells us that the max dose is 400mg yet doctors and dentists routinely prescribe ibuprofen 800’s (800 mg pills) for acute pain. But that is twice the max recommended dose doc? I know, but your body can totally handle a day or two of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory excess to get you comfortably through your pain. The 400 mg message is for folks who are going to take ibuprofen everyday indefinitely.
This is the same for a bag of Trolli Sour Worms (can you tell I really like these?). If I asked my physician if I should eat a bag a day they would say absolutely not. But if I said, “hey, I'm pretty healthy day in and day out, could I share a bag maybe once every two months?” They would likely be fine with that. Just be honest with yourself and your own body. Read that last sentence again. It’s actually really hard to do.
It has been an interesting winter to say the least. Very warm and even though we have had a lot of precipitation it has come in the form of rain which is exactly the opposite of how we want it. In fact, it is raining right now as I write this. By all metrics it has been a sub-par snow year. We are setting records for warmth all across the west, and despite all that I think this has been my most enjoyable winter yet.
It’s often said on the slopes, don’t leave snow to find snow. But I have been doing just that this winter. I have made it up to the British Columbia backcountry 3 times in 2026 and it has been delightful. A huge shout out to my wife Juli Miller for agreeing to this snowbum schedule. She only rolled one eye which is...weird!! How did she do that? In addition, I’ve watched several amazing sunrises and sunsets from my splitboard and have learned to love a crisp clean 7:00 AM groomer bomb. All in the company of great friends.
Lastly I have spent every Saturday with my family, whether on Big Mountain or on whichever ski hill my son Banks is competing in Slopestyle for that weekend. I’ll choose snowboarding with my wife and kids every time. If you made it this far...hey Thanks!!
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tart an D tan G y, Salty an D Sweet
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Publisher's Note
There’s a unique kind of anticipation that comes with Spring in Montana. We start looking for those first signs of green, eagerly awaiting a seasonal shift, only to be reminded by a late snowstorm that winter hasn't quite packed its bags yet. It’s that familiar, lingering space between the frost and the thaw.
While the weather outside might not be completely ready to turn the page, we certainly are. We know the feeling of being ready for fresh air, open windows, and new beginnings. That's exactly why we’ve packed this issue with stories designed to bridge the gap.
Whether you're curled up inside watching spring tease us from the window, or you're already out braving the muddy trails for early-season adventures, our goal is to bring the fresh energy of a new season directly to you. We hope the pages ahead bring you a spark of warmth and a whole lot of inspiration for the months to come.
Here’s to the changing seasons—whenever they finally decide to arrive!
With Gratitude, Cindy and Amanda
publisher Cindy Gerrity cindy@montanasky.net
business manager
Daley McDaniel daley@montanasky.net
managing editor
Kristen hamilton montanakristen@gmail.com
creative & social media director
amanda wilson afwphotography@me.com
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Sara Joy pinnell sara@mrsandmrpublishing.com
photographers
Daley McDaniel photography
amanda wilson photography aCe photography
Published by Skirts Publishing six times a year
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Copyright©2024 Skirts Publishing
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Tart and Tangy, Salty and Sweet
By Cindy Della Monica
food} c ind Y d ell A Monic A
If you haven’t watched the CNN series where Stanley Tucci is “In Search of Italy,” I’m thinking THAT should be the last of your winter binge TV viewing. Spring promises to push Winter into distant memory, and we finally will be able to cavort in the warm sunshine, just like all the baby goats that nannies delivered in the March kidding season.
Spring’s goat babies bring on the best of the nannies’ fresh milk, and chevre ( pronounced shev ) production for the new year starts now. The French refer to any cheese made with goat’s milk as chevre, but in America chevre refers to fresh spreadable cheese. A controlled diet for goats produces milk that makes mild, yet still tangy, chevre without the “rascally” pronounced goat flavor. In France, chevre is primarily produced in the Loire and Poitou regions, having a more goat-y flavor. Exactly the way the French like it! Tart and tangy, the perfect foil for spreading on morning toast topped with any jam, or slices of avocado and tomatoes.
