Kaley Burns, Dan Egan, Robin Fedock, Rachel Hergett, Alex Marienthal, Michelle Nierling, Colter Nuanez, Benjamin Alva Polley CONTRIBUTORS
The following Big Sky student-athletes earned first-team conference and state honors for the fall season: football players Eli Gale (pictured) and Ebe Grabow; boys soccer players Dudley Davis and Finn McRae; and girls soccer players Harper Morris, Lola Morris, Maeve McRae and Maddie Wilcynski.
PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RON EDWARDS RETIRES AFTER THREE DECADES
Ron Edwards retired from the Big Sky Water and Sewer District on Friday, Dec. 20. In his 39th completed project for water and sewer, Edwards passed the baton of critical water infrastructure upkeep to Johnny O'Connor, and closed out a 30-year career of managing resources for a rapidly growing Big Sky.
CHRISTMAS STROLL ILLUMINATES BIG SKY
Community members and visitors alike strolled Big Sky spreading holiday cheer on Dec. 13 to 15 for the 27th annual Big Sky Christmas Stroll. This year's event showcased a mix of local and guest talent, from student a cappella singers to ballet performances and Santa Claus.
MADISON 8, ONE&ONLY GONDOLA OPEN FOR HOLIDAYS
The world’s longest eight-seat chairlift opened on Friday, Dec. 20 at Big Sky Resort. Madison 8 was completed less than one year after Big Sky Resort announced its plan to replace Six Shooter and later that morning, the new One&Only Moonlight Basin Resort unveiled its new gondola to a public ski lodge.
BOBCATS CLAW PAST S.D. TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Seniors Tommy Mellott and Brody Grebe shined in their final game at Bobcat Stadium, as Montana State defeated South Dakota, 31-17. Montana State is going back to the national championship game to meet an old nemesis, and this time, the Bobcats are not just happy to be there. North Dakota State ended Montana State’s season in 2018, 2019, 2021 (in the national title game) and last season.
SKIJORING SET FOR EARLY FEBRUARY
ON THE COVER:
Madison 8 was led by Caleb Teigen (right), Big Sky Resort construction manager, with support from Chad Wilson (left), VP of construction and development. Teigen took pride in executing his first chairlift project on a tight schedule, and thanked Jackson Contractor Group and Doppelmayr for making it possible. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
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.
Big Sky's annual skijoring event, the Best in the West Showdown, will return from Feb. 7 to 9 at the same Town Center venue. This year, the event has expanded to three days of competition and celebration, and registration will open on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
PLUS: TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR
As the holidays bring reflection on the end of another year, we have compiled some of our best stories from 2024. Please join us in revisiting some of the biggest local stories from Explore Big Sky, your locally owned community newspaper.
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.
ADVERTISING DEADLINE
For the Janurary 8th issue Janurary 2nd, 2024
CORRECTIONS
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OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@theoutlawpartners.com
On Sunday, Dec. 15 at 12:09 p.m., a skier was caught and buried by an avalanche at Bridger Bowl Ski Area. The skier, who was with a friend, was caught in the Papa Bear region below Bridger Gully and buried just below the surface. The skier was able to punch a hole through the surface of the snow while their friend and other members of the skiing public were able to extricate the uninjured skier.
In a Dec. 17 social media post, Bridger Bowl explained that while inbound avalanches are rare, they may happen and are an inherent risk of skiing, even within ski area boundaries.
“We share this as a reminder of the importance of skiing and riding with a partner, especially in deep snow conditions,” the post stated, offering safety resources. “Please be safe out there!”
FWP SEARCHING FOR MORE THAN 20 STOLEN SIGNS IN REGION
EBS STAFF
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is looking for two stolen moose crossing signs from Missouri Headwaters State Park. The theft is a problem regionwide, according to a Dec. 13 FWP press release.
The moose crossing signs went missing from the state park in November, but other signs have been stolen in Lost Creek State Park, Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Limespur Fishing Access Site and Williams Bridge Fishing Access Site.
In recent years, more than 20 signs have been stolen from southwestern Montana sites, according to the release.
“Stealing from a state park or a fishing access site is stealing from the people of Montana,” stated Linnaea Schroeer, regional parks and outdoor recreation program manager. “This puts an unnecessary financial burden on public resources, and it detracts from the experience of visitors.”
Those with information about stolen signs can reach out to a local game warden, and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
MONTANA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR TO LEAD FWP
EBS STAFF
On Dec. 6, the Governor’s Office announced that Christy Clark, the current director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, will serve as Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ next director, with current Director Dustin Temple set to retire this month.
In a press release, Gov. Greg Gianforte described Clark’s suitability for the role. “Christy Clark is a strong leader with the skills needed to lead the agency tasked with protecting Montana’s cherished recreational opportunities and public access to public lands,” Gianforte stated. “With her record of leadership, I am confident in her as she takes on this new role at FWP. I appreciate her willingness to serve in this new capacity after her successful tenure at MDA.”
Zach Coccoli, MDA’s deputy director, will take on the interim director position in the state agriculture department.
“After spending more than 20 years ranching and raising kids, my passion for advocating for agriculture brought me to the Montana Department of Agriculture where it has been an honor to serve Montana and its producers as Director,” Clark stated in the release. “I’m equally passionate about our state’s hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreational opportunities, which truly make Montana, Montana. I’m grateful to Governor Gianforte for this opportunity to continue serving the people of Montana.”
Before serving as director of MDA, Clark worked as the deputy director, agricultural sciences administrator and agricultural marketing bureau chief. She served as a representative for Choteau in the Montana Legislature.
American Bison // Bison bison
Last Reminder: Business Registration Due 12/31
REGISTER BY 12/31
Get ready for 2025 and register your business with Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD) before the December 31 deadline.
WHY REGISTER?
In addition to being a legal requirement, registration provides essential data that helps monitor community needs and make informed decisions that shape our future. You play an important part in supporting Big Sky.
DO I NEED TO REGISTER?
All businesses operating within the District are required to register annually, regardless of whether you collect resort tax. This includes event vendors, accountants, short-term rental owners, private chefs, and more — if you’re conducting business in Big Sky, you must register. And just because you registered in 2024 doesn’t mean you’re set for 2025. You must renew each year to ensure your information remains up to date.
Head to resorttax.org/business-resources for more information and to register today.
No longer doing business in Big Sky? Please email us or call our o ce to close your account.
OP NEWS
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT: DOING GOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY
OUTLAW PARTNERS
As the year comes to a close, Outlaw Partners wants to take a moment to recognize a few nonprofits in the community doing amazing work. Home to some of the highest concentration of nonprofit work, Big Sky, Gallatin Valley and the surrounding region feels like a place conducive to giving back—maybe it’s because we get so much out of where we live.
While the list is endless, and we encourage you to research the additional organizations taking action on missions you’re passionate about, here is a list we’d like to honor this giving season.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill
BIG SKY SEARCH AND RESCUE
It’s no secret Big Sky is a place that allows adventurers the space to wander. However, when things go sour in the backcountry, as they sometimes can, Big Sky Search and Rescue is there when the need arises — no matter how far off the beaten path. From grizzly bear attacks, broken legs, avalanches, a minor injury on a local trail, or even staffing local athletic events to ensure everyone makes it to the finish line safely, Big Sky’s local SAR crew is nothing short of heroic.
To learn more, visit: bssar.org
GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE
Gallatin River Task Force is a community partner leading conservation and stewardship efforts along the precious Gallatin River Watershed. Any Big Sky resident can express how important the Gallatin River is to the wellbeing of the community. Offering countless recreation opportunities, fresh water and a thriving ecosystem, the river is a vital resource. GRTF has three major focus areas as they work to protect the river: ecological health, water supply and wastewater management, through science backed programs of monitoring, restoration, conservation and advocacy.
As a headwaters community, GRTF believes it is an obligation to ensure that clean, cold water flows through the Gallatin, from the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the confluence with Spanish Creek.
To learn more, visit: gallatinrivertaskforce.org.
ARTS INCUBATOR RANCH
Arts Incubator Ranch (AIR) is a nonprofit organization that provides artists from a diverse array of disciplines and communities the opportunity to connect and create in the uniquely expansive and inspiring mountains of Montana. More than simply an “arts retreat,” A.I.R. is a creative home for artists, offering year-round programming to aid in both the development of new works and the artist themselves.
While currently dependent on the generous donation of space from a growing community of local benefactors who provide housing, studio space and venues, a dedicated and permanent home — or “ranch” — in Montana has always been central to their vision.
They have launched a comprehensive philanthropic campaign to raise $10 million in vital support for A.I.R. Success of this campaign will not only allow them to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime real estate opportunity, Lightning Creek, but will also provide A.I.R. the additional resources to sustain operations and ensure they are able to provide artists with the tools necessary to immerse themselves in the creative process, from idea generation through to finished work.
To learn more, visit: airmt.org
BOZEMAN HELP CENTER
The Bozeman Help Center provides free, confidential mental health services in the form of immediate crisis counseling through their 24-hour help line as well as advocacy, outreach and support for those in need. Whether you’re in an immediate crisis, have experienced assault, are in an unsafe environment or simply looking for resources to begin your journey to mental healing, the Help Center is available to anyone. While they have a physical Bozeman location staffed with local volunteers, the Help Center also serves Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Madison, Meagher, Park, Silver Bow, Sweetgrass and Wheatfield counties.
The Help Center also offers ongoing events such as a suicide loss support group, a through directory of mental health providers throughout the state of Montana, a family resource center, child advocacy center and a 24hour sexual assault counseling center. You can support the Help Center by direct donation or by shopping at, or donating items to the Sacks Thrift Store downtown.
To learn more, visit: bozemanhelpcenter.org.
BRIDGER SKI FOUNDATION
Bridger Ski Foundation is a gold-certified, nonprofit community ski club in Bozeman, providing educational and competitive programs in Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle and Freeskiing. Operating as a nonprofit allows BSF to offer affordable programs for families that otherwise may not have access, and while competition is important, at the core of their teachings is a lifelong love for skiing. BSF benefits kids with programs that build character, life skills, friendships, perspective, and the courage to pursue their dreams. BSF also grooms winter trails at seven locations in Bozeman, funded through donations and trail memberships.
To learn more, visit: bridgerskifoundation.org
GALLATIN COUNTY LOVE INC (IN THE NAME OF CHRIST)
Love INC has been serving Bozeman and greater Gallatin Valley since 1995. Love INC mobilizes local churches to offer a holistic approach to care for people in need in all areas of life: spiritual, mental, emotional and physical. Over 50 churches and hundreds of volunteers in Gallatin Valley are involved with Love INC outreach.
The organization offers services free of charge including: trauma recovery classes, life skills classes, home repairs, car repairs, high-quality clothing, personal care products, furniture, linens and more.
Uniquely, Love INC takes a different approach to supporting those who request help: rather than coming into people’s lives to just give to their immediate needs, Love INC enters a relationship with those requesting help. The goal is to learn about the problems they face, seek to address the underlying causes, while providing material resources they need to get back on their feet.
To learn more, visit: loveincgc.org
CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
The Center for Large Landscape Conservation studies ecological connectivity in landscapes across the world. With the growth in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the work in their home base has become increasingly important as critical wildlife habitat becomes fragments with development and increased traffic along important migratory corridors. CLLC tackles solutions to fragmentations through science, policy, practice and collaboration, targeting the land in between protected areas. One such area is along U.S. Highway 191, where CLLC’s work, alongside their partners, have conceptualized the possibility of a wildlife crossing at the mount of Gallatin Canyon for the safe passage of wildlife. With increased support, this land bridge could become a reality in the next couple of years.
To learn more, visit: largelandscapes.org
GALLATIN VALLEY LAND TRUST
The Gallatin Valley Land Trust plays a vital role in preserving the natural beauty, local heritage and recreational opportunities that define southwest Montana and the Gallatin Valley. Through their dedication to land conservation, they ensure that open spaces, wildlife habitats and working farms are protected for future generations. Their visionary work extends beyond preservation; they connect our communities by creating and maintaining an extensive trail system that enhances access to nature, promotes healthy lifestyles, and strengthens our sense of place.
