Explore Red Lodge May 2015 by Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette

05/17

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Sunday, May 17, 2015

Explore

MAY 2015 Courtesy of Merv Coleman

INSIDE Stay-and-play: Amenity options abound in scenic Red Lodge. Page 3 Hit the Trail: Summer is a great time to take advantage of everything that is available in Big Sky country, and the trails around Red Lodge are a great place to start. Page 5 Upcoming events: Red Lodge is host to exciting events year-round; read up on the upcoming events. Page 6 Explore Red Lodge is a special advertising section of The Billings Gazette

General Manager Dave Worstell Retail Sales Manager Shelli Scott Director of Major Accounts, Classified & Digital Sales Ryan Brosseau Director of Marketing Allyn Hulteng Special Sections Coordinator Linsay Foley Content Editors Brittany Cremer Brenda Maas Section Designer Christine Cleveland Access Explore Red Lodge at www.billingsgazette.com/ specialsections

20th Annual Beartooth Ball Two decades worth of fundraising fun By Brenda Maas & Maggie Karas of Beartooth Billings Clinic bmaas@billingsgazette.com

tor for Beartooth Billings Clinic, the event sells out, so be sure to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets to the Ball are $100 each and include a wine-tasting reception. Additionally, sponsorships are available at $250 and up, which includes two tickets to the event. Sponsors at the $2,000 Platinum Level and above are invited to the Patron’s Party on June 5 at Anne the Queen Victorian, a Red Lodge Historic Home, for a special, private recognition celebration with food from Babcock & Miles. All tickets/sponsorships are available at Beartooth Billings Clinic.

Romance is in the air in Red Lodge—it’s time for the 20th Annual Beartooth Ball. Prepare to be entranced by the City of Love’s “Passport to Paris” theme at this year’s “over-the-top” event. The evening features silent and live auctions, fabulous hors d’oeuvres, costumes and dancing to the music of Ellen and the Old School. Dress up, dress down or dress in costume (where’s that beret?) and be an integral part of Red Lodge’s finest fundraiser. Seriously, seeing the costumes and vintage cars are worth the extra Bonus opportunity effort. Not only is Paris the theme for The party kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at Rock Creek the gala, it’s also the reason to buy Resort. According to Maggie Karas, Community Relations Coordina- a corresponding raffle ticket—you could be the lucky winner. The “Oui, Oui, Oui Paris” raffle package includes: two round-trip air tickets from Los Angeles to Paris; two nights in a four-star Parisian hotel; museum passes including “front line” access to the Louvre; a four-hour cruise through the city on the Seine River, plus a free visit to the Eiffel Tower for a panoramic view of the city. (Certain package restrictions apply and tickets must be used before Dec. 31, 2015). The drawing will be held at the Beartooth Ball on June 6, and the winner need not be present to win. Raffle tickets are now available at the Beartooth Billings Clinic Foundation office ($10/each or $50/6 tickets). Tickets for the ball are also available at the Foundation. All proceeds from ticket sales and cash sponsorships support continued growth of the Beartooth Billings Clinic Foundation Endowment Fund. Proceeds from the live and silent auctions, as well as the raffle, will benefit the Dr. James and Juanita Kane Scholarship Fund, which assists both local students seeking post-secondary education in healthcare as well as staff continuing education needs. Courtesy of Anne Laird Niemann For more information, call the foundation office at 406-446-0611 Over the years the Ball’s themes have ranged from Roaring Twenties and or visit beartoothbillingsclinic.org. MASH to Woodstock and Grease.

Benefitting 63 local charities please mark your calendar

September 5, 2015 Red Lodge, Montana 10K & 5K Fun Run 5K & 2 Mile Fun Walk no ent ry fee. donations encouraged.

Where FUN benefits Everyone! Learn how you can help at:

www.RedLodgeFunRun.org email: funrun@rlacf.org The Red Lodge Fun Run for Charities is organized by: The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation – PO Box 1871, Red Lodge, MT 59068

www.redlodgeareacommunityfoundation.org

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ROMANTIC GETAWAY PACKAGES   $190 (does not include tax) Includes deluxe room for two, dinner certificate, to Old Piney Dell, chocolates & a bottle of wine. Valid through 5/31/15 For details on our packages visit rockcreekresort.com 406.446.1111