As chevre has a slight citrusy flavor, my cold, crisp salad with lemon in the dressing is enhanced with chevre crumbles. I’ll finish a spring pea and asparagus risotto with a last-minute quick stir-in of chevre, lemon zest and lots of freshly ground black pepper for a creamy melty mouthfeel and zippy flavor. A chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc next to your dish makes the meal complete
But I digress… One of Stanley’s episodes is spent in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, around Modena. The cinematography is gorgeous, filmed in October, overlooking the hilly vineyards sporting autumn colors. Stanley notes that the city of Modena is located in the “Food Valley'' of the Po River.
Two cheeses of this region are Parmigiano-Reggiano and Provolone ( pronounced pro-vo-lone-ay ). When my customers sample Provolone, I tell them REAL Provolone is different, not that stretchy rubbery non-flavor food stuff that goes on your Subway sandwich (but they don’t really believe me). Then they get a taste, and the light bulb goes on! Firm, tangy, almost spicy from the aging of fourteen months. At this point, I tell them I want to make a meatball sandwich with this great cheese melted all over it, but I also love it as a dessert cheese… with a dessert wine, or a drizzle of honey, or a fig jam or pear marmalade.
When I present a cheese class, I am insistent that the participants remember this one cheese mantra: Time = Taste +
Texture. Perfect example? That wonderful Provolone! It is a member of the “stracchino” family of cheeses, where the curd is stretched in hot water. The most famous member of this cheese family is fresh Mozzarella. That very same curd also makes Provolone… in fact, Time = Taste + Texture turns a 10 lb. ball of mozzarella curd into Provolone, when aged for months.
Parmigiano-Reggiano is also a delicious dessert cheese, not just the garnish on your Sunday night pasta. Think of its rich nuttiness! Have a simple meal of fish or chicken, fresh asparagus, and a salad with a tangy vinaigrette. Finished with a small dessert tray of walnut-sized nuggets of Parmigiano, drizzled with real balsamic vinegar (the thick syrupy kind), and fresh fruit slices or sweet buttery crackers. Sweet and salty, tart and tangy! Spring personified when dining al fresco in the soft evening air.
More ideas on Tart/Tangy, Sweet/Salty? I got a million of them, but here’s just a few more for you to try:
• Cypress Grove produces a Meyer Lemon and Honey Chevre disc that I love, and the flavors are already there.
• Goat cheese is traditionally served with fig products, and any sheep cheese from the Basque region is traditionally served with cherry jam.
• Fresh apple slices and spreadable blue cheeses, like St. Agur or Point Reyes Original Blue, are snackable, or salad sides, and terrific desserts.
• And, a reminder of one pairing we love so much… Pecorino Romano (Italian sheep cheese) with chunks of dark chocolate. The epitome of Sweet/Salty yumminess!
Here are two amazing Spring recipes that bring the sweet/salty and tart/ tangy to life: Make them a part of your Mother’s Day celebration, and “cavort” like a baby goat!
Gemelli with Zesty lemon, Castelvetrano Olives, and Parsley
Ingredients
1⁄2 C hazelnuts, toasted, rubbed in towel to remove skins
Salt and freshly cracked pepper
1 large bunch parsley, minced
2 C roughly chopped Castelvetrano olives
2 large lemons, grated zest and juice
1⁄2 C extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb gemelli pasta, cooked al dente in salted water
3 large cloves garlic
1 to 2 anchovy filets, depending on your taste
1 C grated ricotta salata, another Italian salty cheese
Steps
Roughly chop hazelnuts, and toss them with a generous drizzle of oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together parsley, olives, lemon juice, zest, and 1⁄2 C oil. Set aside.
Mince the garlic and anchovy together until pasty. In a large skillet, heat 2 T oil over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add the garlic-anchovy paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low.
Add pasta and reserved water to the skillet. Stir in parsley and olive mixture. Adjust for seasoning and serve topped with toasted hazelnuts, and a grinding of black pepper. Serve hot.
