Explore Big Sky - January 23 to Feburary 5, 2025

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January 23 - Feburary 5, 2025

MADISON COUNTY REJECTS SILVERTIP WITHDRAWAL FROM HOSPITAL DISTRICT

20 YEARS OF WELLNESS IN ACTION

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: LIZ PEABODY

BIG HORN BOYS ADVANCE TO 9-2

USPS, UNION DISCUSS STAFFING SHORTAGES

LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS PROVIDE AID TO L.A. FIRES STAFFING

January 23 - Feburary 5, 2025 Volume 16, Issue 2

Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana

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CONTRIBUTORS

Alison Bradac, Kaley Burns, Alanah Griffith, Neal Herbert, Rachel Hergett, Dave Marston

Over the MLK holiday weekend, a cold snap sent Montana lows well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Big Sky’s lowest recorded temperature was -27F on Monday, Jan. 20, and this photo was taken after sunset that day, with the mercury just below zero in Gallatin Canyon. PHOTO BY JACK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS PROVIDE AID TO L.A. FIRES

Five Big Sky Fire Department team members are on an 18day deployment to respond to Los Angeles fires. Big Sky Fire Chief Dustin Tetrault said that departments like the Big Sky Fire Department are ready for these kinds of calls. “Our guys do a lot of wild land interface training for exactly what they’re dealing with out there,” Tetrault told EBS.

USPS, UNION DISCUSS STAFFING SHORTAGES

Speaking to the Montana branch of the American Postal Workers Union, EBS learned about union-recommended staffing numbers, which USPS has not reached in hiring, and got a better look at the experience of postal workers in Big Sky. Locals described some of their struggles as well as disappointments with fellow community members’ attitudes, and USPS weighed in on the staffing struggles in Big Sky.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: LIZ PEABODY

Liz Peabody’s Big Sky story starts like so many others. She moved here in December 2016 after graduating college, looking to spend a winter skiing and snowboarding, and to save up a little money. Also like so many others, she never left.

MADISON COUNTY REJECTS SILVERTIP WITHDRAWAL FROM HOSPITAL DISTRICT

The Madison County Commission hosted a hearing in Virginia City to consider a small Big Sky subdivision’s petition to withdraw from the Madison Valley Hospital District. At the end of a four-and-a-half-hour hearing, commissioners voted 2-1 against granting the withdrawal. Residents of the Silvertip subdivision say the battle is “far from over.”

BIG HORN BOYS ADVANCE TO 9-2

ON THE COVER:

Lone Peak senior Isaac Bedway drives to the hoop, defended by West Yellowstone sophomore Noa Flores. The Big Horns advanced to 9-2 with their Jan. 21 win over the Wolverines, and Bedway became Lone Peak High School’s second all-time leading scorer, passing 2023 graduate Max Romney at 856 points.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

EDITORIAL POLICY

Outlaw Partners, LLC is the sole owner of Explore Big Sky. EBS reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or its editors. EBS will not publish anything discriminatory or in bad taste.

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The Lone Peak High School boys basketball team is rolling in Montana Class B, improving to 9-2 with their Jan. 21 win over West Yellowstone. Head coach Al Malinowski reflected with EBS about why the Big Horns are finding success.

20 YEARS OF WELLNESS IN ACTION

For 20 years, nonprofit health provider Wellness In Action has pioneered the spirit of “community caring about community.” Guest columnist Allison Bradac, executive director of WIA, describes the ways that WIA has grown its services to the community since 2005.

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For the Feburary 6th issue: January 31st, 2025

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REANEY

NEWS IN BRIEF BRIEFS

COLD SNAP RATTLES SOUTHWEST MONTANA, WEST YELLOWSTONE HITS -41 LOW

Temperatures in southwest Montana dipped below zero on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend as a polar vortex brought bitter cold into the region.

Austin McDowell, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Great Falls, spoke on the phone with EBS ahead of the weekend’s forecast.

“ We’ve had a pretty mild winter so far, that these temperatures that we’re going to be seeing are on the order of 20, maybe 30 degrees colder than the lows that we’ve seen so far,” McDowell said. “ We’re definitely transitioning to a good cold snap here.”

On Monday morning, Jan. 20, the National Weather Service in Great Falls reported West Yellowstone temps of -41 Fahrenheit, -27F in Big Sky and -28F at the Bozeman airport.

By Tuesday morning, weather began warming up in Big Sky and Bozeman climbing to the 20s during the day in Big Sky and Bozeman.

GALLATIN COUNTY OPENS $46M JUSTICE CENTER IN BOZEMAN

EBS STAFF

Gallatin County has opened a new, 67,000-square-foot law and justice center adjacent to its old facility along South 16th Avenue in Bozeman. Construction began in the fall of 2022 and was completed earlier this year.

The $46 million “state-of-the-art” facility includes four district court courtrooms—allowing adequate space for all four district court judges— two justice court courtrooms, youth court and probation offices and other department offices. It was funded by a $29 million voter-approved bond, $5 million from Gallatin County savings, $4.8 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds, $3.7 million from bond premium funds and $3.5 million from financing, according to a Jan. 21 Gallatin County press release.

“The opening of the new Gallatin County Justice Center brings expanded capacity, increased efficiency and improved safety for employees and the public,” Gallatin County Commission Chair Jennifer Boyer stated in the release. “We are proud of this community investment and thankful for the support our voters gave to make this happen.”

The former law and justice center, originally built in 1961 as a Catholic high school and later purchased by the county and retrofitted for law enforcement and court use, had fallen out of code compliance and is scheduled for demolition later this spring, according to the release. The county will host a “surplus sale” on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., including office furnishings, courtroom pews and other items no longer needed. The old site will be repurposed to provide additional parking.

WORKFORCE HOUSING BILL HEARD IN MONTANA LEGISLATURE COMMITTEE

EBS STAFF

On Jan. 21, Montana Rep. Kenneth Walsh presented House Bill 162 to the Montana House’s local government committee. The bill would amend a section of resort tax legislation, to include workforce housing in the 1% resort tax that can be directed toward infrastructure.Proponents from Big Sky, Gardiner and Whitefish spoke in support of the bill at the Tuesday hearing.

The hearing wrapped up at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday and if the committee chooses to pass the bill, the proposal will be heard on the House floor where legislators will decide if the bill enters the second half of the process in the Senate.

LOCAL GOV. STUDY RELEASES EDUCATIONAL TOOL: ‘JUST PLAY WITH IT’

As the study of potential local governance options for Big Sky continues, leaders unveiled an educational tool in mid-January.

The “Scenario Development Toolkit” allows anyone to play around with hypothetical structures of government for Big Sky, from incorporation to the creation of an independent county. The tool outlines the benefits, drawbacks, and likelihood of success in implementing those options—for example, creation of a county would face “high” barriers to implementation, as study leader Dylan Pipinich demonstrated in an informal community session on Jan. 15.

“The toolkit is basically a buffet line of options available for local government,” said Pipinich, a land planner for WGM Group. “… The goal of this toolkit is a little bit of education, and a little bit of informing what’s available. But it’s also trying to drive those gears in those thought processes, and get you thinking about the level of detail and what you really want in your community. So when we ask you some survey questions in a few weeks, you’re going to have some robust answers.”

The toolkit is a Microsoft Excel file available for download at the study website. In case of technical difficulties, the team asks the public to email bigskygovstudy@wgmgroup.com.

“Just play with it,” Pipinich said.

On Jan. 28, the study team will hold a public meeting at The Wilson Hotel. The meeting will allow the study team to share their months of research, updating the community since the last big-picture meeting in September. A community survey will also open on Jan. 28, and its results will illuminate which governance options the community wants to seriously explore.

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

Ways to Engage

Be informed, stay connected, and make a di erence—your voice matters.

Join Public Meetings

Attend Big Sky Resort Area District’s board meetings in person or virtually via Zoom. Our next meeting will be held Tuesday, February 4 @ 1:00-3:00 pm at the Resort Tax O ce. Find meeting details, including the Zoom link, at resorttax.org.

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LOCAL

BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTS IN LOS ANGELES FIRES

BIG SKY—Fire engine 1244, a command vehicle and five skilled firefighters from the Big Sky Fire Department traveled to the Los Angeles area to assist in fighting devastating wildfires. The Big Sky Fire Department was called on by the state of Montana to offer assistance through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a mutual aid agreement across U.S. states.

Fire Chief Dustin Tetrault said that departments like the one in Big Sky are ready for these kinds of calls.

“ Our guys do a lot of wildland interface training for exactly what they’re dealing with out there,” Tetrault told EBS.

The task force will be co-led by Battalion Chief Dan Sheil, and will include four other members of BSFD: Travis Dubois, firefighter and paramedic; Matt George, firefighter and EMT; Matt Kendziorski, firefighter and paramedic; and Chris Mohr, captain and engine boss.

Not only will Big Sky be able to assist its neighbors in California with skilled responders and engines suitable for the urban-wildland landscape of Los Angeles fires, they’ll also return with experience and strategies for future disasters.

“ When the time does happen that we have something like this happen here, our guys have got that,” Tetrault said.

Last year, the BSFD assisted Idaho, Washington and Wyoming, on top of eight fire deployments within the state. The wildfires in Los Angeles are burning both wildlands and structures, making this a diverse experience for the fire department.

“ We see these large-scale just devastating wildfires and natural disasters that are wiping towns off the map, essentially,” Tetrault said.

According to the New York Times, as of Jan. 22 at 3:15 p.m., the Palisades, Eaton and Hughes fires have burned more than 40,000 acres as crews work to contain and prevent new sparks.

He added that Big Sky doesn’t have the same type of fire-fueling vegetation that Los Angeles does, but it’s an area that could be devastated by fires too.

“ You get a day like what they have with just historical winds and heat and stuff like that,” Tetrault said. “And it’s just a recipe for disaster.”

The aftermath of these natural disasters is long, Tetrault noted. He said a key practice the Big Sky community can take is investing in fire-safe landscaping. Another resource for residents is Fire Adapted Big Sky, which outlines homeowner tips, fire risk maps and a wildfire action guide.

Businesses in Town Center collected clothing donations for those impacted by wildfires. Bluebird and Belle Cose Boutique collected donations in the days following the disaster.

Tetrault said it’s meaningful to be able to assist in firefighting efforts across the country.

“ It’s huge,” he said. “And so in our case, our guys definitely know the magnitude of that.”

