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Big Sky

Big Sky’s Locally Owned & Published Newspaper

Illustration by Kelsey Dzintars

July 1, 2011 Volume 2 // Issue #12

special section:

YELLOWSTONE

NATIONAL PARK

up in smoke?

Montana’s Medical Marijuana Industry

PORCUPINE ELK HERD off the beaten path:

mt. washburn electric peak

Big Sky awards Baucus Skis to the City

media@theoutlawpartners.com

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Big Sky July 1, 2011 Volume 2, Issue 12

Big Sky Weekly explorebigsky

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Happy independence day!

CEO, PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eric Ladd

Yellowstone River flowing high in Gardiner in late June Photo by Emily Stifler

COO & SENIOR EDITOR Megan Paulson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mike Martins MANAGING EDITOR Emily Stifler GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kelsey Dzintars EDITOR Abbie Digel Editorial Assistant Taylor Anderson Sales Director Frank Jordan Distribution Director Danielle Chamberlain VIDEOGRAPHER Brian Niles Outlaw-at-large Hunter Rothwell Intern Kaela Schommer

Outlaw Partners Recognized for Excellence in Design, Business Practices

CONTRIBUTors Tyler Allen, Victoria Bentley, Matt Breneman, Bull Stock Media, Mike Coil, Eileen Connors, Felicia Ennis, Ryan Hamilton, Chris Heppel, Scott Heppel, Peter Oelschlaeger, Jackie Rainford Corcoran, Paul Miller, Katie Morrison, Brandon Niles, Dayle Hayes, Al Lockwood, Al Nash, Shawn Robertson, Ennion Williams, Christine Weinheimer

Editorial Policy Outlaw Partners LLC is the sole owner of the Big Sky Weekly. No part of this publication may be reprinted without written permission from the publisher. The Big Sky Weekly reserves the right to edit all submitted material for content, corrections or length. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or the editors of this publication. No advertisements, columns, letters to the editor or other information will be published that contain discrimination based on sex, age, race, religion, creed, nationality, sexual preference, or are in bad taste.

Paper Distribution Distributed every other Friday in towns across Southwest Montana, including Big Sky, Bozeman, West Yellowstone, Three Forks and Livingston.

CORRECTIONS The Big Sky Weekly runs corrections to errors we’ve printed. Please report them to emily@theoutlawpartners.com OUTLAW PARTNERS & THE BIG SKY WEEKLY P.O. Box 160250 Big Sky, MT 59716 explorebigsky.com (406) 995-2055 media@theoutlawpartners.com © 2011 The Big Sky Weekly Unauthorized reproduction prohibited

2 July 1, 2011

On behalf of the Outlaw Partners, I am pleased to announce we have been recognized by two separate organizations for excellence in both print media, and business.

On June 11, 2011, the Montana Newspaper Association announced the winners of the 2011 Better Newspaper Contest in Lewistown, Montana. The Big Sky Weekly was presented with three awards within the Weekly III Division, the largest of the weekly divisions in Montana (with circulation over 3,000). The Weekly swept First and Second places for Best Small Space Ad, and Second place for Best Graphics.

“The Outlaw Partners bring to our community a well rounded, well received, well written and very well designed local newspaper. Their business does not stop with this paper – they have a beautiful, coffee table magazine and an extremely creative marketing and branding focus,” said Shawna Winter, owner of Winter & Company Real Estate in Big Sky, who presented Outlaw with the award.

Outlaw Partners was founded on two basic principals: to do things right and to maintain sound business ethics. Every day, either in the office or out on the road, we’ve been able to share and learn about Montanans’ stories and passions.

Mike Martins and Kelsey Dzintars, Outlaw’s creative team, strive to make our messages meaningful and creative by using full color design and thoughtful, indepth processes.

It’s been a pleasure editing the Weekly and Mountain Outlaw and growing with the Outlaw Partners. I feel lucky to be part of this community and am looking forward to my first summer in Big Sky.

At the Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, Outlaw Partners was named Business of the Year. This annual award recognizes one business each year for its contributions in best business practices and community work.

Keep an eye out for our new cub reporter from Lone Peak High School, Kaela Schommer. And make sure to stop by our office in the Meadow Village Center and say hi.

-Abbie Digel, Editor

Letter to the Editor Parameters This is a platform for readers to express views and share ways they would like to effect change. The Weekly will run letters, positive or negative, of 250 words or less that are respectful, ethical, state accurate facts and figures, and are proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters. Please include: first and last name, address, phone number and title. Send letters to emily@theoutlawpartners.com.

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Table of Contents Community…4

Business Directory...22

Big Sky…6

Events...25

Local News...9 Regional…10 Montana…14 Youth...17 Food & Dining...17 Sports...18 Health & Wellness...21

Classifieds...26 Events...25 Fun...29 Back 40...31 Special Section: Yellowstone National Park...33

Big Sky Weekly

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July 1, 2011 3

Big Sky Weekly

community The Big Sky Fire Department The Big Sky Fire Department firefighters hosted a breakfast on Sunday, June 26 for the Bozeman Eagle Mount-Big Sky Kids campers, counselors and their families.

In conjunction with the breakfast, the Fire Department also hosted their annual St. Baldrick’s head-shaving community event. Firefighters, members of the kids group, and Big Sky community members bravely shaved their heads to raise donations and awareness for childhood cancer research.

The Big Sky Fire Department’s goal is to raise at least $5,000 for St. Baldrick’s. To date, $3,000 has been raised in donations. $1,250 of that was raised by Anna Alvin of the HairBares Team.

On behalf of all of the firefighters and the kids who inspire us, thank you!

For more information about St. Baldrick’s or to make a donation, visit: stbaldricks.org/events/ mypage/eventid/2324/eventyear/2011.

- from the Big Sky Fire Department

Firefighters who shaved their heads for the St. Baldrick’s event: Seth Barker Greg Clark Lukas Golz Mitch Hamel Steve Johnson Mark Loomis Corey Nagashima Sean Pierce Tom Reeves Dan Sheil Volunteer barber: Jaci Clack, Mountain Haven Salon Big Sky community members who shaved their heads: Anna Alvin Maya Johnsen Mark Robin from the Hungry Moose Market and Deli Curt Wilson from Wilson Video Joseph and Eli Gale

Type O negative blood donors needed The supply of type O negative blood at the American Red Cross has dropped to critical levels.

Type O negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.

While all blood types are needed during the critical summer months, the Red Cross urges those eligible donors with blood type O negative to make and keep appointments to give blood this summer.

The Red Cross is also encouraging all type O negative blood donors who meet the eligibility requirements to double the difference by becoming a double red cell donor. If eligible, you can give to give two donations at once.

There will be a blood drive on July 13 from 12 – 3 p.m. at Big Sky Resort and one on July 25 from 2 – 6 p.m. at the Gallatin Gateway Community Center. There are also several scheduled at various locations around Bozeman, Livingston and Three Forks in the next month.

Go to redcrossblood. org/make-donation to find a blood drive near you, or call (800) RED-CROSS (1-800733-2767) to schedule an appointment.

Corrections 6/17 Weekly In “New date set for bison trial,” Park County Stockgrowers filed suit, not MT Stockgrowers association.

The Big Sky Hikers “flower hike” is actually on 7/14. The sign-up for the hikes is at 8:15 a.m., and the hikes leave at 8:30.

Trever Olson’s photo (a silouette of Josh Simpfenderfer walking the highline on page 32) was incorrectly credited to Sonya Iverson and Sydian Photography.

We also apologize for misspelling Josh Simpfenderfer’s name.

4 July 1, 2011

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Big Sky Natural Resource Council’s wildfire preparedness event a success

By Katie Morrison On June 24, the Big Sky Natural Resource Council hosted their second annual Big Sky Wildfire Preparedness event at Town Center Park. Many Big Sky residents and visitors turned out for the event, which featured information on natural resource issues in the area, a free BBQ and special appearances by Smokey Bear and Elvis.

Volunteers from the Fire Department cooked burgers and hot dogs for over 300 people, while council member Seth Barker gave a presentation and answered questions from homeowners on how to create survivable space. Forestry vendors held a trade show, highlighting the equipment and techniques they use to maintain healthy forest stands in Big Sky. That evening the BSNRC also released the Forest Stewardship Plan, which they have been working on for the past year. The plan, sponsored by Merrill Lynch and Bank of America, contains valuable information about the types of trees, forest health issues and treatment options in the Big Sky area. It is available free of charge at bigskynrc.org.

The mission of the Big Sky Natural Resource Council is to provide sustainable solutions for natural resource issues in the Big Sky community through a collaborative ecosystem approach. If you would like more information or would like to make a donation, contact Crystal Hagerman at (406) 209-0344.

BSCC to host public meeting about Big Sky trails, recreation and parks special district

By Katie Morrison Recently, the Gallatin County Commission passed a Resolution of Intent to create a Big Sky Meadow Trails, Recreation and Parks Special District.

Prior to passing the final Resolution and Interlocal Agreement with Gallatin County, a public comment period of 30 days is required.

Gallatin County mailed Big Sky/Gallatin County property owners a notice last week, informing them of this comment period. The Big Sky Community Corporation has also mailed a notice, which explains the intent and formation of the district in “plain language.”

BSCC will also host a public meeting on Wednesday July 13, at noon at the Big Sky Chapel basement to answer questions regarding the potential selffunded, non-taxing district.

The Gallatin County Commission will hopefully proceed with passing

the resolution for this self-funded district, barring significant protests or comments.

The second step of creating the multijurisdictional district is for the Madison County Commission to pass a similar Resolution of Intent to expand an existing three-square mile Big Sky Park District that was created in 1988, strip it of taxing authority, and enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Gallatin County to share the administration of the districts with a single board of directors. The Madison County Commission held a public meeting to expand the district on Tuesday, June 21, and has requested a continuation of the hearing for July 12.

With questions, contact Katie Morrison at (406) 993-2112 or katie@ bsccmt.org.

Big Sky Weekly

community

Integrity.

Vision.

Craft.

PHoto by PEter Oelschlaeger

Tour de Bozeman Comes to Big Sky July 8

By Ryan Hamilton The Montana cycling community is gearing up for this year’s edition of the Tour de Bozeman, a three-day, four-stage bicycle stage race with an $8,000 cash purse.

This year’s event features an expanded race lineup, with a new criterium (stage one) in the Big Sky Town Center on Friday July 8. Saturday’s events will include the Springhill Time Trial and Main Street Sprints in downtown Bozeman on Saturday evening. As in years past, the final showdown will take place in Bridger Canyon with the Battle for Battle Ridge, an epic road race that spans Jackson Creek and Battle Ridge, finishing north of Bridger Bowl.

406-995-2174

continentalconstruction.com/montana

Come see the Big Sky Criterium, a fast, exciting, colorful, spectator friendly bicycle racing event at the Big Sky Town Center on Friday, July 8. A criterium, or crit, is a bike race held on a short course often run on closed-off city center streets. tourdebozeman.com 3 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Women category 4/Juniors) – 30 min Men category 5/men master B– 30 min Men category 4 – 45 min Men category 3/men master A – 45 min Women category 1/2/3 – 45 min Men category 1/2 – 60 min

Return of the magnificent seven This July, seven members of the Montana Professional Artists Assoc. will return to Gallatin Valley. Packing their brushes and bronzes, they will set up camp in the Convention Center a the 320 Guest Ranch July 10 - 11 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to show and sell their works. The show will be free of charge.

Michele Kapor, Elene Weege and Robert Thompkins, well-known pleinair painters, will be painting and showing works at the Cinnamon Lodge on July 8 – 9, along with sculptor Mari Bolen. Ms. Bolen can sculpt faster than Annie Oakley could shoot dots off of playing cards, so come prepared for a shootout on the balcony both evenings. montanaprofessionalartistsassoc.com

R E C E N T P ROJ E C T Chalet 504 at Yellowstone Club explorebigsky.com

July 1, 2011 5

Big Sky Weekly

Big Sky

Mutton Bustin’ is coming to Big Sky Sign your child up for a wild ride The Professional Bull Riding circuit is making a three-day stop in Big Sky this summer, August 2-4.

Although bull riding is the main event, kids also have an opportunity to participate in Mutton Busting. This exciting event, judged by certified PBR judges, is similar to a bull ride, except children will ride sheep.

Production Company who is putting on the Big Sky event. “Some of the kids might be pretty savvy and have own their equipment.”

Partners’ office at 75 Center Drive, Suite B, Big Sky, MT 59716 or mail to P.O. Box 160250 Big Sky, MT 59716

Freestone will supply the competitors with vests and helmets for protection, and there are no ropes or spurs allowed. The kids are encouraged to wear boots, jeans and long sleeved shirts.

Questions can be directed to Danielle Chamberlain via danielle@theoutlawpartners.com or (406) 995- 2055.

The age limit is six and under, and the child must be under 60 pounds. The sheep will be provided by local farm Ewe Hoo, located outside of Bozeman (ewehoo.net). Sign-ups are on a first come, first serve basis.

Prizes will be awarded, and according to Watson, the winners could be anyone who puts on a good show. “It’s a fun event, and great way to get the kids involved,” she added.

“There are a lot of sheep riders in the area,” said Jacey Watson of Freestone Productions, the PBR

To sign your child up, please find the waiver at explorebigsky.com. Sign and return to the Outlaw

Tickets are selling fast for the PBR event on August 3. Make sure to reserve one tickets at explorebigsky.com, or purchase at these local dealers: 320 Ranch, Bugaboo Cafe, Country Market, Outlaw Partners, Choppers, Mail & More, Trailhead Pizza and Big Sky Resort.

A.D.

Mutton Bustin’ at the 2009 Bozeman Classic. Photo by Matt Breneman courtesy of Bull Stock Media.

6 July 1, 2011

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Big Sky Weekly

Big Sky

Freedom is nothing but a chance

to be better...

Albert Camus

Pictured from left: Meg O’Leary, Barbara Rowley, Senator Max Baucus, Taylor Middleton, Loren Bough and Jill Bough.

Big Sky presents Senator Max Baucus with “Skis to the City”

Enjoy Y our

Independence Day!

Big Sky Resort recently honored and recognized Sen. Max Baucus for his dedication to highlighting both Big Sky and Montana. The ceremony took place at function in the home of Big Sky residents Jill and Loren Bough.

Baucus has long been a promoter of Montana on the national stage. Most recently, he acted as a key force in bringing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation international trade ministerial to Big Sky this May. The senator was an integral part in highlighting Montana businesses during those meetings as well – as a host state, Montana had unprecedented involvement in APEC proceedings.

Big Sky is an unincorporated town, so we have no mayor and we have no keys, said Taylor Middleton, Big Sky Resort’s General Manager. “But we do have skis.

This is our unique way of letting Senator Baucus know how much we appreciate his hard work and advocacy.”

Middleton presented Sen. Baucus with an official pair of “Skis to the City” that displayed graphics of an American flag, Lone Peak and the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. - Big Sky resort wire services

Spanish Peaks partners with clubs worldwide The Club at Spanish Peaks, a private ski and golf community in Big Sky, recently launched an affiliate club program that extends Spanish Peaks membership privileges to six additional exclusive private clubs to Patagonia, the Bahamas, Ireland and three domestic clubs of similar stature.

“Every member at Spanish Peaks now has seven of the best clubs in the world to call home,” said Stephen DePetro, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of The Club at Spanish Peaks. “The added value this brings to Spanish Peaks membership is enormous.”

Each club in this network is a reflection of its particular region and is aligned with the quality and standards of Spanish Peaks.

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Catch a flight in the morning.

Begin your vacation by noon!

You can’t land any closer to where you want to be!

