Explore Big Sky - September 21 to October 4, 2023

RUNNERS SWARM BIG SKY FOR THE RUT

SURVIVOR OF GRIZZLY MAULING BEGINS LONG RECOVERY

$741M NEEDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN BIG SKY BY 2033

LOCAL LEADERS MEET FOR WORKSHOP ON INCORPORATION

BIG SKY SHOOTOUT MAKES SUMMER DEBUT

September 21 - October 4, 2023

Volume 14, Issue No. 19

Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana PUBLISHER

Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL

VP MEDIA

Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jack Reaney | jack@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com

DIGITAL PRODUCER

Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ME BROWN | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

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VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com

DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS

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MARKETING COORDINATOR

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SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

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CONTRIBUTORS

Mario Carr, Gabriella Dicenzo, Amanda Funk, Gabrielle Gasser, Marne Hayes, Rachel Hergett, Benjamin Alva Polley, Paul Swenson, Jerry Tinianow, Michael Ruebusch, Brant Wiehardt

OPENING SHOT 6 ON THE COVER:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

$741M NEEDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN BIG SKY BY 2033

The Big Sky Resort Area District commissioned the Big Sky Community Capital Improvement Plan, replacing the most recent CIP from 2011 and adding a more comprehensive look at the community’s infrastructure needs. The new CIP was presented on Sept. 13, calling for a total of $741 million over the next decade to improve Big Sky’s arts and education, economic development, health and safety, housing, public works, recreation and conservation.

LOCAL LEADERS MEET FOR WORKSHOP ON INCORPORATION

During three sessions in June and July, a group of 12 community leaders met to discuss the topic of incorporating Big Sky into a formal municipality. Having created tension in the past, participants took an open-minded, objective approach to the divisive issue. The result of their workshop was a request to the Big Sky Resort Area District board— approved on Sept. 13—to fund a “rigorous, unbiased incorporation study, including in-depth community engagement.”

SURVIVOR OF GRIZZLY MAULING BEGINS LONG RECOVERY

Rudy Noorlander, a 61-year-old Navy veteran and Big Sky business owner, was attacked by a grizzly bear on Sept. 8 near Yellow Mule trail just south of Big Sky. He suffered grave injuries but survived and is now recovering in Salt Lake City. All three members of Noorlander’s hunting group were carrying bear spray, and the fellow hunters helped save Noorlander’s life. Despite the life-changing injuries, Noorlander’s daughter reports that Rudy is keeping his usual sense of humor and staying positive.

RUNNERS SWARM BIG SKY FOR THE RUT

The 2023 Rut Mountain Runs brought hundreds of enduring runners to Big Sky for five grueling events on Lone Mountain and Andesite Mountain. Events included an ultramarathon 50K with 10,000 feet of elevation gain, and a new 20K event for an inclusive-but-harrowing distance option. EBS spoke with Race Director Mike Foote, who shared enthusiasm about the event’s continued growth and perspective on its future.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, five waves of runners bolted uphill in the 8 a.m. sunlight. Their pursuit: a 28-kilometer trail run, gaining 7,200 vertical feet across Andesite and Lone mountains. Results show that 556 runners crossed the finish line in the Rut Mountain Runs’ second-longest event. The challenging race weekend was hosted at the base area of Big Sky Resort, attracting hundreds of runners from afar. PHOTO BY AMANDA FUNK

EDITORIAL POLICIES

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.

BIG SKY SHOOTOUT MAKES SUMMER DEBUT

Traditionally a winter festival of local films and photography, the Big Sky Shootout took its success to the summer months. For the first time, locals presented mountain biking, hiking, fishing and exploring on the big screen. Local filmmakers and event volunteers shared their reflections on the new event.

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 October 5th

September 27th, 2023

CORRECTIONS

Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners.

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© 2023 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited

On an exceptionally clear September day, EBS Digital Producer Jen Clancey was on the peak of Lone Mountain for a tour of the Lone Peak Tram construction site. Distant mountains were in clear view including Wyoming’s iconic Teton Range. Much closer to Big Sky, Gallatin Peak (right) challenges Lone Mountain’s stature: the mountain summits at 11,015 feet and is a difficult climb in summer or winter. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

LOCAL

NEWS IN BRIEF

COMMUNITY WEEK RETURNS FOR 2023

EBS STAFF

Monday through Friday, Oct. 2-6, Big Sky will celebrate Community Week: “a week-long celebration where we come together as a community to connect with neighbors, collaborate with partners and create solutions for all of Big Sky,” according to an email from event organizers.

A full schedule is available at bigskycommunityweek.com.

The week will include a series of free events including workouts, walking tours, trivia, happy hour, coffee, “State of the Community” presentation and a MadisonGallatin Joint County Commision meeting.

The week is presented by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Big Sky Resort Area District.

EBS STAFF

Montana House Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, has been named to “Time’s 100 Next”, Time Magazine’s list of emerging leaders across the world. Rep. Zephyr is Montana’s first transgender representative in the legislature and has routinely advocated against antiLGBTQ+ bills.

FORMER FIREARMS EXECUTIVE RYAN BUSSE ANNOUNCES DEMOCRATIC MONTANA GOVERNOR BID

DAILY MONTANAN STAFF

Ryan Busse, a former firearm company executive and author from Kalispell, has announced his Democratic bid for Montana’s governor’s office.

He launched his campaign on Sept. 14 with a short video ad proclaiming himself as a ranch kid, hunter, fisherman, husband and father with Montana values while attacking Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s policies on property taxes, abortion, public lands and public schools and his personal wealth.

“My Montana is a place where hardworking people make a good living for themselves, raise their kids with equal opportunity. They hunt. They fish. They work hard. They play hard. And they fight for the place that they love together,” Busse said in the ad. “Unfortunately, the Montana that I love and that my kids have been raised in is being threatened right now.”

Republicans barred Rep. Zephyr from attending and speaking at routine floor sessions with a formal punishment on April 26, 2023. The April vote meant that Zephyr would be absent from the floor for the remainder of the session which was expected to end May 5, but she could still vote remotely.

Kimberly A. Beatty Hallee C. Frandsen BROWNING, KALECZYC, BERRY & HOVEN, P.C. 801 W. Main, Suite 2A Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 585-0888 (406) 587-0165 Facsimile kim@bkbh.com hallee@bkbh.com

Attorneys for Big Sky Resort Area District

MONTANA EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, GALLATIN COUNTY

Case No. DV-16-2023-0000699-OC

BIG SKY RESORT AREA DISTRICT, Plaintiff, v.

GLENN A. HALLER, individually, and GLENN A. HALLER d/b/a PORKY’S ROADHOUSE Defendants.

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

THE STATE OF MONTANA SENDS GREETINGS TO DEFENDANTS GLENN

A. HALLER, INDIVIDUALLY AND TO GLENN A. HALLER d/b/a PORKY’S ROADHOUSE:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, which is filed in the office of the Clerk of Court, and to file your answer and serve a copy thereof upon the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty-one (21) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service; in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Court this ______ day of ___________, 2023.

Clerk of District Court

By: __________________________________ Deputy Clerk

Zephyr opposed a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for youth. She referenced studies showing that gender healthcare access reduced suicide rates among transgender youth—and followed by saying Republicans would have “blood on [their] hands,” if they passed the ban. 3157380/6670.001.0052

OCTOBER 2-6

MONDAY

8:009:30 AM

9:009:45 AM

4:306:30 PM

COMMUNITY COFFEE

Resort Tax Office

Connect with friends and neighbors over casual conversation and a cup of coffee.

WORKOUT: Winter Conditioning

BASE

Get ready for winter sports with this FREE workout. No BASE Pass is needed to participate.

HAPPY HOUR

The Wilson Lobby Bar

Meet up after the workday and socialize over cocktails and light appetizers.

TUESDAY 03

10:3011:30 AM

11:00 AM12:00 PM

5:008:00 PM

6:007:00 PM

WORKOUT: Gentle Flow Yoga

BASE

Start your day with yoga with this FREE workout. No BASE Pass is needed to participate.

WALKING TOUR: Town Center

Town Center Plaza

Walk with Lone Mountain Land Company on a tour of Town Center. Learn about current and upcoming projects.

STATE OF THE COMMUNITY

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center

Join in the conversation as local leaders share their insights on key topics impacting our community. Don’t miss this important update.

WORKOUT: Primal Workout

BASE

Work on your strength and mobility with this FREE workout. No BASE Pass is needed to participate.

WIN BIG!

Big Sky Resort Gold Pass & other local prizes!

Earn raffle entries by attending events, bringing a friend to an event, or bringing donations for the Big Sky Community Food Bank.

Raffle winners will be announced at the Community Appreciation Celebration. Do not need to be present to win.

bigskycommunityweek.com

Community Week is brought to you by

-

WORKOUT: Spartan Training

BASE

WEDNESDAY 04 8:309:30 AM

Work on your strength and mobility with this FREE workout. No BASE Pass is needed to participate.

WORKOUT: Zumba

BASE

Exercise and have fun doing it with this FREE workout. No BASE Pass is needed to participate.

9:0011:00 AM

BSRAD, MADISON & GALLATIN COUNTY

COMMISSION MEETING

The Wilson

Attend the bi-annual meeting of your locally elected officials from Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD), Gallatin County, and Madison County.

10:0011:00 AM

1:004:00 PM

7:009:00 PM

WORKOUT: Mat Pilates

BASE

Enhance coordination and strength with this FREE workout. No BASE Pass is needed to participate.

WALKING TOURS: WRRF

Water Resource Recovery Facility

Tour Big Sky Water & Sewer District’s Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) plant currently under construction. Tours depart at 1, 2, and 3. Advanced sign-ups required; maximum of 12 people/tour.

TRIVIA

The Waypoint

Test your knowledge when Community Week takes over trivia at the

Waypoint. Categories and questions will have a fun Big Sky twist

THURSDAY 05

8:009:30 AM

9:009:45 AM

11:00 AM12:00 PM

4:006:00 PM

COMMUNITY COFFEE

Thorn Apple

Connect with friends and neighbors over casual conversation and a cup of coffee.

WORKOUT: Winter Conditioning

BASE

Get ready for winter sports with this FREE workout. No BASE Pass is needed to participate.

WALKING TOUR: Town Center

Town Center Plaza

Walk with Lone Mountain Land Company on a tour of Town Center. Learn about current and upcoming projects.

COMMUNITY APPRECIATION CELEBRATION

Len Hill Park

Celebrate Big Sky with fun, games, food and drink with fellow community members. The raffle will take place at 5:30.

06

FRIDAY

ALL DAY

CONNECT. COLLABORATE. CREATE.

Make Big Sky a community where we all belong. Get outside. Help your neighbors. Donate your time. Engage with your local officials. Community is what we make it.

BSRAD IDENTIFIES $741M IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR BIG SKY

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—The September board meeting for the Big Sky Resort Area District covered two heavy-hitting topics: the unveiling of a Big Sky Community Capital Improvement Plan, and a separate discussion about a group of diverse local stakeholders exploring the basic foundations of a municipal government for Big Sky.

A draft of Big Sky’s capital improvement plan will be presented for approval at the bi-annual Madison-Gallatin Joint County Commission Meeting on Oct. 4 in Big Sky.

In the past year, the BSRAD board recognized an opportunity to update Big Sky’s existing capital improvement plan, assembled in 2011 for zoning purposes and excluding the Madison County portion of Big Sky.

According to the report’s executive summary, the CIP is intended to answer six questions:

1. What will be built, repaired, replaced or purchased?

2. Who is responsible for the project?

3. When is this project scheduled to take place?

4. Where will this project be located?

5. Why is this project being undertaken?

6. How are we going to pay for it?

A draft of that report is now complete. Colin McAweeney, fiscal/economic analyst with contractor TischlerBise, presented the findings to the board. McAweeney said the process involved interviews with 16 local districts and organizations to survey upcoming infrastructure needs.

The CIP identified $741 million in recommended infrastructure investments over the next decade. Those capital needs are spread across six categories, with more than 83% combined between housing and public works—water and sewer, and transportation infrastructure.

Some capital need amounts were estimated using a model that projects Big Sky’s peak population— combining permanent and seasonal residents and overnight visitors—to grow by 48% in the next

ten years. Within that total, Big Sky’s year-round population would grow from 3,268 in 2023 to 4,841 in 2033, according to the projection.

