Explore Big Sky - December 17 to 30, 2021

Happy Holidays!

December 17 - 30, 2021 Volume 12 // Issue #26

BEST OF BIG SKY 2021 Montage Big Sky opens as largest building in Montana Gallatin County advances Flatiron development Big Horns basketball season openers Scott Mechura returns to Big Sky kitchen

PLUS: 2021 EBS GIFT & GEAR GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

December 17 - 30, 2021 Volume 12, Issue No. 26

Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana

PUBLISHER Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL

OPINION ................................................................... 4 LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS .................................................6 LOCAL.........................................................................7 OP NEWS ..................................................................14 SPORTS .....................................................................17 ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS................................18 HEALTH.... ...............................................................31

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VP MEDIA Joseph T. O’Connor | joe@theoutlawpartners.com SENIOR EDITOR Bella Butler | bella@theoutlawpartners.com STAFF WRITER Gabrielle Gasser | gabrielle@theoutlawpartners.com

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DIGITAL PRODUCER Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE ART DIRECTOR Marisa Opheim | marisa@theoutlawpartners.com SENIOR DESIGNER Trista Hillman | trista@theoutlawpartners.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER ME Brown | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Treston Wold | treston@theoutlawpartners.com VP OF SALES EJ Daws | ej@theoutlawpartners.com VP OF EVENTS Ennion Williams | ennion@theoutlawpartners.com VP OF MARKETING Blythe Beaubien | blythe@theoutlawpartners.com MEDIA AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com MARKETING COORDINATOR Sophia Breyfogle | sophia@theoutlawpartners.com VIDEO DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHER Seth Dahl | seth@theoutlawpartners.com CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGIST Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ......................................33 FINANCE..............................................................38 BUSINESS ................................................................39 DINING .....................................................................40 FUN...........................................................................43 GIFT & GEAR GUIDE..................................................45 BEST OF BIG SKY......................................................49

Best of Big Sky 2021 After another year of tremendous work throughout Big Sky, the community voted on the very Best of Big Sky for 2021. From Community Member of the Year to Best Business, this year’s winners are shining examples of what makes Big Sky tick. This one’s for you, Big Sky!

Montage Big Sky opens as largest building in Montana The ultra-luxury Montage Big Sky resort opened its doors on Dec. 15. At more than half-a-million square feet, the building is now the biggest in the state of Montana. The resort, which includes a bowling alley and a spa, will be open to the public.

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Gallatin County advances Flatiron development

17

Big Horns basketball season openers

45

Scott Mechura returns to Big Sky kitchen

45

PLUS: 2021 EBS Gift & Gear Guide

The Gallatin County Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 10 approved a Planned Unit Development for the contested Flatiron development. Members of the commission heard from the public but ultimately decided that the issues brought to the table weren’t relevant to the zoning request.

The Big Horns basketball teams hit the court for their first games of the season, losing to the Manhattan Christian Eagles. Both the boys and girls teams later notched a win against a Class B school at a tournament on the road.

Celebrated local chef Scott Mechura has departed Big Sky a few times, but he always seems to come back.

In his most recent return, Mechura took a position as executive chef of Horn & Cantle.

Explore Big Sky’s 2021 Gift & Gear Guide has a little something for everyone, whether you enjoy an adrenaline-fueled day charging cirques and ridgelines or cozying up by the fire with a mug of cocoa and a book with the mountains in pleasant view.

Opening Shot

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com ACCOUNTING MANAGER Taylor Erickson | taylor@theoutlawpartners.com PROJECT MANAGER Eli Kretzmann | eli@theoutlawpartners.com COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Meg Koenig | mk@theoutlawpartners.com EVENTS COORDINATOR, RETAIL MANAGER Connor Clemens | connor@theoutlawpartners.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER, LOCAL SALES Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com COPYWRITER Patrick Straub

CONTRIBUTORS Scott Brown, Brian D’Ambrosio, Marco DelGuidice, Dan Egan, Amanda Eggert, Joe Esenther, Linda Guerett, Lindsey Herring, Ian Hoyer, Scott Mechura, Shannon Steele, Colton Stifler, David Tucker, Benjamin Waddell, Cy Whitling, Todd Wilkinson, Emily Stifler Wolfe

ON THE COVER: Local pup Bert romps in the freshlyfallen snow showing off his festive garb. This Christmas Eve will be Bert’s first birthday. PHOTO BY SETH DAHL

The smiles were big and the turns were deep at Big Sky Resort after a December storm cycle dumped 8 inches on the slopes. PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG SKY RESORT

EDITORIAL POLICIES EDITORIAL POLICY Outlaw Partners, LLC is the sole owner of Explore Big Sky. EBS reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or its editors.

EBS will not publish anything discriminatory or in bad taste.

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

#explorebigsky

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

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

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ADVERTISING DEADLINE For the December 31, 2021 issue: December 22, 2021 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@outlaw.partners © 2021 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited

@explorebigsky

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Inspiration Point 5 BED + 5-6 BATH | 4,146-4,275 +/- SQ. FT. | PRICING BEGINS AT $4,500,000

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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.

4 December 17 - 30, 2021

ILLUSTRATION BY CY WHITLING

OPINION

Explore Big Sky

BETTER TOGETHER

NOTICE!

Annual Business Registration Deadline: Dec. 31st All businesses (collectors & non-collectors) operating in the District, are legally required to register each year. This includes businesses based elsewhere and entering the District to provide services and/ or sell goods/services.

To register visit: ResortTax.MuniRevs.com or scan QR code:

A biweekly District bulletin

District ts Even Annual Business Registration Due December 31st, 2021

Register @ ResortTax.MuniRevs.com

5

JAN 2022

Who?

What?

Annual Business Registration

Where?

1

FEB 2022

15

31

JAN 2022

FY23 Application LOI Available & Training Session February 1st, 2022

BSRAD Board Meeting February 9th, 2022 @ 9:00 am

ResortTax.MuniRevs.com

DEC 2021

BSRAD Board Meeting January 5th, 2022 @ 9:00 am

FY23 Application Training Session January 31st, 2022

All businesses operating in the District (Including businesses based elsewhere but entering the District to provide services and/or sell goods/ services)

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9

FEB 2022

FY23 LOI Deadline February 15th, 2022

FEB 2022

When?

Registration is an annual task due December 31st.

Why?

Registration helps identify businesses required to collect Resort Tax. Taxes support vital projects in Big Sky.

For more info visit: ResortTax.org/new-business/

All Meetings are open to the public and are held in person @ the Resort Tax Office (11 Lone Peak Dr. #204) and via Zoom.

Public Comment is highly encouraged and can be shared by: • Emailing Info@ResortTax.org • Attending Board meetings and making public comment in person or through Zoom.

• Comments on the Facebook WILL NOT be accepted as public comment.

Visit ResortTax.org for more information.

Administered by the Big Sky Resort Area District, 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 17 - 30, 2021

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

Big Sky business resort tax registration deadline approaches EBS STAFF BIG SKY – All businesses operating in the Big Sky Area District are required to register with the district by Dec. 31. The legally required action is outlined in a BSRAD ordinance which was amended and adopted on Oct. 12, 2021.

“Business compliance is critical for the success of our community,” said Kristin Drain, finance and compliance manager in a Dec. 8 press release. “We work diligently to ensure fairness when holding businesses accountable as the stewards of collecting these public funds.”

Last year, 700 businesses completed the registration process. The primary purpose of the annual registration is to ensure business acknowledgment of the taxability ordinance, according to the release. Aggregate data collected on economic issues is an additional community benefit for long-term decision making and planning.

Explore Big Sky

Yellowstone opens for winter season EBS STAFF MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS – Yellowstone National Park’s winter season began Dec. 15 with most park roads open to over-snow vehicles. However, due to limited snow, travel will be restricted to snowcoaches until conditions improve.

The park reminds visitors to check the road status map and operating hours for facilities and to be prepared for winter conditions by packing proper clothing and equipment.

Winter travel ends in mid-March and roads will start to re-open to cars in mid-April.

Yellowstone also decided to suspend its wildlife monitoring effort due to a lack of substantial change in its evaluations over the last decade. This decision is consistent with the park’s Winter Use Adaptive Management Plan which states the National Park Service will continue to examine and adjust winter use monitoring strategies and management actions as new information becomes available.

Visit www.resorttax.org/collections for more information on registration and collections.

School board approves first step in offering pre-K EBS STAFF BIG SKY – The Big Sky School District School Board on Dec. 14 advanced a measure that if passed would create a pre-K program.

The five board members voted unanimously to approve the first reading of Policy 3100, recommended by the Montana School Boards Association, which would allow the district to enroll students under 5 in exceptional circumstances and still collect full ANB, or average number belonging, government funding for those students.

Exceptional circumstances defined by the board include a public health emergency or other community disaster; the absence of available early childhood education opportunities in the community leading to learning loss; and a disparity of access to early childhood education caused by the cost-prohibitive nature that leads to learning loss or lack of school readiness.

This policy would essentially establish programming for students aged 4 to prepare for kindergarten, according to BSSD Superintendent Dustin Shipman.

The board will again review the policy at their Jan. 11 meeting and, if no further changes are made, the board can officially adopt 3100 as a BSSD policy.

Gallatin County increases patrols during holiday season GALLATIN MEDIA CENTER BOZEMAN – As you make plans to celebrate with friends and family this holiday season, aadd to your checklist ensuring you have a safe ride home by designating a sober driver or using a rideshare service.

Increased patrols in Gallatin County will be out in force in the weeks leading up to Christmas and through the New Year’s holiday watching for impaired drivers and educating motorists as part of their commitment to keeping Montana roads safe.

“It’s up to all of us to celebrate responsibly, and that means never driving impaired, always wearing your seat belt and making sure your friends and family do the same,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer.

In data collected by the Montana Department of Transportation as of Dec. 13, there have been 231 lives lost compared to 198 fatalities for this same period in 2020.

Of those deaths, 130 have been due to impaired driving, and 118 have been due to improper restraint.

“We are thrilled to explore the option of offering Pre-K for 4-year-old children based on MTSBA policy 3100,” wrote Board Chair Loren Bough in an email to EBS. “We feel this can be a ‘win-win’ for [the] community, parents, Big Sky School District and most importantly for the children.”

Free community-wide COVID-19 testing returns for winter 2021-22 BIG SKY – Big Sky Relief Partners are bringing back community-wide testing for the Big Sky community in an effort to keep the everyone healthy and resilient throughout the winter season.

The self-administered 15-minute rapid tests are free to anyone not currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. A limited number of tests will be available weekly, first-come-first served, to be picked up 24/7 from the foyer of the Big Sky Visitor Center located at 88 Ousel Falls Road Unit A1.

“Winter in Big Sky has a major impact on our local economy and workforce,” said Brad Niva, CEO of Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Sky in a Nov. 19 press release. “It is important for us to support this program to not only keep businesses open but also to protect the health and safety of all community members.”

Unlike last winter, tests do not need to be returned for processing to receive results.

Visit BigSkyRelief.org for more details on the testing program.

LOCAL

7 December 17 - 30, 2021

Explore Big Sky

24th Annual Big Sky Christmas Stroll EBS STAFF

PHOTO BY MARCO DELGUIDICE

OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE RIBBON BUILDERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE RIBBON BUILDERS

PHOTO BY JOE ESENTHER / LONE MOUNTAIN LAND COMPANY

OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO

In the spirit of the holidays, Big Sky came together on Dec. 10 and 11 in the Town Center and Meadow Village to celebrate the festive season at the 24th Annual Big Sky Christmas Stroll. Strollers celebrated the annual tradition with sleigh rides, bonfires, photos with Santa, an ugly sweater party and open houses in businesses across town.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BASE STAFF

OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF BASE STAFF

OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO

8 December 17 - 30, 2021

LOCAL

Explore Big Sky

Gallatin County advances Flatiron development

BY BELLA BUTLER BIG SKY – The Gallatin County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously advanced the Flatiron development project at a Dec. 10 meeting, hoisting the large project over the first of many regulatory hurdles it’s likely to face.

At an inflection point in an uphill battle against public scrutiny, the commission’s approval of the Gallatin County portion of the Planned Unit Development moves Flatiron developer Middle Fork Properties one step closer to breaking ground on the 2,635-unit development at the northeast base of Andesite Mountain.

The commission heard presentations from Middle Fork Properties and contracted experts throughout the seven-hour meeting before approving the project’s Gallatin County PUD, which includes 1,440 units within 14 building envelopes.

The commission also heard questioning and oppositional comment from Flatiron’s neighboring residents and local organizations.

Flatiron garnered broad public attention after Middle Fork Properties presented the project to the Big Sky Zoning Advisory Committee in August.

The committee, which advises the Gallatin County Planning and Zoning Commission on Big Sky and Gallatin Canyon zoning matters, first delayed its vote on the project at its August meeting due to a shortage of information committee members said they lacked to make a recommendation.

The committee in October unanimously voted to recommend that Gallatin County deny the PUD, leaning heavily on public disapproval expressed during the comment period.

The Flatiron PUD was originally slated for consideration by Gallatin County in mid-October, but the developers requested the decision be delayed when some commissioners were absent from the meeting.

“We believe that it was in our best interest to have the Flatiron project, based on its scope and magnitude, reviewed by the entire planning commission,” said Chris Leonard, project manager for Flatiron, in a Dec. 8 interview with EBS. At the Dec. 10 meeting, all but one member of the commission was present.

The entire scope of the project spans 535 acres and, in addition to Gallatin County units, includes 1,195 units within 10 building envelopes in Madison County. The PUD includes plans for retail space, hotels, residential space and workforce housing.

According to the developers, at least 75 percent of the PUD is open space.

Only 350 acres of the land is in Gallatin County, which has more extensive zoning approval processes than Madison County, Leonard said, adding that Middle Fork Properties applied the more stringent Gallatin County standards across the entire development.

Questions and concerns have been raised by the public about the project’s impacts on traffic, community water supply, neighboring developments and the surrounding environment, which includes several acres of wetlands and a section of the water-quality impaired Middle Fork of the West Fork of the Gallatin River.

The commission considered more than 100 public comments submitted ahead of the Dec. 10 meeting and heard another hour of oppositional comment during the meeting.

While some members of the seven-member commission shared in the public’s concerns, several explained during board discussion that many issues raised would be addressed by subsequent processes the developers will undergo, including subdivision planning along with water and sewer service requests.

Commissioner Scott MacFarlane said that while the commission heard overwhelming public comment in opposition to the PUD’s approval, little of it addressed the zoning questions at hand.

“When we hear overwhelming public comment in opposition,” he said during board discussion, “I feel like the public comment and opposition has to be [based] on the

Members of the public listen to the county planning and zoning commission discuss the proposed Flatiron PUD at the Gallatin County Courthouse on Dec. 10. OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO

criteria that I’m allowed to evaluate. Otherwise, it’s not valid opposition as far as weighing comment.”

Other justifications for approval provided by commissioners leaned on the more than 60 conditions provided by county staff. Many of these conditions address concerns raised by the public. These conditions cover a range of topics, and many are designed to ensure that plans proposed by the developers, such as implementing access to public trails and including workforce housing, will be actuated.

One heavily discussed condition requires the entire PUD be serviced by the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District. If the developers are not able to secure adequate service, the PUD as approved would not be valid, according to the staff report.

Lone Moose Meadows Unit Owners Association, condos adjacent to the project originally built as the first phase in the land’s previous development plan that are now surrounded by Flatiron, have been among the most vocal throughout the PUD approval process. Lone Moose Meadows owners sent several homeowners and experts to the podium to oppose the project.

“I have not heard any support for this plan from any member [of Lone Moose] that they think this plan should go forward as is,” Deb Kozisek, a board member of the owners association, told EBS on Dec. 8.

Lone Moose owners have been engaged with Flatiron’s developers for more than a year, but Kozisek says Middle Fork Properties has not made adequate changes to their plan based on the feedback provided by Lone Moose owners.

Leonard said he believes those taking issue with the plan are not reacting to the merits of the Flatiron plan itself, but rather to development in Big Sky in general.

Lone Moose homeowners declined to comment following the vote.

Several experts hired by Middle Fork testified on behalf of work they’d done on the property, and spoke about wetlands, hydrology, geology, traffic, resort design and legal discussion.

“If a community isn’t growing, it’s dying,” Leonard said in Dec. 8 interview with EBS. “And what people should be looking for are developers that are thoughtful and putting together a very thoughtful plan that is backed by science.”

Flatiron included several amenities in its PUD proposal that the developers hope will distinguish it as a community rather than a resort, according to Leonard. Among these amenities are a public trails network and 900 workforce housing beds.

“We want to give employee housing,” Leonard said. “We want to make the river better.

We want to provide public access. And we also want to contribute positively to the drinking water in Big Sky.” Middle Fork Properties consists of Bozeman local Michael Schreiner, who first moved to Big Sky in the late 1980s, and two other partners, friends of Schreiner’s who he did not name. Middle Fork Properties purchased the land for Flatiron in 2019.

“Now we will get to work on conditions and continue to improve the plan,” Leonard said.

In addition to approving the PUD, the commission also unanimously approved a variance request from Middle Fork to allow for changes to transportation design and construction standards on Highway 64 that the developers plan to complete on the entrance to the development.

A conceptual illustration shows an early plan for the Flatiron development. IMAGE COURTESY OF MIDDLE FORK PROPERTIES LLC

In the coming weeks, the development will seek zoning and density approval from Madison County for the remaining portion of the PUD. Middle Fork Properties estimates this will occur in January.

9 December 17 - 30, 2021

LOCAL

Explore Big Sky

Modular assembly nears completion on workforce housing project

Powder Light project will add 228 worker beds in summer 2022

BY BELLA BUTLER

to spring 2022. LMLC is also still in discussion with the Big Sky Water and Sewer District sorting hookup rights for Phase 2.

BIG SKY – At noon on Friday, Dec. 3 onefifth of an apartment dangled from the end of a crane as construction crews guided the fully furnished box into place on the second story of the new Powder Light workforce housing project in Big Sky. Phase 1 of the $17 million project, a modular building made of 60 pre-manufactured boxes, will house 228 local workers beginning summer 2022. With a zero percent housing vacancy, as reported by the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, Powder Light will house more than the approximately 200 people currently on the housing trust’s housing waiting list. Local developer Lone Mountain Land Company is acting as the development manager for Powder Light.

“Our challenges in the development phase of this are examples of how, as a community, we need to come together if we’re going to build more affordable workforce housing,” Kidd said.

“It’s not going to get done by one group or any one partner. But as a community, we need to come together and work together to find solutions to get through our county’s processes faster.”

At a Dec. 3 preview event, Big Sky community members gathered to tour and learn about the new Powder Light workforce housing development. PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

According to an LMLC spokesperson, the entire project is deed restricted for Big Sky workers and will be available to the community.

Though the property was vacant less than a week ago, the nearly 44,000-square-foot building is almost assembled just five days after the set crew started placing the boxes Monday, Dec. 29.

“Big Sky has a housing crisis,” said Bayard Dominick, VP of planning and development for LMLC, at a Dec. 3 Powder Light preview event. “This project is one of many that is going to take to put a little dent into our need.”

Though it only took a few days to assemble, the workforce housing project has been years in the making. Matt Kidd, managing director of LMLC’s affiliate firm CrossHarbor Capital Partners, said LMLC put the land for Powder Light under contract in September 2017 with the expectation that construction would begin in 2018 and the project would be completed in 2019.

One fifth of an apartment dangles off a crane as crews work to attach one of the 60 pre-manufactured boxes to the main structure. PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

Each piece of the modular development arrives on the back of a truck with the furniture already inside. PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

The Federal Highway Administration then awarded a $10.2 million TIGER grant to Gallatin County in March 2018 for improvements to MT 64, including a turn lane at the Powder Light site. The county and thendeveloper A2LD entered into an agreement that would allow Phase 1 of the project to be built before the turn lane was completed but not occupied until then. Phase 2 of the project can’t begin construction until the turn lane is completed.

