Explore Big Sky - August 25 to September 7, 2022 by Outlaw Partners

WILDLANDS FESTIVAL BRINGS MUSIC, PHILANTHROPYTOBIGSKY NEW TRAILS FORGE CONNECTION IN BIG SKY BIG SKY VISITATION DIPS STATE FUNDS LOCAL CHILD CARE CHRIS DAVENPORT JOINS PEAK SKI COMPANY PLUS: 13 FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL Aug. 25 - Sept. 7, 2022 Volume 13 // Issue #17

TABLE OF CONTENTS OPENING SHOT 2518119148ON THE COVER: CONTRIBUTORS explorebigsky #explorebigskyexplorebigsky @explorebigsky EDITORIAL POLICY Outlaw Partners, LLC is the sole owner of Explore Big Sky. EBS reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or its editors. EBS will not publish anything discriminatory or in bad taste. EBS welcomes obituaries written by family members or from funeral homes. To place an obituary, please submit 500 words or less to media@theoutlawpartners.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to media@outlaw.partners. ADVERTISING DEADLINE For the September 8, 2022 issue: August 31, 2022 CORRECTIONS Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners. OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@outlaw.partners © 2022 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited EDITORIAL POLICIES Brandi Carlile gives a passionate performance to an adoring audience packed into the Big Sky Events Arena on the second night of Wildlands Festival. The long, fringed jacket she’s wearing makes her feel like Elton John, Carlile told the crowd. PHOTO BY TOM ATTWATER FUNOPINIONBUSINESSAOPSPORTSENVIRONMENTLOCALNEWS&E443423271462531 August 25 - September 7, 2022 Volume 13, Issue No. 17 Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana PUBLISHER Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Bella Butler | bella@theoutlawpartners.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gabrielle Gasser | gabrielle@theoutlawpartners.com DIGITAL PRODUCER Julia Barton | julia@theoutlawpartners.com CREATIVE GRAPHIC DESIGNER ME Brown | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com SALES AND OPERATIONS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Treston Wold | treston@theoutlawpartners.com VP OF SALES EJ Daws | ej@theoutlawpartners.com MEDIA AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com MARKETING MANAGER Sophia Breyfogle | sophia@theoutlawpartners.com CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGIST Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com EVENTS AND MARKETING COORDINATOR Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com SCAN FOR TOWN CRIER NEWSLETTER. DAILY NEWS, STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

NEW TRAILS FORGE CONNECTION IN BIG SKY

BIG SKY VISITATION DIPS

Red Bull athlete and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame member Chris Davenport is joining Peak Ski Company as senior director of skiing and product innovation. The Bozeman-based company was founded earlier this year with an ethos of innovation and seeks to develop products focused on performance.

The second Wildlands Festival brought Grammy Award-winning artists to the Big Sky Events Arena and raised $145,000 for three local nonprofits.

13 FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL

Big Sky local Gus Hammond has been attending Big Sky School District for 12 years and Aug. 29 will mark his thirteenth and final first day of school. From the new girl to the return of sports, Hammond gives an inside look into what back to school in Big Sky looks like in this essay.

Tom Attwater, Ryan Blechta, Kaley Burns, Cooper Campisi, Avery Dickerson, Kate Eisele, Rick Graetz, Gus Hammond, Marne Hayes, Colter Marino, Scott Mechura, Kevin Noble, Richard Schwalbe, Kent Sullivan, Paul Swenson, Brooke Constance White, Cy Whitling, Todd Wilkinson, Marjorie ‘Slim’ Woodruff.

WILDLANDS FESTIVAL BRINGS MUSIC, PHILANTHROPY TO BIG SKY

Morningstar Learning Center was recently awarded over half a million dollars to support the expansion of its child care services. The grant will support ongoing efforts as well as a pilot employer subsidized model of child care down the road.

PHOTO

Multiple local search and rescue teams embarked on a technical mission on the morning of Aug. 16 to rescue a climber who had fallen nearly 100 feet in Bear Basin. The climber, as well as the rest of their group, was brought off the mountain via SAR helicopter. The fallen climber was flown to Bozeman Health for medical treatment. COURTESY OF GALLATIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Two new trail projects in Big Sky offer connections for hikers and bikers. From an access to North Fork from the Meadow to a connector trail between Hummocks and Uplands, these projects create increased recreation opportunities in Big Sky.

CHRIS DAVENPORT JOINS PEAK SKI COMPANY

STATE FUNDS LOCAL CHILD CARE

After tourists flooded Big Sky during the pandemic, visitation is down in southwest Montana and according to some data sets, Big Sky. The drop may mark a correction of sorts, and a return to “normal.”

A legendary ranch located on the Jack Creek Road outside of Moonlight Basin, Big Sky Resort, Madison Valley, and Yellowstone National Par. You cannot put into words how magnificent this property is. Historically run as a summer guest ranch, all 160 acres are fenced and have corrals for horses. Large barn and outbuildings for vehicle maintenance and storage, an indoor tennis court, a spring-fed pond, Jack Creek, and Mill Creek run year-round through the property and it includes water rights. Adorable historically preserved log cabin homes. Lodge with commercial kitchen and enormous artisan stone fireplace where you can gather telling stories of your adventures from the day either fly fishing, horseback riding, skiing, hiking and so much more! This is an incredibly beautiful and picturesque ranch to complement your property in Big Sky or to leave the city and get back to nature in a setting that looks like it is out of the movies! With no zoning, you can run it as a business-create the ultimate guest ranch, or keep it for your private use.

Martha Johnson VP

of 406.580.5891martha@bigsky.comFoundingSalesBroker View all my listings at bigskyrealestate.com/team/martha-johnson

DIAMOND J RANCH

PREVENTION there is no

-Richard Schwalbe Big Sky, Montana

To the Editor: Big Sky and all of Montana is in need of funding to offset and repair wildlife habitat. Increasing tourism has taken a toll on our environment. Fortunately, there may be something we can all do to help—if we act now.

Please contact Sen. Daines, one of our Montana representatives in the Senate; easily done on his web site. Also from Montana, Sen. Jon Tester is already a co-sponsor of the bill (there are 42 co-sponsors in the Senate, 16 Republican, 25 Democrat, 1 Independent). The issue is getting this bill to a vote.

IS KEY. The health of the Gallatin depends on you. Learn more at CleanDrainDryMT.com Clean your gear and watercraft. Remove mud, water, and vegetation after every trip. Use a brush and water,

On June 14, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. It must now pass the Senate. This legislation will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to proactive, locally-led efforts to recover thousands of at-risk wildlife species, while creating jobs and prioritizing the outdoor recreation economy at a time when our country and planet are facing a biodiversity crisis. This will increase federal funding for outdoor activities in Montana by several times. Outdoor recreation is Montana’s largest employer.

This piece of historic wildlife legislation will support collaborative efforts in every state, territory, and tribal nation to restore habitat and prevent extinction. State fish and wildlife agencies will be at the helm of working toward restoration efforts. Local government and nonprofit organizations are also eligible to apply for funding. Every year about 6,000 bills are proposed in Congress, less than 200 pass, mostly because they do not get out of various committees.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR PENDING LEGISLATION CAN SAVE BIG SKY WILDLIFE Open 6:30am to 8pm • 406.995.4636 • Located in the Meadow Village Center next to Lone Peak Brewery • Delivery Service • Pre-arrival Fridge & Cupboard stocking www.countrymarketofbigsky.com

Explore Big Sky4 Aug. 25 - Sep. 7, 2022 LETTERS

need for chemicals. Drain water from your boat and equipment at your access point. Pull the drain plug. Use a sponge for items that can’t be drained. Dry your equipment thoroughly. The longer you allow waders and other equipment to dry out between trips, the better.

SAVEthe DATE! monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday 3 4 5 6 7 Lunch & Learn: ‘Our Big MeetVoterImplementationSky’Education:theCandidates Coffee with Community Leaders Panel FriendPanelWaterDiscussion:SupplyDiscussion:EmergencyManagement&FundRaiser LocalatGovernmentWork: Fall CommunityBSRADCommission/Meeting2ndAnnualExpo Coffee with Community Leaders Panel EconomicPanelTransportationDiscussion:Discussion:Housing5thAnnualBuildersForum&Outlook VolunteerCommunityDay! Topics Include: • Public Funding • Philanthropy • Housing & Planning • Public Works • Public Health & Safety • Arts, Culture, & Events • Recreation & Conservation • Economic Development • Education & Childcare COMMUNITY WEEK October 3rd - 7th NavigateBigSky.orgMoreInfo@ Big Sky, MT Hosted by:

PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

VBS is working to ensure that up-to-date and consistent information is available about local businesses, said CEO of VBS Brad Niva.

GASOLINE

MAMMOTH

– Two new sports will be available for students at Lone Peak High School this year. Girls’ cross-country is open for signups for the fall and boys’ baseball will hit the diamond this spring.

The truck driver who lost control of the vehicle has been cited with failure to maintain control and has been issued a mandatory court appearance. No injuries were reported.

LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF PART OF HUMAN FOOT FOUND IN A YELLOWSTONE

The district is currently looking for a girls’ cross-country coach and as of EBS press time, no students have signed up for the team.

CRASH ON US 191

Daily evaluation by NPS and EPA has found no impact on the nearby Grayling Creek, according to YNP spokesperson Linda Veress. The agencies will continue evaluations daily. Cleanup efforts are ongoing as of the time of publication.

Locl’s software aids businesses in building Google Business Profiles that can manage multiple locations, and provide access to customer reviews and analytical data to better understand customers.

VISIT BIG FUNDS LOCATION

“Using Locl we’ve been able to really elevate everybody’s mobile presence online for all of our businesses,” Niva said. “Locl is the first step to improve how our community looks and feels on mobile devices.” HOT LINKED TO STAFF HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. – On Aug. 16, a Yellowstone National Park employee spotted a piece of a human foot inside a shoe floating in the Abyss Pool that, according to park officials, is believed to be linked to a July 31 death in the park. The death is under investigation and officials stated that foul play is not suspected. No details about the death nor the victim’s identity have been released at the time of publication.

SPRING

The West Yellowstone Fire Department, National Park Service personnel and contractor crews began work quickly to recover oil that seeped into wetlands adjacent to the highway, according to a release from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Explore Big Sky6 August 25 - September 7, 2022 LPHS TO OFFER GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY, BOYS’ BASEBALL

The Big Sky School District School Board of Trustees voted to approve the entire slate of sports for the 2022-23 school year at a July 19 meeting.

EBS STAFF

WEST YELLOWSTONE – A tanker truck hauling gasoline rolled on U.S. Highway 191 south of Big Sky within the Yellowstone National Park boundary on Aug. 19, spilling an estimated 4,800 gallons of fuel.

EBS STAFF BIG SKY – Beginning July 1, local businesses were able to sign up for Locl, a software that will bolster their online presence. Visit Big Sky paid for the $15,000 contract with Locl, making it free to local businesses for a year.

SKY

BIG SKY

EBS STAFF

JULY DEATH EBS

The Abyss Pool, located in the park’s West Thumb Geyser Basin, is 53 feet deep with a water temperature of roughly 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Baseball is new to the entire state of Montana this year. John Hannahs, BSSD’s athletic director, said that the Montana High School Association is currently gathering a list of schools that will offer baseball and creating “Wedivisions.arelucky in the fact that our small school has so many experiences to offer its student body and we hope that all of our programs continue to grow,” Hannahs said.

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Kern’s observation about business at the Moose is reflected in a number of data sets from the summer that indicate visitation to southwest Montana is down. Passengers recorded at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport this July were down more than 7 percent from last July (nationally, total air travel was down 12 percent).

“We ended up being 100 percent booked for the year and business was robust and record breaking,” Becker said. “However, we did notice fewer people in town. Last year … we had days and days of waiting lists and for people to go rafting. We had a lot fewer days of waiting lists this year.”

It was hard to turn people away—locals, customers looking to celebrate, all had to hear “We’re booked.”

After two record-breaking summers, visitation to Yellowstone National Park this July was down 45 percent from last July, when the most-ever visits to the park were recorded, and down 36 percent from 2019, the last pre-COVID year. The park notably has two entrances closed this summer due to flooding that devasted the park’s infrastructure in Locally,June. occupancy in Big Sky was down up to 28 percent from last summer, according to Niva. While total resort tax collections during July are not yet posted, collections in June this year were down 2 percent from last year.

Becker said after the flooding and closures in Yellowstone, Geyser did receive thousands of cancelations, but they were eventually rebooked.