The Big Sky Fire Department deployed five members to California. From left to right: Travis Dubois, Matt George, Matt Kendziorski, Chris Mohr and Dan Sheil.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT

SPCF GRANTS OVER $1M IN 2024 TO BIG SKY NONPROFITS

EBS STAFF

BIG SKY—The Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, a philanthropic arm of the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club in Big Sky, announced on Jan. 13 that it provided 43 grants, totaling $1,048,500 and distributed to 27 local nonprofits, across two funding cycles in 2024. Grant awards prioritized services to those who live and work in Big Sky.

According to a SPCF press release, the foundation has awarded over $4 million in grants to nonprofits since its creation in 2011—roughly a quarter of that impact came in 2024 alone.

“Through our grants and partnerships with local organizations, SPCF is dedicated to making a lasting difference in Big Sky,” Hannah Waterbury, executive director of SPCF, stated in the release. She credited club members for their “steadfast support of the Big Sky community.”

The release explained that SPCF’s mission is centered around supporting projects and organizations that directly serve Big Sky’s residents and workers, with a long-term vision to foster a thriving, sustainable community in Big Sky.

The foundation gives preference to applications for local projects in the following categories: direct community services, such as affordable housing initiatives, behavioral health resources, and social

services; educational support to help families access quality education and child care; conservation and recreation, including local trails and recreational opportunities; and cultural opportunities, including arts programs and community events that enhance quality of life.

SPCF also prioritizes projects that serve the greatest number of people and address identified community needs.

For the full list of grant recipients, read this story on explorebigsky.com.

SPCF board members, top left to right: Mike Lister, Clarissa Weirick, Ellen Kaplan, Beth Hecimovich, Martha Johnson, Kate Malik, Walker Jones, Matt Kidd, Erik Lisher, Kim Kendrick, Hannah Waterbury, Nishen Radia (not pictured: Mike Brown). PHOTO BY GOLDEN MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCAL

A SMALL STAFF AMONG HUNDREDS OF PACKAGES

STAFFING STRUGGLES, CONTRACT TRANSITION CONTINUED INTO BIG SKY USPS POST OFFICE’S FIRST HOLIDAY SEASON

BIG SKY—When the USPS Big Sky Post Office opened in July 2024, the Montana Postal Workers Union, a branch of the American Postal Workers Union representing about 400 USPS employees across the state, recommended hiring three clerks and a postmaster.

Bart Riddle is the clerk for the Montana Postal Workers Union and has worked for the USPS for 10 years. Part of his role in the union is to visit post offices like the one in Big Sky to assess the facility as it gears up for opening. From the assessment in 2024, the union concluded that three clerks and a postmaster should be hired in Big Sky’s new post office.

He hasn’t seen the Big Sky office since before the holidays, but understands that as of Jan. 2, the USPS has only hired one clerk and the postmaster.

It’s likely that the gap in union recommended staffing and the present employee numbers explains what Big Sky community members describe as long lines, lost packages and frustration, concerns that only grew in the post office’s first busy holiday season. Locals seem to be in agreement with the USPS and the union in one belief: the staff are doing the best they possibly can with the resources they have.

“The management up there is doing the best they can with what they have for right now,” Riddle told EBS on the phone. “Right now, and they’ve only hired one because they just opened in July … the hours are such that that person has to commute from Bozeman to there. She is not local.”

According to Sherry Patterson, a communications specialist at USPS, the USPS provided Big Sky with “borrowed” employees from nearby regions to assist in mail and parcel management as items flooded into the office around the holidays. Riddle explained that using borrowed staff is expensive for the USPS—it requires the agency to cover housing expenses and transportation.

A combination of schedule needs and housing costs make it difficult for the post office to recruit new employees to Big Sky, Riddle explained. “If people that live there aren’t working [for USPS], then people have to come in from out of state or somewhere else to try to work there and there’s no housing,” Riddle said.

He added that surrounding areas like Bozeman and Gallatin Gateway are not only not cheap, but also require a commute through the Gallatin Canyon, a drive that can range anywhere from 50 minutes to hours, depending on traffic, crashes and conditions on the single-lane highway.

“You don’t get paid for that travel time,” Riddle said. “You don’t get paid for mileage. You just have to commute and that’s your job.”

USPS echoed the hurdles to hiring new employees. Patterson oversees communications for Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana and said that cost of living and housing expenses are among the problems that make recruitment difficult in the region.

“However, we continue to work diligently on the hiring process,” Patterson wrote in an email to EBS.

Open job positions in Big Sky are not listed on USPS’ career website as of Jan. 13, but Big Sky postmaster Rhonda Weber has previously encouraged interested applicants to go to the Big Sky Post Office in person to ask about open jobs.

Locals learn to schedule it in

Dana, a resident who asked EBS to withhold her last name for privacy, has accepted the longer waits at the post office as part of the process. She finds there is one positive: she’s met some new faces while waiting in line, and has held a line neighbor’s spot when they went to grab coffee for the wait. Community members like Dana understand that the staff are doing the best they can. Over the holidays, she, her husband and her kids spent eight to 10 hours in the post office over a two-and-a-

People head into the post office. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

half-week period. She’s tried all times of the day to catch a lucky quiet morning or afternoon, but each visit is about the same. She’s primarily concerned for Big Sky residents with non-flexible jobs and for the postal office workers who, to her, seem overwhelmed.

“I think we’re all just getting to that mindset of: it’s going to be a long time,” Dana said.

Andy Haynes, a Big Sky resident for nearly 15 years, said he’s disappointed by community members who become angry with USPS employees at the counter. He remembered a scene over the holidays.

“Like there’s a woman wearing a Santa Claus hat and I mean, people are really swearing at her,” Haynes recalled.

Another day while he was waiting in line he decided to make a satirical Facebook page, one to remind customers to remain kind and have a sense of humor. Called “Current Big Sky Post Office Conditions,” the page is a play on the popular Gallatin Canyon Road Conditions page.

So far, the Facebook group has 61 members. He hopes it dissolves some of the disdain he’s felt from the community, and said that the post office staff are just government employees doing their best.

Gary Phillipe, president of Montana’s postal union, understands where frustrations are coming from.

“First of all, nobody likes standing in long lines,” Phillipe said. He emphasized that employees are well-intentioned in their service.

“The person working is more than likely giving 110%. And I can promise you … I represent about

LOCAL

400 employees in Montana,” Phillipe said. “So the people that are actually working in those offices really, really care about the public.”

For individuals having service issues, Patterson recommends contacting the Postal Service by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS or visiting their website for assistance.

The U.S. General Services Administration also lists the USPS Consumer Advocate office, among other options for assistance.

Nationwide changes could impact Big Sky

Rural post office operations like the one in Big Sky are also at the mercy of state and national USPS decisions. In July 2024, the same month of the Big Sky Post Office’s opening, USPS ended a three-decade strong partnership with Alpine Air, the air cargo transporter in Montana according to reporting by the Daily Montanan’s Keila Szpaller. Both Sen. Steve Daines and former Sen. Jon Tester appealed to the USPS following the news. In a July 22 statement, Daines described the impact of the decision.

“While I appreciate the continued work of the USPS to find innovative solutions and to maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness, I am concerned that this decision will lead to the continued degradation of service standards” Daines stated. Right now, the USPS is awaiting an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission about a new transportation plan.

The USPS’ planned regional transportation optimization, or “RTO,” is an extension of a previously piloted program called local

transportation optimization, or “LTO.” The plan promises to streamline transportation and cut costs compared to current services.

A Dec. 18 USPS audit report found that LTO data in six regions across the country showed changes “negatively impacted customers,” particularly in rural areas. The report concluded, “the service performance scores for First-Class Mail declined for all LTO regions while Single Piece First-Class Mail service performance to the rural population had an even greater decline.”

A public comment hearing with USPS, a part of the advisory opinion process, on proposed changes including RTO was held in September.

Patterson outlined how the plan would improve operations nationwide.

“In regard to the proposed operational improvements, these changes position us to better utilize our existing ground network, streamlining our approach to delivering both mail and packages efficiently and on time, while enabling us to adhere to the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 mandates on the continued transportation of letters and packages within an integrated network,” Patterson stated.

According to Patterson, the refinements are estimated to reduce costs by about $3 billion annually, and are a step toward the USPS achieving financial stability.

It could be a while before the local post office is able to meet the needs of a seasonally fluctuating Big Sky. A positive takeaway from this holiday season is fresh data about mail and parcel volume that could inform operations moving forward for the USPS Big Sky Post Office.

The USPS Big Sky Post Office opened in July 2024. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

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BSRAD TO BUNDLE COLD SMOKE, BSCO PARK RENOVATION ON MAY BALLOTS

BIG SKY—On Jan. 2, the Resort Tax board spent hours settling on potential voter-approved bonding to fund two large infrastructure projects: the Cold Smoke workforce housing development, and Big Sky Community Park renovation.

The bonds totaled up to $66.8 million, although local voters will decide in May whether to authorize the Big Sky Resort Area District to take on the long-term public debt.

The process is inherently complicated, and the board faced a tricky question during its regular meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9: should ballots combine the $45 million Cold Smoke land acquisition with the $6.8 park renovation, or should voters decide separately on the two projects?

Additionally, a $15 million bond accounts for Cold Smoke infrastructure, which would be funded from a separate pool of resort tax money and therefore must appear on the ballot separate from the $45 Cold Smoke land acquisition.

The board’s thorough discussion, including public comment, did not yield a clear solution. Bundled or separate, individuals expressed merits and drawbacks of each route, so the board asked the leaders of each sponsoring organization: David O’Connor of the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, and Whitney Montgomery of Big Sky Community Organization, who both agreed it would be best to bundle the $45 million land acquisition and the $6.8 park renovation into one ballot item.

Montgomery said Big Sky is facing a big-picture question that unifies and overshadows the two projects.

“Are we going to become a community for all? Or

are we going to become an exclusive resort town,” Montgomery said. “… My hope is that we look at this bond as a step forward for our community to be accessible to more people.

“So, if bundling them provides a better opportunity for that, then I’m 100% for that… I think putting them together would be perfectly appropriate given that the fact that this is a much bigger question, in my opinion, for our community.”

O’Connor said combining the projects on the ballot will enable BSCHT and BSCO to communicate an efficient, unified message to educate voters ahead of the May election.

He added that the projects are not an “eitheror” proposition for the community—they aren’t competing with each other, and keeping the items separate might imply to voters that they ought to pick just one.