By safeguarding the essence of the Gallatin Valley, GVLT not only protects our environment but also fosters a thriving, sustainable community where people and nature can coexist and flourish.
To learn more, visit: gvlt.org
WARRIORS AND QUIET WATERS
Warriors and Quiet Waters helps post-9/11 combat veterans thrive. After years of paying service to our country, post-9/11 combat veterans have a new critical mission: finding their purpose in civilian life. Warriors and Quiet Waters empowers these veterans and their loved ones to thrive and live purpose-driven lives through peak experiences in nature, meaningful relationships and a sense of community.
Support toward this organization helps fund their outdoor programs, their hardworking team, their beautiful location in Gallatin Valley, Quiet Waters Ranch, and much more.
To learn more, visit: warriorsandquietwaters.org
9 REASONS TO VISIT YELLOWSTONE IN WINTER
1 Fewer Crowds, More Serenity
Winter transforms Yellowstone into a peaceful haven. With summer tourists nowhere in sight, you’ll have space to truly enjoy the park’s natural wonders. It’s a rare chance to experience Yellowstone without the hustle and bustle.
2 Stunning Winter Landscapes
Snow blankets the geysers and forests, turning the park into a postcard-worthy winter wonderland. The sight of steaming hot springs surrounded by frost-tipped trees is simply magical.
3 Unique Wildlife Sightings
Winter makes wildlife watching even more exciting. Wolves, bison, elk, and foxes are easier to spot against the snow. Follow the tracks of more 45 species on the move in winter.
4 Cozy and Quiet Lodging
Embrace hygge and get cozy by the fireplace, curl up with a book, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, or play a board game. Take some time to recharge and relax in our two lodges, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
5 Winter Sports and Adventures
From cross-country skiing to snowshoeing, Yellowstone offers over 150 miles of scenic trails to explore the snowy terrain. Take a guided tours for an even deeper connection to the park’s natural beauty.
6 The Thrill of Snowcoach Tours
With most roads closed to cars in winter, snowcoach tours offer a unique and thrilling way to get around. These heated vehicles with oversized tires will take you to iconic spots like Old Faithful without any winter driving worries.
7 Photographer’s Paradise
Winter light paired with pristine snow creates stunning photo opportunities. Capture geysers erupting against clear blue skies or bison plowing through snowdrifts. Your photos will be something out of a winter fairy tale.
8 Dramatic Thermal Pools and Geysers
Cold weather makes Yellowstone’s geysers even more dramatic. The steam rises higher and lingers longer in the frosty air, creating an otherworldly spectacle. The colorful thermal pools and hot springs are even more vivid against the crisp white snow.
9
See Winter Wonders
Diamond dust, sundogs, rime ice, frosty waterfalls, ghost trees, hoar frost...winter in Yellowstone means a host of incredible natural phenomena you can’t see during the summer.
BIG SKY PBR RETURNS FOR ITS 14TH YEAR
JULY 17-19
OUTLAW PARTNERS
Outlaw Partners is bringing back the best summer event experience for the 14th annual Big Sky PBR and Big Sky’s Biggest Week. As the 10-time Event of the Year, this year’s PBR will feature popular venue experiences and six days of events for the entire family. Tickets go on sale on March 3, and are expected to sell out quickly.
“As PBR’s ten-time ‘Event of the Year’ winner, we’re excited to bring this unforgettable experience back to the Big Sky Events Arena and look forward to celebrating the Biggest Week in Big Sky with the community again in such an incredible venue,” said Eric Ladd, founder and chairman of Outlaw Partners.
Three nights of Big Sky PBR bull riding will take place Thursday, July 17 through Saturday, July 19,
featuring some of the world’s best bull riders going head-to-head with world-class bulls. Thursday night Big Sky PBR presents the Music in the Mountains concert at Len Hill Park in Big Sky Town Center. Friday and Saturday nights will feature well-known country musicians, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Chancey Williams at the PBR afterparties.
Big Sky’s Biggest Week will kick off on Friday, July 11 with the Big Sky Community Rodeo. The celebrated Mutton Bustin’ competition for kids ages 4-7 and the free Community Day, with carnival games and other family-friendly activities, will take place on Tuesday, July 15.
Returning for its fifth year, the annual Dick Allgood Community Bingo Night will also take place on Tuesday, July 15 at the Big Sky Events Arena. A portion of the proceeds from the event are donated to a local Big Sky nonprofit.
For those who want to support the Western Sports Foundation, which helps Western sports athletes and their families through various resources for health and wellness, the annual PBR Golf Tournament returns to the Big Sky Resort golf course on Wednesday, July 16.
Golf tournament registrations and limited sponsorship opportunities for the 14th annual Big Sky PBR and Big Sky’s Biggest Week are now open. Skybox and Platform Hospitality experiences feature a private reserved deck, concierge and bartender with fully stocked bar, variety of elevated food and access to Golden Buckle VIP amenities. Golden Buckle VIP ticket holders have access to VIP tent with private bar and lounges, catered food and high-end Western vendors.
Tickets for the Big Sky PBR and Big Sky’s Biggest Week events will be on sale March 3, 2025 online only at bigskypbr.com.
Big Sky PBR takes place at the Big Sky Events Arena, bringing the best bull riders and bulls under the backdrop of Lone Mountain. OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO/BY TAYLOR ALLEN
Each bull riding night is punctuated by live music during the PBR afterparty. OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO/BY TAYLOR ALLEN
LOCAL
RON EDWARDS RETIRES AFTER 30 YEARS OF WATER AND SEWER LEADERSHIP
JOINING BIG SKY’S WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT IN 1995, EDWARDS OVERSAW DECADES OF BIG SKY GROWTH
BY JEN CLANCEY
Ron Edwards, general manager of the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District, just finished his final project on Friday, Dec. 20: passing the baton to new leadership. Edwards’ retirement marks his 39th project completed in 30 years at the water and sewer district.
Since 1995, Edwards has overseen one of Big Sky’s most important resources, first getting Big Sky out of a moratorium on building in the ‘90s, and most recently delivering Big Sky its new Water Resource Recovery Facility.
“My goal when I came here is to stay one step ahead of the development pressure and stay off the front page of the newspaper, if I can help it,” Edwards told EBS. (No promises on the latter.) The story of Edwards’ career begins with a newspaper clipping in a postal envelope, though it could be argued fate aligned sooner, when he met his wife Karla at the University of Montana.
The pair got married in 1980, and eight years later, Edwards began working in Green Lake, Wisconsin. During that time, he received a letter from Karla’s mom. She had carved out a newspaper job posting for the general manager of the BSCWSD, a newly founded provider between Bozeman and West Yellowstone.
It turned out that Big Sky’s water and sewer needed a leader, fast. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which formerly operated under the Montana Department of Health, had suspended all building in Big Sky in 1993, a message to the unincorporated area that something needed to be done about their wastewater infrastructure.
Bentonite clay used in existing infrastructure led to leakage from the bottom of storage ponds, according to Edwards. Though the material can be useful in other locations, it turned out Big Sky wasn’t a good fit for the gel-like clay, especially without a material liner. When Edwards started, he was tasked with making a new facilities plan and sending it to DEQ.
The DEQ lifted the moratorium seven months after Edwards’ first day, and just like that Big Sky was allowed to grow again.
Twenty-eight years later, Edwards cut the ribbon on a brand new $50 million Water Resource Recovery Facility that will be able to process 1.4 million gallons maximum on a daily basis. The average will likely be 960,000 gallons and will grow as Big Sky does.
“It doesn’t always work out that way when you’re doing these big infrastructure projects,” Edwards said. “So I feel very fortunate that we had the team we had on it.”
The WRRF kept Edwards around one more year beyond his expected retirement to see the build
completed. Now, he feels he’s ready to move on. “I feel good about retiring knowing we have built Big Sky a great treatment plant that’ll service the community for a very long time.”
Terry Smith, financial officer of BSCWSD, noted that the new facility is one of Edwards’ greatest accomplishments. With four years of construction, the site, according to Smith, “could have been a huge mess.” But he said with Edwards’ leadership, it stayed on track.
He commended Edwards’ leadership style. “He allowed people to work and learn,” Smith said. In doing so, the former general manager acted as a guide, empowering employees to step into their roles on their own. Smith has worked next to Edwards since 2001 and plans to retire soon, leaving Big Sky’s water and sewer in all new hands.
On Tuesday, Dec. 18, the BSCWSD boardroom filled with employees, partners and friends to celebrate the year’s end, and Edwards’ retirement.
Conversations quieted as the new district clerk, Amy Sand, began a toast to Ron.
“Thank you so much for all the time and energy that you’ve given not only to this community, but to me in particular … it’s been wonderful working with you. I wish I had more time,” Sand said. Edwards responded, saying that he promises not to fully disappear on the water and sewer district.
Sand began working with the water and sewer district eight months ago. She told EBS that Edwards has a wealth of historical knowledge and expertise. A lesson she values is from his process of learning as much as possible about a situation before problem-solving.
“Listening is a huge part of this job … it is very complex so it’s really important to listen and gather as much information as possible and then get answers,” Sand said.
Board member Dick Fast, echoed some of Sand’s sentiments in an interview with EBS. “He’s just a good person to work with, fun person to work with,” Fast said. As a leader, Fast said Edwards listens, and has a very gentle persuasive way of getting things done. He agreed that the WRRF was a major milestone for Edwards.
“It was a long project with a lot of surprises,” Fast said.
Longtime friend and coworker, Brian Wheeler, president of the BSCWSD board will miss Edwards’ calming presence. “He was steady in times of challenge,” Wheeler said. He remembers how Edwards would approach stressful problems calmly, taking a few breaths and moving forward toward a solution.
Outside of work, Wheeler believes Edwards is the best family man he’s ever met in his life. “I consider it an honor to be his friend,” Wheeler said.
When Edwards made a tally of all the accomplishments he made over the years, he found the list kept growing. It totaled 39 completed projects, though Edwards thinks he may have left out a few in the exercise. He hopes that the water and sewer team will continue to tackle problems with an even-keeled attitude.
“Almost every problem we’ve been up against takes commitment and level-headed thinking to do that,” Edwards said. As for the future, Edwards doesn’t doubt there will be challenges. “You know, the growth is always a thing here.”
He emphasized that growth aside, it’s a great community. For a man committed to seeing things through, Edwards made peace with passing on some in-progress tasks to the next leader, General Manager Johnny O’Connor.
Without Edwards, the BSCWSD will continue forward with lessons from the calm, diplomatic nature of their former general manager.
Ron Edwards at a lunch celebrating his retirement. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
A photo of Edwards in a Nov. 30, 1995 edition of the Ripon Commonwealth Press, reported on by Mary Bagnall. PHOTO COURTESY OF RON EDWARDS
LOCAL
THE ONCE-A-YEAR TALENT BEHIND THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS STROLL
THE EVENT’S 27TH YEAR FEATURED LOCAL AND GUEST TALENT, FROM STUDENT
A CAPPELLA, BALLET PREFORMACNES TO THE FAN-FAVORITE SANTA CLAUS.
AVI LAPCHICK
EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Though ‘twas 12 nights before Christmas, nearly 1,000 people stirred about the 27th annual Big Sky Christmas Stroll from Friday to Sunday, Dec. 13-15. The Big Sky event potentially saw its highest turnout yet, according to attendees and the stroll’s organizer, Erik Morrison.
Before Morrison took the reins on the annual event in 2015, the stroll was a fraction of its current size.
“[Town Center] was Fire Pit Park and a few businesses right along that area,” Morrison recounted. “It was a smaller, much more intimate kind of experience.”