Spring Herb Cheese log
By Cindy Della Monica
Ingredients
11 oz soft fresh goat cheese log, or cream cheese
2 T finely chopped fresh chives
2 T finely chopped fresh parsley
1 T finely chopped fresh basil leaves
1 T finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 garlic clove, minced
2 t lemon zest
Salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
1/2 C finely chopped pecans
Directions
Place all herbs in a medium bowl; stir well to combine. Set aside 2 T for nut roll. Add all remaining ingredients, except pecans. Stir well to combine. Place the cheese mixture in the center of one side of a large sheet of plastic. Wrap like a tootsie roll. Twist ends tightly and the cheese will shape into a firm “sausage.” Refrigerate for an hour, until firm but still soft enough for the nut coating to press into the surface.
Stir together the chopped pecans and reserved herbs. Using a rimmed baking sheet, spread nut mixture into an even layer the length of the cheese log itself. Take cheese from plastic, place onto the nut layer, and roll so that all the nuts and herbs stick to the surface. Wrap again in new plastic wrap, and twist ends to tighten up the log and its coating. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. Present with crackers, vegetable crudité or crispy baguette slices, after letting the cheese log come to room temperature for 30 minutes or more.
AlTernATe SprIng flAvor IdeAS
• leave out the garlic and add 1 C chopped dried cherries with the herbs.
• substitute 1 tsp. crushed lavender for the garlic, basil and oregano, and serve with fresh fruit and baguettes.
• your choice of Middle Eastern herb combo containing chives, fennel, dill, tarragon and mint, with a ½ t of sumac (a lemony flavored spice).
• substitute finely chopped pistachios for pecans
INGREDIENTS
2 to 2.5 lbs. whole salmon fillet with skin on
4 TB Genesis Kitchen Honey Ginger White Balsamic
4 TB Haku Mizunara Whisky Barrel Aged Shoyu , or regular strength soy sauce
2 TB Genesis Kitchen Green Lemon Olive Oil
2 TB Genesis Kitchen Japanese Toasted Sesame Oil
1 TB of Honey
1 fresh lemon
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 TB freshly grated ginger
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 red onion – chopped
2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced Green Onion to garnish
DIRECTIONS
Lemon Honey Ginger Salmon
Use paper towels to thoroughly dry the salmon fillet, removing excess moisture.
place the salmon in a large glass baking dish and set aside.
Make the Marinade in a bowl, use a hand whisk to mix together:
Ginger Balsamic l Soy sauce l Honey l Green Lemon Olive Oil l Japanese Toasted Sesame Oil l Garlic l Ginger l Black pepper l Green onions l Lemon juice from a fresh lemon l Chopped onions
pour the mixture evenly over the salmon, ensuring the salmon is fully coated with the marinade.
Cover and chill for at least 6 hours or overnight, if possible.
Bake
remove the salmon from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats to 350°F (with the rack in the middle position).
transfer the salmon to a large piece of aluminum foil placed on a large rimmed baking sheet. the salmon should be skin-side down. evenly distribute the marinade over the salmon. Cover the salmon with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes.
Broil
remove the salmon from the oven, move the rack to the upper position, and place the salmon back in the oven on the upper rack.
broil on high for about 5 minutes, watching carefully so the salmon doesn’t burn. it should reach a light golden color on top. remove the salmon from the heat immediately and serve.
a sk the Butcher
“Wow!” she thought, “No one has ever burst into tears when I brought them tomatoes!” And in that quiet unexpected moment, Elizabeth realized that, unlike vegetables, flowers nourish something deeper than the body. They feed the heart.
Just like that, everything changed. She was 58 years old, looking at her empty nest, and knew it was time to start something new. That realization soon transformed the Seymour family vegetable garden into Mountain Prairie Flower Farm — a tiny, family-run enterprise rooted in love, legacy, and the Montana soil itself.
Mountain Prairie Flower Farm specializes in fragrant, high-quality blooms grown with sustainable, organic practices — without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. What began as a practical vegetable garden to feed a family of six has evolved into something far more poetic.
“Truly, having the flower gardens is so fulfilling — so magical even — that there has been no turning back,” Elizabeth says with a laugh. “This is our family home. The love we put into the soil comes from years of memories we’ve sown and harvested here. We wanted to share that with others.”
The Moment When The True Magic Unfolds
Elizabeth Seymour Mountain Prairie Flower Farm
By Mary Wallace
Elizabeth Seymour had a quiet but life-changing epiphany one Fall afternoon, just days after her youngest child left for college. Feeling a little listless, she gathered a bunch of sunflowers from her garden and decided to visit a friend, who immediately burst into tears when she saw the beautiful bouquet.