The report factored population growth into 10-year service and infrastructure needs.

Board members discussed the gap between current funding mechanisms available to BSRAD and the mounting costs of infrastructure improvements.

“I just want the public to understand… these are huge dollar amounts and a huge gap between what we currently have available to us as tools to fund— and what we will need to have available to us,” said board member Ciara Wolfe.

Board Treasurer Steve Johnson added that beyond BSRAD, several local government district boards will need to step up and use their bonding capacity to invest in needed infrastructure.

“Resort tax is not going to be able to answer all of this, by any near stretch. So, have some coffee, start figuring it out. This is a challenge to the community,” Johnson said.

Board member Kevin Germain agreed.

“This is not resort tax. This is community. This is Montana, this is federal… It’s just getting everything in one document,” Germain said. He recommended that BSRAD continue to update the CIP each year as long-term needs continue to take shape.

Wolfe pointed out—and other board members agreed—that local entities will need to prioritize funding needs and communicate which are most urgent as the community works to raise nearly three-quarter of a billion dollars. She noted that there would have to be “some differentiation between critical needs, and wants.”

“The [BSRAD] board is going to need to think about prioritization as well,” said Daniel Bierschwale, executive director of BSRAD. “I think $741 million is clearly outside the scope of what our capability is.”

The capital improvement plan adds a significant challenge, but also adds detail to the Big Sky Roadmap. Also included on that roadmap is a fiveyear “potential solution” to incorporate Big Sky as a municipality.

That topic was discussed at length during Wednesday’s meeting after the CIP presentation.

ADOBE STOCK IMAGE

COURTESY OF BSRAD

PHOTOS BY HOLLY PIPPEL

LEADERS PRESENT EARLY LOOK INTO INCORPORATION COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TALK ABOUT THE RECENT, OPEN-MINDED EFFORT TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—The Sept. 13 Big Sky Resort Area District board meeting began by presenting a long-needed capital improvement plan. Afterwards, Board Chair Sarah Blechta opened the second discussion with a statement of optimism on a charged topic: the potential incorporation of Big Sky.

“Many people have asked me why we have done this, why did we start talking about [incorporation] again… And to that, I would say, we have never done it like this before,” said Blechta, who sits on the board’s incorporation and governance subcommittee. “We have never come together like this before… Our goal as a group was to empower our community and its voters to understand the complex issues so we can move forward effectively and together.”

Blechta said in Big Sky’s past, efforts to incorporate a local municipality have not included a rigorous, unconstrained study of potential community impacts. This time around, explorers are acting with intention to avoid the one-sided, polarizing precedent.

The “Governance and Community Engagement Exploration” report described a three-day process in which 12 community leaders surveyed the current landscape around incorporation. The process was facilitated by a third party with emphasis on taking objective viewpoints. That early-stage report is available here.

Last winter, a separate grassroots citizens group garnered interest in this topic. After that effort ceased, this current exploration took shape.

Emily Stifler Wolfe, a Bozeman-based consultant with history as a member of the Big Sky community and workforce, facilitated three sessions this summer to convene 12 community leaders, including Blechta, to discuss the topic of incorporation.

“We focused on designing a process aimed at moving the community forward, together. With passionate players holding seemingly opposing views, this was not an easy task, nor were we sure we would succeed,” Wolfe explained in her presentation to the board.

Wolfe said the three days were challenging and at times uncomfortable, but the group succeeded in connecting with each other as human beings, reframing problems into opportunities, “and setting up [a] collaborative, possibility mindset.” After the group’s third session in July, Wolfe said, “we did ultimately accomplish our goals.”

As written in the report’s executive summary, “Over the course of 12 intensive hours together, our group created a strategy and rough timeline to conduct a rigorous, unconstrained incorporation study that’s driven by community engagement. The goal of this future study will be to learn whether there might be a better way for our community to operate than the current approach.”

Wolfe said over the three days that transformation was “pretty significant,” as they recognized all they share in common and potential to work as a team.

“Suddenly, we could see these little details all aligned where everyone’s needs were honored, and everyone agreed to continue working on it together,” Wolfe said of the group’s final day. “And it was really powerful for me to get to witness.”

Wolfe emphasized that this process has not yet resulted in any comprehensive report on the pros and cons of incorporation.

“This was this group coming together to say, ‘that’s what we’re going to do. We have a rough outline of how we’re going to do it, we’ve got buy-in from many different stakeholders in the community. Let’s go get a rigorous, unconstrained study [for community education], ” Wolfe said.

BSRAD Executive Director Daniel Bierschwale said it might be a year or more before such a study is prepared.

During public comment, one community member expressed concern that this exploration lacks a clear “why.” Wolfe, Blechta and Bierschwale responded that the process has not yet reached that point—an unbiased study would allow voters to discern their own view, whether that’s for or against incorporation.

Involved leaders take the hot seat

A handful of the same group’s participants attended Wednesday’s board meeting. Wolfe asked questions to three of those leaders during her presentation.

First, Wolfe called up David O’Connor, now the executive director of the Big Sky Community Housing Trust and once a local business owner. She asked how this recent process compared to similar efforts in the past.

“Exceedingly collaborative is one of the differences [from] what’s happened in the past—much better representation at the table,” he responded.

O’Connor said the decision on whether to incorporate should not be made by a group of 12 people, or any other group, but instead by the community.

“[This approach] recognized that probably the worst thing we can do as a community is make such a serious decision based on bad information or incorrect information. So we really focused on assembling the correct data—there’s a lot of misconceptions, a lot of assumptions out there,” O’Connor said.

Next, Wolfe called Tallie Lancey, a local realtor and board chair for the Big Sky Community Organization, who helped initiate this collaborative effort. Wolfe asked Lancey why she wanted to work with such a broad range of perspectives, and why she wanted to continue with the group.

“The reason that I wanted to get this group of people together was to flip the script,” Lancey said. “As a student of what has happened in the past, I thought we might be doomed to repeat history. But we’ve taken a

totally different approach this time. For that reason, I think [the] outcome will be more holistic and durable."

“The reason I want to keep at it is because… I love this place and I’m really excited about inviting the public into the process and making sure that everyone feels heard and makes and educated decision about the kind of place we want to live in the future,” Lancey said.

Finally, Wolfe called Matt Kidd, managing director of Lone Mountain Land Company and partner with CrossHarbor Capital Partners. She asked Kidd why he wanted to be involved, and to continue to contribute, as a community member and a leader of local development.

Kidd first stated that he represents himself as a year-round resident, but not his employees or other residents of Big Sky.

“To the extent that ‘incorporation’ is a word that has all this emotional baggage, I’ve let go of it. You all should too… I enjoyed being part of the three days. To me, this isn’t the conclusion of a process, this is the start of a process.

“CrossHarbor and Lone Mountain Land Company, we are not for or against incorporation. We are for anything that is good for the year-round community that Big Sky wants to be. I don’t think we’re there yet… Any tools we have, we are supportive of that.”

Kidd added, “We are against anything that places an undue financial burden on that year-round community that we want to be.”

Ennion Williams, VP of events with Outlaw Partners and board chair of the Big Sky Transportation District and the Gallatin River Task Force, was also one of the group participants at Wednesday’s BSRAD meeting. Williams volunteered his perspective:

“I was here in past meetings that [discussed] this topic and I definitely agree that this new approach and this collaboration is a much better and seemingly straightforward approach to this topic. And that it will work to bring together the various opinions and various groups that would be involved with the group. So I look forward to the future of it,” Williams said.

At the board meeting, the BSRAD board voted in favor of the subcommittee’s three asks: that BSRAD hosts this initial report on its website, that the BSRAD subcommittee includes all 12 involved leaders, and that BSRAD generates a request for proposals for a “rigorous, unbiased incorporation study, including in-depth community engagement, funded by BSRAD.”

Third-party facilitator Emily Stifler Wolfe presents to the BSRAD board and public attendees at Wednesday’s board meeting.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

BEAR ATTACK VICTIM IN STABLE CONDITION, HIGH SPIRITS

RUDY NOORLANDER FACES LONG RECOVERY

BY GABRIELLE GASSER EBS CONTRIBUTOR

BIG SKY—When Ashley Noorlander saw her father’s name pop up on her phone screen the afternoon of Sept. 8 her first thought was, “That’s an odd time for him to call me.” When she answered, a stranger’s voice told her that her dad had just been attacked by a grizzly bear.

“I always feared for that phone call, but I never thought it would ever come,” Ashley, 28, told EBS in a Sept. 13 interview.

Rudy Noorlander, 61-year-old Navy veteran and owner of Alpine Adventures, a snowmobile and ATV rental company in Big Sky, was attacked by a grizzly bear on Sept. 8 near Yellow Mule Trail just south of Big Sky. He suffered extensive injuries, according to his daughter, including having his lower jaw ripped off, a broken esophagus and trachea, a punctured lung and bite and claw marks all over his body.

“Worst French kiss of my life,” Rudy quipped about the experience, writing on the whiteboard that he uses to communicate with friends and family. That sense of humor and strong spirit are on full display during his recovery, according to Ashley, who said her dad has been cracking jokes throughout his stay at University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City.

“He is the strongest and funniest person I know,” Ashley said.

Rudy ventured out that day to help two hunters, who rented side-by-sides from him, to track down a mule deer they shot on Wednesday morning. The hunters were a father-son duo from Georgia; father George Whittle, 48, said he has been coming to Big Sky for 17 years to hunt and has been hunting for 33 years.

Whittle said all three of them were carrying bear spray and he and Rudy both carried guns on them as well while they tracked the deer. As they approached the area where Whittle and his son had last seen the deer, they were separated from Rudy while walking down a hill.

“That’s when all hell broke loose,” Whittle told EBS in a Sept. 14 interview.

“We were within five feet of the bear and Rudy and I had my gun drawn,” Whittle said, recounting the event. “I was trying to shoot the bear in the head, but the bear had Rudy by the mouth and was ripping him around like a rag doll.”

Whittle and his son yelled at the bear, which eventually dropped Rudy. When it did, Whittle said he shot twice at the bear, though he isn’t 100% sure whether he hit it. Whittle immediately called 911 and made Rudy as comfortable as he could. As he lay on the ground for two hours waiting for help, Rudy stayed conscious,

communicating with Whittle using hand signals. “If it wasn’t for [Whittle] and his son, my dad would not be here,” Ashley said.

When help did arrive, Rudy was airlifted to the Yellowstone Club, where another helicopter with a nurse waited, then to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center where he received emergency stabilization surgery. Doctors closed his wounds and inserted a chest tube to stabilize Rudy’s breathing.

He was then transferred to the ICU at University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City where he underwent a second surgery on Sept. 12 to fix his broken esophagus and prepare his jaw for future reconstruction surgery. Rudy is currently in stable condition, according to Ashley, and is scheduled for a reconstruction surgery on Sept. 28 when a piece of bone will be taken from his leg to rebuild his jaw.

“He’s a trooper,” Ashley said. “It’s gonna be hard but if anybody can do it, it’s him.”

Following the attack, Region 3 of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks conducted an investigation which concluded that the bear attacked defensively in a surprise encounter. A Sept. 9 emergency closure put into place in the Buck Ridge Yellow Mule area by the Custer Gallatin National Forest has been lifted following the conclusion of the investigation on Sept. 13.

Officials did not find a wounded bear or any of their collared bears nearby in an air search, according to a Sept. 13 press release, but they did find many signs of

bear activity including the remains of a cached animal carcass, caches of whitebark pine nuts and bear scat.

“This year has been a busy year for bear conflicts and responding to bear conflicts,” said Morgan Jacobsen, communication and education program manager with FWP.

Bears are currently entering hyperphagia, Jacobsen said, a period of increased activity when they eat more food to prepare for winter hibernation. The period of hyperphagia overlaps with archery season, which is also a time of year, according to Jacobsen, when access is better into the areas where the bears are extra active.

Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in February of this year that it is exploring delisting grizzly bear populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.

“It’s important for people to be aware that Montana is bear country and the possibility of encountering grizzly bears exists anywhere west of Billings,” Jacobsen said. “Taking steps to be prepared really makes a difference in your personal safety and those around you.”

Some of the safety precautions suggested by FWP for hunters in grizzly country include carrying bear spray, watching for bear signs, hunting in a group and making noise, and observing your kill site through binoculars and making noise if you do need to return to retrieve meat from a kill.