However, Morrison and his team soon expanded to Meadow Village to pay homage to the foundational beginning of the stroll and ensure the tradition was preserved. According to him, this move, in conjunction with the steady-growing population of Big Sky, propelled the weekend-long event’s swift growth as the local household tradition many Big Sky residents now consider it to be.
Additionally, the growth in attendance meant Morrison’s team would need to diversify their talent pool to keep the crowd entertained from all angles. One of the stroll’s most recent expansions includes the vocal talent of Lone Peak High School’s a capella group, directed by John Zirkle.
Though LPHS seniors Frieda Fabozzi and Anna Masonic have participated in the group since they were freshmen and juniors respectively, this was only their second year singing in the annual stroll. Preceding them were the Dickens Carolers.
For Masonic, the group’s inclusion in this year’s stroll made her feel appreciated as a younger member of the Big Sky community.
“The fact that [the Christmas Stroll] included us—we get to sing at a lot of community events—is really special,” Masonic said.
Another addition to this year’s stroll is the Montana Ballet Company’s production of “The Nutcracker,” set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic score. The company’s Academy Director Melissa Bowman shared that while this is not the first time the MBC has performed as part of the annual stroll, it’s the first time the company has been included in the lineup since Bowman started working there three years ago.
Bowman said that receiving the news of their participation in the stroll this past fall was an exciting moment for her and the cast.
“We love performing ‘The Nutcracker’ [and] taking it to new audiences. It’s just a wonderful experience for everybody,” Bowman said.
As the company’s most performed show— estimated to be viewed locally by about 9,000 people this month alone—the opportunity to perform the beloved holiday ballet is one the dancers have been eagerly awaiting since their first practice earlier this year.
“[The cast] is just excited to get on stage and perform,” Bowman said.
Though new talent is added to the event’s lineup every year, in the spirit of tradition the stroll likewise boasts its longstanding talent: namely, Santa Claus.
Morrison said the stroll included multiple Santas in previous years but was quickly amended to include only one following complaints from concerned parents with confused children. The process of elimination, however, was albeit competitive.
“I mean, everyone wants [to be] Santa,” Morrison said. “There’s no question—Santa is the star of the show.”
Eventually, Morrison and his team chose to bestow the coveted role upon the stroll’s most senior Santa who has worked with the event for nearly two decades. But, if you asked the man himself, he would say he’s been here for millions of years.
Santa, whose only condition for playing the role according to Morrison was to keep his real identity a secret, spoke with Explore Big Sky in character.
“I’ve been working my whole life to become this size. People think it’s easy to be a big Santa —you have to keep busy at it,” the patron saint of Christmas said when asked about the process of becoming Santa, concluding his answer with a staunch “Ho ho ho.”
Besides indulging in milk and cookies and making the dreams of local children come true, Santa shared that his favorite parts of the stroll were his grand entrance on the Big Sky Fire Department’s firetruck and the firework show, presented by Zaremba Potts Group and Big Sky Ski Education Foundation.
“This is one of the most special places Santa could ever be,” Santa said of Big Sky. After a pause, he continued: “Because Santa loves to snowboard so much.”
Attendees gather around a fire during the 27th annual Big Sky Christmas Stroll in Meadow Village Center on Friday, Dec. 13. PHOTO BY AVI LAPCHICK
Children watch the firework show during the 27th annual Big Sky Christmas Stroll in Town Center on Saturday, Dec. 14. PHOTO BY AVI LAPCHICK
MADISON 8 OPENS AT BIG SKY RESORT: ‘SMILES FROM EVERYBODY’
MOONLIGHT BASIN UNCORKS PUBLIC-ACCESS GONDOLA TO ONE&ONLY SKI LODGE
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—On the second-shortest day of 2024, the world’s longest eight-seat chairlift carried its first public riders up Lone Mountain.
Big Sky Resort’s Madison 8 chairlift opened just after 10 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2024, less than one year after Big Sky Resort announced its plan to replace Six Shooter on Dec. 28, 2023.
“Building a lift of this magnitude in one summer is almost unheard of,” said resort President and COO
Troy Nedved during the ribbon cutting ceremony. He offered words of recognition for “our old and beloved Six Shooter lift,” noting that it was possibly one of the coldest lifts in North America. The new lift includes heated seats and a “weather-proof” bubble to combat the chill on the dark side of Lone Mountain.
Madison 8 is Big Sky Resort’s 12th new chairlift— counting five carpets—since the resort announced its Big Sky 2025 vision nine years ago.
“So these ceremonies, although extremely special, I’m happy to say that we have a lot of them, and
more to come,” Nedved said. He added in a followup press conference that while that vision was “extremely bold,” the resort plans to announce “even more bold” plans in the coming year.
“There is a lot more ahead,” he said.
Matt Kidd, president of Lone Mountain Land Company, discussed the partnership between the resort and LMLC.
“This lift is a significant investment from Lone Mountain Land Company and Big Sky Resort, and we look forward to all of you being able to experience it,” Kidd said.
Nedved said LMLC “certainly had a hand in this lift, and being able to do it as fast as we did.”
The new lift adds luxury to the resort’s north side, just in time for the luxury One&Only Moonlight Basin resort, which will open in summer 2025. LMLC is the lead developer for One&Only.
Nedved said the resort has been planning for years to improve lift infrastructure on that side of the mountain, “but the timing… fits perfectly with the One&Only brand coming in.”
Kidd added gratitude for Big Sky Resort’s former president and COO, who announced his transition to a strategic advisory role in September after more than 40 years of leadership.
“Big Sky would not be what it is today if it wasn’t for Taylor Middleton,” Kidd said. “We would not be here opening this lift today if it wasn’t for Taylor Middleton.”
Nedved said Madison 8’s Dec. 20 opening was enabled by “unbelievable” teamwork in the past
Big Sky Resort opened Madison 8 on Friday, Dec. 20. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
Big Sky Resort President and COO Troy Nedved (right) and Lone Mountain Land Company President Matt Kidd ring Doppelmayr's ceremonial bell. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
week. Chair installation was completed just two days before the Friday morning opening.
“Two weeks ago, it was touch-and-go whether we were going to make it not,” said Caleb Teigen, construction manager for the project. “And the teams came together and put forth their best effort… Hats off to all the team members that were involved with it.”
Teigen said his first chairlift project taught him that with the right team, anything is possible. He said lifts like Madison 8 typically aren’t done in one year. “And unless you’ve got the right people with you, it’s not going to happen,” he said.
Chad Wilson, VP of construction and development, praised Teigen for staying on top of details.
“It’s great to have a guy on board who’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure things get done on time,” Wilson said.
As for the comfort of the new lift, Teigen summed it up.
“It’s a smooth, fast, warm ride,” he said. “Just smiles from everybody.”
Gondola spins for One&Only
Although Big Sky Resort plans to complete the larger-scale Explorer Gondola next year, the Dec. 20 opening of the One&Only Gondola marks the first gondola at Big Sky Resort since 2008.
“It is so unbelievable to be doing ribbon cuttings on both of these lifts on the same day,” Nedved said during the second ribbon cutting ceremony of the day. He said the new gondola represents the future of Moonlight Basin.
Kidd expects One&Only to be “North America’s finest mountain hotel and one of the finest hotels in the entire world.”
The new gondola connects Big Sky Resort’s Madison Base Area to One&Only’s Sky Lodge,
LOCAL
which also opened Dec. 20. Both the gondola and lodge will be open to the public, and dozens of locals and ceremony attendees were treated to a complimentary glass of rosé as they explored the large après ski deck, which faces south and west with expansive views of Lone Mountain, Fan Mountain and the Jack Creek Preserve down to the Madison Valley.
Kevin Germain, VP of Moonlight Basin, spoke with EBS about the joint opening of the Sky Lodge and gondola.
“So far, people—the stoke seems really high. What a beautiful facility that’s open to the public. And we’re so excited to welcome the public over here,” Germain said. He said it has taken seven years for One&Only to reach this point, and it’s rewarding to see the community celebrating both Madison 8 and the One&Only Gondola together.
“It’s pretty neat that people get to come in, have a sneak peek of what the hotel will have,” Germain
said, pointing out that One&Only will have two more restaurants open to the public. “This is just another great community asset.”
Germain said originally, there was a two-chairlift solution to make the Sky Lodge ski-in, ski-out.
“We went with the gondola because—fast-forward when we do the Madison Village—we can run the gondola 365 days a year and run it into the evening hours so the public can go back and forth.”
Madison Village will be Moonlight’s future ski village in the current location of the Madison Base Area, Germain added.
“I’m just excited for southwest Montana,” Germain said. “This is a huge economic engine for our economy, and just excited to be a big part of the economic engine for the state of Montana.”
Riders on the third public chair. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
A crowd mingles on the deck of the One&Only Sky Lodge. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
DEQ OPENS PUBLIC COMMENT ON PHASE TWO OF BIG SKY QUARRY SUBDIVISION
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—On Nov. 25, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality released a draft of an environmental assessment of the Quarry, a planned unit development in the Gallatin Canyon portion of Big Sky.
Plans for the Quarry are outlined in phases, amounting to 135 single-family homes, 130 apartments and commercial spaces at full build. The first phase—90 single-family homes—is already approved and permitted by DEQ. The current environmental assessment is focused on the second phase, containing the remaining 45 homes.
Public comment on phase two remains open until Jan. 10 through DEQ’s Water Quality Division. Originally scheduled to close Dec. 27 as part of a 30-day window, DEQ granted a twoweek extension on Dec. 9 to allow the public to participate without conflicting with busy holiday schedules, according to an email from DEQ Public Information Officer Madison McGeffers.
Activists and environmental groups have expressed concerns about the Quarry project—including a 2023 lawsuit against DEQ and a 2024 letter to DEQ Director Chris Dorrington urging the importance of public comment—due to potential wastewater impacts from the large-scale subdivision on the nearby and impaired Gallatin River.
Plans regarding the Quarry’s wastewater treatment are complicated. Developers plan to begin construction using decentralized SepticNET systems, with the goal of eventually transitioning all properties to a centralized sewer pumping water up to Big Sky’s new high-tech Water Resource Recovery Facility. Developers say all homes and buildings will be constructed with sewer-friendly infrastructure to allow a swift transition.
Developers and activists disagree on the quality of treatment those septic systems will provide. Quarry developer Scott Altman told EBS in March that developers are going “above and beyond” environmental requirements and reiterated in a Dec. 10 phone call that “the temporary solution is still damn good.” In contrast, Guy Alsentzer, executive director of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, stated in a Dec. 5 press release that phase two’s
January 20th, 2025 | 4:00PM
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potential approval would be “a raw deal” for the Gallatin River, roughly 1,200 feet downhill to the east.
Developers argue, however, that if the new Gallatin Canyon County Water and Sewer District is successful in building the sewer, disputes over the quality of SepticNET treatment will be moot— those systems would be decommissioned, and their drain fields repurposed for groundwater discharge with highly treated water as a release valve for Big Sky’s excess effluent.
Furthermore, developers believe the Quarry will provide a crucial customer base to support the sewer’s economic feasibility, enabling a net benefit to the Gallatin.
Despite praise from local districts including water and sewer and Resort Tax, the potential canyon sewer is no sure thing: it faces rising construction costs with a price tag estimated near $55 million, and local leaders continue to explore funding mechanisms.
If permitted in the meantime, the Quarry project’s second phase would add 45 single-family homes with an uncertain future for wastewater treatment.
Phase two was approved by Gallatin County commissioners on March 5, 2024, but construction on the additional 45 homes cannot begin until developers are granted a DEQ permit.
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The quarry is a planned unit development including 135 single-family homes, 130 apartments and commercial spaces. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
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SPORTS
STALWART SENIORS LEAD MONTANA STATE PAST SOUTH DAKOTA, BACK TO FCS TITLE GAME
BY COLTER NUANEZ SKYLINE SPORTS
For the final times in their unforgettable careers, Tommy Mellott and Brody Grebe ran side by side into Bobcat Stadium as pyrotechnics fired, Metallica blared and the Montana State Bobcat Rodeo team led the charge into one of the biggest games in the history of this venue.