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Art in the Beartooths

More than four decades of artistic dedication By Brenda Maas & Deborah Kline-Sonderman bmaas@billingsgazette.com Artists’ communities are unique, and Red Lodge, Mont. is no exception. Few places offer such intimate accessibility to art and artists as the Carbon County Arts Guild. July 11 marks the 42nd annual Art in the Beartooths event. Led by signature artists Michael Ome Untiedt, Tyler Murphy and Charles Ringer, more than 30 artists will work en plein air, creating their unique work in and around Lion’s Park, while visitors mingle, observe and ask questions. As much of a learning experience as a social event, the decades-long celebration promotes the town, the artists and the attitude. Plan to inquire about an artist’s inspiration as you watch him or her transition from blank to masterpiece in one afternoon. Later in the day, enjoy the no-host bar, hors d’oeuvres and catered dinner under the tents in the park as you monitor your favorite items in the silent auction. After dinner, consider bidding on pieces created earlier in the day during the live auction. The annual fundraiser for the Carbon County Arts Guild, these auctions are inCourtesy of Carbon County Arts Guild teresting, intense and above all, lively, as art patrons demThe Cattle Ran Before the Storm by 2015 signature artist, Michael Ome Untiedt. onstrate their dedication to art and culture in Carbon County. Charles Ringer was attracted to metal at an early age Ever since Tyler Murphy can remember, the Carbon because of its many contrasts. According to Ringer, “… County Arts Guild has been a part of his life. As an artAbout the signature artists the medium itself is originally coarse, heavy, hard, utilitarian ist, he feels he grew up there. Through week-long kids’ Michael Ome Untiedt was born and raised in rural and unforgiving. During the creative process, the mate- workshops and Saturday classes, he credits the Guild for southeastern Colorado and currently maintains a studio rial is cut, heated, pounded, welded and polished. The end introducing him to a world full of edifying people and the in Denver. Traveling extensively, he is known as a painter product becomes a durable work of art.” Ringer’s sculp- meaningful contributions they bring to the world. Though of the world who sees with a westerner’s eye. Through ture involves both a kinetic and static presence, portraying he loves to travel the world and paint all that is beautiful, the color, brush strokes and symbolic subject matter of both complex and whimsical images, creating a visual at- Montana will always be his home. If he’s not working at the his paintings, he attempts to examine the human predica- tractant. Being in the same studio, gallery and living space gallery or painting in his studio, you can be sure he’s outment and its connections to the landscape and history of for more than 40 years, he has developed an atmosphere doors, pulled off the side of the road or up a trail, trying to the American West. He is a regular participant at the Buf- conducive to contemplation, motivation and creation. catch that quick-changing Big Sky light. falo Bill Show and Sale and in 2014 his painting, “An Old Friend Trying to Hunt ME Down Again” was selected for the Wells Fargo Gold Award and was also one of the top Event Details three sellers at the live auction.

Courtesy of Carbon County Arts Guild Signature artist Tyler Murphy paints at the 2014 Arts in the Beartooths.

The main event is Saturday, July 11. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Michael Ome Untiedt, Charlie Ringer and Tyler Murphy, along with 30 other Guild artists, will set up their easels in and around Lion’s Park. Included will be many of the previous Art in the Beartooths signatures, including Kevin Red Star, Elliott Eaton, Harry Koyama, David McMasters, John Potter, Susan Spero, Ben Steele and Tom Wolfe. The artists will work until 2 p.m., and everyone is welcome to watch for free. At 4 p.m., the ticketed part of the event begins, and the gates to the evening portion of the fundraiser will open in Lion’s Park. The artists who painted live during the day will be available to talk with event attendees about their work and their passion for art. Attendees will also be able to preview the art created during the day which will later be up for bid during the live auction. A no-host bar will be open and hors d’oeuvres will be served. A full summer supper will begin at 5:30 p.m. under the tents in Lion’s Park. The live auction begins at 7 p.m. More than 30 items will be up for bid including a centerpiece from each of

the three signature artists, Ome Untiedt, Ringer and Murphy. Auctioneer Jon Metcalf will be the voice for the live auction. Midway through the evening, three very lucky raffle ticket holders will each win a piece from one of the signature artists. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 3/$25 and will be available prior to the event and throughout the evening. Raffle ticket holders need not be present to win one of the pieces. The silent auction will continue throughout the evening. All proceeds from 42nd Art in the Beartooths will be used for preservation of the historic depot building, to continue the arts and cultural programs hosted by the Guild and fund the Guild’s scholarship fund. Tickets for the event are $60 per person. Reserved tables for 10 are available for $600. Tickets are available at the Guild now, but there will be limited seating, so plan to buy tickets early. For more information, call the Arts Guild at 406-446-1370 or visit carboncountydepotgallery.org.

Kick-start Summer

Opening the Beartooth Highway By Brenda Maas & Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce bmaas@billingsgazette.com Talking about “weather-dependent” events and going over “the pass” is a way of life in Montana. In the Red Lodge area, that lingo refers specifically to the Beartooth Pass, which connects Montana and Wyoming via highway 212. Since its completion in 1936, the 68 miles of winding, cloud-scraping, cliff-hugging highway has been a destination for millions of Americans. From flat-landers to mountaineers, visitors drive, cycle and motor the 10,947 feet of elevation to experience the awe-inspiring vistas, stiff up-sloping winds and sheer peaks that are The Beartooth Pass. While locals know the switchbacks well, the annual opening of the seasonal byway heralds the beginning of the summer tourist season—and a closer connection to both Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park. Tentatively set for Friday, May 22, the Montana and Wyoming Departments of Transportation maintain the highway and dictate the road’s opening. Build it, and they will come If a man named J.C.F. “Doc” Siegfriedt had listened to what anybody was telling him in the 1920s –anybody at

all—the Beartooth Highway simply would not exist. But by all accounts, Doc was a force of nature, and from the time he arrived in Montana, he had his heart set on building a road that would connect the Red Lodge area with the wonderland of Yellowstone. On June 14, 1936, after 17 years of planning and hard work, Doc led a honking caravan of cars from Red Lodge LARRY MAYER/Gazette Staff up the Beartooth Highway to formally declare the road It is not uncommon to see snow-covered terrain along the open for travel. This summer, the public is invited to once Beartooth Highway during summer months, especially shortly again enjoy the splendor of the scenic route. after the annual opening.