The project was stalled once again when the county only received one bid for the road work that was approximately $3 million dollars over budget. To expedite the Powder Light project, LMLC announced in September it would foot the $1.7-million bill for the turn lane. Half of the turn lane was completed this fall, but weather pushed the completion of the lane back

Dominick said LMLC chose modular construction for Powder Light for a few reasons.

According to LMLC, modular construction expedites project completion by 50 percent, minimizes construction waste and allows the majority of building to be done indoors so cold, snowy winter work can be avoided. The 60 boxes that now make up the building have been fabricated over the last several months in Boise, Idaho, by Nashua Builders. Each apartment is made up of around five boxes, depending on the unit size.

Once assembled on site, finishing touches will have to be put on the building, including electrical wiring and plumbing.

Powder Light Phase 1 and 2 will each consist of 24 apartments, six four-bedroom and 18 five-bedroom. Rooms are double occupancy, adding up to a total of 228 beds. Each roughly 1,500-square-foot apartment includes a kitchen and dormitory-style bathrooms. Powder Light amenities will include a fitness room, covered bike storage, onsite waste disposal and recycling, a picnic pavilion overlooking the West Fork of the Gallatin River and a Skyline bus stop, among other features.

“And yet here we are in 2021 and we’re just getting to this point,” Kidd said at the preview event, the partially erected structure in the background.

In November of 2017, the Gallatin County Commission unanimously rejected the proposal for the Powder Light project due to concerns about how the increased traffic turning on and off the busy MT 64 would impact safety.

Kidd pondered how many Big Sky housing units were converted to short-term rentals while Powder Light development hurdles were sorted over the last four years, exacerbating the community’s growing housing crisis while the project lay dormant behind red tape. Data from AirDNA shared by the housing trust reveals that while there were 14 short-term units for rent in Big Sky in 2014, that figure has grown more than 6,000 percent to 858 units today.

“A key part of this was to create a unit that was livable,” Dominick said. “Livability is really key, and sustainability.” Powder Light will also receive power to heat water from a 72-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system.

Dominick later added that LMLC has worked to distinguish each of their workforce housing properties to accommodate different kinds of tenants. For example, the forthcoming RiverView Apartments, which LMLC has partnered with the housing trust to develop, may be single-occupancy rooms, he said.

Laura Seyfang, executive director of the housing trust, said Powder Light will be hugely helpful in addressing the local housing crisis.

The pre-made boxes are already furnished with appliances and furniture. PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

“When a company like theirs steps up to address housing needs, that in large part they’re contributing to creating, that’s responsible citizenship and that’s what it takes for this community to grow responsibly,” she told EBS after the preview event.

10 December 17 - 30, 2021

LOCAL

Explore Big Sky

Montage Big Sky opens doors to Montana’s biggest building

BY BELLA BUTLER BIG SKY – A new luxury resort opened its doors in Big Sky this month. Now the largest building in Montana, Montage Big Sky’s more than half-a-million square feet reflect the enormity of the mountains surrounding the structure.

Montage, a self-proclaimed ultra-luxury hotel management company headquartered in Irvine, California, adds the Big Sky property, located in the heart of the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, to its eight other destinations, now covering ground from the Northern Rockies to as far as the Bahamas.

Rick Riess, vice president of operations of Montage International and managing director of Montage Big Sky, says the Big Sky property is particularly special.

“It’s like where all the stars have aligned,” Riess told EBS in a Dec. 10 interview. “It’s got this spectacular setting where we’re looking out at the Spanish Peaks and the mountains all around us.”

In addition to the natural amenities, Riess said, the building is a wonder all its own: finishes include regional wood and stone, and high-end, local art adorns the interior. The resort, which is open to the public, features indoor and outdoor pools, six restaurants, a spa and fitness center, ice skating rink, and bowling alley along with ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort slopes and the Spanish Peaks Golf Course for lodging guests.

(left to right) CrossHarbor Capital Partners Co-Founder and Managing Partner Sam Byrne, Montage International Founder, Chairman and CEO Alan Fuerstman and Montage Big Sky Managing Director Rick Riess cut the ribbon to Montage Big Sky in early December. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTAGE

“It’s like there were no corners cut,” Riess said of the approximately $400 million development. “It’s done to an extremely high level. And I sincerely believe that it will become one of the great ski resorts in the world.”

The resort includes 150 guestrooms and suites that start at $1,500 per night as well as 39 private residences. Riess said the resort is already booked out across the board—restaurants, spas, and lodging—until mid-January.

Montage broke ground in fall of 2018 and opened to guests on Dec. 15. Lone Mountain Land Company, the development affiliate of Boston-based firm and Yellowstone Club owner CrossHarbor Capital Partners, owns Montage Big Sky, and Montage will serve as the resort’s managing partner.

Montage has already become acquainted with many of the same difficulties that other Big Sky businesses face, according to Riess.

“Without a doubt our two biggest challenges are housing and staffing,” he said. As of Dec. 10, Riess said the resort was staffed at about 75 percent of its optimum workforce of 350. He added that they have near a dozen people “in queue ready to come work” when Montage and LMLC finds them housing.

“Every day we get new applicants,” he said. “Now is the challenge of trying to find a place for them to live.”

Montage Big Sky is currently being supported in part by approximately 50 managers from other Montage properties that will remain on site in Big Sky through the start of the season.

The inside of one of Montage’s 150 suits and guest rooms. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTAGE

For Riess, who’s been with Montage for seven years, this will be his 24th hotel opening. And, as “the guy that’s responsible for running the operation,” as he says, he will oversee the property until it’s stabilized, perhaps longer.

“One of our values and goals in our business is to be a positive member of the community,” Riess said, adding that the resort intends to be involved with local charities.

“I think it can be sometimes a little intimidating for this big building to come into a small community,” he said. “So, we want to be very aware of that. And very respectful.”

In addition to philanthropy, Riess said Montage will add significant tax contributions to Big Sky, both through resort tax as well as Montana’s lodging sales and facility-use taxes. At other Montage properties, the company has also organized service opportunities such as beach cleanups through its internal Hearts of Montage board, something it hopes to bring to Big Sky.

Interior windows in Montage Big Sky offer clear vistas to the Spanish Peaks. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTAGE

“We’re kind of pioneering in a lot of ways in bringing this property to Montana,” Riess said. “And we feel a tremendous responsibility that we do it the right way, that we’re doing it very respectfully, that we’re doing it very sensitively; that we’re good, contributing members of the community.”

11 December 17 - 30, 2021

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12 December 17 - 30, 2021

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13 December 17 - 30, 2021

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School board adopts new Strategic Plan

BY GABRIELLE GASSER BIG SKY – Big Sky School District recently adopted a new Strategic Plan which will guide the district’s efforts as it works to continuously improve and evolve with the needs of the community.

The plan, adopted by the school board at a Dec. 14 meeting, is structured by four strategic areas: Flexible Pathways, Dynamic Program; The District Voice: Communications; Living Our Culture of Excellence; and One Big Sky: Twoway flow: school and community.

“The district is in great shape but especially in education, it is important to seek continuous improvement and make sure the district continues to evolve to meet the evolving needs of the community,” BSSD consultant Skip Kotkins wrote in an email to EBS. “An inclusively-developed Strategic Plan leads to planned and coordinated steps forward as opposed to a bunch of independent actions.

A Strategic Plan is also a way that the district can communicate areas it is focusing on.”

A 15-person Strategic Plan Steering Committee led by Kotkins, senior consultant at Seattle-based firm Carney, Sandoe & Associates, developed the Strategic Plan over a two-month period this fall.

Attendees at the meetings included: teachers, administrators, current school board members, past school board members, general community members, school community members and a BSSD student.

In two days of meetings on Oct. 28 and 29, Kotkins took committee members through different exercises to discuss the district’s vision for the future as well as strengths of the previous plan and strategic areas that could use improvement moving forward.

According to BSSD School Board Trustee Kara Edgar, the meetings collectively lasted almost 12 hours in which attendees were divided into different groups to

develop and hone their contributions which eventually became the four pieces of the strategic plan.

“It was a very flat structure,” Edgar told EBS on Dec. 15. “We wanted to make sure that everyone felt that they had an equal voice.”

Kotkins originally worked on a strategic plan with the district in 2015 focusing on the district’s adoption of the IB program. The new plan builds on the successes of the old plan, according to Kotkins.

“We experienced lots of growth and everything else through the last few years,” said BSSD superintendent Dustin Shipman. “It was important for Skip to come back and get a pulse on the community, talk to groups of people again, and then help craft the work for us moving forward.”

The process for the new plan included an online community survey to gather feedback and Kotkins conversing with various members of the Big Sky community.

“The Big Sky community responded thoughtfully and constructively which made the process very effective,” Kotkins wrote. “The Strategic Planning Committee, representing an inclusive mix of stakeholders, was great to work with and clearly had the best interests of the Big Sky community at heart. I think everyone enjoyed the process and is pleased with the outcome.”

According to Edgar, the most substantial piece of the new plan is the Flexible Pathways, Dynamic Programming strategic area, which will help the district meet the needs of each student and ensure that there are multiple options available, she said. In particular, she highlighted the third bullet under the flexible pathways focus which will investigate and implement virtual learning options for course offerings.

“If anything, COVID has taught us that we’re all going to need to continue to be flexible,” she said. “So, I’m very excited about potentially expanding virtual learning options that could include additional course load for our students.”

CAP program at Big Sky School District seeks mentors

BY GABRIELLE GASSER

she is asking the Big Sky community to get involved and create more matches to reach her 20-match goal.

BIG SKY – A program that pairs Big Sky School District students and adult mentors is currently seeking more mentor applicants.

Jan Weber has been volunteering with the CAP program for four years and she has been with her current match for three years.

Weber has met with Elijah Brauer each school week since he was in the first grade.

The pair spends their time reading, working on projects and catching up, Weber says.

The Child Advancement Project mentoring program has been active in Big Sky for nine years and currently has 11 student-mentor matches that meet for an hour each school week to read, play outside, do crafts or just talk.

The CAP program, run by Bozeman-based nonprofit Thrive, uses their match program to help students from several schools in the area succeed.

Mentor Jan Weber meets with her 4th grade mentee Elijah Brauer. PHOTO BY LINDSEY HERRING

Lindsey Herring, who recently stepped into the role of BSSD CAP Coordinator, said she is trying to get the program back up-and-running after a challenging year of virtual meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her goal is to have 20 matches by the end of the school year.

Originally from Southern California, Herring moved to Montana in 2010 to work for Big Sky Resort. She found her passion working with children through her position at Lone Peak Playhouse and she hopes to use her experience working with children to expand the CAP program at BSSD. The program matches mentors, community members aged 18-and-older, with kindergarten through 12th grade BSSD students who were nominated by teachers or parents for the school year. Herring says she creates matches based on personality interests and meetings can involve a variety of activities with a focus on supporting students with individualized attention.

Right now, Herring said she has six students who need mentors and a few mentors who need students. Based on gender preferences, the students and mentors currently in the queue won’t make good matches, Herring said. Now

“It’s been crazy to watch how they grow across that period of time,” Weber said. She described the excitement of watching Elijah hit different benchmarks and grow not just physically but emotionally as well.

When Weber and Elijah, who’s an avid reader, couldn’t meet in person because of COVID-19, they had a reading competition where he won a $2 bill for every book that he read.

“I certainly encourage people to volunteer to do this,” she said. “I think as a mentor, you get as much out of it as the mentee does and it’s absolutely rewarding.”

Herring agrees that the program can be just as beneficial for the mentors as it is for the mentees and she says it is a great way for mentors to make a difference in the Big Sky community.

“The CAP program specifically targets students who just need an extra person in their life to listen to them,” Herring said, “someone that can be an extra voice, help them gain confidence, social support, make them excited about their future, maybe work on career goals, college goals, anything like that just to keep them motivated to get through school and make them wake up excited and happy to go to school and meet with their mentor each week.”

OP NEWS

14 December 17 - 30, 2021

Explore Big Sky

News from our publisher, Outlaw Partners

TEDxBigSky: Meet the speakers Pt. 2

BY MIRA BRODY

CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGIST

BIG SKY – Whether it’s surviving under 9 and a half feet of snow, moving across the state after a decade to restart your life or recovering both physically and mentally after returning from the Army, this week’s featured TEDxBigSky speakers truly embody the act of resilience.

Saul Martinez is a former Army Infantryman and Purple Heart recipient; Ken Scott survived after being buried by two consecutive avalanches and Monique Benabue is a musician looking to “trigger” her audience in the best way. Meet each ahead of Outlaw Partners’ TEDxBigSky event Jan. 29 and 30, 2022, and learn what resilience means to them.

Saul Martinez Saul Martinez is a former Army Infantryman and Purple Heart recipient who made Bozeman his home for his wife and two kids a decade ago shortly after participating in a Warriors and Quiet Waters fishing experience. Since being wounded and leaving the Army, Martinez has graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University, was a subject of President George W. Bush in “Portraits of Courage,” is a George W. Bush Institute Veteran Leadership scholar and remains an active advocate for veterans nationally.

He is the chief program officer for WQW, a nonprofit whose programs have helped provide veterans respite from the stresses of war and helped integrate them back into their home community through the healing power of the outdoors.

To Martinez, resilience is an everyday practice. It’s taking care of himself through daily tasks, whether putting on his prosthetic legs and going for a walk, taking care of his family or the community around him. He also warns that it’s an easy tank to drain and that self care is vital to being consistently resilient.

“It’s contagious,” Martinez said. “If someone sees me being active and motivated and taking care of myself, that can be interpreted as resiliency given the trauma I’ve been through the injuries I’ve sustained—letting others know it is possible.

It’s a pursuit. It’s hard work.”

Ken Scott For Ken Scott, resilience is laying trapped under 9 and a half feet of snow and regaining the control necessary to survive. In January 2020, Scott, an experienced skier who spent over a decade doing avalanche control work, was caught in two successive avalanches in a developed area at Silver Mountain, Idaho—the second completely entombed him in a mass of frozen snow hard as concrete. The ability to embrace an uncontrollable situation—to relax, breathe and commit to survival—and the aftermath effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, are skillsets Scott believes are applicable in the current pandemic, and topics he will cover in his upcoming TEDxBigSky talk in January 2022.

“I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard people saying ‘what a terrible year’ and I just think, ‘you really don’t have any idea,’” Scott said. “I’m not discounting anyone’s experience, but did you spend 60 minutes under 9 and a half feet of snow?”

In addition to physical and mental recovery from that experience, both Scott and his wife has experienced health scares on top of grieving the death of his friends who did not survive the avalanche. Resilience, Scott believes, is surviving against these hardships and odds.

“I had no choice but to keep breathing whether I wanted to or not,” said Scott, recalling his burial. “I couldn’t move, I was vacuum packed like a piece of meat in complete darkness and silence. I also came to the realization that I could not stop myself from hoping. We are constantly hoping for something whether we realize it or not.”

Monique Benabue Musician Monique Benabue warns attendees of TEDxBigSky to arrive with an open heart and “prepare to be triggered in the best way.”

Benabue will close out night one speakers with a musical set she calls “transformational.”

“I prefer these kinds of settings,” said Benabue of TEDx. “They were made for this kind of art. It helps so much when you don’t have to warm up an audience. The speeches warm them up. I’m really excited for that.”

Benabue is accustomed to performing at summits as well as medicine ceremony workshops across the country. Her music is powerful and vulnerable, a culmination of her own breakthroughs and rock bottoms; lessons and healing she hopes will facilitate listeners’ discovery of their own intimate truth.

“My biggest prayer in connecting with this audience is to make them feel seen and understood at an unspoken level,” Benabue said. “I want people to feel not alone, inspired, a little scared.”

She believes our biggest growth—our resilience—appears when we are leaving our comfort zone, when we embrace the ability to surrender and become reborn into the new people we’re meant to be. The timing of TEDxBigSky for Benabue is perfect, as she herself has just made a new leap in life, leaving Los Angeles, California, for the first time in 14 years and moving to Miami, Florida. The uncertainty is fueling, she says, something she hopes the audience feels in January.

15 December 17 - 30, 2021

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Big Sky Winter Fest kicks off inaugural celebration OUTLAW PARTNERS

BIG SKY – A skier, towrope in hand being pulled by a rider atop a galloping horse, maneuvers a brightly-colored ski gate and launches over a jump. The surrounding crowd cheers as the skier, rider and horse make it to the finish line.

This adrenaline-fueled winter sport is skijoring, one of many events that will make up the inaugural Big Sky Winter Fest, produced by Outlaw Partners.

Winter Fest will take place Feb. 3 through 6. In addition to skijoring, events also include Viking Races, the Frozen Foot Fun Run, the Community Street Dance, Retro Movie Night and the Winter Fest Ice Sculpture Competition. Big Sky Ski Education Foundation is the charitable partner with Winter Fest, whch will help raise money for its ski programs.

Winter Fest will host the second season of the Viking Race, a community Nordic ski race series that takes place on the Big Sky Meadow ski trails, starting at the Big Sky Nordic Center and Bunker Grill. The races will be open to all and include 1K, 3K and 5K options. Each of the races will offer a different format ranging from interval time trials to a four-person relay race. The Viking Race serves as a fundraiser for BSSEF’s Nordic Program.

Skijoring is a game of adrenaline. The Best of the West Big Sky Skijoring Association competition will take place Feb. 5 and 6. Spectator tickets are $15 per day or $25 for both days, with a VIP ticketed section at $75 per day or $140 for both days. Ages 12 and under are free. Calcutta will take place Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Town Center Plaza and the awards ceremony will take place Sunday at 5 p.m.

The Frozen Foot Fun Run is put on by the Big Sky Community Organization and starts at the new BASE Community Center. Events will include a Little Foot Fun Run around Len Hill Park for ages 5-12, and a Big Foot 5K around Town Center. Dress in festive, functional winter flare to participate in the costume contest.

Other Winter Fest events include a Retro Movie night on Friday, Feb. 4 from 6-7:30 p.m. at The Independent in Town Center, featuring local ski legends

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Skijoring is one of many exciting events that will take place Feb. 3 through 6 at Big Sky Winter Fest.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEST OF THE WEST BIG SKY SKIJORING ASSOCIATION

Scot Schmidt and Dan Eagan; the Winter Fest Ice Sculpture demonstration and competition in Town Center Plaza on Feb. 4 at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 5 at 9:00 a.m.; and a Community Street Dance on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. featuring the band FORESTER. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit outlaw.partners/winterfest.

Special thanks to our sponsors for making Winter Fest a reality: 406 Agave Premium Tequila, American Bank, Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, Outlaw Partners, SnowBiz, The Big Sky Real Estate Co., Big Sky Ski Education Foundation, Lone Mountain Land Company, Visit Big Sky, Lone Mountain Ranch, RegenMarket, Hey Bear, FlowCode, L&K Real Estate, Big Sky Resort and LPC.

CELEBRATE WINTER IN THE HEART OF BIG SKY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3 5 pm | Viking XC Ski Race | Big Sky Resort Nordic Center FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 3 pm | Frozen Foot Fun Run | BASE Community Center 4 pm | Ice Sculpting Demonstration | Town Center Plaza 6-7:30 pm | Retro Movie Night | Lone Peak Cinema The Independent, Featuring Scot Schmidt and Dan Egan and Warren Miller Movie Clips 7-9 pm | Silent Disco | Town Center Plaza | Music provided by Daniel Kern and Beacon Collective

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 9am-12 pm | Winter Fest Ice Sculpting Competition | Town Center Plaza 12 pm - 4 pm | Best of the West Skijoring Competition | Town Center 6 pm | Skijoring Calcutta, 406 Agave Tequila, Ice Bar | Town Center Plaza 7 pm - 9 pm | Winter Street Dance, featuring FORESTER | Town Center Plaza SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6 11 am - 4 pm | Best of the West Skijoring Championship | Town Center 5 pm | Closing Ceremony and Awards | Town Center Plaza

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17 December 17 - 30, 2021

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SECTION 2: SPORTS, ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS, AND HEALTH The loss of a skiing legend pg. 20

Montana petitions U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist NCDE grizzlies pg. 25

Is your supplement routine ready for winter? pg. 31

Big Horns fall in first basketball games of the season Rebels, Eagles defeat Big Horn teams on LPHS turf

BY GABRIELLE GASSER

games so we will be addressing our press break this week and working on sharpening our passes.”

