Explore Big Sky - December 14 to 27, 2023

December 14 - 27, 2023 Volume 14 // Issue #25

SPECIAL SECTION: BEST OF BIG SKY CELEBRATES COMMUNITY NEW SHUTTLE CONNECTS JACKSON HOLE AND BIG SKY

QUEEN JEAN LOOKS BACK ON FIVE DECADES OPINION: MONTANA HEADWATERS LEGACY ACT BIG SKY PETITIONS FOR WELLNESS DISTRICT PLUS: GIFT AND GEAR GUIDE

December 14 - 27, 2023 Volume 14, Issue No. 25 Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana

PUBLISHER Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL VP MEDIA Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

OPENING SHOT Locals expected a few inches. In a welcome surprise, Big Sky received more than a foot of snow on Dec. 7 and 8. Driving was perilous—more than 30 cars slid off the road and law enforcement closed Ousel Falls Road for an hour—but the heavy snow was a welcome sight after a dry November. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jack Reaney | jack@theoutlawpartners.com DIGITAL PRODUCER Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER ME BROWN | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com MARKETING MANAGER Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com CONTENT MARKETING LEAD Taylor Owens | taylor@theoutlawpartners.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com

4 OBITUARY 10 6 LOCAL 22 SPORTS 25 ENVIRONMENT 16 33 A&E 38 DINING 12 20 40 BUSINESS 42 HEALTH 47 FUN 25 49 BEST OF BIG SKY 65 GEAR GUIDE

QUEEN JEAN LOOKS BACK ON FIVE DECADES Jean Palmer, known by most as “Queen Jean,” has been in Big Sky since 1976. She visited for the ski resort’s opening season in 1973, and was drawn back to Montana from the Midwest for the healthy lifestyle. Queen Jean has spent almost 50 years building community through her warmth and kindness, hard work and volunteerism. She spoke with Explore Big Sky about the journey beside a growing ski town.

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SPECIAL SECTION: BEST OF BIG SKY CELEBRATES COMMUNITY On Dec. 5, a bustling crowd of supportive locals gathered at The Big Sky Waypoint for the Best of Big Sky awards. The show recognized winners for nearly 50 categories, from “Best Business” and “Best Bar,” to “Best Family-Friendly Activity” and “Community Member of the Year,” all selected by voters. In this special section, find a photo and short summary of each winner.

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PLUS: GIFT AND GEAR GUIDE Still doing last-minute holiday shopping? We are too. Explore Big Sky’s Gift and Gear Guide has a wide variety of local and regional gifts, all curated to fit in with Montana lifestyles. Read firsthand product reviews from our team and try the products out yourself !

CONTRIBUTORS

ON THE COVER:

Jason Bacaj, Kaley Burns, Mario Carr, Kristin Gardner, Marne Hayes, Rachel Hergett, Katie Middleton, Andy Nagel, Dave Pecunies, Benjamin Alva Polley, Jonathan Stone, Paul Swenson, Cara Wilder

After two summers of construction, Big Sky Resort’s new 75-passenger Lone Peak Tram will open on Dec. 19.

The resort will host a grand opening at the bottom terminal on that Tuesday morning, a historic day in Big Sky. PHOTO BY JONATHAN STONE

BIG SKY PETITIONS FOR WELLNESS DISTRICT Big Sky is making moves to begin its own hospital district, calling it a “wellness district.” The new Wellness District would provide a holistic expansion of care offering the following services according to Wellness in Action: behavioral health, substance abuse care, counseling, food security, social service resources, ambulance, primary care and hospital services, including inpatient and 24/7 emergency care.

NEW SHUTTLE CONNECTS JACKSON HOLE AND BIG SKY For the first time, a consistent daily winter shuttle now runs between Jackson, Wyoming and Big Sky. Open to all riders but targeting skiers, the Mountain West Scenic Shuttle looks to provide transportation and a scenic experience—drivers are naturalist guides familiar with the region.

OPINION: MONTANA HEADWATERS LEGACY ACT Guest columnist Kristin Gardner, chief executive and science officer for the Gallatin River Task Force, writes that the Montana Headwaters Legacy Act’s recent reintroduction is “a positive pathway towards the promise of healthy and protected rivers for future generations.” The MHLA would protect 20 rivers and 384 miles in the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone river systems, nearly doubling the number of Montana river miles protected by federal Wild and Scenic River designation.

EDITORIAL POLICIES

SCAN FOR TOWN CRIER NEWSLETTER. DAILY NEWS, STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

EDITORIAL POLICY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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.

Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes.

Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to media@outlaw.partners.

EBS welcomes obituaries written by family members or from funeral homes. To place an obituary, please submit 500 words or less to media@theoutlawpartners.com.

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ADVERTISING DEADLINE For the December 28th issue December 20th, 2023 CORRECTIONS Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners.

OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@theoutlawpartners.com © 2023 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited

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ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IS DEEMED RELIABLE BUT IS NOT GUARANTEED AND SHOULD BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED. INFORMATION AND DEPICTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, PRIOR SALES, PRICE CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. NO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY HAS JUDGED THE MERITS OR VALUE, IF ANY, OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT OR ANY REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED OR DEPICTED HEREIN. THIS MATERIAL SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL IN ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE PRIOR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED OR WHERE SUCH AN OFFER WOULD BE PROHIBITED, AND THIS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH ANOTHER REAL ESTATE AGENT. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL, TAX, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

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4 December 14-27, 2023

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OBITUARY

JIM SALESTROM It is with great sadness we announce the death of well-known entertainer and singer-songwriter Jim Salestrom. Jim passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 22 surrounded by loved ones at his home in Arvada, Colorado after a decade-long battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

James Kevin Salestrom impacted countless lives throughout his long and successful musical career.

To his family he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son and brother. He was born February 20, 1956 in Omaha, Nebraska to Virgil and Janice Salestrom. He is survived by his wife Pamela Dailer Salestrom, his daughter Casey, son-in-law Brandon Freeman and son James Salestrom Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee. The true joy of his life was his grandson—Casey and Brandon’s son, Thomas James. Jim also dearly loved his brothers Chuck and Tom Salestrom and their families.

To his fans Jim was a joy to listen to, a world class singer-songwriter and an Emmy winning performer. His love of music started at the early age of 7 when he got his first guitar. As he got older, he started writing songs, and formed several groups in Nebraska with his brother Chuck. The most

notable of these was Timberline, which further launched his career.

He played guitar and sang in Dolly Parton’s band over the course of decades. Her shows took him all over the world. Jim also had a close relationship with John Denver and performed with him throughout the years. He shared his love of life and positive spirit through his music. He worked with countless wonderful musicians and performed for five U.S. Presidents, and numerous members of the U.S. Supreme Court.

He treated everyone with love and respect. Jim was known for his humor, infectious smile, positive outlook on life and a gift to make everyone feel special. He sang like an angel, and luckily his music will endure long past his lifetime. In one of his final notes, Jim said, “I am eternally grateful for all of you, and it’s not “goodbye”, it’s just “see you later”.

Plans for memorial services will be announced on Jim Salestrom’s social media and website.

Please see a link to a video of his song “Grateful” at: https://youtu.be/rHxmk_8_Qcg

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHUCK SALESTROM

406.995.2600 ● 3rivers.net

BETTER TOGETHER A District bulletin

2024 Business Registration FAQs All businesses operating in Big Sky are required to register with the Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD) annually.

What is Resort Tax?

Resort Tax is a local sales tax on luxury goods and services. It helps fund critical public services and infrastructure that would otherwise appear on property tax bills.

PAID

by customers

COLLECTED by businesses

Which businesses need to Register?

ALL businesses operating in District must register each year. These include, but are not limited to: • lodging & short-term rentals • artists & photographers • retail businesses & market vendors • restaurants & food trucks • private chefs & prepared meal delivery services • concierge & delivery businesses • massage therapists, spas & fitness • construction & contractors • real estate offices & services • cannabis dispensaries • nonprofits & tax-exempt businesses • businesses based elsewhere entering the District to provide/sell goods & services

ADMINISTERED

by BSRAD

REINVESTED

in our community

What does it mean to operate in the District?

Businesses ‘do business’ differently. All businesses located in Big Sky need to register. Additionally, if you’re based outside of the boundary, but you or an employee/contractor come into the District to provide a good or service, you are also required to register and may be responsible to collect resort tax.

I registered last year. Do I need to register again this year?

Yes, all businesses are required to register each year.

Simply log in to your MuniRevs account and answer a couple quick questions.

Do I need to collect Resort Tax?

When do I need to register?

If you have a question about taxable items, please refer to Ordinance 98-01 on our website or reach out to District staff.

Where can I find more information?

While every business must register with the District, not every business is required to collect resort tax. Taxable items are goods and services that are not considered ‘Necessities of Life,’ including but not limited to lodging, prepared food, recreational activities, and souvenirs.

New businesses should register prior to opening. For existing businesses, the 2024 Annual Registration Renewal is due by December 31st, 2023.

If your business will not be operating in 2024, please contact the BSRAD office to close your account.

resorttax.org/business-resources support@resorttax.org 406.995.3234

Administered by the Big Sky Resort Area District, a local government agency, Resort Tax is a 4% tax on luxury goods & services.

OUR VISION: “Big Sky is BETTER TOGETHER as a result of wise investments, an engaged community, and the pursuit of excellence.”

Info@ResortTax.org | ResortTax.org | 406.995.3234 |

6 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

LOCAL

NEWS IN BRIEF

BELGRADE POLICE AND MONTANA HIGHWAY PATROL ENCOURAGE SAFE HOLIDAY DRIVING PRACTICES EBS STAFF

A Dec. 7 news release from the Montana Department of Transportation shared news about Belgrade Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol’s efforts to curb unsafe driving over the holidays.

The time period within Dec. 15 and Jan.1 has a “high concentration of impaired driving crashes and crash fatalities,” the release stated. The release cited MDT’s Vision Zero campaign goal—Gallatin County as well as MHP and MDT are aiming to reduce these numbers.

“Law enforcement partners across the state will be increasing patrols through the winter holidays and making Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests as part of the effort to help Montanans get home safely,” the release stated.

Dustin Lensing, Belgrade’s chief of police, stated that anyone drinking during the holiday season should make plans for a safe, sober ride home.

“Whether it’s designating a sober driver or arranging to stay at a friend or family member’s home if you’re drinking, having that plan ensures our community stays safe,” Lensing stated.

In Montana, a driver with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher can be arrested and face a DUI charge as well as having their driver’s license revoked, being required to take mandatory classes and receiving possible jail time.

According to the release, Montana has the highest fatality rate in the U.S. for deaths caused by impaired driving. “In the last three years, over 60% of Montana’s crash fatalities have involved an impaired driver,” the release stated.

NEW LONE PEAK TRAM OPENS DEC. 19 BIG SKY RESORT

The Lone Peak Tram is in final preparations for the grand opening on Dec.19.

The final step in the tram’s commissioning process, the load test, is complete. The main goal of the load test is to ensure the tram’s load cell measurement system, motor, and brakes are performing correctly by simulating the weight of passengers inside the cabin during operation.

The weight is simulated with water tanks to 110% of the maximum payload, about 12,800 pounds.

“After all the work we put in, it’s nice to see it almost done,” said Cedric Aellig, project manager with Garaventa. “Now, most of the work is staff training to get the operators and lift maintenance crew familiar with it.

They’re going to be ready for opening day.”

The new Lone Peak Tram will open to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 19. An all-day celebration will mark the occasion including a ribboncutting ceremony, giveaways, and live music. During après in Mountain Village, guests can sip complimentary samples of Tram Cabin Mountain IPA, a custom collaboration with MAP Brewing to celebrate the new tram and the resort’s 50th anniversary.

ARTS COUNCIL, BIG SKY CHAPEL TO HOST HOLIDAY CHORAL CONCERT ARTS COUNCIL OF BIG SKY

The Arts Council of Big Sky will host its annual holiday choral concert on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Big Sky Chapel. Doors open at 7 p.m.

This concert is part of their Bravo! Big Sky classical music program, and is supported in part by Arts Council’s Schwer-Toepffer Memorial Fund. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for students 18 and under, and kids 12 and under are free.

For this year, the Arts Council will present a collaboration between Roots in the Sky and Baroque Music Montana, featuring a program that draws relationships between 21st century music and that of the German Baroque. Beginning with a set of Lutheran Advent cantatas and culminating with a contemporary cantata based on plays by the Greek philosopher Seneca, we welcome in the Holiday season in style and bring together two of Montana’s most exciting performing arts organizations.

Roots in the Sky (formerly the Aoide Chamber Singers) has established itself as Montana’s premier chamber choir through its commitment to presenting thoughtfully programmed performances of historical and contemporary choral works that ask questions about the world in which we are living. Sought-after for collaborations, Roots in the Sky has appeared in performance with Grammy Award-winning choir The Crossing, Jitro Czech Children’s Choir, and many of the Gallatin Valley’s finest instrumentalists.

Baroque Music Montana (BaMM) performs works by celebrated composers of the Baroque, as well as many pieces rarely or not heard since the eighteenth century. BaMM’s musician roster rotates based on desired instrumentation for repertoire performed in intimate spaces similar to which the music was originally intended, and often on period instruments. Based in Bozeman, it provides a performance platform for both local artists and visiting professionals who have deeply invested in fruitful historical performance.

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit bigskyarts.org

AVALANCHE DANGER REPORTED ON MOUNTAINS NEAR BOZEMAN, BIG SKY, WEST YELLOWSTONE EBS STAFF

A layer of new snow may be exciting, but it’s also a great time to check the snowpack stability through resources like the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.

Big Sky Ski Patrol did report large natural avalanches in closed terrain including the Headwaters. More were reported in the surrounding backcountry, as well as a skier-triggered an avalanche in the backcountry snowpack at Bridger Bowl.

Know before you go: Check the forecast at mtavalanche.com/forecast/ before you head out.

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8 December 14-27, 2023

L O CA L

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TO PROTECT NEW WASTEWATER PLANT, DON’T DUMP IT DOWN THE SINK

WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY FATS, OILS AND GREASE FROM THE KITCHEN COULD AFFECT NEW WRRF “The membranes are very small that the water goes through for the treatment,” Bedell said; The membrane bioreactor is the most advanced technology out there, and it’s more sensitive to FOG than Big Sky’s current wastewater treatment facility, he explained.

General Manager Ron Edwards is not sure if the district will hire a dedicated compliance officer, but the district is working to grow its staff. Bedell and some of the new staff members might schedule appointments with restaurants to check in on their grease traps, Edwards said.

Although Gallatin County restaurants must install a grease trap or interceptor to pass health inspections, regulation stops when a restaurant opens, according to Peter Bedell, wastewater operator with the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District. In Madison County, restaurants are required to have grease traps but inspections only occur when prompted by issues.

Bedell said residents might unknowingly contribute to the problem.

Buecker suggested that by educating residents, “you might get 25% less grease in your sewers just because people are thinking about it. Previously they weren’t.”

“It’s self-regulatory,” Bedell told EBS. But when the water and sewer district begins enforcing its updated ordinance, new restaurants “shall install a minimum 1500-gal exterior grease interceptor” unless granted variance, or face fines and penalties, according to section 11.3. Existing restaurants with systems deemed insufficient may be required to upgrade to “an adequately sized grease trap and sampling point,” according to section 11.4.

The March 2023 amendments also recommend restaurants follow best management practices described in section 11.5.

Garbage disposals don’t help, he said. They simply grind up food particles, often containing FOG, to enter the waste stream.

Although residents will not face any new regulations based on the ordinance, BSCWSD General Manager Ron Edwards sees this as an opportunity for education.

Bedell and the district hope to educate customers now so that when the ordinance is enforced—some time before the WRRF begins phased opening in March—the community will be ready.

“Be aware what you put down your kitchen sink drain, because that comes back to the treatment plant,” Edwards told EBS.

‘Do people really pour bacon grease down the sink?’

BY JACK REANEY BIG SKY—In preparation for an ordinance amended in March but not yet enforced, Big Sky residents and businesses can become educated about “FOG”—fats, oils and grease.

Fats, oils and grease are common in any kitchen.

Add up more than 3,000 household amounts and Big Sky’s $50 million Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility might get bogged down—FOG could increase maintenance costs and decrease durability of the massive infrastructure upgrade.

Edwards said FOG has always been in the wastewater stream, but it’s going to matter more with the new WRRF.

“You heat up your pan, [recipe] says to put a little butter in there or a splash of PAM. All through the cooking process, you’re creating different types of FOG,” Bedell said. “Then you take your food waste, dump it down the sink.”

The fats, oils and grease may be liquid when scrubbed out of a dirty saucepan, but Bedell says they’ll soon coagulate in the cold wastewater pipes.

He’s dealt with four-foot-long grease clogs.

The household solution: collect cooking grease in a jar for reuse, and make sure all food waste gets in the garbage.

At the Nov. 28 BSCWSD board meeting, WRRF project engineer Scott Buecker recommended the district implement a FOG monitoring program, and begin public outreach before the ordinance is put into place.

“You’ll probably get some voluntary action out of [restaurants and residents] to tighten up their ships and may reduce the amount of FOG coming into the plant,” Buecker said. He pointed out that the district does not have any staff to conduct inspections or enforce the amended ordinance.

Big Sky’s $50 million Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility is scheduled to open in phases between March and October. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Board Chair Brian Wheeler said the district needs to begin collecting baseline data on FOG concentrations.

“If you have an ordinance and you want compliance, you have to have enforcement. To have enforcement, you have to have tracking and a database,” Wheeler said in the meeting.

Buecker recommended a notice to inform customers that the ordinance will be enforced.

“But in the meantime, at least protect our investment,” he said.

Board members discussed distributing flyers with upcoming utility bills, and informational placards for short-term renters who aren’t concerned with the health of Big Sky’s wastewater facility.

Wheeler posed a question: “What residential advice are you going to give,” he asked. “I mean, I’m serious… Do people really pour bacon grease down the—” “Oh yeah,” and “oh yes” echoed across the boardroom.

“OK, I’m out,” Wheeler said, and laughter followed.

But anyone with a hand in this $50 million infrastructure upgrade—of which $27 million is being funded by funded by resort tax collections— could agree that this will be no laughing matter.

9 December 14-27, 2023

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COURT PROTECTS BIG SKY’S WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT IN COTTONWOOD CASE

NINTH CIRCUIT AFFIRMS THAT WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT’S UNDERDRAIN DOES NOT POLLUTE GALLATIN; REVERSES THE DISMISSAL OF CLAIMS AGAINST BOYNE

Alleged river pollution via direct discharge from the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District’s wastewater holding ponds has been the subject of a three-year legal battle. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

BY JACK REANEY BIG SKY—On Nov. 21, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit filed its ruling on Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. Ron Edwards, a federal Clean Water Act lawsuit against the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District and Edwards, district general manager.

Cottonwood had also filed suit in 2020 against Boyne Resorts, for related concerns that Big Sky Resort’s golf course irrigation may be polluting the Gallatin River.

After a court session on Oct. 4 in Seattle, the two claims received opposite rulings from a panel of three federal judges: Circuit Judges Kim McLane Wardlaw and Milan D. Smith Jr., and District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto.

On the former claim, the panel ruled in favor of the defendant, Edwards and BSCWSD, affirming a district court decision from April 2022.

On the latter claim, the panel ruled in favor of Cottonwood’s appeal to reverse a district court order that had dismissed Boyne based on Cottonwood’s lack of proper notice. “[T]he panel held that Cottonwood’s letter to Boyne provided sufficient notice of Cottonwood’s indirect-discharge theory of liability,” according to a decision summary released by the court on Nov. 21. The phase of the case pertaining to Boyne may proceed.

The former decision—affirming the April 2022 ruling—is a win for Big Sky’s water and sewer district, but it didn’t come with a prize.

The ongoing case against Edwards and BSCWSD has taken a toll on district reserves, costing roughly $1.8 million in legal fees despite the district winning every court decision. Edwards pointed out that these legal challenges are not covered by insurance—the burden falls on local taxpayers.

“I’m glad it’s over because we spent three years and a considerable amount of time and money working on this lawsuit. To have some finality to it, I think, is very helpful and gives us the ability to focus on other and better things,” Edwards told EBS in an interview. He was not expecting this decision until early 2024.

In the Oct. 4 court session, the panel of judges asked questions of John Meyer, Cottonwood founder and executive director, to clarify how this case involves direct discharge from a point source, given that the underdrain pipe is not directly connected to the district’s holding ponds.

Learn the meaning of “point source” pollution from this recent column by Marne Hayes of the Gallatin River Task Force.

According to the court’s decision summary, “the District could not be liable on a direct-discharge theory because an underdrain pipe below but not connected to the District’s holding ponds did not transfer pollutants between meaningfully distinct

water bodies, and thus was not a ‘point source’ of pollution.”

Background In 2020, Cottonwood sued the district for discharging nitrogen-rich wastewater into the West Fork Gallatin River and violating the federal Clean Water Act, which “forbids ‘any addition’ of any pollutant from ‘any point source’ to ‘navigable waters’” without a permit, according to summary documents from the recent ruling. The district does not hold a discharge permit, but defends that its underdrain pipes do not constitute a point source and therefore it does not need one.

The federal case was originally tried in district court in Butte, where the jury found for the district.

The court also granted leave for Cottonwood to amend its claims regarding golf course irrigation, clarifying that Boyne—and not BSCWSD—is the relevant party. The case was split into claims against Ron Edwards and the district, and claims against Boyne.

After the April 2022 decision, Boyne filed a motion to dismiss due to Cottonwood’s lack of sufficient notice of intent to sue, and Cottonwood’s lack of subject matter jurisdiction over its claim. On Nov. 3, 2022, that motion for dismissal was granted, but has now been reversed.

Cottonwood appealed both 2022 decisions, eventually bringing the two-phase case to the ninth circuit court in Seattle, where this recent decision keeps one door closed and reopens another.

10 December 14-27, 2023

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SINCE ‘73: QUEEN JEAN ‘ONCE A QUEEN, ALWAYS A QUEEN.’