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The Club at Spanish Peaks Wildridge 50 Home Site Beautiful Lone & Spanish Peak Views $197,500

Winter & Company real estate 406-581-2033

Shawna Winter Shawna Winter Shawna Winter

broker | owner www.MTwinter.com Shawna@MTwinter.com

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Winter &Co.Welcomes Winter & Co. Welcomes Aimee Gerharter

Aimee Gerharter Aimee Gerharter 406-599-4448 aimeegerharter@msn.com

www.yellowstoneairport.org FLIGHTS DAILY FROM WEST YELLOWSTONE MONTANA

406-599-4448 aimeegerharter@msn.com 406-599-4448 aimeegerharter@msn.com explorebigsky.com

July 1, 2011 7

Big Sky Weekly

8 July 1, 2011

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Big Sky Weekly

local news

Big Sky Chamber of Commerce announces annual award-winners by abbie digel The Big Sky Chamber of Commerce honored two local businesses and one individual at their annual meeting, located at 320 Guest Ranch on June 22.

Lance Child, who won Community Member of the year, has been involved in various projects in the Big Sky community and was most recently voted into a trustee seat on the Ophir School board. A resident of Big Sky since

The Gallatin/Big Sky Noxious Weed Committee has done its part in pulling weeds in the area. Let’s clarify that. It’s doing a half-ton’s worth of its part.

The group, made up of 28 volunteers, pulled a record 1060 pounds of noxious weeds in Gallatin Canyon last Saturday. The group said it noticed fewer weeds than last year and has taken claim for the decrease.

Montana FWP Commission to meet July 14 in Big Sky Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will meet July 14 in Big Sky, at 1 Lone Mountain Trail, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies will meet in Big Sky July 15-20.

The theme of the evening, which revolved around a gourmet meal, Group from the Outlaw Partners, awarded drinks and lively Business of the Year Photo by Brian Niles conversation, was the appreci1999, Child has two children who atation for all members who put tend Ophir, and has been the assistant their trust into the Chamber to reprebasketball coach since 2008. He also sits sent their best interests. Marne Hayes, on the Resort Tax Board, and was part of Executive Director of the Chamber, the Board’s recent key decision making acknowledged that businesses are all in and money allocations. Child is a private a “pattern of recovery, and are rediscovmortgage banker for Wells Fargo. ering what it is going to take to make us thrive and succeed in Big Sky.” The Outlaw Partners, a marketing and consulting services firm, won BusiBig Sky Arts Council was honored ness of the Year. The Outlaw Partners’ with Non-Profit of the Year because of team has tripled in size in the past year. their continued efforts in bringing the They also acquired the Big Sky Weekly, arts to Big Sky. With a board of direcand now publish Mountain Outlaw, a tors made up of local volunteers, the bi-annual, full color, regional magazine Arts Council’s newest addition to their exploring lifestyle, land and culture in summer line-up is the first annual ClasSouthwest Montana. sical Music Festival, also a free event.

“Motivation from the community is what drives us,” said Donna Thompson, President of the Arts Council.

“I’m proud of our board. They work so hard.” Thompson also wanted to recognize Brian Hurlbut, who adds creative energy in bringing the arts to Big Sky.

1060 pounds of weeds pulled from Gallatin Canyon

“The Outlaw Partners is very committed to be a lasting part of the Big Sky community, and we greatly appreciate this award,” said Eric Ladd, CEO and founder of the Outlaw Partners.

Quinn Johnsen, owner of Choppers Grub and Pub, and a client of the firm, said “Outlaw has helped me discover previously untapped business potential.” Recently, Outlaw developed a new brand platform for Choppers, creating a new menu and guiding the business with key marketing decisions.

Moonlight trial rescheduled On May 2, Montana bankruptcy Judge Ralph Kirscher issued an order that rescheduled the Lehman Brothers vs. Moonlight Basin Ranch trial, which was originally planned for late June 2011. The trial is now continued until October 2011.

The FWP Commissioners will make a number of final decisions, including acquisition of a fishing access site on Big Spring Creek near Lewistown and a temporary waiver of fishing limits on lakes in the South Fork Flathead drainage, Cherry and Granite Lakes in FWP Region 1.

Other final decisions will be made on: •

2011 deer, elk and antelope quotas outside biennial quota ranges

•

The nongame check-off work plan

•

2011 fall upland game bird quotas and limits

•

2011 hunting access agreements

•

2011 wolf hunting seasons, quotas and hunting district boundaries

•

The upland game bird strategic plan

•

A fire road restoration project at Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area

•

A conservation easement along the Missouri River near Ulm

The commissioners will also hear about the scoping process for biennial regulations and the proposed 2011 early season migratory bird regulations. A work session on the fishing regulations will begin at 1 p.m.

FWP meetings are accessible to the public and those with disabilities.

Individuals with special needs may request arrangements by contacting FWP at (406) 444-3186.

The full agenda and additional information on the scheduled topics may be found on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov on the home page under the heading FWP Commission.

Gallatin Field Airport expansion update This July, Gallatin Field Airport will complete a two-year, $40 million expansion. The new terminal adds about 125,000 square feet to the existing building, and the airport’s new footprint will be the largest in Montana.

Gallatin Field has seen unprecedented growth in the last 12 calendar months, and the airport’s Deputy Director Scott Humphrey said, “Yellowstone Park and Big Sky play a large part [in that].” He added, “We’re looking at 12 percent growth in enplanements as compared to last June.”

The concourse itself and all the gates opened June 30, and the entire terminal will open July 20. Major changes will include a new entrance and passenger check-in area, four new gates, more efficient passenger security screening, TSA bag screening behind closed doors, and indoor storage for airline machinery.

Generally, 18-21 commercial flights come through Gallatin Field daily.

The airport doesn’t have new flights lined up immediately, but the expansion will give everyone more room, particularly solving the morning time crunch. More than 200 people work at the airport complex. E.S.

“It was rescheduled to provide Lehman and Moonlight with more time for settlement,” said Russ McElyea, Moonlight’s Chief Operating Officer.

According to McElyea, Moonlight and Lehman both requested this extra time, and there was a motion to vacate filed April 29 requesting the court withdraw its previous order arranging the spring trial.

Moonlight attorneys are working with Lehman on a settlement, McElyea said, and they “need more time to have this discussion.”

The settlement shouldn’t impact Moonlight’s operations, he added. Moonlight is doing work on the mountain this summer and will be open for skiing next winter.

E.S.

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July 1, 2011 9

Big Sky Weekly

regional

nps.gov

What happened to the Porcupine elk herd?

The population of the Gallatin Canyon elk herd has been decreasing since 2006, according to Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The Porcupine Creek herd, south of Big Sky, is down to 132—down significantly from 800 in the 1980s.

By Abbie Digel In the 1970s and ‘80s, the Gallatin elk herd numbered between 1,600 and 2,000. A subsidiary herd living in the Porcupine Creek Wilderness Management Area just south of Big Sky had 600-800 animals. Now, those counts are about at 400 for the Gallatin herd, and between 60-100 for the Porcupine herd. FWP biologist Julie Cunningham counted 132 in the Porcupine herd in the spring of 2010.

Cunningham said the herd’s population has likely continued to decline after this past harsh winter.

The first recorded sighting of an elk herd near Big Sky was in the 1830s, according to People and the Gallatin Elk Herd by Allan Lovaas, an FWP publication printed in April 1970.

Elk likely migrated toward Big Sky to take shelter from Yellowstone’s severe weather, and they still reside here today.

early regulation efforts to protect fish and wildlife resources, he added.

Between the 1930s and ‘60s, Canyon residents provided elk with supplementary feed during winter because of a starvation epidemic. According to the FWP, this situation was “pivotal in determining that the state of Montana should not and would not support wintertime feeding of elk,” as opposed to other states like Wyoming. For many years after that, wildlife managers actually worked to reduce the Gallatin herd’s population.

Where are they now?

During winter some of the animals migrate west to the Madison Valley, then return to the Gallatin in summer. A number of factors affect the herd’s location, including humans, weather and predators.

This area has also been a platform for deep historical human impact on wildlife, and an ongoing battleground, Cunningham said. But, she added, it’s a history every resident of the canyon should be proud of.

Some human impacts are direct, such as hunting, trapping, feeding; while others are indirect, like the elimination of predators, livestock grazing, wildfire mitigation and the creation of game preserves, according to Lovaas.

The Gallatin Canyon herd was an important food source for settlers in the 1800s. By 1919, elk had been extirpated from most of the state due to overhunting, but the Gallatin herd “is so rugged that elk remained in great numbers,” Cunningham said.

The Gallatin is a prime example of

Dave Alvin, owner of East Slope Outdoors, a guide outfit on Highway 191, has been hunting in the area for over 20 years. Historically, he said, he’s always seen 30 or 40 head, but this year, there were only 20 across from his property, where he usually spots the herd.

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He’s also noticed a change in the ungulates’ habitat. There’s been a cow on the edge of the highway across from the Ramshorn subdivision, for example.

“This winter definitely did not help any of the animals at all. A tough winter will increase fatalities.

They just keel over and die, and the calves can’t make it. It’s definitely a factor in the decline,” Alvin said.

“I’ve never seen a cow on the edge of the highway before,” Alvin said.

Alvin sees the same seven or eight cows calving on his property every year. “But some of the elk are starting to calve closer to human development rather than farther away from it.”

What’s causing the push?

“Who’s to say,” Alvin said.

Cunningham believes predators can have a “non lethal effect on elk,” meaning even if the predators don’t hunt or kill members of a herd, they can still push the elk out of their grazing areas. This may be pushing more animals to the Madison Valley.

“More migrating means less are staying,” she said.

This spring, Cunningham received reports of elk hiding along the Gallatin River. “[They] often go to water to die,” she said, so this move to the river likely indicated they were in poor shape after the harsh winter. They went to the river because it’s “a good travel corridor, and it’s the lowest spot in elevation,” she added. “They were waiting for the green-up.”

Population decrease This is the first year the FWP has not focused on reducing the elk population and instead is attempting to bring the population back up.

This January, Cunningham flew in over the Porcupine Creek Wilderness Management Area to perform FWP’s annual aerial survey to count the herd’s numbers. From a helicopter, researchers can hover and get close to classify the ungulates, but after members of the public witnessed the flight this year, Cunningham received several calls concerning the well being of the elk, and potential hazing.

“When we count the elk, we do not move them far. We get them to a place where they’re visible and then get away from them,” Cunningham said. “In the helicopter I displaced elk, but January is not a terrible time to do a quick exercise like that because elk generally have not depleted their fat reserves [in spring].

Furthermore, we’re in, we’re out and it’s over.”

Big Sky Weekly

Flying is a widely used method for population counting, Cunningham said. She focuses on gathering information on calves instead of cows and bulls because calves provide “estimates of recruitment, which let me know if the population should be growing or declining.”

On the Jan. 11 flight, the elk count was 397 total, down from 2010’s early winter count of 511. In addition to severe winter, several other factors could have affected this year’s low numbers: the previous hunting season, bears, wolves and other predators.

Another factor affecting population decrease is the spreading of brucellosis, a disease that causes the animals to miscarry their calves. In the past 30 years, Montana FWP has performed limited testing in elk for the virus. Studies in the early 1990s mostly in the Greater Yellowstone Area north and west of the park showed brucellosis exposure rates ranging from 0 to 2 percent. Depending on the testing technique used, more recent positive exposure rates ranged between 5 and 16 percent in areas north of Gardiner and on the east side of the Madison Valley.

Industry and regulation Elk hunting is a major industry in Montana. Managing the herds’ numbers provides the information FWP needs to issue hunting permits.

“Hunters want to know what they can hunt in Gallatin Valley,” Cunningham said. Until recently, the Gallatin was one of the strongest herds, which is why hunting was so popular here.

With the population in decline, will it be ecologically sustainable to continue unlimited hunting? Probably not, Cunningham says.

A season setting meeting is scheduled for July 12 in Big Sky to discuss the upcoming hunting season. Near Big Sky, Areas 310 and 360 are popular grounds for hunters. Both have different regulations: 360 is one of the most liberal in the state, with unlimited bull and cow hunting, while Area 310, where the Porcupine herd mostly resides, is very restrictive, and hunters there can only take bulls.

“Bulls don’t do a lot for population – that’s what cows and calves are for,” Cunningham said. Also, cows can only be shot on either private property or National Forrest land, limiting the hunting area.

photo by mike coil

A change to this year’s season is the planning of a 2011 wolf hunt. FWP plans the harvest to be limited to 19 tags. This new addition to the plan “won’t change much for the elk population, but [an increase] should happen eventually,” Cunningham said.

What’s next?

“Wildlife managers in our complex and dynamic society must realistically appraise and cope with demands and restrictions imposed by sociological, political and economic influences,” said Frank Dunkle, the Director of Montana’s Fish and

Game Department in the ‘70s.

Dunkle’s point remains true. In this system of checks and balances, it’s a constant battle for those managing the fate of the Porcupine elk herd, as well as herds statewide.

“When elk [get] too numerous for the landscape, we reduce them.

When wolves are too numerous for what we want for the elk herd, we can reduce the wolves,” Cunningham said. Her goal for the next 10 years is to “have enough elk that we will see increased hunting use and activity again. We’ll see what the 10 years after that brings.”

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July 1, 2011 11

Big Sky Weekly HELMS JAMISON KULESZA

Commercial Opportunities

Peaks Centre Building 175 Aspen Leaf Drive | In the Big Sky Town Center between the Fire Station & Hungry Moose Market

ADVANTAGES OF OWNERSHIP: • Mortgage Interest Deduction • Depreciation Deduction

Owner Financing Breakdown Ground Floor

Size

Purchase the Building

Purchase One of the Suites

Suite A

1,826 sq. ft.

Square Footage

8,706 sq. ft.

Suite A - 1,826 sq. ft.

Suite B

1,266 sq. ft.

Purchase Price

$1.2M / $138 psf

$273,980 / $150 psf

Suite C

1,735 sq. ft. (LEASED)

Down Payment (5%)

$60,000

$13,698

Second Floor

Size

1st Mortgage* (80%)

$960K @ 5.5% = $52,800 p.a. $260K @ 5.5% = $14,315 p.a.

Suite D

1,974 sq. ft.

2nd Mortgage* * (15%)

$180K @ 4.0% = $ 7,200 p.a. $41,190 @ 4% = $ 1,648 p.a.

Suite E

1,292 sq. ft. (SOLD)

Yearly Payment

Suite F

1,965 sq. ft.

Financing Costs

$60K / 8,760 sq. ft. = $6.85 psf $15,963 / 1,826 sq. ft. = $8.74 psf

All Suites

8,706 sq. ft.

Operating Costs

$6 psf

$6 psf

Effective Rent

$12.85 psf

$14.74 psf

$60,000

$15,963

* Conventional Bank Loan. Contact your lender for terms. ** Owner Financing Available. Contact listing team for details.

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JEFF HELMS Broker

12 July 1, 2011

TALLIE JAMISON Associate

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RYAN KULESZA Broker

123 Lone Peak Drive, Suite 5 Big Sky Town Center www.bigskysir.com info@bigskysir.com tel 406.995.2244

This material is based upon information which we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions and changes including price or withdrawal without notice. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office in Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

Big Sky Weekly

regional

ASC delivers world’s highest known plant life from Everest to the lab From the Himalaya to Yellowstone, Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation needs your help by emily stifler

Mountain guides Willie and Damien Benegas discovered the world’s highest known plant life at 22,300 feet on Mt. Everest. They recently collected a sample of it and delivered it to a Bozeman’s Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation.

Photo from patagonianbrothers.com

On a recent climb of Mount Everest, climber and mountain guides Willie and Damien Benegas collected a sample of the world’s highest known plant life, at 22,300 feet. The brothers returned to the States and mailed the material to the Bozeman-based nonprofit Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation.

ASC’s founder, Gregg Treinish, who coordinated this effort, delivered the samples to Tim McDermott, an MSU professor in Microbial Ecophysiology.

McDermott will extract rock material from it to analyze the microbes living on its surface, and then pass it on to Rusty Rodriguez, a microbiologist who works with the U.S.G.S. Rodriguez plans to extract DNA from the plants to determine the microorganisms associated with them. His “ultimate hope is to isolate fungus that we think is living symbiotically with this plant. Because it can live in extreme conditions, if we can show it’s the fungus that allows it to do that, we can likely move it into agriculture and have it help plants be more adapted to stress.”