BIG SKY – The bleachers were full and cheers were deafening in the Bough-Dolan Athletic Center when the Lone Peak Big Horns basketball teams hit the court on Dec. 3 for their first games of the season.

The Lady Big Horns came out fighting against the Lady Rebels during the third game of the evening, keeping the score tight throughout most of the game. At the end of the first half, the Lady Rebels led 28-23.

Although the Big Horns came out energized on their home court, they have yet to claim a win after losing all games.

The Lady Big Horns kept consistent energy throughout the game.

Senior Carly Wilson was the high scorer for the evening with 13 points. The Lady Rebels claimed victory for the evening with a final score of 55-42.

Friday marked the first night of play, pitting the Big Horns against the Manhattan Christian Eagles.

The varsity Big Horn boys took the court against the Eagles in a fast-paced contest. The taller Eagles came out strong, stifling the Big Horn’s offense with an aggressive full-court press.

The Big Horns kept up their hustle but several three pointers and fast break opportunities for the Eagles allowed Manhattan Christian to build a commanding lead.

Head coach Loren Bough said that his team faced an uphill battle against a starting lineup of five Rebel seniors and a team that was a top finisher in the district tournament.

LPHS senior Carly Wilson dribbles past a Manhattan Christian defender. PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

The Eagles emerged victorious, ending the game 86-21. Junior Max Romney led the Big Horns with 9 points for the evening.

The Lady Big Horns stepped onto the hardwood next. With only seven eligible players, the Lady Big Horns faced a definite disadvantage in their rotation.

The score stayed low in the first quarter with the Lady Big Horns holding the Lady Eagles to 6 points to the Big Horns 0 points. Some accurate shooting from the threepoint line allowed the Lady Eagles to build a significant lead heading into halftime. In the third quarter, the Lady Big Horns fought back, scoring 17 points. In the end, the Lady Eagles emerged victorious with a final score of 62-25.

Lady Big Horns Head coach Loren Bough said he was proud of the team’s effort and attitudes.

“Manhattan Christian finished 4th in the state tournament last year so a great test for our team,” Bough wrote in an email to EBS. “We played even with them for two quarters but some defense lapses in the later part of each half let Manhattan Christian garner a win.”

The Big Horns JV boys team, LPHS’ sole JV basketball team this season, also lost to the Eagles.

The Big Horns returned to the court the following evening, this time against the Shields Valley Rebels.

The JV boys played a half game against the Shields Valley Rebels due to a shortage of Shields players and lost by just one point.

For the first varsity match, the Big Horns kept their energy up for all 32 minutes of play according to Head Coach John Hannahs.

On Dec. 10 and 11, the Big Horns notched victories in the Manhattan Bank Tip-Off Basketball Tournament hosted by Manhattan Christian. On Friday, both boys and girls varsity teams defeated the Class B Whitehall Trojans with the boys winning 45-36 and the girls coming out on top with a score of 44-35.

On Saturday the Big Horns played the Gardiner Bruins and the varsity boys again claimed a victory scoring 42 -37. The Lady Big Horns played a competitive game against the Lady Bruins, and a strong third quarter put LPHS ahead by 4 points. The game extended into overtime and the fatigued Lady Big Horns fell to the Lady Bruins 50-40.

MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN BOYS GAME

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

F

Lone Peak

3

11

3

4

21

Manhattan Christian

29

26

22

7

86

Lone Peak

0

5

17

3

25

Manhattan Christian

6

25

19

12

62

GIRLS GAME

The Rebels quickly built a lead in the first quarter, but a change of momentum in the second quarter allowed the Big Horns to close the gap, ending the half at 17- 26 Rebels.

The evening ended with a 73-43 Rebels victory.

Hannahs praised Romney, who scored 20 points, for keeping the Big Horns’ offense alive.

Junior Colter Marino and sophomore Aidan Germain also did a great job of coming off the bench and providing a spark Hannahs said.

LPHS junior Max Romney shoots a layup against the Manhattan Christian defenders.

PHOTO BY GABRIELLE GASSER

“It definitely was not the outcome we hoped for, but we got to test our mettle against two very strong teams which proved valuable in helping expose some of the things that we need to work on,” Hannahs wrote in an email to EBS. “Full court pressure was an issue in both

“LPHS exhibited a much-improved fast break style game and created a number of scoring opportunities,” Bough wrote in an email to EBS. “We scored four 3-pointers and out rebounded Shields Valley as a team.”

SHIELDS VALLEY BOYS GAME

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

F

Lone Peak

4

13

11

15

43

Shields Valley

13

13

32

15

73

Lone Peak

12

11

7

12

42

Shields Valley

18

10

15

12

55

GIRLS GAME

18 December 17 - 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS

Explore Big Sky

So you want to start backcountry skiing or riding?

BY IAN HOYER GNFAC FORECASTER

Taking the leap beyond the safety of the ski resort to start exploring the backcountry is a significant decision. While riding the backcountry can offer transcendent experiences, doing it right takes careful planning and doing it wrong sets you up for dangerous failure. This is true whether you’re leaving a ski resort through a gate to go out of bounds, putting on snowshoes for a snowy hike, skinning up a mountain for the first time or learning how to snowmobile.

There are three key steps to set yourself up for success in the backcountry: get the gear, get the training and get the forecast.

In addition to any gear you might need for your new backcountry activity of choice (e.g. skins for your skis, snowshoes or a snowmobile), avalanche rescue gear is essential. An avalanche transceiver (worn on your body), a metal shovel and an avalanche probe (carried in a backpack) are required equipment in the backcountry. These items can be purchased at local ski or outdoor retailers or a plethora of online outlets. Expect to pay $300-400.

Once you have the gear, you need to learn how to use it. The best and most effective way is by signing up for an avalanche class where you’ll go into the field to practice and learn skills hands on. In addition to personalized instruction on how to use your rescue gear, you’ll also learn how to avoid getting caught in a slide in the first place.

The Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center offers an Avalanche Fundamentals course that is the perfect introduction to the backcountry. The class includes four pre-recorded lectures available to watch online at your convenience, a live Q&A session with the instructors and your choice of a snowmobile or ski/ board-based field day on Jan. 21, 22, 23, 29 or 30. This course is the best deal in avalanche education—a slope meter and ECT cord (you’ll learn the importance of these items in the course) are included in the $40 price.

Author Ian Hoyer, a forecaster with GNFAC, digs a quick snow pit while snowmobiling in the backcountry.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER

Once you have the gear and know how to use it, you’re almost ready to get out into the backcountry. The last step is reading the avalanche forecast. The avalanche forecast for southwest Montana can be found at: mtavalanche.com/ forecast. Check it before you head out the door in the morning. It is updated by 7:30 a.m. every day throughout the winter. In less than five minutes, the avalanche forecast will tell you how likely avalanches are that day, what to look for and which slopes to especially avoid.

Whether you’re going into the backcountry for the first time or have been going into the backcountry for years but haven’t been taking safety seriously, now is the time. Exploring the mountains in the winter time is serious business. Make a plan to do it safely.

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Live Musical Performance

Senters-McDermott Red Thunder 1/29 Lisa 1/30 Marcus Ken Scott Julie Ryan McGue Rev. Briana Lynn Saul Martinez Nick & Mike Fiorito Todd Dittmann Monique Benabou

Jan Winburn Tom Spruance Ben & Azrya Bequer Tim Tate Bruce Anfinson

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center

Peter Mathieson

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20 December 17 - 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS

Explore Big Sky

The loss of a skiing legend

BY DAN EGAN EBS CONTRIBUTOR

Ron LeMaster, author, coach, ski teacher, photographer and winter sports icon died on Nov. 30 in a collision with a snowboarder at Colorado’s Eldora Mountain. He was 72 years old. The news of his passing shook the winter sports world.

LeMaster left a major imprint on skiing with his photography and analysis of ski technique. He was a frequent keynote speaker and presenter for the annual United States Coaching Academy run by U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Professional Ski Instructors of America and international ski conventions such as the 6th International Congress on Science and Skiing, as well as countless ski schools and ski teams throughout the world.

His topics ranged from Rethinking Movement Analyses, Mechanics and Techniques for Minimum Radius Carved Turns, Lateral Balance, Seeing Skiing: Developing a Good Eye, to Trends in Modern Alpine Ski Racing and beyond.

LeMaster was a master observer of movement and always related back to conditions and body type. His use of multiple-frame photography was groundbreaking in the sport. By taking 10-12 frames a second, LeMaster could break down the position of skiers rounding a race gate or making a mogul turn and look at the movement patterns, as he did in his book “The Skier’s Edge” published by Human Kinetics in 1999.

In his first chapter in the book, “Skiing from the Snow Up,” LeMaster brings to light a core observation: “Skiing is a sport of forces and momentum. When skiing feels good, it is the forces that feel good.” He then illustrated that by drawing comparisons between world champion ski racer Hermann Maier and Olympic mogul skier Sara Kjellin. He broke down their movements, momentum and the forces between their skis and the icy race slope and the bumpy mogul run to illustrate center of mass and like movements between two different disciplines.

Nick Herrin, CEO of PSIA said, “One of the biggest impacts Ron had was understanding different phases and how skiing was broken down, on a large perspective for a lot of people he was on the forefront of understanding skiing movement.”

Winter sports icon Ron LeMaster passed on Nov. 30 at the age of 72. PHOTO BY LINDA GUERETT

LeMaster’s last article he wrote for PSIA was titled “Rethinking Movement Analysis,” with subsections including: “There is No One, Best Type of Turn – There are Many,” “There is No One, Best Ski Type of Ski Performance – There Are Many,” and “There is No One, Best Combination of Body Movements – There are Many.”

“It’s one of the best technical articles I’ve ever read in a very long time,” Herrin said. “He was an icon for his contribution to snowsports.”

One of LeMaster’s key traits was curiosity. With him it was always about how one skier makes a turn using hip angle but another skier with a different body type might make the same turn using more knee. He was never locked into one method of skiing versus another; his mind was open, and he loved to observe how many ways one thing could be accomplished.

“He was a software engineer, a computer programmer, that was his main job, everything he did in skiing was his side gig, he was one of the most intellectual curious people I have ever known,” said former editor of Ski Area Management magazine and close friend of LeMaster Rick Kahl. “He could engage a 10-year-old in a conversation about how skateboards work and then switch gears, enter into a conversation with a philosopher about the meaning of life and be equally engaged in both conversations. He never had an ax to grind, rather he was driven by what he could learn.”

He authored three books, the first one “The Skier’s Edge” is a technical book about movement, skiing forces, and equipment. LeMaster’s second book “The Essential Guide to Skiing” (2004) is an encyclopedia of information that addressed everything you need to know about the sport of skiing, a treasure-trove of advice for every level of skiers. “Ultimate Skiing,” (2009) his third book, examined the new shape of skis and “examines realworld skiing in specific types of terrain and snow.”

He filled a void in ski teaching and coaching that is often left empty by the self-proclaimed “Experts” and “Gurus” of the sport.

PSIA-AASI National Team Coach Jeb Boyd said, “I loved his calm yet confident demeanor, deep knowledge of our sport he embraced the idea of fundamentals and how they can be uniquely executed from athlete to athlete, which became easy to understand through his imagery and had easy way about him when he talked about skiing. That was the basis to his last book 'Ultimate Skiing.'”

There is little doubt that LeMaster’s impact will be long-lasting and sorely missed by the international ski community. His legacy should encourage all of us to be curious learners free of judgement on as many levels as possible.

AJ Oliver, training supervisor at Big Sky Resort, summed up his impact saying, “I only had the opportunity to meet him once, I never had the chance to ski with him, but I’ll always remember [his] ear-to-ear grin.”

LeMaster’s use of multiple frame photography was groundbreaking in movement analysis of skiers. PHOTO COURTESY OF USSCA

Extreme skiing pioneer Dan Egan coaches and teaches at Big Sky Resort during the winter. His 2022 steeps camps at Big Sky Resort run Feb. 24-26, March 10-12 and March 17-19. His newest book, “Thirty Years in a White Haze” was released in March 2021 and is available at www.White-Haze.com.

21 December 17 - 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS

Explore Big Sky

Skier’s guide to getting on the mountain quickly

BY EMILY STIFLER WOLFE

her pockets with snacks. If you don’t feel like booting up at the car, there are also day-use lockers available in the Exchange.

EBS CONTRIBUTOR

The storm is lifting when Maria Lovely pulls into the Cedar Lot at Big Sky Resort. Snow is still falling lightly, and the morning sun reflects off the big, lazy flakes. As she pulls on her ski socks and boots at the tailgate, the peak emerges from the clouds like a monolith.

While Lovely is only 22, the professional skier is an old hand, having spent all four years of high school in Big Sky training for big mountain freeride competitions. Before that, Lovely, her parents and her two siblings drove two hours every weekend from their home in tiny McLeod, Montana, population 12. Her mom ski instructed, her dad volunteered on ski patrol, and the kids cut their teeth in the Headwaters chutes before they were even 10.

Ride the shuttle Once she’s ready, Lovely grabs her skis, locks the car, and walks the 50 feet to the shuttle stop. With the open-air shuttles in constant rotation from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, it’s never much of a wait, and the ride to the base area is a couple minutes, tops.

The open-air parking lot shuttles are in constant rotation from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day and the ride to the base area is a couple minutes, tops. PHOTO BY COLTON STIFLER

To this day, Lovely has a morning routine she follows every time she comes skiing.

Check the snow report Before she even gets out of bed in the morning, Lovely checks Big Sky Resort’s snow report. With the detailed point forecast, she decides which layers and how warm a jacket to wear, and which skis to bring, depending on how much new snow fell overnight.

Park After driving up to the mountain, Lovely finds a parking spot—if she’s in the main lot, where individual lots are marked with letters from A to L, she’ll find a spot as close to the letter as she can, since that means a shorter walk to the shuttle. Guests can check parking lot capacity and status on the resort’s parking page.

Boot up Since she was a kid, Lovely has gotten ready at the car. If it’s cold, she’ll slide over into the passenger seat to change into ski socks and pull on her boots—which are warm, since she puts them by a heater on the drive. On super cold days, she’ll stuff hand warmers into her mittens and wear a puffy coat underneath her shell. If it’s warm, she boots up by the tailgate. Sometimes she’ll ski with a pack to carry water, food and avalanche gear (if she’s skiing runs off the peak that require it), and other days she stuffs

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Grab coffee and breakfast From the shuttle stop at the base of the Mountain Village, Lovely walks up the main stairs and through the village, and leans her skis against a rack outside Vista Hall. In the newly-remodeled second-floor dining area, she orders a coconut milk latte and a muffin, while the Vista’s breakfast cooks are making veggie and chorizo burritos at the breakfast bar behind her.

Head to the lift Since Lovely has a ski pass, she finishes sipping her coffee, walks outside, slings her skis over her shoulder, and heads straight to the chairlifts. If you bought a ticket ahead of time, stop by a Sky Card Express Station, scan your QR code, and print out your refillable Sky Card right there at the kiosk (BTW, definitely do this, because tickets are cheaper the further in advance you buy, and it also eliminates waiting in line at a ticket window.)

Go skiing Lovely checks the large signboard showing which lifts are open and makes a game plan on where to go from there. For her, it’s usually Swift Current—en route to the high alpine. “No warmup groomers for me,” she says with a grin.

Emily Stifler Wolfe is a writer and business consultant based in Bozeman, Montana. Find her at emilystiflerwolfe.com.

This article originally appeared on Big Sky Resort’s blog: The Way I Ski It on Nov. 16 2021.

For more stories, visit blog.bigskyresort.com.

22 December 17 - 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS

Explore Big Sky

Headwaters Alliance Symposium highlights importance of conservation

BY DAVID TUCKER

GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE

If you live in Big Sky, water is likely on your mind. Whether you ski or fly fish, raft or trail run, water is the foundation upon which our entire community—and every community, for that matter—is built. Here in the upper Gallatin watershed, water is of particularly critical importance because in order to have enough of it, we need to think strategically about how we use it, and in order for the Gallatin River to remain healthy, we need to use less of it.

To highlight that importance, the Gallatin River Task Force hosted the Headwaters Alliance Symposium at the Wilson Hotel in Town Center on Dec. 9. As much of Montana remains in critical drought conditions and Big Sky continues to grapple with rapid development, the gathering couldn’t have been timelier.

“It has been a while since we’ve been able to gather as a community and dig deeper on water conservation and river protection topics,” said Kristin Gardner, chief executive and A symposium attendee stands up to ask a question of one of the presenters during the Q&A portion of the symposium. PHOTO science officer at the task force. “It’s no secret that there are

BY GABRIELLE GASSER water quality and quantity challenges in our community, but events like this help us communicate the important work that’s The diversity of the stakeholders was evident in the list of the symposium’s being done to protect the river as the community continues growing.” speakers, which included specialists from the Bureau of Mines and Geology, environmental managers from local resorts and recreation planners from the U.S. That important work includes a variety of conservation and restoration Forest Service, to name a few. This broad spectrum of perspectives speaks to projects being led by the task force, and the symposium showcased everything the collaborative approach that will be necessary to ensure the long-term health from expanding wastewater reuse options to the importance of troutof the watershed, and bringing people into the conversation has always been friendly landscaping. central to the task force’s river protection mission.

“We don’t have a magic silver bullet that we can use to fix all of our challenges “We can’t solve these problems on our own,” Gardner said, “so it’s always here,” Gardner said. “There’s no single problem, but rather many challenges, all encouraging to see the broad engagement from the community. To protect the exacerbated by a changing climate.”

Gallatin, we’ll need to leverage everyone’s knowledge and resources.”

The symposium marked a long-overdue rendezvous of the Headwaters As the year comes to a close, it’s clear that collaboration is more necessary than Alliance, a diverse collection of stakeholders led by the task force and focused ever. The mountain snowpack sits at 75 percent of normal, and 100 percent on water conservation and river restoration. Members include other nonprofits, of people in Gallatin County remain in drought conditions. What we do with government agencies, local utilities and private businesses, all with a common water will be ever more important as these scenarios become our new normal. goal of implementing a sustainable water-management plan that protects ecological systems while supporting adequate household supply and better wastewater treatment and reuse.

Community members hear presentations from stakeholders in the Headwaters Alliance focused on water conservation and river restoration. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE

Happy Holidays with thanks and gratitude to clients past and present from all of us at PureWest Christie’s.

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25 December 17 - 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS

Explore Big Sky

Montana petitions U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist NCDE grizzlies

The state would assume management of some 1,100 grizzlies in western Montana if its bid is successful.

BY AMANDA EGGERT MONTANA FREE PRESS

HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office announced on Dec. 6 that the state is petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, citing robust population counts and touting the state’s ability to independently manage Montana’s grizzly bears, which have been federally protected since 1975.

“We worked on grizzly bear recovery for decades. We were successful and switched to a focus on conflict management years ago,” FWP Director Hank Worsech said in a release about the petition, which seeks to remove federal protections for an estimated 1,100 grizzlies in western Montana. “We’ve shown the ability to manage bears, protect their habitat and population numbers. It’s time for us to have full authority for grizzly bears in Montana.”

Gov. Greg Gianforte echoed Worsech’s assessment in the release.

“With the grizzly bear recovered, keeping the species listed under the Endangered Species Act will only continue to impact communities, farmers and ranchers, and recreationists around the state. It also limits Montana’s options when it comes to dealing with conflict bears.”

Governor Greg Gianforte announced on Dec. 6 that the state of Montana is petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem in northwest Montana. PHOTO BY KENNAN & KAREN WARD - stock.adobe.com

The petition also asks USFWS to designate NCDE bears as a distinct population segment, and expand that designation “well into eastern Montana.”

“This would allow for the delisting of grizzly bears across most of the northern half of the state,” the release from Gianforte’s office reads.

Alliance for the Wild Rockies Executive Director Mike Garrity, who has sued the government over previous attempts to delist grizzly bears, said that strategy runs counter to court decisions about bear recovery in a 2020 ruling stemming from a 2018 lawsuit.