So it was only fitting that the final moments belonged to Montana State’s senior captains as well.
With a little more than eight minutes on the clock, the Bobcats could taste it, leading by a pair of touchdowns.
Each change of possession, each fourth down stop, each time Bobcat punter Brendan Hall flipped the field, the moment drew closer.
Yet until they play Alabama’s “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band),” nothing is guaranteed.
So when South Dakota ran a hook and ladder play that resulted in a fumble, and fittingly, Grebe recovered it with a minute to play, the country tune that symbolizes a trip to Frisco, Texas rang out, sending the record-setting crowd into pandemonium.
As Mellott took a few celebratory knees to put the finishing touches on MSU’s 31-17 victory, the west side of Bobcat Stadium smelled of cigar smoke. Montana State is going back to the national championship game to meet an old nemesis. And this time, the Bobcats are not just happy to be there.
“We know going through those last couple of series, we had to get a big stop to keep it out of reach and to get the fumble recovery, that was a pretty special way to go out of Bobcat Stadium,” Grebe said.
“This team means the world to me. We are so close. And that’s what makes this team so special. I would not want to do it with any other group of guys.”
Grebe’s fumble recovery put a bow on the finality of an era for this Montana State crew. Both he and Mellott played pivotal roles on the 2021 MSU team that went to Frisco. And on Saturday, both the captains plus a significant majority of Montana State’s 23 seniors made sure to go out in style in front of 20, 557 on a strangely warm Gallatin Valley day.
“Couldn’t be more proud of this group, these seniors,” Montana State fourth-year head coach Brent Vigen said. He reflected on an “abrupt end” to last season in December 2023, losing to North Dakota State on a blocked extra point in overtime. “I know that motivated this group intently. We went to work back in January and now we are going to be able to finish this journey next January.”
Each of Montana State’s steady leaders had pivotal moments in the victory. Mellott has a well
established reputation as one of the great FCS playoff quarterbacks of all time and on Saturday, he reaffirmed the notion. He rushed for 125 yards, including a ridiculous 41-yard touchdown on a fumbled-snap-turned-highlight-reel-play, and he also threw for 134 yards and a first-quarter touchdown to Taco Dowler that set the tone for the game.
Mellott totaled 259 yards from scrimmage and accounted for three total touchdowns on the afternoon he moved into the all-time lead for Big Sky Conference quarterback wins. He now has eight victories in the postseason, a statistic accentuated by the fact that he took over as the starting quarterback for the first MSU playoff game in 2021 as a true freshman rookie.
The score was reflective of MSU’s 2021 semifinal win against South Dakota State. That afternoon, Mellott threw for 134 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 126 yards and two scores on the way to an identical score: 31-17.
The senior version of Mellott was reflective yet focused when describing the accomplishment of bookending his career with trips to the Lone Star State.
“Everybody has it in their heads that their senior year, you go to the championship game and you ultimately win it,” Mellott said. “To get to this point again with these guys who I’ve battled so much with these last four-and-a-half years, it’s unbelievable.”
The contest itself was a back-and-forth affair for much of the first half with the Bobcats using their overwhelming and physical style to do what they do and South Dakota using creativity and opportunity by primary playmakers to hang tough.
The Coyotes won the coin toss and deferred in an effort to get the ball after halftime when the
partisan crowd is still filing back in. Mellott used that as a chance to put the hosts up, hitting Taco Dowler for a 34-yard touchdown to ignite the crowd.
The Yotes answered with a 55-yard touchdown by stalwart sixth-year senior Travis Theis, who ended the game with 190 yards from scrimmage on 21 bruising touches.
The game went back and forth until MSU engineered a 12-play, 74-yard drive to eat up six minutes and 27 seconds, capped by a Scottre Humphrey touchdown. An MSU stop and a methodical 15-play drive to eat up most of the last five minutes of the half helped the hosts take a 2414 lead to the break.
In the second half, Grebe spearheaded a pass rush that kept South Dakota southpaw quarterback Aidan Bouman under duress. The Bobcat defense only allowed 35 rushing yards outside the long runs by Theis and Charles Pierre (45 yards).
The backbreaker for the Yotes likely came when Mellott took a fumbled snap, cut back three times, hurdled a tackle and exploded for a 41-yard touchdown run to put MSU up 31-14 early in the third quarter.
Now the Bobcats get another shot at the Bison. North Dakota State ended Montana State’s season in 2018, 2019, 2021 (in the national title game) and last season.
“I can’t wait to play them,” Mellott said.
Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and managing editor of Skyline Sports. He has covered the Big Sky Conference for 18 years and is a former Montana and Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year. You can find his work at skylinesportsmt.com and you can reach him at Colter.Nuanez@gmail.com.
Montana State senior Tommy Mellott during his 31st win as MSU’s starting quarterback.
PHOTO BY JASON BACAJ / SKYLINE SPORTS
REGISTRATION FOR 2025 RUT MOUNTAIN RUNS SET FOR JAN. 7
LOCAL REGISTRATION PARTIES ON JAN. 6 PRIORITIZE BIG SKY, BOZEMAN, MISSOULA RUNNERS
Mountain Project from 7 to 9 p.m. and in Missoula at The Runner’s Edge from 6 to 8 p.m.
BIG SKY—The 2025 Rut Mountain Runs will take place Sept. 12 to 14, and the event’s evercompetitive online registration will open in early January.
Runners from across the globe must commit to testing their endurance nine months ahead of the 13th annual trail running event, when registration goes live on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time.
In 2024, four of the five events—VK, 21K, 28K and 50K—sold out within 30 minutes, and the remaining 11K within nine hours, according to an email from race organizers.
The annual event continues to prioritize its largest local and regional communities—Big Sky, Bozeman and Missoula—and will offer early registration parties in each location on Monday, Jan. 6. Each runner must attend in-person and can only register themselves.
The parties will be held in Big Sky at Big Sky Resort from 4 to 6 p.m., in Bozeman at The
“These parties are a chance for those in our largest Rut communities to gather and share in the
stoke and excitement of chasing big scary dreams together in 2025,” the email stated. “Also, it’s a chance to sign up without the stress of doing so when registration opens to the public.”
In addition, the Rut will continue its partnership with Bozeman-based Inclusive Outdoors Project to enhance diversity. Spots will be reserved for “historically marginalized” groups including people of color, those with disabilities and LGBTQIA2S+ athletes, with scholarships available, according to the email. Eligible participants must apply for those spots from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3, and selections will be communicated by Jan. 6. Those interested can apply from anywhere, not just Big Sky, Bozeman, or Missoula.
“If you are interested, please keep an eye out for the application going out on the 20th,” the email stated.
Race Director Mike Foote signed the email, adding hopes that January registration inspires runners to get out on chilly winter mornings and begin imagining adventures in spring and summer to share time on trails with fellow Rut runners ahead of the growing event.
BIG SKY SKIJORING RETURNS TO TOWN CENTER
BEST IN THE WEST SHOWDOWN EXPANDS TO THREE DAYS OF COMPETITION IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR
BY LESLIE KILGORE
BIG SKY—As the skijoring culture and competitive events continue to grow across the West, so does one of the most anticipated regional events of the season. Big Sky Skijoring’s Best in the West Showdown will return to Town Center from Feb. 7 to 9 for three days of competition and celebration.
Big Sky Skijoring is a nonprofit organization that supports skijoring in and around Big Sky, established in 2018. The organization’s founders wanted to bring the culture and competition of this uniquely Western sport to Big Sky’s residents and visitors.
The annual Big Sky event is one of the biggest and most popular within the greater skijoring community. Competitors travel from around the West to earn titles, cash, and the traditional belt buckles awarded at the end of the weekend.
It’s so popular that in the past few years, spots to compete in Big Sky filled up almost immediately with many turned away from a long waitlist, according to past competitors.
This year, the event has expanded to three days instead of two. Skiers, snowboarders and horseback riders will compete together in various divisions of skill, with the novice division competing on Friday,
Feb. 7, and the junior, sport and open—or pro— divisions on Feb. 8 and 9.
“We are over-the-moon excited and look forward to three heart-pounding days of the wild, Western sport of skijoring,” said Justa Adams, executive director of Big Sky Skijoring. “We can’t wait to show Big Sky what our incredible team has been working on this year.”
The event will return to Town Center in the same location due to a land donation from Lone Mountain Land Company. In recent years, the location of the event has been uncertain, with LMLC agreeing to donate the space for last year’s event, and now again for 2025. LMLC owns and plans to develop the vacant land in the future.
“We are grateful to Lone Mountain Land Company for allowing us to use the land in Town Center as the Simkins family did at our start,” Adams said.
“Big Sky Skijoring truly is the Best in the West Showdown,” Bayard Dominick, LMLC vice president, stated in an email to EBS. “We are excited to have it back in the Town Center of Big Sky for another year of incredible competition. The fans it brings to our community make it a truly unique event. It’s an honor for us to support with the land use and we wish everyone a safe and successful race.”
Competitor registration will open online at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and organizers say spots will fill up fast.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and tickets for spectators are currently on sale.
Tickets and more information about competing are available at bigskyskijoring.com
The Best in the West Showdown is Big Sky’s annual skijoring event. COURTESY OF BSSJ
Runners compete in the 21K event.
PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
SKI TIPS WITH DAN EGAN TRAIN FOR WINTER WITH FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT
BY DAN EGAN EBS COLUMNIST
I’ve always believed that training should be centered on stretching, balance, strength and endurance to enhance dynamic motion. Dynamic motion creates the beauty in skiing, at the intersection of energy, gravity and technique.
A training routine should have a ratio of time dedicated to the following categories: stretching, balance, core, strength and endurance. I try and dedicate the following ratio to each of these elements: 10% to stretching including warm up and cool down, 15% to balance, 20% to core, 30% to strength and 25% to cardio.
Over the years my ratio of time dedicated to each of these elements has shifted mainly in the strength and cardio categories, where recently I’d say it’s more 35% strength and 20% cardio.
As far as stretching goes, I like dynamic stretching and tend to focus on my lower body and back. I’m not much for yoga but do use a few yoga moves for loosening up. And to be honest, my cool down routine needs some attention—what I generally do is some light stretching and then a short walk.
When it comes to balance, I often combine this with strength such as one-legged squats, as well as box jumps and foot placement drills. This training is complemented with slack line, a balance board and half Bosu ball. A good balance routine is a great way to work on the core as it relaxes the mind and helps with finding the flow state.
Over recent years, I’ve changed the ratio of endurance training to strength training, leaning more into strength training. I have found this to be more productive with the aging process and it holds my attention better with a larger variety in my training routine. I also do a lot of high intensity interval, or “HIIT” training. So maybe I’m not cycling for the 60-mile ride as often, but I make up for it in these shorter, more intense training drills, including jumping rope and rowing on the erg machine. Swimming is also a major part of my endurance routine, and this also helps me with passive stretching. I swim in open water in the summer and laps in the pool whenever possible.
On the strength side, I use low weights and high reps, and I mix it up with negative and resistance exercises. I also like dips, pull ups and chin ups, although my reps seem to decrease with the passing years, sadly.
When it comes to core training, I feel like I can never do enough of it. So, I have a large range of exercises from planks to sit ups, leg lifts and working with medicine balls. Again, having a wide range of exercises on the menu breaks me out of the patterns and keeps it interesting.
This summer I started with animal movements for my warmups and dynamic motion training. It gets you moving in all sorts of ways and connected to the ground, your core and all your limbs. There are all sorts of videos on YouTube for this. It has added a fun dimension to working out.
So how does all this translate to winter performance? Well, the key for it all to me is functional movements. Plus, it’s all complementary. As my core gets stronger, my balance increases, then as my strength increases, I’m able to maintain longer duration of time in the exercises and all of this is complemented by endurance.