It is that symbiotic relationship that Treinish says, “could provide answers for how we will feed the world in the face of a changing climate… This fungus could shed light on how to make crops throughout the world adapt

to more extreme droughts, floods, and specifically frost.”

many of these projects have “the advantage that we send expeditions or people to places that are repeated again and again.”

This is one of approximately 35 expeditions Treinish is coordinating through ASC, a non-profit he founded in BozeThe pika study, for example, has 22 man in 2010. So far, he’s worked with teams taking the same data on the professional adventure athletes like same trail over a period of time. “So the Benegas brothers, and with casual your data becomes more verifiable hikers, whom with each he’s trained recording,” Want to get involved? to help with Treinish Visit Adventures and Scientists a worldwide said. Morefor Conservation to donate pika data over, he or sign up for an expedition. collection looks for “There are projects available project. projects that for everyone, from world class can be indeadventure athletes to your Rodriguez pendently basic weekend warrior or day said the work verified. “If hiker,” Treinish said.

ASC is doing we’re colis “unique lecting DNA and spectacusamples— lar. It’s taking a National Geographic like on Everest—it doesn’t matter if approach, but to a new level. It’s a move a citizen scientist or a PhD collected for understanding conservation.” it, a lab will independently tell you the information that can be useful ASC is growing quickly. Just last week, scientifically.”

Treinish posted an email on an eco list serve and received 150 responses in Rodriguez said as long as the data three hours. “Scientists from India, collectors have the proper equipPakistan, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, ment and instructions, ASC’s Costa Rica, Ecuador have contacted us, system works. “Scientists need to interested in having us help coordinate learn how to communicate with the their research,” he said. adventurers to ensure there is accuracy and quality there.”

Although citizen science often gets a bad rap because the data isn’t necIn the last two months the science essarily as controlled, Treinish said community has really embraced

ASC, Treinish said. Perhaps this is because ASC’s work can save scientists like McDermott and Rodriguez time and money, and according to Treinish, “can speed the process along of understanding what’s [on Everest] by years.”

Even with more new members in June than in the previous six months combined, ASC is nowhere near where it needs to be in terms of funding, Treinish said. He’s also applied for and inquired about 200-plus grants. But “there are a lot of strong, narrow requirements for granting foundations. Because we’re a new concept and a new organization, we don’t fit into those well.”

Rodriguez says ASC’s approach is underrepresented and he hopes it will continue to grow. He imagines the ecotourism industry, for example, could provide citizen scientists the opportunity to record data or collect samples all around the world. In fact, he said, it’s a necessity: “The future of our understanding of climate change and how that will impact natural and agricultural ecosystems will depend on how well we can make observations on a smaller scale.” adventureandscience.org

explorebigsky.com

July 1, 2011 13

Big Sky Weekly

montana

up iN smoke Montana medicinal marijuana is in the hands of a Helena judge, but not entirely

By Taylor Anderson

Mike Singer woke up Thursday the owner of a business.

The business, Sensible Alternatives in Belgrade, which sold marijuana to approved patients, wasn’t making money yet. After paying off his debts to contractors, employees and electricians, Singer was ready to start taking in a profit and giving money to investors for the first time.

When he woke up on Friday he may have lost his job. He wasn’t the only one.

“When we got into this we knew we were taking a big risk,” Singer said.

Selling medicinal cannabis in Montana was legal on June 30, but was slated to become illegal July 1 when SB 423, a bill passed by the Montana Legislature, was set to take effect.

Legislators in March passed the restricting bill making any sale of medical marijuana illegal, effectively closing dispensaries across the state and ending an industry that opponents long claimed shouldn’t have existed. But that wasn’t the end of the debate.

Caregivers, the bill says, would now instead be required to give the product away to no more than three patients, a move that sought to end the questionable tactics by pot tycoons like Jason Christ of Missoula, who became well known for his cannabis caravans at which hundreds of patients were approved for medicinal marijuana within a few hours.

“There’s nowhere in [Initiative 148] that creates an industry,” said Rep. James Knox, R-Billings, an outspoken proponent of repealing the law altogether. “This movement wasn’t really about medical as much as it is about legalizing pot,” Knox said.

Singer’s story was in stark contrast to other dispensaries operating perhaps outside the realm of the 2004 voter-passed initiative that legalized medical marijuana in the state. He’s not a patient and says he doesn’t use the drug, but believes in its medicinal effects.

Singer seemed sure, even on the eve of his business’s closing, that this wasn’t the end of profitable medical marijuana in Montana. His doors will be closed and his pot plants nonexistent, but the inside of his shop will remain furnished and ready for a potential reopening.

“You can’t sweep something like that under the rug forever, it’s not going away,” he said.

The July 1 deadline Singer spent his last week apologizing to patients that his selection was limited. He’d stopped growing pot in time to prepare for the halt of his business, which was determined when SB 423 passed both the Senate and House in March.

The 35-page bill, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, would regulate physicians who deem whether

“The horse is out of the barn, now you’ve got to rein it back in.” -Mike Singer, Sensible Alternatives 14 July 1, 2011

explorebigsky.com

or not Montana residents have an approved debilitating ailment of health. Going forward, doctors could only prescribe to 25 patients in a year before they face examination by the Board of Medical Examiners at the doctor’s expense, according to the bill.

The bill’s passing coincided with raids by federal and state narcotics agents of more than two dozen dispensaries across the state.

Agents razed plants, marijuana, cash, weapons and cars from operations like Queen City Caregivers in Helena and Natural Medicine in Great Falls.

The raids represented a statement from state leaders that it would not be business as usual after two years of an all but clandestine exponential boom. It created an industry that grew from less than 100 in 2005, to more than 4,000 patients in 2009, and more than 30,000 this year, and didn’t go unnoticed by officials.

The raids landed in Big Sky on March 14 this year when agents raided a business owner in town.

The owner, who wanted to remain anonymous due to legal issues, said his once successful business fell into a downward spiral of lost patients and falling profits.

“I spent a lot of money and a lot of time doing it and trying to do it right,” the owner said. “I’ve got children, I’ve got a wife.”

It was a fate he’d experienced as the owner of a construction business in town before that industry collapsed around 2008.

“We’re just doing the best we can, having been shuffled so quickly out of construction and then watching this crumble too,” he said.

Sources connected with the raids said agents targeted businesses they believed were operating outside the law as established by Initiative 148.

But Knox – and others like him – spoke with dissatisfied contempt over SB 423, because he is a firm believer that marijuana shouldn’t be used medicinally by anyone. He believed the solution to Montana’s issues would be in an all-out repeal.

“It’s not like other medicines where you have the ability to have a dose measurement with an expected performance based on height and weight,” Knox said. “It’s not, ‘Take two tokes and call me in the morning.”

Legislators passed a repeal bill before SB 423, but Gov. Brian Schweitzer vetoed that bill in a branding session on the steps of the capitol in Helena where he nixed 17 bills, all by Republican legislators.

Schweitzer has announced publicly his belief in regulating the industry, but has also spoken out against SB 423. But in a move that surprised some advocates, he didn’t veto the bill, and instead let it take effect without his signature.

Referendum After the law passed Schweitzer’s branding iron unscathed, marijuana advocates took action another way: in the courts.

The Montana Caregivers Industry Association asked a judge in Helena for full injunction of the bill, claiming unconstitutionality. A two-day trial in Helena in June left owners and patients in limbo in the weeks leading up to the July 1 deadline.

“The referendum is moving forward, there’s no sitting around and wait-

Big Sky Weekly

ing,” said Kate Cholewa, Director of Communications for the MTCIA.

would be likely that some dispensary owners would close their doors for good.

Cholewa said she was encouraged by the case put forth by James Goetz, of Bozeman, who represented the MTCIA. But the group isn’t waiting around for the judge’s decision.

Optimism despite uncertainty

District Judge James Reynolds expressed his dislike for parts of the bill during closing statements on the final day of the hearing, telling Assistant Attorney General Jim Molloy that “the state is truly relying on guardian angels to come forward” to provide free cannabis to patients.

Molloy, representing the state, listed three provisions he believed could be taken out of the bill while maintaining its effectiveness.

But the MTCIA announced days before July 1 that it would ramp up efforts to collect the 24,000-plus signatures required for putting an initiative on the ballot in November and halting SB 423.

“There’s no sitting around and waiting,” Cholewa said.

The attorney general’s office in Montana announced July 28 that it would allow the group to launch an all-out attempt at obtaining the signatures and legitimizing another referendum.

No decision on the potential injunction had been made as of press time, but had the judge granted a complete injunction, it

Bozeman Police Chief Ron Price said he wasn’t planning to raid dispensaries if the bill took effect on July 1, but that the department would follow whichever law passed through the court.

“The laws change all the time, and people ask me ‘How are you gearing up to it?’”

Price said. “We expect people to abide by the law.”

The industry has always been illegal at the federal level, but Initiative 148, which passed with 62 percent of voter approval in 2004, made medical marijuana legal in Montana.

Montana isn’t the only state that legalized marijuana for medicinal use. There are 16 states and an estimated 1-to-1.5 million patients nationwide, according to NORML records.

Advocates have voiced belief that a looming backlash of patients flooding the black market will come as a shock to lawmakers.

Patients have said publicly they want to continue to use marijuana for medicine, and they’ll likely search for it illegally if it comes down to it.

The medical marijuana industry in Montana grew from100 patients in 2005, to more than

4,000 patients

in 2009, and more than

30,000 this year

“The horse is out of the barn,” Singer said.

“Now you’ve got to rein it back in.”

Check explorebigsky.com for updates on the lawsuits and referendem actions.

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explorebigsky.com

July 1, 2011 15

Big Sky Weekly

at choppers in big sky

Tickets $20 in advance, available at choppers pre-party 8 p.m., show 9 p.m. (regular dining room hours till 7 p.m.)

youth

July 1, 2011 Volume 2 // Issue #12

Big Sky

Big Sky’s Golden Ticket Community pulls together for summer camp, performing arts center. photos and story By Kaela Schommer Something is stirring at Big Sky Resort, and no, it’s not a monster. It’s a group of 24 kids learning to put on a real Broadway show. Kids from first to seventh grade are working tirelessly to put on a production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Director John Zirkle, vocal coach Stephanie Brink, producer Barbara Rowley, camp director Eric Corliss, have the help of two high school interns, Anna Middleton, stage manager, and Ambros Locker, technical producer.

This amazing staff is assisting Big Sky Broadway campers to produce it’s first complete show.

Camp officially started June 20, but the staff had been putting in full days preparing for the kids for almost two weeks before that. You can see all their hard work July 1 at 6 p.m. in the resort’s auditorium.

Bring $5 for tickets at the door, and a little extra for La Chatelaine chocolate bars that will be sold at the performance. These aren’t just any yummy chocolate bars, but there are five golden tickets hidden underneath the wrappers.

If you happen to know one of the performers, Big Sky’s newest florist, Big Sky Blooms will be on hand selling bouquets and will donate half the proceeds to Big Sky Broadway. If you love the performance so much and want to see it again, there will be an encore performance at Strings Under the Big Sky, Friday July 8.

View Hardware provided Big Sky Broadway with paint for the backdrops as well as random supplies.

Monica Eck, owner of Monica’s Salon, has donated her own time as well as her assistants. They’ll do hair and make-up for 24 cast members including those rowdy Oompa Loompas.

In order to buy the license for the show the Big Sky Community and several generous community members ‘paid it forward.’ Camp Big Sky, along with camp director Katie Coleman, was also a huge help. They helped advertise Big Sky Broadway and handled the accounting.

But the most important people it takes to put on a musical are the parents, grandparents and kids who provide help with costumes, props and snacks.

Performing Arts in Big Sky Performing arts doesn’t end with Big Sky Broadway.

Strings Under the Big Sky is having their annual summer event to raise funds for the Ophir and Lone Peak High School music programs. The event will be held at the Clubhouse at the Club at Spanish Peaks on July

Producer Barbra Rowley says it takes a village to put on a musical on a shoestring budget; thanks to our community’s support, it looks like it will be possible. Big Sky Resort is playing a big part in in the program by providing a space for the kids to rehearse for two weeks, as well as a venue for the final performance. Barbra also says that they’re lucky to have community-minded Kevin Barton as the owner of Mountain View Hardware. Mountain

8, and is sponsored by Friends of Big Sky Education.

The night will consist of music preformed by Ophir students, and Mike Reynolds as well as members of the Muir String Quartet. Tickets will be $75 a person, and it includes dinner, beer/wine, as well as the wonderful entertainment.

This year, Strings Under the Big Sky will kick off a year of fundraising for the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, which will be on the Ophir School District campus. This project is expected to be done in the fall of 2012 and will be a community concert hall with a 1,435 square foot stage/classroom, and 280 cushioned stadium seats set on risers. The completion of this project will cost around $1 million, so it is crucial that the Big Sky community is involved.

Strings Under the Big Sky has been supporting music programs at Ophir and Lone Peak High School for the last five years. They have accumulated over $10,000 annually, which has enabled the school district to enhance the music programs with violin instruction and the purchasing of instruments. To purchase tickets call 995-7951 or email strings@friendsofbigskyeducation.org

Rehearsals for “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”

School’s out, summer food service programs are in 2 The Montana Office of Public Instruction and Montana Food Bank Network are on a joint mission this summer. Both organizations want to ensure children have easy access to Summer Food Service Program sites across the state.

“Food security is essential for the health and development of all of our children,” said Anna Whiting Sorrell, Director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Summer Food Service Program supports free breakfast, lunch, and supper meals, as well as snacks for hungry children in communities throughout the Big Sky country.

“For a significant number of Montana families, summer is an especially difficult time of year,” said Christine Emerson, MS, RD, registered dietitian and OPI director of School Nutrition Programs. During summer, children from low-income families do not have access to school breakfast or lunch, and their families may have a hard time putting enough nutritious food on the table. In these situations, Summer Food Service Programs can fill a critical nutrition gap.

OPI and the Montana Food Bank Network are collaborating to provide critical outreach about local SFSP opportunities. This means increasing both the number of SFSP sponsors and the number of lowincome children eating at SFSP sites. Thanks to this work, Montana children can enjoy healthy meals at schools, day camps, parks, recreation centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, Salvation Army centers and a variety of other sites.

“The real problem in Montana is that only 16 out of every 100 kids who receive free or reduced price school meals also eat free SFSP meals during the summer,” notes Minkie Medora from the MFBN Food Security Council. “Many families do not know where the free summer meals for children are served.”

Here are three ways all Montanans can help:

1

Volunteer in local programs to support summer activities: Many Montana SFSP programs offer more than lunch in the park. For example, the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools offers Reading Rocks where volunteers read and provide free books to children. billings.k12.mt.us/bpef

3

Support the Montana Food Bank Network: As Montana’s statewide hunger fighting organization, the network is building a unified force to provide long term solutions to food insecurity. mfbn.org Dayle Hayes, MS, RD (EatRightMT2000@gmail. com) developed this information for Eat Right Montana, a coalition promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles. Past and current issues of Eat Right Montana, a monthly nutrition and physical activity tips are available at eatrightmontana.org.

Locate summer meal sites to share with needy families: Montana Food Bank Network’s website has a list at mfbn.org/summerfoodmt.

explorebigsky.com

July 1, 2011 17

Big Sky Weekly

sports

NBA Eastern Conference: predictions for next year they also drafted Texas power forward Tristan Thompson fourth overall.

Thompson has the potential to develop into a great player and should team up well with Irving.

Cavs fans should be happy.

By Brandon Niles With the finals completed, NBA fans look to free agency and the draft for hope that their teams will compete next season. It’s one of my favorite events of the year, and during the draft, even fans of the worst teams are able to find hope for the future. With the 2011 NBA draft in the books, it’s time to take a look at the best and the worst of draft night.