Yellowstone’s highway to the sky Dubbed “the most beautiful roadway in America” by On the Road correspondent Charles Kuralt, the Beartooth Highway is an engineering masterpiece. Since its completion in 1936, the Highway has awed millions of visitors with its astonishing views of one of the most rugged and wild areas in the lower 48 states. The Montana Department of Transportation anticipates opening the Beartooth Highway to Vista Point on Friday, May 22 to kick-start Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a day trip that’s well worth the wait. As it winds its way between the northeastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park and Red Lodge, Mont., the highway traverses an impressive range of ecosystems– from lush lodge pole pine forests to alpine tundra.

At the highway’s summit, travelers find themselves in a sky-high world of glacial cirques, clear alpine lakes and snow that lingers through the summer months. The extreme climate at this elevation deters the growth of trees and shrubs, and the plants that do grow here have adapted in remarkable ways. Some convert sunlight to heat, and many conserve water the way desert plants do. In late June and July, the fragile tundra blossoms in a lavish display of wildflowers–shooting stars, columbine and Indian paintbrush, to name a few. With 20 peaks more than 12,000 feet in elevation (including Granite Peak, Montana’s highest at 12,799 feet), the Beartooth Mountains lie within the 943,377-acre Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Grizzly and black bears make their home here, as do elk, deer, moose, Bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goats, mountain lions and bobcats. With more than 950 alpine lakes and hundreds of miles of trails, these mountains offer ample opportunities for recreation–much of it accessible from the Beartooth Highway. Plan at least three hours driving time to make the trip between Yellowstone and Red Lodge–more if you really want to experience the beauty of the Beartooths. Whether or not you plan to stop and explore a while on your way, be sure to pack your windbreaker and woolens for the trip; it can be a bit nippy at the summit of Yellowstone’s own Highway to the Sky. For more information please visit beartoothhighway.net or redlodge.com.

Take Along

CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff The Beartooth Highway, a Top 10 Drive of the Northern Rockies, is only open for a few months each year.

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• Camera • Binoculars/spotting scope • Map • Picnic lunch • Layers of clothes

• Phone charger • Sunscreen • Sunglasses • Insect repellent • Comfortable walking shoes

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Sunday, May 17, 2015

Cruisen Red Lodge

The Rock Creek Slalom Race Red Lodge Montana and the Beartooth Paddlers Society host the annual Box Car Slalom race on the water waters of Rock Creek. The event brings together the paddlers of South Central Montana and Northern Wyoming for fun loving atmosphere of racing. Meanwhile the town of Red Lodge flocks to the riverside to spectate! Please watch redlodge.com/ calendar for details. The Beartooth Paddlers Society is watching water levels and waiting for the perfect day for the event.

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Nostalgia and chrome unite on July 24-26 at the sixth-annual Cruisen Red Lodge Car Show. Featuring rows of classic cars and hot rods, the day will not disappoint. The event kicks off on Friday, July 24 with registration barbeque at Bone Daddy’s Custom Cycle from 6 to 9 p.m. Any car can enter the show. On Saturday, July 25, the classic cars will be displayed up and down Main Street starting at 8 a.m. Onlookers can stroll the streets, visiting with respective car owners about their rides. Expect to see cars there that you wouldn’t see anywhere else. The fun continues on Sunday with drag races held at the Red Lodge Airport. The races will begin at 8 a.m. and will continue until 1 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to see your favorite classic cars drag race across the 500-foot course. For more information or to register, log on to cruisenredlodge. com or call Rick Moore at 406-664-3264. LARRY MAYER/Gazette Staff Enter your classic car into the Cruisen Red Lodge Car Show held July 24-26.

Founders Day

Liven-up your history

June 6 - Free Day at museum, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., plus guest speaker, Bruce Whittenberg, director of Montana Historical Society will speak at 4 p.m.

July 11 - Geology/Ecology Bus Tour: An entire day event, learn about the flora and fauna, ecology and geology of the By Brenda Maas Beartooth Mountains. $75/person includes lunch. bmaas@billingsgazette.com According to Debbi Brown, director of the Carbon County Historical Society Museum, this event sells out, so The Carbon County Historical Society continues to be sure to book early. keep the region’s history alive with several events throughout the summer, starting with Founder’s Day on June 6. 1st & 3rd Thursdays - Walking Tour of Red Lodge Check out one, or all of these upcoming programs and For a closer look at what made this mountain town prosliven-up your history. per then, and now, take a walking tour. $2/non-members May 28 - Lecture Series: The Story of Five Montana Pio- 4th Thursday - Lecture Series: TBA neer Families by Rickard Ross For more information on current events or to purchase June 5 - Free Day at Carbon County Historical Society tickets, see the Carbon County Historical Society and MuJAMES WOODCOCK/Gazette Staff Museum, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. seum at 224 N. Broadway, visit carboncountyhistory.com Founder’s Day celebrates the town of Red Lodge with free or call 406-446-3667. admission to the Carbon County Museum.