To help pay his medical bills, Rudy’s family created a GoFundMe page which has garnered close to $47,000 in donations as of publication. Ashley said the extent of what his VA health insurance will cover is still unclear, but they are hopeful that he will be covered.

The GoFundMe donations, Ashley said, will help to provide her father with some stability when he returns home from the hospital since he won’t immediately be able to return to work.

Despite the long recovery ahead, Ashley said Rudy is in high spirits and she has no doubt that he will be back outside snowmobiling and adventuring as soon as he is able.

In the meantime, Rudy continues to joke with his family. “If this gets turned into a movie,” Rudy wrote, “I want Sam Eliott to play me.”

Rudy has been using a whiteboard to write messages to his family in his hospital bed. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY NOORLANDER

Rudy (right) poses with his daughter KateLynn Davis (Ashley›s sister) (left) on her wedding day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY NOORLANDER Rudy Noorlander remains positive giving his family a thumbs up from his hospital bed. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY NOORLANDER

LONE PEAK TRAM CONSTRUCTION REMAINS ON SCHEDULE

ORIGINAL LONE PEAK TRAM CLOSE TO RETIREMENT AS NEW TRAM’S TRACK AND HAUL ROPES CONNECT BOTTOM TERMINAL TO PEAK

BY JEN CLANCEY

BIG SKY—The Lone Peak Tram has transported thousands of people to the 11,166-foot peak of Lone Mountain since 1995. Months after closing to the public, it will soon take its final trip and enter retirement. The new Lone Peak Tram consisting of two 6,000-pound cabins will take its place.

When completed, the tram will transport up to 75 passengers per cabin—featuring 12 seats—up to the peak, known for its 360-degree view of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

The project has been two years in the making and is expected to be completed in December, according to Jas Raczynski, Big Sky Resort’s construction project manager. Raczynski said at this point in construction, it’s in the hands of a Swiss company, Garaventa, that operates with Doppelmayr.

“They’re finishing up the last track rope right now and then they’ll jump over to the haul rope,” Raczynski said. The new tram will operate with a loop of haul rope, surrounded by two track ropes on either side up and down, which are fixed to stabilize and support the cabin.

Unique challenges for a unique tram

Chad Wilson, Big Sky Resort’s vice president of construction, has been a Big Sky resident for seven years and has overseen the project.

“I think the most unique thing about this tram is its location—11,166 feet with no road access,” Wilson said. The lack of road access requires use of helicopters to transport and place fundamental items at the peak.

Some of those major items were the parts for the tower crane, which can be seen in resort videos and if close enough, with the plain eye. In June, Big Sky Resort worked with Boeing Chinook helicopter crews to assemble the crane. “The elements on these tower cranes are up to 9,000 pounds in one lift for a helicopter. That’s a lot, so we had to use Chinook helicopters,” Wilson said.

“And we had great crews that did whatever it took to get them installed and having those on obviously kicked us off to put this whole structure together,” Wilson said, describing the construction of the cranes as a critical point of Lone Peak Tram progress.

In late October, those cranes are expected to be taken down by helicopter.

Planning for the future of Big Sky Resort at the top

In addition to the new tram, the construction team laid foundations for electrical power that will allow for the building of the future ski patrol facility and an all-glass viewing platform at the Lone Peak Tram’s top terminal. The transparent platform will overlook the Big Couloir.

Resort officials expect to build a dining facility at the base of the tram, overlooking the area in upcoming years.

Though there’s still work to do, Raczynski reflected on the location of his job. On Sept. 15, minimal haze gave way to a faint blue outline of the Teton Range to the southeast.

“It’s not a bad place to come into work every day,” Raczynski said, smiling. “It’s cool to be working with such a big team of people and everybody is 100% bought into this project.”

Jas Raczynski closes original tram car, the last to transport passengers outside of the project to the top terminal. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

Photo taken from the original tram: the new tram’s top terminal (right) and support tower (left) are complete. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

NOXIOUS WEEDS THREATEN BIG SKY, GALLATIN CANYON ENVIRONMENT

INVASIVE WEED MANAGEMENT REQUIRES COMMUNITY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT AND STATEWIDE EFFORT TO PRESERVE MONTANA’S WILDSCAPES

BY JEN CLANCEY

Big Sky has a problem with imposters. Many open areas in and around Big Sky showcase vibrant flowers, especially early in the summer, but some are actively harming the natural landscape.

“If you’ve ever been to a landscape that is so dominated by noxious weeds, it is heartbreaking,” said Jennifer Mohler, executive director of the local landscape stewardship nonprofit, Grow Wild.

Noxious weeds are a problem across the western U.S. for their ability to transform habitats into inhospitable land—reducing biodiversity, impacting soil erosion beside streams and reducing forage for wildlife. In Big Sky and Gallatin Canyon, invasive species such as spotted knapweed, various thistles and oxeye daisies can be seen multiplying on land year after year if they aren’t managed properly.

Weed management in communities is multifaceted. Nonprofits, private landowners, public land management and regional government processes all play into the future of Big Sky’s wildscapes.

Invasive plants’ impact on wildlife and habitat

“Noxious weeds have a kind of a profound ecological impact,” Mohler said. She first described its impact on food sources available to animals like elk. According to Grow Wild’s website, spotted knapweed is responsible for reducing 50 to 90% of available winter forage for elk.

In the winter, many animals are likely under significant amounts of stress due to food availability. “It causes them to basically move to other areas, further stressing them, because their native food isn’t there anymore,” Mohler said.

Noxious weeds are also known to increase soil erosion, leading to problems with spawning grounds for fish and food sources in nearby rivers.

“These are silent invaders, silent killers,” Mohler said, describing the situation as a thousand small cuts that lead to an overwhelming problem.

“In Big Sky, let’s say 50,000 acres of private land supply are surrounded by national forests and we’re just a stone’s throw from the nation’s first national

park—this is a national gem,” Mohler continued. “What private landowners do on their property impacts our national forests, and vice versa.”

This past year, the Montana Conservation Corps worked with Americorps members to treat 645 acres of noxious weeds in Gallatin County. According to Bryan Wilson, the director of individual placement programs at Montana Conservation Corps, the 12 members who worked on Gallatin County land educated 412 community members about invasive species.

“I want to be able to create a wild space that is conducive to wildlife and native plants,” Wilson said, reflecting on the Gallatin Canyon where he likes to fish and enjoy the outdoors.

How local government handles spreading weeds

The Gallatin County Weed District oversees the enforcement of a policy called the Montana County Noxious Weed Control Act. The law prohibits landowners from allowing listed invasive weeds to grow and seed on their property.

Enforcement happens through a complaint process: first a board member or member of the public files a complaint against a property. The complaint is then verified and a first notice—and if needed, second notice—is given to the property owner. Finally, if the notices advising a landowner to treat nonnative weeds on their property are unsuccessful, the weed district will obtain a court order for treating the weeds.

This is why Mohler emphasizes education and information first. “A cornerstone of Grow Wild is to help all landowners, whether they’re residential, part-time, full-time… whomever, we’re here to help no matter the size, because every landowner in Montana is legally required to manage noxious weeds,” Mohler said. “So it’s actually illegal to allow these noxious weeds to set flower and seed and spread.”

Resources for Big Sky landowners

Mike Scholz, Big Sky resident and former Resort Tax board member has seen knapweed swarm plots of land. This past year, he estimates spending 100 hours managing weeds on his property. “And I probably pulled seven large trash cans full of weeds this year,” Scholz said. He explained that his property may also be impacted by its proximity to the road where hundreds of cars drive by each day.

“It’s just a fight,” Scholz said, studying patches of knapweed that look like a spreading purple-green rash on the canyon hillside. He’s hopeful that things will get better if more conversations about weed management happen in the community.

Managing one’s land, as Mohler described, is an “ever present” commitment. But Big Sky landowners aren’t alone in their efforts.

The county works to help landowners identify weeds, recommend solutions and cut costs on treatment, which usually involves spraying the plants with chemicals. The county weed district offers a cost-share program in which 50% of labor and materials are covered by the district, as well as sprayer rentals and property inspections where an expert can provide guidance on what plants should stay or go. Land management is an ongoing, annual ever-present thing.

Mohler also referenced times that landowners are reluctant to get rid of flowers like oxeye daisies that have appeared on their lawn, but during those conversations she emphasizes the alternatives.

“We try to inspire them to choose those alternatives and to plant a landscape and cultivate a landscape that is more in harmony with our ecosystem,” Mohler said.

Gallatin County’s landscape is dotted with musk, canada and bull thistles. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Sign beside Little Coyote Rd. advises recreational visitors to brush any buds attached to clothing to prevent tracking invasive plants to other areas of Big Sky. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

REGIONAL

ROAD TRIP FALL IN LOVE WITH PHILIPSBURG, MONTANA

BY LESLIE KILGORE

As the mornings and nights get colder in Big Sky, and mountain bike season ends at the resort, it’s always a great time of year to visit other mountain towns not too far from home.

One of these idyllic spots is Phillipsburg, Montana and Discovery Ski Area. Just an easy three-hour drive from Big Sky, past Butte on I-90 and through Anaconda, the last 30 minutes of the trip brings you through bucolic farmland, National Forest Land, the massive Georgetown Lake area and into the town of Phillipsburg (or P-burg to most locals), which was established in 1866 as a trading post and mining camp.

Once voted among the “Prettiest Places in America,” the town is rich with history. The restored buildings lining Main Street add character and house many small businesses that serve both tourists and locals of Granite County.

The discovery of silver in the area and the construction of the Hope Mill, Montana’s first silver mill, established Phillipsburg as a hub for mining that continues today. With several businesses along Main Street that offer mining supplies, local gem jewelry, geodes and gem gravel, searching for precious Montana stones can be both relaxing and a rewarding way to spend a few hours. My favorite spot is Montana Gems. They offer an impressive outdoor space for "mining" for the gems sold in their jewelry and gem store.

Next to Montana Gems, grab a coffee and shop for fly fishing gear and clothing at one of my favorite spots in town, Flint Creek Outdoors and Jackalope Java. Quality coffee and good deals on outdoor gear is what a great mountain town road trip makes.

After getting your caffeine fix, some more retail therapy is always on the agenda in P-burg, with several small businesses lining Main Street that tailor to visitors of the area.

One of the best antiques shops I’ve been to in Montana, Stuff & Such is located in a refurbished brick building along Main Street. Six different rooms packed with treasures—turquoise jewelry, clothing, home goods, vinyl records, vintage kitchenware and unique Montana trinkets.

Next door is homemade ice cream. Phillipsburg Creamery is a must-stop if you are an ice cream connoisseur like me. It’s one of the best in Montana and they serve espresso drinks and pints to go.

If candy of any kind is more your jam, there is no better place that I know of than The Sweet Palace. This massive space located in a beautiful historic building filled with candy from across the globe, nostalgic brands from your childhood, gummies I’ve never seen before, and their own salt water taffy and fudge still made by hand from an antique candy machine in the shop. They even have a "Candy of the Month" program with your choices sent to your home.

After roaming around P-burg’s Main Street with other visitors to the area, the Phillipsburg Brewery Company is where to go for a pint, live music, town gatherings and friendly locals. There always seems to be a healthy mix of tourists who love good beer and locals meeting in town to catch up on ranching, fishing, hunting and other Granite County news. It’s the best place to soak up local culture, drink good beer, and sit in the afternoon sun at their outdoor tables.

Phillipsburg may seem like a strange place to get fresh sushi, but the Sushi Shack offers fresh rolls, hot Japanese entrees, daily specials and is take-out only. Since the brewery doesn’t serve food, patrons are allowed to grab food from the Sushi Shack and bring it next door to pair with a pint. They even alert you from the brewery when your food is ready—it’s the best of both worlds.

With a simple and tasty menu, a good option for a sit-down meal is Bunkhouse Whiskey, a new micro distillery that crafts their own liquor in small batches. Located just across the street from

the brewery, Bunkhouse has an expansive bar and is a great place to watch Sunday football.

While a day roaming around Phillipsburg is always fun at this time of year, the outdoor activities are endless in the area. Discovery Ski Area’s bike park is open for lift-serviced and uphill trail riding through mid-October. The trails are kept by a small group of year-round locals that put a lot of care and pride into maintaining and improving the park. It’s a relaxed scene and a fun spot to bike, explore and hang out in the parking lot for après-hour.