When Elizabeth and her husband, Tim, returned to the mountains more than twenty years ago, they were searching for two different things. Tim wanted his children to experience the same kind of outdoor childhood he’d known growing up in Idaho. Elizabeth wanted to feed her family from the land and live as self-sufficiently as possible. With four growing kids, their vegetable garden wasn’t just a hobby — it was a lifeline.
Gardening runs deep in Elizabeth’s roots. Her great-grandmother’s claim to fame was inadvertently starting a full-on peach orchard simply from the peach pits that had been tossed off the back porch — and then lovingly cultivating what sprouted. Her father, a plumber with a green thumb, planted a large vegetable garden every year to feed his many children, always making room for zinnias to attract the bees. Her mother, a teacher, preserved the harvest. Together, her parents modeled a life connected to the land — one of stewardship, practicality, and quiet beauty.
a y ear at the f lower far M
Late winter and early spring are anything but quiet. After a holiday season filled with wreathmaking workshops and festive gatherings, Elizabeth turns her focus to seed catalogs and spreadsheets. Flats of seedlings begin their lives
in the basement, while snow still blankets the fields outside.
By mid-May, the first hardy plants are tucked into Montana soil. June brings staggered plantings — lisianthus with their 150-day growing cycle, sunflowers, zinnias, and other warm-loving varieties that thrive in the 80 to 90 days of summer sunlight. Every week requires strategy and patience.
Annuals provide continuous color throughout one growing season, demanding replanting each year but rewarding the effort with abundance.
t his is our family home. t he love we put into the soil comes from years of memories we’ve sown and harvested here. We wanted to share that with others.
Perennials return faithfully from the same roots, offering shorter but spectacular bursts of bloom. Together, they create nearly three seasons of color. Flower farming, she explains, is equal parts science and art.
By mid-to-late July, the farm begins welcoming visitors. The growing season stretches generously — if the first frost holds off — into midSeptember.
And this is where the true magic unfolds.
ance. The farm becomes less about flowers and more about connection.
“It’s the people,” Elizabeth says. “Watching what happens when they’re here together — that’s the most rewarding part.”
Elizabeth grew up in Texas with her parents and her brothers and sisters. She had earned her college degree in biology and was doing research in a medical school in Dallas when her youngest sister suggested she consider nursing instead. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and began her career in a bustling ER in Texas. She became a flight nurse with Careflite and that is where she met Tim. They married, bought a house with a garden, had four babies within 5 years, and Elizabeth worked on earning her Master's in Nursing.
They moved to West Virginia so Tim could earn his Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies (PA). During those five years, Elizabeth worked as an RN, taught nursing, and enjoyed watching her gardens and her children grow.
When Tim finished his education, they made the move to Montana and continued their medical careers, finished raising four incredible children, and of course, they continued to raise their gardens for both sustenance and enjoyment.
Elizabeth enjoys her profession as a telehealth RN practitioner at Montana Laser and Medical Center. But she will tell you that her passion is in the garden.
haring the h ar V est
Mountain Prairie Flower Farm offers several ways to experience the blooms. During peak
season, guests can reserve u-pick visits and fill a bucket with flowers of their choosing. CSA subscribers receive weekly bouquets (sign-ups are best secured before Mother’s Day). Bloomin’ Buckets (70-90 hand-picked stems with foliage) can be preordered online for special occasions. Local restaurants feature the farm’s fresh table flowers throughout the height of summer.
The gardens also provide a stunning backdrop for professional photography sessions and intimate DIY wedding ceremonies.
Through it all, Elizabeth is supported by one indispensable team member — Nicole. “She’s amazing,” Elizabeth says. “She’s a wizard in the garden. I don’t have to give her a list. She just sees what needs to be done and does it.” In a field where timing is everything, that intuitive understanding is invaluable.
At its heart, Mountain Prairie Flower Farm is about more than blooms. It’s about legacy, reinvention, and the courage to plant something new — even later in life.
When asked if Elizabeth had any words of wisdom for our readers, she shared this:
• Flowers are magic.