Board member Sarah Blechta expressed concern that voters might vote “no” for both for the sake of killing one item in the bundle, even if they would support the other, but acquiesced after hearing from Montgomery and O’Connor.

Once the board agreed to bundle, board member John Zirkle foreshadowed the communication efforts needed to educate voters ahead of the May election—also on the ballot, voters will decide on extending the authority of Resort Tax from 2032 to 2065, and the confirmation of interim board member Michelle Kendziorski.

Zirkle suggested that Resort Tax be “overly aggressive” to ensure as many community members as possible understand the issues being settled on the ballot.

“I want people to be sick of us by May,” Zirkle said. “I want them to say, ‘stop talking about this.’ I don’t want anyone to say, ‘I didn’t know about this.’”

Early on in the meeting, BSRAD Executive Director Daniel Bierschwale pointed out that if members of the public feel Resort Tax is moving too fast on decisions regarding bonding, they have had months to express their concerns to the board.

“The time is now,” Bierschwale said. “The time is last meeting. The time is the December meeting, the November meeting, the October meeting, and then the February meeting, to make public comment. There is no other opportunity… to make public comment. So, speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

The board will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. to finalize the language for the ballot items voters will see in May.

Microgrants to support child care, immigrant advocacy group

In regular activity unrelated to long-term bonding, the BSRAD board voted unanimously to support two initiatives with $25,000 each through BSRAD’s microgrant program.

First, the board funded the Big Sky Early Childhood Alliance, a three-year initiative to convene local providers and stakeholders to improve childcare in the Big Sky community. The new alliance is led by Greater Gallatin United Way, which stepped up to further support regional needs after the closure of Child Care Connections.

Second, the board granted $25,000 to Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley to fund five years of software to help Bienvenidos keep track of hundreds of Spanish-speaking residents living or working in Big Sky, as they engage with the nonprofit.

The board requested that Bienvenidos share nonsensitive data to help BSRAD understand the local workforce and needs of Spanish-speaking workers.

The Resort Tax board met for the second time in eight days to continue discussing a potential voter-approved bond package. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

LOCAL

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: RUN LIKE THE WIND

BIG SKY—Liz Peabody’s Big Sky story starts like so many others. She moved here in December 2016 after graduating college. She was looking to spend a winter skiing and snowboarding, and to save up a little money. Also like so many others, she never left.

Peabody brought with her a love of running that started back in second grade when her dad encouraged her to try it out, for no other reason than he thought she might like it. And she did. She ran cross-country and track all through middle and high school, and through her freshman year at college.

Fast forward to 2020. Peabody signed up for the Salt Lake City marathon, but it was cancelled due to COVID. She decided to look closer to home and found and signed up for her first ultra marathon near Seeley Lake. The race was small enough that they were still hosting it, even amid the pandemic. The Bob Marshall Trail Race is 50K of trails with about 5,000 feet of vertical gain.

Since that first ultra marathon in June 2020, Liz has been very busy! She has completed seven ultras, two marathons and a dozen or more half marathons. She stated she has never had a DNF (did not finish), won first place in a 50K in West Yellowstone in June of 2024, and finished first in her age group at her first 50-mile race the following month. Did I mention she also got married and had two kids since COVID?

“I've learned that how you feel before or during a race, does not determine the outcome,” Peabody wrote in an email to EBS. “You’d be surprised what your body and mind can do.”

According to Peabody, “Running has been my space for solitude but becoming a mom has made me a better runner and person.”

When asked how she juggles training, married life and caring for two toddlers, she shared she is able to do so with overwhelming support from friends and the community.

“I've had people watch my kids, pick them up from school, share their support [with me] on social media, and reach out privately. It's been really

cool to share something I love and get a positive response,” Peabody said.

Regarding having two kids in 16 months? She shared: “It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And also the most rewarding”.

When Peabody is not busy caring for two-and-ahalf-year-old Mabel, and one-and-a-half-year-old Calvin, alongside husband Andrew, you can find her running like the wind, with her dog Ruby, throughout Gallatin County’s many trails, or in the backcountry, or at home flexing her professional baking skills.

For more on Peabody’s “mountain momma” lifestyle, check out her Instagram vlog at @liz_blue.

Big Sky Community Spotlight is a short column that is meant to shine a light on those in Big Sky doing important work. Whether it be a profession, hobby or volunteer work, Big Sky is home to interesting people that do interesting things and as our community grows, it is important to stay connected to our neighbors and local businesses. This is more easily done if we know more about one another. We hope you enjoy getting to know your neighbors!

Peabody juggles ultra running alongside motherhood with support from her friends and family. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ PEABODY
A tiny companion for a winter workout. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ PEABODY
Peabody fell in love with running in the second grade and today runs ultra marathons across the region. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ PEABODY

MADISON COUNTY REJECTS BIG SKY SUBDIVISION’S PETITION TO WITHDRAW FROM HOSPITAL DISTRICT

VIRGINIA CITY—The Madison County Commission hosted a hearing in Virginia City on Monday, Jan. 13, to consider a small Big Sky subdivision’s petition to withdraw from the Madison Valley Hospital District. At the end of a four-and-a-half-hour hearing, commissioners voted 2-1 against granting the withdrawal.

Despite the small size of the 22-home Silvertip subdivision in the Moonlight Basin area, Big Sky officials said the Jan. 13 hearing could have “critically important” implications on a larger scale withdrawal effort to create a new “wellness district” in Big Sky.

The community-wide withdrawal petition stalled in January 2024 due to a disagreement on the required signature count, but the Big Sky coalition spearheading the petition sued Madison County in August and the case remains under review. Many arguments during Monday’s hearing pertained to the community-wide topic, given Silvertip’s potential to set a precedent for the larger battle.

Silvertip’s case revolved around proximity and access to medical care in the Madison County side of Big Sky.

Attorney Natasha Jones said that if a hospital district were created today based on modern populations, “there is no way that anyone would combine Big Sky and Ennis… Access matters. Geography matters. Proximity matters. And here, health care isn’t accessible in Big Sky through the Madison Valley Hospital.”

Attorneys and Silvertip residents contrasted their options for medical facilities, sharing firsthand accounts of emergency care being sought and provided by the Bozeman Health Big Sky Regional Medical Center—which is significantly closer along a state highway to Big Sky’s Town Center, versus the semi-private and relatively hazardous Jack Creek Road to Ennis.

In addition to Big Sky residents, Jones offered a scenario in which an Ennis resident is hurt while working or driving in Big Sky.

“They are going to go where health care is accessible in that moment… They’re going to get picked up by an ambulance, they’re going to go to the Big Sky clinic… because access and proximity matters,” Jones said.

Silvertip attorney Matt Hayhurst summarized the issue in his opening statement.

“Local taxes, like special district taxes, should provide a local benefit,” Hayhurst said. “They should be used locally by the local community, and they should provide benefit to the people who pay those taxes.”

Madison Valley Medical Center CEO Allen Rohrback, among other MVHD representatives and legal counsel, described MVMC’s medical services provided in Big Sky and its desire to continue growing those offerings, including doctors who visit Big Sky multiple times per week to provide care.

“Our vision is very big all over the hospital district, including Big Sky. We look at the Big Sky area as a big opportunity for our entire district,” Rohrback said. “… I believe Big Sky folks, including the Silvertip subdivision, need the Madison Valley Hospital District now, and will need it much more in the future.”

Rohrback also emphasized that the future will depend on collaboration between communities. “It will not be obstruction. And it will not be the removal of district funding,” he said, taking issue with Big Sky’s wellness district efforts.

In addition, the MVHD representatives claimed the Silvertip petition was invalid, based on nuanced residency requirements that excluded numerous signatures. That argument proved inconsequential as the commissioners voted to reject the petition on other grounds.

Commissioners stick with status quo

After hearing testimony from both sides, the commissioners asked questions of representatives and prepared for a short deliberation and vote.

District 3 Commissioner Bill Todd, whose jurisdiction includes Big Sky, said it’s a tough decision—his vote eventually settled a 1-1 tie with his decision to reject the petition.

“My opinions on everything are—well, they fluctuate depending on the presentation,” Todd said. “… I have a tough time in turning the status quo, just as a general rule for myself.”

Paula Cleary, a resident of Big Sky's Silvertip neighborhood, speaks during a hearing on Jan. 13 in Virginia City. COURTESY OF HEATHER MORRIS

Todd’s decision came down to “the certainty” of an evacuation event, such as a natural disaster.

“It has to be the worst possible scenario where [Big Sky residents] may obtain a benefit here,” Todd said. “And if you’re evacuating from the Madison County portion of Big Sky, you will come down Jack Creek Road. And you will need medical attention. And I don’t know where else you would get that, other than Madison Valley Medical Center.”

District 1 Commissioner Duke Gilman said the hearing is an important chance for Madison County to talk carefully about Big Sky’s health care challenges. He later voted to reject the petition. “I really want to find some ways to find solutions to the issue through working together as a county, [rather] than as separate geographical areas,” Gilman said.

District 2 Commissioner Ron Nye expressed a desire to negotiate a settlement, though he did not see it as a possibility. He echoed Gilman’s desire for both communities to collaborate.

Nye motioned to grant the petition, and was the lone vote in favor as it failed, 2-1.

Paul Farrell, president of the Silvertip HOA, told EBS his community is disappointed with the commission’s decision.

“I think the facts are absolutely crystal clear to anyone who was in that room, or who has done any amount of research on this situation,” Farrell told EBS in a phone call Tuesday. He said no Silvertip resident has ever received care at MVMC, and every resident has used Big Sky Medical Center. He said MVMC is using “every road block that they can” to amplify negative narratives about the effort, and emphasized that residents are not trying

LOCAL

to disparage MVMC or its personnel, nor skip out on paying taxes.

“I will not save one penny in taxes if this effort succeeds,” Farrell said. “Not one cent. It’s just allocating [taxes] to the resources I actually use.”

‘We can’t let that hospital close’

Montana Sen. Tony Tezak, whose senate district 35 includes Ennis and much of Madison County, voiced concerns about the working families who live in Ennis and drive Jack Creek Road to support Big Sky’s economy. He said if Big Sky withdraws from MHVD—his comments reflected the larger withdrawal effort, not the relatively small effort by Silvertip—the hospital would need to overhaul its funding structure.

“You know who we’re gonna shift that burden to? The backs of those working families. Because we can’t let that hospital close,” Tezak said.