“It was just crazy for a couple of years and now we feel like the pendulum’s swinging back to where it might be normal,” said Hungry Moose Market & Deli owner Kristin Kern. “It’s definitely an uptick from three years ago, but maybe not as much as last year.”

AFTER PANDEMIC RUSH

“We do get a lot of local traffic, which has always been a goal of mine,” he said. “And we definitely get a lot of drive-by traffic, people that may not even be going to Big Sky or may not even know that Big Sky is there.”

Niva said VBS will push marketing for shoulder season visitation in the coming months. ‘CORRECTION’ We've just seen accelerated visitation coming in and out of this area. And now that COVID is going away and the rest of the world is opening up, we're starting to see that pressure relief.

“It was always first and foremost about service and creating an energy and a vibe and a moment in time,” he said. “And if you have to say no to more people than you say yes to, you’re definitely not doing that.”

Niva described the dip in visitation as a “correction.”

When you remove what may be revealed as outlier years of 2020 and 2021 however, Niva said business is still on a growth trend. For example, he reported that while occupancy is down this summer from 2021, it’s still 10-15 percent higher than it was in While2019.occupancy has long been used as a metric for visitation and business health in Big Sky, Niva also suggested it may be missing the mark on measuring a new trend in tourism: day visitors.

Early this summer, extreme flooding gushed through southwest Montana, tearing through communities in a short-term event with lasting repercussions. While perhaps an emblem of all sorts, Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Sky CEO Brad Niva suggests this historic occurrence might be the perfect metaphor for business in Big Sky. For the last two years, Big Sky was busy. Really busy. Caught in the throes of a pandemic side effect that saw booming visitation to Western mountain towns, Big Sky was swollen with visitors. These seemingly anomalous years, however, were what Niva calls “the high water mark.” This summer, that flood of visitors is subsiding, and some business owners are finding the steadier stream of tourism is perhaps more sustainable.

since starting at the chamber and VBS in 2020 has focused on tapping into more local business and tourism data, said there aren’t many figures that can currently provide insight on this rising trend, but it’s something he hopes to capture in the future. Most of this insight was anecdotal, Niva said, referring to rushes of tourists in the visitor’s center asking for lunch recommendations, and an overflowing Ousel Falls parking lot.

BY BELLA BUTLER BIG SKY

Offset from the main drag of Big Sky and located near the junction between U.S. Highway 191 and Montana Highway 64, often considered the entrance to Big Sky, Café 191 is also reporting record Ownernumbers.JohnDelzer said businesses this summer has doubled from last year, perhaps in part due to being open every day as well as the type of traffic the breakfast and lunch joint sees.

Explore Big Sky8 August 25 - September 7, 2022

LOCAL BUSINESS IN BIG SKY SEES

Eric Becker, owner of Geyser Whitewater Expeditions, agreed that lower visitation certainly didn’t translate to a ghost town.

This year, Thompson is happy to be saying yes a lot Lookingmore. ahead at the next few months, Niva said the fall shoulder season, when Big Sky traditionally sees a big dip in occupancy, will likely resemble pre-COVID shoulder seasons, which saw occupancy around 20-25 percent compared to 40-45 percent the last two years.

“Yes, we are seeing a softening of overnight guests,” Niva said. “But what we are seeing a huge increase of … is day trippers. Day trip business is off the Niva,chart.”who

It’s an August Monday morning at the Moose, and a small rush of customers float through the Town Center-based store grabbing coffee and pastries before heading out to work. The store is busy but relaxed—a noticeable feeling following the long lines and sometimes irritable customers that filled businesses last summer.

The impacts on business may be more apparent closer to town. Twist Thompson, owner of Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge and co-owner of soonto-open taco restaurant Tres Toros, has definitely noticed less people in town this summer, but as a restaurant owner he said it’s been a reprieve.

Passengers recorded at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport this July from 2021 “A+10-15%10-15OccupancyBigVisitation-7%toYellowstoneNationalParkinJulyfrom2021-45%SummeroccupancyinSkyisdown28percentfrom2021-28%inBigSkyisuppercentin2021from2019CLOSERLOOKATBIGSKYVISITATION”

“We’re in the yes industry; We’re in the yes business,” Thompson said. “It is our jobs to try to accommodate to the best of our ability, and I was saying no last year, last winter and last summer, more than I was saying yes.”

Doing a lot of business is great, Thompson said, but restaurants have never been about money for him.

“We’ve just seen accelerated visitation coming in and out of this area,” Niva said. “And now that COVID is going away and the rest of the world is opening up, we’re starting to see that pressure relief.”

–

Brad Niva, Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Sky CEO

In addition to a lack of child care availability, Big Sky is an expensive place to get child care. A typical family in Gallatin County spends over 25 percent of their income on child care for one infant and one toddler according to data from Child Care Connections, a Bozeman-based nonprofit that serves as a resource for child care services. This is well over the federal definition of affordability for child care, which is 7 percent of a family’s income.

“With these grant funds, the thing that’s most important to us—beyond just how can we best serve the community immediately—is how can we look to the future and say, ‘what is going to best serve this community in the long term?’” Butan said.

Explore Big Sky9 August 25 - September 7, 20222 LOCAL

Richardson helped Butan write and submit the grant for the June 7 deadline. The grant awards were announced on Aug. 9 and both Butan and Richardson said it was a competitive process. Out of 53 applicants, Butan said, 22 were not funded at all.

The employer subsidized model could take several different forms, but Richardson said it would serve as a recruitment tool for employers and would support the workforce as well as affordable child care.

Montana is one of only six states that does not offer public pre-kindergarten and right now, there are 21 kids on Morningstar’s waitlist. This year, Big Sky School District began offering a 4K, or early kindergarten, program which allows the school to enroll 20 4-yearolds under exceptional circumstances, taking them off of Morningstar’s plate.

“Step one is having there be child care that we can count on in this community,” Butan said. “And then we also need to make sure that it is great child care so that kids are having a wonderful and enriching experience.”

BY GABRIELLE GASSER

Both Richardson and Butan emphasized that a lack of child care affects the workforce and makes it hard for employers to find and retain staff. With this in mind, a solution to affordability issues currently being considered by Butan and the wider coalition of individuals and organizations known as the CHILD, or Cooperative Holistic Innovative Local Design, task force is an employer subsidized model.

“This grant is going to help us tackle this from all angles to create more spots for the youngest kids in our community,” said Mariel Butan, executive director of Morningstar.

“Big Sky is, by definition, a child care desert because we are serving less than a third of the children under the age of 5,” said Hannah Richardson, executive director of Spanish Peaks Community Foundation.

BIG SKY – Morningstar Learning Center, the only full-time, year-round child-care facility in Big Sky, was recently awarded over half a million dollars intended to support the expansion of child care availability for Montana families.

“This is a huge win because I think the state is really recognizing that Big Sky…We really do have some social equity issues, and we need to provide some more infrastructure and support for our workforce,” Richardson said.

Butan said Morningstar will first focus on expanding its current services and staff while ensuring it continues to offer high quality child care. She added that efforts to hire more staff, pay competitive wages and secure employee housing will also continue, as well as some much-needed work on the current building which wasn’t originally designed to be child care facility. As part of these efforts, LMLC has leased two apartments to MLC for employee housing.

The Child Care Innovation and Infrastructure Grant, made available through American Rescue Plan Act funds and the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, distributed $18 million to 31 grantees in Montana. Morningstar received $413,904 from the pot as well as a $100,000 match from Lone Mountain Land Company for a total of $513,904. To date, Morningstar has been awarded over $800,000 from the child care stabilization and innovation ARPA grants. To receive the innovation grant, a 10 percent corporate match was required. Morningstar requested $1 million from the state, the maximum grant award. LMLC agreed to provide the match for the original request and decided to honor that commitment even when Morningstar received less than it had requested. Now, Morningstar will use those funds over the next two years to support its ongoing efforts to expand and improve its child care services.

STATE AWARDS MORE THAN $400,000 TO MORNINGSTAR FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES LONE MOUNTAIN LAND COMPANY ADDS $100,000 TO STATE GRANT WE SET FORSTANDARDTHEGLOBALLUXURY PureWest is exclusively affiliated with Christie’s International Real Estate, the global authority in luxury real estate. We align our properties with unrivaled exposure and access to an extensive list of qualified buyers across the globe. 88 Ousel Falls Road, Suite B | Big Sky, MT 59716 406.995.4009 | www.BigSkyPureWest.com

ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IS DEEMED RELIABLE BUT IS NOT GUARANTEED AND SHOULD BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED. INFORMATION AND DEPICTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, PRIOR SALES, PRICE CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. NO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY HAS JUDGED THE MERITS OR VALUE, IF ANY, OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT OR ANY REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED OR DEPICTED HEREIN. THIS MATERIAL SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL IN ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE PRIOR REGISTRA TION IS REQUIRED OR WHERE SUCH AN OFFER WOULD BE PROHIBITED, AND THIS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH ANOTHER REAL ESTATE AGENT. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL, TAX, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. SOUTH FORK | MEADOW VILLAGE TBD White Bark Place MLS # 374681 | 0.335 +/- ACRES | $575,000 GALLATIN FOOTHILLS | GALLATIN CANYON TBD Colters Run Loop #13 MLS # 371560 | 1.84 +/- ACRES | $597,000 LAKOTA CONDOMINIUM | BIG SKY RESORT 9 Manitou Loop #45-F MLS # 371559 | 5 BED + 4 BATH | 3,350 +/- SQ. FT. | 1/8TH FRACTIONAL INTEREST | $425,000 MOUNTAIN LAKE CONDOMINIUM | MOUNTAIN VILLAGE 2B Summit View #301B MLS # 376110 | 3 BED + 3 BATH | 2,071 +/- SQ. FT. | $2,295,000 Mia Lennon 406.641.0051mia@bigsky.comBroker View all my listings at discoverbigsky.com DEER RUN CONDOMINIUM | MEADOW VILLAGE 12 Blacktail Buck #2A MLS # 371097 | 3 BED + 3 BATH + LOFT | 2,470 +/- SQ. FT. | $1,725,000 Pending Pending

Gus Hammond (bottom right) poses for a portrait with his kindergarten class at Ophir School in 2010.

For me, I have never been more excited to return. This is my year of last times: my last day of school, last basketball season, last high school musical, and truly my last time to experience high school. When school is in session, it moves slowly, then you blink and realize the next chapter of your life is beginning.

Explore Big Sky11 August 25 - September 7, 20222 LOCAL BY GUS HAMMOND EBS CONTRIBUTOR

There is left a small portion of my class of 28 students that have been there since day one. Orrin Coleman is one of them. Coleman and I started school together back in “This2010.is a chance to regain responsibility and organization while being amongst the people I have known my entire life,” Coleman told me. There has always been a debate on whether or not students, of any grade, should come to school fully prepared for the year ahead. I know it may seem as if there is no debate—of course every student should return to school prepared. Well, maybe not. Everyone comes into school with a different mindset, but I think all it takes is a swift change of pace to get back on track. Back to school in Big Sky, Montana. Not only do students get into a new groove, but our whole community gets back on track with the great extracurricular activities my school has to offer. Sports are up and running, there will be plays, there will be a homecoming parade, and so much more. Class is in session. OF BACK TO SCHOOL IN BIG SKY

13 DAYS

There is always an adrenaline rush when walking back into the hallways on that very first day of school. Starting with kindergarten, I’ve had 12 first days of school in Big Sky, and on Aug. 29 I’ll have my 13th (and last) first day back when I step on campus as a senior year at Lone Peak High School. I’ve always liked to hear about the summer drama, or the “new kid,” or that cute new girl that just suddenly walked into the classroom. Each first day of school is different, but I can assure everyone that there is nothing like a first day of school in Big Sky. For example, at LPHS we kick off the year with a tradition where every high school class goes on a week-long adventure to explore the wild terrain that Montana has to offer. This tradition at LPHS is one like no other where students have the opportunity to explore and create a bond with classmates and teachers. Expeditions can look like everything from exploring the riveting campground of Red Cliff, to backpacking through the breathtaking Spanish Peaks; from studying the American Prairie Reserve in Central Montana, to learning about the Lewis and Clark Caverns. This is where the Big Sky School District demonstrates being at the “Peak of Excellence,” as its motto states. An experience like this gives the students of LPHS a smooth transition back to the normalcy of schooling. Emotions are all over the place when re-entering the school. Some are good, while others are not. There is always stress that comes with returning to school; We all have to face the fact that the pressure has returned.