• 58 is NOT too old to start a new thing.
• If you can dream it, you can do it.
• It is an honor to bring magic and beauty into the lives of others through flowers.
Visit www.mountainprairieflowerfarm.com or call 406-253-6398 for seasonal hours, services, and events. Better yet, subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates.
Steeping Stories in Strong Settings…
By Christine Carbo
While hiking one day, years before I wrote my first mystery, I passed a man sitting on a rock not far from the trail I was on. He wore a dark hat pulled low, had a blank stare, and held a rifle across his lap. It wasn’t hunting season, and I remember feeling a cold slice of dread in my gut. I was all alone out in the woods and had been worried about running into a grizzly bear or mountain lion or falling on a slippery ledge. How strange that, instead, the thing that scared me was an ominous-looking guy with a rifle sitting on a boulder watching me pass.
While nothing came of the man with the rifle, it started my mind wandering down dark, wooded paths. Maybe my po-dunk Montana town would make a good place for a mystery or a thriller. I had always thought there just wasn’t enough action, enough traffic, and enough crime for a good mystery or thriller. But this incident illuminated the possibilities for me. Setting doesn’t just frame a story and its’ characters; it can help create both. It quickly became clear to me that I didn’t need some dynamic city to have an interesting backdrop for a good crime fiction story. Montana’s landscape and how its small communities constantly brush up against the wild, provides a perfect framework for writing crime fiction. Why? In part—
contrary to popular belief— empty, wild places don’t always make us feel at peace. Maybe it’s some biological survival instinct, but often, they nudge us to think danger lurks around every corner.
Mystery fiction can thrive where human systems feel sparse, where there are few witnesses, limited law enforcement, and unreliable infrastructures in some places. Wilderness easily conceals bodies. Long winters and shoulder seasons breed isolation. Logging roads wind through all sorts of wild places. Weather alters plans, timelines, alibis, and covers evidence.
Notice how rural settings have become quite trendy in pop culture: interesting, rural and wild setting have taken the spotlight in so much of our crime fiction and horror lately. Think Yellowstone, True Detective, Mare of Easttown, Wind River, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Murder at the End of the World—the list goes on.
Perhaps such a fascination with wild, rural areas has taken root in our current cultural climate because a longing for more wild and natural spaces in our lives has intensified. Perhaps it’s an attraction to a lack of structure, an escape from urban social expectations, or simply carries with it a vibe of “simpler times”. Regardless of why though, small communities turn out to be ripe for mystery and thriller dy-
namics. Everyone seems to know each other, or thinks that they do. Memories are selective. Outsiders stand out. Grudges get carried. Protectionism runs thick, and sometimes at a cost. People hold secrets not just to be devious, but because it’s reputational survival. For a mystery writer, the balancing act between the wildness surrounding characters and the intimacy of the community can become a pressure cooker. This is precisely what crime fiction writers want----lots of conflict.
But as rich as these elements are for a mystery writer, they’re not enough if they don’t collide with the psyches of your characters in interesting ways. One of the biggest challenges we face as writers is how to keep readers from getting bored with descriptions and settings. What makes a locale enticing in some books but not in others? What makes readers get bored with descriptions and skip over them to get to the action and dialogue?
I believe it lies not in the description alone— that it’s not well-written or gorgeous enough, but in the connection between place and character. In other words, the emotional glue that binds the characters to their settings, especially the protagonist, is what makes descriptive segments work. Even very short ones, must often be tied at the hip to your characters’ feelings about the places they’re visiting or living in. If not, they often fall flat.
f or a mystery writer, the balancing act between the wildness surrounding characters and the intimacy of the community can become a pressure cooker. t his is precisely what crime fiction writers want----lots of conflict.
Thinking about the stunning place we live in this way makes me consider all sorts of questions about my characters: Do they hate outsiders? Are they nostalgic? Does the locale bring up long-buried memories? Does it make their skin crawl? Does it haunt them and give them nightmares? Are they suddenly, unexpectedly at ease in a certain place? It’s been this “diggingin process” that’s helped me find tension in my stories.