For water activities, Georgetown Lake has several public put-ins for motorized and non-motorized boats. It’s an expansive lake with incredible views of the Pintler Mountains, and in September the water temps are perfect for swimming, floating, fishing and boating.

Camping options are plentiful in the area with many Forest Service campgrounds close to town and more remote campgrounds for exploring trails in several nearby wilderness areas. There’s also a camping option in town at The Inn at Phillipsburg & RV Park, which is walking distance to all that’s happening on Main Street including one of the best dive bars in Montana, The Whitefront, open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

If a bed and delicious breakfast is more your style, the Kaiser House Hotel offers four eclectic and cozy rooms right on Main Street with beautiful balconies overlooking the historic town. You’ll feel like you stepped into another era as soon as you enter the building. There’s also a great wine and provisions store in the hotel building, Snookies Mercantile. Grab some good cheese and wine and several books sold on the history of Granite County to truly appreciate this special spot in Montana’s history.

While a skier’s paradise in the winter, Discovery Ski Area also serves as an uphill bike park in the summer, and is just a short drive from Philipsburg. PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE

Georgetown Lake offers every lake activity imaginable as well as amazing views of the Pintlers. PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE

SPORTS

OASIS FOR TRAIL RUNNERS: BIG SKY RESORT HOSTS ELEVENTH RUT

NEW 20K COURSE ‘AN INSTANT CLASSIC,’ TRADITIONAL VK, 11K, 28K AND 50K EVENTS PACKAGE PAIN WITH SMILES

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—The 2023 Rut Mountain Runs took Big Sky by storm across three days and five grueling races. In its 11th year in Big Sky, the event continues to grow and unify world-class runners with bold amateurs.

The Rut included five main events from Sept. 15-17 at Big Sky Resort: the Vertical Kilometer (VK), a base-to-peak “run” which becomes more of a walk for many participants; the 20K, a new event for 2023 which featured new trails including a switchback up the Challenger area and traverse into the bowl of Lone Mountain; a 28K, gaining 7,200 feet of elevation; an inclusive—but nonetheless difficult—11K climb of Andesite Mountain; and the 50K, the Rut’s flagship ultramarathon event gaining more than 10,000 feet of elevation.

The 50K begins in the dark. At 6 o’clock on a chilly Sunday morning, an elk bugle pierced the silence in place of a starting gun. More than 500 runners left in five waves, chasing a long-awaited goal.

After 31 miles, Michelino Sunseri, 31 of Driggs, Idaho and Jennifer Lichter, 27 of Missoula crossed the line as top finishers in each gender category; Sunseri with a time of 4:59:32 and Lichter at 5:34:58.

Both had won the Rut 50K before; Sunseri in 2021, and Lichter for the past two years.

She said this race feels like coming home, as it was her first-ever trail race in 2021. In a post-race interview by an event emcee, she told the crowd this was her favorite 50K yet.

“Bone Crusher is just epic,” Lichter said. “Because you’re just looking at Lone Peak. And you just feel so small, and at the same time, you feel like— pardon my French—‘Wow, I’m a badass! I’m here.”

Keeping ‘core character’ through growth

Big Sky Resort’s construction of the Lone Peak Tram altered the VK, 28K and 50K courses slightly this year, but the event’s pervasive stoke didn’t stop short of any peak. Mike Foote, race director and co-founder, spoke with EBS on Sunday afternoon as 50K runners rejoiced at the finish line.

“We’ve grown significantly over the years. We’re one of the largest trail races across the country,” Foote said. He said the event has professionalized over the years, requiring a year-round effort and a passionate team, backed by supportive sponsors.

“I think that the community of people that show up to this is pretty special. I think that the course... brings out a certain type of person who wants to challenge themself,” he added.

As the event’s gnarly reputation continues to grow, Foote said it’s important to process feedback and improve, while maintaining the same core character:

“Being a little silly, but also trying to provide a really professional race experience for everyone,” he explained. One of a few aspects of this silliness includes recognition of the fastest runners wearing jean-shorts, or “jorts.”

This year, Foote—a North Face ultra-runner— was thrilled to have his fellow North Face runners at the event, supporting racers and helping set the course.

“I also love the energy down here [at the resort base area], all the tattoos and people getting mullets, and one of the North Face athletes is frying doughnuts in his van and giving them out for free to people. I just like that kind of community fun feeling,” Foote said.

Another fun event included the one-kilometer “Rut Runts Run,” open for speedy children on Saturday evening. A crowd cheered on the runners who crossed the finish line, some holding hands with siblings or parents. Participants earned antler crowns for completing the loop.

New 20K adds a fresh, attainable challenge

Added for the 2023 Rut, the 20K course gained 4,000 feet over 13 miles, climbing a new, yet-tobe-named switchback trail to the top of Big Sky Resort’s Challenger chairlift and descending a new

Boulder, Colorado sent both 28K winners to Big Sky in Johnny LunaLima (left) and Bailey Kowalczyk. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Runners in the VK, 28K and 50K climb Bone Crusher and the Alto Ridge.

PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

traverse into the bowl of Lone Mountain, before finishing with an Andesite Mountain climb.

“It’s gonna be an instant classic,” Mike Foote said. “We utilized new trails that have been built this summer... All the feedback we’ve received from runners is that the course is incredible—and harder than they thought, which is fine by me,” Foote said.

The new 20K saw more than 400 runners cross the finish line.

Jen Maixner, 46, of Bozeman was the fastest woman with a time of 2:34:52—by default, she set a course record in the new event. She’s run the 11K in years past, but said she had no expectations of winning the newest Rut race.

“It was easier in some respects and harder in others,” Maixner said. “The climb up to Challenger was awesome, I love that new trail. And then getting back over to Swifty wasn’t too bad. And I love the part on Andesite going down, just nice, flowy trails. I think the kicker is just that last climb on [Coolridge trail]... That was the hardest.”

Jason Donald, 43, of Bend, Oregon won with a time of 2:04:52. He’s run the 50K and VK a few times before, but after volunteering to help mark the new 20K course all week, he said he had to run it.

“Big Sky cut it just for the race, so it was pretty special to be able to do that, and to be the first one to cross the finish line,” Donald said.

Bozeman friends and former teammates win Trifecta

There’s a unique challenge for those daring to run the Vertical Kilometer, the 28K and 50K. A separate leaderboard honors the “Trifecta” category.

Lizzie Larkins, 25, of Bozeman entered her firstever Rut and chose the Trifecta “out of curiosity more than competitiveness,” she explained. Her “dive right in approach” came with a simple goal: to finish. It required twelve hours and fifteen minutes of total running.

“I mean, I definitely like to find ways to push myself and find what’s possible,” Larkins said. “For me, it was just to see like, can I make it through something like this.”

Larkins’ Nordic skiing background might explain her endurance—she’s a former Division I skier and assistant coach for Montana State University. Still, she doesn’t identify as a runner and had no intention of winning the Trifecta.

She ran the first third, the vertical kilometer, in jorts—she earned a denim vest as the fastest jortsporting woman. She used the VK to shed her stress and nerves.

“When I was acquiring all the beta for the weekend, I saw the jorts category on the website... I thought, that would be hilarious,” Larkins said.

The rest of the weekend, she said, was spectacular. She enjoyed the vibe, high stoke levels, kindness and community. Saturday’s 28K was the hardest for her, including a fall, a slow start and waves of fatigue. Sunday’s 50K was “absolutely brutal” at first, she said, but she resisted the urge to walk and built momentum throughout the seven-hour slog. She earned 14th place in the female category.

“I was just like, ‘thank you, body, we’re doing it, we’re almost there,’” Larkins recalled. She was grateful to finish the Trifecta with her body still intact.

At mile 21, she reached an aid station manned by her Montana State Nordic ski team. She enjoyed

being on the other side of things, exhausted and having her bottles filled by chipper and encouraging skiers.

Larkins also noted gratitude for the volunteers and organizers who put the event on, and the supportive community of athletes gathered in Big Sky. She’s good friends with Finn O’Connell, 25, winner of the male Trifecta and another Nordic skier. Larkins and O’Connell were college teammates at University of Vermont, and both live in Bozeman. O’Connell attempted the Trifecta having only done the VK before.

He finished the Trifecta just one minute shy of 10 hours, aided by a No. 14 overall finish (eleventh male) in the 50K, finishing under six hours. He listed sources of pain: “feet, hamstrings, glutes, quads, calves.”

He added, “[Saturday], all my friends were asking, ‘How you feeling? Are you ready for tomorrow?’ and there was kind of no other answer for me than to say, ‘Oh, I feel good,’” O’Connell said. “Because I just had to mentally be there if I wanted to finish and get through it today.”

Crossing the finish line, he felt emotional.

“I was speechless,” O’Connell said. “Just like, it’s finally over, but also achieved the goal I wanted to.”

The 20K course crosses the bowl. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

Rut 28K winner Johnny Luna-Lima (right) high-fives fellow Boulder, Colorado resident Logan Greydanus (left), after Greydanus’ secondplace finish. Race Director Mike Foote observes with a smile. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

The iconic Rut 50K began at 6 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

ELK HUNT

My breath intensified and my adrenaline pumped through my body. I managed to stealthily pull my range finder from its pouch. Eighty-five yards: definitely out of range.

“What do I do?” I whispered. I can’t move or I’m sure to get busted by any one of the hundreds of eyes all around me. All I could do is sit and watch as they make their way into the timber and up the slope above me.

Just as I was about to slide over and take a peek I hear the snapping of sticks and rustling of bushes immediately to my right. I turn my head ever so slowly and spot a cow elk standing right on the other side of the tiny saplings I was tucked behind. She was looking right at me. I thought I was busted for sure. Then came a loud crash of sticks, what sounding like tree branches snapping in half. The cow made a sudden move and disappeared from view. I turn my head fully and all I can see were large, dark brown antlers of a mature bull elk with ivory white tips pointed into the air.

BY MICHAEL RUEBUSCH EBS CONTRIBUTOR

I clicked on my headlamp as I stepped out of the truck into the early morning air. It was about 5 a.m. on Sept. 2, opening day of the Montana archery season. The air was cool and the landscape was dark. I fastened the buckle from my pack around my waist and started off. The red glow from my headlamp made it possible to see my immediate surroundings, but I couldn’t yet see the climb up the ridge that was in front of me.

There is something about stepping into the mountains all by yourself when it's pitch-black out that makes you second-guess your reason for being there. My reason was elk. Little did I know an hour and half later I would be face to face with 700 pounds of screaming bull elk.

The hike up the ridge took a little longer than I expected. The forest was covered in a minefield of dead and fallen trees that made it nearly impossible to make my way through quietly. After about an hour of playing leapfrog with fallen logs, I made it to an old logging road that would lead me around the north side of the ridge, and position me directly above the herd of elk that I had spotted feeding in a meadow the night before. I knew if I could make it to that spot quietly I would be able to cut them off as the herd made its way back to the timber from their nightly feeding grounds. The only problem was the timber was so thick I couldn’t see anything below me.

As I am anxiously trying to locate the herd in my binoculars, I hear the faint and unmistakable call of a cow elk about 300 yards off to my left. I swing my binoculars around in a panic and spot some cows making their way through the dense timber.

“There they are,” I said to myself under my breath. “I knew they would come back up this draw.”

Then I hear it. Anyone who has hunted in the woods of Montana knows that sound. The screeching, highpitched whistle that pierces the entire mountain side and send shivers down any hunter's spine—

The bugle of a bull elk. Usually the cows will lead the group through the trees back to a bedding spot somewhere they feel safe, and the bulls will follow

behind pushing the herd. I had to close the distance and get in front of them if I was going to be in position for a shot. I didn’t have much time. I knew he was close.

I threw off my backpack and started my way along the side of the mountain trying to avoid all the fallen logs and loose rocks all the while keeping one eye on the approaching elk. I made it about halfway to where the animals were when they started to pour out of the timber and cross the open logging road I was standing on.

In the wide open road, I never felt so exposed in my life. The elk were making their way up the side of the mountain, but were also heading toward me, which means I was right in their eye line. My instinct was to dive behind the closest cover I could find—into three tiny little sapling pines no taller five-feet high. I was pinned down. Helpless.

Every elk in a group I estimated to be fifty in number was looking right in my direction as they filed across the road. Then I saw the bull; a nice young bull with five-by-five antlers. Definitely a shooter. Then another five-by-five bull steps out about ten feet behind that one, then two more smaller bulls.