Talk Saves Lives is AFSP’s most popular program, spreading awareness about the issue in Montana and providing resources on common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide. The goal: to help people like Rassley and Peterson recognize potential suicides and offer them appropriate aid.

Through a one-hour presentation given by program manager for the Montana and Wyoming chapters of AFSP Tracy Rassley, Talk Saves Lives hopes to provide people in the community with the tools they need to address potential suicide risk. Part of awareness is understanding suicide’s historical and statistical backdrop. Montana’s suicide statistics are particularly hard to swallow. In 2020, the national suicide rate per 100,000 was 13.48. In Montana, the rate was nearly double at 25.88, the third-highest rate in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and TracyPrevention.Rassley,the program manager for the Montana and Wyoming chapters of AFSP, said there are many factors contributing to the state’s high suicide rates, including: above-average access to lethal means; a lack of counseling and psychiatric resources; a lack of vitamin D; and a pervasive “cowboy up, pull yourself up by your bootstraps” attitude.

As a program director for AFSP, Rassley organizes and hosts presentations such as Talk Saves Lives across the region.

SAVES LIVES

“I know that I’m most parent’s worst nightmare,” Rassley said. “However, let me be the nightmare, let me talk to you about some of the things that maybe would have changed the outcome in our life had we had this conversation, so that this nightmare isn’t yours—that is my biggest goal.”

Various versions of Talk Saves Lives are also curated to specific audiences, including LBGTQ, workplace and senior communities.

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Sarah Peterson, a part-time Big Sky resident who is on the outreach committee for the local All Saints Episcopal and Lutheran congregation, facilitated the partnership for the Big Sky event.

As a result, Rassley thinks it’s vitally important for Montanans to have access to programs such as Talk Saves Lives. She has been participating in and leading such programs with AFSP in the region since 2015, after losing her 19-year-old son, Patrick, to suicide.

Two years ago, Peterson’s granddaughter took her own life just weeks after her 12th birthday.

The event welcomes any and all community members to BASE for the presentation and has no religious affiliation, Peterson said. “My hope for the event is that there’ll be somebody—maybe more than one person—in the audience who will be able to spot the signs of somebody who might be planning suicide, and they’ll know to respond to it,” Peterson said. “If somebody else like my granddaughter can be saved, it will be worth any little bit of effort I’ve put into it.”

AFSP hosts annual Out of the Darkness Walk fundraisers to support its mission of providing awareness, resources and research about suicide, as well as offering the community an opportunity to come together over mental health and suicide. The Bozeman walk is scheduled for Sept. 10, and other walks across the state will take place over the course of the month.

ALL SAINTS IN BIG SKY, AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

“I was, up until that moment, blissfully unaware of how bad Montana was as far as the statistics for suicide go,” Rassley said. “I really felt like I needed to do something to change that and see if I could make a difference somehow.”

“We had absolutely no clue,” Peterson said. “If there were signs, we didn’t know what to look for.”

BY JULIA BARTON BIG SKY – All Saints in Big Sky has partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to bring an awareness program to Big Sky preceding September’s National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The event, Talk Saves Lives, will be hosted at BASE on Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

TALK EVENT BRINGS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS TO BIG SKY

ADDRESS MONTANA’S 2020 RANKING FOR THIRD-HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE IN THE US

Explore Big Sky12 August 25 - September 7, 2022 LOCAL

BOZEMAN HEALTH FLU CLINICS FALL 2022 Open to ages 2 years and older. BOZEMAN | Locations and Dates COTTONWOOD CLINIC September 17, 3 - 6 p.m. September 29, 3 - 6 p.m. DEACONESS HOSPITAL October 13, 3 - 6 p.m. November 5, 8 a.m. - noon BELGRADE | Location and Dates BELGRADE CLINIC October 15, 8 a.m. - noon October 27, 3 - 6 p.m. BIG SKY | Location and Dates BIG SKY MEDICAL CENTER September 17, 8 a.m. - noon October 8, 8 a.m. - noon October 19, 3 - 6 Pre-registerp.m. by calling 406-414-4400 Available by drive-thru. Available by drive-thru.Available in the upstairs community room.

NEW TRAILS FORGE CONNECTION IN BIG SKY’S RECREATION NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

Explore Big Sky14 August 25 - September 7, 2022

Tanner’s Way (North Fork connector) On Aug. 9, about a week before the new trail’s completion, the arm of a mini excavator claws the ground, uprooting dirt and loose rock. Seated in the machine, Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association Trails Manager Patrick Rooney ushers the excavator forward. A freshly dug trail snakes behind him toward the horizon.

have a long history in the recreation business in Big Sky,” wrote Kim in an email to EBS. “This trail project is an example of numerous landowners and agencies working together to open access for our community. This becomes more important as Big Sky grows.”

As described by his father, Kevin, Tanner was a kind, bright young man with a “gigawatt smile.” Named for Montana, Tanner was imbued with a love for the state where his family lived part-time. Just shy of his 19th birthday in July of 2017, Tanner died of a heart condition while biking in Big Sky.

Volunteers conduct trail work on Tanner’s Way on Aug. 12. PHOTO BY KENT SULLIVAN

BY BELLA BUTLER BIG SKY – Two new trail projects reached completionin late August in Big Sky. Though short in distance, these trails will go a long way in increasing access to public lands and connecting some of the community’s most used trails.

According to Adam Johnson, BSCO parks and trails director, part of the value in Tanner’s Way is the access it provides to public lands. Much of the North Fork area is on Custer-Gallatin National Forest Service land and eventually connects to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, but currently the only way to access this land is by driving to the trailhead. In the same survey that indicated public interest in a North Fork connector trail, 40 percent of respondents said they often walk or bike for transportation in Big Sky. Trails like Tanner’s Way expand those opportunities, and they unclog busy trailheads, Johnson said.

“A lot of people supported it from the start and people were excited to see it, and then it took a community to help finish it,” Erpenbach said.

The trail is Tanner’s Way, a 1.7-mile, two-way hiking and biking connection between the Meadow Village area and the North Fork trailhead. Now years in the making, the trail is the product of public demand, private partnership and local collaboration.

“We are all private land in Town Center, and it’s quite a ways to be able to get to that public land,” Johnson said. “With all the private [land] around, there’s not as much a way to get out and get going. Once we get people to public lands, they can spread out and Maxrecreate.”Erpenbach, trails director for SWMMBA’s Big Sky chapter, said Tanner’s Way was a community effort from start to finish. It was the community that asked for it, Erpenbach recalled from the Master Trails Plan, and it was the community that brought it through the finish line, from the local organizations and landowners to the volunteers that dug out the last rocks and roots. In addition to machine work, SWMMBA hosted five evening volunteer sessions on Tanner’s Way, with anywhere from five to 15 volunteers showing up each night.

“He would love the idea for us to pedal out the back of the property onto the trail and either go downtown to Big Sky Town Center or go up to the North Fork,” Kevin said. “He and I used to ride the North Fork all the time. And so that whole area is special to us.”

The public expressed significant interest in such a trail when the Big Sky Community Organization conducted a survey to inform its 2019 Master Trails Plan. After the survey was published, Kim Kircher approached SWMMBA about how she and her husband, John, could help bring the community’s wish-list item to fruition.

SWMMBA built the trail and will continue to maintain it, and the Big Sky Community Organization holds the easements for the trail, which runs across private land owned by the Kircher and Noble families.

BSCO became involved last fall to secure permanent easements in the public’s name with the Kirchers and the Nobles. For both families, the deal was a “Johnno-brainer.andI

Tanner Noble rips down a trail on his mountain bike. Tanner’s Way honors Tanner, who died suddenly in 2017. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN NOBLE

TANNER'S WAY

For the Nobles, the easement was an opportunity to contribute to the mountain bike community in Big Sky as well as a way to honor the memory of their late son, Tanner.

“Just a small connection opens up the ability to connect trails in a different way to make it much longer,” he said. “Simple connections can make loops that, depending on how you put them together, can add multiple miles.”

Named for Johnson and his dog, Adam and Tele’s Connector weaves through meadows of young pines for a little more than half a mile. Though a quick bike or walk, Johnson said the connector allows the two distinct trails to offer a broader experience.

Since its acquisition of Town Center from the Simkins family in May, local development group Lone Mountain Land Company owns the land Hummocks and Uplands are on and Adam and Tele’s Connector was created with the company’s support.

Explore Big Sky15 August 25 - September 7, 20222 ENVIRONMENT EST. 1997 Big Sky, MT . USA We wish everyone a healthy and safe Labor Day.

“We’re excited to partner with BSCO on an expansion of trails,” said Matt Kidd, LMLC’s managing director. “The connector trail is a small piece of the overall trail connectivity and trail work that we’re working on and we look forward to sharing more details over the next few months.”

A section of Adam and Tele’s Connector looking toward where the new trail connects with Uplands.

Tanner’s Way currently spits out onto Montana Highway 64 west of the tunnel near the turnoff to Lone Mountain Ranch. BSCO and SWMMBA plan to further connect the trail to town by securing an encroachment permit from the Montana Department of Transportation to build a path from the trail to Little Coyote Road. Currently, bikers and hikers can use the highway to connect to the Meadow.

For more than five years, Johnson has made strides for parks and trails from his post at BSCO. Now moving on to new opportunities, Johnson’s impact will be celebrated with a connector trail that joins the Hummocks and Uplands trails near Town Center.

ADAM & CONNECTORTELE'S

Hummocks and Uplands are currently available for public use based on an agreement, according to Kidd.

Adam and Tele’s Connector will be part of the course for the Big Sky Biggie mountain bike race on Aug. 27.

Adam and Tele’s (Hummocks/UplandsConnectorconnector)

PHOTO BY BELLA BUTLER

At 10,542 feet, Black Butte is the highest point in the Gravelly Range.

With at least 100 named mountain ranges and subranges in Montana, all with their own indefinable characteristics, the Gravelly Range has one of the most unique profiles. A view from most places in the upper reaches in all compass directions gives the range one of its most distinctive traits. Leading up to high rolling plateaus, access roads into the Gravelly are surrounded by prominent geographical features that populate the surrounding region.

Gravelly Range BY AVERY DICKERSON AND COLTER MARINO

Lone Peak High School is one of only a few Montana schools to offer an International Baccalaureate Diploma, a rigorous program of study. The IB program requires students to participate in a segment called CAS, standing for creativity, activity and service. Over the past several years, students have had the option of fulfilling this requirement with the University of Montana. It involves researching various regions of the northwestern sector of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem including the Big Sky Througharea. this work students learn research methods and improve their writing skills, tools that will serve them well if they choose to go on to college. This year, seven students are involved. Six of them are part of three two-person teams covering the Madison and Gravelly ranges and Spanish Peaks. They are Avery Dickerson, Colter Marino, Kate King, Gus Hammond, Haley Houghteling and Chloe Nogaret. The seventh student, Jessica Bough, is creating a photography portfolio to accompany the Loneresearch.PeakHigh School teacher Dr. Kate Eisele advises the students in conjunction with Professor Rick Graetz of the University of Montana Honors College faculty and UM’s Office of Research and Creative Periodically,Scholarship.thestudents complete other segments of the study, and then the results are published in the local newspaper, thus fulfilling the service part of CAS. The final presentation will have a complete essay on all aspects of the three mountain ranges of Whatfocus.follows is one essay from the first report in their research. Stay tuned to EBS and visit explorebigsky.com for the rest.

Receiving its name due to the range’s composition of pebble-like rocks resembling gravel, the Gravelly mountains are located in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. They span 310,000 acres and border the Madison River Valley on the east, the Ruby River Canyon to the west, Centennial Valley on the south and the Greenhorn Range touches its northern reach. Black Butte, its highest point, stands 10,542 feet tall. Other prominent peaks include Big Horn Mountain (10,275 feet), Baldy (9,600 feet) and Gold Butte (7,280 feet), to name a few. This oftenforgotten mountain range holds diverse landscapes, wide-open subalpine grasslands, coniferous forests and when in season, wildflowers of every color of the rainbow. Blooming encompasses 250 different wildflower, shrubs and grass species and begins in late June and runs through July. Not only known for its incredible flower display and splendid views but owing to light foot traffic and little road access, the range is also recognized as superb habitat for a wide array of wildlife. Their upland region is home to elk, grizzly bears, moose, tiger salamanders and bald eagles. Accessible by forestry roads, the Gravelly Range Road provides access to hiking and plenty of opportunities to pause and take in the tranquil beauty of these mountains.