Additionally, I enjoy the benefit of the landscape, urban or rural, acting as an avatar for emotions I want to get across to the reader. In other words, the setting can relay things characters might not say out loud or even do. A mudslide blocking the protagonist’s car, or huge tree branches pressing down onto their path might reinforce the character’s feelings of being constrained by some situation in the plotline. Rather than the protagonist having to state the obvious: I’m confined by my boss, or suffocated by my family, or plowed down by the city council, you can demonstrate it.
When I decided to set the first novel of my Glacier Mystery series in and around Glacier National Park— a place both calming and rejuvenating to me— I began to ponder what would happen if my main character felt the opposite of how I feel about it, if he was haunted by the very park he needed to conduct an investigation in. Hence, I wrote my first book, The Wild Inside, about a special agent from the Department of the Interior who is called in to investigate a serious crime
that takes place on federal land. The park is, however, the last place he wants to be. As a teen, he witnessed his father get mauled and killed by a grizzly bear in Glacier. The park joins as an antagonist, and there were many spots in the story where I felt like I needed to make it an active, intimidating participant.
My other books, Mortal Fall, The Weight of Night, A Sharp Solitude, and my new one coming out on June 1st of this year, The Confession Artist, all try to plumb the characters’ emotions through their surroundings as well. The mountains marching north, the rivers snaking through the Great Divide, the schizophrenic weather bearing down, the elk sending their reedy cries into the pale morning, the forest trees lurking and hiding things—it all adds up to make a story more robust. And when we strike the right balance between character and the places they inhabit in an entertaining way, we’ve done our job as writers.
If a reader hangs with your story long enough to vicariously experience a new world they might never consider otherwise— whether they’re simply escaping or getting a good dose of reality— well then, you’ve done something very special indeed. For me, when stories dealing with commanding settings fully capture our attention through the lens of the character, the true heart of the narrative begins to beat on the page and in all of us--no matter where we live, no matter what the issues.
Christine Carbo is the author of the Glacier Mystery novels, an ensemble-series set in and around Glacier National park, and a stand-alone thriller called The Confession Artist. She is a recipient of the Women’s National Book Association Pinckley Prize, the Silver Falchion Award, the High Plains Book Award, and was a finalist for the Barry Award. Christine is a Florida native but quickly fell in love with Montana when she moved to the Flathead Valley in the late seventies. She has an MA in English/Linguistics and taught college-level courses for over a decade. She still teaches, but in a vastly different realm as a Pilates instructor. She lives in Whitefish, MT and often draws inspiration from the wild setting surrounding her. Find out more at ChristineCarbo.com.
Therese Hutchinson
Therese Hutchinson is a longtime resident of Twin Bridges, Montana, where she and her husband, Roger, own and operate the local grocery store, Main Street Market. Inspired by a moment shared with her granddaughter, My Wild Garden Zoo fulfills Therese’s lifelong dream of writing and illustrating a children’s book and celebrates the wildlife of Montana and the western United States.
My Wild Garden Zoo
By Author & Illustrator
Therese Hutchinson Book Review by Kristen Hamilton
The cover alone draws kids (and adults) in with its colorful illustration of all the animals featured inside.
My grandsons, who live in the French Alps, loved the story and carefully spied every page to be sure they found all the vegetables highlighted in the text. My daughter (who grew up in Montana) loved it as it helps them learn English words in a predominately French speaking region.
They have a garden and the boys often help their parents with watering and picking fresh produce. They chuckled thinking about the animals eating their favorite items from the garden.
As every wonderful story, they cried “encore, encore” to hear the story one more time until this grandma was ready for a nap.
This children’s book is beautifully illustrated and fun to read. I’d recommend adding it to your collection or getting as a gift for a favorite child in your life.
My Wild Garden Zoo (ISBN: 978-1-60639086-3, Sweetgrass Books, 2015) is available in hardcover at various local retailers, as well as online and from Farcountry Press at (800) 821-3874, farcountrypress.com.
Cara &Brandon
October 25, 2026 - Photographs by Ele Hart and Astra Dolkas
Star Meadows RanchWhitefish, Montana
Tell us about you…
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Cara has had family roots in Whitefish for 30+ years and made the move herself nearly nine years ago. She co-founded a thriving real estate business with her best friend, Ashley, and now balances that entrepreneurial work with attending law school in St. Paul, Minnesota, while continuing to live in Whitefish. Active and communityminded, she loves gravel biking, dancing, playing music, and staying involved in local events and organizations.