“Holy crap!” I said to myself. “There’s more than one bull in here!”

I couldn’t believe it. Standing less than 10 yards away was a beautiful mature bull elk with gorgeous antlers on full display and I can’t even move. I don’t think he knew I was there but he was looking right at me, his gaze piercing into my soul. We looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Then, as quickly as he came in, he began to make is way directly away from me. I was able to stand up on shaky legs and get my range finder on him. Sixty-five yards—right at the limit I would feel comfortable shooting an elk standing broadside in perfect conditions. But he was facing away from me, only showing me his rump. I tried to move closer, hoping he would turn and present me with a shot. It never happened. He trotted off with two of the last cows in the group, around the ridge and out of sight. I never saw them again the rest of the morning.

What is it about the chase of big game? What compels us to wake up at four in the morning, drive for hours and hike for miles up steep mountains in the dark? Is it the scream that echoes through the trees when elk are jacked up from the rut? Is it the sunrise that creeps over the mountain to reveal the beauty of the landscape that we are so lucky to have access to? Is it the smell and sounds of the forest?

For me, it’s the game of wits with a creature that has millions of years of instinct guiding its every move. That morning for me it was that moment when I looked straight into the eyes of that amazing animal and he looked right back into mine. Maybe I will get lucky and see him next time I step into the elk woods of Montana.

Michael Ruebusch is an avid hunter, and is the video director at Outlaw Partners.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL RUEBUSCH

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL RUEBUSCH

FOOTBALL: LPHS HOME OPENER BIG HORNS FALL TO TROJANS IN TWO-NIGHT CONTEST

BY MIRA BRODY

BIG SKY—With one win against the Eagles of Manhattan Christian High School under their belts, the Lone Peak Big Horns charged the field against the Drummond High School Trojans with high energy for their first home game on the nights of Sept. 9 and 11 in a game that was postponed by lightning, and then resumed after the weekend. The game concluded Monday night with a Big Horn loss, 64-32.

Friday opener shortened by thunderstorms

On Friday, the game started with a defensive performance from the Big Horns, forcing a Trojans punt, which was shortly after returned for a touchdown, Trojans. With 10:07 left in the first quarter, the Trojans gained a 10-0 advantage early on.

By the end of the first quarter, the sky began to turn orange and thunder in the distance led to a 30-minute lightning delay. By the time both teams returned to the field at 9 p.m., the Big Horns had reorganized their defensive line to prevent any further touchdowns from the Trojans. However, the storm continued, forcing officials to postpone the game until the following Monday.

“I was proud of the understanding and flexibility of our coaches and players,” John Hannahs, athletic director at Lone Peak High School, told EBS in an email. “The situation was not ideal but they came out

with a lot of energy and fought hard; stopping play when you had momentum and then resuming two days later is not an easy task.”

Monday’s game begins in the second quarter, score 32-18

Undiscouraged, both teams returned Sept. 11 to pick up where they left off: in the second quarter, the Trojans leading 32-18. At the start of Monday's continuation, the Big Horns were down four players from previous games, and by the end of the night, they were down five. Head coach Dustin Shipman commented in an email to EBS that although

momentum is hard to replicate 72 hours later, both teams “played hard for the entire game, both nights.”

“We are a little banged up right now and it shows with the little mistakes that lead to big swings in score and momentum; but those who needed to step up did so and played a good game against a tough team,” Coach Shipman wrote. “We are looking forward to the next couple weeks and getting everyone healthy. It is a long season and we just need to keep working every day to get better.”

This article includes reporting from Mario Carr.

The Lone Peak Big Horns took to their home field against the Drummond High School Trojans in a two-night game. PHOTO BY MICAH ROBIN

FIRST SUMMER FILM

SHOOTOUT’S

FESTIVAL BIG SKY’S HOMEGROWN PRODUCTION WELCOMES DIVERSE FILMS WITH FAMILIAR BACKDROPS

BY JEN CLANCEY

BIG SKY—It was a feat of videography: with just close-up shots and rock music in the background, Beatlab Media House may have made two wooden marbles appear sentient. But then again, art is up to the interpreter.

The Big Sky Shootout, a local film festival hosted by Second Season Co., held its first annual Summer Shootout event. Established in 2014, the Shootout has invited filmmakers and photographers of all styles and skill levels to contribute their own Big Sky perspective during the winter season.

That changed this year, when six films and over 50 photos documented summer in Big Sky.

“This is different,” said Erik Morrison, founder of Second Season. The winter event usually has a good number of submissions focusing on winter sports and scenery, but the summer gave participants wider opportunities.

“The diversity in film I expected for sure,” Morrison said. Topics ranged from a family’s day picking huckleberries to drone footage of mountain biking.

“It’s a good look into Big Sky culture,” he added. Videographer Chris Kamman was the emcee in The Waypoint and noted the crowd’s energy.

“In my mind it’s almost more of a culture fest than a film fest in a way,” Kamman said. “Of course, it’s centered around the films and whatnot. But it’s… a place to see local culture.”

After the first showing, Jeremy Marlington received compliments for documenting his son's adventure with huckleberries on a local trail.

“For him to go from not eating solid food to being able to walk and picking up the berries off the bush by himself. I was like, this is pretty amusing,” the 16-year Big Sky resident said.

“This is kind of like the big scale Montana lifestyle, our lifestyle. And all these wonderful trails really close by. I think it’s a fantastic thing for the community to have this event.”

“I’m really excited to see [Big Sky Shootout] grow and develop throughout the years,” Marlington said.

Local videographer Micah Robin described the value of seeing different perspectives of the mountain town.

“It brings everybody together in a very positive way because everyone’s having a good time and talking about what they’re doing,” Robin said.

Even in between showings, contributors were already thinking of film ideas for next summer. Andrew Robin, Micah’s brother, explained in a conversation that viewers could expect to see more outdoor recreation at next year’s Shootout.

“We didn’t even touch on rafting or kayaking, really there’s so much that it can grow into,” Andrew said. The event ended with Big Sky locals enjoying snacks, drinks and conversation at the venue's bar, some even discussing new ideas with this year’s artists.

“A lot of people leave this event feeling inspired,” Andrew said. “And they’re starting to riff on ideas. And I think the main thing would be, if you have that idea, and you feel inspired to just follow through.”

Morrison said ultimately, the vision for the Shootout is that it tells stories of Big Sky. “We take great pride in the fact that this is a Big Sky show.”

The Big Sky Summer Shootout welcomed seasoned and new Big Sky creatives to The Waypoint’s theater screens. (From left to right: Chris Kamman, Micah Robin, Erik Morrison and Andrew Robin.)

PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

WMPAC BEGINS FAMILY-FRIENDLY FALL RUN

WARREN MILLER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The leaves are changing and the air is getting crisp. Besides the approach of ski season, that also heralds the start of the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center’s slate of creative offerings. This will be the center’s 11th season, and it launches on Sunday, Oct. 1, with spirited family entertainment by Doktor Kaboom. Performances are offered at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

David Epley, through the character of Doktor Kaboom, performs original interactive science comedy shows for audiences of all ages. Creatively blending theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration, Kaboom takes audiences on a laugh-along journey of increasingly spectacular (and often successful) science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate and entertain.

David Epley is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been fortunate enough to discover two passions in his life. Science, his first, took him to studies at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. His second, performing, became his career and for 20 years David has made his living writing, performing and directing original interactive scientific theatre across the U.S. and Canada.

Though primarily known for its winter lineup of entertainment, for the past few years WMPAC has also offered a run of several family-oriented shows in the fall.

“It’s our way of saying thank you to the year-round local community. We want to provide some entertainment options for families with kids during what’s normally a

sleepy off-season,” said John Zirkle, WMPAC’s executive director.

Doktor Kaboom is followed two weeks later by the shadow dance group the Silhouettes on Saturday, Oct. 14. In 2020, the Silhouettes were the Golden Buzzer winners on the hit show America’s Got Talent. They put on a mind-bending show of visual illusions as they dance and interpret the myriad ways that love is manifested in our world.

The fall season continues with Lynn Trefzger, who performs at WMPAC on Saturday, Oct. 21. Trefzger is a noted ventriloqust with over 20 years’ experience performing with a stable of comical characters. All three fall shows include a matinee at 4 p.m. and evening performance at 7 p.m.

Tickets and more information are available at warrenmillerpac.org.

Doktor Kaboom, performs original interactive science comedy shows for audiences of all ages. PHOTO COURTESY OF WMPAC

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21

Peer Support Drop-in Hours

Big Sky Food Bank, 4:30 p.m.

Pickleball Open Play

BASE, 6 p.m.

Taste at Your Own Pace: Wine Tasting Event

Rainbow Ranch Lodge & Restaurant, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22

All Levels Pick-up Volleyball

BASE, 6:30 p.m.

LPHS Football vs. Seeley Swan High School

Lone Peak High School, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

LPHS Soccer vs. Lockwood High School

Lone Peak High School, 12 p.m. (boys) and 2 p.m. (girls)

LPHS Volleyball vs. Gardiner High School

Lone Peak High School, JV at 5 p.m., varsity 20 minutes after JV match

Pickleball Open Play

BASE, 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 24

St. Joseph Mass

Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

History and Geology of Taylor Fork: Montana Outdoor Science School

Lightning Creek, 8:30 a.m.

All Saints Big Sky Service

Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Sunday Service

Soldiers Chapel, 11 a.m.

All Ages Pick-up Basketball

BASE, 4 p.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service

Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 25

Book Club

Big Sky Community Library, 10:30 am.

Storytime BASE, 10:30 a.m.

Pick-up Futsal BASE, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 26

Wine and Dine Tuesdays

Rainbow Ranch Lodge, 5 p.m.

American Legion Off-season Bingo

Riverhouse BBQ & Grill, 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27

Big Sky Fire District Board of Trustees Meeting

Big Sky Water and Sewer District, 8:30 a.m.

Lone Peak High School Parade and Pep Rally

Len Hill Park, 6 p.m.

Holistic Emotional First-Aid

Santosha Wellness Center, 6 p.m.

Trivia Night

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28

LPHS Homecoming Soccer vs. Laurel

Lone Peak High School, 4 p.m. (girls) and 6 p.m. (boys)

Open Pottery Studio

Arts Council Studio at BASE, 5:30 p.m.

Pickleball Open Play

BASE, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

LPHS Volleyball vs. Whitehall High School

Lone Peak High School, JV at 2 p.m., varsity 20 minutes after JV match

All Levels Pick-up Volleyball

BASE, 6 p.m.

LPHS Homecoming Football vs. Choteau

Lone Peak High School, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30

LPHS Homecoming Volleyball vs. Townsend

Lone Peak High School, JV at 1 p.m., varsity 20 minutes after JV match

DJ Moe Jazz

Tips Up, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 1

St. Joseph Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints Big Sky Service Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m. Sunday Service Soldiers Chapel, 11 a.m.

All Ages Pick-up Basketball

BASE, 4 p.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service

Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY, OCT. 2

Community Coffee

Big Sky Resort Area District, 8 a.m.

Community Week Workout: Winter Conditioning

BASE, 9 a.m.

Community Week: Happy Hour

The Wilson Hotel, 4:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 3

Community Week Walking Tour Town Center Plaza, 11 a.m.

Wine and Dine Tuesdays

Rainbow Ranch Lodge & Restaurant, 4 p.m.

Community Week: State of the Community WMPAC, 5 p.m.

Manhattan Short Film Festival

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4

Trivia Night

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

FEATURED EVENT:

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL THE WAYPOINT, 7 P.M.

The Manhattan Short Film Festival is a unique event that occurs in over 500 venues between Sept. 25 and Oct. 8. Ten finalists screen simultaneously across the world during one week. All ten films will automatically be qualified for an Oscar. Attendees will be able to vote for the Best Film and Best Actor awards. Tickets are $12.

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BUSINESS

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: BUCK’S T-4

BY GABRIELLA DICENZO CONTENT MARKETING INTERN

BIG SKY—Originally beginning as a humble hunting camp in 1946, Buck’s T-4, founded by Buck and Helen Knight, was complete with cabins, meals and guided pack trips for a mere $12 per day. In 1950, two of these cabins were ingeniously combined to create the present-day bar. With Buck tending to patrons at the bar and Helen conjuring her culinary magic in the kitchen, Buck’s T-4 swiftly became a cherished Montana roadhouse for locals, hunters and tourists alike. Today, being a part of this legacy is considered a true privilege by the staff and visitors.