Explore Big Sky16 August 25 - September 7, 2022 ENVIRONMENT

This is the first installment in the Field Notes research reports. Look for more reports in future print editions of EBS or visit explorebigsky.com to read the full collection of reports. SCHOOL STUDENTS LAUNCH EXPLORATION OF GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM

BY KATE EISELE AND RICK GRAETZ LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

LPHS FIELD NOTES: PART I LONE PEAK HIGH

PHOTO BY RICK AND SUSIE GRAETZ

Pavelich has been a part of the community for over 30 years. In 2011, one year after the BSSHA crew threw together a makeshift rink, the association held the first Pavelich Invitational hockey tournament on the ice in Big Sky’s Town Center, a tradition that’s since occurred annually. Over the years, Pavelich served as an important driver behind the creation of BSSHA and the organization’s efforts to build an ice rink in Big Sky, according to Ryan Blechta, president of the BSSHA board and a member of the BSCO board.

LOCAL GROUPS RAISE FUNDS FOR ICE RINK DEVELOPMENT RINK TO HONOR FORMER NHL PLAYER AND BIG SKY RESIDENT MARTY PAVELICH SPORTS

If that happens, Pavelich says he will be a “happy camper.”

Marty Pavelich (center) drops the puck at the 2019 Pavelich Invitational tournament. OF RYAN BLECHTA A zamboni smooths the ice of the rink by BASE community center. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN BLECHTA

Starting in 2020, BSSHA and BSCO have been in discussions about merging the efforts of their two organizations.

The agreement has been signed by both organizations and is currently undergoing final approval by the Montana Attorney General’s office.

PHOTO COURTESY

“We’re really looking forward to utilizing BSCO and their programming and their expertise, and the systems they have in place to really further our programming,” Blechta said.

Pavelich said he loves to come watch the kids play games in the winter and hopes the growing interest in hockey will eventually provide some of them with the opportunity to play in college and pursue a professional hockey career.

“I’m thrilled that they’re naming it after me,” Pavelich said. “I feel very honored.”

Blechta said Pavelich was an ambassador for BSSHA, attending meetings from the beginning of the organization in 2010 and providing guidance on how to make the ice and build the rink.

Big Sky Community Organization and the Big Sky Skating and Hockey Association are partnering on a campaign to raise $600,000 for the development of a permanent ice rink, one they’ll name after Pavelich. The rink, which found its home as part of the BASE community center campus in 2021, has long been a gathering place for Big Sky residents during the dark winter months, offering opportunities after chairlifts stop spinning to skate, curl or play hockey.

“I want to see a nice arena indoors that would seat about 5,000 people,” Pavelich said. “We can have rodeos, we could have dancing, we could have roller skating, we could do all of that.”

Explore Big Sky17 August 25 - September 7, 20222

The campaign started in July and the goal is to raise the funds as fast as possible to hold a ribbon cutting with Pavelich in attendance. Funds raised by the campaign will cover half of the cost to build the permanent rink, establish a rink maintenance fund and purchase more youth hockey gear, among other things.

“We want Marty to see the appreciation that the community has for not only his Red Wings history and being a local, but all he did to build the program, to build the rink, to get this group of people together in 2010 and to have him see the community’s support and appreciation,” said Kate Ketschek, BSCO board chair.

Both Ketschek and Blechta emphasized the importance of continuing and expanding BSSHA’s programming, especially the youth hockey program.

Blechta said youth hockey is an inexpensive option for families because BSSHA provides all the equipment for the kids. Currently, the program has over 100 participants ages 3 to 16 who take the ice weekly for clinics and games.

Pavelich poses on the ice during his time with the Detroit Red Wings. OF MARTY PAVELICH

PHOTO COURTESY

BY GABRIELLE GASSER BIG SKY – Every Sunday for 10 years, Marty Pavelich, four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings, would attend church, eat breakfast and go skating at the ice rink in Big Sky’s Town Center. Pavelich, now 94, hung up his skates for good in 2020, but two local organizations are working to ensure his legacy lives on in perpetuity.

Blechta said Pavelich has always had big dreams for hockey in Big Sky, including building an enclosed ice rink and bringing National Hockey League teams here to play.

Moving forward, BSCO will take over operations and maintenance of the rink and programming and BSSHA will continue to lead fundraising efforts, help with programming and provide coaches.

The fundraising campaign is ongoing, and the organizations did not report a current total for funds raised thus far. Blechta said there has been a steady stream of donations, adding that the plan is to step up the fundraising efforts in the coming months. Though there isn’t a firm end date for the fundraising campaign, Blechta said it would be ideal to reach the $600,000 mark by December and to hold the dedication when the rink opens.

PEAK

SKIER CHRIS DAVENPORT JOINS SKI COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE TEAM

“We’re literally building products and creating experiences that give people a great time and make them feel good about themselves … and their experiences in the mountains,” Davenport said. “And that’s exactly what was translating through the snow, through the skis, through my ski boots and into my body.”

“I just loved the feedback that they gave me and they put a smile on my face,” Davenport said of the experience. “If that’s what’s the result of the skis that we’re making, we are doing a good job. We’re winning.”

Chris Davenport joins the Peak Ski Company as senior director of skiing and product innovation.

In his new role, Davenport will continue to work with Wirth and Miller to advance the Peak SC by Bode Miller line of skis as well as a forthcoming line of high-performance backcountry skis.

BY TUCKER HARRIS

“It’s a purpose-built company,” Miller said. “To allow someone like Chris [to join Peak Ski Company] who has this incredible history in the sport, knowledge and background and sort of intelligence that’s hard-earned over decades and decades of time in the mountains and experience … is Theamazing.”respect

is mutual between Davenport, Miller and Wirth, all having grown up skiing, a passion they’re handing down to their children today.

Davenport just spent the past few days testing out all of Peak’s new lineup in the mountains of Portillo, Chile. Making the switch from his former Kastle skis to Peak skis was a new experience, Davenport said. His reaction? All smiles.

Another part of Peak’s larger vision is building community around the brand, something aligned with Davenport’s own values.

On Thursday, Sept. 15 from 4-7 p.m., the company will host the Peak Ski Company Bravery BBQ in collaboration with local nonprofit Big Sky Bravery to celebrate its new showroom opening and allow community members to meet the team. The event will take place at Peak Ski Company Headquarters, 245 Quail Run Rd. in Bozeman.

Explore Big Sky18 August 25 - September 7, 2022 SPORTS

BOZEMAN – For Red Bull mountain athlete and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Member Chris Davenport, skiing is all about having fun and being a part of a community. These are values he hopes to apply through his new role as the senior director of skiing and product innovation for Bozeman-based Peak Ski Company.

“We want people that own Peak skis to feel like they’re part of something bigger than just ‘I own this pair of skis.’ That’s not what we’re trying to do here,” Davenport said. “So by having a barbecue with music and beers and bands and all the fun things and having all of our team there together, I think it’s just the beginning of some of the things that we want to do in future to build community.”

Peak, founded this spring by Andy Wirth and Bode Miller, is a high-performance and ski brand platform defined by grit, innovation, precision and performance.

PHOTO BY COOPER CAMPISI

LEGENDARY

“His intellect, his thoughtfulness, his approach to equipment, development and more is very unique,” Wirth said. “His name and his fame in his CV or in his bio were what piqued attention, but it’s really what he is contributing and can contribute to the development of the business, to the brand and more and that’s plainly why he is very much part of the executive team, the leadership team.”

Part of the larger vision for Peak Ski Company is the ethos of innovation: to continue to develop a product design that focuses on performance.

two-time World Champion big mountain skier and an experienced ski guide of more than 20 years. He’s skied all seven continents of the world’s highest peaks and was the first person to ski all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in under a year.

“When this group of people that I respected came together under this Peak brand with Bode and Andy cofounding this thing, I said to myself, ‘This is a really strong group of individuals, people that I love and respect in the industry,’” Davenport said. “The opportunity to be a part of that was really kind of what piqued my interest and made me want to Davenportparticipate.”isa

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Explore Big Sky20 August 25 - September 7, 2022 SPORTS BIG SKY CO-ED SOFTBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS LPHS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE EBS STAFF BIG SKY – Regular-season play for the Big Sky Co-ed Softball League wrapped on the evening of Aug. 23. The season championship game was played on Aug. 24 pitting the top-ranked Huckers against LPC. The double-elimination end of season tournament will take place on Saturday Aug. 27 starting at 9 a.m. Below are the softball standings as of Aug. 23. TEAM NAME 1. Huckers 2. LPC 3. Wildcats 4. Riverhouse 5. Milkies 6. Yeti Dogs 7. Herbaceous Smokey Bears 8. Cab Lizards 9. Meadowlarks 10. Lone Mountain Land Company 11. Lotus Pad 12. Big Sky Ballers 13. Mooseketeers 14. The Cave 15. The Rubes WIN13111110 10 9987543221LOSS 1334 4 556791011121213 AUG. 26AUG. 26 HOME 12:00/2:004:00/7:00 SEP. 24SEP. 30 HOME4:00/6:004:00/7:00 SEP. 13SEP. 22 12:00/2:004:00 OCT. 6 HOME4:00/6:00 SEP. 9SEP. 9 HOME12:00/2:004:00/7:00 SEP. 29OCT. 14 HOMEHOME 4:00/6:004:00/7:00 SEP. 3SEP. 2 10:00/12:00 SEP. 20OCT. 7 HOME 12:00/2:004:00/7:00 SEP. 22SEP. 23 HOME4:00/6:006:00 OCT. 8 12:00/2:00 SEP. 10SEP. 16 HOME 2:00/4:004:00/7:00 OCT. 1OCT. 21 12:00/2:007:00 DateDate Home/AwayHome/Away TIME B/GTIME B/G VS. STEVENSVILLEVS. ENNIS @ PARK HIGH (LIVINGSTON)@ CHOTEAU VS. BILLINGS CENTRAL@ SHERIDAN (JUNION HIGH ONLY) VS. PARK HIGH (LIVINGSTON) @ WHITEFISH@ DRUMMOND / FLINT CREEK VS. LAURELVS. SHERIDAN VS. FRENCHTOWNBY WEEK VS. LOCKWOODVS. SIMMS @ LAUREL@ SEELEY SWAN (VARSITY ONLY) @ LOCKWOOD @. POLSONVS. CASCADE @ BILLINGS CENTRAL@ DEER LODGE (VARSITY ONLY) Game & LocationGame & Location First round playoffs Oct. 10-15 Semi-Final Round Playoffs Oct. 17-22 State Championship Oct. 27-29 First round playoffs Oct. 28-29 Semi-Final Round Playoffs Nov. 4-5 State Championship Nov. 19 AUG. 27 SEP. OCT.SEP.SEP.OCT.SEP.OCT.SEP.SEP.OCT.SEP.SEP.OCT.SEP.SEP.OCT.1781330208231562014161102418 Date TBDTBDTBD HOMEHOME5:004:004:00 +20+20+20 HOMEHOME4:004:004:00 +20+20+20 HOME4:004:005:00 3:00+20+20 HOME 4:00 TBD+204:001:00TBD +20+205:30 HOMEHOME JV Varsity Home/Away BATTLE IN BIG SKY INVITATIONAL @ SHERIDAN TOURNAMENT (V) VS. LIMA (HOMECOMING) @ @@VS.@@@VS.@VS.VS.WHITEHALLGARDINERSHIELDSVALLEYGARDINERENNISWHITESULPHURSPRINGSSHIELDSVALLEYWESTYELLOWSTONETWINBRIDGESMANHATTANCHRISTIANMANHATTANCHRISTIANTOURNAMENTVS.SHERIDAN@TWINBRIDGESVS.WESTYELLOWSTONE Game & Location District Tournament Manhattan Christian Oct. 26-29 Divisional Tournament Manhattan Christian Nov. 2-5 VOLLEYBALL SOCCERFOOTBALL The Herbaceous Smokey Bears go to bat against the Mooseketeers during one of the last regular-season games on Aug. 23. PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

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The charitable dollars raised throughout the summer can be broken down by event.

For the Wildlands Festival, which featured musical acts Lukas Nelson & POTR, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Indigo Girls, and Brandi Carlile, Outlaw Partners donated a portion of proceeds from the event to three local nonprofits, all which focus on stewardship of the scenic and natural gems that surround Big Sky and Bozeman. The event raised $145,000 for three selected organizations—Big Sky Community Organization, Gallatin River Task Force and Gallatin Valley Land Trust. Big Sky Community Organization’s CEO, Whitney Montgomery reacts to receiving a generous gift from the Hemingway family during Wildlands Festival.