BY MARIO CARR EBS CONTRIBUTOR

Jean Palmer, 71 years old and better known in the community as “Queen Jean,” first visited Big Sky for the ski resort’s opening season in 1973. Her trip included a train ride with some friends from her home in Saint Paul, Minnesota to Bozeman, a shuttle to the resort, and a stay in the Silver Bull condos. The 22-year-old future Queen had developed her love for skiing in the Midwest, and immediately fell in love with the expansive terrain Big Sky had to offer. “[Mr. K] just kept going and going and going, it was unbelievable. We stopped halfway down and turned back and there was Lone Peak looking out at us. It’s just majestic,” Jean recalled with a tear in her eye, her voice cracking.

She was enjoying her trip so much that she went into the resort offices across from the Conoco and was disappointed to find that they were fully staffed for the winter. She went home and continued to work and ski, and wasn’t able to return to Big Sky until the summer of 1976.

COURTESY OF QUEEN JEAN

“I went to the mountains to get my head cleared out… And I found God,” she said. Jean believes that the beautiful landscape around is wonderful evidence of God’s creative handiwork and that the mountains helped draw her closer to him.

That summer, Jean took a long road trip out to Glacier National Park. She planned on visiting a friend from high school who had moved to Bozeman, on her way back home. Her friend left her a postcard and a phone number at the post office in Gallatin Gateway, so that Jean could give her a call when she had arrived. Jean’s friend lived with five other women in a Forest Service cabin in the Gallatin Canyon.

All the women in the cabin were born-again Christians, and at that time “the Jesus movement” was in full swing. Jean herself became bornagain and considered her new sisters and her own conversion as a sign from God that she was supposed to be in Big Sky. Jean’s family, including her future mother-in-law, were in disbelief of her decision to stay in Montana. However her future sister-in-law stood up for her back in Minnesota and assured the family that she was “with Jesus.”

Canyon Dwellers At the cabin, Jean and a few other women lived year-round in a summer porch that was covered in visqueen plastic and filled with four twin beds and plenty of electric blankets.

In Big Sky’s early days, residents were categorized by their geographic location, Jean explained.

Queen Jean accepts her “Volunteer of the Year” award. COURTESY OF BIG SKY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

“I considered myself a ‘Canyon Dweller’… I was a ‘North Canyon Dweller’ and they had ‘South Canyon Dwellers’ and then they had ‘Meadow Muffins’ and ‘Mountain Muffins,’” she said.

In Big Sky, Jean expected that skiing would be the center of her lifestyle.

“And life got in the way, I got married and all that other good stuff,” Jean said.

During the 70’s in the Midwest, Jean saw her life being overtaken by “drugs, sex and rock and roll.”

“I wanted to stay here no matter what. I knew that this was home and there was no turning back.”

- Queen Jean Palmer By 1980, Jean was married to a man named John Palmer, a Midwestern mechanic who followed Jean out to the mountains and learned to build log homes. They bought the Forest Service cabin that she had first moved into, and the couple went on to raise their only son, Jordan. John died in 2021 and his obituary describes his company, Big Timberworks, and his dedicated service to the Gallatin Canyon Volunteer Fire Department. “[ John] saved countless lives in the Gallatin Canyon while bringing calmness and competence to any accident scene,” the obituary states. John and Jean were married until around the year 2000.

Jean and John worked hard in order to live in Big Sky and raise their son. Jean remembers being seven months pregnant and filling in as a cook at Karst Stage Stop Inn. “I lasted six days and I go, ‘I will never ever do that again.’ But Karst was one of our biggest places because it was only a mile from our house,” she recalled.

Queen Jean Palmer has been in Big Sky since 1976, and first visited in 1973 by train. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Jean descends from the original gondola during lift evacuation training in 1976. COURTESY OF QUEEN JEAN

“They had like 42 cabins on both sides of the river and each year a cabin would burn down, and another cabin would burn down… It was really somethin’,” she explained. Karst was a gathering place for her family and fellow North Canyon

11 December 14-27, 2023

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Explore Big Sky Christian outlook, Jean said everybody has a choice and there’s plenty of responsible dirtbags in Big Sky. She believes that the community members look out for each other and help each other maintain a healthy and balanced way of living. She explained that a true dirtbag is somebody who puts skiing first, not the partying.

“The reason we were dressed up was because we didn’t have any quarters left to clean our clothes so we’d go to the back of the closet and ‘there’s my prom dress!’” she said.

COURTESY OF QUEEN JEAN

Dwellers, filled with potlucks and celebrations— until the Inn itself burned down in 1980.

“I was coming home from the winter fair in Bozeman… I turn the corner and here is Karst just ablaze. It was just unbelievable… So Jordan and I nursed in one of the turn-offs as we were watching it burn,” Jean recalled. The fire was so hot that it was melting the plastic tail lights on the fire trucks.

Another iteration of Karst was built on the East side of the road , and also proceeded to burn down.

Jean believes many of the fires in the early days of Big Sky were caused by people using propane torches to thaw their frozen plumbing.

“We all had about three jobs at that time when it first started, just to make sure [we] could all stick around,” Jean recalled of the young Big Sky community. At first, Jean cleaned condos for Jerry Pape with Triple Creek Realty. John and Jean cleaned The Soldiers Chapel for a couple of summers. John helped with the fireworks shows that the resort was putting on every Saturday during the winter. The family did a lot of caretaking for part-time residents, and Jean emphasized how people were constantly moving around with the ebb-and-flow of the seasonal town. Even the Palmers had to be out of their Forest Service cabin for at least two months of the year.

“I wanted to stay here no matter what. I knew that this was home and there was no turning back,” Jean said.

It took the Palmers 13 years to buy their first condo on Spruce Cone Drive, where Jean still lives today.

“Now I’m a hood rat,” she said, laughing. “No longer a Canyon Dweller.”

What makes a Queen Jean has lived a life of service and sacrifice in Big Sky and has loved every opportunity to help contribute to the community.

“Some of our election days we had, amazingly, 25 people vote,” Jean recalled. She spent time as an election judge.

Jean homeschooled her son Jordan along with about five other families that she said were homeschooling at that time. Jean was very happy to homeschool her son, especially when the family would travel together as John built log homes all around the Rockies. While her son was young, Jean prioritized Jordan’s ability to go out and ski at the resort over her own, but she would still get out on the snow while cross-country skiing at Lone Mountain Ranch. Jean also worked for Yellowstone Rafting company in the summer so that she could afford to get out on the slopes more as the years went on. When Jordan was older, Jean took a job

Queen Jean poses with her royal portrait. COURTESY OF QUEEN JEAN

at the post office where she could bring her son to work and earn a free ski pass of her own. Jean took a full-time position around 2001 and worked for the Big Sky Post Office for about 32 years. On the side, Jean, Jordan and some of his homeschool buddies would help stock shelves at the Country Market next door. Jordan, now 43, went into the trades like his father and now lives in Belgrade.

Jean calls herself a “glorified scorekeeper” for the Big Sky Co-ed Softball League which she helped start more than 20 years ago. She has plenty of community contributions to be proud of—the Big Sky Community Organization named her winner of the prestigious Krista Mach Award for Volunteer of the Year—but for those contributions she refuses to brag or boast.

Her Queenship, on the other hand she embraces wholeheartedly.

As her son grew older and her husband’s business became more successful, Jean was able to ski more.

The hard work her family had put into Big Sky was paying off and her ascent to Dirtbag Royalty was in the making.

“It was a privilege because [ John’s] business was going really good, and I didn’t have to work as much, and so I skied. I skied a lot. In fact, I skied more days than I worked, which was really good,” the Queen explained with a grin on her face. That dedication earned her the crown.

“Yes, I am Queen Jean. That is true. Once a Queen, always a Queen… 1999—the millennial Queen,” she declared.

"You have to enjoy the people who live here, because that’s what you rely on. You have to be a part of the community so that you know that you

Even in her dirtbag royalty, which she described as “decadance beyond imagination,” Jean said the dirtbaggery was always in support of the ski patrollers of Big Sky and laughed about how the resort used to host the dirtbag dance in a ballroom at the resort.

“Dirtbag has always been a kingdom in our lives.

It’s the kingdom of skiing,” she said.

Jean loves her nickname and the opportunities it gives her to share stories about five exciting decades in Big Sky. She says her involvement in the community is a result of necessity and survival. As the community has grown, so has her own area of effect. All of her jobs and volunteer positions have thrust her out into the public eye, forcing her to interact with the people of Big Sky. “You have to be kind and gentle to be able to deal with the public… To enjoy this area you have to enjoy the tourists, because that’s what we live on.

You have to enjoy the people who live here, because that’s what you rely on. You have to be a part of the community so that you know that you will be taken care of,” Jean said.

“To be known in a community, I think, is the heart of the long-time residents. Through the good times and the bad times,” Jean said. Talking with EBS at the Hungry Moose, Jean was interrupted several times by local friends hugging and congratulating her for her volunteer of the year award. The community that she has loved for the past five decades, just days before, had thrown a surprise party to celebrate her, showering her with love.

Jean has adored her Big Sky life for the skiing, the hiking and volunteering, the community potlucks.

She is grateful to have escaped the partying of her younger days and found an opportunity to step up as a positive figure in a special place.

“It was a lot of hard work,” she said of her 47 years in Big Sky. “But oh my goodness the playtime was wonderful.”

will be taken care of."

- Queen Jean Palmer Jean believes that we live in a bubble in Big Sky. She believes the community’s wholesome nature is preserved by kind and caring people. She loves the fact that she is able to walk around town smiling, waving to and talking with all of the friends that she has made over the years.

When asked about how her royal status may conflict with her born-again, cleaner-living

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14 December 14-27, 2023

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ABBY MEREDITH DELIVERS ART FROM BEHIND THE CAMERA LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL ACTRESS, ARTIST AND STREAMER BRINGS BIG SKY ART TO VIRTUAL VIEWERS

BY JEN CLANCEY BIG SKY—It’s easy to forget that someone is behind the camera during live streams of shows—especially when they are good at what they do. Big Sky productions at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center has a key and sole player manning the lenses, and she started just four years ago on a whim.

Abby Meredith began working with production of live streams in eighth grade for Big Sky’s 2020 TEDxBigSky event. Andrew Blessing, technology director at the Big Sky School District, encouraged her to check out the behind-the-scenes work and see what she could learn.

The experience struck Meredith—it was a different style of storytelling, and one that would become vital as COVID-19 forced a reliance on technology in the spring of 2020.

Since TEDxBigSky, Meredith has worked 24 shows, and counting.

“I had started helping stream sports not long before we did TEDx,” Meredith said. Sports games were different, but an art form nonetheless, according to Meredith.

“Football: you kind of have to anticipate different plays … or basketball, you have to anticipate where the ball is going.”

Meredith has found her flow at WMPAC, however, capturing a range of productions from live community events to elaborate choreography. “As an artist, I enjoy crafting stories,” Meredith said.

The run of show off-screen When Meredith is doing a show, she arrives with a little bag of Goldfish Crackers and a Diet Coke, according to John Zirkle, Lone Peak High School music teacher and executive director at WMPAC.

Lone Peak High School senior Abby Meredith has appeared in four high school productions since 2021, including playing Paulette in "Legally Blonde." PHOTO BY SARA MEREDITH Meredith in “Cinderella” in spring 2023. PHOTO BY SARA MEREDITH

As a Lone Peak High School senior involved in onstage and offstage productions, and working as a hostess at the Riverhouse BBQ & Events, Meredith relies on her ability to pick up the mood, themes and elements of a show quickly.

Zirkle explains that there are times when a community event needs broadcasting and Meredith will enthusiastically take on the job, heading from her work at the Riverhouse, to WMPAC. “Probably over 50% of the time it’s going in blind, maybe knowing the premise or type of the show, and not much else,” Meredith said.

“It’s definitely trying to figure out … what they’re trying to say. Is the [stage] set static? Is there stuff moving around? It’s essentially trying to anticipate as much as possible,” Meredith said. ”It’s fun to use my cameras to mirror the emotions … or events of the show.”

Learning on and off stage

“She’s gotten to the point where she’s up there and she’s in full flow mode,” Zirkle said. Throughout the show, she’s gnawing on her snacks while maneuvering cameras. “And then she also has her little sketch pad where she’s … trying out different animated characters in between shots.”

Perhaps the interest in capturing shows comes from Meredith’s own experience on stage. This year, she is starring in the holiday high school musical “White Christmas,” based on the 1954 Paramount Pictures film.

She stars as Betty on Friday, Dec. 14 at the WMPAC.

“Her ability to master the systems and then humanize them is truly astounding,” Zirkle continued. “Abby has an intuitive sense of what’s going on onstage and how the story is developing. Those skills that marry technology and art are something that we just truly treasure.”

“It’s a classic … I’m getting to know [Betty] and be her as a person. It’s really fun to embody all these different personalities,” Meredith said of acting.

According to Zirkle, demand for live streamed shows in Big Sky has increased, something that may hint at the desire for experiencing a show collectively, even if it’s virtual.

“And that’s what great theater does. It brings us into a moment together at the same time,” Zirkle said. He describes what Meredith does as a “magic trick,” and one that takes years for professionals to master. “She’s convincing [people] thousands of miles away that they’re actually in space with us.”

She remembers acting as Miss Honey in “Matilda,” Paulette from “Legally Blonde” and the ability to take on different characters. “It’s fun,” Meredith said. “That variety is fun.”

Knowing the people on the stage makes the experience of both streaming and theater so special to Meredith.

“So the first night, it’s my friend Logan [Barker, playing Betty]. She’s the best … She’s super talented,” Meredith said.

“Any of the community theater shows are always a joy, because it’s fun to see the people I know [who are my] friends,” Meredith said, describing what it’s like to capture the Big Sky community when she’s not on stage.

“I love filming Big Sky Broadway shows. The actors are really fun. The sets are exciting.”

“I think a lot of the shows with local talent, I can connect those really well. I love seeing the friends and people that I know, grow and blossom as theater performers,” she said.

Even outside of WMPAC, her life is surrounded by art. She’s an avid drawer and loves to design characters.

Meredith describes drawing for hours every day.

Meredith in “Oklahoma!” in 2022. PHOTO PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

“I love to draw digitally. I love to draw with pencil and paper,” Meredith said, and laughed about how teachers might comment about how much she draws in class.

A recent drawing by Meredith, titled “dreaming.” ARTWORK BY ABBY MEREDITH

“I like character design and [drawing] human characters… it’s really fun to do.”

Bringing productions across the world There are times when community members will see Abby and thank her for the work she’s done to capture WMPAC shows, whether a family member was sick or they wanted to share a clip with their office.

“It’s what has kept me coming back, really. The people are what makes it worth doing,” Meredith said. “On some streams we get hundreds of people watching from all over the world. It’s really incredible to be able to be a part of that.”

“It’s art, it’s made on the fly, like a live painting almost,” Meredith said.

Meredith dreams of continuing to produce shows just like the ones at WMPAC, but also gain experience in larger live stream productions, inspired by documentary and streaming work done on Netflix and Disney+.

As a high school senior, she doesn’t want her legacy to disappear when she leaves after the year. “It’ll be sad to not be a part of all the shows, as I might have once been, but I’m also really excited to get somebody else behind the camera.”

“What I see is truly a young artist and in her element,” Zirkle said. “She’s one of the true unsung heroes of this space.”

“The quality of the broadcast that she puts out, it’s hard to believe that it’s just one high school student running this whole thing,” Zirkle said. He explained that the staff at BSSD and WMPAC want her to be celebrated.

You can see Meredith in the upcoming high school holiday musical and see her behind-the-camera skills online for the “Her Gift/Her Creation” production from Sunday, Dec. 3.

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16 December 14-27, 2023

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BIG SKY BEGINS PROCESS OF HOSPITAL DISTRICT WITHDRAWAL, FORMATION OF NEW WELLNESS DISTRICT

BY JEN CLANCEY Big Sky is seeking to create its own Wellness District, which would help address complex needs in the growing community beyond medical and psychological care.

Each year, Big Sky’s Madison County residents— who also live within Big Sky’s resort area district boundary—pay property taxes totaling $1.7 million to the Madison Valley Hospital District. Daniel Bierschwale, BSRAD’s executive director, said that this number doesn’t end up serving Big Sky entirely.

Describing the geography of Big Sky and its access to the MVHD, Bierschwale said, “they’re inaccessible…

As far as the crow flies, it’s not a big deal. But Jack Creek is a private road.”

Jack Creek Road is the only direct access point between Big Sky and Ennis and the rest of Madison County, but the private road requires a pass to use, and can be unnavigable in bad weather. For this reason, Big Sky locals need to use U.S. Highway 191 to access Bozeman, or access the Madison Valley Medical Center through Montana Highway 84, past Norris.

This disconnect is felt not only physically, when trying to access these communities, but also in services.

“Meanwhile, our local community has a deficit in being able to cover the need for all the services,” Bierschwale said. He explained that numbers in Big Sky show a demand for services that organizations like Wellness in Action provides. From 2022 to 2023, service hours provided by WIA counselors increased by 247%, according to the wellness organization.

WIA is a Big Sky-based nonprofit that connects individuals with counseling services, education programs, scholarship opportunities for summer and winter camps, substance abuse and suicide prevention support groups. The organization is spearheading the Big Sky Wellness District initiative.

Creating a Wellness District from the ground up The creation of a new Wellness District has two first steps. First, withdraw land residing within the existing hospital district. In this case, the Madison Valley Hospital District shares geographic boundaries of Madison County in Big Sky. The partner coalition– consisting of WIA, BSRAD, Big Sky Owners Association, Big Sky Fire Department, local health care service providers, Human Resource Development Council and Big Sky Community Food Bank–will collect signatures from 51% of those Big Sky residents living in Madison County.

In Montana statute, those signatures need to be from residents who own property, pay taxes and are registered to vote in Madison County.

In the second step, the partner coalition must collect signatures of 30% of that same population in a formation petition, to form the new Wellness District after withdrawal.

The coalition aims to complete both steps by Friday, Dec. 15.

While some may see the many nonprofits in Big Sky as a reason for not needing to start a Wellness District, according to Allison Bradac, executive director of WIA, these organizations actually lay the foundation for what this district could do for the community.

A map shows the geographic boundaries of Gallatin and Madison counties within the Big Sky Resort Area District with a purple dashed line.

IMAGE COURTESY OF BIG SKY RESORT AREA DISTRICT

“We really are the only nonprofit in Big Sky that provides behavioral and mental health services to the community,” Bradac said.

And while the Big Sky area hosts a slew of seasonal activities that bring joy for both tourists and locals, there are unmet needs under the surface.

“The overall concern and care for the Big Sky community has to do with it being a resort town and community members struggle with depression, anxiety, suicides,” Bradac said.

According to the Bozeman Health 2020 Community Health Needs Assessment, 20% of Big Sky is diagnosed with depressive disorder. Bradac read off these statistics while reflecting the demand for WIA services. “Our relationships in the community are extensive,” Bradac said. But with this, the organization is constantly working toward sustainable funding by actively seeking funding through, oftentimes, one-time grants.

Forming Big Sky’s own Wellness District would allow the WIA team to fulfill its mission and provide “more freedom for our organization to focus on growing and expanding care,” Bradac said.

Supporting those in need includes essential services like food security and connection with social services.

According to a 2022 HRDC Needs Assessment, 8.5% of the Big Sky population is in poverty.

The Big Sky Community Food Bank has needed to buy 250% more food in fiscal year 2023 compared to 2022, and has served 97% more unique individual customers. From 2022, the food bank has also connected 900% more individuals with local, state and federal social service programs.

Bradac sees possible Wellness District as an “opportunity to use community tax dollars to better serve the community.”

How the new district can meet needs of Big Sky “The Wellness District initiative is led by a group of community stakeholders. Bozeman Health is aware of and staying up to date with their efforts,” Chris

Darnell, Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center administrator wrote in an email.

“We have many existing relationships that we value and are proud of. Whatever the future holds, Bozeman Health remains committed to caring for the greater Big Sky community and will continue to expand services and work with others to improve community health and wellness,” Darnell stated.

The Big Sky Community Capital Improvement Plan outlines some of the infrastructure goals in Big Sky, stating that a sum of $777 million or more will address community needs in different factors. The CIP includes emergency room expansion plans from 2025 to 2028 at the Big Sky Medical Center as well as a same-day surgery unit from 2026 to 2028.

But Bierschwale explains that the district would address community needs as well as health needs, hence the name “wellness.” Plans for expansion and further support for the food bank and resource center, and a permanent behavioral health space are listed as goals in the timeframe of 2023 to 2028.

“By withdrawing from the Madison Valley district and redirecting existing tax dollars, Big Sky is not proposing new taxes or fees but rather wanting local control over funding local priorities,” Bierschwale clarified.

The redirection of BSRAD tax dollars “would need to be taken in consideration, moving forward with any future bond initiatives that the [MVHD] would be pursuing or any budgets that are being proposed in the future,” Bierschwale explained.

Ultimately, Bierschwale explains that the “wellness” initiative aims to formalize holistic health needs.

As for Big Sky’s need and desire for enhanced wellness services, data and experience may support the initiative.

“You know, I think when you when you look around at our community, and the real tragic scenarios that have happened over the years, regarding depression, substance abuse, and ultimately suicide, I think there’s a real awareness around that within Big Sky,” Bierschwale said.

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19 December 14-27, 2023

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SNOW BUSINESS: VISIT BIG SKY GIVES WINTER TOURISM OUTLOOK

‘NO NEED TO PANIC’ ABOUT HOLIDAY WEEKS DESPITE DRY START TO WINTER; VISITOR SURVEY SHOWS DESIRE FOR ACTIVITIES BEYOND SKIING

BY JACK REANEY BIG SKY—Snow might be playing catchup this December, but lodging projections suggest an insignificant effect on expected holiday business.

On Dec. 5, Visit Big Sky—the destination marketing affiliate of the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce—hosted a public discussion of this winter’s tourism outlook.

CEO Brad Niva shared results from a recent survey of Big Sky’s visitors, Big Sky Resort shared booking trends and marketing insights, and market researcher Steve Halasz shared lodging and economy data.