Charlotte – The Bobcats are in rebuilding mode, shedding salaries and trying to accumulate young talent to develop.

With that in mind, they made a trade that sent aging Stephen Jackson to Milwaukee for Corey Maggette and the 19th pick for the seventh. The Bobcats already had the ninth pick, and with their two top-ten choices, they grabbed Bismack Biyombo, power forward from Congo, and guard Kemba Walker from UConn.

Biyombo has a rare blend of athleticism and ability, while Walker brings a winning attitude and the ability to hit big shots.

Mortgage rates are Winners still historically low Cleveland – This is a weak draft, but

Act now

the top pick, point guard Kyrie Irving from Duke, is as close to a sure thing as you can get this year. The addition of Irving gives them a young, Portland – Portland came into the talented player to build around torefinancing Lookand into with a responsible leader. draft needing a long-termlending solution re-energize their fan base. As a bonus, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage continues to offer quality at point guard and some frontcourt

refinance choices, including options that address many of the unique challenges facing homeowners today. You may be able to:

depth. They drafted Duke guard Nolan Smith to add some backcourt depth and outside shooting, but most notably they traded aging but reliable point guard Andre Miller to Denver for young and talented Raymond Felton. Felton has the ability to be the future in Portland. This trade allowed the Trail Blazers to come out of the draft well after addressing one of their two biggest needs.

Losers Minnesota – As usual, the Timberwolves made questionable moves during the draft. With the second pick, they selected the second-best player in forward Derrick Williams from Arizona. However, the forward position is arguably the strongest on their team and they should’ve traded that pick for something else. Minnesota’s failure to add a center or a reliable scorer at the shooting guard position makes them a loser in this draft, despite the addition of Williams.

Toronto – Needing help in the backcourt, the Raptors chose instead to take a developmental big man in Jonas Valanciunas from Lithuania with the fifth pick. While talented, he has contract issues and may not be

Mortgage rates are still historically low • • • • •

Lower your monthly mortgage payment Switch from an ARM to a predictable fixed-rate loan Access funds for large expenses or debt management Get a shorter term to pay off your mortgage faster Finance your closing costs as part of your new loan

Mortgage rates are Just a few minutes with a home mortgage consultant will still historically low help you understand your refinancing options.

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Don’t miss

Brandon Niles has done online freelance writing since 2007. A Communication Studies graduate student at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Niles is also an avid Miami Dolphins fan, which has led to his becoming an avid Scotch whisky fan over the past decade. He’d love to visit Montana one day.

Act now

Look into refinancing with a responsible lending leader.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage continues to offer quality refinance choices, including options that address many of the unique challenges facing homeowners today. You may be able to: • • • • •

Lower your monthly mortgage payment Switch from an ARM to a predictable fixed-rate loan Access funds for large expenses or debt management Get a shorter term to pay off your mortgage faster Finance your closing costs as part of your new loan

Don’t miss your chance

Just a few minutes with a home mortgage consultant will help you understand your refinancing options.

Contact Wells Fargo Home Mortgage today

Lance Child

Private Mortgage Banker Phone: 406-995-4625 Cell: 406-580-5489 145 Center Lane, Suite A Big Sky, MT 59716 lance.m.child@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 403996

• Access funds for large expenses or debt management • Get a shorter term to pay off your mortgage faster your• chance Finance your closing costs as part of your new loan

Just a few minutes with a home mortgage consultant will help you understand your refinancing options.

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Golden State – The Warriors chose to grab shooting guard Klay Thompson from Washington State 11th overall. Thompson isn’t a bad choice, but the Warriors badly need reliable players at the forward positions and instead went with a guard. The team has a loaded backcourt, and they passed on available forwards like Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Morris.

While I do like the acquisition of center Jeremy Tyler in the second round, Golden State didn’t get as much as they could’ve out of this draft.

Mortgage rates are still historically low

Don’t miss your chance

Look into refinancing with a responsible lending leader.

Contact Wells Fargo Home Mortgage today Wells Fargo Home Mortgage continues to offer quality refinance choices, including options that address many of Lance Child the unique challenges facing homeowners You may Look into refinancing atoday. responsible Private with Mortgage Bankerlending leader. be able to: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage continues to offer quality Phone: 406-995-4625 refinance choices, options that address many of Cell:including 406-580-5489 • Lower your monthly mortgage payment the unique challenges facing homeowners 145 Center Lane, Suiteloan A today. You may • Switch from an ARM to a predictable fixed-rate be able to: Big Sky, • Access funds for large expenses or MT debt59716 management lance.m.child@wellsfargo.com • Lower your monthly mortgage payment • Get a shorter term to pay off your mortgage faster NMLSR IDto403996 • Switch from an ARM a predictable • Finance your closing costs as part of your new loan fixed-rate loan

available next year. Meanwhile, they let Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight slide past them. Knight would’ve instantly upgraded the Toronto backcourt. Toronto failed to address any needs, while rolling the dice on an international player with contract issues.

Just a few minutes with a home mortgage consultant will you understand your refinancing Wellshelp Fargo Home Mortgage todayoptions.

Credit is subject to approval. Some restrictions apply. This information is

Contact Wells Fargo Home today accurate as of date of printing and isMortgage subject to change without notice.

Lance Child

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2011

Private Mortgage Banker Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801.

104226 0 6 / 1 1 Lance Child Phone: 406-995-4625 Private Mortgage Banker Cell: 406-580-5489 Phone: 145 Center Lane, Suite406-995-4625 A Cell: Big Sky, MT 59716 406-580-5489 145 Center Lane, Suite A lance.m.child@wellsfargo.com Big Sky, MT 59716 NMLSR ID 403996

18 July 1, 2011

lance.m.child@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 403996

Credit is subject to approval. Some restrictions apply. This information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801.

104226 - 06/11

SAFETY FIRST

Big Sky Weekly photo courtesy of geyser whitewater

Guidelines for the river

By Danielle chamberlain Water, moving or not, is very dangerous. No one expects when they start a day on the river or lake that it may end badly, but it can happen.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana has seen 44 boating fatalities in the last seven years. Of these, 29 involved individuals not wearing life jackets.

Here are some tips to make sure your day on the water is safe: 1. WEAR A LIFE JACKET Make sure to choose a proper life jacket that fits and is specific to your activity. For example, a water skiing life jacket will work great on a lake but not on a river.

2. LEAVE THE BOOZE AT HOME Ron Jendro, FWP boating law administrator says, “Alcohol was the leading factor in 19 percent of the boating deaths reported in 2010 nationwide.”

3. AVOID STRAINERS Strainers are large objects, like a tree, that are caught in fast moving water.

These are dangerous because water can pass through, but objects the size of a human cannot.

4. DO NOT STAND UP IN FAST MOVING WATER The bottoms of many Montana rivers are layered with rocks. If you stand up, there is a chance your leg can become stuck between rocks and your body will be forced underwater.

5. SCOUT RAPIDS Always know what’s ahead and scout rapids. A good way to learn the river is to go on a raft trip with a local rafting company.

6. Take a SAFETY COURSE Go to fwp.mt.gov for more information.

“Whether you are an operator or a passenger this July 4 weekend, avoid alcohol and always wear your life jacket,” says Jendro.

Danielle Chamberlain is a fifth-year raft guide at Geyser Whitewater.

explorebigsky.com

July 1, 2011 19

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Hwy 191 just south of the Big Sky stoplight

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Growing in Big Sky for 31 years

we deliver 4069952305

serving breakfast lunch & dinner

Noxious Weed Spraying for: Mountain Pine Beetle Spruce Bud Worm Roadside Pastures and Open Spaces Licensed and Insured

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Big Sky Weekly

health & wellness

Cravings, deconstructed

Adding healthier, balanced food choices to menus will curb the cravings for the foods we know aren’t the best

By Victoria Bentley, NCTMB, CPI, LMT, HC We all have cravings. They are not a major health concern, but they do affect our lives. Cravings are there for a reason, and they can lead to other health issues. By deconstructing our cravings we can better understand what our bodies need.

Whether we realize it or not, the body is always moving toward a state of homeostasis – or balance.

go lifestyles, so it’s difficult to make healthy snack or meal choices when those cravings creep up.

What do you crave? Sweet, salty, spicy, creamy, cold, crunchy, hard, dry or moist? These are all hints as to what’s going on. Again, there are no accidents in what we’re craving.

Making mindful nutritious choices will create healthy eating patterns and a good relationship with food.

Slowing down to chew food makes a world of a difference. Remember, our bodies want to be in balance and run efficiently.

When and why? Notice the time of day and what’s going on in your life when you crave something. What you discover might surprise you.

The problem: Cravings can be repeated, non-nutritious choices, such as caffeine, sweets and processed snacks. They are a quick fix, hit the bloodstream hard, and over time do us damage both physiologically and emotionally. Most of us live on-the-

The solution: Keep nutrient-dense, whole food choices on-hand. Balancing foods such as fruits, veggies, nuts/ seeds and leafy greens generally do not create cravings. They are complete on their own.

4 1 R E A S O NS TO VISIT B OZEMAN DEACONESS P H A R M A C Y AT B IG S KY. Fill a prescription. Refill a prescription. Shop for over-the-counter remedies for head colds, heartburn, and whatever else ails you.

Quickly. Conveniently. Right here in Big Sky at Meadow Village Center across from the Big Sky Chapel.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00 am-6:00 pm; Closed 2:00-2:30 pm for lunch Meadow Village Center | 36 Center Ln, Suite 2 406-993-9390 | www.bozemandeaconess.org/pharmacy

Victoria Bentley is the Owner and Director of Bentley Bodies, a premiere mind-bodywellness boutique committed to healthy lifestyle choices. Locations are in Big Sky and Bozeman. bentleybodies.net

406.646.7200 www.kirkwoodresort.com • Cabin and Boat Rentals • Boat Launch • Serving breakfast, lunch

and supper

Located on the North Shore of Hebgen Lake, West Yellowstone

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July 1, 2011 21

business directory

Big Sky Weekly

Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine www.greatturninghealing.com 81 W. Kagy Blvd, Bozeman, MT

� PILATES

406-922-2745

� YOGA � MASSAGE � PERSONAL TRAINING

� HEALTH COUNSELING

TREE REMOVAL 995-7852

REMOVING DEAD AND INFESTED TREES Grants Available for home Fire Suppression Approved RC&D Hazardous fuels reduction contractor Tom Newberry:

995-7852

BigSkyTrees@aol.com

Business Profile of the Week Big Sky’s Own: Consignment Cabin Dick and Janine Schaible got their start out west much the same way as other Midwesterners. They caught wind of the beauty, they took a trip to Montana, and they stayed.

Home

Life

The

Auto

Agency Insurance Division Protecting Your Assets

Call us today at 993 9242 or visit us on the web at www.ins-agency.com

horse of a different color

Live with the things you Love

After years of visiting the area for ski trips, the Schaibles bought a condo in Big Sky. Now, the couple has moved somewhat permanently into the area and are looking to make a mark on the community by opening Big Sky’s first consignment goods store, the Consignment Cabin, open July 1.

“Before, the Big Sky community had to go a long way to find consignment,” Dick said. “If they have things to be resold, they’ve got a long way to go to get to Bozeman.”

Located in the Big Horn center off Highway 191 just before the righthand turn to Big Sky, the Consignment Cabin occupies two parts of a four-business building.

BIG BURRITOS. BIG TASTE. SMALL PRICES.

TACOS • WRAPS • BOWLS KIDS MENU • BEER • MARGS EVERYTHING MADE FRESH EVERY DAY!

DINE IN • TAKE OUT • WEROLLEMFAT.COM Big Sky Meadow Village Across from the Post Office 406-995-3113 Monday - Saturday: 10-5 Sunday: 11-5

WINTER HOURS START DECEMBER 6 OPEN DAILY 11-8

FIND

N FA US O

CEBO

OK!!

LOCATED IN THE WESTFORK PLAZA NEXT TO MILKIES. CALL AHEAD 995-3099!

22 July 1, 2011

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Big Sky Weekly

OZssage Ltd - Therapeutic Massage & Spa • YOGA • RESTORATIVE YOGA • INTEGRATIVE RELAXATION • PRENATAL YOGA • BOOMERS & BEYOND • REIKI Visit our website for a complete list of services and classes

DIMENSION3YOGA.COM Delilah Price Eakman, 406-581-2442, Big Sky, MT

Selling used, quality “Before, thelightly Big Sky community had to clothes, go a long sporting way to findgoods, consignment. If they have things to be rehome furnishings & more! sold, they’ve got a long way to go to Located across from Bugaboo in get to Bozeman.” the Big Horn Center off Hwy 191 -Dick Schaible, Owner, Consignment Cabin They don’t buy any of the goods that are sold in the store and operate strictly on consignment. The rustic clothing, sporting goods and call Janine furniture reflect Please a part of Western life in theor area.Dick @

(406) 993-9333 for an appointment

Whether you’re to on your way outyour of townitems or on thefor hunt for some consign sale with authentic Montana goods, drop into the Consignment Cabin. They’ll us in our new store. treat you like a good friend.

T.A.

NOTICE OF PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO CREATE THE BIG SKY MEADOW TRAILS, RECREATION AND PARKS SPECIAL DISTRICT TO BE ADMINISTERED

BY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: on June 14, 2011, by Resolution of Intent No. 2011-045, the County Commissioners of Gallatin County passed a RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO CREATE THE BIG SKY MEADOW TRAILS, RECREATION AND PARKS SPECIAL DISTRICT PURSUANT TO MONTANA CODE ANNOTATED 7-11-1001 ET SEQ AND ADMINISTERED BY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO MONTANA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 7-11101 ET SEQ. A public hearing to consider the RESOLUTION CREATING THE BIG SKY MEADOW TRAILS, RECREATION AND PARKS SPECIAL DISTRICT will be held July 26, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., 3rd Fl, Community Room, Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 W. Main, Bozeman MT, 59715. All members of the public are invited to attend.

An owner of property that is liable to be assessed for the program or improvements in the proposed special district has 30 days from the date of the first publication of the notice of passage of resolution of intention to make written protest against the proposed program or improvements. The protest must be in writing, identify the property in the district with a legal description, be signed by all the owners of that property, and be delivered to the Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, 311 W. Main St, Room 203, Bozeman, MT, 59715, no later than 5:00 p.m., July 22, 2011.

For further information on the action to be taken contact -- Commissioners Bill Murdock, Joe Skinner, or Steve White, 311 W. Main, Room 306, Bozeman MT 59715, phone (406) 582-3000, or email commission@gallatin.mt.gov. A copy of the RESOLUTION OF INTENT, sample INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, boundary description, map and other information is available on the Gallatin County website “What’s Happening”: www.gallatin.mt.gov DATED this 20th day of June, 2011.

Charlotte Mills, Clerk and Recorder, Gallatin County, Bozeman, Montana

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July 1, 2011 23

R U O Y T E G

N O B GRU Y K S

G I B

N I OUND

Big Sky Weekly

NOW OPEN FOR THE SUMMER

YEAR-R

HAPPY HOUR*

• Daily drink specials • Live Music • 12 HDTVs

MONDAY-FRIDAY 3:00-5:00 PM *½ price well drinks and pints

• Amazing Food • 100 beers • 100 wines

July Music Sat. 2nd Jeff Bellino 9:30 p.m.

Thurs. 7th Milton Menasco & the Big Fiasco 10:00 p.m.

Sat. 9th Eli Madden 9:30 p.m.

Mon. 11th Open Mic 9:30 p.m.

Thurs. 14th The Cropdusters 10:00 p.m.

Sat. 16th Bob Rose 9:30 p.m.

Mon. 18th Open Mic 9:30 p.m.

Thurs. 21st The Boozehounds 10:00 p.m.

Sat. 23rd Michael Harring & Dew Dog 9:30 p.m.

Mon. 25th Open Mic 9:30 p.m.

Thurs. 28th The Tyler James Brigade 10:00 p.m.