“The courts ruled in the Yellowstone delisting case that there’s one population of grizzly bears, so any time they want to have a distinct population segment, they have to consider the effects on the entire population,” Garrity told Montana Free Press. “Gianforte is essentially ignoring the courts by petitioning for the NCDE population to be a distinct population segment.”

Garrity said he opposes the move to partition out the NCDE population because it would hamper the genetic exchange that helps maintain healthy populations.

Contacted for comment, retired USFWS grizzly bear recovery coordinator Chris Servheen said he’s concerned about the state’s ability to limit grizzly bear deaths with ESA protections removed.

“People tend to get all wrapped around the axle when it comes to [population counts, but] it’s really important that there be in place careful management systems so the state can manage mortality,” he said. “Delisting is not about numbers alone.”

Servheen said he’s particularly concerned about a bill passed by the Legislature this spring that hinders grizzly bears’ expansion into new recovery zones and another measure that attempts to expand the circumstances under which Montanans can kill grizzly bears.

The former, Senate Bill 337, prohibits FWP from relocating grizzly bears outside of already established recovery zones, which would slow the bears’ expansion into new areas. The latter, Senate Bill 98, would allow a person to shoot a grizzly bear that is “threatening” livestock. Servheen said neither “threatening” nor “livestock” are clearly defined by the bill. Servheen has also expressed concern about a new law that allows the hunting of black

bears with hounds, an activity he says has potential to injure or kill hunters, dogs and grizzly bears.

After the announcement of the state’s petition, environmental groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians cast doubt on Montana’s ability to successfully manage grizzly bears and the state’s motivation for seeking delisting.

“The wolf slaughter that’s happening in Montana right now demonstrates how poorly equipped Montana decision-makers are to decide the fate of these majestic species, whether grizzlies or wolves,” Wild Earth Guardians Executive Director John Horning said in an emailed statement.

“Like Wyoming and Idaho, Montana has shown repeatedly that it will do anything to appease special interests like the agricultural industry and hunting and trapping associations,” Center for Biological Diversity attorney Andrea Zaccardi said in an emailed statement. “These states just can’t be trusted to manage grizzly bears.”

Servheen said the petition puts Martha Williams, who’s been nominated to the top post at USFWS, in “a tough position.” As head of FWP under former Gov. Steve Bullock, Williams advocated turning grizzly bear management over to states, and she represented FWP in a decade-old wolf delisting lawsuit.

Servheen notes that was a different time for the agency, before grizzly bear management had taken on such a political flavor in state government.

The state’s petition comes two and a half months after Wyoming made a similar request to delist Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears, and eight months after USFWS recommended that Lower 48 grizzly bears retain their protected status in its most recent species status assessment. USFWS’s recommendation cited concerns about habitat connectivity, human-caused mortality, motorized vehicle use in grizzly bear habitat, and uncertainty about future conservation efforts.

According to USFWS, grizzly bears currently inhabit just 6 percent of their historic range, which once spanned much of the American West.

Billings native Amanda Eggert covers environmental issues for MTFP. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism who has written for Outside magazine and Outlaw Partners. At Outlaw Partners she led coverage for the biweekly newspaper Explore Big Sky. Contact Amanda at aeggert@ montanafreepress.org.

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27 December 17 - 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS

Explore Big Sky

Meet a group in the trenches of saving both public and private land

BY TODD WILKINSON

EBS ENVIRONMENTAL COLUMNIST

Almost 35 years ago, when I first settled in the West as a journalist after starting as a violent crime reporter at the City News Bureau of Chicago, my inauguration to local environmentalism started in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

I was a 24-year-old with the humble Jackson Hole News, assigned immediately to spend a couple of days with members of the oil and gas industry, elected members of the Teton County, Wyoming Commission, and leaders of the Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning—today known as the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance.

We set out, within hours after I arrived in town, on a field trip across the Pinedale Anticline and a swath of BLM land that would become the Jonah Gas Field more a than decade before major energy development would erupt there.

No one knew then what was coming to the open, treeless flanks of the Wind River Mountains or what the consequences would be for pronghorn and mule deer migrations, greater sage-grouse or the next iteration of boom-and-bust shaking human communities.

Some people still claim that wildlife in Greater Yellowstone will always thrive because of the region’s abundance of public land. Early on, the Jackson Hole Alliance and the scientists it enlists to inform its positions pointed out the absurdity of that argument.

If you want to know what one of the most urgent threats to the ecological well-being of Greater Yellowstone and its incomparable diversity of wildlife is—besides climate change and the expanding human footprint fragmenting landscapes—it’s this: the lack of conservation organizations rigorously engaging on the front lines of private land conservation.

I’m not referring to local land trusts, which do incredible work expertly brokering conservation easements with willing landowners. The amount of land being protected piecemeal by easements, however, is hardly keeping pace with the amount of acreage being rapidly lost to development—subdivisions, commercial tracts, glamping resorts, roads, fences, yard lights, noise, wildlifeunfriendly dogs, etcetera, approved without much thought by county and city planning departments or elected officials.

The truth is land trusts do not have the expertise or capability to be in the trenches of local land-use planning issues in the 20 counties and dozens of towns and cities that comprise Greater Yellowstone.

We visited Kemmerer and Rock Springs, towns positioned around the Red Desert south of Jackson Hole where major natural gas and oil development were already underway.

Even though the Greater Yellowstone region has one of the highest per-capita ratios of paid professional conservationists in America, few of the dozens of national, regional and local green groups in our region are devoted to private land-use planning day in and out—which is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to dealing with the tsunami of growth issues that have only accelerated during the COVID pandemic.

At one time, in fact, (and few young or new denizens living in Jackson Hole today recognize this), the energy industry, Bridger-Teton National Forest and Wyoming politicians were very keen on exploring the possibility of natural gas development occurring up Cache Creek and the foothills of the Gros Ventre mountains just a few miles east of Jackson Hole’s famous town square.

Many green groups have been missing in action. The Jackson Hole Alliance is one of a notable handful that hasn’t been. It’s joined in its small circle by the Valley Advocates for Responsible Development in Teton Valley, Idaho; the Park County Environmental Council and Friends of Park County in Montana, and Bozeman-based FutureWest.

The prospect of full-field energy development occurring in that spectacular wild country stirred up more than a little concern. Citizens rallied together, and thus what is now the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance was born ad hoc.

Why aren’t more conservation organizations working in the essential space of land-use planning? The answer is simple: It’s damned hard. It’s not sexy.

It requires tenacity, resolve, intelligence and staking positions that might be unpopular in the short term but are part of an essential paradigm shift that must occur if we are going to keep the ecological integrity of this one-of-a-kind region intact.

In subsequent years, the Jackson Hole Alliance would distinguish itself for doing something that few other conservation organizations do well: promoting wise stewardship of nature on both public and private lands, understanding that what happens on one landscape has tremendous and potentially permanent consequences for the other.

It’s much easier to battle a hardrock mine than to scrutinize a proposed subdivision in wildlife winter range. It’s more fun to push for construction of more recreation trails on public lands or get behind expansion of a downhill ski resort than question whether such projects make good sense.

If you grumble about the impacts of growth on Jackson Hole, imagine if the Jackson Hole Alliance and community conservationists had never existed. Jackson Hole would have all of the un-quaint appeal of Vail, Colorado.

Right before our eyes, the special, nuanced things we love about Jackson (and Bozeman, Big Sky, Teton Valley and Paradise Valley, among others) are slipping away forever.

Real estate development, from a land impact, is no different from hardrock mining. Both extract a finite resource until it’s exhausted and leave behind impacts that are permanent.

My years in Jackson Hole were foundational to my long career as an environmental journalist. Members and staff of the Jackson Hole Alliance set a high standard for what citizen activism looks like and what is essential to make a positive difference. They are a reminder of what’s missing around Bozeman and Big Sky.

A makeshift memorial was erected in memory of a popular roadside moose in Jackson Hole that was killed by a vehicle. It’s among a growing list of grim reminders of how the expanding human footprint of development in Greater Yellowstone is taking a huge toll on wildlife and habitat. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKSON HOLE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

Todd Wilkinson is the founder of Bozeman-based Mountain Journal and a correspondent for National Geographic. He authored the book “Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek,” featuring photography by famed wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen, about Grizzly Bear 399.

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29 December 17 - 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS

Explore Big Sky

Alfredo walks with a donkey in his hometown of San Martin de Terreros. PHOTO BY BENJAMIN WADDELL

Is the American Dream fading in the West?

BY BENJAMIN WADDELL WRITERS ON THE RANGE

I recently spent two days with a Mexican national named Alfredo because his experience and many of his surprising opinions seemed widely shared: America, he’s concluded, isn’t worth the struggle.

“The last time I crossed into the U.S., we had to walk for seven days under constant rain,” Alfredo told me. “I’m glad I never have to do that again.”

We were hiking a trail near his home in central Mexico, where rain had turned the land green, with maturing cornfields flanked by rows of beans and squash.

For years, Alfredo, 37, worked as a landscaper and also as a roofer in the American Southwest. These days, though, he stays home. “My land is full of life.

I only left my country like everyone else because I had to. I was poor, and back then it was a violent place.”

Alfredo lives in the state of Guanajuato, which is among the top migrantsending states in Mexico. Now, roughly 10.9 million Mexican-born residents live in America, and the majority came from small towns like the one I was walking through.

I thought of my parents, who left Iowa and Arkansas in the 1970s to head West. In their case they were fleeing segregation, but like Alfredo, they were in search of opportunity. In 1974, they moved to Telluride, Colorado, then a busted mining town aspiring to become another Aspen. That first winter they lived in the back of a van while they remodeled an old mining shack, which they purchased for $20,000. Neither had a college education, but in those days a degree wasn’t required to aspire to a middle-class life.

My father worked construction and my mom waited tables. Money was tight, but the first ski lift had just gone in, and the future looked promising. These days, both continue to work, but they are financially stable in large part because of the equity in a house they owned decades ago.

Today, opportunities in the West are harder to come by. My childhood home in Telluride, although no longer in the family, recently appraised for just over $5 million, representing a 24,900 percent increase since my parents first purchased it. Wages, in turn, have been stuck in neutral for decades. And while wandering hippies may still show up in vans, few are able to purchase property of their own unless they’re packing a trust fund. As the middle-class fades away, what’s left seems to narrow down to property owners and workers.

If he’d been born a few decades earlier, Alfredo said, he might have tried to stay in the United States. “But all I did in the U.S. was work from sunup to sundown, and for what? At least here I have my home and my cornfields, I get to see my family every day and I’m connected to the land.”

Alfredo’s not alone. Today, more migrants are returning to Mexico than are leaving. The outflow back to Mexico is affecting Western states particularly hard, because most of the Mexicans who do migrate to this country are settling in southern states like Arkansas, North Carolina and Georgia. Similar trends are evident within smaller sending countries like El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Guatemala.

According to my research, the migrants returning to Mexico tend to leave states such as Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas. These demographic shifts have contributed to an acute labor shortage.

For generations, Mexican migrants subsidized the expansion of the West by providing cheap workers. Men like Alfredo worked alongside newcomers like my parents, and together, they helped build now-legendary towns like Telluride.

Now, just as Mexican migration rates reverse, the cost of construction, housing, and basic services in the West are all on the rise.

As we settled into the trail toward Alfredo’s hometown of San Martin de Terreros, I asked Alfredo if he planned to come back to the U.S. one day. “No, señor,” he responded without hesitation. “I have everything I need right here.”

Benjamin Waddell is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is an associate professor of sociology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

30 December 17 - 30, 2021

MONTANA

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31 December 17 - 30, 2021

HEALTH

Explore Big Sky

Stress and the holiday season

BY SHANNON STEELE

EBS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COLUMNIST “To be ‘well’ is not to live in a state of perpetual safety and calm, but to move fluidly from a state of adversity, risk, adventure, or excitement, back to safety and calm, and out again. Stress is not bad for you; being stuck is bad for you.”

- Emily Nagoski, “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” Contrary to what commercial advertising, streets filled with twinkling lights, Buddy from “Elf,” and “Jingle Bell Rock” tell you, it may not feel like “the most wonderful time of the year.” The holidays often bring up a slew of emotions, especially for those used to grinding through what is likely the most hectic time of year. Let’s just say the only thing you may be looking forward to this holiday season is Jan. 1.

The holiday season can make us feel warm, excited, messy, sad, lonely, confused and overwhelmed all at once. Whatever may be coming up for you, it is important to acknowledge that our nervous systems have been through the wringer over the past 23 months.

A January 2021 Stress in America survey identified the most common sources of stress and found that anxiety, sadness and anger were the top three most common emotions.

COVID-19 and the first shelter-in-place hit the U.S. in March of 2020 resulting in a ripple of consequences: a state of emergency, stay-at-home orders, essential workers continuing to work through uncertainty, while thousands of others were laid-off, school transitioned to virtual education, a high death toll and loss of loved ones. Amidst the pandemic is political unrest and racial injustice, compounding what was already a uniquely stressful state of being. Oftentimes we are able to compartmentalize stressors in our lives, “Not now. I need to deal with that later.” The thing about chronic, collective and prolonged stress, however, is that it weighs heavy on our nervous systems and those emotions we are putting in a box, high on a shelf can get stuck.

Under normal conditions, a stressor (coming upon a grizzly bear while hiking) activates the fight-or-flight response and your survival instincts kick in: heart rate increases, pupils dilate, blood flow moves to your arms and legs, hormones are released, and there’s a burst of adrenaline mobilizing you to fight (whipping out your bear spray) or run in the opposite direction.

Once the threat of the bear has passed, your relaxation response ignites, returning your blood pressure, heart rate, digestive functioning and hormones to normal levels. In this scenario, running or fighting allowed your body to discharge the energy and emotion (fear) built up from the stressful situation, and your nervous system returned to an evenkeel, groovy state.

However, because of the last 23 abnormal months, we are collectively experiencing chronic and prolonged stress resulting in a wacked out nervous system. You may be feeling hyper-aroused (anxious, unable to relax, restless, emotional, irritable and angry) or hypo-aroused (depressed, flat, tired and disconnected). This type of unresolved stress can have real physical health consequences: headaches, chronic pain, catching a cold, having difficulty sleeping and more. Additionally, prolonged stress has a negative effect on thinking clearly, logically and making good decisions.

While Big Sky ramps up for the holiday season, it is important to remember that our bodies need to slow down and take time to reset so we can avoid getting stuck and return to a calm, baseline state.

Shannon Steele is the behavioral health program officer at the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, and values a collaborative and community-centered approach to mental/behavioral health and wellness. She has a background in mind-body wellness and community health, and is also a certified yoga instructor and active volunteer. Community, wellness and the outdoors have always been pillars in Shannon’s life.

3 TIPS FOR COPING WITH STRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

1. Allow: Let’s allow ourselves to be as we are and feel whatever we feel in every moment. Life is messy and it is a part of being human, so feel all the things without judgement.

According to Harvard brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, the cycle of an emotion is 90 seconds. Ninety seconds is all it takes to identify an emotion and allow it to dissipate by simply noticing it.

Tip: When an emotion comes up, pause, notice and label what you are feeling, and watch it go away.

2. Get outside: There is a link between exposure to nature and reduction in stress. You may feel relief within minutes of being outside. Research has shown exposure results in decreased muscle tension, blood pressure and brain activity, as well as a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol and a boost in endorphin and dopamine levels, which promote happiness. A Big Sky community member and wellness navigator volunteer, Andy Nagel says, “Our biggest strength in Big Sky is our easy access to nature, wilderness, mountains, wildlifem, and so much more. An incomprehensible rhythm and flow exists here that is irresistible and therapeutic. At the same time, there’s a lot of people here that don’t experience that because the struggle is real. Big Sky is a hard place to live. Experiencing solace in the outdoors on its simplest level shouldn’t be a struggle, or hard to achieve.

How can we watch out for each other, simply by making sure our friends, peers, and co-workers are experiencing the outdoors in some way, shape or form on a consistent basis?”

3. Avoid getting stuck: There are simple tools we can use daily that calm our nervous system and activate the relaxation response including breathing techniques and movements.

TRY THESE TECHNIQUES Box Breathing: Breathe in for four counts, hold for four, breathe out for four, hold for four (repeat for five rounds minimum).

Vagus Nerve Tapping: Using your first finger and middle finger with both hands, begin tapping your sternum just below your collarbone. The vagus nerve is a link between our brain, nervous system and other parts of our body including heart, lungs, organs, stomach and intestine. As the brain takes in messages from all parts of the body, it also communicates information out to the body. Tapping the vagus nerve signals the nervous system to relax.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

33 December 17 - 30, 2021

Explore Big Sky

SECTION 3: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, FINANCE, BUSINESS, DINING AND FUN

Reggie Watts pg. 37

MIIBS: Big Sky Resort Tax District pg. 39

Spicy Ginger Holiday Mule pg. 40

Scott Mechura reemerges in Big Sky culinary scene Local chef takes helm in Horn & Cantle kitchen

BY TUCKER HARRIS BIG SKY – Scott Mechura takes a sip of his Lone Mountain cocktail, a mixture of rye, bourbon and sweet vermouth, served up to his liking. He looks down at the menu in his hands, the menu he translates into beautifully dressed plates every day. Inside the rustic Horn & Cantle dining room, flames crackle in the stone fireplace, welcoming hungry guests ready to experience authentic Western cuisine and escape the snowflakes falling on the cabins outside.

“I know I definitely want the scallops and tartare to start,” Mechura says.

“They’re so good.” I trust his judgement.

More than 20 years after taking his first job in Big Sky, Mechura recently returned to the town’s culinary scene as executive chef at Lone Mountain Ranch’s Horn & Cantle.

Like the tale familiar to many Big Sky locals, Mechura is locked into a career path that always pulls him back to the growing Montana ski town. His name is not only known by most longtime Big Sky diners, it’s celebrated.

steakhouse, and rebranding a boutique hotel, a friend of his was back in a Big Sky bar having a conversation with Chuck Schommer, former owner of Big Sky’s Bucks-T4 Lodge. Schommer said he was looking for a new executive chef and asked the friend if he thought Mechura would ever come back to Big Sky, to which the friend replied: “No way. He loves Texas.”

And he did love Texas. But the pull of Big Sky was stronger.

“It’s familiar and comfortable,” Mechura said with a smile. “The people here are amazing. I know everyone says that, but it’s true. From newcomers to strangers, to old locals that have been here forever.” He took a pause, filling the empty space with palpable sentiment. “I love the community here.”

Mechura worked at Bucks for six years, building on the restaurant’s reputation in the regional culinary scene. But once again, he found himself chasing another opportunity beyond the view of Lone Mountain.

Long before attaining celebrity in Big Sky, Mechura started his career just as most aspiring chefs do to get their foot in the kitchen door: as a dishwasher at age 15. From scrubbing plates in St. Paul, Minnesota, he moved up in the ranks, cooking in a classic French restaurant and working as a sous chef and assistant brewer at an English-style brew pub—and everything in between.

Like many residents of the community, Mechura started coming out to Big Sky for vacations, but it didn’t take long for him to know he wanted to make it his home.

On one of his trips in 2000, Mechura was walking through the newly constructed Moonlight Lodge when he ran into Lee Poole, founder of Moonlight Basin.

“If anybody in this valley knows Lee Poole, they know how gregarious and how open of his time and heart he was to people,” Mechura said.

Poole put him in touch with the right people, and five weeks later, Mechura was loading up his car to move to Big Sky, where he debuted his talents to the community as head chef at The Timbers in the Moonlight Lodge.

“I cut my teeth as a chef at The Timbers in Moonlight, where I at least started to develop some confidence and some skill set,” Mechura said.

In 2008, Mechura took a gig as the opening chef at the Yellowstone Club.

After 11 years in Big Sky, though, the young chef decided he’d lived out his mountain dreams and was ready to change course once again. Mechura left the Yellowstone Club in 2011 and moved south to Austin, Texas.

“I was like, ‘I’m ready for the cold to be done and ready to be warm—never thinking I would move back [to Big Sky],’” Mechura joked.