In this edition of Making it in Big Sky, we had the opportunity to speak with Mandy Hotovy, general manager at The Wilson Hotel, who sheds light on the newly found partnership between these two iconic establishments and the now extended range of event spaces and dining experiences. Mandy provides a tantalizing glimpse into the upcoming season, full of additional offerings and unique experiences for residents and tourists.

This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: Tell me about the relationship between The Wilson and Buck’s T-4.

Mandy Hotovy: When we first found out that Buck’s T-4 would become a part of the portfolio, everyone was extremely excited to combine forces. We now provide additional event space and dining options for our leisure and group guests. We work together from a staffing perspective which is extremely helpful, collaborating on new visions while focusing on bringing awareness to the area.

EBS: How does it feel to work alongside this staple of Big Sky history?

MH: It’s been a true privilege. Some of our staff still remembers the time when they first visited Big Sky as a child and dined at Buck’s T-4. The food, the atmosphere and especially the people consistently warm your heart. We are all honored to be a part of the Buck’s family and to help keep the tradition alive.

The food, the atmosphere and especially the people consistently warm your heart. We are all honored to be a part of the Buck’s family and to help keep the tradition alive.

– Mandy Hotovy, general manager, The Wilson Hotel ”

EBS: What can visitors look forward to in the coming season?

MH: Now that we’ve added a few more properties to the mix, we are looking to provide our visitors and our residents additional offerings. For example, we will continue our Sunday Brunch at Block 3, Monday, Thursday, and Sunday night Football at Tips Up, wine pairing dinners at Buck’s T-4 and monthly concerts and tastings at The Wilson.

EBS: Are you familiar with the history of Buck’s T-4; could we get a brief background on it?

MH: Yes, Buck’s T-4 was established in 1946 by Buck and Helen Knight. It started out as a hunting camp and then in 1950, the bar that we all love, was built and it became a favorite Montana roadhouse

for locals, hunters and tourists. After Buck and Helen sold the bar and restaurant, the new owners expanded the property to what we see today. A few years ago, Lone Mountain Land Company purchased Buck’s T-4 knowing that it’s a special place for locals and for visitors alike. We continue to help celebrate special occasions with our guests and provide an unforgettable meal while they connect with family and friends.

EBS: What other services aside from great meals and hotel accommodations do you provide?

MH: Between Buck’s T-4 and The Wilson Hotel, we are now handcrafting guest experiences by providing concierge services, welcome packages for special occasions, buyout packages within our restaurants/bars and music events in our lobby and pool area while offering pool passes for the local community. There is a little something for everyone!

EBS: Tell me about your team—what makes all this work possible and what is the best thing about working with them each day?

MH: We are a very diverse group of individuals and bring something fun and different to the table every day. We recognize none of us could do our job without the other. This is what keeps our passion strong. That, and knowing that one of us will always be doing a coffee run daily. It’s all about the support we have for one another!

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

MH: We repeat it often I know, yet we are all in this together. As everyone knows, working in a resort town has its challenges, and we hope to provide as much continued support as possible.

EBS: What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?

MH: First and foremost, always treat others with respect and compassion. Second, remember that we live in Montana for a reason, so focus on a great work/life balance. Third, put your whole heart into everything that you do and take every situation as an opportunity to grow. Lastly, dress for success, even in Montana!

Mandy Hotovy (second from right) and the tight-knit Wilson Hotel staff. PHOTO COURTESY OF MANDY HOTOVY

ENJOYING THE RIDE ESTATE PLANNING

BY BRANT WIEHARDT EBS CONTRIBUTOR SPONSORED ARTICLE

Could estate planning be for you?

There’s a common myth that estate planning is only for the wealthy. However, many of us have different definitions of “wealthy” and often do see our own need for an estate plan. In reality, if you have enough to pay your bills for the rest of your life and you still have money left over, it might be a good time to consider an estate plan.

If you were taking a two week vacation, would it be more fun and relaxing if you planned your trip ahead of time?

Most people plan their trip ahead of time or work with a travel professional to do so. That way they can relax and enjoy the ride during their vacation. The same goes for your personal finances. Take the next ten years, twenty years, thirty years or forty years of you life and ask yourself, would I be able to relax and enjoy the ride more if I had a plan?

It’s all about control

Estate planning is about helping take control of your future, and asset management is only part of the picture. For example, a will is an essential part of an estate plan, and for parents, having one is the only way to name a guardian to raise your minor children if both parents die.

A well-designed plan will also include documents designating who can communicate with health care professionals and make decisions about what type of care you should receive if something happens and you can’t make those decisions yourself.

Ultimately, if you don’t make your own plan, your family may be left scrambling at an already difficult time. Someone will have to ask a court to decide who will act as guardian for your minor children (or maybe even for you), and state law will determine what becomes of your assets. Bottom line: If you don’t decide, someone will decide for you.

Remember, establishing a plan is only the beginning. Significant life events are likely to call for changes. It’s important to regularly review your plan to ensure it continues to meet your needs. You should consider whether your documents, asset titling, and beneficiary designations allow your assets to be handled the way you want them to be.

Five essential documents

Your situation’s complexity will determine which documents your plan requires; however, these five are often essential:

A will provides instructions for distributing your assets to your beneficiaries when you die. In it, you name a personal representative (executor) to pay final expenses and taxes and distribute your remaining assets.

A durable power of attorney for financial matters lets you give a trusted individual management power over your assets currently and/or if you can’t do it yourself. This document is effective only while you’re alive.

A health care power of attorney lets you choose someone to make medical decisions for you if something happens and you can’t make them yourself.

A living will expresses your intentions regarding the use of life-sustaining measures if you are terminally ill. It doesn’t give anyone the authority to speak for you.

By transferring assets to a revocable living trust, you can provide for continued management of your financial affairs during your lifetime, after your death, and even for generations to come.

Turn to a team of professionals

The notion of making the decisions involved with estate planning may seem intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be.

The key is to rely on a team of trusted professionals, including a financial advisor, estate planning attorney, and accountant. They know the questions to ask and can help you avoid potential pitfalls.

If you currently don’t have relationships with these individuals, a financial advisor may be a good place to start. He or she can discuss his or her role in the planning process and can refer you to an estate planning attorney who can work with you to draw up the necessary documents allowing you to enjoy the ride.

Trust services are available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to non-affiliated companies of Wells Fargo Advisors. Our firm does not provide legal or tax advice. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Shore to Summit Wealth Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.

This advertisement was written by Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and provided to you by Brant Wiehardt, Associate Vice President.

©2022 – 2023 Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

RESET BIG SKY

LOOKS TO HELP ACTIVE COMMUNITY RECOVER

BY MARIO CARR EBS CONTRIBUTOR

Owners Beth Johnson and Vicky Childres have opened up Reset Big Sky in the Meadow Village offering “convenient biohacks to help you keep living an active life,” as described on their website.

Their services are aimed at helping individuals get out of “fight or flight” and into a true state of relaxation, a place where they believe true recovery can actually occur. Childres, who has lived part-time in Big Sky since 2012, introduced Johnson to Big Sky—she quickly fell in love with the place and even brought her son Mitch with her to live here full-time to help run Reset Big Sky.

Reset Big Sky builds on the success of ReSet Lounge, which Johnson and Childres opened in Chagrin Falls, Ohio in 2019. In Ohio, the original ReSet has more space and more services including a child psychologist and personal training. Here in Big Sky, Johnson and Childres have focused their services a bit more, collaborating with the community and doing what they can to provide the most opportunity for physical recovery.

“We are wanting to fold in with the rest of the wellness community here,” Johnson said. “We’re working with Dr. Kaley Burns over at Big Sky Natural Health. She’ll be our naturopath that we refer to.”

The partners also said they are happy to be right next door to Lone Peak Performance and the symbiotic relationship between the services that they provide.

“What we are supporting are really great wellness modalities that are adjunct tools for people like physical therapists and naturopaths,” Johnson explained.

Johnson also described how most of their services don’t require a direct “one-on-one” interaction with a staff member. Childres also expressed “how hard it can be to get a massage” in Big Sky. The “core services” at Reset include massage chairs, PEMF and redlight therapy, Infrared Sauna and sound therapy. All of these services simply require a staff member to set the individual up for a relaxing, 20- to 30-minute session. The ozone sauna and UV treatment are the most involved treatment options and come at an additional cost. IV therapy and Oxygen therapy are also add-ons, with specific details of each service on their website.

Johnson and Childres are also excited that Reset Big Sky can be rented out privately. Renting the space will allow groups to have access to all of the services in an atmosphere that is “as rigid or as non-rigid” as they would like.

“We’re living in an environment that technologically has surpassed our biological evolution,” Childres said. She explained that all of their services target inflammation and help the individual recover from physical stressors. While the space and the services are dedicated mostly to physical recovery, the partners are dedicated to creating an environment that is also suited to help individuals heal mentally and emotionally.

“We can meet anyone in whatever trench they’re in, because we’ve probably been there, and if we haven’t been in the exact situation we can relate… It’s an atmosphere of utter non-judgement and acceptance,” both partners explained.

EBS takes the hot seat

I was fortunate enough to try out a couple of the services at Reset Big Sky and found them both to be very

enjoyable. The sound therapy experience was a great time and is a favorite amongst the founders. I entered the spa with afternoon drowsiness and 20 minutes later, felt like I had taken the best and most effective power-nap of my life. The sound coupled with the vibrations of the bed felt like it gave me the benefits of an isolation tank.

The massage chairs are not your typical airport or mall style massage chairs; it felt like a spaceship and works amazingly well to rejuvenate the body. There are countless settings and presets to play around with that I am sure would be fun to master with frequent use in order to find exactly the kind of massage you’re looking for. The chair also moved and stretched my legs and back in a way that I’ve never felt before. The people of Reset Big Sky were exceptionally kind, and I am excited to see the community of active people that gather there to help recover from the awesome challenges we push ourselves through here in Big Sky.

From Chagrin Falls, Ohio, co-owner Beth Johnson and her son Mitch are excited to begin serving the Big Sky community.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF RESET BIG SKY

$6,750,000

PRICE REDUCTION ALERT: $1 MILLION OFF ON INSPIRATION POINT 1B

We’re excited to announce a substantial price reduction of $1M on Inspiration Point 1B in Spanish Peaks Mountain Club. This property offers exceptional panoramic views, 4,275 square feet of living space, 5 bedrooms, and 6 full bathrooms. With this significant price reduction, it’s an excellent opportunity to own a luxurious mountain home in this exclusive community. Don’t miss out on this incredible value.

This lock and leave home within Spanish Peaks Mountain Club has the finest panoramic views of the Spanish Peaks, Lone Mountain, and Gallatin Range.1B is privately positioned at the end of a cul-de-sac, minutes to the Spanish Peaks Club amenities, ski slopes and Montage Hotel.

This property offers:

• 4,275 SQFT of living space, 5 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms.

• Panoramic views including Spanish Peaks, Lone Mountain, and the Gallatin Range.

• Chef’s kitchen with Wolf and Subzero appliances, meticulously curated furnishings and art, Sonos audio system throughout.

• Private theater room and game room with fireplace.

Pale Morning Spur, Unit 1B | Big Sky, MT

OPINION

SKI TOWN DILEMMA: ATTRACTING VISITORS WITHOUT CARS

BY JERRY TINIANOW GUEST COLUMNIST

If you want to visit Big Sky, Montana, you need a car. Same deal if you want to work or live there. Right?

That conventional wisdom led me to book a car at the Bozeman airport when I scheduled a visit to Big Sky in August 2023. It was total knee-jerk: Book flight, rent car, move on.

But then I reconsidered. I was coming to help Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO) implement its new climate action plan. Part of the plan calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. That’s a big part of climate action plans everywhere. How could I advise the community to get people out of cars if the first thing I did upon arrival was to get into one?

So I explored my options. There weren’t many. There is no regular transit service between the Bozeman airport and Big Sky. The few shuttle services are expensive and operate infrequently. There is a free bus service inside Big Sky, which offers a new on-demand, app-based microtransit service, but first you have to get up to Big Sky. “Big Sky without a car” was a black box.