The combination of all of this provides for a more dynamic approach to skiing and snowboarding. Gliding over, on and through snow is always full of surprises, with changes in terrain, conditions, situations and speed. This all requires balance, and the key to balance is motion. And motion requires strength from your core, and throughout your body.
Snowsports require anticipation, absorption and balance while maintaining an athletic position to direct energy down the fall line from turn to turn. It is a dynamic sport that is enhanced by efficient dynamic motion and overall fitness is the key to the equation. If you have strength, you can maintain balance. If you have flexibility, you can absorb changes in terrain, conditions and situations. Then you add endurance, and your overall movements will become efficient, allowing you to explore more of the mountain.
Dan Egan coaches and guides at Big Sky Resort during the winter. He has written books including “Thirty Years in a White Haze,” a must-read for winter enthusiasts, and “All-Terrain Skiing II.” Learn more about his projects, adventures and worldwide ski camps at www.Dan-Egan.com.
Winter conditioning will help skiers and riders get the most out of their sport. COURTESY OF DAN EGAN
BEST LODGING OR HOTEL
1st Lone Mountain Ranch
2nd Montage Big Sky
3rd The Wilson
BEST VACATION RENTAL AGENCY
1st Big Sky Vacation Rentals
2nd Two Pines Properties
3rd Ascend Properties
BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
1st Ascend Properties
2nd Big Sky Vacation Rentals
3rd Two Pines Properties
BEST BUILDER
1st Big Sky Build
2nd Highline Partners
3rd Lone Pine Builders
BEST ARCHITECT
1st Centre Sky Architects
2nd 45 Architecture
3rd Stillwater Architecture
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY
1st Outlaw Realty
2nd Big Sky Real Estate Co
3rd Big Sky Sotheby’s
BEST REALTOR
1st Mia Lennon
2nd Tallie Lancey
3rd Shawna Winter
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITY
1st Music in the Mountains
2nd Big Sky Resort
3rd Big Sky Farmer’s Market
BEST ANNUAL EVENT
1st Big Sky PBR
2nd Music in the Mountains
3rd Big Sky Farmer’s Market
Editor’s Pick Big Sky OUT Summer
Pride March & Festival
WORTH THE DRIVE
1st Chico Hot Springs
2nd Stacy’s Bar
3rd Pine Creek Lodge
Editor’s Pick MSU Sporting Events
BEST ARTIST
1st Heather Rapp
2nd Jill Zeidler
3rd Julie Edwards
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
1st Jonathan Stone
2nd Ryan Turner
3rd Dave Pecunies
BEST LOCAL MUSCIAN OR BAND
1st Dammit Lauren!
2nd Scavenger
3rd Tom Marino
AWARD WINNERS
BEST BAR
1st Drunken Monk
2nd Beehive Basin Brewery
3rd Tips Up
BEST BARTENDER
1st Joe Messreni
2nd Michelle Clark-Conley
3rd Julie Mattheson
BEST CHEF
1st John Flach - BYWOM
2nd Ian Troxler - Olive B’s
3rd Lindsie Feldner
BEST BURGER
1st BYWOM
2nd Blindside Burger
3rd The Corral
BEST COFFEE
1st Caliber Coffee
2nd Cowboy Coffee
3rd The Lone Perk
BEST PIZZA
1st Blue Moon Bakery
2nd Ousel and Spur
3rd Milkies Pizza and Pub
BEST APRES
1st Scissorbills Saloon
2nd Beehive Basin Brewing 3rd Horn and Cantle
BEST DATE NIGHT
1st Michaelangelo’s Big Sky
2nd Horn & Cantle
3rd Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge
Editors Pick Montage Big Sky - Cortina
BEST LOCAL MEAL DEAL
1st Yeti Dogs
2nd Wrap Shack 3rd Blue Moon Bakery
BEST BOUTIQUE/GALLERY
1st Montana Supply Co.
2nd Rhinestone Cowgirl 3rd Trove West
BEST SALON
1st Ridge & Blade Barbershop
2nd Tribe Saloon 3rd Hair Ninja
BEST SPA
1st Sanctuary
2nd Santosha Wellness Center
3rd Spa Montage
BEST WELLNESS BUSINESS
1st BASE Community Center
2nd Big Sky Natural Health
3rd Santosha Wellness Center
BEST CANNABIS DISPENSARY
1st Lone Peak Cannabis Company (LPC)
2nd Herbaceous
3rd Java Joint
LEADER IN SUSTAINABIILTY
1st Big Sky Thrift
2nd Big Sky SNO
3rd Big Sky Resort
BEST OUTDOOR RETAILER
1st Gallatin Alpine Sports
2nd East Slope Outdoors
3rd Big Sky Thrift
BEST OUTFITTER
1st East Slope Outdoors
2nd Gallatin River Guides
3rd Jake’s Horses
EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR
1st Andrew Robin
2nd Matt Kirkland - The Cabin
3rd Duffco Firewood
BEST DOG IN BIG SKY
1st Black “Betty”
1st Forest
1st Tippet Timon
Editor’s Pick Big Sky Resort
Avalanche Rescue Dogs
BEST RESTAURANT
1st Riverhouse BBQ & Events
2nd Michaelangelo’s Big Sky
3rd Horn & Cantle
Editor’s Pick Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge
BEST NONPROFIT
1st Big Sky Community
Food Bank
2nd Big Sky Thrift
3rd Arts Council of Big Sky
BEST WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS
1st Big Sky Eyes
2nd Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital
3rd Hungry Moose Market and Deli
BEST SMALL BUSINESS (UNDER 30 EMPLOYEES)
1st The Rocks Tasting Room and Liquor Store
2nd Wrap Shack
3rd First Tracks
Editor’s Pick The Waypoint
COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE YEAR
1st Big Sky Fire Department
2nd Big Sky Ski Patrol
3rd Jeremy “JJ” Harder
Editor’s Pick Kristin Kern
BEST BUSINESS (OVER 30 EMPLOYEES)
1st Big Sky ACE Hardware
2nd Hungry Moose Market and Deli
3rd Montage Big Sky
Editor’s Pick Lone Mountain Land Company
REGIONAL
FOURTEEN CONSERVATION GROUPS PETITION TO ADOPT NEW GRIZZLY MANAGEMENT PLAN
BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Dr. Christopher Servheen, the former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grizzly recovery coordinator, recently drafted proposed revisions to the 1993 grizzly management recovery plan for the Northern Rockies (including all populations in the Lower 48) to present to the federal management agency before the delisting decision. More than a dozen national, state and tribal NGOs, including Earthjustice, Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment and Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, are petitioning the USFWS to adopt the new strategy after a recordbreaking year of human-caused grizzly fatalities in states with controversial policies toward carnivores. The groups urge the USFWS to keep the bears listed until state and federal agencies adopt stronger measures for the bruins and their habitat.
Last year, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming petitioned the USFWS to delist grizzlies from the Endangered Species Act so the states could manage them. The U.S. District Court of Wyoming recently ordered the service to decide by Jan. 20, whether to keep or delist Yellowstone-area grizzlies from their “threatened” status.
“Before considering any changes to their endangered status, we must ensure our approach reflects the most current, comprehensive scientific understanding and that we have adequate coexistence methods everywhere bears could be present," said Kristin Combs, executive director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates.
Grizzlies were listed on the ESA in 1975. After 50 years of protection, their numbers have reached approximately 2,000 animals in and around five isolated recovery zones, 4% of their historic range.
Servheen revised the last grizzly bear recovery plan in 1993, which he explained never considered modern-day threats, including booming human populations within grizzly habitat, unfriendly state-wildlife policies, and unprecedented mortality risks. The revisions address two unrecognized threats while offering guidelines for full recovery: using the best available science and managing the grizzly population as one unified metapopulation rather than five smaller and isolated populations. The second revision focuses on unifying state and federal agencies to commit to stronger regulatory mechanisms to reduce human-caused mortalities and further destruction of core habitat. The plan asks not to delist the bruins, but for state, federal and tribal agencies to unify their recovery plans so they can eventually become delisted.
"We have gained critical insights into bear populations, habitat dynamics, and environmental challenges that were unimaginable decades ago," Combs said. "A new recovery plan is needed to
ensure we do everything necessary to protect grizzlies, especially with one of the planet’s slowest reproducing species.”
When Servheen first wrote the recovery plan 31-plus years ago, the USFWS management plan called for managing bears in five separate recovery islands in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and eastern Washington. Managing them in a metapopulation, as outlined in the revision, would increase genetic, demographic and climate change resiliency to achieve full recovery and delisting. The metapopulation approach to grizzly management is not new and was first recommended by the Montana Governor’s Grizzly Bear Advisory Council in 2020, a group consisting of a wide range of Montana residents representing a wide range of interests.
“The challenges grizzlies face are much different in 2024 than what existed in 1993,” Servheen said.
Conservation biology demonstrates the importance of establishing connectivity and maintaining wildlife corridors between the Northern Continental Divide and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystems, only separated by 60 miles for possible genetic connectivity, and between these smaller outlying recovery zones, including Selkirks, Cabinet/Yaak and Bitterroot ecosystems. For bears to be all one metapopulation, Servheen suggests they be managed as such and allowed to move in the amorphous bubble that incorporates all five subpopulations. The new recovery plan aims to have a stable population of approximately 2,400 bears throughout the contiguous region and sufficient habitat to support them.
Quality habitats are under increasing threat of fragmentation. Since 2020, Montana’s population has skyrocketed, with nearly 50,000 new residents moving to urban centers like Bozeman, Helena and Kalispell or spilling over into neighboring counties, according to reporting by the Flathead Beacon. In the last 24 years, over 1.3 million acres of undeveloped land across Montana, primarily agricultural land, have been converted to residential subdivisions, according to data from Montana Land
Steward, and many new homes are being built on the wildland-urban interface, which often has the best habitat for large roaming mammals like grizzlies, lynx, wolves and wolverines. As quality habitat vanishes, this leads to increased encounters with humans, usually leading to conflicts and even a death sentence for many species.
This year, a record-breaking 82 human-caused grizzly fatalities resulted either from vehicle collisions, hunters and anglers defending themselves, or livestock conflicts. Of these, 73 have died or been killed just in the GYE compared to 46 in 2022 and 49 in 2023, according to a study published in ScienceBase Catalog. Twenty-nine of these were in Montana, not including tribal land. This year, 28 have been removed from livestock-related incidents. The proposed changes, recommended by Servheen, suggest removing discretionary causes of mortality, including black bear hound hunting, wolf trapping and neck snaring with or without bait other than Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, and night shooting of wolves over bait due to difficulty differentiating the species. Many of these activities are allowed by state policy for hunting in Montana and Idaho.
Servheen’s proposed revisions recommend coexistence and limiting mortality in connectivity areas. He suggests that state, federal and tribal management agencies consider implementing the revised plan so grizzlies can become resilient, fully recover and eventually be delisted. He also recommends reducing human-bear conflicts due to fragmentation through more community outreach about living with bears, helping build community tolerance and working with county commissioners about developing on private land. Other practices include bear-proof garbage containers, carcass pickups to remove dead livestock, implementing range riders or livestock guardian dogs and electric fencing around attractants like chicken coops.
“I hope the FWS and the states will recognize that real recovery and delisting requires the use of the best available science, and that’s what is in the proposed recovery plan revision,” Servheen said.
Grizzly Bear in sagebrush. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
GNFAC: WEAK SNOW AND AVALANCHES IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA ENVIRONMENT
ALEX MARIENTHAL
For a slab avalanche to occur, four ingredients are needed. The first (1) is a weak layer, followed by (2) a slab of snow forming on top of the weak layer on (3) a slope steep enough for the snow to slide. Then, (4) a trigger must collapse the weak layer which causes the slab to release and slide down a slope.
Triggers can be the additional weight of a human or new snow on top of the snowpack.