The Madison Valley Medical Center launched a website encouraging public engagement against Big Sky’s hospital district withdrawal and similar school and library initiatives that could have “severe and far-reaching consequences” for the Madison Valley. The website stated that if Big Sky’s total withdrawal is eventually successful, MVMC would lose $2.9 million in annual property taxes, creating a budget shortfall and operating loss and jeopardizing vital health care services.

Tezak cautioned that the Missoula-based lawyers representing the Silvertip petition are not experts, and warned the commissioners, “don’t be intimidated by them. And don’t be intimidated by the money.”

He also warned against Montana’s potential Medicaid expansion and cautioned against large

hospitals. “I’m telling you, the big hospitals, they are bad guys… We do not want Bozeman Deaconess to fight us. We don’t want that to happen,” Tezak said. He did not elaborate on the local impact of either Medicaid or large hospitals.

“It should be very hard to get out of a hospital district,” said Rohrback, CEO of the Madison Valley Medical Center. “And that’s why the statute is clear… the Silvertip subdivision and the greater Big Sky area will need to prove that there will be no benefit by remaining.”

‘Far from over’

Silvertip resident Paula Cleary said residents’ Madison County property taxes to MVHD have increased three times in the past 10 years, from $288 in 2018 to $702 in 2024.

“We have never used Madison Valley Hospital [sic] in that span,” Cleary said. “Never. We have frequently… used Big Sky Medical Center during that span. The allocation of our health care tax dollars should reflect that reality.”

However, the commissioners ultimately decided that the community could not prove its lack of benefit from MVHD.

Farrell, HOA president, said that the community is examining its options and the effort is “far from over.” He said other neighborhoods may launch similar petitions to withdraw.

“There’s going to be an appeal process… We’re gonna keep going until we get to a solution that is fair,” Farrell said. “And sending 100% of your tax dollars to Madison Valley Medical Center… is clearly not a fair or long-term solution.”

Left to right: Commissioners Duke Gilman, Bill Todd and Ron Nye. PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER MORRIS

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SPORTS

LONE PEAK HOLDS OFF WEST YELLOWSTONE FOR OVERTIME WIN

BIG HORNS EARN STATEWIDE RANKING IN MONTANA CLASS B; BEDWAY CLIMBS ALL-

TIME SCORING RANKS

BIG SKY—The Lone Peak High School boys basketball team advanced to 9-2 on Jan. 21 with an overtime win against West Yellowstone High School, a matchup often called “Battle of 191” after the highway separating the rivals.

West Yellowstone remained in Montana Class C when Lone Peak ascended to face larger schools in Class B last year. Still, the Wolverine boys and girls swept last year’s rivalry matchup at their home gym, and Lone Peak head coach Al Malinowski said they’re not a team to take lightly.

“We knew they’d be ready. They’re always competitive... Neither one of us wants to lose to the other,” Malinowski told EBS after the 59-52 overtime win.

Senior Isaac Bedway scored 24 points in the victory, including 7 of the team’s 11 overtime points. Bedway now has 857 career points, good for second in Lone Peak High School’s all-time leaderboard, passing 2020 graduate Frankie Starz (previously No. 3 with 835 points) and 2023 graduate Max Romney (previously No. 2 with 856 points). The all-time leading scorer is 2017 graduate Eddie Starz, with 1,334 points.

Bedway said the Big Horns may have been overconfident and underprepared for the sharpshooting Wolverines, but his teammates locked in and picked each other up in the final minutes of regulation, and in overtime when Bedway took matters into his own hands.

“I know I’m going to have to be that person... Two years ago I knew it wasn’t me,” Bedway said. “But I know it’s me or Ebe [Grabow] who has to get downhill and then create for someone else, or do something when it matters and pick the team up.”

The Wolverines held a two-point lead with 10 seconds left before Grabow drove to the hoop for a physical, game-changing layup. Malinowski said the fact that the game was close enough to reach overtime may have exposed some areas for the Big Horns to improve.

“Maybe when we talked about areas where we had advantages—could... have creeped into getting us a little overconfident,” he suggested.

The Wolverines rebounded effectively and won many of the 50-50 balls. Senior Damian Ramales led the Wolverines with 19 points, and made key plays including a buzzer-beating shot in the third quarter and a steal with 18 seconds in the fourth quarter that nearly sealed the game. Sophomore Noa Flores and junior Quincy McCracken added 11 and nine points, respectively.

As of Jan. 14, the Big Horns were ranked No. 8 in the state. They suffered their second loss on Jan. 17 at No. 5 Three Forks, but Lone Peak is among the top 10 teams in Montana Class B,an unprecedented step for the program.

With their victory over West Yellowstone, Lone Peak also finished an undefeated 6-0 record against non-conference opponents for the first time ever.

Last year, the young Big Horns entered most games as a hungry underdog.

“In a lot of ways it’s new territory,” Malinowski said. “... Now, we’ve got everybody’s attention when we go to play a game, whether it’s a Class B school or a Class C school.”

As the Big Horns begin preparing for tournament season in late February, Malinowski said they need to improve their depth from the top down.

“We need every individual player to continue to challenge themselves to keep getting better,” Malinowski said. “... We’ve got something that everybody on our team can continue to improve on. I’ve said this among our coaches: even though we are 9-2, we’re not even close to our ceiling.”

Malinowski commended junior Eli Gale for scoring a few timely points in the contest, and Miles Romney for “critical baskets” like going two-fortwo from the free throw line in overtime.

Sophomore Ryan Malinowski had 13 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter to help shift momentum when the Wolverines held a 28-24 lead.

Ryan believes his 3-point shooting can help spark energy to get the team going. As a younger player, he said he’s learning that everyone needs to do their part and continue to step up.

“I think we learned that when our stars aren’t doing all the scoring, we gotta all pitch in a little extra, all

our bench gotta step it up, and we all need to bring the energy,” Ryan said. “... I think we’ve definitely improved from last year where when we get down, we don’t put our heads down. We keep fighting, we bring each other back into it.”

Girls team: ‘Every game we’ve improved’

The Big Horn girls are still in search of their first win, and they wouldn’t find it against the Wolverines, who boarded the bus happy after a 4020 win.

The Big Horns are a young team in a challenging Class B, but junior Maddie Wilcynski said they’re motivated to get their first win—she said the team felt close to winning, even in a 20-point loss, and they should be proud of their effort in the rivalry game.

“I’m really proud of our team because we’re working hard together in practice, and every game we’ve improved, whether it’s running our plays better, or getting back on defense better,” Wilcynski said. “But also we’re staying super positive together, and I think that’s really huge.”

Junior Harper Morris led the Big Horns in scoring with 11 points, with senior Addy Malinowski and sophomore Sophie Kendrick adding five and four points, respectively. The Big Horns scored 13 of their 20 points in the second half.

Seven different Wolverines scored on Jan. 21, led by eight-point efforts by eighth-grader Kassandra Salinas and freshman Brookelyn Hales.

As head coach Jessica Bedway told EBS in early January, Wilcynski agreed the team will need to commit to training, competing in tournaments, and staying in shape outside of basketball season, even with the other sports they may play.

Wilcynski added they’ll need to prioritize working out together in the summer if they’re going to turn the page and rise to the level of their Class B opponents.

Lone Peak sophomores Ryan Malinowski (20) and Miles Romney are young contributors to a surging team. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
Lone Peak senior Isaac Bedway makes a basket-andone during overtime. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

FROM SKI TRACKS TO SNOWSHOE PATHS: BIG SKY’S WINTER TRAILS AWAIT

FROM SKI TRACKS TO SNOWSHOE PATHS: BIG SKY’S WINTER TRAILS AWAIT

BIG SKY—In the wintertime, there’s a system of community hiking trails in Big Sky that are groomed to appeal to winter recreationists, particularly Nordic skiing and snowshoeing.

However, use of this local 85-kilometer (approximately 53-mile) trail system means taking on some responsibility so all can enjoy them equally. Avid Nordic skier Bill Rode spoke on the importance of proper trail use on groomed trails. Due to the lengthy, intertwining trail system as well as the different entities caring for different sections of trails, Rode explains how it is easy to confuse what traffic is allowed where.

The Lone Mountain Ranch trails begin just north of Town Center and move west towards Big Sky Resort. The trails at LMR do require a pass that can be purchased at the Big Sky Nordic Center or online. The cost of the pass goes directly towards the cost of grooming and maintaining the trails.

LMR cares for and grooms the Nordic ski trails using a snowcat that creates specific tracks for Nordic skiers throughout the winter. The groomers will run at night or early morning so as not to conflict with daytime skiers. On these tracks walking is prohibited, as are dogs since it impacts grooming patterns, and disturbs the tracks to make skiing more difficult.

Big Sky Community Organization trails are located around Town Center and reach over 30 miles all together. These trails are free to the public and open to skiers, walkers, snowshoers, dogs walkers and essentially any non-motorized winter use.

BSCO uses a device pulled behind a snowmobile that covers a wide range of terrain and creates a flat packed, easy trail for almost any recreationalist.

Denise Wade, manager of the Big Sky Nordic Center, notes that a long-term goal for the Nordic community is to have all of these trails linked so that in the winter, people can ski right from their

homes and access different parts of Big Sky without having to drive.

“It’s an ongoing process with lots of different entities,” Wade said. “Besides Lone Mountain Ranch and BSCO, we are working with landowners and developers to allow public access to link these trails.”

Both Wade and Rode emphasized the importance of responsibly recreating and adhering to the signs to maintain the quality of these trails. The LMR and BSCO grooming reports are available online and updated daily to reflect the trail conditions.

The Nordic ski trail system is a great way to explore Big Sky without need for a car. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL RODE
Lone Mountain Ranch Nordic ski trail sign. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL RODE
to LMR trails can be purchased at the Nordic Center. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL RODE

REGIONAL

NEW MAGAZINE SERVES SPANISHSPEAKING COMMUNITY

BOZEMAN—A new Bozeman-based magazine for Spanish speakers, La Voz Latina launched in November and aims to educate and unify the Hispanic community as new members assimilate into Montana and the U.S.

La Voz Latina has now printed three editions, starting with 300 copies in November, and increasing to 500 in December and 1,000 in January, same with the upcoming February edition.

“I think we are doing things better and better every time... To be [in] the third month, we are doing good,” Mario Rodriguez, Gallatin Valley entrepreneur-turned-publisher, told EBS in a Dec. 30 interview.