Sat. 30th Landlocked 9:30 p.m.

CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW STAGE AND MUSIC AREA!

OPEN DAILY AT 11:30 A.M. LUNCH & DINNER 24 July 1, 2011

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LOCATED IN THE BIG SKY TOWN CENTER big sky, montana 406-995-3830

Big Sky Weekly

EVENTS

Planning an event? Let us know! Email abbie@theoutlawpartners.com and we’ll spread the word. Check explorebigsky.com for an extended calendar.

Art Opening to Benefit YCCF, Local Artists Thursday, July 14, 7 p.m.

Eye in the Sky Gallery will be mixing up its medium by hosting local artist Jackie Rainford Corcoran. She will be the first guest artist at Eye in the Sky, and Kene Sperry (owner and photographer) plans to feature many more local artists in the future.

canvas, linoleum block prints, paper on wood and pastel on paper.

Rainford will display her latest work of sensual curves, simple lines and rich colors. This installment from Rainford focuses on the simplistic beauty of the female form, highlighting many different mediums—oil on

Ten percent of all sales on opening night will be donated to the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, which awards grants to eligible community-based nonprofit organizations.

big sky Art Exhibition: Kids Fly Fishing July 1 Crail Ranch 10 - Noon

Artist and Artisans Market Crail Ranch July 3 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

All Saints in Big Sky Outdoor Worship Service Big Sky Chapel Gardens July 3 9:30 a.m.

Big Sky 4th of July Celebration Big Sky Community Park 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Artwork by Jackie Rainford Corcoran

Kids Washtub Music Crail Ranch BSCC - 406- 993- 2112 July 12 10 a.m.

Gallatin Canyon Women’s Club Meeting Mary Sue Tallichet July 13 1 p.m.

Music in the Mountains: Chuck Mead and his Grassy Knoll Boys Town Center July 14 7 p.m.

Big Sky Art Walk

Friends of the Library Meeting

Crail Ranch July 16 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

West yellowstone Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo July 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 8 p.m.

Free Fly Fishing Clinics

Big Sky Community Library July 6 10 a.m.

Jacklin’s Fly Shop July 3, 10, 17 7:30 p.m.

Big Sky Farmers’ Market

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Rummage Sale

Town Center July 6, 13 5 - 8 p.m.

July 4th Parade/Music/ Fireworks

Ellen Theatre July 8 7 p.m.

6 p.m.

Fireworks- 10 p.m.

Island Park Library Friends 10th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair Buffalo Run RV Park July 15-16 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Town Park July 4 9 - 3 p.m.

Montana Roots Roadshow

Bozeman Folklore Society Concert Series Presents Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Spirit Pilgrim Congregational Church July 11 7 p.m.

Lunch on the Lawn

Bozeman Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market

Featuring Bebe LaBoeuf Emerson Lawn July 13 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

July 2, 9, 16 Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds 9 - Noon

The Patterns Method of Plant Identification

Bogert Farmers’ Market

Bozeman REI July 14 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

July 3, 12 5 p.m.

Gardiner

Music on Main

Gardiner Community Center Meeting

July 7, 14 6:30 p.m.

Ice Cream Social at the Farm

Lunch on the Lawn

Kids Old Fashioned Games Day

Lone Peak Brewery July 6, 13 8 p.m.

July 8 6 - 8 p.m.

Brewfest

Freddy Pink Town Center 7 p.m.

Shuffleboard Tournaments

Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot 11 - 2 p.m.

Town Park 6 p.m.

Museum of the Rockies July 4 2 - 4 p.m.

Big Sky Resort Mountain Village July 16

Big Horn Ridge Community Course July 5, 12 6 p.m.

Downtown Bozeman Art Walk

July 16 - July 17 Meadow Village 2-8 p.m.

Big Sky Art’s Council July 4th Concert

Mixed Doubles Disc Golf Tournament

July 4th BBQ Fundraising Event

Tumbleweed Bookstore July 5 6:30 p.m.

virginia city

Featuring Bozeman Symphony Emerson Lawn July 6 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Map and Compass Basics

eighth annual Dog and Grog, Montana Micro-brew festival July 15, 16 12 p.m. -7p.m. No Cover charge Bale of Hay Saloon Virginia City Chamber Call for Hotels 800-829-2969

Bozeman REI July 7 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Free Family Events Mark Crail Ranch Summer Kickoff Historic Crail Ranch on Spotted Elk Road in Big Sky is once again offering a series of free family events this summer. Historic Crail Ranch is a history museum in an authentic early 1900s homesteader’s cabin open for tours weekends from noon to 3 p.m. during July and August.

The season starts with the Pat Allen Fly Fishing Clinic for kids ages 6-14, a clinic conducted by professional guides from local fly shops and well known local fly fishing experts. The day includes demonstrations, hands-on fly-casting practice and fun competitions. The class is free, but limited to 30 kids. Sign up in advance (406) 993-2112. Kids need to bring hats and sunglasses

and may bring their own fly fishing equipment or use equipment supplied by instructors.

The annual Crail Ranch Artist and Artisans Market, will again feature artists and craftspeople from Montana and the nearby region. Also, several events at Crail Ranch are planned later in the month, including Kids “Washtub” Music, Kids Old Fashioned Games Day, Kids Theatre Workshop, the Crail Ranch Bake Sale, and Paula Halvorsen’s Colors of Kyrgyzstan trunk sale of rugs, clothing, dolls and other items. See above event calendar for event specifics. crailranch.org - Al Lockwood

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July 1, 2011 25

Big Sky Weekly

Big Sky Weekly home of the

10

$

Classifieds!

$15 with photo

Each Ad can be up to 4 lines (Maximum of 30 words).

Additional lines are $5 per line, Maximum of 8 words per line.

Email classifieds and/or advertising requests to: media@theoutlawpartners.com (406) 995-2055

26 July 1, 2011

help wanted West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation Program Director/Yellowstone Ski Festival Coordinator. Annual salary: $30,000. The West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation is seeking a Program Director and Yellowstone Ski Festival Coordinator. Duties include planning, coordinating, and executing crosscountry ski events, marketing cross country skiing in and around West Yellowstone, and assisting in management and maintenance of the Rendezvous trails. Detailed job description at: rendezvousskitrails.com.

Position is contingent upon annual budgetary consideration by the WYSEF Board of Directors.

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to: WYSEF, P.O. Box 956, West Yellowstone, MT 59758. Applications must be received by 7/15/11.

-----------------------------------------Opening at the Medical Clinic of Big Sky for receptionist/patient coordinator. Previous medical background helpful but not required. Must be computer savvy, have the ability to multi task,

explorebigsky.com

work well with others and maintain confidentiality at all times.

Bring fax or resume to the Medical Clinic, 11 Lone Peak Trail - suite 202 - FAX 406-993-2965 or mail to PO Box 160609, Big Sky, MT 59716

required. Call Victoria to secure a spot - 406-570-9154 Location: Bentley Bodies Studio in Big Sky, above Gallatin Alpine Sports

SERVICES

Summer Yogalattes Every Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

Get ready to sweat!

Bentley Bodies Boot Camp Every Tues & Thurs 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

Fusion of classical Pilates mat with Vinyasa yoga $12/class Drop-ins welcome

Join us for this rigorous and fun overall functional fitness class:

Where: Bentley Bodies Studio in Big Sky, above Gallatin Alpine Sports Call Victoria with any questions 406-570-9154

Combination of interval style plyometrics, kettle bells, suspension trainers, free weights and outdoor work (weather permitting). Class size minimum of 6, max 10. $10/class, total of 16 sessions (June 7 - July 28). Reservations

Want to advertise?

Contact Outlaw Partners at (406) 995-2055 or media@theoutlawpartners.com

Big Sky Weekly

summer reading

Featured independent publishers The Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group recently named the best independent books of 2011.

The books are winners of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest non-profit book awards program worldwide, judged by leaders in the indie book publishing industry to identify books that deserve to reach a wider audience.

Top Non-Fiction Books

“We like to think of our awards program as the ‘Sundance’ of the book publishing world,” says Catherine Goulet, Chair of the 2011 book awards program.

Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth, by Larry J. Schweiger (Fulcrum Publishing)

Independent book publishing companies are independent of the major conglomerates that dominate the book publishing industry. The indies include small presses, larger independent publishers, university presses, e-book publishers and self-published authors.

Make sure to check the Big Sky Community Library and the Bozeman Public Library for these and other summer reading titles. bigskylibrary.org bozemanpubliclibrary.org

Touching: Poems of Love, Longing, and Desire, edited by Sari Friedman and D. Patrick Miller (Fearless Books)

Top design book

Serve to Lead®: Your Transformational 21st Century Leadership System, by James M. Strock (Serve to Lead Press)

Top Fiction Books

Carny: A Novel in Stories, by James Hitt (Aberdeen Bay Press)

Wisconsin’s Own: Twenty Remarkable Homes, by M. Caren Connolly and Louis Wasserman, photographs by Zane Williams (Wisconsin Historical Society Press).

2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

The DeValera Deception,

by Michael McMenamin & Patrick McMenamin (Enigma Books)

environmental educator

I Can Only Give You Everything, by Bradford Tatum (self-published)

Entries are now being accepted for the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. The awards program is open to fiction and nonfiction books from independent authors and publishers worldwide released in 2011 or 2012 or with a copyright date of 2011 or 2012. indiebookawards.com - from the Weekly’s wire services

Tax return preparation Tax planning Payroll Services

Our atmosphere:

four layers, 7.5 miles thick and very important

Bookkeeping Financial Statement preparation Business Consulting Business Valuation

by eileen connors This image shows the orange-colored troposphere, the lowest and most dense portion of the Earth’s atmosphere. nasa.gov People look to the sky and see endless space, so they think earth’s atmosphere goes on forever. Really though, our atmosphere’s four layers--the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere--together extend about 400 miles above earth’s surface. The first two layers, the troposphere and stratosphere, are where relevant environmental problems are happening.

The troposphere extends five miles above the poles and 10 miles above the equator. On global average, that’s about 7.5 miles above our heads. With the exception of the ozone molecules in the ozone layer, the troposphere is where all elements reside. All life and weather happens here, and Earth’s natural greenhouse effect happens in the troposphere, because natural greenhouse gases act like glass, trapping heat, making earth livable. Today, humans are emitting greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. We emit 70 million tons of it into the troposphere, causing global warming to increase in the troposphere.

The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere, and ends 30 miles above Earth’s surface. The ozone layer resides in the top 15 miles of the stratosphere. Does that make the ozone layer sound big? Think again: if it were at the Earth’s surface it would be compressed to an 1/8th of an inch thick.

To keep us in a livable planet, get your daily environmental education at environmentaleducator.org and highly rated phone app.

WAYNE NEIL, JR. CPA DOUG NEIL CPA JAKE NEIL CPA

Celebrating 40 years of business serving Montana and the Gallatin Valley!

1184 North 15th Ave. Ste. 1, Bozeman, MT 59715 Phone (406) 587-9239 Fax (406) 586-4737

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July 1, 2011 27

Big Sky Weekly

www.PruMT.com 406.995.4060 • 800.995.4060 Big Sky Town Center • 55 Lone Peak Drive • Suite 3 Prudential Montana Real Estate is your statewide real estate company with 12 offices to serve you in the communities of Big Sky, Bozeman, Dillon, Ennis, Sheridan, Twin Bridges, Hamilton, Florence, Missoula, Seeley Lake & Polson.

NORTH FORK PRESERVE • • • •

$5,100,000 • #157326 • Call Don

216 +/- acres of beautiful old growth forest Northfork runs through for ap. ¾ miles great views of lower portions of Wilson Peak borders public lands

HORSE PROPERTY

$4,200,000 • #168903 • Call Stacy or Don

• • • •

PINEWOOD HILLS ESTATE • • • •

$1,310,000 • #175582 • Call George

3 bd, 5 ba, 4,500 +/- sf 8 +/- acres consisting of two contiguous lots pond provides water feature natural landscaping with mature trees

• • • •

MOOSEWOOD MEADOWS • • • •

$689,000 • Call Stacy or Anne

4 bd, 3 ba, 2,790 +/- sf luxury timer frame home ski/in, ski/out hot tub backs to open space, stream

ALPENGLOW CONDO • • • •

$399,000 • #174726 • Call Eric/Stacy

Unit #19 3bd, 3.5 ba 2500 +/- sf designer furnishings, end unit, bonus room gourmet kitchen, stainless appliances outdoor hot tub, Lone Mountain views

MADISON COURT # 17 • • • •

$214,000 • #165108 • Call Eric

2 bd, ba, 1207 +/- sf furnished condo counter unit, spacious kitchen 1 car attached garage close to Big Sky Town Center

• • • •

BEEHIVE LOOKOUT

$1,800,000 • # 173605 • Call Stacy or Eric

32.69 +/- acres, 4 bd, 7 ba, 7,084 +/- sf 15,000 +/- sf barn with 70’ x 140’ arena 6 stalls and caretaker’s apartment spectacular property with scenic views

• • • •

170 GRAY OWL LANE

POWDER RIDGE CABIN

3 bd, 3 ba, 3,400 +/- sf located on 4+/- acres guest apartment above garage incredible views with Aspen trees galore

• • • •

SKYWOOD PRESERVE

SPANISH PEAKS CONDO

20 +/- acre secluded lot gated community wooded mountain views paved road, power, phone to lot 5 min. to Meadow Village

• • • •

$1,300,000 • #176635 • Call George

$650,000 • #157988 • Call Don

$795,000 • #176798 • Call Stacy or Anne

• • • •

1.333 +/- acre lot , ski-in/ski-out adjacent to Thunderwolf Lift breathtaking Lone Mountain views agent owned

RAMSHORN, LOT 4 $189,500 • #139949 • Call Don

• .36 +/- acres • level building lot • breathtaking views of Porcupine Drainage and the Gallatin Range abound

Don Pilotte, Broker, GRI, RRS, SFR, 406.580.0155 Eric Ossorio, Broker, 406.539.9553 Stacy Ossorio, Broker, 406.539.8553 Debbie Applebaum, Sales Associate, 406.570.7474

explorebigsky.com

cabin #18, 4bd, 3 ba, 2577 +/- sf furnished ski/In ski/out to White Otter Lift numerous upgrades, river rock fireplace entertaining deck off of kitchen, hot tub

$519,900 • #173321 • Call Stacy or Eric

CASCADE LOT 71A

$349,000 • #173281 • Call Stacy or Eric

2 bd, 3 ba, 2,200 +/- sf unique structure on 30 +/- acre tract 3 massive stone fireplaces 360 views to Lone Mtn. and beyond

3 bd, 3 ba, 2548 +/- sf end unit, ground floor southern exposure clubhouse with outdoor pool

PINES CONDO # C-2 • • • •

$345,000 • #177637 • Call Don

3 bd, 2 ba, 2016 +/- sf, never been rented open floor plan, fireplace, main floor master large deck, views of the Spanish Peaks 1 car attached garage, ample storage areas

BEAVER CREEK MEADOWS • • • •

355 LOW DOG ROAD • • • •

• • • •

2 bd, 2 ba, 991 +/- s beautifully furnished, gas fireplace clean, well appointed good rental income

$749,000 • #173648 • Call Marc

4 bd, 3.5 ba, 3136 +/- sf, 1+ acre lot great for entertaining, hot tub at the base of Wardance ski run nestled in the trees at Mountain Village

RAINBOW TROUT RUN $499,000 • #176526 • Call Stacy

• • • •

3 bd, 2.5 ba, 2365+/- sf, custom finishes bonus room above 2 car attached garage tongue & groove pine ceiling hot tub, flagstone patio with fire pit

BIG HORN CONDO # 1 • • • •

CEDAR CREEK CONDO $173,000 • #171967 • Call George

$1,550,000 • Call George

6+/- acres, 2 homes, total of 6 bd, 5 ba kitchen with high-end appliances great room with rock fireplaces outstanding view of Porcupine Mountain

$325,000 • #146472 • Call Don

2bd 2 ba, 1,037 +/- sf furnished condo fireplace, spacious kitchen, 1 car garage ski/in ski/out accessibility outdoor hot tub—unique in Big Horn

ANTLER RIDGE LOTS • • • •

$119,900 & $134,900 • Call George

Lot 140 & 144, .46 +/- acres lots wonderful building sites, gorgeous views water & sewer (septic) metered purchase 1 lot or make an offer on both

Toni Delzer, Sales Associate, 406.570.3195 Anne MacKenzie, Sales Associate, 406.223.1095 Peter MacKenzie, Sales Associate, 406.223.1195 Mark Dobrenski, Sales Associate, 406.599.2175 George Hagar, Sales Associate, 406.580.2248 Marc Lauermann, Sales Assoc., ABR, SFR, 406.581.8242

fun

Overheard: the funny things tourists say Here are a few funny quotes heard by local businesses and guides.