But fate, or something like it, had something different in store for him.

While Mechura was fully immersed in the Texas barbecue scene, working as an executive chef for a private club, opening a prime

Executive Chef of Horn & Cantle Scott Mechura smiles before diving into his favorite starters on the menu: sea scallops & grits and bison tartare. PHOTO BY TUCKER HARRIS

34 December 17 - 30, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Mechura moved to Bozeman in 2020 to hang up his chef ’s hat and start a position as culinary director for four restaurants: Plonk Bozeman, Plonk Missoula, Stacey’s Old Faithful Bar & Saloon and The Old Saloon in Emigrant.

Mechura loved his new home in Bozeman and enjoyed providing his experience and skillset to a collaboration with fellow chefs.

But despite his success in one of Montana’s fastest growing urban areas, that familiar tug of Big Sky was steadfast and familiar, and like so many times before, he gave into it.

Mechura said he wasn’t looking for a new job, but circumstances aligned for him to join the Lone Mountain Ranch team, officially starting on Nov. 15 this year.

For him, it all comes back to community.

“I like the community, and it was just intriguing to me and exciting specifically here as Big Sky grows,” Mechura said.

Already, Mechura is fitting right in at the ranch. Northwestern cuisine is more than in his wheelhouse. He talks about game; about seasonal nuts, berries and fruit; about smoking, curing and preserving.

These are all techniques and culinary themes present on our table: his classic steak and frites and my bison tenderloin atop cranberry thyme savory oats and draped in raisin tapenade and crispy shallots.

When Mechura arrived at Horn & Cantle, the kitchen staff had already set a menu for the winter season.

“I walked into a menu that our team had put together without me, which is something I had never really done before,” Mechura said. “And it’s been a really cool experience.”

He’ll have his chance to make it his own, though, because for Mechura, menus should always be evolving. “To me, menus are the ultimate living document,” he said.

Explore Big Sky

Mechura never worked at the ranch, but it was always a part of his Big Sky experience.

“I have been familiar with the ranch since I moved here.” Mechura said. “In fact, I used to come up here on a day off with a book and sit at the bar in the saloon to hide and get away from people… [The Saloon] was like a hideout for me,” Mechura recalled.

Though perhaps no longer a hideout, the newly renovated saloon is a draw to the idyllic Western ranch in itself. Perfectly curated Western tunes play as we drink cocktails far too good for a real saloon: the Lone Mountain for Mechura and the Big Sky Bramble for myself.

I observe the dining room, full of guests comfortably conversing as they dig into their dishes, props in this larger picture of an authentic Western experience.

“This guy is fantastic,” Mechura whispers to me after our waiter checks in on us.

The Western brand, explains Mechura, is underrated hospitality and caring for a stranger.

“It comes off on the surface as casual and comfortable and friendly and warm and welcoming—and it’s all of those things—but behind the curtain, underneath it all, there’s a deeper energy… and a lot of work that goes behind it.”

Perhaps that’s what makes a chef not just good but great: the understanding that the food is just a piece of it. It’s not just about the well-dressed piece of game on the plate, but as he says, “all the work that goes into it.” Perhaps he understands this about Big Sky, too.

Mechura remembers his drive from Minnesota to Big Sky on his way to his first job at The Timbers. He describes the back and forth in his head during the drive: “This is so great. I’m so excited.” And an hour later: “What am I doing?

I’m changing my life. I can’t do this.”

In the end, he made it to Big Sky, a place he will always call home regardless of how many times he leaves.

“I never turned around.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

35 December 17 - 30, 2021

Explore Big Sky

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR Friday, Dec. 17 – Thursday, Dec. 30

If your event falls between Dec. 31 and Jan. 13, please submit it by Dec. 22 by emailing media@outlaw.partners

Friday, Dec. 17

Christmas Eve Service: Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carrols Big Sky Chapel, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Candlelight Tours

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Dec. 17-19

Saturday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

2021 Northside Holiday Stroll

Nativity of our Lord Christmas Day Holy Eucharist

Bozeman Brewery Historic District, 4 p.m.

Big Sky Chapel, 9 a.m.

Silent Disco

Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Santosha Wellness Center, 6:30 p.m.

Big Sky Chapel, 11 a.m.

Live Music: Juicebox Band with Moonlight Moonlight

Sunday, Dec. 26

The Filling Station, Bozeman, 9 p.m.

Live Music: Daniel Kosel

Pine Creek Lodge, 11 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 18 Bozeman Winter Farmers Market

Sippin’ Santa Pop-Up Bar

Gallatin County Fairgrounds, 8 a.m.

Kitty Warren Social Club, Bozeman, 6 p.m.

Ugly Sweater Party

Monday, Dec. 27 Black Magic

Happy Box Bozeman, 9 p.m.

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 19

Tuesday, Dec. 28.

Roots in the Sky Holiday Choral Concert

Black Magic

Big Sky Chapel, 7:30

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 20

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Sunrise Karaoke

Live Music: Luke Flansburg

American Legion, Bozeman, 9 p.m.

Tips Up, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 21

Thursday, Dec. 30

Miracle Pop Up Bar

Live Music: Jacob Rountree

Happy Box Bozeman, 5 p.m.

Bozeman Hot Springs, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 22 Meet Mr. and Mrs. Clause

Live Music: The Damn Duo

Dry Hills Distillery, Bozeman, 4 p.m.

Tips Up, 9 p.m.

Seasons Breathings

Featured Event: Black Magic Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

Santosha Wellness Center, 6 p.m.

Five of the foremost street dancers in the country will perform pure movement on the WMPAC stage over two nights to officially launch the ninth Winter Season.

Black Magic is a movement journey through the trials and tribulations of the good, bad, and traumatic occurrences throughout history. Instead of breaking the people who experienced them, however, these trials have influenced this beautiful language of movement.

Live Music: Jacob Rountree Tips Up, 9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 23 Live Music: The Damn Duo Tips Up, 9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) Christmas Eve Service: Big Sky Christian Fellowship Big Sky Chapel, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Big Sky Resort Yellowstone Conference Center, 5 p.m.

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37 December 17 - 30, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Explore Big Sky

Reggie Watts

A Montana-made, self-proclaimed weirdo is revolutionizing improv comedy

BY BRIAN D’AMBROSIO EBS CONTRIBUTOR

If John Hughes ever directed a movie in Montana, comedian and musician Reggie Watts would’ve been the star.

Now an entertainer of late night television recognition, Watts grew up and went to high school in Great Falls, an experience rich with the angst-ridden, coming-of-age plot that Hughes based his 1980s American teen movies on.

“It was like ‘Sixteen Candles’ or ‘Weird Science’ or ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ’ or ‘Better Off Dead,’” said Watts, who penetrated deeper into the pop realm as the Emmys DJ in the fall of 2021. “I feel lucky that those movies were around during that time. I was the exact perfect age when those things came out; I didn’t stand a chance.”

Watts said that he had no trouble finding the rich moments of insight and painful moments of irony in Hughes’ eloquent vignettes, and to this day such films resonate in self-effacing, reverent memories.

“I appreciate some of the characters, because I was definitely sort of a class clown,” Watts said. “With Great Falls, people either hate it or love it, for sure. Watts loved the northern Montana city for a lot of reasons; it’s where he grew up, where he became Reggie Watts, he said.

“While it doesn’t have an obvious artistic culture, it was the perfect time to be there in junior high and high school. Dope music. Listening to weird music on boomboxes and playing records, always riffing all the time. It was the ‘70s and ‘80s, and you didn’t need to worry about cell phones. Good, fun, outdoor activities, like the Boy Scouts. Great Falls allowed me the chance to be who I wanted to be—a weirdo—and there was no bullying, and I met a lot of other weirdos and we had a weirdo club, which did art, dreamt, did music and had free rein.”

Watts said that he overcame self-doubt and the more disorienting moments of his high school years by sampling everything, from participating in sports and band, as well as the drama team and student government, to astronomy and back lawn star-gazing, and even a little bit of modeling.

Rising musician and comedian Reggie Watts will perform at The Elm in Bozeman on Dec. 18. PHOTO BY ROBYN VON SWANK

“I wanted to experience as much I could—it’s a bad habit,” he said.

Watts was born in 1972 in Stuttgart, Germany; his mother is French, and his father was a U.S. Air Force officer. Watts arrived in Great Falls at age 4, and at 18, the 1990 Great Falls High School graduate moved to Seattle and played in bands—punk rock bands, heavy metal groups, you name it—while attending the Art Institute of Seattle before landing in New York in 2004.

“It was a blast to discover being a young adult…and I lived in the classic living-in-a-band house.”

Watts maintains a busy schedule of entertaining as a musician-comedianbeatboxer, known for his sets that he says are pulled out of thin air. Using only his voice and looping peddles, he interlaces music with a monologue of extended metaphors one-liners and chameleon-like mood shifts.

A set of Watts’ looped, layered beats resembles a tasty trip across the radio dial, a jumble of melodies and anti-melodies, with his tender, tough voice sizzling a soul-drenched, hip-hop-pop infusion. Minute by minute, he adds droll wordplay and random lyrics like a new suit of clothes; toss in a bit of free association standup comedy, a sly twinkle, and a bunch of startlingly quick and kooky observations, and you’ve got a night with Reggie.

Watts’ free-wheeling personality can be seen on network television Mondays through Fridays as the bandleader on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” who took over the CBS program in 2017 from Craig Ferguson. “The Late Late Show” is filmed several afternoons per week at CBS Television City in Hollywood.

Indeed, Watts is the first to concede that if it doesn’t sound strange than it doesn’t sound like Reggie: his brilliant, idiosyncratic, wandering-around-thebeat phrasing, his distinctive rhythm, the sideways pivots in his arrangements.

None of them are developed beforehand. And all that exists are great moments told and sung straight. Indeed, the future of improvisational comedy just might be in real good hands.

His appeal is mostly one of personality: He’s perhaps the most unrequited, unequivocal face in all of late night television. Familiarity is another part of Watt’s appeal. In a rapidly changing world, he’s something solid, something people can rely on.

“I started riffing learning classical piano at about age 11,” Watts said. “It was hard for me to learn pieces completely, so when I got frustrated with it I’d just riff and improvise. Creating my own pieces in piano class, I became interested in just riffing.”

Watts plays a jocular, easygoing part on the show, the equivalent to Paul Shaffer, sidekick and musical leader for the entire run of both David Letterman’s Late Night and Late shows. The secret to Watts’ success isn’t elaborate at all: he’s himself.

He almost always adds a gig or two in Montana to his performance load, and he returns to Great Falls frequently to visit his mother, a tough-minded place that still supplies him with plenty of grit, affection, and emotional oomph.

“James [Corden] was shown a video of mine from a friend of his,” Watts said.

“They were looking for a band, a bandleader, a musician type of dude. He said, ‘let’s talk to that guy.’ We had coffee in Beverly Hills. Same thing when I went on [to open nightly] on the Conan [O’Brien] show. It was YouTube videos that did it.”

“Great Falls is blue-collar and gritty and rock-and-roll, and I dig it,” Watts said. “Great Falls is a simplistic stereotype, and I keep it to the people who can appreciate it for what it is. It was a fun, open place for me to develop my imagination. I did my thing there and eventually it worked out.”

Reggie Watts performs at The ELM, Saturday, December 18, 2021.

38 December 17 - 30, 2021

FINANCE

Explore Big Sky

Enjoying the Ride: A time for giving

BY SCOTT BROWN SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT

There is a chill in the air, snow has started to fall in the mountains and holiday lights, decorations and shopping have begun not only here in the Gallatin Valley but across the country and the globe. Yup, it’s that holiday cheer time of the year again.

I trust that for most of you and your families, 2021 was an improvement over 2020. Thanks to wide-spread vaccine distributions, school and employment reopenings, the return of travel, retail shopping and dining out it certainly feels a lot better than it did a year ago.

With that said, there is no doubt COVID-19 continues to be a hurdle for families, businesses and the global economy but it feels like we continue to march toward a return to a more normal environment. Cheers to an even better 2022 ahead!

In the spirt of the season, I thought it would be nice to talk a little bit about gifting. ‘Tis the reason for the season after all. If you’re fortunate enough to consider making a monetary gift to family members or friends, remember that the annual gift tax limit for 2021 is $15,000 per person or up to $30,000 per couple. Grandparents could also consider gifting college funds to grandchildren.

If you gift to a 529 plan, the IRS allows up to five years’ worth of contributions at once with the potential to avoid gift tax consequences. An individual could contribute $75,000 or a couple could contribute $150,000 to a beneficiary in one lump sum.

For those of you who are philanthropically inclined, don’t forget those valuable and hard-working 501(c)(3)s on your list. Although a cash contribution is always welcome, a donor can also choose to gift appreciated publicly traded

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stock owned for more than 12 months, and the donor reports the donated value as the fair market value at the time of the transfer which may create a nice tax benefit.

Finally, do not forget to make room for a gift for yourself. It’s not too late to increase your contributions to your 401(k) or other employer or self-directed retirement plans. Furthermore, you can plan to fully fund your Roth or Traditional IRA for 2021 prior to Tax Day on April 18, 2022.

You may also consider the gift of fitness by purchasing a gym membership, work out equipment or just carve out some time for yourself to get outside and exercise. Never forget that the gift of learning a new skill or subject is always a winner as well.

With gifting in mind, I hope you all receive the gift of health and happiness this holiday season and that you and yours Enjoy the Ride!

The opinions expressed here reflect the judgment of the author as of the date of the report and are subject to change without notice. The material has been prepared or is distributed solely for information purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Additional information is available upon request.

All investing involves some degree of risk, whether it is associated with market volatility, purchasing power or a specific security, including the possible loss of principal. Stocks offer long-term growth potential but may fluctuate more and provide less current income than other investments. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is not a tax or legal advisor.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. [Practice Name] is a separate entity from WFAFN.

BUSINESS

39 December 17 - 30, 2021

Explore Big Sky

Making it in Big Sky: Big Sky Resort Tax District

BY MIRA BRODY

CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGIST

BIG SKY – In 1998, the general electorate of the Big Sky Resort Area voted to create a district for local administration of Big Sky’s resort tax, which is applied to luxury goods as a means to fund community needs. Since then, the district has initiated over $80 million in investments with tax dollars, playing a significant role in funding priority programs and projects throughout Big Sky. Explore Big Sky spoke with BSRAD Executive Director Daniel Bierschwale about how BSRAD has met the needs of Big Sky since its inception, and how it has adapted to a quickly-growing community. Bierschwale, who has always been passionate about serving the Greater Yellowstone region since he first visited in college, says he is fortunate to work with one of the most committed and talented crews in Big Sky. The following responses have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: Let’s start with a little background information on you. When did you come to Big Sky? Daniel Bierschwale: My passion for Big Sky originated from working in Yellowstone National Park during a summer in college. As the son of a minister, my family moved frequently.

As a result, I set out to put down roots in Greater Yellowstone and Montana, making it home in 2007 with a relocation to Big Sky in 2019.

EBS: When did you become involved with BSRAD? D.B.: My involvement with resort tax dates back to my time in Gardiner and the Paradise Valley. During those years I played an active role in public/private partnerships including implementing the resort tax in Gardiner. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to apply this experience to my role with the Big Sky Resort Area District.

“

funding priority programs and projects throughout Big Sky. Included in these investments are Health and Safety, Public Works, Recreation and Conservation, Economic Development, Arts and Education, and Housing. The community guided “Our Big Sky Vision and Strategy” has really helped serve as an overarching framework for ensuring we are making the right investments.

EBS: How big is your team?

D.B.: I like to think we have one of the most committed and talented crews in Big Sky. In addition to our devoted board of five directors, we have a small paid staff of four that consists of myself (executive director), Kristin Drain (finance and compliance manager), Jenny Muscat (operations manager) and Sara Huger (administrative assistant). We are always thrilled to share our efforts with the community and give anyone an overview of our operation (located above Grizzly Outfitters).

It really doesn’t get much better than seeing community initiatives come to fruition.

– Daniel Bierschwale, executive director, BSRAD

”

In addition to our devoted Board of five Directors, the Big Sky Resort Area District has a paid staff of four: Daniel Bierschwale (Executive Director), Kristin Drain (Finance and Compliance Manager), Jenny Muscat (Operations Manager) and Sara Huger (Administrative Assistant).

PHOTO COURTESY OF BSRAD

EBS: Tell me about the history of BSRAD: When did it start?

D.B.: In 1992, the general electorate of the Big Sky Resort Area voted to adopt a resort tax to be charged on "luxury" goods and services not deemed “necessities of life.” In 1998, the general electorate of the Big Sky Resort Area voted to create a district for local administration of the resort tax. Resort tax is collected and remitted by local businesses operating within the district. The locally elected board of five volunteer directors strategically invests funds to address critical community needs.

EBS: How has it grown to address the needs in the Big Sky community?

D.B.: Our vision is that “Big Sky is BETTER TOGETHER as a result of wise investments, an engaged community and the pursuit of excellence.” Since its inception, over $80 million in investments have played a significant role in

EBS: Tell me about the different services you provide to the community?

D.B.: Our operation consists of two umbrellas including compliance (collection of the tax) and investment (using the tax). That said we truly do adapt to meet community need and support as a convening entity at times. For example, last year many of you saw us distributing and collecting COVID-19 tests for Big Sky’s testing program.

More recent examples include supporting the Community Vision and Strategy Implementation Team, supporting the Post Office in federal discussions to address demand, and engaging to get the TIGER grant to the finish line.

EBS: What is your favorite experience working for BSRAD? D.B.: It really doesn’t get much better than seeing community initiatives come to fruition. Knowing public dollars have been used to bring the vision of our community into reality brings us joy.

For example, we have all been watching the work on BASE and are excited for it to open.

EBS: Is there anything else that I should know or that you want to tell the Big Sky community about BSRAD and the work you do?

D.B.: BSRAD has two strategic partnership initiatives underway. Over the past six months a subcommittee with representation from Madison and Gallatin counties and BSRAD has been underway to open communication and planning for jointly funded initiatives. Similarly, we have been working closely with our community foundations to seek alignment with funding priorities. It’s very exciting to see both initiatives take shape and ultimately ensure we are collectively addressing community need.

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

D.B.: Partnership is a handshake not a handout.

DINING

40 December 17 - 30, 2021

Explore Big Sky

Spicy Ginger Holiday Mule

BY TUCKER HARRIS The holiday season is upon us—whether you’re ready or not. EBS is here to help you be prepared for the ugly Christmas sweater parties, cookie exchanges, New Year’s Eve cocktail celebrations and more. We’ve put together a go-to cocktail recipe that will be sure to have all of your guests merry and bright this holiday season.

This Spicy Ginger Moscow Mule is a delicious festive drink that elevates your classic mule with a holiday twist.

This drink will be sure to warm everyone up on the cold winter nights. Mixed with a homemade honey, ginger and jalapeño syrup, fresh grapefruit and lime juice, and topped with cranberries, the cocktail creates both a spicy and sweet flavor. This recipe is proportioned to fill a pitcher, perfect for pleasing all of your guests at the holiday party. Adapted from Half Baked Harvest, find the recipe below.

Ingredients: • 1/3 cup of honey • 2 jalapeños, sliced • 6 slices of fresh ginger • ¼ cup of fresh mint • 2 cups of your choice of vodka • 3/4 cup of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (about 2 grapefruits) • 1 cup of fresh squeezed limes (about 4-6 limes) • 4 (12 once) ginger beers, for topping • Cranberries and extra mint leaves for serving

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Method: 1. Start with the spicy ginger honey syrup. In a medium pot, bring ½ cup of water, the honey, ginger and jalapeños to boil on high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in the mint. Let cool, and then strain into a glass jar.

2. In a pitcher, combine the vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice and the spicy ginger honey syrup. Stir until well-mixed.

3. Pour into copper mugs and top off with ice, ginger beer, cranberries and mint.

BACK 40

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42 December 17 - 30, 2021

DINING

Explore Big Sky

AMUSE-BOUCHE Amuse-bouche refers to an appetizer, and by French translation means, “to entertain the mouth.” It offers a glimpse into what you should expect from a meal. Also it’s free, compliments of the chef.