Rodriguez grew up in Zacatecas, Mexico, and moved to the U.S. as a young adult. He has lived in the states for about 25 years and moved to the Gallatin Valley in 2018. He opened a food truck and turned it into the Mr. Burritos restaurant in Four Corners in 2020, and recently began his foray into print media.

“We do it by ourselves, everything... five people and me,” he said. The process includes multiple rounds of design, writing and fact-checking.

Rodriguez believes that immigrants come to the U.S. “to give something back, something good,” and he sees La Voz Latina as a resource to help inform the Hispanic community on Montana’s

rules, customs and societal norms. The magazine intends to communicate information such as traffic laws, health care practices, and how to buy or rent vehicles and homes.

“There’s a lot of information that Hispanic people need to know,” Rodriguez said. “... Because a lot of people are basically new. They came from their countries, they don’t know exactly how all processes in the U.S. [work].”

Rodriguez believes some immigrants get in trouble because they don’t understand laws and customs. He sees La Voz Latina as a way to preserve Hispanic cultures, but also to build a bridge with American culture.

“We need to teach these people to be in American culture, and American way. With the rules, do the right things, do something important for our community. Work hard, because that’s why we came to this country, is to work... Be good citizens, I think is the most important thing, and be a good example for the community, for families,” he said.

The power of language

Kendall Levinson is CEO of Montana Language Services, a Bozeman-based business that provides professional translation, interpretation and languageaccess services to help overcome language barriers.

Levinson told EBS that whether you speak English, Spanish or any other language, nothing gets done if people can’t communicate. She said it can feel

“blind” for non-English speakers to navigate a world that primarily speaks English, just as it would for anyone to visit a country surrounded by foreign language.

She said Spanish is the second-most commonly spoken language in the U.S., and many resources nationwide are communicated in Spanish.

“But this is Montana, and Montana is so specific,” Levinson said. “There’s bear safety information that you’re not going to get if you live in Texas. You have to have local information to understand where you live.”

She sees potential for La Voz Latina to help provide that information. She’s noticed similar publications in the past, but none seemed to get off the ground.

With 5% of Gallatin Valley’s population now speaking Spanish as one of their languages, and as Montana’s growing economies depend on international workers—like Big Sky, where international visa programs attract hundreds of seasonal workers—Levinson said it’s becoming “very, very relevant” to provide information to those readers and adapt to the reality of a diverse workforce.

“The workforce... is going to fuel that economy,” said Levinson. “So it’s really important for them to have accessibility to the communities that they live in.”

La Voz Latina’s staff, right to left: Mario Rodriguez, Dariana Estevez, Lizeth Chavez. (Not pictured: Susy Cornejo, Eduardo Ascencio). PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Levinson noticed the tourism section on La Voz Latina’s website. She said 12.5 million international tourists visited Montana in 2023, and that if La Voz Latina continues to develop, its website could be a resource for Spanish-speaking visitors. “The tourism industry in Montana is becoming rapidly more international,” she said.

With his new endeavor, Rodriguez hopes to avoid political division and confrontation. He said the magazine will remain neutral on controversial issues, with a focus on education.

He envisions a family activity in every edition of the magazine. In December, for example, the magazine included a Santa Claus-themed gift drive,

REGIONAL

encouraging kids to write letters to Santa asking for Christmas gifts. Rodriguez and his team placed 12 mailboxes across Bozeman, Belgrade and Big Sky, and then purchased the gifts to fulfill their wishes.

He said the program was popular among readers, and it revealed a lot of need.

“The kids write from the heart, and they are really honest kids. To be honest, I feel happy, I feel kind of sad, and I feel... it’s not enough what I’m doing. Hopefully someday I can do a lot of things for a lot of people in need, at least a little gift,” he said.

La Voz Latina is being distributed at various Spanish-speaking businesses, including the food

truck plaza on North 7th Avenue in Bozeman, El Mercadito in Four Corners, Mr. Burritos locations, La Cocina in Belgrade, the Big Sky and Gallatin Valley food banks, even locations in Livingston, Billings and Helena. Rodriguez said topics might be local, or relevant on a state or national level.

While the publication has focused initially on a Spanish-speaking audience, their website can translate into English. “The goal is to get more people no matter what language they speak,” Rodriguez said.

He added that anyone wanting to make a positive contribution to the magazine is welcome to reach out and share ideas.

La Voz Latina Magazine PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

GNFAC: WHY DOES SNOW CHANGE SO QUICKLY? IT’S HOT ENVIRONMENT

As skiers and riders, we all know snow. It blankets the mountains with deep powder during the cold winter months offering endless ground for play. But what if I told you that snow is actually a “warm” material? It’s not just warm, it’s hot! Sounds crazy, but understanding this concept can help unlock the science of snow. It can help us understand why powder conditions or avalanche danger can change in the span of days or even just minutes.

Do you remember learning how ice skates work, maybe in high school science class? Essentially ice skates concentrate all our weight on a very narrow blade, putting a lot of pressure on the ice. The ice remains cold, but extra pressure from the blade melts a very thin layer, allowing skaters to effortlessly glide across the ice rink on a thin rail of water.

Water, like all other matter, exists in three phases: solid, liquid or vapor. Changing the temperature of

water is the easiest way to change between phases. Add heat, and it becomes vapor or steam. Remove the heat, and it becomes a solid or ice. Another way to change the phase is with pressure. Adding a little pressure can melt ice just as ice skates do. Removing pressure can cause water to boil and become steam.

This all means that both temperature and pressure control whether water is a solid, liquid or gas. If we put those variables onto a graph, we get something called a pressure-temperature diagram or phase diagram. Notice two things in the phase diagram for water. The first is that there is a triple point where water can be either a solid, liquid or gas at the same time. The second is that the triple point for water occurs very close to common atmospheric temperature and pressure compared to many other materials.

Think about something like steel. At what temperature does steel melt and become a liquid? Over 2,000F! At what temperature does ice or snow melt? 32F. Normal air temperatures in the mountains bounce on either side of that melting temperature all year long.

Because snow is made of ice which exists near its triple point and its melting point, this entire discussion brings us to one simple concept: snow is a warm material that is always changing. Even

though it feels cold to the touch, it is relatively warm because it exists on the verge of melting or even evaporating. The slightest changes in temperature or pressure quickly change it into either a solid, liquid, or vapor, and the shapes of ice crystals in snow is constantly changing.

Ed Adams, retired professor at Montana State University and snow scientist, once said “identifying the properties of snow is like throwing darts blind folded at a moving dart board.”

These changes control the type of snow crystals that fall from the sky and determine what kind of powder day we’ll have. These changes also create different snow crystals on the ground, which can create deadly avalanche conditions.

Snowmelt and spring runoff are affected by these changes in snow, which can affect how much water we have in reservoirs and whether we have catastrophic wildfires or not. Even the global energy balance is affected by how much solar radiation snow reflects back into the sky. Snow may feel cold, but remember, it’s actually hot!

Mark Staples is the director of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.

Forecaster Dave Zinn examines layers in the snowpack in Hyalite Canyon on Dec. 27. PHOTO COURTESY OF GNFAC
Small snow crystals seen through a low power microscope. Every little grain of snow changes dramatically, sometimes in a matter of hours, as a result of subtle changes in temperature. PHOTO COURTESY OF GNFAC

DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: ELIMINATING RULES THAT PROTECT BLACK BEARS

DISMISSING THE SCIENCE IN FAVOR OF THE HUNTER

On Dec. 19, Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission eliminated season-ending quotas for female black bears in Region 1, located in northwestern Montana. This change was enacted through a no-notice amendment, effectively barring public participation unless individuals attended the meeting or joined via Zoom call. This undermined transparency and public engagement in wildlife management.

Numerous biologists have expressed grave concerns regarding this decision, as they aim to safeguard the declining black bear population. Jeff Burrows, the commissioner for Region 2 in west-central Montana, pushed for the amendment to scrap the quota that would have ended the spring bear hunt if female bear harvests exceeded 37%.

The FWP commission, including Burrows and Region 1 Vice Chair Pat Tabor, approved the 37% quota in February 2024. The original proposal sought to extend the spring bear hunting season by two weeks to reduce the number of female black bears killed. However, the commission made a complete reversal by December.

Tabor pressured the department to extend the spring hunting season in four districts of Region 1 earlier in 2024, citing complaints from hunters about a short season and claims that ungulate populations—including deer, elk and moose—were in decline. This raises serious public concerns, especially considering Tabor’s ownership of an outfitting business that stands to profit from extended hunting seasons in Region 1, particularly in Bear Unit 130, where he operates.

Historically, Region 1 has hosted the highest density of black bears in Montana, boasting the most favorable habitats, but recent changes threaten this balance. Tabor states that the black bear population should be reduced to boost the elk population. His assertion that reducing black bear populations is necessary to benefit elk lacks credible evidence. No recent studies of black bear demographics have been done in Region 1 since 2010. Black bears can and do kill newborn elk calves, but typically, they do so only during the first month. This is from a joint study FWP did with the University of Montana in 2014 that looked at elk calves in the Bitterroot Mountains of western Montana.

Biologists are alarmed that eliminating the quota will have dire consequences for black bear populations, especially when 3% of hunters misidentify sex. During the Dec. 19 Zoom meeting, Region 1 Supervisor Neil Anderson pointed out that the 37% quota was established due to substantial pressures faced by black bears since 2021.

“We were coming off two years of almost record harvests of black bears. In 2021 and 2022, we harvested over 700 bears each year in Region 1 alone, totaling almost 1,500 in two years,” Anderson explained in the meeting. “Over the past two years, the black bear harvest dropped to 455 in 2023 and again last year. So, we have likely significantly impacted the black bear population in 2021 and 2022, even though the season ended on May 31.”

Both black and grizzly bears share the trait of low reproductive rates. Black bears typically reach breeding age at four or five years and only produce cubs once they are five or six, contingent on suitable habitat and food. Female black bears, primarily responsible for nurturing cubs, require more protection than males for the population’s overall health. If the percentage of killed females reaches over 40%, it becomes difficult for the bear population to remain stable or grow.

Tabor’s claims regarding a declining elk population are unsupported. The Montana Free Press reported that the elk population in Montana has surged to its highest level in over a century, with FWP biologists estimating around 175,000 elk—a 42% increase since 2005. Access issues are making elk sightings and hunts increasingly difficult, as most have relocated to private lands. Last year, FWP conducted an elk count and found that approximately 143,000 elk were on private property, challenging hunters. Historically, predators like wolves and grizzlies have been scapegoated by those seeking to profit from hunting, but the deeper problem is public access and loss of habitat.