Halasz, founder and CEO of Portlandbased Blue Room Research, pointed out that after a 2022 high water mark in the post-COVID travel era, the industry is coming “back to planet Earth.”

For Big Sky lodging occupancy, Halasz summarized his expectations for the entire winter: at, or slightly below last year.

And for average daily room rate: at, or slightly above last year.

He showed booking data (pulled on Nov. 15) for Airbnb and VRBO rentals, and summarized that this winter projects fewer bookings than last year.

“Two exceptions being Christmas week and New Year’s week,” he said. During those times, occupancy should beat 2022, and room rates will be similar, with a slight bump around the New Year.

Halasz noted that throughout the winter, the slight downswing is not unique to Big Sky—it’s happening to almost every ski destination and resort nationwide.

Coupled with the observation that more visitors are waiting longer to book, the actual bookings will likely rise throughout the winter.

“No need to panic, but I do see a slight slowing with regard to occupancy,” Halasz said of Airbnb and VRBO rentals.

A second dataset (pulled Nov. 29) for property management companies—12 businesses covering 1,400 units including Big Sky Resort, Montage Hotel, The Wilson Hotel and Moonlight Basin— showed similar trends, but even closer to last winter.

“If you look at 2022 versus 2023, all the numbers are almost neck-and-neck... So I expect to see very similar trends from this year and last year,” Halasz said.

Average daily rate agrees: slightly down based on current data, but with a similar curve projected throughout the winter months.

For this second dataset, Christmas week should beat last year for both occupancy and daily rate. Occupancy is down for the New Year, but only slightly.

“Overall, I would expect Christmas week and New Year’s week to be pretty strong... compared to last year,” Halasz summarized to EBS in a follow-up interview.

His research also tracks credit card spending for in-person transactions with Visa cards—the dataset is limited, but a strong sample size and good proxy for market health, he said. The numbers have improved every year since 2020, with almost parallel curves.

“2023: nothing but up and to the right,” Halasz observed. “Obviously inflation adds a little bit of effect here, but consumers are coming here, they’re spending more money, they’re doing more. So really good, strong spending trends.”

Visitors account for roughly 80% of total spending during peak seasons, compared to 20% by residents—a cardholder’s home location is determined by their Visa billing address. Halasz pointed to Bozeman as a major market.

“It’s a lot of small transactions, they’re not staying as long and spending [as much] money, but they are spending a heck of a lot of money. They spent almost $20 million in market year-to-date,” Halasz said. His 2023 data shows that Bozeman credit cards account for the vast majority of spending in Big Sky—even compared to top inbound markets like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

In a potential economic downturn, Halasz is not worried about major cities—most of Big Sky’s consumers are largely immune to economic downturns, he said—but he’s worried about Bozeman where Big Sky visitors might be hit harder.

In a tough economy, “Instead of [coming to Big Sky] maybe three days a year to ski, they are going to come maybe two or one,” Halasz suggested.

Visitor survey reflects high costs for a high-quality vacation; new visitors aren’t all here to ski Brad Niva sees tremendous growth—Big Sky now has 292,000 annual visitors, by Visit Big Sky’s estimate. About 87% stay overnight.

“We are really a cash cow when it comes to the taxes collected and our impact across [not just] Big Sky but Gallatin County and the whole state. So we continue to be a phenomenal product for the state of Montana,” Niva said.

Between 2019 and 2022, Big Sky has seen a 93% increase in visitor spending within the resort area district boundary, Niva said. Big Sky is also Montana’s largest collector of lodging tax—not due to Big Sky’s number of hotel rooms, but “we do charge more so our collections are higher,” he explained. Bozeman and Billings follow Big Sky in lodging tax collections, respectively.

Niva said Big Sky only has about 400 hotel rooms, but close to 1,300 short term rentals.

“We continue to see high demand for hotel rooms, but short-term rentals are really the driving force to help us carry the load of what our lodging needs are,” Niva said.

Niva’s presentation summarized a tourism survey sent to visitors in the spring— residents filled out a related survey and

those separate results were discussed in November. The final report will be p ublic soon.

the slopes every day, drawn to fly fishing, Yellowstone National Park or the Big Sky Farmers Market, Niva suggested.

Visit Big Sky will look to balance tourism throughout the year—survey says, about 86% of Big Sky’s guests come in the winter, 39% in the summer, 20% in the spring and 13% in the fall (percentage overlaps occur from those who visit multiple seasons).

“Maybe our clientele is diversifying a little bit and we’re not just a ski destination anymore, we are also a winter and summer destination,” Niva said.

Niva did pull one statistic from the survey of more than 600 residents: most locals want to see increased visitation in the spring and fall, and less during the summer and winter seasons.

“So instead of these ups and downs, I call it the roller coaster... Our goal is to start increasing our spring occupancy and increase our fall,” Niva explained.

Based on visitor feedback, one hospitality challenge is the perception of high cost.

“We hear comments, we read our comment cards, we look online [at] what people are saying,” and visitors are expressing that Big Sky is expensive, Niva said. For lodging, 19% of surveyed visitors believe Big Sky is “very expensive,” and 37% say “expensive.” With more luxury hotels being built, and the existing supply-demand pressure—relatively few hotel rooms translate to high demand and price—Niva expects that trend to continue.

Cost of activities—including lift tickets, fly fishing, horseback riding and Yellowstone tours—and cost of dining followed a similar trend, with at least half of visitors perceiving “expensive” or “very expensive.”

About half found costs to be reasonable.

Despite the expenses and challenges, “we still have some really happy customers...

We’re still delivering a great experience,” Niva said. He suggested that quality skiing brings guests back, scenery is spectacular, and small-town charm and welcoming community have gotten kudos.

Some visitors reported overcrowding, although Niva questioned whether that’s usually accurate.

Visitors also reported a desire for more dining options. They cited a lack of bathrooms and poorly maintained roads.

In addition, Niva hears comments on the change the area has seen.

“There are families who have been doing Big Sky for 36 years, 40 years, and of course, the town has changed,” he said.

“And there are a lot of people who don’t like that.”

Niva said Visit Big Sky will keep that feedback in mind, “and how can we make sure that we continue to manage tourism and grow it in the right direction.”

The visitor survey showed that many are new to Big Sky, and those first-time visitors are more likely to return than a 10time visitor, by comparison.

Consistent visitors spread their time between skiing and snowboarding, and visit local restaurants and shops. New visitors, by comparison, might not hit

Above all, 56% of respondents said they would certainly be back. Another 16% said their return is likely.

Of the 28% disinterested in returning, many cited finances and inaccessible costs. Other factors include crowding, loss of “the Montana experience,” need to improve customer services and to reduce growth or make it sustainable.

Niva pointed out that many visitors simply want to explore other destinations as the world opens up.

“We want to acknowledge that and we may have to work a little harder on our marketing to keep pulling people [back to Big Sky],” Niva concluded.

Big Sky Resort expects healthy 50th winter Yann Benjamin, Big Sky Resort VP of marketing and sales, said he can corroborate much of Halasz’s presentation.

“All things considered, we’re in a very healthy state,” Benjamin said.

Aggregating the entire winter, the resort is up in lift tickets and Ikon pass reservations, up in pass sales, up in room rates and occupancy, Benjamin summarized.

He shed light on key geographical markets.

“We’ve got a huge visitation base out of the West Coast. They continue to be a dominant market for us, driven both by lift tickets and Ikon passholders,” Benjamin said. “And then we see a huge Northeastern contingent.”

He explained that Big Sky Resort is growing its visitor market from Texas, and regional stakeholders—including the resort—are pushing for a direct flight between Bozeman and Florida.

“We see a huge ski market out of Florida...

And our biggest challenge as a community is direct air access to Bozeman... And if we can unlock that potential, whether it’s central Florida, southern Florida, I think we could see some huge gains as a community,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin was proud to announce that Big Sky Resort has reached a winter staff of 2,000 winter for the first time. A record 68% of this winter’s team is returning, and more than 100 are spending at least their 10th season with Big Sky Resort.

“Which is wild to think,” Benjamin said.

“And even when you look at 15 and 20 [years], there are still dozens.”

Big Sky Resort’s formal 50th anniversary party will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6.

Music, performances and some surprises are in store, Benjamin said.

L O CA L

20 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

NEW SHUTTLE LINKS BIG SKY TOWN CENTER TO JACKSON HOLE TRAM DOCK “They’re going to keep their eyes out for wildlife we spot along the way, they’re going to give their interpretation of the Yellowstone Supervolcano, all the calderas we drive through... They’re really going to give these guests [a] more in-depth holistic experience that goes above and beyond just a ski vacation.”

BY JACK REANEY BIG SKY—A new shuttle service builds connective tissue between Big Sky and Jackson, Wyoming, about 180 highway miles apart.

With the recent launch of Mountain West Scenic Shuttle, guests can now ski a few days in one location, hop into a shuttle and continue their vacation at the other. Shuttles from Big Sky to Jackson will depart from the Town Center bus stop at 7 a.m. every morning, and from Jackson back to Big Sky at 12:30 p.m. every afternoon. Both trips will run every day, according to Ash Tallmadge, who presented the concept at the Visit Big Sky Winter Tourism Outlook meeting on Dec. 5.

“We had a lot of conversations within the hospitality communities in both ski villages and really saw a need for this service. Nothing like that existed until right now, and we’re really happy to be able to offer this,” Tallmadge said.

The Mercedes Sprinter van will fit seven riders.

Shared rides will cost $250 per person, and private shuttles can be booked for $1,500. All vans will include snacks and water, and storage for ski equipment and luggage.

The shuttle will provide discounts to Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective Pass holders.

Tallmadge is general manager of Yellowstone Safari Company, a year-round guide service based in Bozeman. Although the businesses are separate, they share a common naturalist spirit and regional expertise.

Tallmadge recommends booking as far in advance as possible. She emphasized to EBS that the service is open to anyone, not just skiers or snowboarders.

At this time, the shuttle does not plan on stopping at Grand Targhee Resort, for sake of time.

COURTESY OF ASH TALLMADGE

Tallmadge believes that many mountain-hopping visitors will take advantage of the opportunity to explore both resorts, including one-way bus trips. She emphasized that beyond convenient transportation, Mountain West Scenic Shuttle will offer a unique experience. Drivers are not only trained for winter road conditions, but naturalist guides who are familiar with the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

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“But that might be something that we explore going forward, in the future. Obviously, we’re not trying to bypass Targhee... We just see this being the first go-between where there’s the highest demand right now,” Tallmadge explained.

The service has not yet seen high demand, but Tallmadge is confident that bookings will come with more snow and mid-winter visitation.

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22 December 14-27, 2023

SPORTS

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BASKETBALL: LONE PEAK COACHES PREVIEW THE CLASS B DEBUT

AFTER SUCCESS IN MONTANA CLASS C, BIG HORN BASKETBALL TEAMS ARE PREPARED TO FACE CLASS B CHALLENGES WITH YOUNG ROSTERS The introduction to Class B might test the Big Horns, but with only a few seniors set to graduate, the coming years look promising.

BY JACK REANEY BIG SKY—Lone Peak High School made a splash in their final Class C season last winter.

The boys team is also coached by Jon Riebe, Garrett Kemberling, James Grevenitz and Michael Romney.

This year, the varsity programs step up to Class B, where they’ll face larger schools with bigger gyms and deeper rosters. District 5B opponents will include Three Forks, Manhattan, Ennis, Jefferson, Townsend (Broadwater) and Whitehall high schools.

Young girls team building from the bottom up The girls are off to a strong start as well, with a 1-1 record after losing to Shields Valley High School and dominating Gardiner High School, 65-38.

Last year, the boys reached the Class C state tournament, and the girls almost joined, ending with a top-3 finish in the divisional round. Girls coach Loren Bough finished his Class C coaching career with a win—despite narrowly missing state in the doubleelimination format. Boys coach Al Malinowski returned to his role after time away from coaching.

After proving themselves last year, the future looks challenging, and potentially rewarding, for both teams who share at least one thing in common: a young core.

EBS spoke with John McGuire, former assistant coach now taking the torch from former head coach Loren Bough, who McGuire says left the program in tremendous shape. It’s a new chapter for the basketball program, and McGuire is thrilled to have a team of 15 players, which allows for JV competition.

The program only has two seniors and two juniors, however, and the remaining 11—six sophomores and five freshmen—will need to gain high school experience in a challenging Class B environment.

Coach Malinowski spoke on the phone with EBS about this new season and journey into Class B. “I’m looking forward to sort of mixing our returning group—we do have three starters coming back from last year’s team that had a lot of success… but getting some of the guys who played JV last year into the mix,” Malinowski said.

So far, the boys are 2-0. They began with a win at Shields Valley High School, 54-38, and another in the Big Horns’ home opener on Dec. 2 against Gardiner High School, 82-50. Both were Class C opponents, but Malinowski was pleased—not only about the scoreboard, but also seeing young players step into varsity roles.

Three freshmen already played meaningful minutes, Malinowski said. His son, Ryan, went 4-4 in his second high school game, splashing three 3-pointers in his 11-point showing in the 82-point barrage.

Miles Romney scored his first high school points on Dec. 2, and Sid Morris made his high school debut.

The team lost four seniors from last year, including Lone Peak’s all-time leading rebounder Max Romney and point guard Gus Hammond, both former captains and top-10 all-time scorers. But the Big Horns return with some hot hands: sophomore Ebe Grabow, junior Isaac Bedway and senior Juliusz Shipman.

Bedway and Grabow combined for 32 of the team’s 54 points in the first game, and 47 of the team’s 82 in the second game. Shipman scored 15 in the season opener, but will miss some time due to injury. Bedway and Grabow are also averaging double-digit rebounds to help fill Romney’s shoes.

“It’s pretty neat to see where our older players are already showing confidence in those younger guys as they come into the game,” Malinowski said. He noted that both Grabow and Bedway joined LPHS basketball last year, so it hasn’t been long since they made their own high school debuts.

“Our offense is probably clicking a little bit better than I would have expected this early. Putting up 82 points… To do that in game two with a group that’s

Ebe Grabow makes a layup at the Montana Class C state tournament last March. PHOTO BY JASON BACAJ

learning to play together tells me our offense is there, we just need to learn to play together on the defensive side,” he said.

Defense might be a key challenge against some of the big bodies in Class B. The Big Horns will need defensive rebounds to limit strong opponents to one shot per possession.

“They’re confident,” Malinowski said on joining Class B. “It’s certainly going to be a challenge… We’ll be a team that keeps growing together and rise to the challenge.”

A significant void is left by the graduation of last year’s seniors—Jessie Bough, Maddie Cone, Kate King and Josie Wilcynski were all impact players— but McGuire believes the program is in a great place.

This season, senior captains Astrid McGuire and Vera Grabow will stand out as team leaders. In the win against Gardiner, McGuire scored 30 of the team’s 65 points, and Grabow scored 25. McGuire said they were phenomenal.

“We’re looking forward to identifying and nurturing future leadership for the team and the program,” he added. Rising leaders will include juniors Addy Malinowski and Anna Masonic, and sophomores Harper Morris, Maddie Wilcynski and Poppy Towle, McGuire said.

Players without deep varsity experience will need to step up this season. Seniors Charlie Distad and Aidan Germain and juniors Grady Towle and Jack Sheehan are on the right track through opening games and practices, Malinowski said. The team looks forward to welcoming back sophomore Oliver McGuire soon from studying abroad.

“We’re fired up and looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “We’ve already seen a ton of team and individual growth since practices started midNovember.”

High school size can be a disadvantage for team depth. Lone Peak, Whitehall and Ennis are similarsized schools, with about 100 students. Townsend has about 200 students, Three Forks and Manhattan around 250, and Jefferson almost 300. From the larger schools, Malinowski expects larger players and more of them.

“We are all about the girls having a great time, growing as players and as people,” he said. The coaches—including ex-college player Jessica Bedway, kindergarten teacher Christine Toy and long-standing coach Erika Frounfelker—already see a very positive culture growing.

The Dec. 2 blowout win marked the 100th victory in boys basketball program history. Last year’s state tournament fueled the program’s hunger for playoff success.

“The group that’s returning enjoyed that experience and wants to go through it again,” Malinowski said.

“And we have seven freshmen [who] watched that happen and are excited to join a program that was having that kind of success.”

And for this young team, McGuire emphasized that their record won’t define a successful season.

McGuire is also pleased by the depth feeding into the program, with 20 girls on the fifth and sixth grade team, and 14 girls on the seventh and eighth grade team.

He also emphasized that Class B provides an opportunity for the maturing program to build strength against tough competition.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

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25 December 14-27, 2023

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ENVIRONMENT

MONTANA HEADWATERS LEGACY ACT: THE BEST FEDERAL TOOL FOR PROTECTING MONTANA’S RIVERS

BY KRISTIN GARDNER GUEST COLUMNIST

The recent reintroduction of the Montana Headwaters Legacy Act is a positive pathway towards the promise of healthy and protected rivers for future generations. Montana’s rivers and their surrounding vegetation provide habitat for our world class fisheries and abundant wildlife. They are essential to our communities, an asset to jobs and business, and a highlight for residents and visitors alike. If our rivers are going to be healthy and intact for future generations, it is time that we put into place essential protections.

The MHLA is the most significant legislation proposed for river conservation in Montana in over 45 years. If passed, this legislation would protect 20 rivers and 384 miles in the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone River systems, nearly doubling the number of Montana river miles protected by federal Wild and Scenic River designation.

Wild and Scenic designation is the highest form of federal river protection in the United States, and under this designation the MHLA would permanently protect the free-flowing nature, water quality, and outstandingly remarkable values of some of Montana’s most cherished and iconic waterways; among them are the Boulder, Gallatin, Madison, Smith, Stillwater and Yellowstone rivers.

These cherished rivers are facing serious threats from warming temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns, unprecedented growth, and high recreational use. The protections instilled by

The Upper Gallatin River in the winter. PHOTO BY DAVID TUCKER

MHLA will benefit rivers by adding one more critical tool in the toolbox for ensuring our rivers are flowing clean, cold and healthy for future generations.

Montana’s rivers should not be bound by political persuasions. To move the MHLA forward, we will need to put partisan politics aside and work across the aisle. In a recent survey representing a broad and diverse political spectrum, 85% of Montanans stand in favor of this bill. This remarkable support proves that through more than a decade’s worth of collaboration and broad community input at the local level, there is hope for protecting Montana’s rivers at the highest federal level.

Since Senator Jon Tester first introduced the MHLA in 2020, the Gallatin River Task Force and our partners, including American Rivers, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, American Whitewater and others, have been working together to advocate for this legislation. Over the years, our collective efforts have been robust and focused. They have included meeting with local stakeholders, securing letters of support, rallying communities and supporting our position with solid data and economic information, as well as showcasing the anecdotes that tell the personal stories of how these rivers benefit our community health, businesses, and outdoor way of life.

On more than one occasion, we traveled to Washington, D.C. to engage with our congressional delegation about why these protections are necessary, and crucial for keeping Montana’s rivers healthy. Our goal continues to be focused on encouraging support from all of Montana’s federal decision makers to get the MHLA across the finish line and signed into law.

“To move the MHLA forward, we will need to put partisan politics aside and work across the aisle.”

We have heard concerns about how the MHLA might affect public access and land management activities along our rivers. With rivers protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act for nearly 50 years in Montana—the Upper Missouri and three forks of the Upper Flathead River were designated in 1976—what legislation of this caliber has shown us is that it strikes a perfect balance between protecting rivers from dams and other harmful projects that may cause degradation, while also allowing traditional uses like recreation, grazing and forest management to continue.

Increasing occurrences of algae blooms, river closures and recent trout declines in our rivers puts even more urgency on the need to act now. Please consider reaching out to our Montana delegation about the importance of passing the MHLA in 2024. With the holidays quickly approaching, this action is the greatest gift you could give to our rivers and our children.

Here are the ways to reach Montana’s Congressional delegation: Senator Jon Tester: 202-224-8594 Senator Steve Daines: 202-224-2651 Representative Matt Rosendale: 202-225-3211 Representative Ryan Zinke: 202-225-5628 For full contact information, visit: https://mt.gov/govt/ congressional_delegation.aspx Kristin Gardner is the Chief Executive and Science Officer of the Gallatin River Task Force, and can be found out on the Gallatin with her son and husband when not working for healthier rivers.

26 December 14-27, 2023

ENVIRONMENT

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EVERY DROP COUNTS:

RECLAIMED WATER MAKES ITS DEBUT IN THE EARLY SEASON OF SNOWMAKING HOW SNOWMAKING AT THE YELLOWSTONE CLUB TAKES THE LEAD ON STRATEGIC WATER REUSE

BY MARNE HAYES EBS COLUMNIST

Water is a limited resource.

More and more headlines report threats to water supplies, both here in Montana and across the West. Our community water resources are stretched to capacity, and regional and local water systems face impacts from drought and population growth.

With forecasts showing cumulatively warmer and drier seasons ahead, innovative solutions are needed to support strained water systems. A community like Big Sky—where water is critical to our seasonal economic activity—is inclined to find sustainable solutions.

One such solution is currently making its debut at Big Sky’s Yellowstone Club, where the inaugural season of snowmaking from reclaimed water is finally a go after nearly two decades of planning and pilot projects. The first of its kind in Montana, it is the result of years spent exploring the opportunity, managing samples, adapting to state regulations, monitoring, and careful permitting from state agencies to get this win-win-win project up and running.

A resilient water supply depends on a combination of water conservation and strategic water reuse.

The latter is what has led to the Yellowstone Club being one of only a few areas in the country taking on reclaimed water reuse in snowmaking as both a solution to limited water sources, and a proactive means to safeguard a watershed from increased nutrient loading in groundwater and earlier, lower seasonal runoff.

Strategic water reuse is increasingly becoming a leading solution for drought resilience and changing snowfall patterns. In Big Sky, especially in a season like we’re in now, reuse also benefits ski areas by allowing for more acreage to be opened at the start of a low-snow year. But the path to using reclaimed water for snowmaking as a solution to drought and a healthier watershed didn’t happen overnight.

The reclaimed water snowmaking project was first explored in 1997 by the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District as a way to explore options for reusing water in the winter months. After promising results from a pilot project in 2011 that indicated no detriments to water quality, the option was prioritized in the 2018 Big Sky Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan produced by the Gallatin River Task Force.