Stay-and-play options abound in scenic Red Lodge By Brittany Cremer bcremer@billingsgazette.com

one of 17 guest rooms—several of which are perfectly arranged for larger families. Dozens of other hotel/motel options are available—just Just a hop, skip and a jump from Billings, Red Lodge is the don’t forget to book early in the season if you’re planning a visit during the 4th of July or Memorial Day weekends. daytrip capital of Montana. Folks from Billings, Laurel and Cody, Wyo. like that they can take off early, spend the day shopping or sight-seeing, Cozy cabins The kiss of cool mountain air, the faint smell of lavender have a gourmet dinner and be home before the sun sets. But the vast expanse of Red Lodge’s amenities span far and juniper dancing on the breeze—part of the charm of visiting Red Lodge (and Montana) is to experience these beyond just 24 hours. During your next visit to Carbon County, pack your sensorial wonders. Nothing achieves that with as much bags and stay a while—a weekend, a week. You’ll be glad rustic charm and privacy as a cozy cabin. Beartooth Hideaway Inn & Cabins, Rock Creek Resort you did. The down-home hospitality and multitude of hotels, motels, campsites and vacation rentals will ensure you and Blue Sky Cabins in Red Lodge can accommodate with open arms. find the perfect landing pad for your stay. If your heart says “cabin,” but your travel itinerary says The only thing you’ll have to worry about is who’s going to water your flowers while you’re off having the time of “stay close to town,” then Beartooth Hideaway Inn & Cabins is right for you. your life. Located on Hwy 212 just on the edge of town, visitors will delight in the rustic beauty of the cabin’s private quarHotels/motels If it’s a traditional stay you’re searching for, you’re in luck ters—complete with kitchenette, skylights, deck and grill. because the quaint hamlet of Red Lodge is full of comfort- Guests can also take advantage of Beartooth’s indoor pool and hot tub just around the corner. able hotel/motel accommodations for any budget. Perhaps you yearn for something a bit more “outdoorsy.” The familiar Comfort Inn is an eight-minute walk from Beartooth Nature Center and a 16-minute walk from Rock Creek Resort is located just a couple miles outside Adventure Whitewater. Or, perhaps you’re interested in of Red Lodge and features a breathtaking mountain backexperiencing one of Red Lodge’s signature stays—like the drop. Sit creekside and watch the fish swim by, or simply fall asleep to the gentle gush and gurgle of it all with your Pollard,Yodeler or Alpine Lodge? The historic Pollard dates back to 1893 and is chock-full Kindle resting gently in your lap. Maybe you’d like to ratchet up the seclusion and ameniof legend and lore. If you don’t stay, be sure to check out the adjoining restaurant for a gourmet dinner or brunch. ties. Blue Sky Cabins is located in a serene country setting Or, for a raucous good time, be sure to check out the and offers plush accommodations. Specializing in romantic Pub at the Pollard, which features live music May through getaways for two, these cabins are perfect for your next August on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Local tal- anniversary, birthday, honeymoon or any special occasion. ent, like the High Country Cowboys, will have you tapping With a maximum occupancy of 10 guests, you know you’ll be receiving specialized treatment. your toes and snapping photos in no time. Situated in the heart of Red Lodge, the Yodeler is oneof-a-kind. The unique architecture and ambiance reflects Vacation rentals Maybe you’ve got a big family, are planning a special girls’ the building’s Scandinavian roots. Complete with sauna and ski waxing room, the Yodeler is also a great place to stay weekend or simply want to experience the personalized comfort that only a home can offer—either way, renting a during winter months. As a small mom and pop lodge, the owners and the staff vacation property for the week or weekend might be just of the Alpine Lodge delight in sharing inside information the ticket. Perhaps your budget calls for a cozy condo that’s modabout the town and area they love. Their passion for Red Lodge and personal attention to guests just isn’t found estly priced and close to downtown—no problem. Or at larger hotels. Here, guests can enjoy rustic lodging in maybe, you yearn for scenic views over a sprawling villa adjacent the regionally-renowned Red Lodge Mountain Golf Course. Done. The ultimate personalized vacation experience, your vacation property will feel like home in no time. Visit redlodge.com/montana-lodging to view current options and availability.

Courtesy photo With a wide range of accomodations, Rock Creek Resort offers comfort in one of their lodges, condos, cabins or townhomes.

one looking on except the Big Dipper. You’re in luck, because a plethora of private and semi-private campsites exist along Red Lodge’s periphery. Log on to redlodge.com/ montana for a complete list and directions. Also be sure to note any travel or fire restrictions (you might have to craft those S’mores with raw marshmallows.) However you decide to stay and play around Red Lodge, be sure to pack your sun screen and camera. The incredible scenery is captivating, and you’ll rest easy knowing every day is a bluebird day.