Simultaneously, elk habitat in northwestern Montana is rapidly diminishing due to a significant state population increase. Since 2020, the state has welcomed nearly 51,000 people, with Region 1 alone—including Flathead (almost 10,000 new residents), Lake (2,196), Lincoln (2,293), Mineral (559), and Sanders (1,466) counties—undergoing dramatic population growth. As land is purchased and habitat becomes fragmented, wildlife populations, including black bears, suffer. Each month, Montana loses 1,500 acres of open space to development.

According to FWP, northwest Montana’s elk and black bear populations lack thorough

documentation. In certain areas of Lincoln County, the elk population is so dense that it damages private property, and FWP has allowed more elk hunts during the shoulder season.

In the February commission meeting, Tabor publicly chastised biologists for questioning his decisions, asserting that they should not challenge proposals from FWP leadership. He openly suggested that FWP should prioritize hunters’ voices over scientific input.

“I’m concerned when the wildlife managers come together as a group and make a decision,” Tabor said. “I recognize some people have different philosophies and belief systems, but ultimately, it’s one decision by one department, not multiple departments. I’m troubled by the fact that if regions don’t like the answer that both commissioners come up with, then the department has the official response that they work behind the scenes and try to undo that, which is bothersome to me.”

Tensions heated up amongst the commissioners during this Feb. 4 meeting as Commissioner K.C. Walsh of Region 4 responded.

“I find that kind of an irritating response from Commissioner Tabor,” Walsh said. “... I would add that there are seven commissioners for a reason, and we interpret public comment differently, and we hear different things in our region than maybe you do. From the same standpoint, there is one department, but there are seven of us, and we may have different points of view.”

Commissioner Susan Kirby Brooke from Region 3 also responded, noting that listening to the science is crucial when making informed decisions.

“I feel like as a Region Three Commissioner, I should be able to ask the biologists—whether they are fish biologists or wildlife biologists—questions and get answers about Region Three,” she said. “... I feel like I need to be able to go to these people and have them give me their professional opinion, even if the department has taken an official position.”

When did one of the world’s most esteemed wildlife management agencies become subservient to special interest groups and begin disregarding scientific evidence? Why are Pat Tabor and the commission sidestepping scientific data from their own department? Tabor is prioritizing his business interests rather than the well-being of the wildlife he was appointed to protect.

It’s great for elected officials to listen to hunters in the field, but it needs to be coupled with expertise and data from scientists when making decisions that affect wildlife populations. Under leadership like this, black bear populations in Region 1 could collapse.

Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His stories have been published in Audubon, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and other publications on his website. He holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.

WRITERS ON THE RANGE: LOS ANGELES IS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE WEST—ESPECIALLY DURANGO

After fierce winds whipped fire out of brush-covered hills on Jan. 7, entire Los Angeles neighborhoods burned down. Within a few days, over 12,000 homes and businesses had been destroyed as flames ringed the city. And it’s not over yet.

The photos of smoldering neighborhoods and distraught residents are horrific and shocking. Could they also presage the kind of wildfire that might overtake Durango, a town of about 20,000 in southwestern Colorado?

It’s a question worth asking. Local fire experts say Los Angeles and Durango are similar in topography. Durango doesn’t experience the hurricane-force Santa Ana winds that pushed the LA fires, but it does often have sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts over 40 mph, which can vault burning embers great distances.

Perhaps more importantly, the big city and the town share the same pattern of development.

Angelenos have long coveted proximity to wooded canyons for their homes. Durango residents crave the same access to nature, pushing housing into canyons. In both places, million-dollar homes have been built among flammable trees.

Other similarities include lax regulations that fail to dissuade wildland builders. Then there’s the question of storing enough water and having sufficient water pressure to fight blazes. Los Angeles ran out of water fast because attacks on simultaneous fires quickly drew down supplies.

Durango uses around four million gallons daily and has two weeks of storage in its Terminal Reservoir. But if the city ran a dozen or more high-flow

hydrants, water pressure would plummet in days. Here’s a suggestion: Prioritize building the $11-million-dollar, 36-inch proposed water line from Lake Nighthorse, a nearby reservoir, to the city system, boosting raw water storage to four months.

Durango has a history of large wildfires. In 2002, the 73,000-acre Missionary Ridge Fire torched 46 structures. The town suffered another blow in 2018 when wildfire ringed the town, burning 54,130 acres.

Randy Black, Durango Fire Protection District Fire Chief, is quick to point out that not one structure was lost in 2018, thanks to a coordinated effort by local and state crews. “We got lucky,” he said. “If the June 2018 fire happened later in the season, resources wouldn’t have been available.” Also key were carefully forged relationships among regional firefighting resources, Black said, along with extensive planning.

One hundred eighty employees and volunteers staff the Durango Fire District, which covers both the city and a 325-square-mile swath of the county. Black said they focus on what he calls the most important aspect of firefighting—mitigation meant to keep wildland fires from starting in the first place.

That means working to create fire breaks between wildlands and urban areas and removing fuels within the urban core. The town participates by thinning wooded areas on its perimeter, and federal agencies manage both thinning and controlled burns.

“If you don’t do the fire mitigation, you run the risk of whole neighborhoods catching on fire,” Black said.

Another similarity between Los Angeles and Durango is that both share difficulty in getting fire insurance. Some insurers have pulled out of California entirely, and when the Durango Fire

District built its new in-town firehouse last year, Black said, no one would insure the structure at first. Colorado insurance companies had just weathered 10 years of property losses to wildland fire, and they were loath to take chances.

Colorado’s new, state-backed Fair Plan offers a last resort for home insurance, but it’s barebones coverage of homes worth up to $750,000. With building costs in Durango now estimated to be $500 to $700 per square foot, losing a 2,000-square-foot home to wildfire means rebuilding a much smaller house.

I’ve talked to many wildland fire experts about how towns can fight these multiple, destructive blazes. Their suggestions boil down to three basics:

First, make building requirements stringent for any home proposed in wildlands.

Second, get residents involved. The Durango Fire District offers homeowners free assessments of fire risk, and it also advises the creation of three zones around a house: Remove anything flammable within five feet, include a turnaround big enough for fire vehicles, and allow only widely spaced trees and mown grass out to 100 feet.

A third step is “hardening” existing structures with fireproof building materials. Black, who built his own house, said he chose cement siding and a metal roof.

If homeowners take these steps, say insurers, they stand a better chance of keeping their insurance policies. Twenty four people have lost their lives in the Los Angeles fires as of Jan. 12. Their deaths are a wakeup call to everyone living in the West— especially Durango.

Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to lively discussion about the West. He lives in Durango, Colorado.

Controlled BLM burn in Durango, Colorado in May 2023. PHOTO BY DAVE MARSTON

A&E

COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR

If your next event falls between Feb. 7 - Feb. 19 please submit it to explorebigsky.com/calendar-event-form by Feb. 1

As of Jan. 20, Explore Big Sky’s online event calendar is under repair. We appreciate your patience as we work to get the calendar back online soon.

MTN MINDFUL YOGA

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29

MOVING MOUNTAINS GYM, 12 P.M..

Moving Mountains is holding yoga on Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The yoga is free and open to the community, and Moving Mountains asks participants to show up five minutes early and bring a mat if possible. The yoga session focuses on mind, body and breath connection and builds mobility, strength and balance.

Do You or Someone You Know Need Help Getting Sober?

Can’t stop drinking? We get it. Contact Alcoholics Anonymous today! Call 1-833-800-8553 to talk to an AA member or go to a meeting in-person or online. For a full list of meetings visit the website, aa-montana.org, or download the MEETING GUIDE® APP IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL, CONTACT AA WE CAN HELP! Read the full events calendar, or submit your own community event

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

ARTS COUNCIL TO HOST ANNUAL ART AUCTION FEB. 22

EBS STAFF

The nonprofit Arts Council of Big Sky will host its 13th annual Auction for the Arts on Saturday, Feb. 22, raising money for affordable art education programs in Big Sky.

The annual fundraising gala will be held at the Montage Big Sky hotel, and will include live music, food and drinks, live and silent auctions, a paddle-raise fundraiser and a quick-finish with 10 selected artists whose works will be auctioned live. Anyone can participate in the silent auction, which includes more than 70 works including paintings, photography, jewelry, sculpture. Silent auction bids and event tickets are available online.

“This annual fundraiser for one of Big Sky’s longest running nonprofits has become one of the community’s most anticipated events of the year, and features some of the best local, regional and national artists,” an Arts

enriching the community through artistic experiences, as well as supporting working artists.”

Last year, the auction event raised $238K from 85 sales, plus another $58K in donations.

Proceeds from artwork sales support the arts council’s “contribute-what-you-can” fee structure for local art classes. The press release noted that the Arts Council’s classroom at BASE teaches more than 1,000 diverse participants annually across various art mediums, and that new classrooms and educational opportunities will be available once the arts council completes its substantial renovation of the former Choppers building into a community arts center.

“Raising additional funds for this program will allow it to thrive,” Arts Council Executive Director Brian Hurlbut stated in the release. “We want to provide access to the

The 2024 Auction for the Arts sold 85 pieces for

DINING

A LA CARTE: ON EGG CREAMS AND A DRY JANUARY

Like many of us, I rang in 2025 with a champagne toast, clinking my glass with friends and loved ones before downing the sweet nectar therein. One glass of champagne, I decided, was enough. I refilled my flute with a mock mimosa, replacing the bubbly booze with a non-alcoholic substitute.

Hangovers weren’t so bad in my 20s. Now, they are some rare form of hell. Body aches seem to disappear with each wave of nausea, only to reappear if the room happens to stop spinning. And did I mention the evil elves turning their toy making hammers onto the insides of my skull? Drinking, for me, is best in moderation.

Enter Dry January. For a growing number of people, this New Year’s toast tradition may be the last bit of alcohol they consume for a month or more.

Dry January’s official origins date back to 2012, when British charity Alcohol Change UK created the public health initiative to encourage people to cut back on booze for 31 days.

“Research has shown that alcohol, even in small amounts, is bad for your health. It can lower the quality of your sleep, impair sexual function and increase your risk of developing certain cancers and other diseases,” Nicole Stock wrote in a December

2024 New York Times article outlining the sobriety challenge.

By the third year of Dry January, over 2 million people participated in the official initiative, Jackie Ballard, the head of Alcohol Concern in London wrote in a British medical journal in 2015.