Concerns about Big Sky’s water supply, and the interest in how to use Big Sky’s highly treated reclaimed water, led the work to solve the water challenge: find a way to use reclaimed water that would bolster the upper Gallatin’s water supply, reduce nutrient pollution and support a more

Snowmaking at the Yellowstone Club. PHOTO BY DAVE PECUNIES

“The snowmaking project at play at YC could equate to a 25-million-gallon net benefit to our community watershed, with the added volume extending our spring season of cold water flow into the Gallatin by as many as 19 days.” resilient snowpack. Big Sky’s new $50 million Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility will treat wastewater to an even higher standard of quality, adding to the potential uses for reclaimed water to bolster our watershed.

“The project ticks a lot of positive boxes”, said Trout Unlimited’s Montana Water Director, Pat Byorth, who participated in the development of the plan. “Using treated reclaimed water to make snow improves the ability to remove additional nutrients, store water as snowpack, and boost streamflows in spring and early summer. Happier skiers, anglers, boaters and downstream irrigators are a bonus to a project that has the Gallatin’s health as a priority.”

From the 2011 pilot study onward, changes were made by the state legislature, state agencies and Environmental Protection Agency to allow for snowmaking as an adopted tool for reuse. The Yellowstone Club ultimately obtained permits and approvals from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to allow snowmaking with reclaimed water.

The permit stipulated that the Club must continually monitor the project to discern if, and how, melting snow is impacting the health of

surrounding tributaries. Leading up to its decision, and as part of the permitting process, the DEQ completed an environmental assessment of the snowmaking project, which confirmed that impacts to water quality, wildlife and plant life, among other resources considered, would be insignificant.

The project was met with an abundance of support both from individuals and businesses in Big Sky, and from environmental groups and regional partners in river health and water conservation.

“This program is only possible because of the determination of so many in Big Sky and the broader southwest Montana region to find a sustainable solution for our water”, said Rich Chandler, director of environmental operations at the Yellowstone Club. “From start to finish, the project was driven by collective, steadfast work— the community, government entities, businesses and local agencies. It truly speaks to the power of collaboration, and has already turned out inquiries from other Montana ski mountains with an interest in replicating the program.”

The snowmaking project at play at YC could equate to a 25-million-gallon net benefit to our community watershed, with the added volume extending our spring season of cold water flow into the Gallatin by as many as 19 days. These benefits make it even more appealing to look down the road at the opportunity this opens for Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and Big Sky Resort.

Big Sky is at a crossroads with limited water resources in the upper Gallatin watershed and climate impacts hurting traditional water supplies including snowpack. The good news is that with this newly launched reclaimed water snowmaking project, we are moving in the right direction, with the right tools steeped in environmental focus, allowing us to take the lead on how we protect our community water and treasured resources like the Gallatin River for the future.

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

27 December 14-27, 2023

ENVIRONMENT

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DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD WOLVERINES FINALLY GET PROTECTION

BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST The surrounding whitecapped, gray-ribbed mountains swallowed the late summer sun like a piece of lemon drop candy. Darkness crept from behind boulders, trees and ravines where it hid all day, slowly conquering the last open space. It was mid-August, and I sat on Sunset Ridge along the Highline Trail in Montana’s Glacier National Park. From the shadows of the subalpine fir trees in front of me, two deep, guttural woofing sounds rumbled out a warning, followed by the most ferocious snarl I could imagine.

Fear pooled on my neck as I rushed to gather my things and hurried back to where my tent and trail crew were stationed. As I retreated, I kept looking back to see what sort of monster might pursue me down the trail. That night, my senses were aware of every sound outside the tent, but nothing ripped through the nylon wall and devoured me.

I told my backcountry trail crew about the previous night’s encounter during breakfast the following day.

All three feigned interest in joining me after work to investigate the source of the snarl. I thought it might be a grizzly, but I wasn’t planning to rummage in the bushes to find out. I just planned to sit on the trail and see if something decided to reveal itself.

After dinner and dishes, only Vin, one of my crew members, was motivated to climb the mile back to Sunset Ridge with me. We sat quietly for an hour in the exact spot where I’d heard the animals, watching our surroundings as the sun dipped and faded in the west.

Just as we were getting ready to head back to camp, I glimpsed movement out of the corner of my eye. There, under the glaciated horns of the Livingston Range, loping down the trail, was a wolverine. Its c-shaped pads, five toes and extended claws imprinted its signature in the soft, pliable mud, the tracks resembling a small grizzly. Mud squeezed upwards between its toes.

The federal government announced Wednesday, Nov. 29, that wolverines in the Lower 48 are threatened by climate change and habitat fragmentation and will finally be listed under the Endangered Species Act. An estimated 300 wolverines remain south of the Canadian border, primarily in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming, with a combined handful maybe in Utah and California’s High Sierras. For the wolverine population to remain stable and viable, they need to be connected to populations in southern Canada. Recent studies show that these southern Canada populations are declining due to fragmented habitat from the development of roads, mining, urban sprawl, and industrial logging, preventing females from dispersing south. Scientists discovered low genetic diversity in the populations living south of the border. The impacts of backcountry recreation like snowmobiling and backcountry skiing also affect wolverines.

Wolverines are the Rocky Mountains’ poster child for climate change. They need high, rocky, and snowy mountainous areas with average temperatures not rising above the mid-70s. Female wolverines den on northfacing slopes that hold snow into late May and June.

Activists and conservation groups have been fighting to put wolverines on the Endangered Species list for the last 25 years with little to no luck.

Early settlers hunted and trapped wolverines to near extinction by the 1920s, but their populations have slowly increased due to protections for other animals placed on the Endangered Species List, and trapping numbers being limited.

With this new protection, public lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management must now consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for activities like logging, building roads and trapping other game species that could harm or endanger these creatures.

At Sunset Ridge back in Glacier, Vin and I continued watching the wolverine in silence, awe, and reverence.

We were relieved when it cantered off. It was

I couldn’t believe our luck. Here was a fleeting phantom, almost mythological in its rarity, flesh, and blood in front of us. I had studied these mysterious creatures for four winters and had become obsessed with this ghost that lived high in the mountains, but I rarely saw them. And here we were.

This time, instead of cautiously retreating as I’d done the night before, my nervous system triggered the opposite reaction, and, without thinking, I grabbed my bear spray and sprinted toward the wolverine, not to harass or harm, but to observe it in all its glory. Something deep inside sparked me to run down wildness itself.

After the wolverine came around the corner and saw us, the coffee-colored creature, streaked with tannishblond flanks, screeched to a halt. Then, with its broad head, small onyx eyes, short and rounded ears, long neck, muscular body and bushy tail, it turned around, scurrying away in bewilderment. Normally fearless, this relentlessly tenacious animal was probably more puzzled than anything and scrammed at the sight of us. Like an elongated grizzly cub, its short legs pounded the earth as it lunged away. After so many bounds, it stopped, then glanced back three times before loping off into the dusky night.

Wolverines have many nicknames, including phantoms, ghost of the Northern Rockies, skunk bear, carcajou, demon beast, Indian devil, and glutton.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

exhilarating, but we were both surprised by my wild reaction to run at the creature. I couldn’t explain it.

A day or two later, I mentioned the incident to a Granite Park Chalet maintenance worker, who told me he’d found a dead mountain goat kid a few days before, perhaps chased off cliffs by a golden eagle. The beast, the color of winter, has one of the highest mortality rates of any animal. In the first year of life, 60 to 70% of mountain goats die, and the second year only offers a 50% chance of survival. He said he dragged the goat off the trail and into the trees so it wouldn’t attract a sleuth of grizzlies to the path, closing it to hikers.

Now, thinking about it, I realized the deep woofing I’d heard belonged to a bear, and the crazy snarling belonged to that wolverine, and they were discussing the ownership of the goat carcass.

A Native American story Douglas Chadwick described in his book, “The Wolverine Way,” came to mind: A sow grizzly had a litter of four cubs. One of them was a runt the larger ones always picked on. At the appropriate age, the sow chased them off so they would live by themselves. The runt became the wolverine, wily, fearless, and ready to take on the world.

Two decades on, I still don’t know what got into me and led me to chase a creature that could easily have torn us limb from limb. Maybe something in me wanted to see if it was indeed the devil my colonial ancestors believed, or perhaps I just wanted to bask in the wildness it represented a bit longer while I still could.

Now protected federally as an endangered species, wolverines stand a better chance of keeping their wildness and succeeding with a changing climate.

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

28 December 14-27, 2023

ENVIRONMENT

Explore Big Sky

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS— COFFEE, COOKIES AND HANGOVERS WHY OUR EARS POP, WATER BOILS FASTER AND OUR BREATH FEELS SHORT IN THE MOUNTAINS

BY PAUL SWENSON EBS COLUMNIST

Driving up to the mountain for the first day of skiing is always so exciting. The anticipation of great snow, carving nice long turns down the groomers and visiting with people on the chairlift. But I find myself always having to yawn two or three times going up the road, then again another time or two riding up the lift. It’s a type of, say,gaping, that looks like a fish out of water. I see others doing it too, in the tram cabin, on the lift, or sometimes other drivers or passengers. Most people will call this “popping your ears.”

So why does one have to pop the ears? Looking at the anatomy of the ear, there are three major divisions; outer, middle and inner. The outer ear is the part that you can access with your finger or a cotton swab. It passes through some cartilage, then enters your skull through the temporal bone. At this point your ear canal enters the middle ear where your eardrum, the tympanic membrane, is located. Behind your eardrum, the middle ear continues with one of nature’s most amazing sets of bones and organs.

There is also a structure connected to the sinuses and nasal cavity that drains the middle ear and equalizes pressure inside the ear. That is called the eustachian tubes.

What causes the pressure differential on each side of the eardrum? Altitude.

Atmospheric pressure depends on the weight of the air above your elevation, so at sea level the pressure is defined as one atmosphere, then decreases with elevation. Compared to sea level, at 6,000 feet atmospheric pressure has decreased 20%, at 8,000 feet down 26%, and at the top of Lone Mountain, 11,166 feet, down 34% compared to sea level. That’s enough decrease from the meadow to the mountain to make the pressure differential inside and outside my ears become noticeable and make me open wide, gaping to clear the pressure. I guess I am a gaper after all.

Lone Mountain seen through a glass of wine. Yes, it is upside down and no it’s not photoshopped. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

noticed the challenge: it takes longer to cook some dishes and you need to follow “high altitude” directions for some recipes.

Of course, the most concerning effect of altitude is that there is less air to breathe.

Looking at the percent changes presented above, if a person travels from sea level and goes straight to the top of the tram, they will have 34% less air in each breath. This leads to a whole host of physiological problems that collectively are called altitude sickness, or Acute Mountain Sickness.

AMS displays over a whole range of symptoms; dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, muscle There are other aspects to our lives that are also aches, decreased physical performance, nausea, affected by this change in atmospheric pressure. dehydration, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. While not life threatening for The first is the boiling point of water. most healthy people, those with preexisting conditions should take caution while travelling At sea level, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, versus 200 degrees in the Meadow where rapid altitude changes will occur. and 197 degrees in the Mountain Village. If To remedy AMS, visitors to higher elevations you work at the top of the tram, the hottest just need to be patient and not try to do you can get your coffee is 191 degrees. When everything the first or second day after their I visit my family that live at sea level their tea arrival in Big Sky. Take the first day for a nice and coffee is ‘wicked’ hot compared to what long breakfast, lots of fluids, a couple long slow I’m used to. If you’re a cook or baker you have groomers, and call it a day early. Get some rest,

drink water, drink water, then a little more. A person’s body recognizes the lack of oxygen in the blood stream and sends signals to increase respiration rate and to increase red blood cell production. Usually after two or three days, our bodies have adapted enough to make those longer, more challenging runs more enjoyable.

The symptoms of AMS sound really similar to the symptoms of a hangover. So if one does decide to party while visiting Big Sky, just be aware that hangovers can be exacerbated by high altitude. I have picked up plenty of people early in the morning for guide trips that did not look good or feel good.

“We only had a couple drinks,” they say.

“What is it about this place that makes us lightweights?”

Now you know.

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

29 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

ROOM TO MOVE Wild animals need to move to survive and thrive. Join us in conserving wildlife movement corridors and the beautiful landscapes we all share.

Learn more at largelandscapes.org/191

KEEPING MONTANA...MONTANA

This is a special place. For 33 years, we’ve been working hard to keep it that way by partnering with landowners to conserve critical wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, and scenic open spaces. Join us.

GVLT.ORG

600 N. WA L L A C E AV E. B OZ E M A N, M T

T H E F I N E S T M O U N TA I N T O W N L I V I N G BESPOKE LIVING IN DOWNTOWN BOZEM A N Perfectly located in Bozeman’s Northeast Neighborhood, just a few blocks from Main Street, Wildlands is a truly exceptional location. Conveniently situated near multiple coffee shops, restaurants, trailheads, and within 20 minutes of Bridger Bowl Ski Area, living at Wildlands means you are never far away from world-class adventure and culture. Wildlands consists of 12 luxury residences only four blocks from downtown and 10 minutes from Yellowstone International Airport.

AMENITIES •

Spacious two & three bedroom floor plans highlight mountain views & natural light

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Conveniently located blocks away from Downtown Bozeman

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Custom finishes boast Poliform cabinetry, quartzite countertops & engineered hardwood floors

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W W W. W I L D L A N D S B O Z E M A N . C O M

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2 1 1 T O W N C E N T E R A V E . B I G S K Y, M T

THE BEST OF BOZEMAN & BIG SKY CONVENIENT MAIN STREET LIVING IN BIG SK Y Beautifully designed condos and penthouses in a highly sought-after downtown location. Footsteps away from Big Sky Town Center restaurants, shopping, farmers markets, live music, and all that Big Sky has to offer. A downtown lifestyle where rooms are filled with natural light and breathtaking views no matter the time of day or the season. Third-level penthouses come with private, 4th-level rooftop decks and hot tub. Let the stargazing begin.

AMENITIES •

Exquisite engineered hardwood floors

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W W W. T H E F R A N K L I N B I G S K Y. C O M

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Thank You

Montage Big Sky is honored to be a part of this special community and we thank you and Explore Big Sky for the recognition of the resort and our associates. We look forward to welcoming local guests and visitors alike this winter season.

995 Settlement Trail, Big Sky MT | 406.993.8142 montage.com/bigsky | @montagebigsky

2023MBS ExploreBigSky FullPg R2.indd 1

12/11/23 12:09 PM

33 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

A&E ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MANY HAPPY RETURNS BRINGS LAUGHTER, JOY TO WMPAC STAGE

BY CARA WILDER EBS CONTRIBUTOR If you’re looking to welcome 2024 with a memorable flash of exhilarating creativity and fun, the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center offers Many Happy Returns, an inventive, interactive dance piece. Co-created

by Monica Bill Barnes, whose choreography has been seen on stage at Carnegie Hall, throughout the galleries of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in Greta Gerwig’s film Little Women, and Obie Award winning writer and performer Robbie Saenz de Viteri, Many Happy Returns will run six one-hour performances, between Jan. 17 and 20.

“I love their new show so much I’ve seen it twice. Superfun. Truly unlike anyone else’s work. You should see it,” said Ira Glass, host of the smash podcast This American Life, who performed with Barnes at WMPAC in 2019.

Following its debut performance in Brooklyn, the New York Times extolled, “It should make your head spin in the best of ways!”

Many Happy Returns is a performance that combines movement and language, and gives audiences a chance to reflect on the last few years: where we’ve been and where we’d like to be. New York-based choreographer Barnes describes the impulse for the piece as a post-pandemic exploration of our social habits and how they’ve evolved.

She said the show is “exploring the awkwardness of what it means to be back together again, and how we actually are all changed but we don’t know what that means and that we can’t just pick up where we left off.”

Barnes’s creative partner and co-creator, Saenz de Viteri, said the show wants to understand what it means to gather again.

an experience that it’s giving people that you always hope for when you make something,” he said. “And you never know if you’re gonna get. And it feels like it’s really serving people in this moment where I wanna selfreflect, I wanna have a good time, I wanna also be a little sad, and I think it’s sort of hitting all of those kind of buttons for people.”

“Being in the same room and being together somehow feels like a muscle we don’t have anymore,” he said. “To just sort of experience something together.”

Describing the distribution of labor and talent in the show between himself and Barnes, he recounts a binary, yin-yang process: “Monica and I play the same character, she’s the body and I’m the voice.”

When asked if this is an event audiences will want to share with friends and family, or co-workers as a teambuilding experience, their answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Audience reviews have touched on all of these elements, and are a testimony to what is ultimately a celebratory event:

The piece is partially scripted and partially improvised, meaning no two performances will be exactly alike.

Utilizing audience input, the company creates each show as it happens, maximizing uniqueness and spontaneity. According to Barnes, audiences have returned bringing new people with whom they want to share the experience.

“Someone will come with a friend, then that person comes again and brings their dad and their brothers,” Barnes said.

“It was just so special to be laughing together, sharing people’s stories together.” “A poignant and joyful experience about the passage of time.” “That sense of somebody else expressing a feeling that you didn’t even know you had.” “Spectacularly alive and unusual and a celebration of the human condition.” “I feel like I’ve been happy crying for an hour.”

Saenz de Viteri raves about his part as a performer creating the show with an audience in real time. “There’s

Many Happy Returns runs for one hour and performances at WMPAC are on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 19 at 6 and 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 and 8 p.m.

Tickets and more information at warrenmillerpac.org.

CAPTIVATING

Partners ©2020 Barbara Van Cleve

Feeding the Old Way ©1987 Barbara Van Cleve

UNBRIDLED SPIRIT:

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF BARBARA VAN CLEVE

September 30 – January 7, 2024 Experience this captivating exhibition exploring the rugged beauty and vanishing traditions of the American West. Barbara Van Cleve’s renowned photography, combined with curated ranching artifacts, immerses visitors in this storied landscape. Her powerful images, born from a deep connection to ranch life at her family’s Lazy K Bar ranch, embody the enduring legacy of the West. With over 60 solo exhibitions and seven books, Van Cleve’s work is a true testament to her unbridled spirit.

A Natural Design © 2011 Barbara Van Cleve

Unbridled Spirit was produced by Museum of the Rockies and Barbara Van Cleve.

Vanguard Sponsor:

Sheehy Family Foundation Richard & Denise Sheehy

406.994.2251 | 600 W Kagy Blvd | museumoftherockies.org

Cowgirl Ready ©2020 Barbara Van Cleve

A&E

34 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR Thursday, December 14 - Wednesday, December 27

If your next event falls between Dec. 28 - Jan. 10, please submit it to media@theoutlawpartners.com by Jan. 3

THURSDAY, DEC. 14

Wine and Dine Tuesdays

Live Music

Candidate filing opens for local special purpose district elections

Rainbow Ranch Lodge & Restaurant, 5 p.m.

Tips Up, 9 p.m.

Ongoing

Pick-up Futsal

SATURDAY, DEC. 23

BASE, 8 p.m.

Live Music

Peer Support Drop-In Hours Big Sky Community Food Bank, 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 15 Ryan Busse Meet and Greet The Waypoint, 5 p.m.

Live Music Tips Up, 9 p.m.

Tips Up, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20

TUESDAY, DEC. 26

Women’s Basketball Open Gym

Pick-up Futsal

BASE, 5:30 p.m.

BASE, 8 p.m.

Trivia

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

Big Sky Fire District Board of Trustees Meeting

THURSDAY, DEC. 21

SATURDAY, DEC. 16 Free Board Game Night The Wilson Hotel, 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, DEC. 17 Community Art Class: Bead a Bracelet

Pickleball Open Play

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

BASE, 7 a.m.

Jazz Veteran Bob Bowman with Kellan Moore & Josh Poole

FRIDAY, DEC. 22

The Wilson Hotel, 5 p.m.

Kids Happy Hour The Wilson Hotel, 5 p.m.

Trivia The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

Arts Council of Big Sky at BASE, 4 p.m.

All Ages Pick-up Basketball

FEATURED EVENT: DEC. 20 GIVING TREE WRAPPING PARTY

BASE, 4 p.m.

The Wilson Hotel, 5 p.m.

MONDAY, DEC. 18 Storytime

For those in the giving spirit, The Wilson Hotel is hosting a Giving Tree Wrapping Party, completing a crucial step in the Big Sky Rotary Club’s Giving Tree program. The program provides gifts to local children and families who are in need this time of year. The event is free and all wrapping supplies are provided.

Community Library at BASE, 10:30 a.m.

Health Spanners Book & Activity Club BASE, 12 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 19 Big Sky County Water and Sewer District Board Meeting Big Sky County Water and Sewer District boardroom, 8 a.m.

Do you sometimes wish you could spend a holiday sober?

Can't stop drinking? We get it. Contact AA 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

Over the holiday, AA has 24 hours of continuous meetings from 5:30 PM on Christmas Eve to 5:30 PM Christmas Day If you have a problem with alcohol, contact A.A. We can help.

A&E

35 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

HOLIDAY EVENTS CALENDAR AFTER THE LAPS

Big Sky is home to endless recreation and fun winter events. Here are a few of our favorites.

After a day of carving through the snow, check out all that Big Sky and neighboring Bozeman has to offer, and take part in a plethora of festive activities. From cozy movie showings, to nights at the symphony, to lively holiday events, the region transforms into a winter wonderland. Create unforgettable memories both on and off the slopes during the holiday season this year.

KEEP IT LOCAL: BIG SKY ACTIVITIES HIKE TO OUSEL FALLS CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AT LONE MOUNTAIN RANCH 85 kilometers of carefully maintained trails, open December through March.

MARTY PAVELICH ICE RINK Open skate available every day, times vary

KARAOKE NIGHT

BERINGIA WINTER POP-UP

The Waypoint, Dec. 22, 9 p.m. to close

620 E. Cottonwood St., Dec. 14-23, 12-6 p.m.

S'MORES & COCOA AT MONTAGE Opens Dec. 22, open each day from 4 - 8 p.m.