The great outdoors Maybe your accommodations are traveling with you, either via RV/camper or tent. If that’s the case, Red Lodge can accommodate. Offering RV hook-ups, cabin lodging or tent camping sites, Red Lodge KOA has you covered. Located at 7464 Highway 212, coming and going will be a snap—especially JAMES WOODCOCK/Gazette Staff if you’re planning a sojourn through Yellowstone Park. Plus, KOA offers on-site extras like a pool, WiFi, snack bar and Dating back to 1893, guests with an appreciation for history will enjoy a stay at the Pollard Hotel. Be sure to consider dinner opbike rentals. tions at the adjoining restaurant. Perhaps you’d like to roast your marshmallows with no

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Wild West Weekend

Home of Champions Rodeo celebrates 86 years By Brittany Cremer bcremer@billingsgazette.com

riding, wild horse racing, ladies barrel racing and mutton busting for the kids. The awe-inspiring Beartooth Mountains makes a spectacular backdrop to the event, while the streets of downtown Red Lodge provide ample opportunity to rustle up some grub, shop, find a cooling refreshment or simply socialize. Whether it’s your 86th rodeo or your first time, you’ll be sure to enjoy the sights and sounds of this great rodeo tradition. The rodeo starts at 6 p.m. July 2 and 3 and kicks off early July 4 at 3 p.m. at the Red Lodge Fairgrounds.

A hallmarked summertime event, the Home of Champions Rodeo will have you at the edge of your seat July 2-4, chomping at the bit for the next jack-hammer ride. Coupled with the Home of Champions Parade, the rodeo features cowboys and cowgirls from all around the region riding, roping and otherwise having a boot-stompin’ good time. In its 86th year, the weekend-long event will see many of the same faces that grace the arena at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas—so be sure to bring your camera, and Tickets today! tell your little buckaroos to bring their autograph books. Tickets to the rodeo are available online at www.redlodgerodeo.com or at Shipton’s Big R in Billings. They can also be purchased at and the Red Lodge Chamber of ComA grand history merce or by calling 406-446-1718. Rich in history and heritage, the rodeo dates back to Tickets are $15 for general admission, $20 for reserved the late 1890s when local cowboys got together on a Sun- grandstand seating and $30 for boxed seats (sold in packday afternoon at the railroad stockyards to ride exhibition ets of two or more). broncos. Be sure to take advantage of Family Fun Day, July 2, where In 1929, a group of local cowboys built an arena, gathered admission to the rodeo for a family of four is just $25. up some wild horses, charged admission and contested the For more information, visit redlodgerodeo.com or call rides. 406-446-2422. In 1930, with the success of the rodeo the year before, the Red Lodge Rodeo Association was formed. I love a parade Two years later, the Association acquired 180 acres of Each morning preceding the rodeo there will be a parade land and constructed a new arena and grandstand, which along Main Street in Red Lodge. The parades are free and is still used today. open to the public. Prizes will be awarded for each day in In 1954, after local cowboy Bill Linderman won his third the following categories: World All-Around Champion title, the name “Home of Champions” was adopted. July 2 – Children’s Day Area event organizers and volunteers take immense • Best Bicycle pride in the event, one that is regionally and nationally- • Best Comical recognized to this day. • Best Costume • Best Pet Main events This year promises to be another outstanding year, with July 3 – Mining and Agricultural Appreciation Day cowboys competing in bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf • Best Motorized roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer • Best Otherwise

GAZETTE STAFF The Home of Champions Rodeo features several familiar faces from the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

July 4 – Traditional Independence Day • Best Float • Best Theme Float • Best Harness • Best Mounted • Best Motorized • Best Musical • Best Dressed Junior Cowboy & Cowgirl (12 and under) • Best Dressed Senior Cowboy & Cowgirl (13+) Registration is free and line-up begins each day at 10 a.m. at the Civic Center parking lot, one block west of Broadway between 13th and 14th Streets.You only need to register once for all three days. Entries must be on site by 11 a.m. to be included in the judging for prizes. Please contact Glory Mahan, parade director, at 406-446-1232 or gloryb@vcn.com for more information.

Cycle Greater Yellowstone

The first great ride in the last best place

Here’s a day-to-day breakdown of this year’ ride: Heads up, Red Lodge residents! Up to 1,000 bicyclists will converge on Red Lodge with the second-annual Cycle Greater Yellowstone bike tour held August 15-22. This week-long (yes, you heard right) fully-supported ride starts in Red Lodge and takes riders through every landscape in and around Yellowstone National Park. With 460-miles over a seven-day tour, this event is not for the faint-of-heart. Cycle Greater Yellowstone includes more than 18,386 feet of climbing, and saddle sores are sure to abound. But, with the raucous finish line party in Red Lodge, riders and support staff are sure to be welcomed with open arms. Sponsored by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC), this ride showcases all the beauty and diversity that the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has to offer.