“We live, work and play in this community and it’s important to use to give back,” says Outlaw Partners Co-Founder and Chairman Eric Ladd.

OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO/TOM ATTWATER

OUTLAW PARTNERS BIG SKY – Media, marketing and events agency Outlaw Partners announced that throughout the summer’s robust event season it raised $375,925 for local charities. Outlaw produced the Big Sky’s Biggest Week, which included the Big Sky PBR, the Big Sky PBR charity golf tournament, Big Sky Art Auction, as well as the Wildlands Festival.

The Big Sky Art Auction raised $5,616 for various local charities. The Big Sky PBR charity golf tournament raised $19,825 each for Big Sky Bravery and Warriors and Quiet Waters. The second annual Dick Allgood Community Bingo Night raised $13,164 each for Morningstar Elementary School and Discovery Academy. Night one of the Big Sky PBR raised $19,250 for the Big Sky Food Bank from the Calcutta auction and $4,384 for the Montana Civil Air Patrol from 50/50 raffle tickets. Night two of the PBR raised $23,190 each for Montana State Athletics and the Montana State Rodeo team from the Calcutta auction and the sales from 50/50 raffle tickets. Night three of the PBR raised $39,375 each for Big Sky Bravery and Warriors and Quiet Waters and $7,276 for Big Sky Search and Rescue as a result of 50/50 raffle ticket sales.

All events took place during July and August and together, are making a big impact in Southwest Montana.

PROUD TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO ACT, MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SW MONTANA

OP NEWS

Explore Big Sky23 August 25 - September 7, 20222

OUTLAW PARTNERS RAISES OVER $375K CHARITIES

“By putting on these events, we hope that everyone who attends is inspired by our charitable ethos.” One of the pillars at Outlaw Partners is to inspire others to act, and their team is proud to say that they accomplished that with charitable donations from the local community during this summer’s event season.

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On the first night of the festival, Bozeman artist Madeline Hawthorne took the stage with her local band to open for Lukas Nelson & POTR and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. No stranger to Big Sky, Nelson and his band lit up the familiar crowd with a rugged Western sound that resembled a tumbleweed blowing through dusty vastness.

PHOTO BY TOM ATTWATER

Saliers’ lyrics refer to reincarnation, but on this particular night, in this place, the words permeate the landscape like the rain that fell each night of the festival, taking residence within the festival’s theme.

A&E ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WILDLANDS FESTIVAL BRINGS MAGICAL PERFORMANCES TO BIG SKY FESTIVAL RAISES NEARLY $150,000 FOR CONSERVATION

Explore Big Sky25 August 25 - September 7, 20222

“This place is growing and changing fast and we’ve got to get out ahead of it and make sure that all these young kids running around here in 20 to 30 years get to see big beautiful Montana like we got to enjoy it,” Ladd said.

Inherent in any common purpose like protecting wild spaces as well as a palpable byproduct of last weekend’s festival, community was an organic tenet of the event. The crowd was entranced each night, often connected by linked arms and bonded by shared moments of awe between golden sunsets and the performances.

“Maybe you squandered big bucks in your lifetime, now I have to pay,” the trio sang before a packed crowd in the Big Sky Events Arena. “But then again it feels like some sort of inspiration to let the next life off the hook.”

Fans throw their hands in the air and dance during Brandi Carlile's set on night two of Wildlands Festival.

BY BELLA BUTLER Editor’s Note: Wildlands Festival is produced by Outlaw Partners. Outlaw Partners publishes Explore Big Sky.

Not long after the Indigo Girls and Carlile sang the swaying crowd to tears, Outlaw Partners chairman and cofounder Eric Ladd took the stage with other Outlaw Partners staff to award the funds to the Gallatin River Task Force, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust and the Big Sky Community Organization.

BIG SKY – Though one of the Indigo Girls’ top tracks, “Galileo,” was originally released in 1992, the song bears new relevance when Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the famed folk-rock duo perform it on the second and final night of the Wildlands Festival on Aug. 13 in Big Sky—especially with powerhouse singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile singing it on stage with them. Penned by Saliers, the song explores the concept of soul.

In its second year, Wildlands is both celebration of and campaign for its namesake: the wild places that make Big Sky and its surrounding region a treasure. This year, $145,000 was awarded to three organizations working to protect such places. Wildlands is a bid to let the next life off the hook.

At the intersection of community and wildlands in Big Sky, the concept of home was echoed the following night on stage when Ladd presented the partner charities each with $15,000. In a surprising twist, Ladd also awarded a $100,000 check to the Big Sky Community Organization on behalf of the Hemingway family.

It was yet another moment where the lyrics of the famous song took new meaning, performed within sight of nearby trails, mountains and streams under the ethos of “SomewhereWildlands.overthe rainbow, way up high,” Carlile sang, cloaked in colored lights. “There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.”

PHOTO BY TOM ATTWATER

Sarah Martin, 37 from Billings, waited eagerly for Carlile’s big entrance to the stage.

Martin told a story about listening to an Indigo Girls CD her father gave her when she was in fifth grade. She jokes the group was the “gateway drug for being gay, but being OK with being gay.”

When Carlile hit the stage in an elaborate fringe jacket she later revealed as a way to indulge her desire to dress like her close friend Elton John, Martin grabbed her partner, Tracy Hylland, by the shoulder and squeezed.

Years later, Martin is still an Indigo Girls fan, and Carlile is also high on her list.

Three years after first performing in Big Sky at Outlaw Partners’ Peak to Sky Festival, Carlile and her band delivered more than two hours of unrelentless rock, vulnerability and wildness.

Toward the end of the night, Carlile got to play fan on stage to the Indigo Girls once again as the duo performed another set of songs with Carlile and her “Whatband.altitude!”

Representatives from the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Gallatin River Task Force and Big Sky Community Organization stand onstage with Eric Ladd, founder and chairman of Outlaw Partners, during the check presentation.

Madeline Hawthorne opened the festival with an energetic performance.

PHOTO BY TOM ATTWATER

When the Indigo Girls took the stage Saturday night, an enthused rush of women made their way to the front of the crowd, exchanging stories about first seeing the group in the early ‘90s. But for many, the real treat was seeing the duo and Carlile on the same stage, all icons not only for their genre-bending fearlessness but for their leadership in the gay community.

PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER The crowd cheers during night one of Wildlands Festival.

PHOTO BY TOM ATTWATER

Known for his storytelling, Nelson joked about how a song he used to sing with his dad, Willie Nelson, “Georgia on my Mind,” took on unfortunate meaning when his own relationship with a woman named Georgia went south, inspiring him to write “Forget About Georgia.”

The mingling hushed as the audience became immersed in Nelson’s story of unrequited love, reflected in their eyes as their own similar tales. Electric guitar punctuated the song with a twang, breaking any heart in the crowd that still remained whole. Nelson’s set closed with a memorable duet with Jason Isbell of “Pancho and Lefty,” a Townes Van Zandt song famously covered by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. When Isbell came onto the stage and the two strummed the first few chords, the crowd fell into an audible collective gasp. Isbell and his band finished night one with a set that was at times raucous, at others gentle. In one of his last songs, Isbell sang a crowd-pleaser, “Alabama Pines,” a track emblematic of Isbell’s knack for capturing the concept of home in his lyrics.

Carlile shouted after jumping around and singing the Indigo Girls’ “Go,” the black silhouette of Lone Mountain barely visible in the dark night. To close the show, Carlile’s band faded behind the scenes as she stepped to the front of the stage to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

“That connection of humans to nature is as old as human story itself,” Whitney Montgomery, CEO of BSCO, told EBS on Aug. 15, reflecting on the event. Montgomery, as well as the other beneficiaries, intend to use the funds to further work in their respective concepts to conserve wild land and rivers to maintain such connection.

Brandi Carlile played for more than two hours wrapping up night two of the festival with an electric performance.

Explore Big Sky26 August 25 - September 7, 2022 A&E

“She’s not selling out,” Martin said about Carlile. “She’s a true artist who loves her craft and it inspires people.”

Carlile’s set twinkled with magic moments, some of which included playing a chilling cover of “Rocketman” in the Elton-inspired coat, bringing her nieces and nephew on stage to play a song and performing tracks from her latest and perhaps most introspective album, “In These Silent Days.”

Explore Big Sky27 August 25 - September 7, 20222 A&E Brandi Carlile joined the Indigo Girls onstage during their set to an adoring crowd.

PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit wrapped up the first evening of the festival.

PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

PHOTO BY JULIA BARTON Lukas Nelson and POTR play during night one of Wildlands Festival framed by Lone Mountain in the background.

PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER Lukas Nelson throws his hand in the air during his set on the first night of Wildlands.

PHOTO BY JULIA BARTON

An excited fan throws her arms in the air and grins during the Indigo Girls’ performance.

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If your event falls between Sept. 8 - 21, please submit it to media@theoutlapartners.com by Aug. 31. Call A.A.

Explore Big Sky28 August 25 - September 7, 2022 A&E

The Big Sky Biggie, hosted by Lone Peak Physical Therapy to benefit Big Sky Community Organization and Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association, invites riders to bike 15-, 30- or 60-mile routes through Big Sky’s intricate trail network on Aug. 27. The Rut is a three-day mountain running celebration over Labor Day Weekend sending dedicated trail runners around Big Sky Resort and to the top of Lone Mountain on a variety of routes including 11k, 28k and 50k runs. Between the two, active outdoors folk in Big Sky have plenty to look forward to over these two weeks. A more robust calendar of events can be found in our daily Town Crier newsletter. Subscribe at bit.ly/ TC_subscribe.

FEATURED EVENTS: THE BIG SKY BIGGIE + THE RUT MOUNTAIN RUN

THURSDAY, AUG. 25 Music in the Mountains: The Nth Power and Jennifer Hartswick Len Hill Park, 6 p.m. Live Music: Kylie Spence Montage Big Sky’s Alpenglow Lounge, 7 p.m. Live Music: Vibe Quarter Tips Up, 9 p.m. FRIDAY, AUG. 26 Storytime! with Big Sky Library BASE, 10:30 a.m. Live Music: Zander Chovanes Montage Big Sky’s Alpenglow Lounge, 7 p.m. Live Jazz: Craig Hall Trio and Friends The Independent, 8 p.m. Live Music: Pinky and The Floyd Bridger Brewing, 8 p.m. Live Music: Gooch Slam Tips Up, 9 p.m. SATURDAY, AUG. 27 Big Sky Biggie mountain bike race BASE, 7:30 a.m. Gallatin Valley Farmers Market Gallatin County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m. Live Music: Marcedes Carroll Montage Big Sky’s Alpenglow Lounge, 7 p.m. Live Music: Michelle Rivers and Hannah King The Independent, 8 p.m. Live Music: Scavenger Tips Up, 9 p.m. SUNDAY, AUG. 28 St. Joseph’s Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m. All Saints in Big Sky Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m. Big Sky Christian Fellowship Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m. Live Music: Kevin Fabozzi and Tom Murphy Montage Big Sky’s Alpenglow Lounge, 7 p.m. Film: “Jason Bourne” The Independent, 8 p.m. MONDAY, AUG. 29 Storytime! with Big Sky Library BASE, 10:30 a.m. Community Yoga Len Hill Park, 12 p.m. Live Music: Amanda Stewart Montage Big Sky’s Alpenglow Lounge, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, AUG. 30 Open Studio Painting BASE, 12 p.m. Bozeman Farmers’ Market Lindley Park, 5 p.m. Talk Saves Lives Suicide Prevention Forum BASE, 6:30 p.m. Live Music: Kylie Spence Montage Big Sky’s Alpenglow Lounge, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31 Big Sky Farmers Market Town Center, 5 p.m. Trivia The Independent, 7 p.m. Live Music: Amanda Stewart Montage Big Sky’s Alpenglow Lounge, 7 p.m. Live Music: Damn Duo Tips Up, 9 p.m. THURSDAY, SEPT. 1 25th Annual Big Sky Chamber Four-O-Six Golf Tournament Big Sky Resort Golf Course, 10 a.m. Community Potluck BASE, 5 p.m. Music in the Mountains: The Last Revel Len Hill Park, 6 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPT. 2 The Rut Big Sky Resort, 8 a.m. Live Jazz: Craig Hall Trio and Friends The Independent, 8 p.m. Silent Disco Town Center, 8 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 Art for Everyone The Wilson Hotel, 7:30 a.m. The Rut Big Sky Resort, 8 a.m. Gallatin Valley Farmers Market Gallatin County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m. SUNDAY, SEPT. 4 The Rut Big Sky Resort, 8 a.m. St. Joseph’s Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m. Art for Everyone The Wilson Hotel, 9 a.m. All Saints in Big Sky Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m. Big Sky Christian Fellowship Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m. Live Music: Dammit Lauren! Bozeman Hot Springs, 7 p.m. MONDAY, SEPT. 5 Labor Day TUESDAY, SEPT. 6 Open Studio Painting BASE, 12 p.m. Bozeman Farmers’ Market Lindley Park, 5 p.m. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7 Big Sky Farmers Market Town Center, 5 p.m. Trivia The Independent, 7 p.m.