UGLY SWEATER PARTY

A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Ellen Theatre, Dec. 14-22, multiple showtimes

The Waypoint, Dec. 23, 8 p.m. to close

BOZEMAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND SYMPHONIC CHOIR’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES

Bozeman Symphony, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17, 2:30 p.m.

Big Sky Chapel, Dec. 24, 3:30-8 p.m. and Dec. 25, 8-11 a.m.

GINGERBREAD MAN DECORATING Montage, Dec. 23, 5 - 6 p.m.

CHRISTMAS EVE FIREWORKS

WARREN MILLER ALL TIME FILM, HOSTED

BY PEAK SKI COMPANY Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.

VICTORIAN HOLIDAY

IRVING BERLIN’S "WHITE CHRISTMAS" SCHOOL HOLIDAY MUSICAL

Mountain Village Plaza, Dec. 24, 8 p.m.

Museum of the Rockies, Dec. 15-16, 6-9 p.m.

Dec. 14 and Dec. 15, 7 p.m. at Warren Miller Performing Arts Center

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC MISSION: CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE

BOZEMAN WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET

MCNEAL AND FRIENDS HOLIDAY PARTY Dec. 14, 151 Center Lane, 6 p.m.

SLEIGH RIDES AT 320 RANCH Dec. 15 – Dec. 31, 4 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

THE WAKING SUN PRESENTED BY ROOTS IN THE SKY AND BAROQUE MUSIC MONTANA Big Sky Chapel, Dec. 16, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

TUBING AT MONTAGE Opens Dec. 16, open each day from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

FREE HOLIDAY MOVIES The Waypoint, Dec. 15-18 (closed Dec. 16) at 5 p.m.

Big Sky Chapel, Dec. 25, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

CHRISTMAS APRES: DJ KA5 Mountain Village Plaza, Dec. 25, 3 p.m.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING The Wilson Hotel, Dec. 25, 5-7 p.m.

CIRQUE-TACULAR—ACROBATIC REVERIE Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m.

ADULT CRAFT COCKTAIL NIGHT The Wilson Hotel, Dec. 28, 6-8 p.m.

6901 Goldenstein Lane, Dec. 16, 1-3 p.m.

WINGING IT! A VERY SPECIAL HOLIDAY MUSICAL Last Best Comedy, Dec. 16 and Dec. 23, 7 p.m.

CHRISTMAS MARKET Bunkhouse Brewing in Four Corners, Dec. 18, 6-9 p.m.

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER Gallatin River Lodge, Dec. 24, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR

Vista Hall, Dec. 31, 7 p.m.

The Rialto, Dec. 30, 7 p.m.

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS

The Wilson Hotel, Dec. 20, 5 p.m.

Mountain Village Plaza, Dec. 31, 9 p.m.

OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS

TSUNAMI FUNK

The Wilson Hotel, Dec. 20, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Montana Jack, Dec. 31, 9:30 p.m.

MEADOW VILLAGE SIP AND SHOP

WINTER BINGO

Shelly Bermont Fine Jewelry, Dec. 21, 5-8 p.m.

The Waypoint, Jan. 2, 5:30 p.m.

The Wilson Hotel, Dec. 22, 5-7 p.m.

EAGLE MOUNT HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR LIVE MUSIC: MOONLIGHT MOONLIGHT

GIVING TREE WRAPPING PARTY

KID’S HAPPY HOUR

Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Dec. 16, 9 a.m.

WORTH THE DRIVE: BOZEMAN’S FESTIVE EVENTS NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD WINTER STROLL Wildlands Development & Wild Crumb, Dec. 14, 5-8 p.m.

Joyce From the Future and Tony Iota

HYALITE CANYON SKI TOUR BY BRIDGER SKI FOUNDATION Hyalite Pavilion, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.

WINTER WONDERLAND SLEIGH RIDE Gallatin River Lodge, Dec. 31, 4 p.m.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Kimpton Armory Hotel, Dec. 31, 9 p.m. to close

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This turn-key, fully furnished Black Eagle Lodge is located just steps away from all of the vibrancy of Big Sky Resort Mountain Village, with ski access via the Poma

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A large living room with soaring 20ft. vaulted ceilings, a central wood burning fireplace, large dining table and open kitchen

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The deck makes it easy to entertain, with great views of Lone Mountain from the hot tub. Walk less than 1/4 mile to the Mountain Village restaurants and shops, rentals, and main lifts

Scan the QR code to visit the website and learn more!

WWW.OUTLAW.REALTY | 406.995.2404

38 December 14-27, 2023

A LA CARTE

Explore Big Sky

DINING

MCMANUS FOLLOWING THE FOOD veterans create a sense of community and purpose through experiences in nature, especially fly fishing.

In opening meals for each group, as well as preprepared meals for excursions, McManus has helped implement a healthy, locally sourced diet.

The warriors are given a database of recipes to take home, including many that are naturally vegetarian or gluten free. Food should be delicious, first and foremost, but McManus said he also seeks to make it interesting and expansive to the palate.

BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST

“Fancy meeting you here” has taken on a different level with Tyler McManus. For years, whenever I seemed to discover a new gem on the food scene, McManus was already there. He was preparing spectacular small plates alongside chef Daniel Wendell at the Food Studio, meticulously garnishing dishes with tweezers. He was at the Fish Company, Sashimi Bar or Izakaya Three Fish, crafting spectacular omakase (chef ’s choice) sushi dishes alongside “Sushi Paul” Naugle. He was helping Austin Brown stoke the fires at Yellow House Barbecue.

Even when he’s not in the kitchen, I tend to find McManus in line waiting for food, like at a recent taco pop-up.

“I always try to make something they wouldn’t normally have, even in a fishing lunch,” McManus said.

When not on the side of the river, McManus runs his own catering company, Velma Elaine, named after his grandmothers. He remembers watching Velma, his maternal grandmother, in her West Yellowstone kitchen when he was barely past her knees. Elaine, his dad’s mother, was a Wisconsonite more known for her holiday oyster stew and midwestern fish fry. Both, he said, led him to cooking. And like them, McManus now seeks to share his knowledge and skills.

McManus was born in Bozeman. He moved to the middle of Alaska, then to Lewiston, Idaho, before returning to Bozeman in the eighth grade. Though I can’t say we were friends then, McManus and I were in the same Bozeman High School class. Now, he is my apprentice on KGLT.

“To me, cooking is teaching,” he said.

This is especially true with catering, where people are free to wander in and out of the kitchen, indoor or outdoor, and ask questions.

Last week, I finally sat down with McManus to talk food. Naturally, this was over lunch.

So while McManus may be everywhere, trying to learn from every chef in his vicinity, he is more than willing to share that knowledge.

“I’m always hungry,” McManus said, ordering no less than four dishes at Cafe Zydeco in Bozeman.

One sandwich and some bread pudding even made it home with him—after I stole a couple bites.

In conversation, McManus lists some of the places he has worked, starting with Cafe International in the Emerson Center when he was 18, to restaurants on the waters of Idaho’s Lake Coeur D’Alene and the Caribbean Sea. He mentions learning on the job—pleasing the picky at the Yellowstone Club, catering mass volumes at Montana State University and breaking eggs at the Nova Cafe. He talks about food trips around the world with friends, chefs and foodies. One now defunct restaurant, Bror, in Copenhagen, served only offal, the often unwanted organs of animals. Though thousands of miles from home, the practice reminded McManus of Montana, of growing up hunting and fishing, of using every part of the animal possible.

To reach McManus, follow his catering journey on Instagram @velmaelaine or email velmaelaine406@ gmail.com.

COURTESY OF TYLER MCMANUS

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.

This is how he likes to cook: to live. McManus maintains that the best food to eat is sourced locally. He forages—it was a good year for hedgehog mushrooms, he says. He gardens. He cans salsas, meats and other things to preserve them for the long, cold winter. And when possible, he loves to cook over open fire.

“I like the feeling of being almost timeless when cooking over fire, connecting with the past and the Earth’s elements,” McManus texted when I asked for a follow up. “Building a pit and collecting food and people around a fire is very intimate yet rustic and somewhat archaic. I love it.”

This year, McManus connected with Warriors & Quiet Waters, a Bozeman nonprofit that helps

McManus’ braised pork and cannellini beans dish, prepared in Red Lodge. COURTESY OF TYLER MCMANUS

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40 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

BUSINESS MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: RHINESTONE COWGIRL EBS STAFF What were you doing in December of 2013, exactly 10 years ago? Amy Langmaid remembers: opening Rhinestone Cowgirl, Big Sky’s Western boutique. Her store is a decade old this month, and to commemorate the hard work that got her here, Explore Big Sky chatted with Langmaid about the longevity of her business, and the thing that brings her to work each day: seeing the joy of people coming into her store and feeling confident about themselves and their fashion.

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

Explore Big Sky: Let’s start with you – how long have you been in Big Sky and what brought you here?

Amy Langmaid: I moved to Big Sky in the winter of 2006-07. I came because I had been working as a forest firefighter in Whitehall, Montana and didn’t have anything lined up for the winter. I had heard about Big Sky from my family and also some of the people I worked with. I applied at Lone Mountain Ranch and got the job teaching cross-country [skiing]—mostly the kids program at the time... I had a degree in education and English.

EBS: When did Rhinestone Cowgirl first open and what inspired you to do so?

AL: Rhinestone Cowgirl opened Dec. 10, 2013.

I was inspired by JP Woolies—owned by my husband Tucker and brother and sister-in-law, Drew and Jennifer. They do such a great job with their shop on the mountain, I thought they would succeed down in the Meadow as well. I also have always had a passion for fashion and helping people feel good about themselves because of feeling good about their appearance.

EBS: For those who haven’t yet been to your shop, what do you hope people experience when they walk in?

AL: I hope people experience joy—the joy of finding something special and unique—something made in Montana, or that is Western or just something that fits them perfectly. I try to keep the items in the shop different from what you can

PHOTO COURTESY OF RHINESTONE COWGIRL

find elsewhere, but I also want the items to be wearable when guests go home.

EBS: Ten years is a big anniversary to celebrate. What can you attribute that success to?

AL: I attribute the success of Rhinestone Cowgirl to all my wonderful customers who have supported me over the years—really there would be no Rhinestone Cowgirl if people didn’t buy—my amazing employees and managers, some of whom have been with me from the start—Joan Fasoldt— and that includes friends who have stepped in to help when I just needed a last minute fill-in. Then of course my amazing family who have given me endless amounts of advice and encouragement.

EBS: Big Sky has experienced a lot of change over that time period, but what can you say hasn’t changed much about our community?

AL: I feel like our community is still all about getting outside and having fun. The people who live here prioritize living with the outdoors and that hasn’t changed and I really feel like it never will. The core of the community is also incredibly

supportive of each other. For the most part people who move or live here aren’t close to family so the community you meet and work with here become your extended family!

EBS: What’s your favorite thing about being a Big Sky business owner?

AL: Getting to work at something I love—it truly is a joy to come to work, to see the new items I have purchased work on people, to meet visitors from out of town and to help people find just the right piece for a special event.

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

AL: To look over the numbers and make sure it will work before starting. It is great to be passionate about a new venture, but you have to sit down and work through it before getting started to make sure it all adds up and will be a success. This was especially important for me not having any type of business or finance degree. I really needed to understand what I was getting into before trying to make it work.

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42 December 14-27, 2023

Explore Big Sky

HEALTH

HEALTH BUZZ ALTITUDE GUIDE

BY KALEY BURNS EBS COLUMNIST

Welcome to wonderful Big Sky, Montana! As you take in the beautiful scenery, your body may also be reminding you that you are not at sea level anymore.

Depending on where you are in town, you could be resting anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 feet of elevation.

At higher elevations, you will take in less oxygen per breath. This means the higher you climb, the greater the risk of developing altitude-related illness. Altitude sickness is actually a type of stress on the body and can be a big concern for travelers.

The stress of lower oxygen levels can lead to symptoms such as nausea, trouble breathing and weakness.

Thankfully there is no need to miss out on the fun and leave the mountain to alleviate altitude-related symptoms. Reference this guide for helpful tips and tricks.

Dr. B’s Top 10 Tips to Adjust to Altitude 1. IV nutrient and hydration therapy: Especially if you know you are sensitive to elevation changes, I suggest getting a nutrient intravenous drop (IV treatment) as soon as you get into town. Don’t wait until you are already feeling ill.

2. Keep up hydration with electrolytes: Our favorite electrolyte on the market is LMNT. Add a packet to your 40-ounce water bottle once to twice per day to keep your muscles happy and allow you to enjoy the mountain to the fullest. Water intake is advised to be half your body weight in ounces, PLUS if you are physically active adding roughly 8 ounces for every 15 minutes.

Pro tip: Drink 24 ounces of water within the first 30 minutes of waking. Your body dehydrates overnight.

3. Mind your activity levels: Many people notice that they need to monitor their intensity and duration of activity as they are adjusting to higher elevations. It’s common for physical performance to become more difficult when you ascend in altitude.

It is best not to push yourself too hard for the first two to three days.

4. Get adequate amounts of sleep: Sleep disturbances are common at higher elevations. If you are struggling to sleep, check your caffeine intake and try improving sleep hygiene with a dark room, white noise or calming essential oils such as lavender.

Pro tip: Magnesium is great for helping promote optimal sleep. Current research shows that magnesium can help the body relax to help improve disruption and even insomnia.

5. Be cautious with alcohol intake: Alcohol is dehydrating and can affect many people more significantly at altitude. Alcohol intake can also

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

disrupt sleep patterns. Your safest option is to wait about 48 hours before you consume alcohol at altitude.

6. Boost your nutrient intake: Foods such as bananas, avocados, spinach, greek yogurt and kale are all high in potassium which can help mitigate some of the effects of altitude.

Pro tip: Another favorite way to support your nutrition—and help with hydration levels—is consuming bone broth. There are a couple great restaurants in town that offer this tasty treat as well!

7. Keep an eye on your calorie intake in general: Your body has to work extra hard to keep you functioning with less oxygen available. Therefore, your body requires more fuel. A nutrient-dense diet combining complex carbohydrates, plant and animal proteins and healthy fats can help keep you full and enable your body to run well at higher elevations.

Pro tip: If you experience appetite reduction, this is a great time to utilize nutrient-packed fluids including bone broths, juices and quality protein shakes. Just check labels and steer clear of sugar levels above 12 grams per serving!

You may have to ditch the keto routine. Instead consume adequate complex carbs, which require less oxygen to metabolize and help you maintain a better ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide, allowing you to use oxygen more efficiently.

8. Recruit quality supplementation as needed: I recommend NEO40 or SuperBeets supplements to support nitric oxide production. Research has found that optimal nitric oxide levels are key to improving high altitude function.

Beets contain iron and vitamin C as well, which can be a good way to help maximize the metabolic benefits of being at altitude.

9. Protect yourself from the sun: Ultraviolet rays are more intense the higher you go in elevation, meaning sunburn can occur more easily. The effect is intensified by the sun reflecting off the snow, so don’t underestimate the power of sun protection.

10. Go lower or seek support if necessary: Don’t wait too long to seek medical attention if your health is struggling as you adapt to altitude. If needed, make arrangements to sleep at a lower elevation; This has been found to help the body adjust more optimally and can allow you to still enjoy a day at the mountain!

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.

43 December 14-27, 2023

H E A LT H

Explore Big Sky

LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH: 100 DAYS

BY ANDY NAGEL EBS COLUMNIST

Age is just a number, and so is your number of days.

In today’s world of rapidly advancing technology, it’s easy to access data tracking our health, finances, energy consumption, and so much more. Much of this data serves as an aid to efficiently navigate our roller coaster of life. For many skiers and snowboarders, there is no greater data than the number of days we ski or ride in a winter season. We wear it like a badge of honor.

I am going to get 100 days this winter. I’ve never done it before. The only activity I meticulously count and record is the number of days I snowboard every winter. Can I beat my biggest winter of 80 days in 2008-09? Last season I hit 69 days.

Why do we count our days? What purpose does it serve? My answer, simply put, is that consistency is

“There is no best skier in the world.

The best skier in the world is the one having the most fun.”

-Doug Coombs key to being a quality rider. So how do we balance quantity and quality to become the riders we dream to be?

Goals are more than numbers on a scoreboard.

It’s important to have goals. Without them, many people find themselves lost. In Big Sky we all have common goals. Why do I keep track of my ride days? If artificial intelligence compiled all my life data to figure out the secret ingredient to my thriving state, the conclusion would yield times I’m consistently riding, or accessing the outlets I live for. Therefore, riding is a form of self care for me, which is why I count my days.

You don’t have to, or need to do anything. I’m very careful these days when I incorporate the words “have” or “need” in the same sentences regarding my riding. Cognitive behavioral therapy taught me a lot about catastrophizing, a type of distorted thinking in which a scenario is way worse than we perceive.

For example, “I have to ride every day, otherwise I’m not a rider,” or “I need to point and send on all runs. If I don’t, that’s not riding.” My experiences snowboarding in Alaska led me to believe for too long that I wouldn’t find joy in the sport ever again if big mountains and helicopters weren’t included.

Catastrophizing can lead to brain wiring that takes time to unwire, greatly compromise fantastic ride experiences, or even cause someone to walk away from the activity forever. Allow your riding to revolve around your wants.

There are no written rules. What does a proper ride day look like to be worth counting? One tram lap, or three laps elsewhere was a day for me. I didn’t make that rule though, and I’m not abiding by it anymore. You are allowed to make your own rules too. We as riders didn’t break free of societal norms and expectations in the so-called “real world,” only to follow those set forth in the rider community. So make your own rules for your days to count.

Be kind to yourself. I now tend to focus on my off days as much as my ride days. What does a day off

look like for you? Since embarking on my journey of self care and wellness through treatment, therapy, and other resources, I’ve discovered I’m not the only one capable of feeling the way I feel. When I reflect on times I’ve been hardest on myself, my days off from riding come to mind. And I’m talking about brutally harsh unwarranted criticism. Taking a day off, even on a powder day, is not a crime. Mental and physical self care go hand in hand with quality wellbeing. If you wanna ride ‘til the day you die, you gotta rest! And in order to rest, you need to take days off.

Something so simple is not. Many riders go through this mental battle and might be unaware they aren’t alone.

Living in Big Sky doesn’t mean you have to, or need to ride. If you don’t want to do something, then keep doing what brings you joy. This applies to all riders, and those who don’t ride. I am going to get 100 days this winter, but I’m not sure if it will be riding. If it is, I’ll be stoked. If not, I’ll be grateful for getting to ride at all.

So far this winter, I also might get 100 days of stretching, meditation, journaling, photography, naps, or saying no to vices like alcohol and tobacco.

We’ll see.

The big sky in our beautiful state is not the limit when it comes to the wide variety of mindful activities you can partake in (for 100 days) to aid in your self care. Whatever I do for 100 days this winter is solely for me, and no one else. I encourage you to think about having your 100-day season as well. Only if you want to, not because you feel like you have or need to. However, as Warren Miller famously said, “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.”

Andy Nagel works at Big Sky Resort, and volunteers as a Wellness Navigator and member of the Be Well Big Sky leadership council.

44 December 14-27, 2023

BAC K 4 0

BACK 40

Explore Big Sky

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”

LEARNING AND GROWING FROM ‘OLD SCHOOL’ A DECADES-LONG PATROLLER REFLECTS ON THE EVOLUTION OF BIG SKY SKI PATROL

At one of North America’s most unique ski areas, the Big Sky Ski Patrol manages roughly 270 degrees of high-alpine avalanche terrain on Lone Mountain—not to mention the demanding safety operations across all of Big Sky Resort’s 5,850 in-bounds acres. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN AYRES

Ryan Ayres looks out the grand window of Big Sky Resort’s Vista Hall toward Lone Mountain. The sun is losing its fight against swarming clouds. An October snowstorm is blowing in, and Ayres and his fellow ski patrollers have been preparing the mountain for another long winter. Ayres will spend his 25th with Big Sky Ski Patrol.

the first one out the door, out there in adverse conditions and lookin’ down the barrel of the ‘Apple Core’ in the ‘Little [Couloir],’” Ayres says.

And of Cindy Dixon—Big Sky’s longest-tenured ski patrol director, formerly known as Bob—Ayres says, “She’s out there. Did the director job for 30some years, and now out there acting as a mentor to the younger patrollers.”

“I’ve always been really proud of our mountain,” he says, his eyes still scanning the 11,166-foot rock, where the new Lone Peak Tram is finishing its two-year construction process. “And I don’t know that I would ever be able to find a mountain as unique as this. So, when it comes to [Big Sky’s] growth and whatnot, it’s hard for me to get upset about it. Because why wouldn’t people want to come and check this out? It’s something that I’m proud of, and always wanted to share with people.

This amazing mountain.

“So that’s kind of the backdrop for all of us, on any given day,” he says. “And it’s pretty unique.”

Ayres would know. Big Sky Resort’s 50th season will mark his own milestone of 25 seasons with the Big Sky Ski Patrol. He’s been the director for the past four, but stepped down after last winter. He’ll spend more time supporting his wife, who owns Cinnamon Lodge and Events near Big Sky, while patrolling three to four days a week.

Recounting patrol’s evolution through the 21st century, Ayres’ tone, grin and thoughtful choice of words match his observation that the crew is perhaps less tight-knit and wild, but better off in many ways.

Camaraderie remains, built between ski boot fatigue and wind-chilled fingers and toes. The Big Sky Ski Patrol has a unique ability to suffer, he says, and he’s not sure the skiing public realizes how hard the job really is.

From the plethora of specialized climbers and mountaineers, to EMTs and medical professionals, Ayres said he respects a lot of different patrollers for a lot of different reasons. Ayres himself earned respect the old-fashioned way. When the Wyoming native and Montana State University studentturned-ski-bum joined patrol as a volunteer in 1998, old-school ways layered another test on an already harsh job.

Ayres spent eight years handling Dayna, a Big Sky avalanche rescue dog, before Dayna’s retirement in 2021. PHOTO BY KATIE MIDDLETON

“We ‘embrace the suck,’” Ayres says—it’s an unofficial mantra. “When it sucks out there, we’re like, ‘Eh, this is what we’re all here for.’”