Locals: Try to hold your scoffing and take a moment to remember the last time you were out of your element.

“How do you make the sky so big?”

“When do you let the wild animals out of their cages?”

Where is the nozzle that turns on Old Faithful?

“At what elevation do deer turn into elk?”

“Look, Honey, a cow!”

On the river: “Are the rocks moving or us?”

“Where are the tracks to attach the rafts?”

“Are we going to get wet?”

“Where does the river loop back around?”

“Do we have to paddle?”

B I G S K Y R E S O R T: B A S E C A M P T O Y E L L O W S T O N E explorebigsky.com

July 1, 2011 29

Big Sky Weekly

SUMMIT VIEW PHASE 1, LOT 5 1.11 acres in Big Sky’s Mountain Village Lot includes existing water well - 15 gal/min.

Spectacular views - Head-on panorama of Lone Mountain Skiing only minutes away

SUMMER ON THE GOLF COURSE

Winter - Mountain

WINTER ON THE MOUNTAIN

LA N D S A L E : BU Y 1 LOT, G E T 1 F R E E $388,000 TAKES BOTH

Summer - Golf Course MEADOW LOT, BLOCK 1, LOT 9 .25 acres Located on the 13th tee box of Big Sky Golf Course Private cul-de-sac road Par 3 at your doorstep

CALL JEFF - 406-539-2855 Brokers offered 3.5% commission for buyer.

30 July 1, 2011

explorebigsky.com

Lots packaged for sale together; will consider selling separately.

Big Sky Weekly

Noun: wild or rough terrain adjacent to a developed area Origin: shortened form of “back 40 acres”

For the Big Sky Weekly, the Back 40 is a resource: a place where we can delve into subjects and ask experts to share their knowledge. Topics include regional history, profiles of local artists and musicians, snow and avalanche education, how-to pieces for traditional or outdoor skills, and science.

SUP Montana?!

An introduction to stand up paddleboarding, the hottest thing to hit the water this summer.

Catchin waves on the fly, the Blackfoot River

photos and story by shawn robertson Picture a custom-built surfboard for Shaquille O’Neal. SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) boards have similar shapes and lengths as traditional ‘longboards’ but with added thickness and width for stability. SUP allows adventurous spirits to cruise and play on their favorite rivers, lakes and coastlines while comfortably standing on their own two feet.

coves, beaches and distant breaks. With just a few tweaks in design and the addition of an extended paddle shaft for standing, early SUPers bridged the gap between the adrenaline-soaked sport of surfing and the more tranquil realm of flat water and fitness cruising. If current trends are any indication, this is the style of SUP that will inspire more people than ever to add surfboards to their list of favorite toys.

So far, SUP pioneers have established three styles. The first to develop into a popular Perhaps to prove sport was the surfing his favorite new style. Early surfers in sport wasn’t just for Hawaii used enormous island-dwelling surf (by today’s standards) addicts and cruisers, Balsa wood boards that Hamilton took the they could stand up on sport in a differoutside the break and ent direction when paddle back toward he rode his board Two sports become one on the manmade shore catching waves through the mighty river feature, Brennan’s Wave in Missoula the whole way. For rapids of the Grand years the progression in Canyon. It turned surfing was all about making boards smaller and more out there were many other landlocked souls with a dynamic on the wave. As a result, this paddling style of yearning to stand with board and paddle. surfing was largely lost until board shapers learned to make lighter boards that retained the stability needed for the paddler to stay standing up, even in powerful to learn more ocean currents.

Surfing phenomenon Laird Hamilton stumbled across SUP’s potential while using a ‘tandem’ board to teach his children and students how to catch their first waves. He started making custom paddles to go with his tandem boards and quickly showed thousands the possibilities of new board designs and materials.

Hence, in the world’s most famous surfing paradise, and under the feet the one of the most well known surfers, modern SUP surfing was born.

Naturally, SUP surfers started taking their new fast gliding, stable boards on extended tours to explore

Chances are good that if you enjoy water sports, you’ll love using a paddleboard. There are many ways to enjoy SUP: tour around on your favorite scenic lake or estuary, use your higher viewpoint to find the perfect fishing hole, strap a dry bag on top and go for overnighters. You can even get an inflatable board that’s just as stable and fun, but packs up small.

The fun begins as soon as you jump on the board. Get ready for a wobbly ride at first.

Take a few and you’re ready to cruise. If you get tired of standing, take a break. Lie in the sun, go for a swim, or sit down and paddle like you’re in a kayak. If you’re looking to explore the unique sensation of standing on the river start on rivers where you’d feel comfortable taking a canoe. And of course, good river running (and swimming) skills are a must.

When you’re ready to step it up, you can start building your balance and core muscles by walking forward and backwards on the board. Practice your surf stance, both regular and goofy footed, until you find the most comfortable and stable position on the board. Paddle on both sides of the board first by switching top hands, then by keeping the same grip and reaching across the nose of the board.

Take these basic skills, a sense of humor and a little humility, and you’re ready to SUP to your heart’s content.

Soon after news spread of Hamilton’s descent on the Colorado River, a handful of experienced kayakers and river-runners jumped on board. They were thrilled to have a new way of interacting with the rivers to which they were already connected Thrill seekers all over the globe are pushing the potential of SUPs on rivers, and some of the sport’s most progressive momentum is right here in the Northern Rockies. Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have long been recognized for the handful of world-class river surf waves found on larger volume rivers like the Clark Fork, the Snake and the Yellowstone. These rivers are well suited for those exploring river SUP potential, since their deeper water is more forgiving of the inevitable wipeouts that happen while running rapids and trying to surf.

Shawn Robertson writes from Big Sky. More of his work is available at shawnrobertsonphotos.com.

In Big Sky: Talk to Geyser Whitewater (800) 914-9031. They’ve got a new fleet of inflatable boards you can rent. Or just head up to Lake Levinsky at the mountain village and give it try ($14/hr, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m).

Solitude in the Tarkio Gorge on the Clark Fork River

For a true ‘Mountain surf’ experience: Head to Strongwater Paddle Sports in Missoula. This surf/ kayak shop is run by two of the sport’s most active proponents. KB and Luke are on their boards almost every day, and they’re dedicated to offering everything you need to discover the enjoyment of SUP for yourself. For great videos and pics of paddleboarding in Montana check out their website: strongwaterkayak.com

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July 1, 2011 31

Big Sky Weekly HELMS JAMISON KULESZA

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YEARS OF LOCAL EXPERTISE

This material is based upon information which we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions and changes including price or withdrawal without notice. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office in Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

July 1, 2011 Volume 2 // Issue #12

special section:

yellowstone

National PArk Photos by mike coil

Big Sky

word from the park...34 map: yellowstone hotspots...35 road construction...37 opinion: paddling in the park...38 yellowstone in a day...39 interview with a guide...41 fishing...43 off the beaten path...44 history...47 wildlife stats...48

Welcome to the Caldera More than 600,000 years ago, a super volcano erupted in the once mountainous region we now know as Yellowstone Park. Thick lava flows filled the caldera and created the rolling plateaus of today’s landscape. The formation of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone was created by this eruption, as was the basin that holds Yellowstone Lake.

Today, the 3,472 sq. mile Yellowstone Caldera is one of only a few dozen hotspots in the world—these are places where hot molten mantle rock is rising toward earth’s surface. A constant reminder of geologic power, this slow-moving magma plume has created about 10,000 thermal features and more than 300 geysers, including the worldfamous Old Faithful. It also causes 1,000-3,000 earthquakes each year, though most are relatively minor, measuring a magnitude of 3 or less.

Occasionally, numerous earthquakes occur over a short period, an event known as an earthquake swarm. According to the USGS, these swarms are likely caused more by slips on pre-existing faults than by movements of magma or hydrothermal fluids. The most recent swarm was early in 2010, after the Haiti earthquake and before the earthquake in Chile. This was the second-largest ever recorded in the Yellowstone Caldera, and the largest of its shocks was a magnitude 3.8.

An excerpt from Mountain Outlaw magazine’s spring/summer 2011 issue.

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July 1, 2011 33

Word from the park:

Big Sky Weekly

An interview with Al Nash, Yellowstone’s Chief of Public Affairs by emily stifler I first visited Yellowstone on family vacation. We came from Michigan. My folks had an International Scout with a canvas and wood pop-up camper. We’d have it hooked up and ready to go when Dad would come home from work on Friday afternoon. Mom would pack a picnic lunch and the two kids in the rig, and we’d head west. That was our vacation every summer, and Yellowstone was the destination several years. Some of my earliest memories are our trips to Yellowstone. It was overwhelming. There were bears. It was kind of smelly.

Those were some of my impressions at age six.

I started my park service career as a seasonal worker here. I began doing interpretation at Fishing Bridge.

How is the park different than when I visited as a young child?

Well, now I don’t think the park smells! It’s not that the park has changed, but as an adult I’m better able to process and understand all the information my senses take in.

When I first moved out this way in 1986 (to Billings), I lived in one of the many communities around this area that just refers to it as “going to the park.” It’s comfortable and familiar to people who live and work in this region.

Many visitors come here and spend a limited amount of time. They’re attracted to Old Faithful, and have

heard of bears, bison or wolves, and maybe the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Most first-time visitors don’t have any idea about the expanse of the place and the variety of things you can see and do here.

Repeat trips provides opportunity for greater exploration and a greater appreciation of this place. Even with the luxury of living and working here, I’ll never get to see everything in this park. It is not possible.

There are more people now, but there are still opportunities to enjoy Yellowstone and avoid the crowds.

Our road system has dramatically improved. We had a deserved reputation for poor roads. With a couple of exceptions that we’re working on, our road system is visitor friendly.

Our two new visitor education centers allow the Park Service to do a better job of engaging visitors and helping them understand the place they come to visit.

There are some things that haven’t changed, which is a good thing. In my family, it’s the fourth generation visiting Yellowstone. I can take that 1950 photo of my grandparents at Artist’s Point, and I can go there myself and it looks like that, more or less. To some degree, that ranger-led campfire program or hike continues to embody what people 30, 40, 70 years ago might have experienced.

Visitation is strong again. My best estimate is our new baseline for annual visitation is somewhere in

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the order of three million. We were well over that last year, but visitation has peaks and valleys. And most of those folks are here June 15 – Aug. 15. This place continues to reflect the quintessential American family vacation.

We see a lot of foreign visitors. In the middle of the day in the summer, if you stand around to see Old Faithful erupt, you’ll hear more dialects than you can identify. This place is loved not just by its neighbors, and not just by people from the U.S. – but people the world around. It holds a place in people’s hearts as a physical destination and as an ideal. Yellowstone really does represent something great about our country.

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Big Sky Weekly

Yellowstone na ti o n a l

p a r k

G a l l a t i n N a t i o n a l F o r e s t

Gardiner

cooke city

North Entrance

to

b i g

s k y

montana

Boiling River

Northeast Entrance

Mammoth Hot Springs

a

Gardiner Riv er

Electric Peak

b

o

wyoming

r

Lamar Valley

Bunsen Peak

s a

Tower-Roosevelt

West Yellowstone

Canyon Village

Norris

Norris Geyser Basin

e n g r a

Madis on Riv er

k a

iver ar R Lam

Mount Washburn

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Gibbon River

r ve Ri ne to ws llo Ye

Madison Junction

West Entrance

Firehole Drive

Fishing Bridge

Fountain Paint Pots Great Fountain Geyser East Entrance

Yellowstone Lake

xim pro Ap

idaho

Fir eh ole

Ri ver

Old Faithful

Buffalo Lake Patrol Cabin

West Thumb

Shoshone Lake

ate Ca lde ra

Eagle Peak Boun dary

Continental Divide

South Entrance

teton

Established:

March 1, 1872

Acres:

2,219,789

national

2010 Visitation:

3,640,185

Avg. Elevation:

8,000 ft.

park

Highest Point: Eagle Peak (11,358 ft.)

Avg. Summer Temp: 74º F Avg. Winter Temp: 20º F

explorebigsky.com © 2011 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserverd. Published by Outlaw Partners, a marketing and media company based in Big Sky, Montana. www.theoutlawpartners.com | www.explorebigsky.com * This map is to act as a visual representation of Yellowstone National Park. Locations are approximate.

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July 1, 2011 35

Big Sky Weekly

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Big Sky Weekly

Road Construction in and around Yellowstone If you drive the roadways in Southwest Montana, you know there are two seasons: winter and road construction. This summer, look out for construction in and around Yellowstone park, especially on Highway 191. Motorcyclists are advised to use extreme caution on loose gravel in areas of construction.

Yellowstone national park

highway 191

This summer, expect road improvement projects on many of the major travel routes to Yellowstone Park Entrances from Montana and Wyoming. These include pavement preservation projects. Each lasts 2–4 weeks; expect 30-minute delays and pilot vehicles except on holidays.

Montana Department of Transportation is making improvements to Highway 191 in two places this summer.

All summer: Northeast Entrance Road (Lamar River Bridge) Beartooth Lake bridge July: Canyon Junction to Chittenden Road South 8 miles from Mammoth Upper Terraces Drive Madison Junction to West Entrance West 5 miles from Tower Junction Grant Village Intersection to South Entrance

All summer: Grayling Creek bridge. 10 miles north of West Yellowstone on Highway 191.

Up to 15 minute delays in each direction.

July-October: From the north end of Gallatin Canyon to Four Corners, MDT will be building turn lanes and doing pavement preservation projects. Alternating single land traffic, pilot cars. Expect up to 15 minute delays.

August: Mammoth Hot Springs area

For information about Montana Road projects, call (800) 226-7623, or visit mdt511.com or mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/rss. shtml.

For information about Wyoming Road projects call (888) 996-7623 or visit wyoroad.info.

For information on conditions affecting roads within Yellowstone National Park, call the 24-hour Current Road Report hotline at (307) 344-2117, or visit nps.gov/ yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm.

September: Mammoth Hot Springs area

Yellowstone offers bear spray canister recycling

This is how Big Sky gets into hot water.

Yellowstone National Park, working with several public and private partner organizations, this spring began using a unique new recycling technology that allows Yellowstone area visitors to be both safe and green.

Carrying bear-deterrent pepper spray, or “bear spray,” is recommended when hiking in bear country. But with millions of visitors to the Greater Yellowstone area each year, thousands of bear spray canisters – used and unused - end up in landfills, often discarded because they are not allowed on commercial flights.

“Dangerous encounters with bears are actually pretty rare, but most wildlife experts recommend carrying a can of bear pepper spray when in the backcountry,” said Yellowstone Bear Biologist Kerry Gunther. “…It is a good, last line of defense against an aggressive bear.”

The eventual entry of bear spray canisters into landfills has become a serious environmental concern, and up until now there has been no mechanism to recycle them. This first-of-its-kind device now allows bear spray canisters – even full ones – to be safely emptied and crushed, reducing both the emission of harmful chemical propellant and pepper-based irritant into the air and the overall mass of the product in landfills.

Three Montana State University engineering students designed the machine that removes the pepper oil and the propellant and crushes the canister, preparing it for recycling as high-quality aluminum.