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR

Thursday, Aug. 25 - Wednesday, Sept. 7

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A.D.: It has been an honor that you all have embraced me and my family and allowed us to raise our family here. Big Sky is a very special place, and it is easy to be bitter with change. But it’s like I told my kids: don’t let the change that is happening change who you are. If you do, then we have become just like the places our new neighbors have moved here from. Remind them why Big Sky is so special. Don’t let them change what makes this a community and not just another resort.

Explore Big Sky: Tell me about the history of Cornerstone Management Services. When did you start that business?

“When

Andy Dreisbach: Cornerstone Management Services was started as Keystone Carpentry in Pennsylvania in 1985, which later become Quintessential Carpentry located in Colorado in 1992. In 1999, after a move to Idaho, Quintessential Carpentry become Cornerstone Management Services, later moving to Big Sky in 2002 thus finding the CMS family’s final resting place.

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: CORNERSTONE MANAGEMENT

EBS: Tell me about the different services offered at Cornerstone Management Services? A.D.: We primarily concentrate on exterior envelope scopes of work from roofing to belowgrade waterproofing. Recently we have taken on a unique role in our industry. We prefer to take a preemptive approach to projects lending our experience and partnerships with the Montana State University Engineering Department to evaluate the success of our services prior to setting foot on the job. We have participated in several research and development programs of our own which have gained national recognition. We have several patents in process and are currently partnered with a large national roofing manufacturer testing for UL status [a manufacture’s rating related to roof durability under certain conditions] which would change the Wildland Urban Interface building code requirements and Energy Star ratings with the largest roofing manufacturers in the world. We are beyond humbled by both the local and international partnerships that have shown interest in our work, from local homeowners to Fortune 500 companies.

EBS: What is the best business advice you have ever received? A.D.: I was struggling years ago trying to get everything just right before I launched my business and a dear mentor told me, “You can prep all you want but when you get thrown in the deep end with the sharks you're still gonna have to swim like hell, so jump in and start swimming.” There are never problems, just challenges.

BY MIRA BRODY BIG SKY – Owner Andy Dreisbach likens his business, Cornerstone Management Services, to Big Sky—both have adapted over the years in response to incredible growth. What began as Keystone Carpentry in Pennsylvania in 1985 became CMS after Dreisbach arrived in the area in 2002. Since then, he’s been working with local residents, businesses and the fluctuating economy to meet the housing development needs of the area. Apart from simply running a business, Dreisbach is proud to work alongside Montana State University students to refine the services CMS provides and has partnered with national and international roofing manufacturers to test new products that are becoming the future of building codes. From his home base here in Big Sky, Dreisbach’s collaborative work has drawn attention across the globe. This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

EBS: How big is your team? A.D.: We have 22 full-time team members and up to 118 teammates on our installation teams that we have consistently grown with over the years.

EBS: Anything else you would like to tell the Big Sky community?

– Andy Dreisbach, Owner of CMS

As Big Sky has grown we have been fortunate enough to work with many community members to better understand our unique environment and create better practices.

EBS: How has CMS grown with the community over the years? A.D.: CMS is very similar to Big Sky in that they both have had incredible growth over the last 20 years. Even during economic setbacks, CMS continued to grow by working with the local community to help in the maintenance and upkeep. In the slow years, we worked with [local] HOAs to achieve creative funding options to increase property values even when the economy didn’t substantiate that. As Big Sky has grown we have been fortunate enough to work with many community members to better understand our unique environment and create better practices.

EBS: What is your favorite thing to do in Big Sky when you’re not working? A.D.: Well for that 31 hours a week that I’m not working I really enjoy my family and sharing my love of the mountains with them whether skiing, rafting, mountain biking or just being. They are the reason I do what I do.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY DREISBACH ”

Explore Big Sky31 August 25 - September 7, 20222 BUSINESS

EBS: What do you think the best part of working at Cornerstone Management Services is? A.D.: I was challenged a few years ago by David Dexter when he saw what I was doing and said: “We could change the building industry.” So, we have now taken a more forward-thinking approach and ask ourselves everyday of how we can do better and be better and the entire team has adapted this philosophy of how to make the world better one project at a time. The days go by quickly here.

he’s not operating Cornerstone Management Services, Andy Dreisbach enjoys sharing his love for the mountains with his family here in Big Sky.

Although fishing is the focal point of a guest’s time at the lodge, the outstanding staff works hard to make sure that guests enjoy their time at the lodge in the mornings and evenings.

“They will teach anyone how to fish and offer helpful tips and tricks no matter your abilities,” Apte says. “They also furnish you with everything you need for a successful day on the water: fly rods, lines, leaders, flies, the whole nine yards.”

Offering stunning views of the ranch, river, and distant mountains, guests enjoy hearty seasonal fare and an extensive wine list and curated collection of liquor in the lodge’s spacious dining room giving them the sustenance they need before and after a long day on the water.Apte also noted that one great aspect of the lodge is that the guides work to make angling accessible to everyone.

Jake Shelton, general manager for the lodge, confirmed Apte’s sentiments saying that their guests have such great experiences that the majority rebook for the next year on their last night at the “Whetherlodge. it's being greeted by name with their favorite drink in hand, or creating a special event for their non-angling partner, we strive to make indelible memories for our guests,” says Shelton.“From the first handshake to their last cast, we aim to exceed all expectations of their stay. The natural beauty of the ranch and world-class fishing of the Missouri sells itself. What brings our guests back year after year is the exceptional experience and genuine service they receive from our staff.”

“Our guests are on the river eight hours a day, where exceptional angling is the focus,” says Shelton. “The time on the ranch is the beautiful bookends that wrap up an incredible experience whether it’s at happy hour swapping fishing stories, at the dinner table laughing with friends, fishing the property at dusk, or passing the night away stargazing. From start to finish, we provide an awesome angling and guest experience unlike any other.”

Being both remote but also easily accessible and less than 50 minutes from the Great Falls and Helena airports, two hours from the Bozeman and Missoula airports, the 13-guest room ranch offers modern comforts, historic charm, and a truly authentic Montana experience. Renovated in 2020, the century-old ranch sits on 160-acres located just upstream from Craig, Montana. With private decks overlooking the mountains and Adirondack chairs facing the river and night sky, there are plenty of places to take in the natural beauty that surrounds the Nowproperty.forthe most important part–the fishing! With approximately 6,000 Trout per mile, the Missouri River is one of the best spots for Trout fishing in the world. Lifelong angler and a long-time ranch guest, Stu Apte, said the fishing just outside the lodge is truly outstanding and keeps him coming back year after year. “Plenty of fish to be caught there, I’ll tell you that,” he said, adding that his fondest memories are trading stories and fly fishing tips with other guests at the ranch. “Everybody who goes to the Missouri River Ranch always goes back. I’ve always got a full boat of people going back—that ought to tell you something about how outstanding the whole stay is.”

OTHER SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT

6,000 WORLD CLASS TROUT PER MILE IS JUST THE BEGINNING MISSOURI RIVER RANCH PROVIDES AN ALL-INCLUSIVE ANGLING EXPERIENCE NO

Explore Big Sky32 August 25 - September 7, 2022 BUSINESS

BY BROOKE CONSTANCE WHITE PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISSOURI RIVER RANCH Missouri River Ranch, Montana’s premiere flyfishing lodge located in Craig, is a remarkable experience from start to finish. With 1.4 miles of frontage on the Missouri River with 6,000 Trout per mile, world-class fishing guides, well-appointed accommodations and an exquisite all-inclusive culinary experience, it’s really a dream come true for anglers and non-anglers of all abilities.

Aside from newly updated guestrooms with luxury mattresses, gorgeous tiled bathrooms, high-speed internet, and plenty of space to store gear, the lodge has a Great Room that is perfect for unwinding after a long day. The vaulted barnwood ceiling features many of the original rough-sawn rafter beams, and the refurbished wide plank flooring is all original, creating an air of rustic elegance. Guests are invited to pull up a seat at the bar or relax by the fireplace with appetizers and handcrafted cocktails.

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TOM SADLER: It’s pretty simple. If you catch a fish, you want to be able to prove it. You’ve heard the old saw, “all fishermen are liars,” so with that kind of reputation, fishermen feel compelled to document the event. Where the problem for the fish comes in is when fish are tossed up on to the bank, the angler digs around for the camera, poses with the fish, then chucks the fish back into the water. That sure is not good for the fish.

THE NEW WEST MAKING OUR TROUT ‘HERO POSES’ GENTLER ON FISH A day’s outing catching fish in Yellowstone, circa 1923. PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

T.S.: If you take a fish out of water, you’re forcing it to hold its breath. So, fair’s fair. If you want a “hero shot” or some such with the fish out of water then when you take the fish out of water, take a breath and hold it. When you need a breath, then the fish does too.

T.S.: That may be the hardest puzzle in guiding for me. I like to move the conversation toward the experience rather than the numbers. I’m pretty up front about it with all my clients at the start of a trip. Often enough they start seeing the bigger picture.

T.W.: In angling parlance, some refer to it as the “hero shot.” T.S.: The so-called hero shot is holding up the fish out of the water, out in front of your grinning mug. It “proves” you caught the fish. It’s an age-old practice and back in the day when folks keep all the fish they caught, it really wasn’t doing any more harm to the fish. It was dead or headed that way. As anglers and practices evolved, and catch and release became more prevalent, fish handling practices were revisited and those where the fish was out of the water for a long time were questioned.

T.W.: Let’s end with this: How do you personally push yourself to appreciate the intrinsic value of nature or of wildlife, which is different from viewing it as primarily an amenity that exists to be monetized—and what can we learn from that?

T.W.: Another topic involves humans showing empathy for the fish that when it’s taken out of the water for a picture the angler then holds his breath. Please explain.

Explore Big Sky34 August 25 - September 7, 2022 OPINION

The other thing is water drops as it does on local rivers like the Gallatin. If there are not drops of water coming off the fish, then it has been out of the water too long. There is a new catch phrase going around that makes sense, “make the fish the hero.”

T.W.: You have mentioned that there are actually forums where this phenomenon is discussed along with chats about barbless hooks or using flies with no hooks at all. Who sent them the websites and why do they exist?

T.S.: You’re digging deep with that question. Yes, in the last few years I’ve wrestled with it. On one level there’s no explanation that will make sense to all people. And I can live with that. The reason I fish is for what it does for me. It is, as you said, part of the imprint nature made on me at the start of my life. I respect the fish, the habitat and the opportunity. For me, it goes way beyond entertainment and pleasure although those both are benefits.

Todd Wilkinson is founder of Bozeman-based Mountain Journal (mountainjournal.org) and a correspondent for National Geographic and The Guardian. He’s authored numerous books, including his latest, “Ripple Effects: How to Save Yellowstone and America’s Most Iconic Wildlife Ecosystem,” available at mountainjournal.org.

T.W.: For the record so that readers understand, I fish; have my whole life; it’s part of the imprint of nature made early and I cherish the memories. Often ignored is the fact that with catch-and-release fishing, we’re using fish as objects for our personal entertainment and pleasure. I realize that to fish is to rationalize. Do you wrestle with this too?

A version of this story was first published in the March 26, 2021 edition of Explore Big Sky.

T.S.: In the last few years, catch and release has evolved. My friends Andy and Sasha Danylchuk have been leading an effort called Keep Fish Wet. “Science shows that even small changes in how an angler catches, handles, and releases a fish can have positive outcomes once that fish swims away,” they’ve written. “Not only does using best practices increase survival rates of fish, but it also helps fish return to their normal behavior as quickly as possible after release. Using best practices for catch and release is a quick and effective way to put conservation into practice.” I encourage our readers to learn about it on their website, keepfishwet.org.