Day 4: Cooke City to Cody – 77 miles Starting in the forested environs outside Cooke City, riders will swoop down into the unparalleled beauty of Sunlight Basin via Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, where deep and long dead-end canyons extend in all directions. The course drops a couple thousand feet over 45 miles before taking on the 8-mile climb, also known as the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.The vistas of Sunlight Basin from the top of the pass will take your breath away. Then, hang on for a 3,000-foot plunge down into Two Dot Flats, followed by an up-and-over on Skull Creek Hill. Be sure to take in the views of Heart Mountain as you finish in cowboy heaven—also known as Cody, Wyo.

Day 0 (prep) Red Lodge “Red Lodge is honored to serve as the start and finish location for the 2015 Cycle Greater Yellowstone Bicycle Tour,” said Red Lodge Mayor Ed Williams. “The community looks forward to an opportunity to welcome the hundreds of participants who will experience our exceptional western-style hospitality which we are confident will provide everyone involved with an extraordinary experience.” Red Lodge is where it all begins and where it all will end. On Saturday, participants will pick up their registration packets, park their cars, pick up their bike if it has been shipped and take care of any other pre-ride business. Camp officially opens Saturday afternoon, so be sure to take time Day 5: Layover Day with Optional Ride from Cody to to explore Red Lodge once you get settled. Dinner will Pahaska Teepee – 100 miles be served in camp, where participants can stay tuned for Pedal to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park evening announcements and enjoy entertainment. by way of the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway then ride through Shoshone Canyon, which tunnels around the BufDay 1: Red Lodge to Absarokee (via Joliet) – 58 miles falo Bill Reservoir. You’ll wind through fantastic wildlife Participants ease into the week with a cruise. Enjoy a viewing opportunities and amazing rock formations. This gentle downhill ride from Red Lodge to Joliet, crossing is an out-and-back, so you choose the mileage. Should you back and forth over Rock Creek. After that, participants choose not to cycle this day, there will be opportunities will meander through rolling hills down to the Yellowstone to enjoy one of the many outdoor activities offered in the River Valley into Columbus. From there, the Stillwater will area such as fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding and guide you back toward the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilder- much more. ness to Absarokee— a quaint small town along the banks of the Stillwater River and Rosebud Creek. Day 6: Cody to Powell via Big Horn Basin - 85 miles (25 miles direct to Powell) Day 2: Absarokee to Red Lodge (via Nye) – 75 miles The Bighorn Basin offers an entirely different geographiThe riding gets a little more serious heading toward Nye cal flavor. You may end your ride after 25 miles in Powell and the Beartooth Mountains. Bikers will gain a little more or continue through the Basin and explore towns such as than 1,000 feet on the out- and-back to Nye, a good warm- Lovell and Deaver with the Bighorn Mountain range as up for the mountain passes to come on Days 3 and 4. your backdrop. If you choose the short ride, Powell offers The group will head to Roscoe then to East Rosebud attractions such as agriculture tours, Heart Mountain ReCreek and dense woods. The first serious climb comes location Center and museums. just outside Roscoe, but it’s short-lived and is followed by some descending and rolling hills. This backroad is a local Day 7: Powell to Red Lodge – 64 miles favorite offering amazing views of Limestone Palisades that The final day will begin with peddling backroads through take you through the town of Luther and back to Red incredible badland vistas and high desert plains. You’ll find Lodge. yourself on a gentle decline as you enter back into Montana. The final stretch of riding from Belfry through Bear Day 3: Red Lodge to Cooke City – 64 miles Creek will challenge you with climbing that totals 2,000 Ascending more than 6,000 feet and then descending a feet in less than 10 miles. Finish into Red Lodge with yet few thousand, participants will be awe-struck while riding another opportunity to explore the western legends, surthrough what is known as the Beartooth Corridor. It is rounding wilderness and local hospitality. surrounded by the Custer, Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests, and travels through a million-plus acres of the AbFor race registration, additional information and pricing, saroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Expect to see an impressive visit cyclegreateryellostone.com. Courtesy Photo range of lush lodge pole pine forests and alpine tundra.You A challenging event, Cycle Greater Yellowstone takes place over may see snow at the summit—even glaciers. After stopa seven-day period and leads participants through more than ping at the “Top of the World,” you’ll land in the rugged 460 miles of awe-inspiring scenery in the Greater Yellowstone and densely forested Cooke City. Ecosystem.