I bit the bullet and booked a shuttle from the airport, specifically the Shuttle to Big Sky (SBS). For $176 including driver gratuity, they would pick me up at 7 p.m. and take me to my hotel in Big Sky—about an hour away.

It was a bit risky. Their shuttles operate hourly. The last one leaves the airport at 8 p.m. My flight was scheduled to arrive at 5:45. If it was late and I missed that last shuttle, I wasn’t sure how I would get to Big Sky.

Fortunately, my flight was on time. Even better, upon arrival I got a pleasant surprise—a text from my driver, Jordan. She had been monitoring my flight and had no other passengers scheduled. She picked me up early. We had a pleasant ride down to Big Sky and a nice conversation about local conditions. You don’t get that if you drive by yourself.

I asked Jordan what would have happened if my flight had been late. She assured me that SBS doesn’t leave clients behind. They find a way to pick you up even if your flight is delayed. That was comforting, but that policy does not show up on their website. If you don’t know about it and you have a late flight, you might book a car to avoid the risk of a late arrival.

I ended up not needing to use the local transit in Big Sky. I carpooled with a colleague, Lizzie Peyton of Big Sky SNO, to our appointments. We scheduled meetings in Bozeman on the day

of my departure. After they were over, she took me to the airport for my flight home.

If I had taken the shuttle both ways, it still would have cost me about $150 less than a car rental and gas. But what if a family of four had made the trip? The car would have cost the same, but the shuttle would have cost a lot more. How many families would make a big financial sacrifice just to reduce their carbon footprint?

Ski towns understand the threat that humancaused climate change poses to them. The snow and runoff they depend on for recreation and water are at risk. Many of those community members want to do their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But solutions that help big cities reduce emissions from personal mobility—public transit, cycling and carpooling—are hard to implement in mountain towns.

Most of the year, there are more visitors in resort towns than residents. The visitors are comfortable using the mode they know—cars—rather than local transit and shuttle systems they don’t know and often don’t use at home. They also don’t come on vacation to get a lecture about climate change.

Last year, my company helped the town of Breckenridge, Colorado update its sustainability plan. Even though the State of Colorado offers an affordable bus service between downtown Denver and the nearby town of Frisco, Breckenridge still struggles to get visitors out of cars. There's a free bus service between Frisco and Breckenridge, and free service in town, yet most visitors still prefer coming in a car they own or rent. Breckenridge

is reconsidering its parking policies and looking for ways to enhance local transit services through more frequent and flexible routes.

I will be working with Big Sky SNO to find some solutions that will work in Big Sky. The community already has an online “One Less Car” program that helps people find the best routes for biking and walking, provides transit schedules and connects people with carpool partners. A true regional transit system that links all forms of shared mobility—buses, carpools, private shuttle systems, even school transportation—into a single integrated network could do even more.

Getting more electric vehicles on the road would also reduce emissions. The local electric utility, NorthWestern Energy, is already generating more than half its electricity from renewable sources. Electric vehicles don’t work as well in Montana winters, but if there were more electric rental cars and shuttles in the summer, emissions would be lower. Using low-carbon electricity is better than using high-carbon gasoline.

We don’t have to get everyone out of cars. We just need to motivate people to drive fewer miles, and use more efficient and electric vehicles for the miles they still need to drive. The solutions are out there.

Jerry Tinianow is the proprietor of WestUrb.com. He was Denver’s first chief sustainability officer. He began his career in sustainability in 1975 working in Washington, D.C. and Montana as a legislative aide to Montana Congressman Max Baucus. WestUrb will be working with Big Sky SNO to implement its climate action plan through June 2024.

Skyline Bus offers free service across Big Sky during peak seasons. Skyline also offers a low-fare, “Link” service between Bozeman and Big Sky.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE MEET ME ON THE TERRACE

BY PAUL SWENSON EBS COLUMNIST

Hello again all you EBS readers. I had a small hiatus as my wife, Lori, and I went on a fantastic camping trip with my sister and her friends. We went to an island halfway up Vancouver Island, and it was spectacular! Thanks to my sis!

As is the case with most trips, it lets one realize why we all love living here. Big Sky has certainly changed over the last several decades, but it is still a wonderful place. Before writing this column, I was staring out the window admiring the mountains, foothills, and the valley floor as they start to change into their fall attire. Yellows, golds and hints of red and orange are all the rage this season. As the sunlight highlighted parts of the landscape, I knew I wanted to talk to you about water.

The Gallatin River seems to be getting a lot of press recently, rightly so, and I’ll leave the water quality issues to others. I would like to talk about how the river built and eroded terraces where we have developed subdivisions and gravel pits.

A river’s power of erosion is immense. Just look at the Gallatin Canyon. Every spring during runoff, boulders that weigh hundreds of pounds are rolled along the bottom, along with sand, gravel and cobbles. If you look closely at some of these rocks you can find chatter marks and indentations left by

collisions. The collection of all these sediments is called a river’s bedload.

It is the bedload that’s interesting. It determines whether a stream or river erodes downward, or builds the riverbed upward to fill a previously eroded valley. If the stream has enough energy to transport the bedload down its course, the downward erosion will continue. But with an excess of bedload, it will be deposited at a faster rate than the river can transport it, thus causing the river valley to fill with sediment.

Here in Big Sky along the Gallatin, and along the Madison River above Ennis, there are spectacular

examples of valleys being filled with bedload during the last two ice ages. These events occurred as the erosion from mountain glaciers outpaced the ability of the rivers to transport the sediment. After the glaciers melted, rivers were again able to move enough sediment downstream so that downward erosion of the valley floor occurred, leaving gravelfilled terraces along the river’s course.

So what do these terraces look like? As you might have guessed from the photographs, sediments deposited and eroded by water usually form a relatively horizontal surface. The steep slope, or terrace face, represents where the river eroded into these gravels as the river meandered back and forth across its valley.

A recent example of this excess bedload followed by erosion happened during large outflows from Hebgen Dam back in the mid 1990s. Due to unusually large spring rains, the reservoir filled too quickly and the river had to be raised to 5,000 cubic feet per second. The Earthquake Lake slide eroded quickly in these high flows, and then built up the riverbed directly below the slide. Due to the floods and influx of sediments, the Madison changed its character from one that had many small channels, called a braided stream, into one with just a single, deep, incised channel, and created several layers of terraces that can be seen from the top of the slide.

Here in Big Sky terraces are perfect places to build houses. They are level, well drained, lower elevation and easily worked since they consist of unconsolidated sediments. So if you live in the Ramshorn or Lower Porcupine subdivisions, you are probably living on a terrace.

In addition, since they were built up from the bedload of the river, they are composed mostly of gravel and cobble, perfect for a gravel pit. It is no surprise, then, that the pit across from the Exxon station exists. There are several gravel pits in the Madison Valley, and out in the Gallatin Valley, all due to the depositional behavior of excess bedload 15,000 years ago.

So when you visit a friend in “the canyon” between the stoplight and Beaver Creek, you will be meeting them on the terrace.

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.

Madison Valley terraces below Palisades campground. If one counts carefully, there are eight generations of terraces pictured. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

Ramshorn Subdivision is built on five distinct river cut terraces. Each level of houses delineates a terrace. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

Madison River outflow from Earthquake Lake slide. Recent terraces in the foreground, and 10,000-year-old terraces from the last ice age in the distance. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

EVERY DROP COUNTS LOW-TECH, PROCESS-BASED RESTORATION

BY MARNE HAYES EBS COLUMNIST

Nature tends to do a good job of keeping our ecosystems healthy. Animals, weather systems, aquatic habitats and wetland vegetation all have a role in what defines a river and the overall health of its surrounding watershed.

Beavers play a big role in this balance of keeping a river healthy.They are known as a “keystone species” due to their ability to shape freshwater ecosystems which provide vital habitat and resources to other animal and plant species. Odd as it may seem, beavers tend to be nature’s best engineers in terms of creating healthy, sustainable and functionable streams and wetlands.

They are so important, in fact, that we—those of us in the business of restoring nature—often mimic the job of beavers, using their techniques to help keep water in our river systems longer, so that the ground, the river, and all of the wetland areas that contribute to the health of a river stay intact.

These nature-based techniques are called low-tech, process-based restoration. While the term may be a mouthful to say, in practice, it’s quite simple and highly effective. Fundamentally, LTPBR attempts to return a stream to its natural, undisturbed state by mimicking a healthy stream’s natural processes and functions. Streams and rivers throughout the Gallatin Watershed have been modified and degraded over the years. This alteration of natural processes has been detrimental to fish and wildlife and impacted the quantity and quality of our water resources.

That’s where beavers come into play. Their natural engineering creates the tendency for improved conditions for wetland vegetation just by doing what they do: creating obstacles, new ponds or sometimes better paths for streams, allowing more of the surface water to reach the aquifers below the surface. In the absence of the work of beavers, water that accumulates through runoff or rainfall quickly rushes down the stream channel and causes erosion as it goes.

In Big Sky, a good example of LTPBR that has seen great results is a restoration project by the Gallatin River Task Force along the Middle Fork of the West Fork Gallatin River. The GRTF mimicked the natural engineering of beavers, also known as beaver dam analog structures, to raise the water table in a wetland that was drying out. In addition to the beaver dam analogs, GRTF used small log jams, known as post assisted log structures, in the stream to create riffles and pools.

Through low-tech, process-based restoration techniques used at this site, the wetland was reconnected to the floodplain, suitable habitat was created for fish and other species, and natural conditions were given a kickstart. The efforts allow for the stream and wetland to be more conducive to holding water longer, capturing sediment and filtering pollutants, ultimately benefiting groundwater storage and water quality.

Low-tech process-based restoration offers promising and simple ways to start revitalizing the streams and wetland areas that feed the Gallatin River. Historically, beavers have been abundant throughout the West Fork waterways. But development and human interference have drastically reduced their population numbers; by restoring streams to their natural state as if beavers were present and allowing natural processes to take over, LTPBR promotes better health for the whole watershed. LTPBR approaches deliver desired ecological outcomes efficiently and at a low cost, especially compared to conventional approaches, but in a community like Big Sky that enjoys the benefit of public land and private land woven closely together, the support and trust of the community in implementing nature-based solutions

is paramount to success and the long-term health of our water resources.

Past success with these types of restoration projects have resulted in improved streamflow patterns and improved wetland health. They have proven to reduce soil erosion, manage stormwater runoff, improve wildfire resiliency and sequester carbon.

One friend and partner to the task force, Connor Parish with Trout Unlimited, said it best:

“Nature is messy, and allowing streams to meander, beavers to work, and log jams to form on a large scale can help keep our water clean, provide more dependable late-season streamflow, and improve habitat for fish and wildlife.”

Mimicking what nature does fundamentally well is in our best interest. Using techniqes like LTPBR that are fashioned after the work of the notoriously busy beaver help our ground absorb more water by creating a slower flow during peak runoff and providing water to mainstem rivers—like the Gallatin—throughout the year.

We know that it will take a variety of improved practices to address more frequent drought and water quality issues that face a growing community like ours. But ours is not an isolated issue, and we can learn from other places across the West that have implemented similar LTPBR processes and seen great results for improving their water table, their habitat and wetland areas. Learn more about LTPBR projects happening in our watershed at gallatinrivertaskforce.org.

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

Post assisted log structures installed on the Middle Fork of the West Fork Gallatin River. COURTESY OF GRTF

Beaver dam analog structures installed on the Middle Fork of the West Fork Gallatin River. COURTESY OF GRTF

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DINING

A LA CARTE ON SAUSAGES AND OPEN MINDS, AN INTRODUCTION TO CURRYWURST

BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST

“I’ll try anything once” is core to the spirit of adventure I like to cultivate in my life. Be scared and do it anyway. Take the leap. Try the new thing. This is especially true of food.

So, I’m not entirely sure what I was thinking when I decided to write about the inaugural Big Sky Oktoberfest on Sept. 15 and 16 in the context of a food column. The menu was predictably sausage heavy; I’ve never eaten a German-themed meal that wasn’t. What newness could it offer?

But as I walked toward the entrance tent where lederhosen-clad volunteers were collecting money in exchange for bier steins and drink tokens, I ran into an old friend. Under a slightly inebriated slur, she told me the currywurst was delicious. I wasn’t sure what to think of this statement, because what the hell is a currywurst?