Part 1: The fall of food

BY SCOTT MECHURA EBS FOOD COLUMNIST

From the safety and performance of our cars to the quality of materials we use to build homes, our lives have been made easier as time has progressed. It’s hard to imagine how men like Robert Peary and Frederick Cook reached the north pole without Gore-Tex. Everything is easier, save for one advantage our grandparents had over us: They ate much better foods than we do.

By that, I mean that the foods they ate were proteins, vegetables starches and grains with nothing added. They had to deal with washing pesticides as do we, but beyond that, food was just better.

Sure, on the surface food quality has vastly improved as a whole, from wheat grass to healthy grains and pulses to wide use of avocado and coconut water. We know far more today than we did even 30 years ago about what, how and when to eat. But congruently, I continue to ask myself the same question.

When did eating become so difficult?

The answer, my answer, is this: We’ve altered or in some cases even ruined foods in our quest for health or convenience. In other words, the better we get, the worse we get.

Increasingly, foods are created in a test facility rather than grown, raised, harvested or picked. So, the added challenge is trying to figure out why a given food item was created in the first place. Is it even good for us? And what are the long-term effects on our bodies?

It all started with two major changes, both within about 10 years. One of these changes was political of all things, and the other agricultural.

Though several politicians, including a young congressman from California by the name of Richard Nixon, played their part in what became referred to as McCarthyism which began in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Joseph McCarthy, as the name suggests, was at the forefront of this movement in which tens of thousands of Americans were labeled as traitors and treasonous for their support of communism.

BIG SKY’S

TEXTILE CLEANING SPECIALIST SINCE 1988

What does McCarthyism have to do with how we eat today? And how could these two things possibly intersect?

During this movement, the U.S. was gripped by a fear that the Russians were coming for us and that it was in our best interest to prepare ourselves accordingly. One way to do this was to build bomb shelters under our homes. In order to survive in a bomb shelter you needed provisions that would last.

And thus the widespread practice of sealing our food in tin cans began.

Carpet Cleaning • Soil & Stain Protectants • Spot Cleaning Upholstery Cleaning • Leather Cleaning Fine Area Rug Cleaning • Tile & Grout Cleaning Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Conditioning • Odor Removal

A few years later in 1957, a sugar alternative was created, with all the best intentions we are told, that would change our lives for decades to come, maybe forever. And this is not hyperbolic.

The product was high fructose corn syrup and today, it is in virtually every food that isn’t grown, harvested or raised.

Fast forward to today, and grocery stores are full of thousands upon thousands of products that either contain high fructose corn syrup or are in a can, and in some cases, both.

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These two culprits kicked off the steady decline in the quality of our food, but they’re far from alone. Stay tuned for the next Amuse Bouche column, where the saga continues.

Scott Mechura has spent a life in the hospitality industry. He is an executive chef, former certified beer judge and currently the executive chef for Lone Mountain Ranch.

43 December 17 - 30, 2021

FUN

Explore Big Sky

American Life in Poetry 872

BY KWAME DAWES Shara McCallum never uses the word “haunt,” but the poem is about the haunting of those who have gone before. Yet the haunting is purposeful. It is shot through with the poet’s sense that she owes the dead some accountability, and the dead seem to agree. As necessary as it is to read “No Ruined Stone” as a broad meditation on the legacy of a troubled history, (the poem, “No Ruined Stone” is the title poem of her new collection that, among other things, explores the implications of transatlantic slavery), at its emotional core, is a tender accounting of loss and memory. This grandmother, one senses, is also haunting by inhabiting everything the poet sees around her. This fierce presence is the unusual but quite familiar theme of her elegy.

No Ruined Stone

BY SHARA MCCALLUM

May 2018: for my grandmother When the dead return they will come to you in dream and in waking, will be the bird knocking, knocking against glass, seeking a way in, will masquerade as the wind, its voice made audible by the tongues of leaves, greedily lapping, as the waves’ self-made fugue is a turning and returning, the dead will not then nor ever again desert you, their unrest will be the coat cloaking you, the farther you journey from them the more distance will maw in you, time and place gulching when the dead return and demand accounting, wanting everything you have to give and nothing will quench or unhunger them as they take all you make as offering.

Then tell you to begin again.

Corner Quote “I love snow for the same reason I love Christmas: It brings people together while time stands still. Cozy couples lazily meandered the streets and children trudged sleds and chased snowballs. No one seemed to be in a rush to experience anything other than the glory of the day, with each other, whenever and however it happened.”

— Rachel Cohn

BIG SKY

BEATS Cozy Winter As snowflakes float elegantly through the air outside, covering mountain tops and settling on evergreens, it’s time to relax, cozy up by the fire and enjoy a warm mug of hot cocoa. As Phoebe Bridgers softly sings in “If We Make it Through December:” “It’s the coldest time of winter, And I shiver when I see the falling snow.” Sometimes it’s okay to enjoy the beauty of the winter wonderland from the comfort of your home.

Explore Big Sky brings you a playlist to snuggle up to this winter.

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“Warm Glow” by Hippo Campus “If We Make it Through December” by Phoebe Bridgers “Winter Can’t Change” by Boy Named Banjo “Holocene” by Bon Iver “Morning Song” by The Avett Brothers “Time after Time” by Iron & Wine “Golden Embers” by Mandolin Orange “Winter Song” by The Head and the Heart “Alone” by Trampled by Turtles “Keep the Wolves Away” by Uncle Lucius

During the holidays and throughout the year, the L&K team is proud to support a variety of local charities. Please join us in supporting the charities each team member has chosen to gift to during the season of giving.

EJ DAWS Sales Associate, Realtor Big Sky Bravery - bigskybravery.org I feel passionate to support the men and women of Special Operations who work and risk their lives around the world to keep us safe here at home.

They do it quietly and with honor.

Darren Streets Sales Associate, Realtor Task Force Heroes - taskforceheroes.org I chose this group because they are passionate about providing Christian based spiritual and emotional support to first responders, military and law enforcement which enables them to overcome the trauma and stress that they encounter being on the front lines of helping our community and defending our country.

Blake Kaufman Sales Associate Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - rmef.org I chose RMEF because as an outdoorsman, I value preserving and protecting our natural resources. It’s our responsibility to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities we do today.

ETHAN STOKES Sales Associate Museum of the Rockies museumoftherockies.org I chose to give to the Museum of the Rockies because they are a great organization that works tirelessly to bring unique culture and history into our community. They also provide amazing educational platforms and programs for kids to learn and explore.

CARRIE BRYAN Sales Associate & Transaction Coordinator Big Sky Food Bank - bigskyfoodbank.org I support the Big Sky Food Bank, they’re a very vital business here in our community helping those in need of emergency food or just a little help throughout the year.

Without them, so many members of our community would be without food and support.

Michael Pitcairn Broker Heart of the Valley - heartofthevalley.org I chose Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter because of the incredible work they do to provide a home for animals in need. For me, animals have always been a great source of companionship and also provide the extra motivation to get outside and explore. Please do whatever you can to ensure our defenseless animals have a nice temporary home until they can be adopted. Please visit heartofthevalley.org to find out how you can help today. Thank you.

Ennion Williams Sales Associate Gallatin River Task Force gallatinrivertaskforce.org I am choosing this charity as water quality and quantity is one of the largest concerns for a growing town like Big Sky.

Ryan Kulesza Owner & Broker Western Sustainability Exchange westernsustainabilityexchange.org This is a group that’s making active steps to not only do food production in environmentally conscience ways but also creating distribution and retail hubs for local producers to sell product. They are helping farmers and ranchers to be successful again. Their educational guidance has lead to 100,000’s acres being improved and better availability of foods to all of us.

Eric Ladd Owner Tsering's Fund - tseringsfund.org The mission of Tsering's Fund is to provide help to the underprivileged in Nepal through private donations. They find deserving children, young women and families in Nepal and help change their lives through educational scholarships, medical care and basic living assistance.

Contact us today for your real estate needs.

LKRealEstate.com | 406.995.2404

45 October 22 - November 4, 2021

2021 GIFT AND GEAR GUIDE

BY MIRA BRODY

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” – William Blake Most of us live in Montana to enjoy life in the mountains, and with those skypiercing peaks comes the great, white blanket of winter. Whether you enjoy an adrenaline-fueled day charging cirques and ridgelines or cozying up by the fire with a mug of cocoa and a book with the mountains in pleasant view from your window, Explore Big Sky’s 2021 Gift and Gear Guide has a little something for everyone, with local artisans, business owners, culinary artists and culture in mind. Stay warm and happy shopping!

Jelt Belt: Mountain Venture Adjustable Stretch Belt

$36 Jelt Belt’s Mountain Venture Adjustable Stretch Belt was built for the adventurer in your life. With features that meet the needs of any day chasing peaks, whether that be on skis, snowshoes or on foot. Strong, flexible and lightweight, this belt can be worn by men or women with up to a 50-inch waist size, includes a grippy gel that keeps it in place with or without belt loops and is strong enough to carry some of your essential gear, such as bear spray or two-way radios. The waterproof webbing is made from recycled plastic bottles, offering a nod to Mother Nature.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Explore Big Sky

Black elastic and buckle with dark taupe mountain design Made for men and women Minimal, non-metal buckle snaps into place Grippy inner gel means it can be worn with or without belt loops Elastic material made from recycled plastic bottles Waterproof One size fits everyone, up to 50 inches Belt: Recycled polyester/rubber/nylon Belt width: 1.5 inches Weight: 3.1 oz.

Proudly made in Bozeman, Montana and sold online or at Grizzly Outfitters in Big Sky Town Center.

This belt was made for adventure. Take your Jelt Belt out for a mellow ski tour in the backcountry and enjoy Big Sky’s Beehive Basin in the quiet of winter.

BEEHIVE BASIN SKI TOUR Distance: 7 miles, out and back Vertical gain: 1,650 feet Duration: 2 to 3 hours Beehive Basin is a popular trail year-round, but the winter months do offer a bit more solitude. Pack your avalanche gear and a trustworthy friend and prepare to see some stunning, jagged peaks of granite that surround the Big Sky area.

From the parking lot, your hike in follows private land for about a mile—be respectful and stay on the marked trail. There are approaches from both the west and east side from here, often already marked by skin tracks—the west side offers some low angle terrain for those getting warmed up. Traverse across a prominent meadow and pick your track up to the ridgeline.

The east side offers a variety of downhill terrain with multiple tree runs and drainages. You can continue the traverse from the ridge and drop into the prominent Bear Basin as well, with breathtaking views of the Spanish Peaks. All of these routes are prone to avalanches—check the forecast with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center before you head out and always be trained in avalanche safety protocol.

Duckworth: Women’s Comet Tunnel Hood & Men’s Comet Hoody

$150 Get back to basics with the Duckworth Comet Long Sleeve Crew. In both men’s and women’s cut, the Merino Wool base layer top keeps the chill out, even on the coldest Montana winter days. Duckworth’s Comet fabric is a natural-technical mash-up, combining a pure, 100 percent Montana-grown Merino Wool outer layer and a polyester inner layer that creates a hydrophobic, sweat-wicking shirt that keeps you warm no matter how rigorous the activity. Durable, soft, anti-odor and hooded, the Comet Long Sleeve Crew will stave off the chill from the slopes to keep you warm all the way to the Après celebrations.

46 October 22 - November 4, 2021

2021 GIFT AND GEAR GUIDE

Explore Big Sky

outdoorsman and women and conservation-focused friends and family in your life this holiday season.

HEY BEAR BEANIE, $35 Stay cozy this winter with a colorful Hey Bear beanie.

HEY BEAR MIZU CAMPER MUG, $38 Whether it’s filled with warm coffee, a cider or a hot toddy, the Hey Bear Mizu Camper Mug will keep your favorite adventure beverage toasty.

HEY BEAR COTOPAXI BACKPACK, $95 Whether skinning up a snowy mountain or out on your next hike, this colorful Cotopaxi backpack will keep your belongings safe and dry in a stylish pack during your next venture.

HEY BEAR VEST, $177 A new Hey Bear addition, this lightly insulated, core-warming vest combines recycled polyester insulation and repurposed taffeta for reversible and convenient color-blocked protection. An elastic-lined hood keeps your head toasty, and dual pockets keep your hands warm.

The next time you’re out in bear country, remember these tips to keep yourself and the bears safe.

• •

Composition: 100 percent Montana Merino Wool outer layer, 100 percent American Polyester inner layer Weight: 275 gsm

A SOUTHWEST MONTANA TRADITION: TREE HUNTING Now that you’re armed with a great Duckworth base layer, it’s time to follow a longtime southwest Montana tradition—venturing out into the woods and cutting your own Christmas tree. While friends and family may argue over exact qualities that make for the perfect holiday tree, nothing beats a brisk hike or cross-country ski into your favorite National Forest to find it.

First, be sure to acquire a tree permit from recreation.gov. There, you can also find helpful maps for where to hunt down the best tree nearest to you. Forest Service guidelines ask that you not cut trees from campgrounds or parking lots, trailheads, picnic areas or within 200 feet of any streams or lakes.

Once you’ve chosen a location, pack a sled, gloves, warm layers and a small saw and head out for your tree hunt!

Hey Bear: Hey Bear Beanie, Mizu Camper Mug, Hey Bear Cotopaxi Backpack, Hey Bear Vest

$35-177 Hey Bear is more than just a retail store—it’s an educational bear safety platform. We believe that living with bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is a privilege. To protect ourselves and the wildlife we share a home with, Hey Bear, named for the phrase hikers often shout to scare bruins away before an adverse confrontation, aims to educate and inspire recreationists about how to coexist with bears in bear country, and also works with local organizations to give back to nonprofits that provide conservation efforts.

BEING RESPONSIBLE IN BEAR COUNTRY: • Hike in groups of three or more.

• Make noise. We recommend yelling “Hey Bear!”

• Store food properly when hiking and camping.

• Carry bear spray, keep it within reach, and know how to use it.

• Take a bear safety class with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

• If you see a bear from afar, stay 100 yards away.

• If you encounter a bear and it moves toward you, move slowly away and speak to it in low tones.

• If a black bear charges, hold your ground and fight back.

• If a grizzly bear charges, lay flat on your stomach, protecting your neck and head with your arms and do not move.

• Never run from a bear.

Range Meal Bars: Alpine Start & Fresh Tracks

$7-35 Range Meal Bars were formulated with endurance in mind. Between completing his engineering degree at Montana State University back in 2017 and fueling for weekend mountain adventures, Range Meal Bars founder Zach Hein knew he needed something that was durable, compact, convenient and nutritious. After years of tweaking the formula until he got something consumable and high-quality, Range Meal Bars are today available in 30 stores across the U.S. and are used by Olympic Gold Medalists, hunters, skiers, thru hikers, U.S. Special Forces, climbers and those in pursuit of mountain sports.

Each bar is 700 calories packed with all natural ingredients you can actually pronounce, stays soft even in chilly temperatures and is barely bigger than a deck of cards. Single bars can be purchased for $7, or $35 for a six pack to keep you moving all winter.

To support Hey Bear and our mission, we produce high-quality, sustainable and functional outdoors products for you. Here’s what we recommend for the

ALPINE START A medley of chocolate, peanut butter and coffee. The coffee used in this bar is single origin from Colombia and roasted in Massachusetts with 100 percent renewable energy. Gluten free and vegan (with the exception of honey).

FRESH TRACKS Sweet and savory with molasses, ginger and sea salt. The sea salt for Fresh Tracks is harvested in Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast with a percentage of profits going to the Elakha Alliance, which works to protect habitat along the Oregon Coast. Gluten free and vegan.

47 October 22 - November 4, 2021

2021 GIFT AND GEAR GUIDE

“I chose to take Range Bars along for the real test: fly fishing for striped bass a few miles off the South Jersey Coast … in November. Air temps in the 50s, ocean temps about the same, the fish, big. No time for any sort of food preparation out here, we need no-fuss calories to keep us going and Range Meal Bars delivered. With 19 grams of protein and the combined flavor combinations such as “Fresh Tracks (molasses ginger and sea salt or chocolate) and Alpine Start, (chocolate, peanut butter and coffee), this gets no better. So whether you’re packing for a day on the water or strapping your skins to your skis, The Range Meal Bar will keep you fueled up, clear headed and ready to drop that line or stick that fish!”

— Captain J. Moore, adventurer, Range Bar enjoyer Once you have your Range Meal Bars packed, take them out to the mountains where they belong with a backcountry ski to Hyalite Peak.

SKI TOUR TO HYALITE PEAK Distance: 12 miles, out and back Vertical gain: 3,400 feet Duration: 4 to 6 hours Hyalite Peak is a great hike in the summer months, offering ethereal views of the Gallatin Crest, Paradise Valley and Madison Mountains. The call of high peak bagging doesn’t end in the winter however, and Hyalite Peak, located in Hyalite Canyon’s southern crest, is a wonderful backcountry ski for those looking for something advanced and challenging. Pack your Range Meal Bars, your avalanche gear and a trustworthy partner, and get after it.

From Bozeman, head south on South 19th Avenue and turn left onto Hyalite Canyon Road. Drive past the Hyalite Reservoir dam and stay right at the Grotto Falls fork, parking in the Grotto Falls parking lot.

The trail starts mellow, offering views of ice climbers and frozen waterfalls.

Although Hyalite Canyon is popular year-round, unlike in the warmer months, winter is a time where you’ll find yourself alone on the trail more often than not. Your first major climb will bring you to Hyalite Lake, presenting a view of the final, grueling climb to Hyalite Peak. At 10, 298 feet, views from the peak will not disappoint. Enjoy some challenging turns down double-black diamond terrain back to the lake, then a long, medium cool down back to the parking lot.

Explore Big Sky

THE WAPITI: A MULE WITH A TWIST • 2 oz. of vodka, bourbon or tequila • 6 oz. ginger beer • 0.5 oz. lime juice • 1 packet of Lime Salt LMNT Mix all ingredients and serve in a copper mug with ice and a lime wedge.

RegenMarket: The Holiday Sampler

$60 Get your friends and family the best food on Earth from RegenMarket.

Inspired by the agriculture that is at the heart of the West, RegenMarket is an online, membership-based market connecting consumers with Montana producers working to grow food with the planet’s future in mind. All products are produced using regenerative agriculture practices, which forms the base of the food chain for humans and land animals, ensuring the highest-level quality nutrients in your food. It’s also the process Patagonia founder and owner Yvon Chouinard believes may just save our planet from the harmful effects of climate change.

Bring a box of sustainable, delicious, organic and high-quality products home with RegenMarket’s Holiday Sampler. For custom boxes, call (406) 599-9123.

The Holiday Sampler includes: • Breakfast sage pork sausage • 1/3 lb. ground beef • Jalapeño cheddar bratwursts • Green lentils • Sliced smoked ham While you’re waiting for your holiday sampler to arrive, here’s a delicious and healthy recipe that uses Regen lentils.

LMNT: The Recharge Sample Pack

$5 As winter kicks in, you may be experiencing fatigue in the afternoon, perhaps a headache, or even finding yourself stressed more easily. Turns out, you might simply be low in electrolytes. Especially during winter, dehydration is an alltoo-common problem. To start, the average person consumes less than an adequate amount of water. While drinking water alone is important, LMNT’s scientifically formulated electrolyte drink is your missing piece for staying energized while in the mountains this winter.

This holiday season get the LMNT Recharge Sample Pack for the price of shipping ($5) for the athlete in your family. Flavors include: Raspberry Salt, Citrus Salt, Raw Unflavored, Orange Salt, Watermelon Salt, Lemon Habanero, Mango Chili and Chocolate Salt. All flavors are sugar free, gluten free, made with all natural ingredients and meet the requirements of a keto, low-carb and paleo diet.

Want to bump your electrolyte beverages up a notch? Try our signature LMNT cocktail recipe.

CHOCOLATE CHIP LENTIL COOKIES

By Timeless Natural Foods. For more delicious ideas, be sure to visit Mountain Outlaw’s RegenMarket recipe guide.