Brandon is originally from Muskegon, Michigan and moved to Whitefish five years ago and first worked as a boot fitter and bike mechanic at GNCS in downtown Whitefish, a shop owned by Cara’s family. He previously played junior hockey in Can-
I most loved having all of my favorite people together in one place at the same time; it truly was as magical as everyone says it will be.
ada, then moved to Vail, where he suited up for the Yeti while working at the mountain. Brandon now serves as Director of the Flathead Valley Hockey Association and head coach of the Flathead Fusion varsity high school team, and he loves being outside, whether he is on his bike or skis.
Cara – What is the trait that you most admire in Brandon?
I admire his motivation and zest for life, and I love that he works with youth and is so passionate about being a role model for them. It is incredibly attractive how he pours his whole heart into his work with the hockey team. He is my biggest cheerleader, always inspiring me to dig deep and be who I truly am, and he never shrinks me or makes me feel anything less than perfect.
Brandon – When did you realize you wanted to get married to Cara?
I felt something different right away dur-
I admire his motivation and zest for life, and I love that he works with youth and is so passionate about being a role model for them.
ing our first unofficial date. The moment I said to myself “you gotta marry this girl” was probably our first Christmas together. We started a tradition of skinning the mountain and opening presents and then continuing to ski the rest of the day.
Why did you choose the venue where you got married?
When we drove up to the venue, we immediately noticed the hexagon wedding arch, perfectly mirroring the shape of the stone in my wedding ring. The honeycomb design felt especially meaningful because my mom was a beekeeper before she passed, making the space feel touched by her memory. We loved being tucked into the woods, just far enough to feel like we were somewhere secret and sacred. Sam, the owner, truly sealed the deal for us with her warmth and kindness; she instantly put us at ease and made it clear this was “the place” for our wedding.
When
we drove up to the venue, we immediately noticed the hexagon wedding arch, perfectly mirroring the shape of the stone in my wedding ring.
Cara – What did you enjoy most during your wedding day?
I most loved having all of my favorite people together in one place at the same time; it truly was as magical as everyone says it will be. Seeing them witness how happy Brandon and I are, and experience our love firsthand, felt absolutely priceless. The late-night dance party and the Pink Pony Club flash dance my girlfriends and I performed were unforgettable moments that I will cherish forever.
Brandon – What is your favorite activity to do as a couple?
Share new experiences together whether it’s a show, concert, or a new challenge like the 5-day Oregon Gravel Grinder (a stage race through the Cascades).
Venue
Wedding Details…
Star Meadows ranch
Rentals
Celebrate
Caterer
Farmer Meets Foodie
Cake/Dessert
Jennifer Gemmill, Sweet
remedies Mt and Fleur bakeshop
Music
Gene nery (live guitar/singing) and aaleXiaa (DJ)
Dress
lovely bridal - Seattle
Tuxes/Suits
State & liberty
Rings
Staghead Designs (Groom’s ring), McGough & Co (wedding band),
ty at Custom Made (engagement ring)
Hair
Jamie tatum, Cabella Vida
Makeup
Marcella Cloud
Bartender
timber & tonic
Transportation
rocky Mountain Shuttle
Accommodations
Grouse Mountain lodge
Drinks/Alcohol
Spotted bear Spirits
PLUS a BIG shout out to all the bridesmaid who helped with countless hours of Diy decorations (including all the bouquets, floral arrangements, centerpieces, arch, aisle etc!!!
Jordan Porter, The Last Chair - 40x30 Oil Painting
Going to the Sun Gallery
Proudly Presents Jordan Porter, Ariel Rodriguez, Rochelle Lombardi, and Phill Evanoff.
Rochelle Lombardi, Leap Of Faith $2,800
Ariel Rodriguez, Monarch Messenger 24x24 $6,000
Ariel Rodriguez, Call of the Conifer - 12x36 $5,500
Phill Evanoff, The Gaurdian Pine Red Breasted Nuthatch $1450