T.S.: I think I’m lucky that way. I know that the places I fish are for the most part beautiful places, so I don’t have to push myself. I’m usually pretty good about situational awareness and having a sense of what is around me, so I take advantage of that and spend time appreciating my surroundings and enjoying the comfort and solace of those surroundings.

TODD WILKINSON: Our region is one of the flyfishing meccas in the world. In many Greater Yellowstone residences and in many homes of people who visit Greater Yellowstone, there are photographs of people posed with the game animals they’ve taken during the hunt or on fishing trips. It’s a ritual in angling that extends to almost any species of fish. What’s this tradition all about?

T.W.: When you are guiding, say, a stressed-out corporate executive who’s tiered to constantly competing, how do you help them shift away from thinking about fishing only as an endeavor of how many fish they hook?

BY TODD WILKINSON EBS COLUMNIST EDITOR’S NOTE: EBS environmental columnist Todd Wilkinson interviews fishing guide and conservationist Tom Sadler, a frequent visitor to the Greater Yellowstone region, about the movement among anglers to practice more gentle catch-and-release fishing.

A male lodgepole flower. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON Witches’ broom as seen in a living and dead tree. The dead tree shows the chaotic branching due to the infection. PHOTOS BY PAUL SWENSON

Once fertilized each flower grows one berry and, when it is mature, contains a pressurized fluid. There is enough pressure that when the berry bursts, it can launch the seed up to 35 feet from its host tree. The seed is covered in a sticky mucous so when it lands on a neighboring tree, it sticks to its needles. The coating dissolves in rainwater and the seed slides down the needle to infect the branch. Sometimes the seeds stick to a bird’s feathers so it can be spread far and wide.

LOCAL THE WORK BY PAUL SWENSON EBS COLUMNIST

Lodgepole pines, as with most evergreen trees, have flowers, but not like the ones we all think of from high school biology class where you were probably taught all the male and female parts: stamen (the male) and the carpal (the female). If a flower has both parts, it is called “perfect” and usually uses a pollinator like a bee to transfer pollen to fertilize the seed in the ovary. But the lodgepole has an “imperfect” flower, meaning a flower contains either the male or female parts of the flower.

Of course, the witches’ broom is bad for the lodgepole, but it does make for some interesting viewing now that you know what to look for out on your hikes. See if you can be the first in your party to spot one. They provide protection for many songbirds, grouse, squirrels, Pine Martins, and other organisms that if you look closely, you might be surprised at what you find.

The serotinous cones are held together by pine resin for many years until it melts at a temperature between 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit—these temperatures are only seen in our locale during a forest fire. Therefore, the lodgepole seeds from these closed cones are some of the first seeds that germinate in the soil after a fire.

Witches’ broom is a parasitic plant that hijacks the lodgepole’s carbohydrate manufacturing process for its own gain. In doing so, the witches’ broom causes the branches of the pine to grow without regulation and causes a structure that looks like a “broom.” As the infection spreads, the host tree becomes more and more contorted and eventually dies.

Immature lodgepoles repair damage from the 2012 fire.

A female lodgepole flower.

WITCH’S

KNOWLEDGE IT’S

A closed or serotinous cone. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

Like several other species of pine trees that have evolved with forest fires, lodgepoles produce two types of cones: an open cone, one that disperses winged seeds once they are mature, and closed or serotinous cones.

One such parasitic infection is called witches’ broom (Arceuthobium americanum) also known as American dwarf mistletoe. It is a very interesting infection that is quite apparent as one hikes through local forests.

For such heroic trees, they have their own Achilles’ heels: parasites, insects, drought, fungi and time.

Witches’ broom itself has an interesting life cycle. Once it infects a tree, it takes several years for the telltale signs of an infection to be apparent. The fascinating part is how the infection spreads.

In late summer it produces very small stems that emerge from the extensive stem system that grows under the bark of the lodgepole, exposing male or female flowers to the environment. Just like the pine, they are incomplete. The female flower does not have petals but does have 2-5 sepals, the green outer part of a bud that protects the flower inside.

The female, seed producing, flower looks like a tiny pinecone. The pointy ends of the segments are the ends of tubes that capture pollen and will fertilize the seeds in the cone. To get the pollen to the female flower without the use of a pollinator, lodgepoles depend on the wind to carry it between the male and female flowers. Once the seeds in the cone are fertilized, the tree spends the rest of the next year photosynthesizing sugars for producing new growth and maturing the seeds in the cones.

Paul Swenson has been living in and around the Big Sky area since 1966. He is a retired science teacher, fishing guide, Yellowstone guide and naturalist. Also an artist and photographer, Swenson focuses on the intricacies found in nature.

PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

Remember back in June and early July when the air was full of yellow clouds blowing around in the trees? I’m sure for those of you with seasonal allergies, you do. What were those clouds, where do they come from and why are they Manyimportant?ofyoumay know that those clouds are the pollen from different evergreen trees in our area, with the largest contributor being the lodgepole pine tree (Pinus contorta). The lodgepole pine is the one tree in our area that grows in compromised, unfertile soil, which makes it a hero tree in my Lodgepolebook.pines help repair ecosystems after forest fires, and grow easily in disturbed soils after logging, or other man induced degradation to the landscape. If you have visited areas burned by fires in and around Yellowstone National Park, you have seen the regenerative power of the lodgepole.

PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

Explore Big Sky35 August 25 - September 7, 2022 OPINION

What we need to understand is why these growth drivers—both natural and man-made—are leading to more wide-spread recurring algal blooms, how much these blooms are being caused by human land use and what we need to do as a community to solve the problem. A variety of conditions exacerbate algae growth. Understanding how these factors work together to cause algal blooms is like fitting together the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Is this natural? If not, what’s causing it? Is it bad for river health and our wild trout? Does it have consequences to river recreation? How can it be prevented?

BY MARNE HAYES EBS COLUMNIST If you’ve fished, floated, driven or walked along the Gallatin River recently, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the recent reappearance of algae growth. We’ve all become familiar with these late summer blooms and associate the presence of this bright green algae with sufficient nutrients, a detriment to our fish habitat and to our river recreation experience. There is more to the bloom than meets the eye, however. It is important to understand that the algae of concern in the Gallatin watershed is naturally occurring. Its natural growth is driven by several factors: nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, water clarity, water and air temperature, available sunlight, pH, water velocity and water hardness.

More importantly, with the recent DEQ determination of the middle segment of the Gallatin as impaired by these algal blooms, we have the right tools, and the critically needed next step to lead us to a plan, and a system by which we can mitigate the algae growth in the future. A clean and healthy river is paramount, for the habitat, for the community. Addressing the changes and the causes that impair the Gallatin is critical as we see changes both in our community, and in our environment.

On the Gallatin, algae growth is natural, but the scale of the growth in recent years is exceptional. Data so far shows that nutrient levels, even from human activity, are not high enough alone to cause algal blooms. Combined with a variety of changing environmental factors, however, we are seeing conditions that create the perfect storm for excessive algae. Climate change has resulted in drier conditions, more sunny days, and warmer air temperatures: all factors that increase the likelihood of a bloom. These factors, along with the man-made variety are critical to include when looking at the propensity for algal blooms. The blooms are occurring from a variety of sources, and while nutrients are a key element, it is in conjunction with these other environmental factors that the appropriate circumstances for algal blooms to occur are created. What is clear is that algal blooms do not occur without nutrient loading. Put another way, but for the presence of available nutrients in a river, the river cannot experience severe algal blooms. Unnatural algal blooms indicate an imbalance exists within a freshwater river system.

In Montana the science is well-established that our headwater freestone streams, like the Gallatin, do not in their natural condition experience severe, nuisance algal Rather,blooms.decades of scientific research indicates that widespread algal blooms are nearly always linked to sufficient available nutrients, and additional contributing elemental and environmental factors. For the Gallatin, recurrent nuisance algal blooms mean that the river is reaching a tipping point where it cannot assimilate all the different changes happening to the system, both within our community and larger climate issues.

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Explore Big Sky36 August 25 - September 7, 2022 OPINION EVERY DROP COUNTS

WHAT’S BEHIND THE GALLATIN’S NUISANCE ALGAL BLOOMS?

To answer some of these questions, the Gallatin River Task Force relies on our own research, and that of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which is doing extensive work studying the primary drivers of the algal blooms and what can be done to stop them. Based on the research, and our own contributions to data derived from water monitoring, here’s what we know.

The job of the Gallatin River Task Force is to continue doing the work to figure out the leading causes of these blooms, both the ones we can control, and those we cannot. Our ongoing data collection helps give the community, along with our state and federal partners in conservation, a better understanding of the algal blooms and the reasons behind why they occur in some years, and not in others.

Marne Hayes is the communications manager for the Gallatin River Task Force.

*The rankings are based on data provided by thousands of advisors. Factors included in the rankings were assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record and client retention. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Shore to Summit Wealth Management, LLC is a separate entity from (WFAFN). Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors Methodology 2020 The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes or SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. For more information and complete details on methodology, go to www.shookresearch.com (406) shoretosummitwm.com219-2900

Westerners know bandanas as a square of imprinted cotton material used as neckwear or a hatband; a friend says they’re also great dinner napkins because they never need ironing. Bandanas are used to blow one’s nose or wipe the sweat off one’s face. Sometimes the same bandana is employed for both purposes, though for some reason that seems to freak people out. We are, after all, talking about hiking, an activity in which one can go days without a change of underwear or a bath. Also,

I have long been known to have pet peeves about the debris hikers drop along trails, but one piece of litter has become more annoying: the ubiquitous facial tissue. A used tissue lying boldly in the middle of the path could indicate a person who does not know better. But a tissue stashed under a rock demonstrates that somebody knows it should be carried out and is attempting to hide the evidence.

Explore Big Sky37 August 25 - September 7, 2022 OPINION WRITERS ON THE RANGE NEVER HIKE WITHOUT THIS PERFECT ACCOMPANIMENT BY ‘SLIM’MARJORIEWOODRUFF WRITERS ON THE RANGE

While wearily picking up the umpteenth piece of used paper along a trail recently, I had to wonder why hikers don’t use handkerchiefs, or that incredibly versatile outdoor equivalent, the bandana.

ladies—the lowly bandana can be used as a pee rag to avoid leaving unsightly wads of toilet paper along the trail. Dangling one’s pee rag on the back of a pack allows ultraviolet light to kill the nasties.

Several bandanas can be tied together to make a tarp, a ground cloth, an air mattress to be used with extreme haste, or maybe an impromptu prom dress. They can be cut into pieces and used to play checkers. They can be folded up and used to patch your jeans. They can be unraveled (or raveled) and woven into a macramé belt. They can be lined with foil and used to boil Twowater.canbe tied together and used as a bikini bottom while one’s pants dry. They can be used to hold your hair back while you hike, to hold your food while you day hike, or to hold over your face while you hold up a Iftrain.soaked with water, bandanas can be used to lower the body temperature of a heat-exhaustion victim or twisted into a “rat tail” and used to painfully snap someone who is stashing their used facial tissue under a Allrock.inall, a bandana is something no hiker should ever be without. A bandana is truth, beauty, and a little bit of Rit dye. And once you join the ranks of bandana lovers, you, too, can sing the Chiquita Bandana anthem: “bandana, bandana, bandana is good enough for me.”

Scott and his team manage roughly $300,000,000 in private client assets. Scott Brown CFP®, CIMA®, CRPC® recognized as Barron’s Top 1000 Advisor’s in 2011, 2012, and 2013.*

A bandana can be used as a muffler to keep your neck warm, a scarf to keep your head cool, a hat to keep the part in your hair from being sunburned, or two tied into a belt keeps your pants up. It can be turned into a snare to catch small animals, a fishing line, a hammock for squirrels, a filter for drinking water, or a necktie for your next formal party.

A bandana is usually cotton but can also be nylon, wool, microfiber, silk or fleece. It can be red, navy blue, yellow, magenta or puce—you name it. Bandanas can boast maps of the area, cattle brands, illustrations of edible plants, flowers or cloud formations. Some people may aspire to carry a bandana sporting lavender paisley delicately embroidered onto a chartreuse background—why not?

Marjorie ‘Slim’ Woodruff is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She is a Grand Canyon educator who also cleans up trails.

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Bandanas can be used to tie down your hat so it won’t fly away in the wind. They can secure your bottle of milk or wine cooling in the river so it won’t get washed down into the rapids, or your hiking buddy so he can’t interfere while you ransack his pack for chocolate (which, incidentally, was tied to a tree with a bandana so it wouldn’t fall over).