Such an attitude is a rite of passage.

“To be able to suffer without complaining, and laughing in the face of adversity, I think, gains a lot of respect … The people that work hard, put their head down and get it done, gain probably the most respect.”

Ayres is quick to name those that have earned his respect.

“Jon Ueland, ‘Yunce,’ I mean ... he’s gotta be pushing 65, he’s a smokejumper and he’s still

“You know, when I started, it was very—cowboy.

Rough. You had to be thick-skinned; you had to be willing to take criticism and whatnot,” he recalls.

“And some of the people I looked up to were some of the ones that were most critical, and most thickskinned, and some of the hardest to get on their good side.”

That suited Ayres’ style, he says, but even through his own thick skin, he carried the heavy weight of fear while working. And that pressure doesn’t work for everybody, he says.

“If you do it wrong, you’re gonna hear about it from this group of people,” he recalls. “I didn’t want to let those people down. And at the time, when you messed up, you had to buy beer—I couldn’t afford to buy the beer. And so that style actually suited me well.”

He pauses.

45 December 14-27, 2023

BAC K 4 0

“We do not promote that style of learning anymore,” Ayres assures, laughing.

Now more than ever, the Big Sky Ski Patrol follows a skills-based mentorship model. Older or more experienced patrollers are expected to pass on as much of their skillset as they possibly can and are rewarded for doing so.

“I talk about how hard the work is,” he says. “But there’s a lot of down time, and a lot of shack time.

And that’s a lot of stories ... trying to keep the oral tradition alive to a certain extent.”

Now, peers reach out to a comrade in need, perhaps cooking some food as a gesture of care.

“So we’ve grown up,” Ayres says, nodding. “We’ve grown up in the way we support each other. We’ve gotten better.”

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

It’s a formalized skill-sharing process, with an informal element of preserving the well-aging parts of a 50-year-old tradition.

“We’ve worked hard on our culture, over the years,” he says. They’ve adopted three pillars: teamwork, accountability and humility. Any personnel issue, Ayres says, can usually be solved by addressing at least one pillar. He notes that humility has been a big catalyst for improvement.

“That was probably the biggest cultural challenge we had, ever,” Ayres said. “They had their way of doing things over there, and we had our way of doing things over here.” The Moonlight team brought it to patrol’s attention that Big Sky could be better, Ayres recalls, but it took a few years to raise the bar in unity.

Ayres reflects back to around 2018, when current Big Sky Ski Patrol Director Nancy Sheil helped steer things in a better direction. Ski patrol leadership came together, challenged with identifying their values and creating a shared vision.

They identified guiding principles in teamwork, accountability and humility. Once a culture of, “You’re an idiot, you blew it, go buy beer,” Ayres says, he saw a shift to a culture where feedback can be delivered up and down the chain, and with mutual respect. He’s proud that his team bought into the “easily understood values” and chose to follow their leaders.

“At that point, the cards started falling, people started to get married, started having kids. Seeing that there was a path forward with a family was a big deal for me,” he recalls. He could envision a career.

The identity of a Big Sky ski patroller is shifting.

Once a badass gig for any ski bum with their EMT certification, it’s now becoming a career path with a culture accessible and sustainable to a wider range of personalities.

Patrol performs daily terrain inspection and mitigation along the Headwaters, a thrilling-yet-consequential bootpack hike—notice the hand-rope anchored to the rock—with outlets for extreme skiing on either side of the ridge. To the left (pictured), the A-Z chutes. To the right, the Headwaters. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN AYRES

“If our lift operators aren’t there on time, or our road crew didn’t get the road plowed on time ...

It’s like, you don’t know what happened with those people,” Ayres says. “So, you know, they’re doing their job to the best of their ability. What we can do is do our job to the best of our ability ... We have to do it in a respectful way.”

Unless acted upon by an outside force Ayres can point to one specific moment that challenged—and ultimately improved—the culture of Big Sky Ski Patrol. In 2013, Big Sky Resort merged with Moonlight Basin, an adjacent ski area with its own ski patrol. Ayres says each culture brought their differences.

Another shift has helped retention since the ’90s. In Ayres’ early days, very few patrollers had a spouse or children. He married in 2001.

“‘I can have a family, I can do this, and I can make it work,’” Ayres recognized. And he did make it work, patrolling Lone Mountain for half his life while raising a kid.

“Some people might see us as kind of arrogant or egotistical,” Ayres says. “But the reality of it is ...

We have a specific skill set, but there’s other people out there that have other skill sets that are really valuable as well.”

Big Sky’s patrollers weren’t always so empathetic toward other departments on the mountain, Ayres admits. But now, with humility in mind, patrollers are encouraged to consider the challenges, possibly invisible, that others may face.

Explore Big Sky

Ryan Ayres, one of Big Sky’s longest-serving ski patrollers, overlooks the famous Big Couloir on an early morning snow safety route.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN AYRES

for help. I know that I don’t have to go out and do it on my own.”

Alongside the patrol which he eventually led, Ayres adapted from the “old-school patroller mentality” to more of a professional one.

Improvements notwithstanding, Ayres hesitates to call it the tight-knit family unit he remembers. He wrestles with that; it’s still a family, but the sheer number of patrollers has grown.

Ayres joined the patrol more than two decades into its growth. Even then, he remembers Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners at each other’s homes.

Patrollers’ kids grew up together.

Today, the team runs 120 deep, plus volunteers.

Ayres suggested that he might not see some patrollers between November and April.

“That’s where I think it was a win for us on the culture ... I’ll be honest with you, it wasn’t that hard,” he says. “Because people were on board.”

Ayres’ personal growth has followed the same curve as the patrol’s shifting culture.

“I do see it as an incredible support system and the camaraderie is still very tight ... We refer to it as a patrol family. But it’s just big—it’s just much bigger now than it once was.” One clear benefit has emerged: especially in the past three years, a peerresiliency group has taken leadership on mental health and emotional support needs.

“I think I’ve grown to understand that you don’t have to be that super salty, off-putting hard, harsh person in order to be successful. I can be vulnerable, I can show that side of myself. I know that I can ask

“That probably has gotten better. Because in some ways, it’s more professional. And less, like, ‘Oh, we just had something happen, we’re gonna all get together and drink together.’”

The operation has grown significantly—Ayres estimates 50 patrollers per day now, versus 20 when he started. Summer work was once limited to a small crew taking initiative without too much guidance. Now there are full-time summer jobs for patrollers in the lift-served bike park.

And in the winter of 2020-21, the Big Sky Ski Patrol voted to unionize. It was a painful and emotional time for Ayres—as director, he felt responsible for keeping his team happy and engaged but had to sit across the table from them in the collective bargaining process. He’s glad both parties agreed to a deal in about nine months, much faster than some industry peers, and he sees both sides being proud of the outcome: better wages and benefits, especially for seasonal workers, which the resort soon moved toward matching company-wide.

“I think the straw that broke the back was COVID,” Ayres recalls. “The cost of living in this area ... People feeling like there was not a clear path for a career as a ski patroller.” He’s seen growing trust, transparency and normalcy in the two winters since negotiations began.

The job has changed, and some patrollers bailed.

But that’s Big Sky. The resort and the greater Big Sky community have spent 50 years growing into a place where more people could work and live year-round. Growing pains abound, but Big Sky is probably more fertile than ever to young, careeroriented folks like Ayres was in 1998.

Today, those folks are rookies. When Big Sky Resort celebrates another quarter-century in 2048, the Big Sky Ski Patrol will have shape-shifted again, and today’s rookies might gaze out toward Lone Mountain in search of the right words for own their story.

This story is one part of a multi-part feature celebrating Big Sky Resort’s 50th anniversary.

The feature is published in the current, winter 2024 Mountain Outlaw magazine, which hit shelves Dec. 13. You can find a copy on stands across Big Sky, Bozeman, Missoula, Whitefish and Jackson. You can read this and other stories online by scanning the code.

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- T H E O U T L AW R E A LT Y T E A M

BEST OF BIG SKY 2023

49 December 14-27, 2023

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BEST OF BIG SKY BRINGS COMMUNITY LEADERS TOGETHER, CELEBRATES ANOTHER YEAR OF BIG SKY’S KEY PLAYERS On Tuesday Dec. 5, community members filled The Waypoint for the 2023 Best of Big Sky awards ceremony. This year, 48 awards celebrated leaders, organizations and businesses for all they do in their sector and in Big Sky. Over the course of November, the public nominated who they think were deserving of consideration, followed by a community voting period that yielded the ultimate winners. Some highlights from the night included

Deputy Dan Haydon earning Best Community Member for serving Big Sky, BYWOM for once again snagging first place for Best Burger, and a tie for first in the Best Bar category between The Corral and The Waypoint.

The evening ended with awarding the Editor’s Pick for Best Local Musician to the late Jim Salestrom. In memory of Salestrom who was a singer-songwriter and entertainer, Outlaw Partners CEO and founder Eric Ladd played tribute by closing the night out with

Salestrom’s song, “Grateful for the Evening,” which was filmed along the Gallatin River.

When the awards ceremony concluded, The Waypoint buzzed with Big Sky community members chatting, having drinks and congratulating each other on their achievements.

Below are the 2023 Best of Big Sky award winners. Let’s join in celebrating them all.

— The Editors

BEST BUSINESS

LONE MOUN TAIN RANCH

Lone Mountain Ranch is a staple of Big Sky, serving up locals and guests alike with a pure, unfiltered Montana experience. From the dining, to the activities, and don’t forget the views, there’s something for everyone. In the winter enjoy their robust Nordic ski trails, and in the summer horseback rides followed by an evening rodeo at their scenic arena, and dinner at Horn & Cantle.

Visit lonemountainranch.com

2 ND ACE HARDWARE Visit acebigskytools.com

3 RD HUNGRY MOOSE MARKET AND DELI

MONTAGE

Montage gets Editor’s Pick this year for their offering of so many year-round family-friendly activities! From s’mores, to cooking courses and their annual tree-lighting ceremony, there’s a space for everyone just up the hill at the Montage Big Sky. Visit montage.com

COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE YEAR

DEPU T Y DAN HAY DON

Gallatin County Sheriff ’s Deputy Dan Haydon has been working to keep Big Sky safe for more than 10 years, including almost four in his current role as sergeant for the Gallatin Canyon section. Haydon is proud to receive this recognition and feels it reflects the community’s deep trust in his office with the Sheriff ’s department. Haydon lives in Big Sky with his wife, Lauren, and their dog, Sylvie.

2 ND QUEEN JEAN

3 RD ALEX HOECKER

ANNA JOHNSON

You’ll never miss Anna Johnson, whether that be due to her contagious smile, welcoming hug or cheery demeanor. Currently serving as the Big Sky Chamber’s director of business development, Johnson proudly supports Big Sky’s local business owners, both on and off the clock.

50 December 14-27, 2023

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BE ST NON PRO F I T

BIG SKY SEARCH AND RESCUE

WELLNESS IN ACTION

When you need them, they’re there–no matter how far off the beaten path you are.

That’s why Big Sky Search and Rescue gets first place in this year’s Best Nonprofit. From grizzly bear attacks, broken legs, avalanches, a minor injury on a local trail, or even staffing our local athletic events to ensure everyone makes it to the finish line safely, our local SAR crew is nothing short of heroic. Visit bssar.org

2 ND BIG SKY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

Wellness in Action’s team is working hard to fill a much-needed gap in the Big Sky community.

The nonprofit, founded in 2005, has since dedicated their efforts to community well being by connecting individuals to a network of necessary resources so that those who live and work here may thrive.

Visit bigskywia.org

3 RD BIG SKY ARTS COUNCIL

Visit bigskyfoodbank.org

WO M E N - OW N E D B U S I N E S S SPONSORED BY BUZZBALLZ

T HORN APPLE BAKING CO.

Thorn Apple was founded in early 2023 by Jennifer Fitzhugh, who came to Big Sky more than a decade ago to serve as Big Sky Resort’s executive pastry chef. She opened the bakery with her former coworker Elissa Skaggs. Thorn Apple specializes in gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan baking, but also bakes with traditional ingredients. The Meadow Village Center bakery offers a la carte goods and fulfills specialty orders. Visit thornapplebakingco.com

2 ND LONE PEAK VET Visit lonepeakvethospital.com

Svalinn

Svalinn Personal Protection Dogs provides the ultimate peace of mind: individual and family protection from a loyal, carefully trained canine. We chose Svalinn as our choice of Best Women-owned business because of owner and founder Kim Greene’s devotion to her business and investment in the Big Sky Community–her dogs are at nearly every summer event from the Big Sky Farmer’s Market to Big Sky PBR. Visit svalinn.com

3 RD HERBACEOUS

B E S T R E S TAU R A N T

MICHAELANGELO'S

Cafe 191

Emily and Michael Annandono are no strangers to the Best of Big Sky roster, for good reason.

The local haunt has been serving up delicious Italian cuisine in Meadow Village since 2016, and is backed by the owner/sibling duo’s background in the culinary arts; Michael trained in the Piedmont region of Italy and was named one of America’s best chefs by bestchefsamerica.com. Visit michaelangelosbigsky.com

Cafe 191 wins our hearts and stomachs this year due to their reliability, large portions, affordable meals and support of the community as a whole. Since they opened, Cafe 191, when not serving up hearty breakfasts from their corner on your way into Big Sky, is often donating their time and food to area nonprofit events. Visit cafe191bigsky.com

2 ND RIVERHOUSE BBQ & EVENTS Visit riverhousebbq.com

3 RD BYWOM

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T I E D F O R 1 ST B E S T L E A D E R I N S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE

The Gallatin River Task Force takes on projects between river conservation and restoration, water quality monitoring, campaigns for efficient community water use, advocacy and outreach, and partnerships with other organizations. Clean water is a vital resource and GRTF is a team of staff and volunteers dedicated to Big Sky’s positive impact. Visit gallatinrivertaskforce.org

OUTLAW PARTNERS EVENTS

Outlaw Partners Events is committed to hosting zero-waste events by insisting that vendors only use recyclable or compostable materials, and by investing in waste diversion systems. Supported by volunteers from Big Sky SNO, Outlaw’s summer 2023 events— primarily concerts and the Big Sky PBR— diverted 5.2 metric tons of waste from the landfill, with a diversion rate of 56.2%.

Visit outlaw.partners

BIG SK Y T HRIF T Hard work is often a reflection of a fearless leader, and in the case of Big Sky Thrift, we know that to be true. Emily Burke joined the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation to open the store in 2022 and ever since it has been a loved resource, offering affordable brands while also respecting the planet by reducing, reusing and recycling. Visit yellowstoneclubfoundation.org/big-sky-thrift

2 ND BIG SKY RESORT Visit bigskyresort.com

3 R D BIG SKY SNO

52 December 14-27, 2023

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BE ST E M E RG I NG E N T R E PR E N E U R

ANDREW ROBIN

Born and raised in Big Sky, Andrew Robin earned a degree in graphic design from the University of Utah and brought his skills back home. Robin created a homegrown marketing, branding and graphic design business and he’s worked with more than 40 local businesses, including the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation, the Hungry Moose Market & Deli, Big Sky Build, Town Center and The Waypoint. Visit peakcreativedesigns.com

2 ND JON RIEBE visit willingworkforcellc.com and highaltitudespacare.com - WILLING WORKFORCE, HIGH ALTITUDE SPA CARE

HUELER 3 RD PAYTON - 406 AGAVE

BE ST LOCAL MEAL DEAL

RIVERHOUSE BBQ & EVENTS Not only a bustling local eatery known for rowdy offseason bingo nights, the Riverhouse BBQ & Events has made an intentional effort to keep its dining experience affordable and accessible. Order the three-piece chicken dinner for an affordable dish that has resisted broad—and local—inflation in the name of inclusivity. At the Riverhouse, it’s made clear that anyone is welcome.

Visit riverhousebbq.com

2 ND MI PUEBLITO TACO BUS Visit ordermipueblitotacobus.com

3 RD BLUE MOON BAKERY

BE ST A RT I ST

JILL ZEIDLER Inspired by her surroundings in Montana, Jill Zeidler handmakes contemporary ceramic art. Her process includes hand-stretching slabs of clay and using a loose technique to maintain the clay’s organic quality. Her pieces have been featured in New York Magazine, Western Art & Architecture and Range Magazine in Jackson, Wyoming. Her shop overlooks the Gallatin River along U.S. Highway 191 just before Town Center.

Visit jillzeidler.com

2 ND HEATHER RAPP Visit heatherrapp.com

3 RD JULIE EDWARDS

BEST OF BIG SKY 2023

53 December 14-27, 2023

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BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

RYAN T URNER

Ryan Turner has called Big Sky home for more than 25 years. He and his family are active community members, and Turner’s gallery captures some of the outdoor adventure scenes that this community revolves around. His fine art photography adorns homes and businesses, even wraps the side of vans. Turner is a clear leader in Big Sky’s extraordinary community of photographers.

Visit ryanturnerphotography.com

2 ND DAVE PECUNIES Visit davepecunies.com

3 RD JONATHAN STONE

BE ST LOCAL MUSICIAN

THAD BEATY

If there was a Best of Big Sky award for playing guitar during a half marathon, Thad Beaty would get it, but for now, we can at least hand him the Best Local Musician award. Beaty is a competitive athlete as well as guitarist for the Nashville-based band, Sugarland, produces for an array of local talent, and plays at Southwest Montana’s many unique and intimate local venues.

Follow @musicthatmoves on Instagram.

2 ND DAMMIT LAUREN

JIM SALESTROM

Jim Salestrom was a talented storyteller, singer and songwriter who had a storied career including friendships with John Denver, Dolly Parton and performing in front of five U.S. presidents. He shared his love of life and positive spirit through his music and for that he earned Editor’s Pick this year for Best Local Musician.

Visit jimsalestrom.com

3 RD SCAVENGER

Visit dammitlauren.com

B E S T DAT E N I G H T

BLUE BUDDHA SUSHI LOUNGE

What’s the sushi scene like in Big Sky? Troy “Twist” Thompson, owner and founder of Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge will happily show you. Thompson learned sushi rolling under the legendary Andy Matsuda in Los Angeles before opening Blue Buddha restaurants in Page, Arizona, and then Big Sky in 2019.

They sling rolls from their main location, as well as late night food in the neighboring Drunken Monk after hours.

Visit bigskybluebuddha.com

2 ND HORN AND CANTLE

Visit lonemountainranch.com/horn-cantle/

3 RD MONTAGE - CORTINA

54 December 14-27, 2023

BEST OF BIG SKY 2023

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BEST CHEF

IAN T ROXLER - OLIV E B'S When Chef Ian Troxler purchased Olive B’s during the pandemic, he was worried of the risk he’d just taken. Today, it’s clear his risk paid off. Troxler has done a good job at honoring Warren and Jennie Bibbins’ legacy in many ways–such as keeping their famous pork chop on the menu–while also exploring his own culinary craft. He’s passionate about keeping Olive B’s a thriving anchor of Meadow Village Center, earning him Best Chef in Big Sky. Visit olivebsbigsky.com

2 ND JOHN FLACH - BYWOM Visit bywombywordofmouth.com

3 RD CHEF JEREMY VITOU - MONTAGE

BE ST BU RG E R

BY WOM

Although we’ve lost count as to how many times BYWOM has won Best Burger, that won’t stop us from going there the next time we have a hankering for one. Owners John and Pam Flach have been feeding the locals of Big Sky since 1995 when they purchased BYWOM from its original owner. Chef John can be thanked for the joint’s unwavering burger quality as well as almost everything else on their menu.

Visit bywombywordofmouth.com

2 ND THE CORRAL BAR & STEAKHOUSE Visit corralbar.com

3 RD RIVERHOUSE BBQ & EVENTS

BEST PIZZA

OUSEL AND SPUR Ousel and Spur owner Jennifer Kettleridge believes in quality, local ingredients, and of course, the homemade sauce and hand-tossed dough. The winningest pizza joint in town, Ousel seems to claim the Best Pizza award year after year and if you pop in for dinner one night, it won’t be a mystery as to why.

Visit ouselandspurpizza.com

2 ND BLUE MOON BAKERY Visit bigskybluemoonbakery.com

3 RD MILKIES PIZZA AND PUB

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BE ST BAR

THE CORRAL AND THE WAYPOINT You can tell how highly contested this category is by this year’s tie–best bar was too close to call and features Big Sky’s oldest, The Corral, as well as one of its newer bars, The Waypoint, offering a cross section of the community’s culture from the canyon to Town Center the next time you need a drink. Visit corralbar.com and thebigskywaypoint.com

2 ND BEEHIVE BASIN BREWERY Visit beehivebasinbrewery.com

3 RD THE ROCKS TASTING ROOM

BE ST BA RT E N D E R

HEAT HER RAPP Heather Rapp is not only known for her colorful paintings but also her colorful smile behind the bar of Beehive Basin Brewery, when she’s not shredding Lone Mountain on her snowboard, that is. Next time you’re there she can help recommend Beehive’s newest concoction, or an old time favorite to bookend a day of skiing, biking or angling.

2 ND ZACH LOWENSTEIN 3 RD MICHELLE CLARK-CONLEY

BE ST SALON

MAN OF T HE WOODS Man of the Woods opened in January 2021

by Kyle Pemberton and ever since has been claiming the award for Best Salon in town.

Kyle and his staff are knowledgeable and their services are mobile, traveling outside of Big Sky to serve Bozemanites in need of a trim as well. Visit motwbarber.com

2 ND TRIBE SALON Visit tribesalonbigsky.com

3 RD HAIR NINJA

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B E S T S PA

SANTOSHA WELLNESS CENTER Owner Callie Stolz and her team at the Santosha Wellness Center offer a variety of practices and holistic healing services from around the world, including massages that aid in recovery and various styles of yoga.

Visit santoshabigsky.com

2 ND SPA MONTAGE Visit montage.com/bigsky/spa/

3 RD SANCTUARY

BEST WELLNESS

BIG SKY NATURAL HEALTH Big Sky Natural Health owner Dr. Kaley Burns, a licensed naturopathic physician, has a passion in creating a healthier body and mind to those living and playing in Big Sky. Her team applies an individualized approach to each patient with services that range from altitude IV therapy, nutritional counseling, acupuncture and cryotherapy.