Despite claiming German as the majority of my ancestry, I had never heard of this culinary mashup that National Geographic calls “Germany’s favourite fast food” (British spelling and all in the online article). Competing theories of the dish’s origins don’t seem to hold any sway over its popularity. Over 800 million portions are consumed in Germany each year, according to the travelogue. We’ll get back to currywurst in a moment.

Despite my trepidations, I wanted to cover Oktoberfest because it was a fundraiser to support kids in the Big Sky community. Event organizers Dana and Larry Wikan debriefed me the day after the event. About 500 people attended Friday, Dana estimated. And Saturday saw 800 through the gate. Proceeds from Oktoberfest are slated for Big Sky Futbol Club, a local youth soccer club. Larry was on the board when the nonprofit was founded in fall 2018. And Dana has been a supportive volunteer in numerous administrative capacities. They have seen the club grow from 15 kids, including their eldest son, to over 200.

Proceeds will help with operations and equipment, and support scholarships. The goal, Dana explained, is to get as many kids outside as possible. “It’s not even soccer, per se,” she said.

Dana expects Oktoberfest to be an annual event and has dreams for its growth helping support youth in Big Sky Futbol Club and beyond. “We see a fundraiser like this really keeping the costs down for the local community,” Dana said. With Larry, I talked about food.

His goal was to bring an authentic German Oktoberfest sausage menu to Big Sky, including the thin Nürnberger brat and German snack sausages

known as landjäger—sourced from Bavaria Sausage in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

Big Sky Oktoberfest’s currywurst offering featured weisswurst, a sausage usually made with veal and bacon that give it a slightly odd light color. It makes more sense when I learn that “weisswurst” means “white sausage.”

“Currywurst,” Larry tells me, “is cut up weisswurst with curry ketchup and one of those little wooden forks.”

The fork adds to the authenticity, he said. While the Brits may call these “chip forks” and use them to eat fish and chips, in Germany they are “currywurst pieker,” the currywurst fork.

Fork aside, I enjoyed the tang and depth of flavor the tomato-based curry sauce brought to my sausage experience.

Research for this column leads to some interesting places at times. Big Sky Oktoberfest was just an introduction to the world of currywurst. It led me down a currywurst rabbit hole, into a new world filled with fierce debates about the right ketchup

recipe or correct sausage (weisswurst? a beef or pork bratwurst?). I can’t speak to those questions yet, but I tried the dish once... and I’m ready to try it again.

Rachel Hergett is a foodie and cook from Montana. She is arts editor emeritus at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and has written for publications such as Food Network Magazine and Montana Quarterly. Rachel is also the host of the Magic Monday Show on KGLT-FM and teaches at Montana State University.

Currywurst and beer served in Town Center Plaza.

PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

The inaugural Big Sky Oktoberfest raised money for youth soccer—and raised awareness about German cuisine.

PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

A S K: LON E M OUN TAI N L A N D COM PA N Y

Wh y is the RiverView communit y housing being built so close to Spur Road?

The River V iew housing project is addressing a critical demand by providing much-needed accommodation for workers in the community The available land for the development poses some challenges due to its narrow size, and the ultimate goal in design was to maximize the space for housing units. As a result, the current site will accommodate a total of 336 single-occupancy bedrooms spread across six buildings, in addition, the Housing Trust is building 50 bedrooms fur ther west. The location of River V iew has great livability and trail connectivity, quick access to Town Center and easy access to the river To enhance the overall appeal, the exterior finishes will have a modern mountain aesthetic. We understand the and the residences

Have we considered re -routing traffic away from Ousel Falls road to bypass the current Town Center activit y?

We are continuously working on improving transpor tation options and road infrastructure, and this is a high-priority in our Town Center planning. The ongoing Tiger Grant work, despite the challenges experienced this summer, will significantly enhance

land remaining for development in Town Center and much of what remains is prioritized for residential uses, commercial uses and community uses, including parks and trails. Ousel Falls Road will remain the vehicular thoroughfare through Town Center into the future

What is the future of the Big Sk y PBR, will there always be an arena in Town Center?

The PBR will be back in Town Center for 2024. Looking beyond next year, we are working with Outlaw Partners and others to consider appropriate venues for events in Town Center and throughout the Big Sky area

Do the private Clubs pay Resor t Tax?

Yes, Yellowstone Club, Moonlight Basin, and Spanish Peaks Mountain Club all collect Resor t Tax from members and guests. These entities collect and contribute millions of dollars annually to Resor t Tax, all of which is reinvested in the Big Sky community

Has Lone Mountain Land considered addressing the public in-person, with an open forum Q&A?

There will be numerous oppor tunities to ask LMLC questions and have open discussions at Community Week. Be on the lookout for more information from the Big Sky Chamber and the Resor t Tax

ENVIRONMENT

DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD WOLVES—IS THE HATRED MISPLACED?

BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST

There’s an old Aesop fable about a wolf wandering the hillsides and valleys when it comes across a robust mastiff. In the story, the wolf and dog begin to chat.

The wolf notices that the mastiff is much better fed than the wolf. “What do you do on your hunts to stay so well-fed?” the wolf asks.

“Very little,” responds the mastiff. “I get all the food I want brought to me. All you have to do is be nice to the family, help guard the house and the flocks and drive away strangers.”

The wolf thinks this over carefully. He risked his life daily through weather and hunger and no guaranteed meals. So, he replies, “Really, no kidding? Sounds like a great deal. Sign me up.” The mastiff is happy to have a companion, so they trot off together to the master’s house.

But then he noticed a device on the mastiff that had worn the fur thin around its neck. The wolf stops dead. The mastiff asks, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming along?”

“What’s the deal with that thing on your neck?”

“My master put it on me. It’s not a big deal. It is just a collar around my neck that attaches to a chain. It shows that I have an owner.”

“An owner, a chain?” the wolf responds. “You mean you are not free to come and go as you please?”

“Some days, yes, but plenty of days, no,” the dog replies. The wolf takes off the other way, hightailing it back to the land of scarcity, struggle and hunger.

The mastiff yells, “Why are you running away from free food? What does that mean?”

The wolf keeps running, yelling over its shoulder, “Everything. Everything.”

With hunting season fast approaching, the age-old argument will echo about how it is all the wolves’ fault that deer and elk are hard to come by. Wolves have become the scapegoat whenever things go wrong, whether game numbers are (supposedly) decreasing or the rancher finds dead or missing livestock. Wolves, seemingly more than any other predator in the Mountain West, capture people’s hatred. People hate them because they are hard to see as they creep in the shadows—except in Yellowstone, much to tourists’ viewing pleasure—and hunt at night. People hate them for their reintroduction projects that signal government overreach. Some are envious of their freedom to go where and when they want. I’ll admit I sometimes find myself jealous because they get to hunt every day. I envy their tight-knit families, social groups and how they mate for life. In our modern, comfortable world, maybe I am that mastiff in Aesop’s fable that hates the wolf for being free, not tied to a desk, an office, a house, cell phones, or all these damn bills. I’m jealous of their being able to wander the hills and valleys.

I might be envious, but I don’t understand the hatred and fear.

Elk are harder to see, find and hear than they used to be when wolves were absent on the landscape—because we had exterminated them.

“Grizzlies and mountain lions attack and kill far more people than wolves, yet people don’t have the same hatred and fear toward them,” said Diane Boyd, former wolf recovery coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in a phone interview.

From 2000-2015, there were 18 fatal grizzly bear attacks on humans in North America. According to the National Park Service, the chance of being attacked by a bear is just 1 in 2.7 million visits. In the past 100 years, there have been 126 mountain lion attacks on humans, with only 27 fatalities. In contrast, there have been 41 recorded non-fatal wolf attacks on humans in North America, and over the past century, only two fatal wolf attacks on humans. For perspective, cows kill around 20 people yearly, and we are more likely to drown in a bathtub or be struck by lightning than be attacked by any of the top three predators.

“The overall message is that most people in North America and Europe can live very close to wolves and be perfectly okay in 99.99999% of cases,” said John Linnell, a senior research scientist with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and the lead author on a recent report about wolf attacks on humans.

“In my humble opinion, people fear them because they feel wolves could jeopardize their livelihood or lifestyle, especially if you are a hunting guide/outfitter or a rancher,” Diane Boyd added.

However, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that most livestock (cattle and sheep) deaths are from disease or poor health, weather, theft and birthing defects. Montana statistics on sheep predation show that coyotes kill 8,000 to 10,000 animals annually, by far the primary threat. Eagles, bears, foxes, dogs, bobcats, lions and wolves are next, in that order, with wolves only killing around 100 animals annually—less than 1%. Even when agency biologists and managers investigate and discover that lions, local dogs or eagles are to blame for livestock kills, the vocal minority often ignore the facts, shout the loudest and beat war drums. As a result, wolves often become a political football.

One fear for those who denounce wolves is that they’ll take over the entire landscape and kill all the game species, like vermin. Yet, basic wildlife biology principles ensure that wolves die from food and starvation if a wolf population rises too high for the ecosystem. The same holds for elk or any other animal population; one lousy winter can kill off many ungulate species. This simple natural check will curb how large wolf populations grow. Wolves are highly territorial and often defend their territories to the death, effectively controlling the population. Based on prey availability, territories are extensive, from 100 to nearly 1,000 square miles. Nature has ways of checks and balances with all species.

So where does that lead us? Are wolves the bloodthirsty savages history wants to blame, or are they creatures seeking out an existence on the edge of humanity’s knife? Fragmentation reduces global biodiversity by 13 to 75% and impairs critical ecosystem functions. Civilization has carved up 70% of the globe’s remaining forests, fragmenting the landscape into developed plots ready to be sewn for agriculture, forestry, industry, oil and gas exploration, roads, or commercial development, with a few scattered places left for predator and prey to reside.

Wolves are beings like us. They are sentient beings making decisions, trying to feed their families and raise their young ones.

Wolves are wildlife. They are not sinners, and they are not saints.

In the years preceding wolf recovery, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks monitored wolves statewide and inside national parks. The researchers used radio collars to track how far wolves roamed on any given day, how large their territory was, where their dens were and how far dispersers would go to find new domains. The collars also allowed biologists to see the numbers of members in a pack in winter as they do flyovers. The Aesop fable of the wolf’s fear of wearing a collar comes uncomfortably to mind.

Undoubtedly, Western science can be pretty invasive when studying wildlife. Yet, without these practices, we wouldn’t learn or know as much as we do about wolves’ movements on the landscape, daily and seasonal patterns, and the habitat they need. This also allows humans to learn about and be held accountable for our impacts on wildlife. Our desire to help wild animals is inextricably intertwined with impacting them, much like the mastiff’s situation. Collaring a wolf with an identification number, though essential for these researchers and perhaps for wolf population numbers, lessens the wolf’s freedom.

On both sides of the wolf controversy, humans seem to want the wild to be wild, but only on our terms. Trappers, ranchers and researchers alike are drawn to know where the wolf is and what it is doing. Wearing a collar, getting shot, or getting a paw caught in an iron jaw signifies everything a wolf isn’t.

The wolf in the Aesop parable denies that ownership, identification and chained freedom can coexist with its own identity, let alone coexist with GPS units in contact with satellites tracking every step it takes.

Humans live much less of a wild life than wolves.

Maybe this is why we hate the wolf. Perhaps there is a human propensity toward hating wolves.

We, humans, seem to want to allow the wild to be wild only if it fits within the absurd idea that bison or wolves will stay within the invisible boundary lines of a park. Suppose the animals are too wild to fit within our game of civilization or follow our parameters. In that case, they will be culled for being what they are: animals in a complex, intricate ecosystem that doesn’t end at a boundary line.

Maybe the valid reason I wouldn’t get an elk this year is because I didn’t go as hard at it as I used to and don’t have the time off to do so. Perhaps climate variation is causing elk to stay up in the high country longer and they aren’t being pushed down by early seasonal snow, or many of the ones on the valley floor are on giant private ranches that I can’t access.

But it’s not fair to continue blaming the wolves. They’re the wild ones hunting for survival in a world that continues to stack odds against it. Wolves deal with enough without human prejudice, malice, hatred or fear. Long may wolves roam.

Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller with stories published in Outside, Adventure Journal, Popular Science, Field & Stream, Esquire, Sierra, Audubon, Earth Island Journal, Modern Huntsman, and other publications at his website www.benjaminpolley.com/stories. He holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.

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