“To be absolutely clear; this challenge is not a detox or for those with dependency issues,” Ballard wrote. “Instead, it’s aimed at the huge numbers of people who are steadily drinking a bit too much, too often, (exceeding recommended guidelines of alcohol consumption) without realising the effect it may be having on their health.”

This week, CBS News reported that nearly a third of Americans planned to participate in Dry January this year. Whether they make it through the month is another story.

I have not completed my Dry January, serving my cooking club an entirely alcoholic black martini earlier this month. The challenge is a challenge for a reason. I’ve never been a fan of all or nothing thinking, and let’s face it, most of us like booze.

Luckily, Dry January isn’t the only option. Some people have taken to simply cutting back for the month, taking a break to reexamine their relationship with alcohol. Out of a true Dry January, this seemingly more realistic “Damp January” has emerged.

With all of this on mind this month, I’ve been on a search for new dry drinks.

Mocktails are an increasingly common sight on restaurant and bar menus. Liquor replacement options have increased at an incredible rate. Belgrade Liquor, one of the largest stores around, has shelves of non-alcoholic options, from mixers to mock spirits that emulate their alcoholic cousins. Non-alcoholic gin is a favorite, with the juniperforward herbaceousness easily covering the lack of booze when combined with tonic.

The Cave Spirits and Gifts in Big Sky carries well over a dozen non-alcoholic beer options, plus some bubbly and Curious Elixirs’ non-alcoholic cocktails infused with adaptogens.

I wrote a trivia round about non-alcoholic mixed drinks, diving into weird soda shop favorites. There’s an old soda-fountain favorite, especially popular on the East Coast, called an egg cream. It contains neither egg nor cream, and is essentially a fizzy chocolate milk. Curious, I rounded up its ingredients and made one. Then another with slightly different ratios. One thing was certain at the end of my experimenting: I prefer my chocolate milk flat.

Egg creams out, I polled my friends and followers online. And while the replies were few, there was a general consensus. What are they drinking during Dry January? Wine.

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

“egg cream” beverage, an East Coast treat. PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

Amazing Investment Potential

BRIDGER VIEW ESTATE

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With three residences, an expansive barn, and meticulously landscaped grounds, the estate is suited for gatherings of all kinds, from weddings to family reunions and corporate retreats. Combining luxury, space, and proximity to Bozeman, it’s ideal as both a family estate and a profitable event venue.

Whether envisioned as a private retreat or premier event destination, Bridger View Estate offers a rare investment opportunity in Bozeman’s flourishing tourism market, alongside the serene charm of Montana living.

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BUSINESS

REP. REVIEW: HOW TO GET ENGAGED

Hello Rep. Review readers! I’m Alanah Griffith. I was elected last November to represent House District 60, which includes Big Sky, West Yellowstone and Gallatin Gateway, in the Montana Legislature. This will be an ongoing series while I am in the legislature to bring to you the tools to track and to participate in bills that are important to you, and to keep you updated on region-relevant important bills.

I was born in Big Sky during the 1970s. I was raised in Four Corners, where I graduated from Monforton then Bozeman High. After I graduated from law school, I moved back to Gallatin County. I have been working in business, real estate and HOA law for over two decades. I moved back to Big Sky about eight years ago. I ran for HD 60 to make sure that our district had a voice in the legislature, and to find solutions to property taxes and affordable housing for our communities. I am the first representative from Big Sky.

An important question that I heard while I was out knocking doors in our district was “how do I find out about bills that are coming up that I care about?” Luckily, the Montana Legislature has a bill tracker. To start tracking bills, go to the bill tracker website and sign up. Once you have your account, you can start tracking bills.

Let’s practice with House Bill 162. This is a bill to amend the 1% resort tax for infrastructure to include housing, which could have a huge impact on Big Sky and West Yellowstone. First, to find this bill, you would go to the Bill Tracker and log in. You can search for the bill by key words or a bill number in the search box.

I put in “resort tax” first and hundreds of bills came up. That is because the default search is “or” so I received everything with “tax” or “resort.” Next, I tried “resort” and HB 162 came up. Once I found it, I just clicked on the “+” sign, and it is now tracked. When hearings are set and when changes happen, I will receive an email letting me know. That is how you can track a bill. There is a handy guide to the bill tracker system online.

Then what? You’ll get an alert for hearings on the bill. If the hearing is in a committee, you can participate. Each legislator is assigned to committees. If a legislator is working on appropriations and taxes (the budget) then that is their only committee. Otherwise, a legislator may have two or more committees. I was assigned to Judiciary, Agriculture and Federal Relations, Energy and Technology. Committees are the first place that a bill is heard. Bills are heard twice in committee, once on one side, then if they pass that side, then of the other side of the House or Senate.

HB 162 was assigned to the local government committee. As I write this, its hearing is scheduled for Jan. 21, at 3 p.m.

If you have something to say on any bill, and want to participate remotely, then you have to sign up at least two hours before the hearing (I suggest the day before to be sure.) If you just want to watch, then you can watch live or stream any of the hearings after it is completed. I will say, if you really, really care about a bill, then show up in person for the hearing. That always makes the biggest impact.

I hope this column helps bring our Montana Legislature into your homes. I have seen some of you out and about in Helena. Seeing you brings a smile to my face and keeps me motivated to do my very best for our district. It is truly my honor to serve you in Helena.

Please let me know throughout the session if you have any questions, any thoughts on a bill or if I can help you with an issue.

To close out my first column, I leave you with these words from one of my heroes, former Montana U.S. Senator Mike Mansfield:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Alanah Griffith was born in Big Sky and returned after law school to raise her son and practice law. Griffith represents Big Sky and the surrounding area in Montana’s House of Representatives. She can be reached by email at alanah.griffith@legmt.gov, on Facebook and on Instagram at, @griffithformt.

Montana State Capitol building in Helena. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

Listed with Branif Scott - Fay Ranches Buyers with Darren Streets - Outlaw Realty

HEALTH

LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH: 20 YEARS OF WELLNESS IN ACTION

COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF WIA’S MISSION

Wellness In Action is a grassroots organization founded in 2005 by Big Sky residents concerned about the community’s wellbeing and overall health. What began as support for general health initiatives and scholarship opportunities are now defined programs and direct services that provide access to mental and behavioral health care for those who live or work in Big Sky.

For 20 years, WIA has pioneered the spirit of “community caring about community,” and has maintained its priority to devise good solutions to best serve those who lack sufficient resources. Now providing a comprehensive counseling and direct-service support platform, the Affordable Counseling Program at WIA is the only program of its kind in Big Sky. This program offers a range of reduced-cost counseling options available in-person, via telehealth, and in Spanish; free services by community health workers to provide wrap-around support, trainings, and education opportunities; and scholarships to offer further financial assistance for counseling for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access services. Still prioritizing the work initiated by its founding board of directors, WIA continues to provide camp scholarships for Big Sky’s youth.

This year, 2025, marks the 20th anniversary of Wellness in Action (formerly Women in Action). WIA is proud ofpartnering with the Big Sky

School District to help hire Big Sky’s first school counselor and implementing the school counseling program, funding in-person services by the Alcohol and Drug Services of Gallatin County, and initiating the community’s first structure for affordable counseling and support groups to improve mental health.

WIA is the only nonprofit organization to provide affordable counseling services, as well as free wrap-around support to those who live or work in Big Sky. Its multi-service platform was created based on identified gaps from community needs assessments with the goals of improving access to care, increasing knowledge of available services and providing a clear pathway to care. WIA bases payment for professional counseling services on a sliding scale that allows community members to pay a lower rate based on income, and the Community Health Worker program is available at no cost. Without the support of a sliding scale many clients would not be able to afford the cost of a $150 counseling session out of pocket, as approximately 40% of clients do not have insurance. Thirty percent of clients qualify for financial assistance from WIA to cover 90% of cost of services, therefore only paying $15 a session. The World Health Organization reports (pages 189190) that community-based mental health care (like the services provided by WIA) delivers positive outcomes for health and wellbeing by reducing barriers to care. ) delivers positive outcomes for health and wellbeing by reducing barriers to care.

The Big Sky community drives WIA’s mission. Prioritizing mental health continues to be critical, as Montana ranks 38th for the number of uninsured adults with mental health challenges and 47th for the number of adults with mental health

challenges whose private insurance did not cover mental or emotional problems, according to a 2024 report by Mental Health AmericaA 2021 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that 39.6% of Gallatin County students felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks. Big Sky’s youth remain a priority in expanding programs and services at Wellness in Action. WIA supports the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition as it works with many community partners to open the first youth behavioral health facility in Gallatin County, scheduled to open in fall 2025 in Belgrade. WIA also collaborates with local schools in Big Sky to incorporate mindfulness, and self –esteem and resiliency curriculum for students. We will continue to work with our local partners to ensure we do all we can to keep our youth and families healthy.

Big Sky can be encouraged by the future of mental health in this special town. Through partnerships, collaboration, and especially with the commitment and beautiful spirit of the people who live here, Wellness in Action is proud to be part of a movement to normalize mental health and reduce the stigma. Our doors are always open to you. We are here to help, support, build, and launch. Please reach out to us with any questions or to seek the help you need. We are here for you.

Allison Bradac is the Executive Director for Wellness in Action and is most honored to work with the dedicated team of counselors and staff to provide a local service platform for reduced-cost counseling and wrap-around support. Allison loves and appreciates the incredible beauty and adventure Big Sky allows and believes that this place is even more beautiful when people can live in their personal place of health and wholeness.

WIA’s team, left to right: Programs Manager Kiernan McCarthy, Community Health Workers Hope Finch and Melissa Clivio-Wentrup, and Executive Director Allison Bradac. COURTESY OF WIA

HEALTH BUZZ: A POPULAR THERAPY—PEPTIDES

Throughout 2024, we saw growing interest in the use of peptides as part of a holistic approach to health and wellness.

What are peptides?

These naturally occurring biological molecules are made from amino acids and are found throughout the body. They play a pivotal role in many physiological processes, including hormone production, cell signaling and tissue repair.

The most popular clinical use of peptides is weight management, where they offer a promising solution. Peptide therapy targets the body’s cellular function, promoting not just weight management but overall health optimization. This method ensures that your journey to wellness is balanced, sustainable and aligned with your body’s natural systems.