Slope angles steep enough for avalanches to start are anything steeper than 30 degrees. Keep in mind that lower angle terrain below a steep slope is called the “runout zone” and is exposed to avalanches from above. Under certain unstable conditions, avalanches on steep slopes can be triggered from below by people in the runout zone.
Slabs are typically from new or wind-drifted snow, and can consist of the most recently deposited snow or many layers from different storms, sitting above a weaker layer that eventually collapses under the weight of added snow or an external trigger. Most dry snow avalanches occur during or shortly after
new snow fall or strong winds that transport snow into fresh drifts.
Common weak layers in southwest Montana are feathery crystals called surface hoar, and sugary snow called facets. These weak layers form due to a strong difference in temperature between two points in the snowpack, called a temperature gradient. When this temperature difference is large, there is a large vapor pressure difference which causes water vapor to move from higher pressure (warmer temperatures) to lower pressure (colder temperatures). This vapor pressure gradient takes water molecules from snow crystals in the warmer part of the snowpack and deposits them on snow crystals in the colder part of the snowpack, causing them to grow into crystals with sharp corners. These sharp corners prevent the snow grains from bonding to each other and form a weak layer when buried by future slabs.
The strongest temperature gradients occur at the surface of the snowpack. The snow surface temperature can change a lot over the course of a day due to air temperature and radiation loss/gain,
while the temperature a few inches below the snow surface stays more consistent. Under clear skies
the snow surface gets very cold compared to the snow a few inches deeper, especially at night, due to radiation loss to the atmosphere. When it is cloudy this cooling effect is inhibited. The difference in temperature between the snow surface and relatively warmer snow a few inches down causes weak, sugary facets to grow.
Surface hoar forms like dew on the grass in summer. On cold, clear nights the air is relatively warmer than the snow surface, and if there is high moisture in the air with very calm wind moisture will transport from the warmer air to the cooler snow and grow feathery surface hoar crystals.
The form and process of these weak layers is fascinating, but they become deadly when buried by a slab on a steep slope. If you recreate in the mountains in winter check your local avalanche forecast to track when these weak layers form and get buried. In southwest Montana you can get the avalanche forecast and find avalanche classes at mtavalanche.com
Alex Marienthal is an avalanche forecaster with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center
A layer of buried surface hoar near Cooke City. These layers sometimes appear as an obvious stripe in a snow pit wall. PHOTO COURTESY OF GNFAC
Feathery surface hoar crystals that were previously buried. These ones are 8-15 mm large. PHOTO COURTESY OF GNFAC
DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD
PROJECT 2025 AND WHAT IT AIMS TO DO WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS AND PUBLIC LANDS
BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS CONTRIBUTOR
I know many friends and family who voted for Donald Trump based on single issues, such as abortion, the economy, cost of living, immigration, inflation or the free market.
However, many disregarded Project 2025 because Trump continually said he wasn’t affiliated with it after facing criticisms from his political party, the news media, NGOs and others. This is despite the fact that seven individuals chosen for his cabinet have direct connections to the project.
Project 2025 would be harmful to the environment and public lands by contaminating lakes, rivers and streams, polluting the air, adding to the carbon in the atmosphere and removing protections for endangered and threatened species.
So, what is Project 2025, why is it alarming and who is behind it?
Project 2025 is a comprehensive 920-page plan published by the Heritage Foundation. One section highlights the organization’s focus on managing 500 million acres of America’s federal lands, dismantling federal agencies that manage public lands, laying off tens of thousands of government employees, and transferring control of these lands to states or private interests. The plan primarily aims to boost oil and gas production on federal land and allow specific individuals and corporations to run amok with public lands.
The manifesto also calls for limiting the president’s ability to protect landscapes in the future, disregarding Biden’s executive order to conserve 30% of federal lands and waters by 2030. This conservation effort is intended to combat climate variation, protect endangered species, and improve air and water quality, all of which help life on Earth.
Additional proposals in Project 2025 include repealing drilling and mining moratoriums in Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico; revoking the Antiquities Act, the landmark 1906 law that has allowed 18 presidents to designate 161 national monuments; stripping the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to lower carbon emissions, support clean energy programs; and altering amendments to the Endangered Species Act, which has safeguarded over 1,600 species from extinction. Loosening the laws on these policies will make it easier for large corporations to profit and exit before being held accountable for cleanup costs, leaving the burden on local communities.
William Perry Pendley served illegally as Trump’s acting director of the Bureau of Land Management for over a year and authored the Interior Department chapter of Project 2025. He has long sought to transfer federal land managed by the Department of the Interior to extractive industries—the same interests he has represented in court for five decades as an attorney fighting on behalf of oil and gas companies.
So, who is Pendley? Pendley refers to himself as a “sagebrush rebel,” a term associated with a movement to remove lands from federal control in the 1970s and 80s. Pendley is an anti-public land advocate and poses a significant threat to our national heritage, which includes hunting, fishing, hiking and other recreational activities on public land.
Instead of directly stating that America’s public lands should be transferred to the fossil fuel sector, Pendley delegated the task to the leader of a powerful industry group to draft the policy for him. An author’s note at the end of his policy directive discloses that Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance authored the entire energy section, with contributions from Dan Kish, the senior vice president of policy at the American Energy Alliance, and Katie Tubb, a former senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, which is behind Project 2025.
Sgamma’s trade and lobbying organization, WEA, represents 200 oil and gas companies. Both the American Energy Alliance and the Heritage Foundation have strong ties to the fossil fuel industry.
How does that affect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Montana?
The BLM oversees significant land in the region. In Montana, the BLM manages 8.1 million acres of subsurface land and 700 million acres of federal mineral estate. Idaho has 12 million acres of subsurface land and 36.5 million acres of federal mineral estate. Meanwhile, Wyoming is responsible for 18.4 million acres of subsurface land and 42.9 million acres of federal mineral estate. These figures represent the totals of the land managed in the three states encompassing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
National and Montana polls indicate that public support for protecting America’s public lands remains strong, with 81% of people in favor. Most Americans prefer expanding public lands
rather than selling them off. The growing support spans across political parties. However, the 2016 Republican platform, when Trump first ran, advocated for transferring federal lands to the states. As of late, Republicans have primarily abandoned this notion of flatly saying they want to sell these lands. Instead, they aim to reduce environmental protections and give states more control over managing these lands, which they can sell to the highest bidder, often large corporations. Many Montanans and residents of the West chose to live here because the government manages federal lands for the public good rather than to be owned and degraded by billionaires.
How do our choices today affect the world of tomorrow?
As 2024 has been declared the hottest year on record, should we support policies that ignore the Department of Energy’s emphasis on climate variation and green subsidies in favor of practices that increase carbon emissions? Such practices contribute to a hotter world that could eventually become inhospitable to humans. We know that Big Tobacco deceived the American public about causing cancer. When will we recognize that Big Oil is doing the same? The evidence is clear.
While we all need jobs and would love lower energy costs, we must ask ourselves what cost to our environment we’re willing to pay. I’m not opposed to oil and gas; we rely on these resources daily. It’s essential to recognize that green energy also needs its fair share, whether for lubricating windmill turbines or shipping parts and equipment via truck and trailer across the country.
When will big oil corporations start giving back to the communities they impact, instead of just taking resources and abandoning them when needed, like during clean-up? When I enjoy our public lands, I don’t want to see oil rigs or jacks everywhere I look. Similarly, I wouldn’t want pristine habitats on public lands to be overtaken by solar panels. We must find a balance that serves everyone’s interests rather than just a handful of top corporate executives. Short-term profits now rarely lead to long-term public health.
It is important to note that very few people, apart from special interest groups, voted for Trump solely because he supported Project 2025. Most voters focused on single issues rather than considering the entire platform, often viewing the rest as mere campaign theatrics to win votes. This highlights the necessity of looking beyond single issues, such as the rising prices of eggs and milk, when making decisions about the future.
If you care about the environment, wildlife, hunting and fishing, and public lands, staying vigilant over the next four years is crucial. We must protect these national treasures from those who seek to exploit them for profit without sharing the benefits.
Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His stories have been published in Audubon, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and other publications on his website. He holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.
Montana public lands in summer 2024.
PHOTO BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY
EVERY DROP COUNTS
A NEW COUNTY PLANNING TOOL WILL HELP PROTECT OUR WATER
BY GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE AND GALLATIN WATERSHED COUNCIL
There is no question about it, Gallatin County has grown. According to census data, our county has seen a whopping 42% rise in population since 2010. A big question remains: how can we effectively plan to ensure that there is enough water for everyone living here, now and in the future?
One recent encouraging answer to that question is the Future Land Use Map, a planning tool designed to guide the county’s development in a way that reflects community values and addresses resource concerns like water quality and availability.
What is the Future Land Use Map (FLUM)?
The County’s creation of the FLUM is a process required by state law in regard to land use planning. The intent of the map is to visually depict the Gallatin County Growth Policy, a core document that informs and guides land use decisions.
The FLUM collectively reflects years of public engagement, from the 2003 growth policy to the 2021 update, and recent FLUM feedback. It emphasizes the value our community places on rivers, wildlife, open spaces, agricultural heritage, and affordable housing, shaped through extensive collaboration between planning staff, the public, and experts.
The map is intended to paint a picture of where and how we want to direct growth in our county,
considering the goals and priorities of the growth policy as well as important factors like wildfire and flood risk, slope, proximity to public water and sewer, wildlife corridors, and other spatial data.
Earlier this month, after nearly a year of collaborative efforts and community engagement, the Gallatin County Commission decided unanimously to adopt the FLUM. The commission emphasized that the FLUM is non-regulatory and does not alter current County processes.
Instead, the FLUM provides science-based guidance for community members, developers, and elected officials to inform land use and development review decisions to minimize potential negative impacts from growth.
Water plays a key role
Water quality and availability are central to the FLUM’s design, and the Gallatin River plays a significant role in shaping the county’s future development plans. Since water is a limiting factor in our county, the land use categories were identified based on the carrying capacity of land and water resources and access to public water and sewer.
As watershed groups, the Gallatin River Task Force and the Gallatin Watershed Council enthusiastically supported several key aspects of the FLUM that align with water stewardship and sustainable development goals. Here are a few examples.
The map layers guide development away from high risk and sensitive areas, discouraging development in sensitive zones, like floodplainsThe map also recommends keeping open spaces connected by directing growth toward existing infrastructure to optimize land and water resources.
By incentivizing hook-ups to public water and sewer systems by encouraging higher density development in areas with public water infrastructure, the FLUM aims to limit the use of exempt groundwater wells and septic systems that impact water quality and quantity. Map layers also consider water availability and quality, taking into account nearby wildlife, recreation, agriculture, tourism and more.
Lastly, the FLUM is adaptable, allowing the county’s amendment to be adjusted based on new or updated data.
Managing growth is not easy, but it is important in order to keep our river and watershed healthy, especially as we contend with an increasingly sensitive water supply. The FLUM is a step in the right direction.
The Gallatin River Task Force stewards the Upper Gallatin River while the Gallatin Watershed Council stewards the Lower Gallatin River. They work together to ensure a healthy Gallatin Watershed. Learn more about the FLUM on the County’s Envision Gallatin webpage, and more about Gallatin River Task Force and Gallatin Watershed Council on their websites.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE
COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR
If your next event falls between Jan. 8 - Jan. 22 please submit it to explorebigsky.com/calendar-event-form by Dec. 20
“BROADWAY’S NEXT HIT MUSICAL”
FRIDAY, DEC. 27
WMPAC, 7:30 P.M.
On Friday, Dec. 27, “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical” will come to Big Sky.
The interactive show features a crew of comedic improvisers who gather song ideas from the audience to create a full-blown improvised musical with characters, plot twists, dialogue and songs.
Do You Sometimes Wish You Could Spend A Holiday Sober?