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Hit the Trail

Opportunity Abounds By Brenda Maas bmaas@billingsgazette.com On average, a woman burns 850 calories and a man burns 1,200 calories during a two-mile hike. Add in a bit of elevation and that burn-o-meter heats right up. While the super-sized wilderness of Montana may intimidate some, a simple goal of trying a new hike each week can help break down the daunting task of â&#x20AC;&#x153;getting out there.â&#x20AC;? Obviously, summer is a great time to take advantage of everything that is available in Big Sky country, and the trails around Red Lodge are a great place to start. So, go ahead. Lace up your boots and fill your canteen. Slather on the sunscreen and grab the dog. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to hit the trail. Research before you go The BRTA (Beartooth Recreational Trails Association) works closely with the U.S. Forest Service, the City of Red Lodge and Carbon County along with private landowners and other organizations to create and expand the trail system along the Beartooth Front. In addition to the National Forest Service, this organization is a primary resource for trail information, mainly via the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at beartoothtrails.org.The book, Day Hikes in the Beartooth Mountains, by Robert Stone, which is available at local bookstores, is another portable source with simplified maps. For those more inclined toward digital communication, try the app â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avenzaâ&#x20AC;? for National Forest Service maps. Take alongs It goes without sayingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but here it is againâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;be prepared. For bears, for inclement weather and for emergencies.That means carrying bear spray and bells, making noise and doing your best to avoid known bear areas. Carry a pack with extra water, first aid gear and protein bars along with a multi-purpose tool, compass, map, fully-charged phone or other communication device and flashlight. Above all else, let someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;your mother, your neighbor, your hotel managerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;know where you are going and when to expect you back. These simple steps become habit the more frequently they are employed.

The extras Optionally, you may want to carry a camera, binoculars and/or a video device. The opportunities for spectacular vistas, accidental encounters and in-depth observation are there if you take them. Visit with locals about which hikes they enjoy and why. Or, ask pointed questions, such as, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have never seen a moose, which hikes might take me where I might observe one and what is the best time of day?â&#x20AC;? Or, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I typically run seven miles a day but want to work on endurance, which hike has the most rapid incline?â&#x20AC;? Hand-held laminated field guides, like the Pocket Naturalist Guides, provide both visual and written descriptions to help identify items long the way. Look for these guides at local stores. They include tracks, trees and flowers, moths and butterflies, and birds specific to the region. The rangers at the U.S. Forest Services Ranger Station, located, at 6811 US-212, are a wealth of information, also. Close to home The BRTA provides the following trail details on the website, beartoothtrails.org. Happy Trails! Face of the Mountain Trail (new in 2011) From Highway 212 on the south edge of Red Lodge, turn left onto Meeteetse Trail Road; drive 3.3 miles on this, (seldom maintained) county road to the trailhead on your right. The trail crosses private, open sage land for 1 Âź mi., then BLM land to lazy switchbacks of the old Black & White Road (the original road to Beartooth Pass). Atop the ridge, (a 1,700â&#x20AC;&#x2122; gain) with great views of Red Lodge to the north, you are overlooking North Fork Grove Cr. Canyon. Another 1 Â˝ mile down and up through lodge pole pine forest and you are on the ridge overlooking South Fork Grove Creek Canyon. Both these canyons have wonderful views of limestone spires. The trail continues south to the Wyoming border (Robertson Draw and Line Cabin); eight total miles possible. Willow Creek (a.k.a. Palisades Campground Trail) From Highway 212, turn right/west near the south end of Red Lodge on West Fork Road; go one mile on pavement, turn right onto Palisades Campground Road, then 1 Â˝ miles to the Campground. The trailhead is at the far west end of the camp ground. This is a pleasant, forested, streamside, steady uphill trail about two miles and 800â&#x20AC;&#x2122; elevation to the Red Lodge Mtn. parking lot. Nice mountain biking.

CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff

Runners can choose between a 5K and 10K distance, and the race begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. at the top of the Beartooth Pass. Participants must register online at imathlete.com before July 8. The cost is $50 between May 6-July 8, and includes a T-shirt (but be sure to register early, as the guaranteed Tshirt deadline is June 28.) Late registration is available from July 1-4, but participants are charged an additional $10. For more information, log on to beartoothrun.com or email info@beartoothevents.com

Climb to Conquer Cancer Climb the mountain; beat cancer. Combine the two and you have the 9th Annual Climb to Conquer Cancerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a unique event that combines the beauty of Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beartooth Mountains with an opportunity to raise awareness and funds that support the work of the American Cancer Society. Cancer survivors, caretakers, family, friends and co-workers alike will join forces on Saturday, August 1, to conquer the proverbial mountain. Unique in nature, the Climb is the only one in Montana, and only one of nine in the entire U.S.