Collection sites are located in Yellowstone National Park, surrounding national forests, wildlife refuges, Gallatin Field Airport and in retail outlets throughout the entire Yellowstone ecosystem.

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July 1, 2011 37

Big Sky Weekly

opinion The Lamar River in Yellowstone

photo by emiliy stifler

Forbidden Fruit:

Paddling in Yellowstone National Park By tyler allen Yellowstone National Park has over 2,000 miles of rivers and streams coursing through its boundaries. From slow, meandering flatwater to steep, boiling whitewater and giant waterfalls, the park offers many hydrologic marvels.

But aside from a five-mile stretch of the Lewis River between Lewis and Shoshone Lake, boating is prohibited on the rivers and creeks of Yellowstone. To experience these waterways one must casually observe from shore.

that bank anglers could not access as much water that anglers from boats were able to reach. Whitewater kayakers and flatwater canoeists have suffered the consequences of that decision ever since.

Yellowstone has stretches of water that, coupled with the exciting runs on the Gallatin, Yellowstone and Beartrap section of the Madison, could make Southwest Montana an international destination for paddlers. The Three parks in the National Park Black Canyon of the Yellowstone has System prohibit paddling on most of beckoned boaters for decades with its miles of continutheir rivers: YelIn 2008, four Bozeman pad- ous Class IV and lowstone, Grand dlers were arrested and V water. In the Teton and Yosemite. The latter two charged with “attempt to late ‘70s the fine have designated kayak” after a failed poach for poaching was around $25, and stretches (of the of the Black Canyon. kayakers tell stoSnake and Merced, respectively) that allow comries of floating past park officials who smiled and waved. mercial operations to run whitewater trips on a regulated basis, but YellowThe relaxed policy changed in the stone doesn’t allow commercial or private boaters on any of the white‘80s, and penalties have been much water stretches within the park. stiffer since. A park study conducted in 1988 - instigated primarily by pressure Boating in Yellowstone was outlawed from kayakers - recommended the park in 1950 as a reaction to the park’s continue its ban on river running in depleted fisheries. The rationale was Yellowstone. The study identified im-

Big Sky’s

pacts on endangered species, important geothermal features, historical and archaeological sites, conflict with other users, and safety as the major concerns of park managers. In 2008, four Bozeman paddlers were arrested and charged with “attempt to kayak” after a failed poach of the Black Canyon. They were fined $335 apiece, given six months probation and banned from the park for a year.

Al Nash, Yellowstone’s Chief of Public Affairs, says safety is a paramount concern for park managers. The water tends to be cold, access can be difficult, and there are large rapids and waterfalls that present hazards. Although these concerns are legitimate, Yellowstone was created as the nation’s first National Park for “the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” The current policy does not honor this original statement.

Motorboats are allowed to churn the waters of Yellowstone Lake, outfitters lead strings of pack animals on the park’s trails, and motorists tour the

roads Yellowstone’s scenic roads. With enough regulation, floaters would leave a minimal impact on the landscape; however, the impact left on someone experiencing such an impressive landscape from a river would be lasting.

As budgets are being cut for federal and state lands, we need more advocates to keep our public lands public.

Backcountry users are heavily regulated within the park; permits are required for snowmobilers in the winter and for backpackers in the summer. Couldn’t use of Yellowstone’s rivers be regulated in a similar fashion? Whether your intent is an overnight flatwater canoe outing with the family, or an exhilarating day-trip whitewater kayaking, the park could issue permits dictating where boaters put in and take out, how long they’re on the river, and where they’re allowed to camp along the way.

Tyler Allen writes from Bozeman.

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Big Sky Weekly

Yellowstone in a Day From Bozeman or Big Sky

road trip and photos by abbie digel Don’t have time to spend a week exploring the nation’s first National Park? It’s easy to take a day and see all of the hot spots, get off the beaten track, and make it back in time for dinner. This itinerary involves long hours in the car, but a visit to the park is well worth it, and there is always something to see.

Bozeman livingston

big sky

mammoth hot springs

gardiner boiling river

west yellowstone

canyon village

morning From Bozeman, drive east on I-90 toward Livingston. Want to encounter a griz the safe way? Stop briefly at the Montana Grizzly Bear Encounter, a bear rescue center. On the Jackson Creek exit, just a few miles from Bozeman off of I-90, you can’t miss the huge sign. Stay a while and watch the bears play, then chat with one of the caretakers; it’s a great way to learn the animals’ habits and take in their size.

Their newest arrival is an orphaned cub from Alaska who loves blended bear chow mixed with grapes, spoon fed.

Stop in Livingston for an early lunch at Mark’s In & Out at the corner of 8th and Park Street. They serve cheap, oldfashioned burgers, fries and shakes that will hold you over until dinner.

There are two large supermarkets (Town and Country, Albertson’s) if you need to stock up on snacks.

fountain paint pots

Get all you need in Gardiner

mammoth area Onward to Yellowstone: take a right on 89 South, which hugs the Yellowstone River, toward Gardiner. In Gardiner, refuel at one of the many coffee shops at the edge of the entrance to the Park. Also, stop by the Chamber of Commerce for information and literature on the Park.

Time to hit the road. Pay the entrance fee ($25, good for seven days in both Yellowstone and Teton National Park), and just past the entrance find the hidden entrance to the Boiling River, an off-the-map and favorite destination for locals. Take time to soak in this unique spot, and then get back on the road, and drive five miles south to Mammoth Hot Springs.

There is plenty to do and see here. Head into the Albright Visitor Center and Museum, spend some time talking to a ranger and visiting the exhibits, then check out the park’s most dynamic hydrothermal areas, with features that change constantly.

Still some time to spare? Hit the trail. The hike to Bunsen Peak is good right now (4.2 miles), and the top provides panoramic views of other park destinations and the Gallatin Range. The trailhead is at the entrance of the Old Bunsen Peak Road, five miles south of Mammoth toward Norris.

Canyon Village old faithful

This is a must-see, but make it a quick trip in order to make it to Old Faithful in time for the eruption. The fastest way to see the canyon is to drive five minutes from Canyon Village to North Rim Drive and walk along the paved paths to Red Rock Point, Lookout Point or Grand View. From here you can catch a glimpse of the expanse of the canyon, looking both at the waterfall and northeast down the Yellowstone River.

Itinerary: Livingston Gardiner Boiling River Mammoth Hot Springs Canyon Area Old Faithful Area West Yellowstone

Old Faithful Area

Choose travel days wisely: Travel on a weekday-- there will be fewer crowds. If a weekend jaunt is in the plan, sometimes the eclectic crowds are sights to enjoy in and of themselves.

What to pack: Bathing Suit Water-proof shoes Sturdy walking shoes Snacks Binoculars Camera

Plan ahead: Book hotel rooms and campsites months in advance, especially in West Yellowstone. They sell out fast, especially in the summer. Don’t forget to check out the guest ranches along Highway 191 and in Big Sky.

Online resources: explorebigsky.com gardinerchamber.com bigskychamber.com nps.gov/yell

The Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellostone

It’s best to check at Canyon Village Visitor Education Center for Old Faithful eruption times (approx. every 90 minutes). From there, it’s about 45 minutes to Old Faithful by car. Arrive early and score a good seat. Check out the new Old Faithful Visitor Education Center—the interactive exhibits are great for the kids, and a nice break from the car. Plan accordingly, and you will be able to make stops along the way in an area that houses the world’s highest concentration of active geysers.

fountain paint pots After Old Faithful, stop at the Fountain Paint Pots, a favorite feature among Yellowstone guides. It’s best to park and walk the boardwalk to view these geothermal features, but there is also an option to drive along the Firehole Lake Drive, a one-way side road that gives great views. The paint pot is located among other features, including the Great Fountain Geyser, another erupting geyser that reaches up to 200 ft.

Spend more time seeing than searching Before your trip to Yellowstone or Teton National Parks, pick up a Gaper Guide. The dashboard-mounted GPS units have prerecorded audio keyed to waypoints, and provide fun facts, interesting stories and local history. Reserve at gaperguide.com for a full or half-day.

See map for pick-up and drop-off locations. There is also an option to mail the device back if you want to continue on your trip.

The author at Old Faithful

evening Exit the park through the west entrance and enter West Yellowstone. The local shop owners here are friendly and informative. Stop for reasonably priced Spanish tapas at the Weekly editors’ favorite spot, Cafe Madriz, at the north end of town, then stash the car and walk to the Playmill Theater to catch community theater at its best. The small stage and interactive performances are a relaxing and fun way to end the evening.

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July 1, 2011 39

Big Sky Weekly

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M o u n t a i n

Big Sky Weekly

A grizzly spotted on the upper Gallatin River in the Park

Photo by Chris Heppel

Luxury cars and grizzlies An Interview with Yellowstone National Park Guide Scott Carsley, Owner of Yellowstone Alpen Guides

By Abbie Digel What is a normal week like as a guide?

We work anywhere from one to seven days in a week. We pick up clients all around the Yellowstone area; we cover the entire park. We do mostly private tours, where families will hire a guide for a day.

Days are anywhere from 6 a.m.-6p.m.or 2 p.m.10p.m. We leave whenever the guest wants to.

have guys that have been guiding for 20 years.

They spend a lot of time exploring in the offseason. Every time we go into the park it’s new and different.

What is the most dangerous thing that has ever happened to you?

Riding in a car where someone else is driving, really.

Sometimes we use our own vehicles, but most of the time we go along with guests. We get to drive pretty nice cars that way: Lexus, Jaguars, you name it. Two summers ago the Lexus SUV was the guides’ favorite.

We take families into the backcountry; they usually want to go for a walk and learn about the park. As my wife says, we get to go on everybody’s vacation. It’s hard work, but its great work. This is my 27th year.

What’s the most challenging part of the job?

Dealing with the Park Service. The rules and regulation are always changing and we have to keep up with them.

How do you continue to educate yourself on the Park?

We keep up to date by talking with naturalists and park service personnel, reading publications and scientific literature. There are classes put on by the Park Service and the Yellowstone Association and conferences up in Mammoth. The Thermal Biology Institute in Bozeman comes down, and the Park Service has its own training for guides.

At the end of the day, we’ll sit around, have a couple of beers and talk about what we see. We

We see tons of grizzly bears, but I’ve never had to pull my bear spray. Once a grizzly bear charged one of our guides who had a group of four. He pulled his bear spray, but then the griz swerved and veered off, and sprayed the group with dirt. That was a close call.

The thermal features are always a concern, too.

What draws you to Yellowstone?

I moved to West in 1977 as a schoolteacher with my wife. We thought we’d stay a couple of years, and we’re still here. It’s the geothermal features, wildlife and beautiful natural settings. I do a lot of kayaking on Yellowstone Lake. There aren’t many people there, and it’s a nice place to be.

“We have guys that have been guiding for 20 years. They spend a lot of time exploring in the offseason. Every time we go into the park it’s new and different.”

Do you get to meet interesting people?

I’ve guided people from Australia, Italy, China, the Big Easy, Bozeman and Big Sky. Really it’s people from all over, and mostly families.

What is the most unique thing you’ve ever seen?

Years ago I saw two people in lawn chairs fishing in Semi-Centennial Geyser. They weren’t going to catch any fish unless they were already cooked!

What’s the funniest question a guest has asked you?

How many of these fires were started by geysers?

(During the big fires of 1988)

I’ve guided the seventh richest person in the world, and he had just won the Americas Cup. The next one was going to be in Barcelona, Spain, and he invited me.

We’ve had some celebrities. Last summer I guided Chris Rock, and I’ve had the leader of the Hubble space telescope on a weeklong tour. I had a Heisman trophy winner. He was with American Orient Express luxury tours—we get those a lot. We meet a lot of private jets at the Yellowstone Airport, too.

Do you have ostriches in the park?

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Big Sky Weekly O P E N

F O R

T H E

S U M M E R

Full Service Flyshop & Guide Service Est. 1984 • Montana Outfitter #235

montanaflyfishing.com | (406) 995-2290 1/2 mile past Big Sky turnoff on HWY 191

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Saturday, july 2nd 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

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Superb Cuisine Using Local and Regional Ingredients for a Unique Flair in Rocky Mountain Dining

Kids & Adults rod demos and casting tips join reps from Sage, Simms, winston, Ross & More.

Check out the new gear for 2011!

FineDining

Hand Cut Steaks, Wild Game, Trout, Seafood Game Burgers & Lighter Fare

Location:

Big Sky’s Mountain Village ~ Arrowhead Chalet Mall ~ 3rd Floor

The Way to Fish Call 406-995-4244 for Reservations & Information

Dinner 6:00-Close Tuesday~Saturday

w w w. c a b i n b a r a n d g r i l l . c o m

CoMiNg SooN Lone Peak Cinema Building featuring Big Sky’s first “feature film” movie theater

Now LeaSiNg grouNd FLoor aNd uPPer FLoor SPaCe - avaiLaBLe Nov. 2011 units from 450 to 2,100 sf For more information, contact TNg development, John romney, 314-359-5450

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Fishing in Yellowstone

by Ennion Williams Yellowstone National Park holds a wide variety of angling opportunities, from large rivers like the Madison and Yellowstone, to small creeks and lakes. The season for fishing in Yellowstone runs from Memorial Day weekend to the first Sunday in November.

Spring fishing in the park is found mostly near the west entrance on the Firehole, Gibbon and Madison rivers. In normal snowpack years, the Firehole will fish well on opening day with both mayflies and caddis. Hatches will occur from mid-morning throughout the afternoon and provide excellent opportunities to catch both rainbows and browns in the 10 -15-inch range. Firehole Canyon sees the first Salmonflies of the year in the area, and this hatch will last a couple weeks and produce some larger fish from the Madison River.

As the summer progresses many smaller tributary creeks will offer excellent small stream fly fishing. Most waterways in the park have trout, and exploring smaller creeks by foot is a great way to see some of the most beautiful areas of the park.

In the northeast corner, the Lamar Valley offers some of the best cutthroat fly fishing in the world. The Lamar River, Soda Butte Creek and Slough Creek all hold good populations of Yellowstone cutthroat and feed into the Yellowstone River. Late summer fishing in the Lamar River is a treat to anyone seeking a beautiful landscape and consistent dry fly fishing.

The Yellowstone River in the park opens to anglers on July 15. There is an easily accessed section near LeHardy Rapids below Yellowstone Lake, and more challenging access points at Seven Mile Hole and Hellroaring Creek. The Yellowstone

A brown trout caught in the fall in Yellowstone on the Firehole River. Photo by scott heppel River’s incredible cutthroat are very willing to take a dry fly.

There are many lakes to fish in Yellowstone Park. A special permit is required for any type of floating on the lakes and can be acquired at any of the Park entrances. Yellowstone Lake is the largest of the lakes in the Park, and holds good populations of cutthroat trout. Nearby Lewis and Shoshone lakes hold populations of brown, rainbow and lake trout. In the fall these lakes tend to be very good fishing before the park closes.

There are so many spots in Yellowstone Park, I cannot comment on all of them.

Buying a Yellowstone Park license helps to support the initiatives and preservation of the fishery. This summer the rivers are still running high and the hatches will be about a month behind normal conditions, so we should have good late season fishing.

Ennion Williams is a professional Fishing Guide and Outfitter in Big Sky. He can be reached at (406) 579-7094 or at ennion3@ yahoo.com. He also runs Big Sky Local Foods. bigskylocalfood.com

A Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit is required to fish in the park. Anglers 16 years of age and older are required to purchase either a $15 three-day permit, a $20 seven-day permit or a $35 season permit.

Anglers 15 and younger have two options: 1) Children 15 and younger may fish without a permit if they are fishing under the direct supervision of an adult who has a valid park fishing permit, or 2) Children 15 and younger may obtain a free permit that must be signed by a responsible adult; with this permit, a child can fish without direct adult supervision.

Fishing permits are available at all ranger stations, visitor centers, and Yellowstone Park General Stores. Fishing permits are also available at many businesses in the Greater Yellowstone Area.