Visit bigskynaturalhealthmt.com

2 ND BASE

Visit bsco.org/base/

3 RD MOVING MOUNTAINS

BEST APRES

SCISSORBILLS SALOON A mainstay since Big Sky Resort first opened in 1973, Scissorbills may have passed hands during that time, but the votes are in–it still lays claim to Best Apres. New owner (and runner up Best Bartender!) Michelle ClarkConley now holds the torch, and is so far carrying it with honor. Visit scissorbills.com

2 ND BEEHIVE BASIN BREWERY Visit beehivebasinbrewery.com

3 RD HORN & CANTLE

BEST OF BIG SKY 2023

57 December 14-27, 2023

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BEST COFFEE

CALIBER COFFEE Caliber Coffee takes Best Coffee again.

With house-roasted whole bean coffee, a variety of espresso drinks, pour-overs and drip coffee, along with breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches and fresh baked goods, Caliber serves skiers on their way to slaying a powder day.

Visit calibercoffeeroasters.com

2 ND COWBOY COFFEE Visit cowboycoffee.com/big-sky/

3 RD THE LONE PERK

B E S T A N N UA L E V E N T

MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS

Every Thursday from June to September, the Arts Council of Big Sky brings live music to Len Hill Park.

Food trucks line Aspen Leaf Drive and Big Sky locals and visitors from nearby towns flock to see the free shows that feature a local artist and a headliner. This year, the arts council put on 13 shows plus a bonus “Metal in the Mountains” show featuring Big Sky heavy metal band, Scavenger. Visit bigskyarts.org/pages/mitm

2 ND BIG SKY PBR Visit bigskypbr.com

3 RD BIG SKY FARMERS MARKET

BEST OF THE WEST SHOWDOWN, BIG SKY SKIJORING

Who sends a skier, drawn by a racing horse, down an obstacle course that consists of jumps, as well as a hot tub full of revelers and flames, all with hundreds of onlookers? Best of the West Showdown, Big Sky Skijoring does. The perfect balance of cowboy and ski bum, with a hefty dosing of adrenaline, are what earn this annual winter event a place in our hearts for Editor’s Pick.

Visit bigskyskijoring.com

B E S T O U T D O O R R E TA I L E R

GALLATIN ALPINE SPORTS “GAS” has been locally owned by Tom Owen for almost 30 years, renting and selling year-round sports gear from bikes to snowboards, helmets and goggles to Nordic and downhill skis. Also a tune and repair shop for skis, snowboards and bikes, Gallatin Alpine Sports is staffed by passionate outdoor athletes like Owen and the shop’s customers.

Visit gallatinalpinesports.com

2 ND EAST SLOPE OUTDOORS Visit eastslopeoutdoors.com

3 RD BIG SKY THRIFT

58 December 14-27, 2023

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BEST OUTFITTER

GALLAT IN RIV ER GUIDES Southwest Montana is known for its topnotch fly fishing. But for visitors and nearby communities alike, it’s nice to have a helping hand to show the ropes, or perhaps the line.

Gallatin River Guides takes river adventurers and fly fishers to the best spots around Bozeman and Big Sky, teaching them how to wrangle their own Montana trout.

Visit montanaflyfishing.com

2 ND Geyser Whitewater Visit raftmontana.com

3 RD BIG SKY THRIFT

B E S T FA M I LY- F R I E N D LY A C T I V I T Y

BIG SKY RESORT

It may seem obvious, but there are few places bustling with so many families.

During summer and winter seasons, Big Sky Resort offers a relatively safe place for pushing comfort zones, building trust and responsibility, meeting up with friends and creating lasting memories. The resort experience is something generations of local—and visiting—families have built cherished memories with, and will for years to come. Visit bigskyresort.com

2 ND MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS bigskyarts.org

3 RD BIG SKY FARMERS MARKET

B E S T R E A L E S TAT E AG E N C Y

BIG SKY REAL ESTATE CO. Just one season in Big Sky can make a person want to make this place their home. Big Sky Real Estate Co. helps people do just that. The 18-person strong team offers a multi-faceted approach to selling and finding homes with members of the team specializing in sales, marketing and development.

2 ND OUTLAW REALTY outlaw.realty

3 RD BIG SKY SOTHEBY'S

59 December 14-27, 2023

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B E S T R E A LT O R

MIA LENNON Just last week, we received an email from the winner of Best Realtor, Mia Lennon, as she worked to spread the word about the Giving Tree program that helps Big Sky families in need over the holiday season. It’s the perfect example of why Lennon is not only recognized for her work with the Big Sky Real Estate Co., but also her deep devotion to giving back to her community.

Visit bigskyrealestate.com/team/mia-lennon

2 ND Michael Pitcairn

Visit outlaw.realty/agents/215982-Michael-Pitcairn

3 R D MARTHA JOHNSON

B E S T AC C O M M O DAT I O N S

THE WILSON

While known for premium lodging options in the heart of Town Center, The Wilson Hotel also holds memories for locals, such as live music in the lobby or a bustling Big Sky Farmers Market in the plaza, or a friendly greeting from General Manager, Mandy Hotovy. Visit thewilsonhotel.com

2 ND Lone Mountain Ranch Visit lonemountainranch.com

3 R D MONTAGE

BE ST PRO PE RT Y M A NAG E M E N T

S TAY MON TANA

Best Property Management was such a contested category this year, we received hundreds of votes for those who made the top three. Stay Montana takes home the prize this year, offering long- and short-term rentals for couples, families and large groups looking to enjoy all that Big Sky has to offer.

Visit staymontana.com

2 ND Two Pines Properties Visit twopinesvacationrentals.com

3 R D ASCEND PROPERTIES

BE ST A RCH I T ECT

CEN T RE SK Y ARCHIT EC T S Centre Sky Architects has an impressive portfolio, including buildings in Spanish Peaks and Yellowstone clubs. They’ve been crafting custom residential, ranch, resort and commercial architecture across the Rocky Mountain West since 1998 and founder and Principal Architect Jamie Daugaard attributes their success to her skilled and hardworking team. Visit centresky.com

2 ND 45 Architecture Vist 45arch.com

3 R D MILLER-ROODELL ARCHITECTS

60 December 14-27, 2023

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BEST BUILDER

BIG SK Y BUILD Big Sky Build owner John Seelye moved to the area after college and in addition to founding and operating a company that has been voted as Best Builder seven years in succession, he also is the perfect example of a man who gives back. Seelye is the pinnacle of a community leader, ensuring children have access to helmets and supporting local nonprofits. Visit bigskybuild.com

2 ND HAAS BUILDERS Visit Haasbuilders.com

3 RD HIGHLINE PARTNERS

B E S T CA N N A B I S D I S P E N S A RY

LONE PEAK CANNABIS COMPANY Lone Peak Cannabis Company has developed a reputation for quality over the years, starting as a medical marijuana dispensary with a focus on the product’s medicinal use, and since growing post-recreational legalization. Owner Charlie Gaillard puts an emphasis on organic, top-tier cultivation of cannabis and that devotion shines through in his product.

Visit lonepeakcannabiscompany.com

2 ND HERBACEOUS Visit herbaceousinc.com

3 RD DOUBLE DOGS

B E S T B O U T I Q U E /G A L L E RY

TROVE WEST

Trove West’s founder and owner Kate Tomkinson is driven by her support of local Big Sky artisans.

The Town Center boutique offers shoppers all locally crafted goods and gifts that cannot be found in typical gift shops, so visitors and locals can take a piece of Big Sky home.

Visit trovestorewest.com

SHELLY BERMONT FINE JEWELRY Shelly Bermont found her artistic calling here in Big Sky at her jewelry store, Shelly Bermont Fine Jewelry.

Whether casual or sophisticated, Bermont and her team work one-on-one with every customer to create pieces that emulate Big Sky’s beauty and unique setting. Visit shellybermont.com

2 ND BIG SKY ART GALLERY/RYAN TURNER Visit ryanturnerphotography.com

3 RD RHINESTONE COWGIRL

B E S T S H O P P I N G / R E TA I L

MON TANA SUPPLY Montana Supply is no stranger to the Best of Big Sky list. Also a winner of Best Retailer in 2022, the Supply crew is friendly, offering an array of Western clothing, accessories, books and decor in Big Sky’s bustling Town Center. Visit Montanasupplyco.com

2 ND FAHERTY

Visit fahertybrand.com

3 RD ACE HARDWARE

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WO RT H T H E D R I V E

YELLOWSTONE PARK

Yellowstone National Park is possibly the best backyard someone could ask for, and how lucky we are that it’s in ours. Home to one of the most intact ecosystems left in the world, vibrant views, wild animals and incredibly beautiful but harsh seasons, Yellowstone is unarguably a gem to be respected and protected.

2 ND GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Thank you for voting us Best Business in Big Sky LONEMOUNTAINRANCH.COM

WILD CRUMB BAKERY

There’s a reason Wild Crumb Bakery in Bozeman’s northeast neighborhood always has a line out front: the scones, muffins, danshes, fresh bread … you get the idea. We have yet to find something there we don’t like and appreciate the friendly atmosphere and hot coffee to boot.

Visit wildcrumb.com

3 RD BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY

Local, family & employee-owned

Partner with the best!

406.995.2775

Thank you, Big Sky!

BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

info@staymontana.com | staymontana.com 55 Lone Mountain Trail, Big Sky, MT 59716

Thank you Big Sky! “Best of Big Sky’s” Best Architect 2015 - 2023

Montana | Colorado | Utah | CENTRESKY.COM | 406.995.7572

THANK YOU, BIG SKY! spread the word...

BIG SKY’S BEST BURGER by wo m by wo rd o f m o u t h . c o m

Thank you to this entire awesome community for voting Big Sky Build the Best Builder in Big Sky!

Merry Christmas & Happy new Year Think snow!

With love to you this season, The Big Sky Build Team

Gift & Gear Guide

Each year, Explore Big Sky releases a Gift and Gear Guide with items and experiences that fit in well with the mountain lifestyle we love.

This year, each of our products was hand-reviewed by one of our staff or family members – from quality outdoor gear from Stio, to fine cured meat from RegenMarket, to a handy headlamp from your local ACE Hardware in Big Sky. Get gift ideas for your loved ones (or yourself), from all of us, to you – enjoy!

SCAN TO START SHOPPING!

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4 06 AGA V E AÑ EJO OLD FASHION ED: A TASTE OF M ONTANA' S SPIRIT Review by Tucker Harris

Nestled in the heart of Big Sky, Montana, 406 Agave boasts tequilas born of rugged landscapes and artisanal craft. Made by generations-old distillers in Jalisco, Mexico with 100% Blue Weber Agave, the Blanco, Reposado or Añejo tequilas are sure to serve the perfect cocktail the holiday season.

The Añejo Old Fashioned transforms tequila into a cozy, smooth and sophisticated treat. In this cocktail, aged tequila meets a spoonful of agave syrup, plus dashes of orange and Angostura bitters, creating a harmony of smoky and citrusy flavors. Served in a rocks glass over a large ice cube and garnished with orange zest, it's a cocktail meant to be savored with friends.

The Añejo’s journey from field to bottle echoes in its impeccable quality, meticulously handcrafted in small batches to ensure the smoothest drinking experience. Perfect for gifting or sharing at festive gatherings, it's more than a drink—it's a celebration of Montana's spirit and the joy of the season. Cheers to the holidays with every sip of 406 Agave!

Coming soon: You will soon be able to ship 406 Agave directly to your door in 35 states. Visit 406agave.com to learn more.

406 Agave Añejo Old Fashioned 1.5 oz Añejo Bar Spoon Agave Syrup 2 Dashes Orange Bitters 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters Serve in a rocks glass with large rock ice, garnish with orange rind and enjoy!

Visit 406agave.com

A GIFT EV ERYON E COULD U SE: ACE H ARD W ARE BIG SKY Review by Ersin Ozer Milwaukee 400-lumen LED Neck Light We’ve all been in this scenario: imagine the last time you needed both of your hands to hold tools to work on something but you also really needed a light – or, whatever you’re working on is in a tight space and you can barely see it.

Applications for this tool are endless. Whether you are installing a sliding glass door, putting in a new dishwasher, working under the hood of a truck, getting some late-night yard work done, switching out a valve in your bathtub – this neck light is for you, and nice job, Clark Griswold.

Most likely, you need a little bit of extra light while tuning up your skis for this brand-new ski season. Perhaps, you need some extra light for dawn patrol ski tours. Maybe you arrive on the job site early in the morning before the sun comes up and need some light for the job.

This impact resistant (up to six feet drop rating) LED light with 400 lumens is the perfect tool for anyone on your list, everyone can use this. Frequent users of this tool will appreciate its rechargeable battery and run-time lasting up to eight hours.

Multiple mode options allow you to customize output and run-time, and there is a handy battery gauge built in so you know how much power is left before recharging is needed. This lightweight tool is all capped off with an ergonomic, water-resistant neckband so you can be comfortable while you get the job done.

Go to Ace Hardware in Big Sky to check this bad boy out – no matter who you’re shopping for you deserve to gift yourself one of these too!

Available at Ace Hardware in Big Sky $99 learn more at acebigskytools.com

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BOO K YOUR RESER VATION AT B ALD FACE VALH ALLA “Yeah, they’re scouting out Baldface’s new tenure over in the Valhalla mountains,” said another. “It’s going to be unreal.”

JP and T-Rice took off flying northwest in a funny and almost mystical way, leaving behind a buzz of excitement for what would come next as they zoomed above our heads and out of sight.

Review by Ersin Ozer On a brisk January morning, I stood out in front of Baldface Lodge deep in the Selkirk mountains of British Columbia, eager to ride in the 30 cm of fresh snow that had settled from the previous night’s reset.

Standing by and just before our guides would load us into custom-painted Piston Bully snow cats, I watched as Baldface founder Jeff Pensiero climbed into a Red Bullbranded helicopter along with professional snowboarder Travis Rice.

“Travis and JP are working on something new,” wondered spectators.

Knowing what these two are capable of accomplishing together, I was grateful to be witnessing this moment in snowboarding and skiing history. I knew it would lead to something great. ………………………..

Fast forward a few years to the 2024 winter season and reservations are currently available at Baldface Valhalla.

Baldface Valhalla is a unique experience – booked separately from, and in addition to, trips out of the lodge – offering high alpine terrain, big-mountain features, and consistent fall-line descents (aka “S.F.D.”) with ~15,000’ of vert.

To shred at Baldface Valhalla, guests stay in Nelson, BC and take a free shuttle to the new tenure for a same-day, in-and-out catshredding experience for advanced and expert shredders.

Lunch and snacks are provided, and the snow cats are outfitted with sound systems. Bring a playlist and be ready to jam in between the best runs of your life.

The best parts are the deep, blinding faceshots and untracked lines. One after another with world-class certified guides sharing the infinite wisdom of the backcountry.

If you have been thinking about booking Baldface Valhalla, don’t wait another year.

Grab one of the available reservations now in case it gets booked out across multiple seasons.

Get a group of friends together and book a private cat all to yourselves for best pricing, you’ll learn the art of riding “S.F.D.”!

Visit baldface.com/valhalla

WHAT YOU’RE DOING NEXT SUMMER: A RIVER TRIP WITH BOUNDARY EXPEDITIONS Review by Jack Reaney After floating along in September 2023, I want to share three distinct elements to the Boundary Expeditions experience: First, the pristine, awestriking beauty of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is a time capsule.

We landed—in the smallest airplane I’d ever climbed aboard—on an airstrip in Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness, and for five days, saw no sign of the outside world except a couple other guided and private fly-fishing groups. A pterodactyl could have swooped across my raft.

Second, the Boundary staff must be the most unified and professional group of outdoorspeople I’ve ever met.

I don’t see how anyone could match the level of service that guests are treated to

when moving at three miles per hour on a Boundary trip.

It’s camping, yes, but with three hearty meals, an open bar, nightly campfires and early morning coffee, trouthooking and rapid-running while guides set up tents at the next incredible campsite further downstream. All this and more, orchestrated behind the scenes by an experienced and hard-working team of bantersome guides who clearly love their job.

“We love rivers,” one guide responded when a guest asked why they’d do such hard work all summer long.

Third, away from the world of emails and messages, the fiveday trip forces nothing but human contact—and a special bond emerges.

My own awkward small talk with strangers lasted about a day, before strangers became friends and began laughing at each other, pushing one

another to try the inflatable kayaks and “the shredder,” sitting side-by-side at meals full of eye contact and curiosity.

I learned that one stranger sold thousands of unique spray nozzle attachments in his career. Another was nicknamed “Merch” in high school. One couple shared mutual friends from Big Sky, and I kayaked through class-II rapids with a 70-yearold man, sharing laughter at his inability to hear safety instructions. The stories of genuine connection go on.

I write with deep sincerity that for any families, couples, friend groups or individuals with time and money to spend on a guided backcountry river trip, you should not look further; one Boundary Expedition and you’ll be passing this message along.

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BIG SKY NATURAL HEALTH: WINTER HEALTH Review by Sophie Gotwald As we head into our long, cold Montana winter that can be taxing on our mood and overall health, finding resources to keep us feeling our best is important.

The vitamin D and B combined shot offered at Big Sky Natural Health is a quick and effective way to get a boost when you're feeling down. Designed to support energy levels and immune system health, this shot gives you the resources needed to stay feeling your best. The welcoming office space and staff at Big Sky Natural Health create a comfortable environment and a 10/10 experience when visiting their office. This is a great gift to yourself or loved ones this holiday season. bigskynaturalhealthmt.com

BUZZBALLZ: COCKTAILS TO GO! Review by Conner Clemens Buzzballz may be small, but they pack a mighty punch! The eye-catching design of the holiday collection pack, featuring Choco Chiller, Espresso Martini and Eggnog, immediately drew me in.

The compact size makes them convenient for onthe-go enjoyment, and I decided to bring them to a tailgate for others to try.

As a first-time Buzzballz consumer, I was intrigued by the 15% alcohol content in such a petite beverage. I was concerned it might be challenging to drink, but my worries vanished when I opened the Choco Chiller. I was pleasantly surprised by its delicious taste, with a noticeable chocolate flavor that wasn’t overpowering. The Espresso Martini lived up to its name, delivering the perfect blend of coffee and cocktail goodness.

Lastly, I approached the eggnog flavor cautiously, as it’s not typically my preference. However, I was taken aback by how much I enjoyed it, quickly making it my favorite of the three.

Buzzballz has truly mastered the art of packing robust flavors into these small cocktails. The experience was incredible, and I’m definitely planning on purchasing more in the future! buzzballz.com

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CUDAWAY KNIVES: KNIVES FOR EVERY DAY

By Ennion Williams For a chef, there are certain aspects of a knife that are essential to having a knife being your go- to. First, it is hand-feel and balance.

Because the knife is the main tool you use all day, you want it to be heavy enough to feel sturdy and light enough that it doesn’t tire out your hand and wrist. Cudaway knives are well-balanced and provide a sturdy strength to go from dicing an onion to splitting a spaghetti squash.

Another aspect to note is how fast the knives recover from use on a sharpening steel. Chefs are constantly honing their knives. If the steel is too soft, it will result in wearing the blade down. If it’s too hard, it makes it difficult to get the edge back. Cudaway knives are the perfect intersection of a blade that sharpens quickly and does not lose material when sharpened several times a day. The tall blade and shape are conducive to mass production. Whether it is dicing veggies for soup or boning a lamb rack, the blade is designed to be versatile in any situation. These knives are made to chop and aid a chef in production.

The most unique aspect of the Cudaway design is where the blade meets the handle. The way the blade is rounded at the intersection allows the knife to sit on the forefinger and aids the user in chopping. With many chef knife designs, this is not considered and causes the forefinger to be calloused and sore. This is not so with the Cudaway.

You do not need to be a chef to use this knife. It is the perfect knife for everyday use in the home. With the quality of craftsmanship, this may well be the last knife you need to buy. cudaway.com

A GIFT FOR THE OUTDOORSY FAMILY: KIDRUNNER Reviews by Taylor Owens KidRunner Multisport is a game-changer for active parents who refuse to compromise on their outdoor pursuits. Based in Bend, Oregon, KidRunner has crafted an innovative, awardwinning trailer that has evolved into a versatile multisport platform. KidRunner has recently developed a Nordic ski system just in time for winter.

The company’s commitment to performance, safety, and design shines through,

making it the go-to choice for families who crave adventure.

trails together without compromising performance.

The Nordic ski system is a favorite of U.S. Nordic Olympians and World Cup winners Brian and Caitlin Gregg. In their testimonial, they dub KidRunner the “best Nordic ski solution for families.” This attachment offers a seamless connection to the waist, eliminating the need for constant adjustments while skiing.

The lightweight design ensures a smooth and exhilarating workout, allowing families to hit the

KidRunner has become a trusted companion for the Greggs, accompanying them on family ski trips to destinations like SilverStar, Methow Valley, Sweden, Vermont, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The product’s ability to seamlessly integrate into their active lifestyle is a testament to its exceptional design.

“I love to exercise and be outside with my family. KidRunner Ski allows us to enjoy time together and get in a great workout.

KidRunner is the lightest and highest-performing product on the market. With a single connection point to the waist it allows you to ski without adjusting your poling,” the Greggs said. “KidRunner allows us to continue adventuring and our active lifestyle with our little one and show them the importance and joy of nature.”

What sets KidRunner apart is its commitment to shedding the limitations of traditional trailers.

The creators, initially athletes and adventurers, became parents and sought to revolutionize outdoor activities with their children. They discarded the heavy, awkward, and poorly designed trailers of the past, introducing a product that embraces the same highperformance materials used by outdoor enthusiasts.

Beyond accolades such as design awards, world records, and recognition from Runner’s World, KidRunner takes pride in the inspiring stories shared by parents. It’s not just a product; it’s a catalyst for creating lasting memories and instilling a love for nature in the next generation.