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trailhead at Fox Road. This trail is popular with horsemen, bikers, and hikers. It is also popular with wildlife, including predators. Be alert. (For the north trailhead: from junction of Hwy 212 & 78, go west on 78 one mile, turn left (west); then 3 miles to end of Fox Rd.) Both trailheads are about 3 miles from Red Lodge. Nichols Creek Trail Turn right/west off Hwy 212 on the south edge of Red Lodge onto West Fork Road. Proceed 2.7 miles; turn left at the fork on pavement; go 1/4 mile and turn right down a short turn off and park.This two-track is about 2 miles and 1000â&#x20AC;&#x2122; uphill in lodge pole forest, following the creek half way and eventually dead-ending. It is a quiet place close to town. Good mountain biking. Silver Run Trails Take the West Fork Road off Hwy 212 and proceed 2.7 miles; turn left at the fork continuing on pavement another 1 Â˝ miles. Turn left at the sign for Silver Run Road, cross the bridge and park. The trails begin about Âź mile west of the parking lot. Loop 1:Â 2.4Â miles; loop 2:Â 3.4Â miles; loop 3:Â 4.5Â miles; loop 4:Â 5.1Â miles.All are in lodge pole pine forest, are slightly up hill at first, and return along the river. Loop 4 connects to the Basin Lakes Trail. Nice mountain biking. An option here is the Ingles Creek Trail which branches south off loop 2 past the bridge, and continues uphill about 2 miles and 1600â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the ridge, meeting the Silver Run trail, then a mile down to the trailhead. [The Silver Run Trail begins at the same parking lot as the Loop trails, or you can drive up that Silver Run road (high clearance vehicle) two miles to the trailhead. The distance from the Silver Run trailhead to the plateau is 2+ miles and 2,000â&#x20AC;&#x2122; elevation.] Basin Creek Lakes TrailÂ * Turn west off Highway 212, south side of Red Lodge, onto West Fork Road and continue 2.7 miles; turn left at the junction, continuing on pavement 4.2 miles; turn left at the Basin Cr. Lake trailhead.This trail is uphill 2 Â˝ miles and 1400â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the lower lake, and another 1 Â˝ miles and 700â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the upper lake, all in lodge pole pine forest. (No horses except during hunting season). Timberline Lake TrailÂ * Four miles past Basin Lakes trailhead on the left is Timberline L. Trailhead. This trail is four miles and 2,100â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, near a stream, through a lot of burned forest. The lake is at the foot of 12,500â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Silver Run Mountain. Lake Gertrude about Â˝ mile below Timberline L. [A junction at 2 Â˝ miles heads left to Silver Run Lakes (1 Â˝ mi. & 700â&#x20AC;&#x2122;) and the switchbacks up to Silver Run Plateau, continuing on as the Beartrack Trail over the Plateau. (No bikes)].

Senia Creek TrailÂ * (new trailhead in 2010) The Senia trailhead is at the end of West Fork road. This Palisades Trail (new 2013) trail is a steep 2.5 miles and (2,000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;) to the Red Lodge Cr. (See above route to Plateau. It connects to the Red Lodge Cr. Trail (north east) Palisades Campground). At and to the Spread Cr. Trail down to East Rosebud Lake. the trailhead on the west end of the CG parking lot, West Fork Trail* hike about 100 yards on At the end of West Fork Road (12.7 miles from Red the Willow Cr. Trail, then Lodge) is the trailhead for the West Fork Trail. A pleasant 4 turn right/north onto the mile hike gaining 1,000â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and passing Calamity Falls and SenPalisades Trail. It is a three tinel Falls, takes you to Quinnebaugh Meadows. The trail mile trail; gentle uphill, 700â&#x20AC;&#x2122; continues to Sundance Pass, or up to Lake Mary. gain; through ponderosa & lodge pole pine, fir and as- Â *Note: Basin, Timberline, Senia and West Fork Trails all cross pen forest; it then descends some burned timber from the 2008, 10,000-acre Cascade fire. steeply to sage brush meadows and down to the north

The Beartooth Runâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a 10K at 10K feet Exercise feeds the soul. Celebrate in pure, athletic style at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Beartooth Run, Red Lodgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature endurance road race. Held Sunday, July 12, the Beartooth Run features a beautiful, yet challenging course set at 10,000 feet atop the scenic Beartooth Pass. The new â&#x20AC;&#x153;10 at 10â&#x20AC;? course showcases awesome views from the top of Line Creek Plateau, including the prominent Bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tooth, the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s namesake.

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The three-mile hike starts at Red Lodge Mountain Resort and winds up the mountain. Take a break and enjoy the view at the mid-way point, then head back down to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere that includes entertainment, food and an awards ceremony for the top fundraising teams and individuals. While the climb is challenging, non-climbers are encouraged to attend, supporting the climbers and the cause. In addition, memorial flags honoring both survivors and those who fought bravely can be purchased and will line a portion of the trail. Cancer survivors and caretakers will enjoy a free breakfast prior to the climb, starting at 8:30 a.m.The climb starts at 9:30 a.m. with entertainment and lunch following at 11. Be sure to stick around for the awards ceremony at noon. Register online at main.acsevents.org.The cost is $35 for adults and $10 for kids, and everyone who registers prior to June 30 is guaranteed a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Climb to Conquer Cancerâ&#x20AC;? Tshirt.All proceeds from the event go directly to the American Cancer Society. For more information, to volunteer or sponsor a team, call 406-570-5009 or log on to climbrl.org.

Spend a night at the hiStoric pollard hotel with our

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Morning Meals Done Right Courtesy Photo Participate in the annual Climb to Conquer Cancer held August 1. All proceeds from the race go to the American Cancer Society.

Breakfast starting at 6 a.m. 407 South Broadway Avenue - Between 15th & 16th Streets Red Lodge, MT â&#x20AC;˘ 446-0225

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