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Serves: 7 dozen cookies 1 ½ cups butter 2 ½ cups packed brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 4 teaspoons vanilla 5 eggs 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ¾ cup Timeless French Style Lentils, thoroughly cooked in 2 cups water, drained, pureed 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 cups chopped walnuts Preheat oven to 375 F. 1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar and white sugar.

Add vanilla and eggs; beat until smooth. Add lentil puree to butter mixture.

2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture and blend lightly.

3. Gently blend in oatmeal, chocolate chips and nuts until evenly mixed. Chill dough until ready for handling. Drop dough in rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 5 minutes; turn pan and bake another 5 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.

48 October 22 - November 4, 2021

2021 GIFT AND GEAR GUIDE

Simms: Fall Run Jacket & Women’s Rivershed Sweater

$149.95 FALL RUN JACKET In August of this year, Simms relaunched a fan favorite, the Fall Run Jacket. This jacket was in our line a few years ago and has now come back due to popular demand.

We’d consider it a four-season jacket—not too warm for spring, fall and early summer mornings or evenings, but somehow keeps you warm in the dead of winter. The iteration we launched this summer is extra special because its shell fabric and liner are made from 100 percent recycled material. As you might expect, we utilized Primaloft insulation in this jacket and even the insulation is constructed from primarily recycled material.

The perfect jacket both on and off the water, the lightweight Fall Run Hoody packs a heavyweight warmth-to-mass ratio for less bulk under bibs and waders.

Worn alone or paired with a waterproof, breathable shell, the Primaloft insulation is treated for water repellency to keep you warm even when damp from rain or heavy activity. Extremely compressible, it’s the ideal layer for stowing in your daypack or sling pack.

• • • •

Primaloft® Black Eco insulation 60g (body) uses 60 percent recycled materials, treated for water repellency.

100 percent recycled shell with DWR finish for water resistance.

Internal quilting on upper front and back body provides a smooth exterior for abrasion resistance when worn with waders or bibs.

Zippered handwarmer pockets and internal chest zippered pocket on wearer’s right

WOMEN’S RIVERSHED SWEATER $99.95 Warmth on the water comes naturally with the Women’s Rivershed Sweater, a high-performing jacquard fleece standout that pairs perfectly under waders or a jacket and provides the additional coverage of a tall, plush drawstring collar. The heather jacquard fleece channels warmth against the body and releases necessary moisture as needed. Also featuring a kangaroo pocket to keep hands warm and store small essentials, the Women’s Rivershed Fleece comes equipped with a tall, slouchy collar with a drawcord to provide plush comfort and warmth for the neck and face.

• Made from 300gsm • 100 percent heather jacquard polyester fleece

Explore Big Sky BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY DAY TRIP Beartooth Highway is one of the most scenic drives in southwest Montana and follows a portion of U.S. Route 212 through Montana and Wyoming. By car, you’ll reach the summit of Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet above sea level and see countless mountain peaks and wildlife along the way.

From Bozeman, take I-90 east toward Livingston. Take exit 333 and drive through the scenic Paradise Valley to Gardiner to the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. From here, you will meander for an hour through Lamar Valley, possibly spotting the Lamar bison herd. Exit Yellowstone’s northeast entrance and continue through Silver Gate until you reach the beginning of Beartooth Pass.

From here you will wind through hairpin curves, sprawling vistas and along one of the country’s most beautiful roads. From the summit, you’ll see the Bear’s Tooth, a razor sharp rock formation for which the range is named, and the country’s only summer ski area, Beartooth Basin. Descend back to earth into Red Lodge, a quaint, historic mountain town. Grab a bite to eat and head back toward I-90 to complete the loop.

406 Agave Premium Tequila

406 Agave Premium Tequila believes you should, “Drink with your friends, Tequila is for sharing,” making it the best addition to laughter around a campfire, celebration with friends or the perfect Aprés ski beverage. Each tequila is made at a fourth-generation distillery in Jalisco, Mexico and 406 Agave is the first American company to partner with this unique distillery.

With an philosophy of “local to local,” 100 percent of the agave in each tequila is grown, harvested and distilled on site at the Jalisco distillery, and here in Montana they are proudly 100 percent locally employed. The Blanco and Reposado will both be available just in time for the start of the New Year. Try with one of the featured cocktails below.

2022 Audi S6 Sedan

Starting at $74,800 Audi as a brand is all about the combination of luxury and performance. There is an incredible level of detail that goes into the design and production of each and every Audi automobile, and the Audi Sport line, particularly this S6, is “ready for the open road, but dressed for the city streets.” The S6 is a twinturbocharged 2.9-liter V6, 444 horsepower, which is effortlessly distributed to all four wheels via Audi’s patented Quattro All-Wheel-Drive system.

Audi Bozeman + The Audi Sport brand is a locally owned dealership, part of Ressler Motors, the third largest local employer in Bozeman. Ressler Group sponsors over 40 nonprofits annually and Audi Bozeman is an active partner with the Bozeman Symphony, the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Gallatin Valley Big Brothers Big Sisters, Prospera Business Network, Outlaw Marketing and Bozeman Business Professional Women.

Where will your new Audi take you? Here’s one road trip idea for when the snow thaws.

The Blanco has sweet aromas with a hint of mint and tasting notes of vanilla and clean tropical fruit. It is an incredibly clean and smooth Blanco tequila that appeals to those who love a crisp, fresh flavor on the palate. The Reposado has aromas of caramel, vanilla and honey oak with a complex, smooth and bold taste. A bit more complex than the Blanco, the Reposado is aged for four and a half months in honey oak barrels to give it a rich, warm and bolder finish.

Natural vanilla and caramel gives it a signature sweetness and smoothness.

To ring in the new year, try these specialty cocktails from 406 Agave.

FEATURED COCKTAILS 406 WINTER MARGARITA • 1.5 oz. 406 Blanco • 0.5 oz. 5 spice syrup • 0.5 oz. Cointreau • 0.5 oz. lime juice Mix all ingredients and serve in a rocks glass with ice, anise pod and a lime wheel.

406 CIDER • 1.5 oz. 406 Reposado • 0.5 oz. applejack or apple brandy • 05. lemon juice • 0.25 oz. cinnamon simple syrup • Splash of unfiltered apple cider • Mix all ingredients and serve in a rocks glass with a dehydrated apple chip.

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Best Business 1st: Big Sky Build John Seelye came out to Big Sky after college with visions of riding the new Lone Peak Tram to the top of Lone Mountain. Like many, he fell in love with the community and has since instated the same passion for skiing that drove him out here into his business, Big Sky Build. What began in 1997 as Big Sky Woodwork & Design has evolved over decades into a company that specializes in all phases of the building process.

“I’m really excited for everyone in the company to receive this award, because it really does go to them,”Seelye said.

“It’s a spectacular honor. This town is comprised of so many phenomenal businesses, to be recognized in Best of Big Sky 2021 is a testament to the hard work of the men and women of Big Sky Build and it’s also a testament to everyone who works on and around our projects. All I can say is thank you to everyone.” bigskybuild.com

2nd: Ace Hardware Driving into Big Sky, one of the first businesses you’ll see is Ace Hardware. Locally owned and operated by Kevin Barton, the hardware store is known for its friendly, red vested employees, a thorough inventory of necessities and open doors no matter how harsh the winter weather gets. acebigskytools.com

3rd: Two Pines Properties Two Pines Properties is owned by Alex and Wes Hoecker who have—like many— fallen in love with Big Sky and are set on making the area feel like home to all who stay at one of their properties. twopinesvacationrentals.com

Editor's Pick: Big Sky Post Office As the community grows, so does its need to receive mail. Battling a tight space and growing demand, post office staff consistently go out of their way to make sure that everything from cross-continental correspondence, gifts from home, prescription refills and voter ballots get where they need to go. postallocations.com/mt/big-sky/big-sky

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Most Sustainable/Green Organization

1st: Gallatin River Task Force In 2000, a group of passionate community members, concerned about the release of treated wastewater pouring into their beloved Gallatin River, formed the Gallatin River Task Force. The nonprofit has since been advocating for one of Big Sky’s crown jewels by monitoring the Upper Gallatin River Watershed, employing water conservation efforts and a water management forum that plans for the area’s growth and development.

“We’re honored by the support and we see this as a reflection of the need to protect and save the Gallatin in our community especially after the drought this summer and increasing threats to the river and water availability,” said Chief Executive and Science Officer, Kristen Gardiner. gallatinrivertaskforce.org

2nd: Recycling Center The Recycling Center is the perfect example of the power of team spirit in Big Sky. After the center struggled to find a home in 2015, local business owner John Haas donated the land, and with the help of a list of other community members, made the center a reality so Big Sky continues to have a place to reduce, reuse and recycle. facebook.com/bigskyrecyclingcenter/

3rd: Big Sky SNO

If you’ve used the water fountains or new recycling and compost bins around Big Sky, you’re aware of the work that the Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization does for the community. The nonprofit works to identify ways to reduce reuse and recycle in everyday life so we can remain sustainable even while we grow. bigskysno.org

Community Member of the Year 1st: Al Malinowski If you pass Al Malinowski on the street, he’s sure to give you a friendly smile and a wave without fail. Known by many, Malinowski has been a beloved member of the Big Sky community since moving to town nearly three decades ago.

Malinowski has served many roles in the community. With more than 20 years of coaching athletics at the local school, Malinowski is fondly known by many athletes, parents and Big Horns and Miners fans as Coach Al. Since 2001, Malinowski has also operated the Big Sky Post Office LLC, ensuring that Big Sky has never been without critical postal service.

The picture of civic engagement, Malinowski has also served Big Sky in leadership positions on several boards, including the Big Sky Resort Area District board as well as the Big Sky Community Organization board.

“To be chosen by the Big Sky community is quite a humbling experience for me,” Malinowski said, “so I can’t say enough about how proud I am to be able to be included in a list picked by the people here.”

2nd: Lindsie Hurlbut It’s safe to say most everyone in Big Sky has bitten into a delicious Lindsie Hurlbut creation. A longtime local, Hurlbut has most recently revolutionized the food program at the Big Sky School District, making sure that every student has access to quality, local meals.

3rd: Heather Morris Through influential organizations like Camp Moonlight and the Moonlight Community Foundation, Heather Morris has had a deep impact on many lives in Big Sky.

Editor's Pick: Andy Dreisbach Humorous and unapologetic, Andy Dreisbach has Big Sky stories to put all others to rest. An intrepid skier, entrepreneur and family guy, Dreisbach is an active member of Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section and though too humble to admit it, is considered a true Big Sky local by many.

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Best Restaurant 1st: Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge If you feel like you’re having déjà vu, seeing Blue Buddha at the top of Best Restaurant again, you’re not wrong—the Town Center dinner joint known for its eclectic sushi rolls and killer cocktails won Best Restaurant last year as well. And for good reason, Troy “Twist” Thompson, founder and owner, 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.

The Drunken Monk, Blue Buddha’s late night bar and eatery, is open seven days a week now for your nighttime cravings. Blue Buddha is also offering private Omakase dinners in their Omakase room or in the comfort of your own home.

“It feels like an honor more than anything else,” Thompson said of their Best of Big Sky win. “We’re honored to be here and really excited to be a part of the community. Part of this kick ass ski town!” bigskybluebuddha.com

2nd: Olive B’s Olive B’s is no stranger to the Best of Big Sky—victors in the Best Restaurant category for the last couple years, this reliable eatery has a loyal patronage that keeps coming back for a well-crafted, delicious menu. olivebsbigsky.com

3rd: Riverhouse BBQ & Events The aptly-named Riverhouse BBQ & Events is known for its delicious BBQ, spectacular view of the Gallatin River and reliable atmosphere. Whether you’ve been snowmobiling, fishing, skiing or hiking, the Riverhouse has stood as a recreationist’s and local’s sanctuary since owners Greg "Carnie" Lisk and Kyle Wisniewski opened their doors in 2013 with a fiery passion for dry-rubbed meats, craft beer and a good time. riverhousebbq.com

Editor's Pick: Lotus Pad Asian Cuisine When you visit Lotus Pad, you’ll often see chef and owner Alex Omania there as well, stirring up delicious Asian cuisine. The Town Center staple focuses on quality food and an exceptional culinary experience, not to mention some of the best stir fried rice you’ll ever have. lotuspad.net

Best Local Meal Deal 1st: Riverhouse BBQ & Events Fried cheese curds, soft pretzel sticks with piping hot cheese sauce, sweet potato fries and smoked brisket that falls off your fork and into your macaroni and cheese—whatever your BBQ fantasies, the Riverhouse BBQ & Events can fulfill and exceed them, which is why they snagged the top position of this year’s Best Local Meal Deal.

“The Riverhouse thanks everybody, especially the locals, for making this possible and thanks for voting for us and come down to see us,” Greg "Carnie" Lisk said, who owns the Riverhouse alongside Kyle Wisniewski. “We couldn’t have done it without our employees.” riverhousebbq.com

2nd: Mi Pueblito Taco Bus

3rd: Hungry Moose Market & Deli

If you pull into Ace Hardware’s parking lot to snag a quick beef side burrito for lunch, you’ll almost always be met with a line streaming from the side of the recognizable white bus. The Mi Pueblito Taco Bus provides hungry recreationists and workers of Big Sky with delicious, filling and authentic Mexican food from the school bus’ window, rain or shine.

A trip to the Hungry Moose Market & Deli very often takes longer than you expected, and that’s because there’s always a friendly face behind the counter to stop and chat with. Whether stocking up on groceries, selecting a wine for your next dinner event or grabbing a sandwich from their deli for lunch, the Moose has it all. hungrymoose.com

ordermipueblitotacobus.com

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Best Artist 1st: Heather Rapp Accentuating the already beautiful landscape of Big Sky is painter Heather Rapp. The Colorado Spring, Colorado native moved to Big Sky in 2007, along with her vibrant pallet of paints, and has since brought joy to those who come across her work. The avid outdoorswoman hikes for inspiration and estimates she paints Beehive Basin at least once a year. Rapp hopes to host more paint parties this year, will be featured in the Art Council of Big Sky’s Auction for the Arts, and will be having a solo art show at Katabatic Brewing in Livingston May 1 - June 30, 2022. You can find her work at Westward Social at Big Sky Resort, Beehive Basin Brewery, Mountain Pearls Dentistry, the Hungry Moose Market & Deli, and Grizzly Outfitters.

“It feels incredible and so humbling to be recognized by the community in this way!” Rapp said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support and appreciation of the Big Sky community, as well as my wonderful family and friends. It’s truly a gift to be able to share my art and love of wildlife, mountains and color with people. I’m grateful to each and every person who has voted for me, appreciated my artwork, bought a painting or art product from me, and those [who] have supported me throughout the years, making it possible for me to live the dream of being an artist.” heatherrapp.com

2nd: Jill Zeidler

3rd: Anna Middleton

Jill Zeidler, owner of Jill Zeidler Ceramic Art, sculpts her work with her hands.

A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Zeidler has been in Big Sky for nearly two decades, teaching at Ophir School alongside Sharon Holtzman in her Art Around the Corner program. You can find her work on display at her gallery and studio in the Big Horn Shopping Center or at the Big Sky Farmers Market on Wednesday summer evenings. jillzeidler.com

It’s not hard to be inspired as a painter when your day job is ski patrolling at Big Sky Resort. Watercolor landscape painter Anna Middleton paints the chutes and crags of Lone Mountain, as well as landscapes during her summer travels. You can find her stickers, postcards and prints online or at the Hungry Moose Market & Deli. skycolorart.com

Best Photographer 1st: Dave Pecunies For seven years, professional photographer and videographer Dave Pecunies has captured a multitude of subjects from behind his lens: from the land, animals and real estate that Big Sky has to offer. Pecunies, from a Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has a passion for skiing and the outdoors and found his way to Big Sky in 2015. Today, he occupies a beautiful gallery in Town Center in the clock tower building.

“With all the talented photographers that live and work in Big Sky, it is an honor to be recognized by the community in this way,” Pecunies said.

“We are excited to let people know that we moved our gallery back to Town Center. Stop in to see us at 88 Ousel Falls Rd or call/text for an appointment.” davepecunies.com

2nd: Ryan Turner

3rd: Kirby Grubaugh

Ryan Turner originally discovered the Gallatin Valley when he visited during a ski trip college. After graduating with a fine arts degree in 1996, Turner returned and followed his dream of having a gallery like Thomas Mangelsen's in Jackson, Wyoming. Today, the talented photographer has his own gallery in a new location he just opened on Town Center Avenue. ryanturnerphotography.com

Big Sky photographer Kirby Grubaugh has combined his passion for carving slopes with the art of mountain sport photography. The Kennewick, Washington native lives in Big Sky with his wife, Liv, and is a strong advocate for local artists, while he continues to capture the adrenaline of life in Big Sky. kg-content.com

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Best Burger 1st: By Word of Mouth BYWOM has been Big Sky’s go-to for a burger packed with caramelized onions, pickles, lettuce and a secret sauce since its inception 26 years ago. The family-owned eatery has claimed the Best Burger title for many consecutive years now, and there’s no secret why—owners John and Pam Flach are passionate about providing the highest quality menu in town. Pam’s favorite menu item?

“There are so many great things on our menu, it is hard to pick a favorite,” Pam told EBS last year. “The BYWOM burger of course, especially when we can eat it outdoors at the concerts. I think the wings follow at a close second. Everything is really good.” bywombywordofmouth.com

2nd: Copper Whiskey Bar and Grill

3rd: Olive B’s Big Sky Bistro

From bacon jam to Swiss and blue cheese, Copper Whiskey Bar and Grill’s burger menu is not a hard sell. While newer to the local burger scene, Copper hasn’t missed a beat since, snagging second place in the best burger category for two consecutive years. coppermontana.com

No, you’re not seeing double—Olive B’s menu is so memorable, they’ve made the Best of Big Sky twice, this time for their juicy, flavorful patties. Among their already popular menu, the burger reigns supreme, it seems, making your decision the next time you visit an easy one. olivebsbigsky.com

Best Pizza 1st: Ousel & Spur Pizza Co. For the second year running, Ousel and Spur has claimed the spot for Best Pizza. Owner Jennifer Kettleridge places a heavy emphasis on high quality, locally sourced ingredients to craft her delicious pies, joining a menu of delicious, authentic Italian cuisine that makes the restaurant more than just a standard pizzeria. In addition to the ingredients and care she puts into her food, Kettleridge also attributes her success to her devoted employees.

“I have the hardest working staff, the best staff we’ve ever had, and we couldn’t do it without them,” Kettleridge said. “A year ago we weren’t in this position and we’re super lucky to be where we are right now. We’re looking forward to our 10th winter, which is crazy. It feels like just yesterday that we opened.” ouselandspurpizza.com

2nd Blue Moon Bakery

3rd Pinky G’s Pizzeria

Another frequent Best Pizza contender, Blue Moon Bakery has kept Big Sky residents well fed since they arrived 26 years ago. In addition to pizza, the family-owned bakery is known for delicious fresh sandwiches and baked goods. bigskybluemoonbakery.com

If there’s something ski towns get right, it’s that post-slope, cheese-loaded slice of carbohydrates that pairs well with a local brew. Here, Pinky G’s delivers, and has been doing so since they opened their Big Sky location in 2019. pinkygs.com

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Best Bar 1st: Beehive Basin Brewery As Town Center grows, one place hasn’t changed since it opened in 2015— Beehive Basin Brewery. Beehive offers delicious, consistent beer with winning seasonal rotators and a familiar face pouring it. Whether you need a punch to the face delivered by their Space Kittens on Crack double IPA, or like to stick to the familiar with a Working Guys Cream Ale, there’s always a seat for you and your pup at Beehive.