The second most common use in our office is connective tissue repair. Often combined with platelet rich plasma (PRP) we can inject peptides for arthritis, tendon, ligament or cartilage repair. These can also expedite recovery from a nonsurgical injury.

Another specific peptide is showing impressive results in helping strengthen the immune system. Thymosin Alpha-1 is a peptide originally isolated from the thymus gland as the compound responsible for restoring immune function. TA-1 is prescribed to optimize the performance of your immune health and improve general wellness by preventing viral and bacterial infections.

While peptide therapy has promising health applications, it is best when used as part of a comprehensive holistic approach. A holistic lifestyle focuses on bringing the body, mind, and spirit into greater balance and alignment through tailored interventions to nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management.

If you are interested in learning more about peptides and how they can be incorporated into your holistic lifestyle, consult your holistic health team and reach out to us today.

Dr. Kaley Burns is a licensed Naturopathic Physician providing a wide range of services for her clients, including: Naturopathic Medicine, IV Nutrient Therapy, Regenerative Injections, Rejuvenation Therapies, Vitamin Shots, and Nutrition Counseling. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

DID YOU KNOW?

500 years ago, at least 30 million bison roamed the plains. That number is now less than 30,000. The depletion of free range bison has been attributed to:

•Decades of over-exploitation

•Decline in genetic diversity

•Habitat loss

•Human Interaction

Yellowstone National Park boasts the nation's largest free range buffalo herd, but only two others remain - the Henry’s Mountains and Book Cliffs herds, both in southern Utah.

Respect. Protect. Cherish.

Paid for by the animals in your backyard.

American Bison // Bison bison

BACK 40

GREATER YELLOWSTONE’S FRONTLINE PROTECTORS

CONSERVATION NONPROFITS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE FIGHT TO KEEP THE GYE WILD

This article originally appeared in the winter 2025 issue of mountain Outlaw. You can read the latest issue online at mtoutlaw.com.

In the summer of 2015, a coalition of residents and landowners in Paradise Valley, agency officials, the Park County commission and chamber of commerce, and other nonprofit organizations successfully halted the proposed Emigrant Gulch Mine from the irreparable harm it believed the extraction would bring to 75 acres along the base of Emigrant Peak just north of Yellowstone National Park.

Not only did the widespread opposition lead to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition purchasing the parcel in 2022 and transferring it to public hands, but the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act was enacted to protect 30,000 surrounding acres from future mining proposals. While growth has become an inevitable part of the 22 million robust but fragile acres of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, conservation wins like this one are a reminder of the tireless, passionate and collaborative effort put forth by area nonprofits to keep some of the region wild.

“There’s a very strong element of that—a wild nature that still exists here,” says Max Hjortsberg, managing director of the Park County Environmental Council, a grassroots conservation organization based in Livingston, Montana. “I think that people see that as very much worth protecting and fighting to maintain, that presence in this area. And I think we still have a chance at doing that.”

PCEC has operated on such a belief since it was established in 1987 as an informal group of Park County residents focused on advocating for and celebrating wild places and wilderness

in Park County. For decades, it’s remained an ardent source of advocacy for the land, water, wildlife and people of Yellowstone’s northern gateway community.

PCEC’s latest fight surfaced in October 2024 after the nonprofit filed a Freedom of Information Act request to confirm community rumors of a planned 90-acre development on the south side of Suce Creek near Livingston. Flex Capital Group, still a prospective buyer of the agricultural parcel as of Mountain Outlaw press time, has plans for a large destination resort complex, including 100 cabins, a central facility with a bar, restaurant, spa and event space on a parcel currently home to wildlife, agricultural land and recreation access to the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness.

After learning of the proposal, PCEC began working with elected officials, the county planning department, planning board and the community to find the most powerful response to development proposals of this scale that have become all too commonplace in southwest Montana. Above all though, they’re giving a voice to those who don’t have one.

“We’re such a human-centric species,” says Erica Lighthiser, who also serves as PCEC managing director. “We talk a lot about conservation, even in terms of beautiful and open landscapes. I think a lot of our conservation organizations really need to—and they do—center around wildlife and center around the importance of species that are nonhuman. Unfortunately, nothing can speak for those species other than us.”

Protecting the GYE’s wildlife is a lift that requires many hands. Not far from Livingston in Bozeman, Montana, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation studies ecological

connectivity in landscapes. Landscape fragmentation is a global issue, and through science, policy, practice and collaboration, the organization tackles what CLLC chief strategy officer Deb Kmon Davidson refers to as the “messy middles,” the land in between protected areas.

“It’s everywhere,” Kmon Davidson said. “Every single corner of the globe is dealing with fragmentation. Fragmentation from roads, fragmentation from human development in terms of housing and industrial agriculture.”

The GYE is no exception.

Kmon Davidson spoke to Mountain Outlaw from Cali, Columbia, where she represented CLLC in CoP-16 (16th Conference of the Parties) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. CoP-16 convened 15,000 people from 96 countries to discuss the importance of connectivity and landscape/seascape conservation, and demonstrate successful implementation.

The day prior, CLLC gave a presentation to an international audience about work the group’s been doing along two major GYE corridors in Montana: U.S. Highway 191 in Gallatin Canyon between Bozeman and Big Sky, and Montana Highway 89 in Paradise Valley—two sites where vehicle-wildlife collisions have greatly increased. CLLC is working on solutions; a “top priority” is a wildlife crossing at the mouth of Gallatin Canyon where 24 percent of all crashes are collisions with wildlife—more than double the statewide average of 10 percent. This wildlife crossing could become a reality by 2026. It was the global debut, she said, of a project that is very close to home.

CLLC’s GYE studies can be applied globally, but local celebrations are certainly in order. Custer

For Explore Big Sky, the Back 40 is a resource: a place where we can delve into subjects and ask experts to share their knowledge. Here, we highlight stories from our flagship sister publication Mountain Outlaw magazine.
Noun: wild or rough terrain adjacent to a developed area Origin: shortened form of “back 40 acres”
Anglers during One Fly’s 2024 tournament along the Snake River. PHOTO BY NEAL HENDERSON

Gallatin National Forest utilized a connectivity analysis produced by CLLC in its revised forest plan released in July 2020. The connectivity analysis identified important wildlife corridors that will now remain undisturbed by human activity such as heavy equipment, vegetation management, low flying helicopters, increased recreation use and structure development. Additionally, in October of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a “department-wide effort to support connectivity of wildlife habitat on working landscapes through the management of National Forests and voluntary conservation assistance on private agricultural lands,” according to a USDA Oct. 21 press release.

“There’s an acceptance and an awareness of yes, we are going to have more infrastructure, we are going to have more traffic. We’re probably going to have to build roads into some wild land areas,” Kmon Davidson said. “If we’re going to do that, let’s do it in the best way possible … that all comes down to knowing where the highest priority habitat is, trying to avoid that if you can, and if you can’t, then mitigating appropriately.”

On the southern end of the GYE, another organization is harnessing such increasing human traffic into support for nonhuman species. Each September, Jackson Hole One Fly Foundation hosts a fly-fishing tournament along the Jackson Hole stretch of the Snake River, gathering 40 teams of four fly fisherfolk each to raise money to support local efforts to restore, steward and conserve this critical watershed.

“If there are rivers prettier than the Snake as it flows through Jackson, particularly up in the park, I’d be hard pressed to tell you,” says Greg Case, board chairman of One Fly. “I’ve fished in a lot of places, but that remains one of the most breathtaking views.”

Case says that sense of wonder is key to the success of the nonprofit’s 38-year run and the hundreds of thousands of dollars they raise each year—this year’s event brought in nearly $500,000 through tournament entry fees, sponsors and preceding auction event. Case estimates One Fly has raised more than $25 million since the organization’s inception. A

large portion of the money is awarded to One Fly’s regional focused conservation partners, including Trout Unlimited, Henry’s Fork Foundation and Friends of the Teton River. Other dollars fund local scholarships, such as University of Wyoming’s Aquatic Ecology Scholarship, and the Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School, inspiring the love of fly fishing and river stewardship among the next generation.

“People tend to protect what they love and what they know,” Case says. “So the more we can do to introduce young girls and boys to the sport of fly fishing, hopefully the more participation we get from that next generation, and therefore they represent the next group to stand up and fight for the resource.”

Case, who lives in Philadelphia, participated in his 17th One Fly tournament this year. He said it’s an event that people from all over the world mark on their calendars annually, with participants and supporters from all corners of the U.S., as well as New Zealand, Australia and Europe.

From its headwaters in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks to its confluence with the Columbia River in Washington, the entirety of the Snake River will represent more than 65 percent of the nation’s remaining cold-water fish habitat by 2080, according to research projections by American Rivers. Conserving this life-giving waterway is critical to the livelihood of Yellowstone and fine-spotted cutthroat, whose habitats are threatened by warming waters due to climate change.

“To have the opportunity to catch native fish that have been there for millions of years since the last glacial episode, that Lewis and Clark encountered when they came across the country when it was all unknown territory to the Europeans … and see those views and be part of that environment for a couple of days is just incredible,” Case says. “I don’t know many people who aren’t moved by that experience.”

As the GYE faces a future of increased growth, PCEC, CLLC and One Fly are examples of the many organizations that have made the flanks of Yellowstone National Park their battleground, and believe in taking an active role in that inevitability in the little ways that

they can—whether that’s supporting policy to keep development away from critical habitat and guiding responsible land use, funding stewardship to protect a critical species, or simply spreading a love of the landscape on a national level.

Mira Brody is the VP of Media at Outlaw Partners.

Planning wildlife crossings along U.S. Highway 191

In November 2024, CLLC announced that they had submitted an application with the Federal Highway Administration by the Montana Department of Transportation that will, once approved, allow for the construction of a wildlife overpass at the mouth of Gallatin Canyon across U.S. Highway 191. With 10,00016,000 vehicles passing through Gallatin Gateway—the only route available to Bozemanto-Big Sky commuters—per day, the road is a growing hazard to animals attempting to access key habitats, specifically deer and elk.

“The assessment showed where actions are most needed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and maintain or improve wildlife’s ability to move across the road to access important resources and habitat,” said CLLC road ecologist Liz Fairbank, lead author of the 191/MT 64 Wildlife and Transportation Assessment.

Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program awards are expected to be announced in early 2025. If the 191 application is successful, a planning process for construction should commence in 2026. You can read more about this project by scanning the code below.

$10 from each item purchased goes directly to the Center for Large Landscape Conservation and their Hwy 191 Wildlife Crossings Project.

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