No state fishing license is required in Yellowstone National Park.

Are You a Friend of Yellowstone?

By Christine Weinheimer If you’ve visited Yellowstone National Park in the past 14 years, you’ve seen the impact Friends of Yellowstone is making. The nearly 15,000 supporters of the Bozeman-based Yellowstone Park Foundation – the official fundraising partner of Yellowstone National Park – significantly affect your visit. Don’t believe us?

Consider these facts…

Dozens of Yellowstone’s most popular trails – such as Boiling River, Observation Point, and Norris Geyser Basin – have been rehabilitated through donations to the Yellowstone Park Foundation (YPF).

Since the wolf returned home to Yellowstone in 1995, most visitors hope to catch a glimpse of this fascinating creature. Friends of Yellowstone has contributed more than $4 million for monitoring wolves, studying their effects on the ecosystem, and helping visitors learn how to view wolves without disrupting their behaviors or habitat.

The new Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, which opened in August 2010, was a $27 million project. $15 million was contributed by private individuals

and corporations to YPF, and the other $12 came from federal funds. The environmentally friendly center and its interactive exhibits are enhancing the experience of millions of visitors, while serving as a focal point for education in Yellowstone.

Other projects include new bear-proof storage boxes in campgrounds, the live-streaming Old Faithful webcam, the Junior Ranger program for kids and more.

“Yellowstone is everyone’s park,” said Yellowstone Park Foundation President Karen Bates Kress. “The Foundation provides a way for all of us to help take care of the park and provide new ways to appreciate it, so that future generations can enjoy its pristine beauty and wildlife, just as we do today.”

Every day of the year, Yellowstone Park Foundation-funded projects are making a difference in the quality of our visit, and the future of the world’s first national park. ypf.org

photo courtesy of nps.gov

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July 1, 2011 43

Big Sky Weekly

OFF THE H T A P N E T BEA

The view from the summit is beyond all adequate description. Looking northward from the base of the mountain the great plateau stretches away to the front and left with its innumerable groves and sparkling waters, a variegated landscape of surpassing beauty, bounded on its extreme verge by the [canyons] of the Yellowstone.

The pure atmosphere of this lofty region causes every outline of tree, rock or lakelet to be visible with wonderful distinctness, and objects 20 miles away appear as if very near at hand ... Close beneath our feet, yawns the immense gulf of the Grand [Canyon], cutting away the bases of two mountains in forcing a passage through the range ... No sound reaches the ear from the bottom of the abyss; the sun’s rays are reflected on the further wall and then lost in the darkness below. The mind struggles and then falls back upon itself despairing in the effort to grasp by a single thought the idea of its immensity.

- Lt. Gustavus C. Doane, August 29, 1870

The best seat in the house

By Hunter Rothwell The Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition was the first to record their experience on what is known today as Mt. Washburn. Named in honor of expedition leader Henry D. Washburn, the peak is one of the most rewarding day hikes in Yellowstone. Thanks to the foresight of those who established the park, Lt. Doane’s description from 130 years ago could have been written this year.

With over 3 million annual visitors, Yellowstone is very busy during the summer. But very few explore the first national park beyond the main thoroughfares. A majority of the park, which is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined, is left to solitude and is truly an undisturbed ecosystem of natural wonder. With a little initiative and a taste for adventure, visitors can summit the 10,223-foot Mt. Washburn, which is perhaps Yellowstone’s crown jewel for sightseeing.

The Washburn Range is one of only two mountain ranges that are completely within the boundaries of the park (the Red Mountains being the other). Although not the park’s highest peak, Mt. Washburn is special for its location: barely north of the absolute center of Yellowstone. From its summit, the 360 degree, birds-eye view shows the entirety of Yellowstone National Park, from horizon to horizon.

From the Dunraven Pass Trailhead, Washburn is a relatively moderate three-mile hike with a subtle 1400-foot elevation gain. One of the park’s three active fire lookout towers is located on the summit. There is a small visitor center and restrooms on the first floor, an observation deck on the second, and a ranger’s residence on the top floor. The spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is directly below, to the southeast. If it is a clear day, you can view the Tetons 50 miles south.

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With a 150 percent of the normal annual snowfall this past winter, there is still a good amount of snow in the higher elevations, which ads an element of challenge to the hike.

Some areas require a straight up ascent or wallow through deep snow, as opposed to the gentle switchbacks hikers enjoy after snowmelt. However, the reward is the same, and a more experienced hiker will find this the best time to go and have the upper regions of Yellowstone all to him or herself. Many families find great enjoyment in snowball fights and sliding down the steep snow banks – snow in the summer is an attraction in itself.

The trail will be clear by late July and the snow will be replaced by wildflowers.

There is always a chance of spotting an elk, bighorn sheep and even a grizzly. This is an extremely accessible destination for hikers of all experience levels. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the whole park in one glance. Mt. Washburn is the best seat in the house.

Editor’s Picks: Need a water bottle or some footbeds? Looking for a map or some trail information? These stores have all the goods: West Yellowstone

• Freeheel and Wheel

Big Sky • Grizzly Outfitters • Gallatin Alpine Sports

Bozeman • REI • Northern Lights and Barrel Mountaineering • Bob Wards • Chalet Sports • The Roundhouse

Big Sky Weekly

Electric Peak 10,969’

n

Mt. Washbur 10,233’

Riders with Rockin H-K Outfitters—view toward east ridge of Electric Peak

Yellowstone Summit: Electric Peak story and photos by felicia ennis

Looking to summit this summer? Electric Peak is one of my favorites. It’s a great allday run/hike, and there is also a mountain bike/ hike option.

This massive mountain rises almost 5,800 vertical feet above the Yellowstone River. It has two summits and two trailheads; reason to summit twice. The easternmost summit is the highest, at 10,969 feet.

According to Thomas Turiano’s book, Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone, Electric was likely first climbed by Native American bighorn sheep hunters, and the first known ascent was made in an electrical storm on July 26, 1872 from Mammoth, by Hayden surveyors Henry Gannett, Albert C. Peale and Alexander E. Brown.

How to get to there: Option A: The hike/run option begins in the park, five miles south of Mammoth at the Glen Creek trailhead.

Option B: The bike/hike begins at the Beattie Gulch trailhead, 4.5 miles northwest on Old Yellowstone Highway. Look for Beattie Gulch trailhead on left side of road.

Ride your bike up the road for 2,600 vertical feet to the peak’s north ridge. This doesn’t require a fancy bike, although a few gears will be welcome.

The numbers: Both options are about 10 miles from the trailhead to the summit. 3,689 feet of elevation gain from the Beattie Gulch trailhead, and 5,767 feet from Glen Creek parking. This is a big day. Get an early start, and bring lots of food and water, good footwear for 20 miles on the trail, appropriate clothing and bear spray.

The goods: Either way you go, keep your eyes peeled for large ungulates and small wildflowers. From Electric’s summit, on a clear day, you’ll see many mountain ranges including the Madisons, the Beartooths, the Absarokas, the Crazies, the Bridgers, and the Tetons.

For complete details see Thomas Turiano’s book, Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone.

Montana native Felicia Ennis lives in Livingston.

Through her travel company, Bella Treks, she designs customized travel plans to Antarctica, Alaska, the Arctic, Argentina, Chile, the Galapagos, Morocco, Peru and around Montana.

Hikers heading toward Electric Peak, summit in the background

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July 1, 2011 45

Electron microscopy of Thermus aquaticus

JOIN US

08JULY

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center kickoff fundraising event.

(To be built at Ophir School & Lone Peak High School in Big Sky, MT.)

2011

DINNER & CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT

Did you know?

Yellowstone microorganism helped revolutionize DNA copying process In 1966, Dr. Thomas Brock discovered a heat-loving microorganism he named Thermus aquaticus, in Yellowstone’s Mushroom Pool. Years later, in 1985, biotechnologists found that because an enzyme of T. aquaticus called Taq polymerase could survive extreme heat, it could be used to make the polymerase chain reaction, a DNA copying process, more efficient.

F E A T U R I N G Members of the

LOCATION The Clubhouse at The Club at Spanish Peaks, Big Sky, MT.

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWN

MUIR STRING QUARTET & other acclaimed guest artists

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TICKETS $75 per/person This includes dinner and a drink.

5;30 pm Cocktails -casual attire-

6:00 pm bbq dinner buffet -Entertainment-

Big Sky Broadway

PHONE 406-995-7951 reservations EMAIL strings@friendsofthebigskyeducation.org required WEB www.friendsofbigskyeducation.org/strings

Big Sky Weekly

Now PCR can make billions of copies of DNA in a few hours by amplifying any type of DNA, and today this process is used for DNA fingerprinting, disease diagnostics, and forensic analysis and bioremediation of toxic wastes.

Bioprospecting, the search for useaful organic compounds in nature for sources of genetic or biochemical resources, is now a multi-million dollar industry.

Much of modern biotechnology is based on the use of enzyme catalysts for biochemical reactions, including

genetic engineering, fermentation and bioproduction of antibiotics. Scientists now do this work in geothermal features in New Zealand, Costa Rica, Iceland, Japan, and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, as well as thermal vents on the ocean floor.

Recently, researchers from the Thermal Biology Institute at MSU-Bozeman helped discover a new type of lightharvesting bacterium, Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum, also in Mushroom Pool in the lower geyser basin.

The 11th international conference on thermophiles research will be September 11-16 in Big Sky. E.S. tbi.montana.edu serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/bioprospecting

MSU offers free guide to NASA research in Yellowstone A new free full-color guidebook will help Yellowstone visitors and armchair travelers understand the connection between the park’s tiniest inhabitants and the search for extra-terrestrial life. The book, “Science of the Springs: Astrobiology in Yellowstone,” was created by MSU’s Astrobiology Biogeocatalysis Research Center, which is part of the NASA Astrobiology Institute.

Catching a poacher

By Paul Miller In 1972 the National Park Service received information about an outfitter from Southeastern Idaho who was illegally taking elk out of the Southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.

That same year, I was hired on as a backcountry ranger to patrol the area. I was given a wall tent and two horses 14.5 miles in from the last road as my base of operation. This base was close to an area where the outfitter was supposedly flying in with a Super Cub with big tires.

The report said he would spot an elk from the air, fly in with a client who would shoot the elk, then fly the animal out. The elk was flown out of the area while the hunter waited on the ground for the guide to return with the plane.

I was assigned to patrol the area and see if I could catch him in the act.

I patrolled regularly on horseback but wasn’t sure how to catch him.

That fall, I rode 10 miles to the west toward the Buffalo Lake Patrol cabin. I heard some voices toward the cabin area, so I got off, tied my horses and stealthily went in.

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There was the outfitter with three clients. They had broken into the patrol cabin and were using it for a hunting lodge. My two-watt radio was worthless in that area, but I pretended like I was calling in the location and the guide’s name.

They grabbed their guns, I grabbed mine, and it was a standoff until they put theirs away. I took their guns, went inside, hooked my radio up to the cabin antennae, and called in the situation.

The outfitter quit his activity in the Park, and I haven’t heard since if he resumed.

Paul Miller’s soul belongs to the mountains and rivers he spent his life exploring.

He resides on his family’s property along the Yellowstone River near Gardiner, MT. Serving over 30 years as a ranger in Yellowstone National Park, Paul played an integral role in preserving and protecting the YNP wilderness and wildlife people enjoy today.

Big Sky Weekly

history

The “Dudes” in Yellowstone: Early Tourism in the Park

By Hunter Rothwell In 1915, a Model T Ford was the first automobile to pass through the gates of Yellowstone National Park. Prior to automobiles being legally allowed to tour the park, the experience of tourists was something quite unique. As the first cars were entering Yellowstone, one old-timer wrote: “The old Yellowstone—the Yellowstone of the pioneer and the explorer—is a thing of the past.”

Recreational tourism in Yellowstone began in summer 1872, the same year it became the world’s first national park, when a group of 50 ventured to Mammoth Hot Springs where the only accommodations were a log shack and a ramshackle bathhouse. Many of the earliest tourists came primarily to

bathe in the hot springs and for the waters’ supposed restorative powers. The only other human presence during those days was small bands of American Indians and regiments of the U.S. military who were often accompanied by scientists, photographers, painters and an occasional newspaper reporter. A total of 300 people visited the park in 1872.

Before the railroad reached Livingston in 1882 and later Gardiner, just north of the park, visitation remained light due to the remoteness of the Western states, the difficulty in accessing Yellowstone’s attractions, and the primitive accommodations. Tourists were either wealthy aristocrats well outfitted and toured the park in grand style (known as “dudes” by the locals),

One of the most popular campaigns of the late 19th century was promoting the park as “Wonderland.”However, rail travel was still expensive and only the wealthy “dudes” could afford the cost of the excursion

or frontier people accustomed to roughing it in the wild.

Once the railroads were built, the Union Pacific became the marketing department for Yellowstone, aggressively soliciting Easterners and Europeans to buy passage to the region. One of the most popular campaigns of the late 19th century was promoting the park as “Wonderland.” However, rail travel was still expensive and only the wealthy “dudes” could afford the cost of the excursion.

The “Grand Tour” consisted of a five-day tour of the park. Upon arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs, visitors would spend a day exploring the springs, “which some lurid hotel keeper had christened Cleopatra’s Pitcher or Mark Anthony’s Whiskey Jug, or something as equally poetical.” recounted a diary entry from a female visitor. The next four days visitors toured the Greater Yellowstone in 11-passenger stagecoaches.

The experience was bumpy, bouncy and dusty. They were entertained by the unsophisticated yet colorful stage drivers who cursed at their horses and narrated tremendous fictions as to how the attractions of Yellowstone came to be. When a Yellowstone wagon reached a steep grade, the passengers were unloaded and had to walk up the most difficult areas.

The scenery was exquisite, and these affluent leaders of the industrial revolution relished in the rough conditions. Bandits held up the stagecoaches on five separate occasions on one Grand Tour.

During one of these robberies an impressive bandit fleeced 174 passen-

Once the railroads were built, the Union Pacific became the marketing department for Yellowstone.

gers riding in 17 stagecoaches – one of the most impressive robberies of the age. Despite the loss of valuables, the well-heeled dudes were captivated by their outlaws – apparently they were very entertaining fellows and never seriously injured anyone. One of the dudes later remarked, “We think we got off cheap and would not sell our experience, if we could, for what it cost us.” It was all just a part of “doing Yellowstone”.

In the years 1872 to 1914, 395,608 people visited Yellowstone National Park (20,250 in 1914). Once the automobile was introduced in 1915, visitation doubled. And while the dudes continued to come, the park was now truly available to all the people, not just the wealthy. In 2010 alone, the park saw 3,640,186 visitors. In total, 152,683,423 people have spent time in one the greatest wonders in the world–Yellowstone.

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INFOGRAPHIC BY KELSEY DZINTARS

250 bighorn sheep

Most likely places to find mammals in the park

300 wolves

northeast entrance

north entrance

300-600 grizzly bears

Lamar valley

mammoth hot springs

600-800 moose

canyon village

norris

2,300-4,500 bison

hayden valley

madison

west entrance

15,000 elk

old faithful

lake village bridge bay fishing bridge

east entrance

west thumb grant village

Yellowstone National Park has the largest concentration of wildlife in the lower 48 states.

bechler ranger station south entrance

200

175

Threatened species:

bald eagle, grizzly bear, lynx

Rate of Bear-Inflicted Human Injuries in Yellowstone National Park, 1931-2010

150

Endangered species:

whooping crane, gray wolf

100

If you spot an animal:

56 50

Stay at least 100 yards away from bears.

42 23

Stay at least 25 yards away from all other animals—including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, wolves, and coyotes.

3 0

0.6 0.3 0.5

30 s 40 s 50 s 60 s 70 s 80 s 90 s 00 s

yellowstonepark.com/MoreToKnow/WildlifeGuide.aspx, yellowstonenationalpark.com/wildlife.htm, nps.gov/yell

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