Beehive is an active member of the local community, participating in Montana State University’s Malt Quality Lab programs such as the Pink Boots Session IPA, a collaboration released for International Women’s Day that supports Montana women brewers and distillers. They also host regular pint nights benefitting local nonprofits as well as the Erika Pankow Scholarship Fund night, which raises money for avalanche and medical education for Big Sky locals. beehivebasinbrewery.com

2nd: The Rocks Tasting Room and Liquor Store No matter what time of day, the patio of The Rocks Tasting Room and Liquor Store is always filled with visitors and locals alike enjoying good food and drink. The Rocks can be relied on for a stellar fresh cocktail, local brew and friendly banter, as well as a full selection of liquor, wine and beer in the back. the-rocks-tasting-room- and-liquor-store.business.site

3rd: Brothel Bikes At one point (possibly) man asked where he could get both a stiff cocktail and a bike tune. Brothel Bikes in the Westfork Shopping Center answers that prayer, earning it a consistent third place for Best Bar. (406) 995-7896

Best Spa/Yoga 1st: Santosha Wellness Center Wellness is an important aspect of living in Big Sky. Whether frequent massages get you through the cold months, or regular yoga sessions keep you loose during trail season, owner Callie Stolz and her team at the Santosha Wellness Center offer a variety of practices and holistic healing services from around the world. Recently, the center brought on a chiropractor once a week, adding additional skincare services as well as “hands-off ” services such as compression therapy.

“I feel like our community is everything to us, so it definitely means a lot to us to have people give us a shout out,” Stolz said. “We’re always looking to try and find more options and opportunities for people to have a good recovery from the hard days work or play or just generally to take care of themselves.” santoshabigsky.com

2nd: Sanctuary Although new to the area—owner Amy Woodger opened her doors in April of 2021—Sanctuary Big Sky has wasted no time in earning its position in the Best Spa and Yoga category. From massages to facial services, Sanctuary offers a refuge from the dry climate as well as dayto-day stressors. bigskysanctuary.com

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Best Salon 1st: Tribe Salon Book an appointment with owner Hannah Powell or one of her top-notch employees like Erin Mulhern at Tribe Salon and you’ll be sure to leave feeling revitalized. In their third year running for Best Salon honors, Tribe focuses on educating themselves on the newest fashions in hair and makeup to keep residents of Big Sky refreshed and beautiful. As Big Sky grows, Powell says their client base is growing and the salon is extremely busy, so book your next appointment early.

“I think it’s one of the biggest honors to be recognized by your local community,” Powell said.

“We’re so thankful for all of our local clients and everyone who supports Tribe and we’re so honored to be supported by the community and live here even as things get a little tougher to live here.” tribesalonbigsky.com

2nd: Hairninja Salon Hairninja is a full service salon in Meadow Village. From cuts to full color, permanent extensions, facial waxing and weddings, stylists Leah Clendenin and Casey Phelan aim to provide a fun and relaxing environment. hairninjasalon.com

Best Wellness Business Tie-1st Big Sky Medical Center Six years ago, Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center opened its doors to the Big Sky community, offering expert care to full- and part-time residents as well as visitors to Big Sky. The hospital offers 24/7/365 emergency medical care, runs a medical inpatient unit, diagnostic imaging center, laboratory services and a retail pharmacy. During the pandemic, hospital staff worked hard to provide a reliable COVID-19 testing site, and now a vaccine clinic.

“Big Sky Medical Center is incredibly proud to serve the greater Big Sky Community and, we’re honored to be recognized in this way by our residents,” said Taylor Rose, Big Sky Medical Center’s director of operations and clinical services. “We are best because of our staff. Every single one of our staff members is highly qualified and skilled in their areas of expertise, and they have a true heart for providing the best possible, highquality, compassionate experience for every one of our patients. It is each of them that deserves this recognition.” bozemanhealth.org/locations/bozeman-health-big-sky-medical-center/

Tie-1st Big Sky Natural Health Dr. Kaley Burns arrived in Big Sky from Billings two years ago, bringing with her a much-needed business—Big Sky Natural Health—as well as a passion for healing. Big Sky’s active lifestyle, coupled with the pandemic revealed a refreshed focus on health. BSNH’s services are well received, as proved by their Best Wellness Business win. Dr. Burns provides IV therapy, acupuncture, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, sexual wellness services and much more.

“It’s a really great honor and we’re just thrilled to be able to be a part of the community and offer as excellent of services as we can and it’s been a great experience so far,” said Dr. Burns. She also reminds the community that as we head into cold and flu season, it is important to keep your immune system in tip-top shape. BSNH can offer house calls for Vitamin IV therapy and is also currently having a special on acupuncture and IV as a combination treatment. bigskynaturalhealthmt.com

2nd: Santosha Wellness Center

3rd: Moving Mountains

It’s no mistake Santosha Wellness Center is on Best of Big Sky twice—owner Callie Stolz provides a multitude of wellness services to the community, including yoga, skincare, massage, cleanses, as well as classes and workshops to keep you in prime shape year-round. santoshabigsky.com

Whether your idea of a successful workout is to lift big and leave sore, or to stay limber and mobile, Moving Mountains in Town Center will get you there. With a variety of classes and workouts to choose from, as well as personal coaching services, Moving Mountains aims to get you to the fitness level you need to enjoy what Big Sky offers. movingmountainsmt.com

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Best Après 1st: Scissorbills Saloon Although it has changed hands over the decades, Scissorbills Saloon has been a mainstay of the mountain almost since the resort welcomed its first skiers in the 1970s. Its location in the resort offers a short ski boot-clad walk from the slopes and up the stairs to your finish line brew. Consistent ownership under operating partner Keith Kuhns for the last 10 years has kept the locals coming back, and crowning Scissorbills Best Après. The joint will feature their usual lineup of live music Thursday through Sunday evenings so you can put your ski boots up and relax with a cold one paired with some music.

“We’re just happy that everyone keeps enjoying our place after skiing everyday,” said Kuhns. “It feels good to get that support year after year. We do our best to keep everyone happy and keep them coming back.” scissorbills.com

2nd: Beehive Basin Brewery On your way out of Big Sky after an epic powder day at the resort, no day is finished without a stop at Beehive Basin Brewery. It isn’t by accident the brewery snagged a “best beer” win at the 2016 Big Sky Brewfest, only a year after they opened—when it comes to perfection, owners Casey Folley and Andy Liedberg, also the head brewer—aim high. beehivebasinbrewery.com

3rd: The Rocks Tasting Room and Liquor Store Whether you have time to stop and chat with one of the friendly bartenders, or are just grabbing a six pack for the couch, The Rocks Tasting Room and Liquor Store provides both for your next ski après. the-rocks-tasting-room-and-liquor-store.business.site

Best Coffee 1st: Caliber Coffee Big Sky’s love for fresh coffee is almost on par with its love for fresh snow, and in the first category, Caliber Coffee delivers. Caliber boasts house roasted whole bean coffee as well as a variety of traditional espresso drinks, pour overs and drip coffee.

Caliber owner Stephanie Alexander has been a barista since 1999 and attended Idaho’s Diedrich Roasters roasting school and worked at the Mud Hut in Bozeman before starting Big Sky Coffee & Tea. In 2017, she bought and took over Caliber and has provided the community with a cozy space to work, listen to local music or stop in for a bite ever since.

Caliber is located in the Westfork Meadows Shopping Center where you can grab a fresh brew and a tasty treat. calibercoffeeinc.com

Tie-2nd: ACRE Kitchen

3rd: The Traveling Bean

ACRE Kitchen is a one stop shop—from breakfast to dinner, a full wine and beer list and live music to boot, there’s no time of day ACRE and their friendly staff can’t improve. Their recognition for Best Coffee however, is well-earned, from craft drinks to the basic local drip, their baristas are sure to wake you up before you head up the hill for some turns. acrekitchen.com

There’s a small, blue vessel parked around Big Sky in the summer months, and inside you’ll find the smiling face of Traveling Bean owner, Sam Riley. She’ll serve you a classic drip, espresso or a Stinger alongside a fresh pop tart from Surefire Ovens. facebook.com/thetravelingbeanmt

Tie-2nd: Blue Moon Bakery Blue Moon Bakery has already been recognized through the year for their pizza and baked goods, and their Best Coffee achievement proves they can do it all. Plus, what goes better with fresh cinnamon rolls than a piping hot brew for the road? bigskybluemoonbakery.com

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Best Event 1st: Big Sky PBR It isn’t quite a summer in Big Sky without the annual Big Sky PBR. The event, which recently won Event of the Year for its eight time running, gathers some of the world’s top bull riders for three nights of bullbucking adrenaline, Calcutta auction, mutton bustin’ and live music, this year featuring legendary country singer, Robert Earl Keen.

“After a year hiatus it’s an honor to have this large community event be recognized for best event. It was so much fun to bring this back to Big Sky,” said Ennion Williams, VP of events at Outlaw Partners. “We look forward to this event in 2022 and the years following.” bigskypbr.com

2nd: Music in the Mountains Of all the things we missed during the limitations of the pandemic, live music must have been one of the biggest. The Big Sky community let out a sigh of relief when it was announced that their beloved free concert series would return in 2021, welcoming a lineup of local talent on the lawn of the new Len Hill Park. Produced by the Arts Council of Big Sky for the last decade, the event brings the community out, even in the pouring rain. bigskyarts.org/programs/musicinthemountains/

3rd: Big Sky Farmers Market

Editor’s Pick: Big Sky Soul Shine Soul Shine is more than just a live music event that gathers friends and family each August—it’s a celebration of community and life, particularly that of the late Mark Robin, who passed away from complications from ALS in 2016. This year’s event returned after a 2020 hiatus, featuring music by Dammit Lauren! and Moonlight Moonlight, and raising money for Team Gleason, a nonprofit that provides various kinds of support to those living with ALS. bigskysoulshine.org

When the evenings get long and the weather warm, there’s nothing quite like strolling through Town Center browsing your favorite local artists and producers at the Big Sky Farmers Market. The market is held each Wednesday between June and August from 5 to 7 p.m. bigskytowncenter.com/farmers-market/

Best Outdoor Retailer 1st: Grizzly Outfitters Grizzly Outfitters has been the reigning champion of Best Outdoor Retailer for years, and it’s no mystery why—no matter your needs before you embark on an adventure, Grizzly can provide. From gear to rentals, tune ups, repairs or just some sound advice from a local, the shop’s helpful staff and technicians are on hand.

Owners Andrew Schreiner and Ken Lancey, who met in Big Sky Resort’s rental shop, opened what would later become Grizzly Outfitters in what is now the lobby of American Bank in the spring of 1994. After a few more moves and significantly expanding their inventory and offerings, they now reside at two convenient locations: in Town Center or off of U.S. 191 by the Gallatin River. grizzlyoutfitters.com

2nd: Gallatin Alpine Sports With 25 years under their belt, Gallatin Alpine Sports has Big Sky covered for every adventure on your list. Owner Tom Owen and his crew provide gear and rentals with the option of delivery for everything from the rivers to the mountains. gallatinalpinesports.com

3rd: East Slope Outdoors East Slope Outdoors is comfortably positioned as one of the best outdoor shops in Big Sky, offering a wide range of gear, rentals and guiding services. eastslopeoutdoors.com

2021 BEST OF BIG SKY

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Best Fishing Outfitter 1st: Gallatin River Guides While some guides may settle on one favorite river, Gallatin River Guides has been guiding on four rivers across the Big Sky and Bozeman area for more than 30 years now, inviting visitors and locals alike to experience our little slice of paradise. GRG hosts the Montana Fishing Guide School and the Montana Women’s Fly-Fishing School, as well as guided fishing trips year round. Owner Mike Donaldson grew up fishing southwest Montana and may just help you hook your next big one.

“Thanks so much Big Sky! It is always great to be recognized by the community that we all care so much about,” Donaldson said. “It is an honor to be held so highly amongst such an incredibly professional group of fly shops in Big Sky.” montanaflyfishing.com

2nd: East Slope Outdoors East Slope Outdoors has been a staple in the Big Sky community for 35 years.

They offer guided half- and full-day fly-fishing trips, floats on the Madison and Yellowstone Rivers and gear rentals. eastslopeoutdoors.com

3rd: Wild Trout Outfitters Established in 1988, Wild Trout Outfitters boats a fully-stocked fly shop along the Gallatin River off of U.S. 191. wildtroutoutfitters.com

Best Real Estate Agency 1st: Big Sky Real Estate Co. The real estate industry is used to tough competition, but this Best of Big Sky position is always a clincher, especially with so many new faces in the area. Big Sky Real Estate Co. has settled comfortably into their first place position for two years now and shows no signs of stopping. Staffed with real veterans of the market and those who are familiar with Big Sky’s unique market, Big Sky Real Estate Co. is the standout firm for your next home purchase.

“We are grateful for the Big Sky Community and the good fortune we have to live, work and play in such a magical part of the world,” the Big Sky Real Estate Company wrote in an emailed statement to EBS. “We recognize the extraordinary gift we have to share it with our clients and our friends and are always appreciative of the relationships we have with our collective Big Sky real estate community.” bigsky.com

2nd: Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty has moved around on the Best Real Estate Agency list for the last few years, and remains steadfast in their efforts to provide quality services under local ownership since their inception in 1992. sothebysrealty.com

3rd: L&K Real Estate With growth in mind, co-owners Eric Ladd and Ryan Kulesza have been expanding L&K Real Estate’s offerings to the Bozeman area this year. The dedicated team, supported by an experienced and steadily growing staff, are devoted to helping you find your piece of southwest Montana. lkrealestate.com

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2021 BEST OF BIG SKY

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Best Architect 1st: Centre Sky Architecture Centre Sky Architecture has secured the title Best Architect once more, and not for lack of experience. Founder and Principal Architect Jamie Daugaard have been crafting custom residential, ranch, resort and commercial architecture across the Rocky Mountain West since 1998. CSA actually remembers a Big Sky before the Yellowstone Club and Spanish Peaks Mountain Club because they were some of the firm’s first projects in the area.

Today, they work on projects across the region.

“When you look back there are a good number of individuals that help shape myself and Centre Sky: my family, the Centre Sky team, current and past clients, which a good amount are from Big Sky,” Daugaard said.

Daugaard also attributes the success of his company to the general contractors who execute his work as well as support from the Montana State University Architecture Department and professors that guided him along his professional path and built confidence and a work ethic while he was an architectural student. centresky.com

2nd: 45 Architecture

3rd: Bechtle Architects

45 Architecture is a diverse planning, architecture and interior design firm co-founded in 2014 in Bozeman by Benjamin Erickson and then later joined by architect Jeff Lusin. With projects in both the private and public sectors, 45 Architecture is currently working on a unique infill project on the northeast side of Bozeman near Wild Crumb, a popular community gathering space.

Bechtle Architects has deep roots in Big Sky as they have designed many of the buildings throughout Town Center and Big Sky Resort. Today, they keep busy on a wide range of projects from small residential remodels to million-squarefoot, mixed-use buildings we see everyday in Big Sky. bechtlearchitects.com

Best Builder 1st: Highline Partners Highline Construction is inspired by the environment. They specialize in designing luxury homes in the Big Sky area and custom remodels with a focus on the surrounding landscape and world around us. Whether it’s a custom raw wood mantle or ski-out access to the nearest run, Highline Construction’s talented team can make your dream lifestyle a reality, starting with your home. This is Highline’s first time being recognized in Best of Big Sky! “It’s really exciting for us having never received this award previously,” said Rob McRae, who co-owns Highline alongside business partner Todd Thesing. “We’re honored and excited. It’s our team that allows it all to happen and makes a difference.” highline-partners.com

2nd: Big Sky Build

3rd: Lone Pine Builders

Big Sky Build are regulars on the Best of Big Sky roster. Owner and founder John Seelye started Big Sky Woodwork & Design in 1997 after he fell in love with the area on a ski trip and has since given as much back to the community as it has given to him. He stands by his talented team, attributing them to the high quality work Big Sky Build continues to produce. bigskybuild.com

Lone Pine Builders does more than build homes—they build long lasting relationships with their clients and contractors. They take pride in the details, small and large, and give back to a number of local nonprofits. lonepinebuilders.com

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Best Property Management 1st: Two Pines Properties Two Pines Properties has done it again for the third time in a row. In a vacation town like Big Sky, Best Property Management hosts some steep competition, but Wes and Alex Hoecker keep it simple: provide the best possible service.

While they began with a single condo about a decade ago, Two Pines has since grown into one of the most respected property management companies in the region. Business success aside, the husband-wife team are humbled simply to be living in Big Sky and supported by the community they love so much.

“It’s huge, we’re the largest locally owned vacation rental company and we take a lot of pride in that and everybody who comes in, whether it’s staff or clients or guests, we preach that we want to show the very best of Big Sky to our community,” Wes said. “It’s been a tough couple of years with COVID, but it’s been good at the same time to see us all come together. We want to say thanks to all of our clients, staff, guests and community.” twopinesvacationrentals.com

2nd: Ascend Properties Ascend knows that with the area’s growth also comes great responsibility as a property management company. With nearly two decades of experience under his belt, founder and owner Adam Farr has managed more than 300 luxury homes at once and brought that same work ethic and passion to Ascend. ascendbigsky.com

3rd: Hammond Property Management Another family-owned property management firm, Hammond was founded in 1997 and specializes in HOA management, snow removal, maintenance and all aspects of condo complex services. hpmmontana.com

Best Nonprofit 1st: Big Sky Bravery Big Sky Bravery believes we owe a debt of gratitude to the members of our military’s active duty special operations forces. Josh McCain founded Big Sky Bravery after witnessing the process it took his brother-in-law, Jeremy Keller, to rebuild his community after a 17-year career in the special operations forces. Their post-deployment decompression programs help participants reconnect to themselves, their families and their communities after returning, building trust and brotherhood. In 2021, they hosted 18 weeklong programs called Task Forces, their highest number yet. In 2022, they will host 22 Task Forces with 110 recipients. To meet the needs of these expanded programs, BSB is always looking for support, including items to be donated for their annual auction that will take place in September 2022.

“This is a powerful reminder to all of the recipients who come through our programs that they are seen, they are appreciated and what they’re fighting for are patriots who truly care,” McCain said. “The Big Sky Bravery team is thrilled and beyond grateful, but our celebration is paired with gratitude for an incredible community who is paying attention and willing to give back to those who remain on the front lines.” bigskybravery.org

2nd: Big Sky Community Organization Big Sky loves their trails and recreation, and Big Sky Community Organization’s reoccurring win as Best Nonprofit is proof of that. Whether you’re biking Hummocks Trail, on one of the area’s many groomed cross-country ski trails, playing softball or heading up to Beehive Basin for an after-work hike, you are enjoying services provided by this local nonprofit. BSCO is currently anticipating the opening of the new BASE Community Center in Town Center and memberships are on sale now. bscomt.org

3rd: Big Sky Community Food Bank Big Sky is home to many seasonal employees, and that, coupled with a high cost of living, causes food insecurity. The Big Sky Community Food Bank, a program of the Human Resource Development Council, works tirelessly to provide those in need with a reliable food source through its food pantry, vouchers for local grocery stores and much more. bigskyfoodbank.org

Editor’s Pick: Big Sky Search and Rescue Last summer, when a runner fell coming off Lone Mountain during the Rut Mountain Runs, Big Sky Search and Rescue were among the crews to help reach him and pull him safely off the mountain. That’s what the search and rescue team does best—help those in need while recreating so they can get patched up and back out into the mountains. Their tireless devotion to keeping us safe is why we’ve chosen our local search and rescue as this year’s Editor’s Pick for Best Nonprofit. bssar.org

May your holidays be filled with good friends, fresh snow, and new memories.

Happy Holidays!

From Engel & Völkers Real Estate

Eric Ossorio Managing Broker eric.ossorio@evrealestate.com

Kevin Butler Broker- Global Luxury Advisor kevin.butler@evrealestate.com

Stacy Ossorio Broker stacy.ossorio@evrealestate.com

Carolyn Cole Real Estate Advisor Carolyn.Cole@evrealestate.com

Buzz Tatom Real Estate Advisor Buzz.Tatom@evrealestate.com

Karin Germain Real Estate Advisor Karin.Germain@evrealestate.com Greg Smith Broker- Global Luxury Advisor Greg.Smith@evrealestate.com

Cathy Johnson Patrice Tompkins Real Estate Advisor Real Estate Advisor Cathy.Johnson@evrealestate.com Patrice.Tompkins@evrealestate.com

bigsky.evrealestate.com

D e a r a l l y o u s a v v y B i g S k y D i n e r s, we and

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