They may be used as an arm sling for a broken clavicle, a tourniquet in case of bleeding, padding for splints when re-setting a bone, or a gag to muffle the screams as one re-sets the bone.

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In August of 2017, I wrote a column on what’s called ghost fishing. This is when fish and marine life get caught, often times fatally, in old or abandoned fishing lines or nets. It’s been observed that historically these lines, traps, cages and nets weren’t accidentally lost, but rather carelessly cut, broken or left behind with no intention of retrieving them.

Just as ghost nets in the ocean must be managed, so must old, broken barbed wire, particularly in remote areas.

But worse than the aforementioned livestock are horses.

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A similar fate awaits land creatures.

Ranchers are busy, and often times dealing with old broken fencing or disposing of a section that should be cut off just doesn’t figure into their day. But it Sometimesshould.theymay coil it up, thinking they’re at least doing some good, and cast it aside. But this makes for a circular flesh-cutting trap for either their own livestock down the road or wildlife. And if wildlife manage to escape the snaps of ghost wire, they may end up contracting tetanus and die a slow, painful death.

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Cows, sheep and goats will inevitably wander into ghost wire on a ranch and become entangled. And either they free themselves and risk infection from cuts not always noticed by a ranch hand, or they remain entangled and only compound the issue as they struggle.

Scott Mechura has spent a life in the hospitality industry as well as a former certified beer judge.

At a former club I was the executive chef at in Texas, I even used it for decoration. The perimeter of the property had yards of old, abandoned rusty barbed wire. I snipped 2-3-foot sections and stray coated them to keep them from rubbing rust off. I then wrapped them around mason jars with a votive inside for a hip, Texas ranch feel in the dining room of the Great House. But ghost wire, or broken or abandoned barbed wire, is not as benign as it may appear when repurposed on the dining room table. In fact, it’s more of an issue than most people realize.

Broken or loose barbed wire can easily become covered by brush and undergrowth. This acts like a trap for anything from deer, coyotes, wolves and foxes, to nocturnal animals who don’t see it until they become entangled, a scenario in which they rarely survive. Even owls have been known to fly into this ghost wire in the dark of night, also ending tragically.

Broken pieces of barbed wire have been known to be ingested by feeding cattle. Their complex, multiple-stomach system allows this piece of metal to sit, relatively harmless, but slowly putting toxins into the immune system and blood stream of an animal. Often, by the time a rancher discovers the cow is sick, and why they’re sick, it’s usually fatal.

Cows, sheep and goats all instinctively tend to stop and back up when they encounter danger. But horses panic easily. This causes them to thrash, kick and jump, only making a bad situation much, much worse very quickly.

Though a symbol of success for the American ranch, ghost wire can haunt for years to come.

Lucien Smith invented the first single-strand version of thorny wire—or what we now know as barbed wire—in 1867. A full patent by Joseph Glidden in 1873 gave us the twisted, double-cable wire we know today. Old barbed wire, rusty and hanging off an old, weathered wooden fence post, is an image we have come to almost affectionately associate with rural America and the old West.

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Explore Big Sky40 August 25 - September 7, 2022 OPINION

3. Improve chronic nerve pain. Many people suffering from chronic nerve pain, or neuropathy have found benefit from HBOT. Research shows HBOT can offer improved outcomes in patients suffering from neuropathy caused by diabetes. Patients may even see regeneration of peripheral nerves.

6. Improve concussion symptoms. Head injuries can be very difficult to treat. Fortunately, recent studies have proven HBOT to be effective in treating some types of traumatic brain injuries. After treatment, TBI sufferers showed improved blood flow and quality of life.

There is a new therapy in town: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy! This therapy involves breathing in oxygen at a high pressure to help overcome infections and support wound healing. When more oxygen is delivered to areas of the body in higher concentrations, it allows the blood to carry oxygen more effectively.

The first treatment was done in the 1930’s by the U.S. Navy for decompression sickness, and treatments have been performed in healthcare settings since the 1950’s. Thanks to research from the Navy, we now know the benefits are far beyond decompression illness.

Hyperbaric treatments are not a new phenomenon.

BY DR. KALEY BURNS EBS COLUMNIST

1. Reduce swelling and inflammation. HBOT creates an oxygen-rich environment. This increases blood flow and brings oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to swollen and inflamed tissues. Studies have shown that HBOT delivers marked improvements in patients suffering from inflammation and swelling, such as arthritis.

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4. Assist with wound healing. Wounds, particularly in patients with suppressed immune systems, can be extremely serious and resistant to conventional care. According to Johns Hopkins University, HBOT treatments can provide the extra oxygen your body needs to heal such tissues.

HBOT can help:

2. Boost immune system function. The high-oxygen environment can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your body’s natural immune response. Trials have shown that HBOT can reduce autoimmune symptoms like redness and enlarged lymph nodes, as well as support those battling chronic viral or bacterial conditions such as Lyme-related disorders.

HBOT is a non-invasive therapy. You simply enter the hyperbaric chamber, lay down, relax and breathe normally. That’s it! Call (406) 993-6949 to learn more about HBOT and if it is right for you.

Dr. Kaley Burns is the founder, owner and naturopathic doctor at Big Sky Natural Health. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey. Dr. Burns has advanced training application of regenerative and intravenous injection therapy. She also serves as the vice president and CE liaison of the Montana Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

5. Aid in athletic performance and recovery. Professional athletes like LeBron James use HBOT to aid their performance and as an integral part of their recovery process. HBOT can help athletes at all levels perform their very best.

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The MSR WhisperLite is the most well-known stove in this category. These stoves are often a bit more clunky than canister stoves but are the best performers in cold conditions and at high elevations. White gas is often easier to find than canister fuel, and since the bottles can be refilled, also produces less waste.

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I own two camp stoves—both of which spent a few years in my dad’s garage before coming into my care—that I use for cooking outdoors. The first is a two-burner Coleman stove, a classic for cooking up big meals while camping, and the second is a Jetboil that is compact, lightweight and self-contained.

A canister stove is any stove that uses a small canister of fuel upon which the stove sits. There are many different designs for this type of stove. Jetboil stoves, and others with similar designs, have a jet burner component that screws onto the fuel canister and come with a pot that attaches to the burner. Other canister stoves include the MSR PocketRocket, a tiny-but-mighty burner that screws onto the canister that any pot or pan can sit atop of. These stoves boil water insanely fast and typically pack down to a small size, making them ideal for backpacking. There are two main downsides to this type of stove, however: They require specific isobutane fuel canisters that can’t easily be refilled and can be difficult to find, and they don’t perform as well as other stoves at high elevations or cold temperatures.

PHOTO BY JULIA BARTON

Standard Propane Stoves

The world of camp stoves and outdoor gear in general is a nebulous one, each model toting various advantages and shortcomings that make it hard to determine what is right for your needs. So, let’s break down the three main types of camp stoves.

BY JULIA BARTON

In short, the stove you should use depends on what you’re using it for. If you’re mostly cooking and camping at sites you can drive to, a propane stove is a no-brainer, as it’s easy to use and reliable. If you’re backpacking or otherwise trying to travel light, either a canister or a liquid fuel stove is the way to go. Determine the conditions you are most likely to encounter if you’re considering a backpackingoriented stove and use what makes the most sense for your adventures.

The two-burner Coleman stove I use falls into this category and many other propane stoves have replicated this model. These stoves are hefty, but versatile and reliable. The two-burner style of most propane stoves is great for feeding big groups or making complex meals, and the fuel is easy to acquire as it is often sold in 1-pound canisters at grocery stores. I’d recommend this type of stove for car camping trips where you don’t want your outdoor camping experience to feel too far away from being in the kitchen.

Canister Stoves

Liquid Fuel Stoves Like canister stoves, liquid fuel stoves are geared primarily toward backpacking. They are lightweight, compact and support a single burner. Rather than sitting atop an isobutane canister, these stoves connect to a refillable bottle of white gas.

Keep in mind that you don’t need a two-burner propane stove to make delicious meals—I’ve had homemade cinnamon rolls, pizza and enough soup for five people on a WhisperLite in the past.

Explore Big Sky42 August 25 - September 7, 2022 OPINION

A breakfast spread full with pancakes, omelets and orange juice comes together on a Southern California beach with the help of a two-burner Coleman propane stove.

We’re wrapping up the summer camping season here in southwest Montana soon, so there’s no better time to get outside and enjoy a few camp stove meals before winter settles in.

CAMPSTOVE COOKING ALL ABOUT CAMP STOVES

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Explore Big Sky44 August 25 - September 7, 2022 FUN BEAR SAFETY TIP Make sure you’re making noise on the trail. Remember to call out ‘Hey Bear!’ to help bears be aware you’re on the trail and to avoid surprise encounters. Gear up for adventure at HeyBear.com Male grizzlies can weigh up to 700 pounds and grow up to 9 feet tall! 6ft Person Grizzly Bear Adult Grizzly Bear Grab your crayons and color the picture below COLORING PAGE FACT ILLUSTRATION BY CY WHITLING

Now December 31

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Explore Big Sky45 August 25 - September 7, 2022 FUN BIG SKY BEATS BACK TO SCHOOL BY JULIA BARTON It’s that back-to-school time of year again. Lunches are packed, backpacks are loaded, buses are firing up and kids are back off to school. Though summer is approaching its bitter end, there’s always something exhilarating about starting a new year: shiny pens, blank notebooks and endless possibilities. As a recent college graduate feeling a bit sentimental about not returning to school this fall, I offer you this playlist to channel some back-to-school excitement—whether you’re preparing for a return to the classroom or simply the changing of seasons 1. “Kids In America” by Kim Wilde 2. “Campus” by Vampire Weekend 3. “Tennis Court” by Lorde 4. “We’re Going to Be Friends” by The White Stripes 5. “Education” by The Kinks 6. “Seventeen” by Peach Pit 7. “I’m Just a Kid” by Simple Plan 8. “Fifteen (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift 9. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana 10. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” by Paul Simon POWERFUL museumoftherockies.org | 406.994.2251 | 600 W. Kagy Blvd.

Visitors will learn about Apsáalooke origins, cultural worldviews, and the powerful roles that both women and warriors hold in the community through a unique mix of traditional objects and contemporary Native American pieces.

Leading Sponsor: Sheehy Family Foundation Contributing Sponsors: In Memory of Ruth Sommerfeld

Presenting Sponsor: Stephanie Dickson & Chris McCloud

Apsáalooke Women and Warriors explores the history, values, and beliefs of this Native American (Crow) community known for their horsemanship, artistic pursuits, matriarchal ways of life, and honors the tradition of “counting coup” - performing acts of bravery.

This exhibition is jointly organized by the Field Museum and the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society at the University of Chicago.

Portraits of Apsáalooke women symbolically caring for the shields. –Various Artists Future in our Eyes. –Ben Pease Beaded Horse Regalia. –Lydia Falls Down Apsáalooke Art and Design –Bethany Yellowtail

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UNIT 202 1,783± SQFT 2 BEDS | 2 BATHS This second-floor, western-facing loft unit offers coveted sunset views over the Gallatin range. Owners will enjoy a private, covered patio and fine details throughout. Several features include an abundance of natural light, an open space plan, a neutral palette, and clean paneling on the fireplace wall. Enjoy your Bozeman retreat! UNIT 203 2,436± SQFT 3 BEDS | 2 BATHS With sunny western views from the kitchen and primary bedroom and bath, this second-floor unit features dramatic vertical cladding on the fireplace, a large mudroom, a hidden walk-in pan try in the kitchen, and an amazing balcony overlooking Bozeman’s most historic neighborhood. Enjoy an open floor plan and a classic, neutral, and textural palette of finishes. 203UNIT202UNIT Scan to rUnit203 Scan toTourUnit202

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For the first time in Big Sky, The Inn will offer a unique second home ownership opportunity in a luxury Residence, steps from the new Montage Big Sky. Connected by an underground pathway, Montage Residences Big Sky offers owners privileged access to the resort’s amenities and services, plus ski-in, ski-out access to Big Sky Resort. All owners will also enjoy the benefit of membership at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, which includes private concierge services, a Tom Weiskopf Championship golf course, clubhouse and a year-round calendar of special, member-only events and experiences. at The Inn is offered in deeded, quarter-share ownership interests, and includes fully-furnished three and four-bedroom Residences, as well as an exclusive après ski resident’s ski and

lounge,

lockers

Ownership