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of
IMAGE COURTESY OF WMPAC
PRECISION AND PASSION IN PIANO CARE
MADELIN’S PIANO SERVICES FOCUSES ON CRAFT OF FINE-TUNED PIANOS
BY TAYLOR OWENS
Special advertisement
When you hear the rich tones of a well-tuned piano, you’re hearing more than notes—you’re hearing the care of a skilled technician. For Madelin Woodrum, a traveling piano technician, this care is not just a service; it’s a life’s passion.
“I’m very passionate about pianos and that they’re well taken care of,” Woodrum said. “I’m not trying to sell services to get a paycheck—I really love these instruments and want to see them last a long time.”
Woodrum brings a passion for quality craftsmanship and client satisfaction to her work. A graduate of North Bennet Street School, a private vocational school in Boston, she has trained in both basic and advanced piano technology and gained hands-on experience interning at Steinway & Sons. Based in Vancouver, Washington, she serves regions from Hawaii to Big Sky.
Woodrum’s path to this niche profession began in high school when her parents bought an upright piano.
“This guy, Mike Toya, came and tuned it, and my mind was just blown that you could do this as a job,” she said.
Toya, whose son attended North Bennet Street School as well, introduced her to the world of piano repair and inspired her to pursue it as a career. She learned tuning, in-home repairs, and full piano restoration, including soundboard replacements and restringing.
“I also worked at Steinway in New York as an intern for their Spirio player pianos,” she said. “So I’ve worked in their factory and main showroom near Times Square, which was an amazing experience.”
Today, Woodrum travels around the U.S., servicing pianos in homes, concert venues and community spaces. In Montana, she has particularly close ties to the Big Sky community.
“I got my foot in the door in Big Sky with a Steinway warranty call,” she said. “Now I come out twice a year, hoping to expand my business here.”
Woodrum’s services cover a range of needs, from basic annual tuning to complex restorations. During appointments, Woodrum evaluates each piano to determine what it needs most.
“The process is different for every piano,” she said. “I always start with tuning to see the piano’s overall condition, then focus on what’s most needed. Sometimes it’s voicing to adjust the tone, sometimes regulation if it’s hard to play, or fixing any broken parts.”
One of the aspects of her job that excites her most is restoring pianos with special histories. Recently, she’s been restoring a 1923 Steinway that belonged to a beloved music teacher in Hawaii.
“It’s barely holding together, with rusted strings and broken parts, but I’m honored to bring it back to life,” she said. “As I travel around, people recognize this piano—it has a legacy here, and it’s amazing to be part of its story.”
She’s also working on a piano once owned by Doris Duke, the American heiress and socialite known for her glamorous parties.
“This piano likely had famous guests play on it, and the ivory keys are worn into little cups from all the years of playing,” she said.
Whether restoring pianos with rich histories or tuning those in local homes, Woodrum sees every piano as a part of its owner’s life and memories. Her dedication extends beyond the tools of the trade.
“People often don’t realize how gradual the change in a piano’s sound and feel can be,” she said. “They’ll think it just doesn’t play well anymore, but after a tune-up, they say, ‘Oh my gosh, I love my piano again.’ It’s like a car that needs regular service to keep running smoothly.”
For piano owners, she recommends tuning once a year to keep the instrument in balance, especially in climates like Montana’s.
“If you keep up with maintenance tuning, it holds better over time,” she said. “If you let it drift out of tune for too long, it can become unstable.”
This regular upkeep preserves the piano’s sound and longevity.
“Even if people don’t play often, tuning is important for the piano’s overall health,” she said.
For Woodrum, each piano is more than an instrument—it’s a living entity with stories and sentimental value.
“I think of pianos as beautiful instruments,” she said. “It’s super sad when a piano hasn’t been maintained and doesn’t have much life left. When I say a piano should be tuned or regulated, it’s not just to make it sound better—it’s for the life of the piano.”
Book a piano service with Madelin Woodrum or learn more at https://madelinspianoservices.com/meetmadelin-woodrum/.
Woodrum’s favorite aspect of her job is restoring pianos with special histories, like the 1923 Steinway that belonged to a beloved music teacher in Hawaii. PHOTO COURTESY OF MADELIN WOODRUM
Woodrum’s path to professionally tuning and restoring pianos began in high school when her parents bought an upright piano. PHOTO COURTESY OF MADELIN WOODRUM
DINING
A LA CARTE
THERE IS NO SECRET INGREDIENT
BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST
In the ever-wise animated movie “Kung Fu Panda,” the eponymous panda, Po (voiced by Jack Black), makes noodle soup for his kung fu fellows, the Furious Five. They loudly slurp the soup, proclaiming its deliciousness. Po, however, laments that the soup would be better if he actually knew his father’s secret ingredient.
Major spoiler alert here, so fair warning. By the end of the film we learn, through both the noodle soup and the supposedly magical Dragon Scroll, that “there is no secret ingredient.”
“It’s just plain old noodle soup? You don’t add some kind of special sauce or something?” Po asks incredulously when he learns the truth.
“I don’t have to,” his father replies. “To make something special, you just have to believe it’s special.”
Secret ingredients have been on my mind lately. Last month, I shared a recipe with all of you, a recipe for an odd big dumpling that has been in
NAOMI’S NEW YEAR’S BLACK-EYED PEAS
Ingredients:
1 pound dried black-eyed peas
– 1 can Rotel (tomatoes with chilis)
1 can diced chilis
– Salt Pork and/or ham hock (seared) – Low sodium chicken broth – White wine
Bacon
Directions:
1. Soak the black-eyed peas in water to soften according to package directions.
2. Rinse and drain.
3. Replace the water in the package directions with chicken broth and wine.
4. Add rotel, chilis and the salt-pork or ham hock and cook according to your black-eyed pea package.
5. Top with bacon crumbles.
my family for generations. While the piece was a touching history for some of the family, others were a bit dismayed that I would share a “secret” family recipe.
But why do we have secret recipes? Is there a competition? Are we all trying to take home a blue ribbon at the state fair for our prize-winning pies or are we simply trying to eat and serve the best possible food to our loved ones?
My “secret” pumpkin pie recipe that I have made for decades is at its core the creation of a woman named Cindy Shank, who graciously shared to All Recipes. I don’t know where she got her so-called secrets.
In modern parlance, one may call the withholding of recipes a form of gatekeeping. It is limiting access for people, controlling the flow of information or opportunities out of some sense of superiority. Should you be forced to jump through hoops, asked a series of questions to gain new knowledge, to cross the bridge? What IS the airspeed velocity of the unladen swallow?
Like Cindy of pumpkin pie fame, I am of the mind that we should share our best food secrets. Recipes are our stories and they languish if no one tells them. Maybe I would know more of the history of the big dumpling if the big hunk of dough weren’t somehow precious.
Maybe I have my mom to thank for this desire to open source our food secrets. The woman is a pro at combining ideas and creating recipes. Those she has perfected, like a wine-heavy spaghetti sauce hack, pina coladas and mushroom baked brie are unmatched and I love that she is always willing to share—as long as you don’t steal them and call them your own.
As we go into 2025, I’ve gotten permission to share another of her “secret” recipes. This one, stemming from my stepfather’s southern traditions, is believed to bring luck in the new year. Supposedly, you need to eat 365 black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, and each will bring a day of good fortune. There are many ways to consume these legumes, which are much more like beans than actual peas. In our family, they are stewed with salty pork in a wineinfused broth. My mom has been tweaking her recipe for years, based on taste and available pork products.
Here it is, happily shared from our family to yours, in love and luck for the new year.
Rachel Hergett is a foodie and cook from Montana. She is arts editor emeritus at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and has written for publications such as Food Network Magazine and Montana Quarterly. Rachel is also the host of the Magic Monday Show on KGLT-FM and teaches at Montana State University.
A “secret” family recipe is believed to bring good luck in the new year. PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT
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BY ELLIE BOESCHENSTEIN
BUSINESS
While Elevated Tax and Accounting is a group based in Missoula, they have a large clientele in Big Sky, a location they are proud to serve. Owner Andrew Stolle, and his business partner and financial consultant, Joe Holbrook, talked with Explore Big Sky to discuss their business and how they help their client succeed. At Elevated Tax and Accounting, they believe in a vision past just numbers, and empowering businesses and individuals to reach their full potential. They work into strategic insights, big time opportunities and lifelong growth.
Both Stolle and Holbrook provided responses for this interview. This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.
Explore Big Sky: Andrew and Joe, please tell me a bit about yourselves. What brought you both to wanting to work out west and within Montana?
Andrew and Joe: Andrew’s family moved to Missoula from Flagstaff, Arizona in 1998. He went to Big Sky High School and graduated from University of Montana with his accounting degree in 2013. After college he moved around quite a bit working for Eide Bailly in Salt Lake City and Denver, and also spent some time at Moss Adams in Sacramento, California. When COVID hit and working from home became the norm, he and his wife decided it was the perfect opportunity to return back to Missoula where they now live with their three golden retrievers. Joe was born and raised just south of Salt Lake City in Cedar Hills and graduated from Brigham Young University with his masters in taxation in 2014. Joe then spent some time in Houston, Texas, between his undergrad and masters working at Ernst & Young before moving back home to Utah and has also worked at PwC and Eide Bailly where he and Andrew met in the Salt Lake City office. Joe recently bought his childhood home in Cedar Hills where he lives with his two boys. Joe and Andrew are both outdoors enthusiasts and spend much of their free time skiing and mountain biking.
EBS: Can you tell me about the journey of Elevated Tax and Accounting?
AS + JH: Joe left Eide Bailly in 2020 to start his own specialty tax consulting firm in 2020 where Andrew joined him a year later. That firm – KPT Consulting – focused on tax credits and incentives, mainly the research and development tax credit and cost segregation studies and grew rapidly during the first four years. Then at the start of 2024 we decided that we wanted to move into a more traditional accounting focus and sold KPT a couple of months later. Our initial plan was to start a tax and accounting firm from scratch and as we were preparing to launch when Elevated came on the market and was exactly the type of firm that we were hoping to build. We put in an offer and took over the company at the beginning of October this year. Our goal is to continue to grow the firm to continue to serve Big Sky and the surrounding communities – we’ve already managed to land some talented accountants in Missoula as well as a tax director who will be relocating to Boise, Idaho, shortly.
EBS: What sets your firm apart from other tax and accounting services in the region?
AS + JH: We moved out of the specialty services space because we wanted to focus on building lasting client relationships that really focus on fullservice consulting and partnership. We’ve developed a system that allows us to operate as an extension of our clients’ business so that they can focus on the mission that drove them to go into business in the first place, while we focus on improving the financial metrics to help them capitalize on opportunities and create lasting growth.
EBS: How does your team stay up-to-date with everchanging tax laws and regulations?
AS + JH: This is a constant battle – in addition to staying on top of tax news, each of our CPAs participates in an average of least 40 hours of Continuing Professional Education each year. We also have an incredible network of former colleagues that share information to stay on top of the latest news and trends.
EBS: What types of clients and services do you specialize in?
AS + JH: We provide a wide range of services to really suit any size and type of client – from tax planning and compliance to monthly accounting, payroll, accounts payable/accounts receivable all the way to fractional CFO services. The Big Sky community has a diverse business environment and our clients are a really interesting core sample of that community. We work a lot with nonprofits, homeowners associations, retail shops, restaurants, construction and professional services.
EBS: Are there specific challenges or opportunities in Big Sky that have shaped your approach to accounting and tax planning?
AS + JH: One of the main challenges that we see with a lot of the businesses that we work with in Big Sky is the seasonal fluctuations in revenue. Seasonal businesses require a measured approach to cash flow planning. We work closely with our clients to document seasonal factors that impact the financials and analyze seasonal patterns and create an actionable plan to help level out the impact of fluctuating revenue and expense cycles.
EBS: How do you build trust and long-term relationships with your clients?
AS + JH: While working at bigger firms we saw clients who were so underserved – they would get their tax returns done at tax time and that was all of the interaction that they’d get with their CPA – oftentimes submitting documents and then receiving their returns without so much as a phone call. We build trust and long term relationships by proactively approaching each client engagement – it’s vitally important for us to understand our clients operations and goals in order to identify tax savings and opportunities for growth.