KidRunner Multisport is perfect for families seeking a seamless blend of adventure and parenthood. With its running jogger, Nordic Ski attachment, and forthcoming bike trailer, KidRunner sets a new standard for safety, design, and performance, ensuring families can run, ski, and bike together comfortably. Visit kidrunners.com

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FITFO: HUMIDORS MADE FOR ADVENTURES PLUS EXCLUSIVE BILL HENRY T-SHIRT Review by Ersin Ozer FITFO Custom Cans has one mission: To create a portable, durable, rugged, airtight and distinctive humidor for their clients. They accomplish this by taking a simple .30 or .50 cal ammo can and transforming it into a unique, functional and one of a kind statement piece. FITFO Custom Cans are designed for your adventure needs and ensure that you can confidently go anywhere with your cigars or other leafy products.

Cigar Cans: • Custom powder coated .50 cal ammo can • Steel construction; portable, tough, and durable • Airtight and watertight—perfect storage to brave the elements • Lined with two custom laser cut foam trays which can hold 50+ cigars • Complete with a brushed stainless steel Boveda® Humidification Pack holder with two size 60, 69% packs and a digital hygrometer Canna Cans: • Custom powder coated .30 or .50 cal ammo can • Steel construction; portable, tough, and durable • Airtight and watertight—perfect storage to brave the elements • Lined with two custom laser cut foam trays with multiple layout options available • Airtight containers and Boveda® Humidification Packs designed specifically for Canna included Make it distinctly yours: • Choose your colors • Work with FITFO to design your legacy piece—laser etched design, hand painted or airbrushed artwork Visit fitfo.com

It was on a Friday in the middle of summer, the second night of the 2022 Big Sky PBR. The sun had recently set and the air cooled after a hot day, when FITFO-sponsored professional bull rider Bill Henry kept thousands of fans at the edge of their seats.

Bill was about to attempt the last ride of the night. He had held top spot in the round’s leaderboard and now was being invited back out for a bonus-ride. The bull’s name was Outlaw, still one of the rankest bulls in PBR today, and if Bill could manage a ride there was a massive check on the line. ……………………

Fans of the Big Sky PBR: take note of this limited-edition gift that directly supports this bull rider’s career goals and injury expenses.

All proceeds from this shirt will go to support FITFO athlete Bill Henry in his efforts to be a champion PBR bull rider.

Plus, this gift idea is a direct connection to that fun event, voted

PBR’s number one event in the country by cowboys like Bill.

Designed and screen-printed by Bozeman based, A Thousand Arms, these high quality semi-fitted shirts are a limited run.

So why not support a PBR legend, boost a local business, and get a super comfy shirt all at once? ……………………

Bill rode that bounty bull for 90 points and won that evening in Big Sky (the ride was documented and posted at vimeo.com/747850242).

He scored 6th overall at the 2023 Big Sky PBR and is steadily climbing PBR’s world rankings.

Through purchasing this t-shirt, you are part of a collective effort to help Bill Henry get to PBR World Finals, and you can wear it to the 2024 PBR in Big Sky. T-shirt link: www.fitfo.co/shop/p/ fitfo-classic-t-shirt-c5w9n Price: $60 (all proceeds support FITFO-sponsored PBR athlete Bill Henry)

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LMNT: CHOCOLATE MINT ENERGY BITES Review by Leslie Kilgore Minty, salty, chocolatey and sweet. What more could you ask for? For an afternoon pick-me-up or a tasty and healthy treat after a cold day outside, the Chocolate Mint Energy Bites made with LMNT’s Chocolate Mint electrolyte powder is the perfect wintertime snack, minus the sugar and any other disappointing additives. The new Chocolate Medley from LMNT is a trio of of flavors featuring the Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Chai and Chocolate Raspberry. It comes with delicious recipes and 30 sticks of hydration. Stay happy, healthy and hydrated all winter with delicious snacks and drinks from LMNT. Chocolate Mint Energy Bites recipe 2 tbsp. cacao butter 1 jar drizzly almond or cashew butter 3 stick packs LMNT Chocolate Mint ½ cup vanilla collagen peptides ¼ cup vanilla protein powder 10 oz. dark chocolate Melt cacao butter with almond butter and 1 stick Chocolate Mint. Stir in collagen and protein powder until mixture thickens. Scoop in small balls and freeze for 30 minutes. Melt the dark chocolate and stir in 2 sticks Chocolate Mint. Dip each energy bite into melted chocolate to coat. Freeze until ready to serve.

Garnish with Maldon Sea Salt flakes.

Visit drinklmnt.com

LONE PEAK CANNABIS CO.: HOLIDAY CHEER? LOOK NO FURTHER! Reviews by Sara Sipe Whether you’re just here for a visit or are a longtime local, Lone Peak Cannabis Company offers a wide variety of high-quality options for all. LPC has cannabis dispensaries in Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Bozeman, and Ennis and carry an array of products to fit the needs of anyone in southwest Montana. Gearing up for an elevated holiday experience has never been easier!

Just here to visit? Try the best!

Dancing Goat Gardens - Live Rosin All in One Pod This high-quality, solventless all-inone pod is perfect for travelers. It is ready for use right out of the package.

It’s simple to use design works automatically upon inhale and easy for all experience levels.

Pros: chemical free, easy to use, allin-one Cons: smoke, environmental waste (disposable pod) Want to try an edible? Exclusive to Big Sky! Highroad/Groove Solventless Passion Fruit gummies LPC is the only other dispensary in the state to carry Missoula-based

Groove Solventless’s product. These exclusive edible gummies are perfect for the consumer looking for the most high-end product available.

These solventless hash infused gummies are an absolute must for a deliciously elevated experience.

Pros: discreet, easy to use, smokeless Cons: may take longer to feel effects, may be difficult to regulate dosage Holiday cheer? Look no further!

Quaking Aspen “Day Trip” - Infused Pre-Roll This heavy hitter is perfect for the seasoned veteran or as a party favor to share. Beware! This is not for the faint of heart but does promise the ultimate in euphoric holiday cheer. Be sure to ask for this one by name.

Pros: immediate effect, easy to use Cons: smoke Latest and greatest? This just in!

Synergy Skin Worx - Cannabis Transdermal Patch Designed to slow release cannabis directly into the bloodstream, these transdermal patches provide a controlled dose every hour for 24 36 hours. The transdermal patches are available in three varieties: high CBD, featuring a 36-hour release of 21:1 CBD to THC ratio for a non-

euphoric, clear-minded experience; CBD 1:1, featuring a 24-hour release of 1:1 CBD to THC ratio for a mildly euphoric and relaxed experience; and THC, featuring minimal CBD for a very euphoric and exciting experience. They are easily applied to clean, dry skin (avoid hair and tattoos), and can be cut down to any size to get the exact desired dosage. The patch can be removed at any time and release will dissipate in 45-60 minutes.

Pros: discreet, time release, sweat/ water resistant Cons: may irritate skin, CBD may interact with other medications LPC is a Big Sky-based cannabis dispensary offering a large array of top-quality products including vaporizers, edible snacks and beverages, pre-rolls, loose flower, concentrates and transdermal patches.

Don’t forget to sign up for their loyalty program, LPClub, to earn loyalty rewards and access to daily specials.

WARNING. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.

Visit lonepeakcannabiscompany.com

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A MONTANA CULINARY EXPERIENCE: OLIVELLE'S BIG SKY STEAK SALAD RECIPE GIFT KIT Review by Taylor Owens Olivelle's Big Sky Steak Salad Recipe Gift Kit is a perfect gift for the home cook that may not have all the right spices readily available and wants a straight-forward recipe to make a killer meal. This curated collection of caramelized garlic infused olive oil, smoked balsamic vinegar, roasted coffee rub, and black garlic sea salt brings together some of the best flavors to elevate your steak salad game and bring a taste of Big Sky to your plate.

This gift kit comes with an easy-to-follow recipe card with a short list of additional ingredients to complete the salad. Bacon, cherry tomatoes, flank steak, mixed greens, and blue cheese crumbles are all that is necessary to utilize this box and create a finished dish. It's perfect for both seasoned cooks and beginners looking to experiment with new flavors.

Caramelized Garlic Infused Olive Oil: The star of the show is undoubtedly the caramelized garlic infused olive oil. Its rich, savory aroma adds depth to every bite.

Incorporated into the dish, it creates a perfect harmony with the other ingredients.

Smoked Balsamic Vinegar: The smoked balsamic vinegar’s subtle smokiness adds a unique dimension to the vinaigrette, striking a delicate balance between sweet and tangy.

Roasted Coffee Rub: I was initially intrigued by the roasted coffee rub, and it didn't disappoint. The blend of robust coffee flavor, paired with the earthy spices, creates a rub that transforms an ordinary steak into something special. The smell of the steak with the rub while cooking filled the room and built the anticipation for the meal.

Black Garlic Sea Salt: The black garlic sea salt has an umami-rich profile that adds depth to the overall dish, enhancing the flavors without overpowering them. A few pinches of this salt were added to the steak prior to cooking, and it was all that was needed to take this steak salad to the next level.

Not only does the gift kit provide all the fixings for a perfect meal, but it also provides enough spices and ingredients for multiple uses. Give the perfect gift this holiday season to a seasoned chef or your favorite home cook and share a taste of Big Sky country.

Visit olivelle.com

PEAK SKI COMPANY: RIPPIN’ ON THE PEAK 104 Review by Leslie Kilgore Got a one-quiver skier on your holiday list? Then the Peak 104 by Peak Ski Company is the ultimate gift. With the company’s innovative KeyHole Technology, these skis equally carve on corduroy and hardpack as well as float through a knee- or waist-deep powder day. And spring crud is nothing to worry about with the solid feeling under feet at any length. Based in Bozeman and founded and designed by U.S. Olympian Bode Miller, the company has a directto-consumer showroom and spends ample time with each customer ensuring the skier and the ski are the perfect fit.

If you want your loved ones to feel what it’s like to carve like a champion—no matter the conditions—the Peak 104 is the ski to splurge on this season.

Visit peakskis.com

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REGENMARKET: GARLIC LEMON SALMON WITH ROASTED CARROTS AND ASPARAGUS Review by Michael Ruebusch

Recipe

If I had to pick one source of protein as a go-to dish for any time of the year, it would be salmon.

RegenMarket provides the highest quality salmon perfect for any meal.

RegenMarket has a short list of hand-selected partners and farmers committed to producing food at the highest calibre. Their salmon is wild caught, straight from Bristol Bay, Alaska; the world’s premiere sustainable fishery.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease a large baking pan.

For this dish we paired the salmon with roasted carrots and sautéed asparagus. This is one of my favorite salmon dishes and is so easy to prepare. The flavors from the nearly caramelized carrots and asparagus pair nicely with the light flavor of the wild salmon. With every bite you taste the lemon infused butter and garlic sauce drizzled on the flaky soft meat of the salmon while you taste hints of thyme or parsley. We like to enjoy this meal with a nice Sauvignon Blanc.

2. Arrange the salmon fillets on the baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper.

3. Stir together the olive oil, garlic, herbs, and juice of 1/2 of the lemon.

4. Spoon this sauce over salmon fillets, being sure to rub all over the tops and sides of the salmon so it has no dry spots. Thinly slice the remaining 1/2 of the lemon and top each piece of salmon with a slice of lemon.

5. Bake the salmon in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until the salmon is opaque and flaky when pulled apart with a fork. You can broil the last 1-2 minutes if desired.

6. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley if desired and serve.

Visit regenmarket.com

HEY BEAR: STAY SAFE WITH THE SCAT BELT Review by Mira Brody I’ve left the house for a run and forgotten some ridiculous things: my watch, a jacket, enough snacks, one time even my shoes. But if there’s one thing that I never forget, running thousands of miles per year in bear country, it’s my bear spray.

Hey Bear’s SCAT Belt makes carrying bear spray super simple.

It’s belt that fits snugly around your waist with a harness for your spray, as well as loops for your phone, dog poop bags, dog leash and car keys. Here are a few features I particularly like: Low profile I’m a minimalist. I mean, I’ll forego a water bottle whenever I can just to ditch the extra weight and jostle. I’ll start a bit cold so I don’t have to bring an extra layer.

I’ll eat my snacks in the car so I don’t have to bring them with. The SCAT Belt checks the boxes when it comes to meeting my minimalist desires, while also still carrying the necessities. It sits snug on the hips and has an adjustable belt, and the elastic canister holder is

designed in way that there is NO BOUNCE. I repeat—the giant can of bear spray around your body does not bounce even when running. It’s fantastic.

Easy access There’s a saying in bear country that goes, “If the spray is in your backpack, you might as well have not brought it with.” As much as we’d like to believe a 600-pound grizzly would pause to allow us enough time to unzip our pack or fiddle with straps to get on our defense, they most likely will not.

Second matter when you’re in the food chain, and the SCAT Belt allows for quick, immediate access to your spray without question.

The spray itself sit sideways on your lower back, and by simply reaching back, pulling the vector, and grasping the canister’s handle, you can have it out in hand in a moments notice.

SCAT Belts are a no-brainer when you need a convenient, pragmatic way to carrying bear spray along our local trails. Come by the store at 11 Lone Peak Drive in Big Sky to see it for yourself, or shop online at heybear.com

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STIO: HEAD TO TOE, GET “SHREDDY” TO GO Reviews by Ersin Ozer, Henry Higman & Megan Paulson The perfect puffy Stio’s women’s pinion down parka is a mountain town and mountain mom staple.

I’ve been a self-proclaimed collector of puffy jackets for many years and this is by far one of my favorites.

Pro’s: it’s lightweight and warm, form fitting but not tight, and easily packable. The length is perfect, hitting mid-thigh, and works well with tights to fend off wind and cold.

The bottom zipper also adjusts for additional range of motion when walking the dogs and playing with my two active boys. I even stuff it in my pack for ski tours and winter yurt overnights for extra warmth.

It’s made of 100% recycled nylon and sheds off light snow and precipitation which is always an active variable here in Montana.

Bonus – big hood and full zip collar keeps my neck free from drafts.

Stio’s Pinion collection comes in a variety of styles and sizes in Men’s, Women’s and Kid’s including hooded and non-hooded versions, jacket, pullover, and vest options.

If you’re looking for the perfect lightweight puffy jacket the Stio Pinion Down Parka is a great pick!

Stio Figment Jacket and Bibs The all new Stio Figment jacket and bibs are an amazing combination for any type of skier. I love the versatile design, comfortable relaxed fit, and awesome looks. The jacket is the ultimate ski jacket, with enough pockets to fit all the gear you could ever need. The extra large hood of the jacket fits perfectly over almost any helmet I could find and did an amazing job at keeping the moisture off my helmet. The pants have just the right amount of pockets, and the inner thigh vents are perfect for those warmer slush skiing days. The relaxed style leaves lots of room for getting your body temperature just right with base layers, so the coat is never too warm, and never too cold. The fit of both the jacket and pants helps massively with the mobility of the gear, and is the perfect style for skiers from any discipline, from an extreme big mountain skier all the way to a park skier. If you are looking for new ski gear this year, I cannot recommend the Stio Figment lineup enough.

Visit stio.com

WHY SUREFOOT? BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR SKIING FEET Review By Jack Reaney After about 200 total ski days, I brought my boots into Surefoot’s new shop on Town Center Avenue, I yanked out my K2 factory liners, and asked manager Chris Fajardo to give me his honest opinion on their condition.

“I’ve seen worse,” Fajardo said. As the Big Sky manager for Surefoot, an innovative bootfitter specializing in custom-molded memory foam boot liners and medical-grade orthotics, I took his word without shame. Fajardo demonstrated Surefoot’s whole process and built me a custom liner and insole for my new pair of boots, all aimed at locking my heel in place at a neutral stance and increasing my powder-slashing, hardpack-edging potential.

Fajardo and his small staff are data-driven: the bootfitting process begins by stepping barefoot onto a 3D sensor to measure a customer’s arch height, instep, foot length and width and pressure points.

Pictured above: I discovered a dramatic difference in width (96 vs. 100mm) and poise between my two

feet, and Surefoot’s ethylene-vinyl acetate insoles are molded individually to each foot.

Intuition and a detailed spreadsheet help match a customer’s measurements with the best fit among Surefoot’s industry-standard boot selection. Surefoot purchases boots without the manufacturer’s liner about 85% of the time, saving cost and waste—they’re making you a Surefoot liner anyway, which Fajardo says will last about 300 days; factory liners break down in 75 to 100 days, he says. And every Surefoot liner is compatible with battery-powered heat.

Perhaps you’re loyal to Solomons, Dalbellos or Atomics. Fajardo and his team might identify a better fit in Lange or Technica. Skiers should enter Surefoot with an open mind; Fajardo pointed out that boot brands may change their shape over time.

Maybe your favorite boot brand changed its shape, too.

After selecting new boots and having your custom footbeds molded, it’s time for the grand finale: Surefoot’s custom liner.

This part feels like a doctor’s blood pressure check.

With my feet inside my new boots and Surefoot liners, Fajardo combined polyurethane and memory foam, creating a chemical reaction and pumping the rapidly expanding foam into my liners through Surefoot’s funny looking tubes. The foam came to life, squeezing around my ankle and foot, and then hardened. Fajardo removed the tubes, and I could already feel myself hot-dogging down Mr. K.

Two weeks later, that’s exactly what happened.

Although I was surprised by the density of my Surefoot liners, the stiffness translated to power. As I carved through opening day crowds on Mr. K and Ambush, my heels were locked in. I pushed hard into my edges and the boots responded. *One confounding variable: I skied in jeans which may have also increased my skiing ability immeasurably.

Surefoot has been wanting to open in Big Sky for a while, Fajardo says. He moved to Bozeman two years ago after six years with Surefoot in Colorado, and this year, he volunteered to open up shop.

“This is my baby,” he said, and he’s excited to meet community members. Surefoot will be open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments recommended.

There’s far more I could share, but I’ll let Chris do the talking. Go pay him a visit.

Visit surefoot.com

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KEEP IT MELLOW WITH A WELLNESS PACKAGE FROM THE FLORIST CANNABIS Review by Mira Brody Although new to the Big Sky scene, The Florist Cannabis is already making its mark on the community with high quality cannabis products for every mood and use. We reviewed their wellness package, which contained a medley of infused chocolates, gummies, tincture and even CBD calming treats for your canine friend.

What’s in a wellness package?

First off, Keeva and her team are very kind and helpful. Located in the Westfork Meadows shopping center at 11 Aspen Leaf Drive, The Florist Cannabis has a wide array of products, including from women-owned Ganja Goddess.

Here’s a few samples of what was in their wellness package: • •

•

Lucious white chocolate infused with THC distillate and hibiscus petals Rich dark chocolate infused with fullspectrum Rick Simpson oil, an adaptogenic antioxidant mushroom blend, and dried florals.

CBD calming tincture infused with broad spectrum CBD, lavender, vetiver, Roman chamomile, ylang-ylang and bergamot.

• • •

Green apple CBD gummies CBD dog treats Some fun smoking accessories

It was a little bit of everything, and while it’ll take me a bit to get through it all, I’ll say so far the tincture is a welcome addition to a fairly hectic month. Just a few drops under the tongue takes the edge off without the stronger effects of THC. The Ganja Goddess green apple gummies were enjoyable as well, and are a consistency that allows the consumer to cut the pieces into smaller doses, if they wish.

Sierra the cattle dog, who almost always needs a bit of help relaxing at the end of a day – because apparently when you’re well-fed, run tons, and have someone else paying for a roof over your head, life is still incredibly stressful – thoroughly enjoyed the CBD dog treats.

The wellness package repositions what it means to use cannabis product recreationally – while classically weed is known for things like couch lock or the munchies, today local shops are getting a bit more creative with its powers; playing with doses of THC and CBD in different mediums. Let’s just say – we’re here for it.

Visit yelp.com/biz/the-florist-cannabis-big-sky

YELLOWSTONE FOODS: TRAIL & TRAVEL SNACKS Review by Jen Clancey I tried Yellowstone Foods’ snacks for the first time in the Bozeman airport while I was waiting for my plane ride to Minneapolis, which would eventually leave for New York City– I was in for a long trip.

I cracked open a pack of the Bitterroot Valley Trail Cookies of the Huckleberry Vanilla Chip variety.

At this point, I had a coffee in hand.

The cookie, which had swirls of white chocolate and berry, paired well with my on-the-go beverage.

Yellowstone Foods uses locally sourced ingredients in Montana.

Their huckleberries, which were included in the trail cookie come from northwestern Montana, while their wagyu beef used for jerky can be found close to Big Sky in Belgrade.

What struck me most about the snacks other than the flavor was the packaging that allowed me to revisit the cookie along my journey with ease– no crumbs scattered in the bottom of the backpack.

When I landed in Minneapolis, I expected to find a pile of broken cookies all over my bag. The flight was turbulent with some s udden drops, which would be the perfect scenario for a snack crushing situation.

Instead, I found the cookie intact in its package which has a reusable seal at the top. It’s quite nice to have a snack that isn’t reduced to crumbs when I have to take it to a new destination. The customer experience goes beyond the flavors offered and extends into well-thought out design– one suitable for bumpy planes or long hikes.

My journey back to Bozeman would take nearly twice as long– from car

to train to plane to plane. Still, the Yellowstone Foods snacks stayed by my side and stayed fresh throughout the trip.

As a coffee-lover, I tried the Butte Miner’s Coffee Crunch Bar– Espresso Hazelnut bar. Mind you, if you heard the news about the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was among the record-breaking 2.9 million people taking to the planes that day.

So, a snack was needed after waiting on one security line, then being relocated to another one at the basement of the John F. Kennedy Airport. The crunch bar features more Montana-sourced ingredients. This time grains used in the bars came from Three Forks and is inspired by the multipurpose foods that miners would eat to work long days, packing their pockets with bars that had caffeine and berries.

The bar is satisfying with hazelnut and light espresso flavors.

It helps that the impressive packaging is 100% compostable and that the ingredients are clearly listed, showing the natural simple ingredients. All these reasons make for a satisfying trail bite, or in my case, travel bite.

Visit ysfoods.com

Wishing you and yours a

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HCI-BUILDERS

This holiday season, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones.

May your holiday be filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments.

HCI-BUILDERS.COM