EBS: How does Elevated Tax and Accounting contribute to the Big Sky community outside of business operations?
AS + JH: We’re brand new to the community here but we’re looking forward to some of the events this coming year with the Big Sky Chamber! We’re excited to get more established locally so please reach out to us with any volunteering opportunities.
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HEALTH
LET'S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH JOY OR STRUGGLE? LET’S MAKE THIS YEAR DIFFERENT
BY MICHELLE NIERLING GUEST COLUMNIST
We know it’s coming. The holidays. Time to gather with family and friends, surrounded by bright lights, crisp air, laughter and the faint smell of pine. It’s the season of love and joy. For many, this is a time to feel happiness and warmth, just by thinking of these few sentences.
But for others, it’s not happiness and joy we feel; it’s sadness, loss, stress, and the big A—anxiety. The pressure to be happy or festive can sometimes amplify feelings of loneliness, overwhelm or despair.
What if this year could be different? What if we could be proactive, rather than reactive? What if we could simply try something new? Recently, I’ve noticed that I’ve been going through the motions of life, dreading the feelings I know are coming. Ah, but wait—why am I wasting time worrying about emotions that haven’t even arrived yet? Why am I letting the past dictate my future? Is it possible to break this cycle?
I’m going to try. And maybe, just maybe, you can too.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much If you’ve been following along in this column, you’ll
know we’ve talked about the importance of holding space, getting quality sleep, breath work, and other mindfulness practices. These are all helpful tools that can carry us through the holiday “daze”—for those who need it the most.
But what if we could also be proactive? What if, instead of waiting for the holiday blues to hit, we start by being more kind, more aware of those around us? Small acts of kindness could make a world of difference.
Next time you pass someone, take a moment to really look them in the eye and ask how they’re doing. Stop and hold the door open. Offer help, even in small ways. Spread smiles and gratitude. Who knows? You might replace someone’s big A (anxiety) with a small, unexpected smile.
Let’s take a minute, Big Sky community, to say hello, offer assistance, and when needed, take a deep breath together.
A simple moment of awareness
Take a moment right now. How are you feeling in your body? Are you tense, restless or fidgeting because your mind can’t quiet down? Notice that spot of tension.
Now, let’s try something together: take a slow, deep breath in through your nose—count to 8 as you inhale. Close your eyes. As you breathe in, focus on that tense spot and imagine the breath soothing that area. Hold at the top for just three seconds, and then gently exhale. Roll your head from side to side.
Do you feel a little better? It’s amazing how a simple breath can reset your mind and body.
Let’s do better, together
This holiday season, let’s be proactive. Let’s do things a little differently. Together, we can lift each other up, be kinder, and practice mindfulness in our everyday lives. Because the truth is, we don’t need to wait until the New Year to make changes. It starts now—through every small act of kindness, through every breath, through every moment we choose to be present.
This year, let’s make it count. Together.
As Big Sky continues to grow, so do all the valuable resources throughout our community. People are willing to help, to listen, to just be human. You can find all of our local resources—things from housing and mental health to food bank and other resources—in one spot: www.bewellbigsky.org. Search around on the site, click through the tabs, I bet you find things you need and never knew existed.
Michelle Nierling is the mother of two young adults, and the Noona to two beautiful grandchildren. She works at Yellowstone Club as the Culinary and Dining Administrator. She is a volunteer member with Community Support Group and Be Well Big Sky’s Navigator Network, and serves on Be Well Big Sky’s leadership council.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
HEALTH BUZZ: ALTITUDE GUIDE
BY KALEY BURNS EBS COLUMNIST
Welcome to wonderful Big Sky, Montana! As you take in the beautiful scenery, your body may also be reminding you that you are not at sea level anymore. Depending on where you are in town, you could be resting anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 feet of elevation.
At higher elevations, you will take in less oxygen per breath. This means the higher you climb, the greater the risk of developing altitude-related illness. Altitude sickness is actually a type of stress on the body and can be a big concern for travelers. The stress of lower oxygen levels can lead to symptoms such as nausea, trouble breathing and weakness.
Thankfully there is no need to miss out on the fun and leave the mountain to alleviate altitude-related symptoms. Reference this guide for helpful tips and tricks.
Dr. B’s Top 10 Tips to Adjust to Altitude
1. IV nutrient and hydration therapy: Especially if you know you are sensitive to elevation changes, I suggest getting a nutrient intravenous drop (IV treatment) as soon as you get into town. Don’t wait until you are already feeling ill.
2. Keep up hydration with electrolytes: Our favorite electrolyte on the market is LMNT. Add a packet to your 40-ounce water bottle once to twice per day to keep your muscles happy and allow you to enjoy the mountain to the fullest. Water intake is advised to be half your body weight in ounces, PLUS if you are physically active adding roughly 8 ounces for every 15 minutes.
Pro tip: Drink 24 ounces of water within the first 30 minutes of waking. Your body dehydrates overnight
3. Mind your activity levels: Many people notice that they need to monitor their intensity and duration of activity as they are adjusting to higher elevations. It’s common for physical performance to become more difficult when you ascend in altitude. It is best not to push yourself too hard for the first two to three days.
4. Get adequate amounts of sleep: Sleep disturbances are common at higher elevations. If you are struggling to sleep, check your caffeine intake and try improving sleep hygiene with a dark room, white noise or calming essential oils such as lavender.
Pro tip: Magnesium is great for helping promote optimal sleep. Current research shows that magnesium can help the body relax to help improve disruption and even insomnia.
5. Be cautious with alcohol intake: Alcohol is dehydrating and can affect many people more significantly at altitude. Alcohol intake can also disrupt sleep patterns. Your safest option is to wait about 48 hours before you consume alcohol at altitude.
6. Boost your nutrient intake: Foods such as bananas, avocados, spinach, greek yogurt and kale are all high in potassium which can help mitigate some of the effects of altitude.
Pro tip: Another favorite way to support your nutrition—and help with hydration levels—is consuming bone broth. There are a couple great restaurants in town that offer this tasty treat as well!
7. Keep an eye on your calorie intake in general: Your body has to work extra hard to keep you functioning with less oxygen available. Therefore, your body requires more fuel. A nutrient-dense diet combining complex carbohydrates, plant and animal proteins and
healthy fats can help keep you full and enable your body to run well at higher elevations.
Pro tip: If you experience appetite reduction, this is a great time to utilize nutrient-packed fluids including bone broths, juices and quality protein shakes. Just check labels and steer clear of sugar levels above 12 grams per serving!
You may have to ditch the keto routine. Instead consume adequate complex carbs, which require less oxygen to metabolize and help you maintain a better ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide, allowing you to use oxygen more efficiently.
8. Recruit quality supplementation as needed: I recommend NEO40 or SuperBeets supplements to support nitric oxide production. Research has found that optimal nitric oxide levels are key to improving high altitude function.
Beets contain iron and vitamin C as well, which can be a good way to help maximize the metabolic benefits of being at altitude.
9. Protect yourself from the sun: Ultraviolet rays are more intense the higher you go in elevation, meaning sunburn can occur more easily. The effect is intensified by the sun reflecting off the snow, so don’t underestimate the power of sun protection.
10. Go lower or seek support if necessary: Don’t wait too long to seek medical attention if your health is struggling as you adapt to altitude. If needed, make arrangements to sleep at a lower elevation; This has been found to help the body adjust more optimally and can allow you to still enjoy a day at the mountain!
Dr. Kaley Burns is a licensed Naturopathic Physician providing a wide range of services for her clients, including: Naturopathic Medicine, IV Nutrient Therapy, Regenerative Injections, Rejuvenation Therapies, Vitamin Shots, and Nutrition Counseling. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
$10 from each item purchased goes directly to the Center for Large Landscape Conservation and their Hwy 191 Wildlife Crossings Project.
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EXPLORE BIG SKY’S TOP STORIES OF 2024
THE ART OF REFLECTION
Introduction by Mira Brody, VP of Media
Each year, the Explore Big Sky team sits down and reviews the work we’ve done, reflecting on our reporting and the impact our stories have made in our community. As someone who very much appreciates words and the power they carry, I find myself pulling at the headlines we picked for our top stories of the year, my eyes drawn to specific ones, like “historic,” “helps,” “biggest” and “home.”
This year, we sent 26 issues of the newspaper to print. We published over 500 feature stories, news articles, regional briefs and breaking news updates on explorebigsky.com. We sent 255 Town Crier newsletters. We produced 59 episodes of the Hoary Marmot podcast. We interviewed countless community members and specialists, completed hundreds of hours of research and fact checking, and wrote, edited and revised hundreds of thousands of words.
Explore Big Sky is an independent newspaper. That means we are locally owned and published. Our reporters live here, in the community. We are beholden to our readers and motivated by informing them on the important topics of Big Sky and the surrounding region.
As 2024 comes to a close, we hope you, our readers, enjoy this quiet reflection in the form of our top stories we’ve highlighted for you as a cross section of our community. And know that if there’s something you appreciate, you’d like to see more of, you disagree with or have feedback about, our doors and inboxes are always open. Our success is foremost reflected in the community we serve, our home.
Happy reading, from your community newspaper,
Mira Brody, Jack Reaney, Jen Clancey, Leslie Kilgore, Joe Borden, Michelle Veale Borden, Fischer Genau and Carli Johnson
A WARM WELCOME:
BIENVENIDOS HELPS IMMIGRANTS THRIVE IN GALLATIN VALLEY
NOV. 27
By Fischer Genau
Bienvenidos is a nonprofit that connects Spanish-speakers moving into greater Bozeman with local mentors and resources to help them thrive in the community.
Bienvenidos helps people like Ramon, critically injured and out of work, navigate the patchwork system of public resources available for newcomers to a foreign country, regardless of whether they speak English or have legal status. The nonprofit also provides interpreters for Spanish-speakers trying to get health care, rent a house, or secure other necessary services like garbage pickup, and its team of 80 volunteers serve as mentors for families adjusting to life here.
Kids play at Bienvenidos'
ARTS COUNCIL BUYS FORMER CHOPPERS
BUILDING, PLANS MAJOR REMODEL INTO LOCAL ARTS HUB
NOV. 15
By Jack Reaney
The Arts Council of Big Sky closed on the old Choppers Grub & Pub building on Nov. 15, with ambitious plans to conduct a “major remodel” into Big Sky’s publicaccess center for the arts with the goal of bringing light and vitality back to a space left dark.
Plans include the addition of a second floor above the existing ground floor, plus a rooftop patio, transforming the current 7,700 square-foot restaurant into a fourstory, 10,000 square foot arts hub.The remodel will add various classroom, music and workshop spaces, plus a studio for Big Sky’s new local radio station, which the arts council plans to launch soon.
"Fiesta at the Park" event. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID RIQUELME
The Arts Council of Big Sky raised its banner just after noon on Friday, Nov. 15. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
BUSINESSES CELEBRATE 'FANTASTIC' SUMMER IN BIG SKY
OCT. 30
By Leslie Kilgore
As Big Sky prepared for its winter season, business owners reflected on how summer events and the visitors they bring to the area impacted business this year. With the Big Sky Farmers Market, Music in the Mountains, Artisan Festival, Big Sky PBR and Wildlands Festival all staples of Big Sky, most agree that the summer season is now just as important for profits and growth as winter in Big Sky.
While the busiest times for business owners centered around weekends in July and August, Wednesday and Thursday nights during the Big Sky Farmers Market and Music in the Mountains also drew crowds.
‘NOW I HAVE MY HOME’
OCT. 25
By Jack Reaney
For tenants like Marisol Mendez, the RiverView Apartments are a new home. Mendez moved to Big Sky five years ago from Puerto Rico, and now works in the cafeteria at the Yellowstone Club. Now that she’s moved in, life feels free—at 54 years old after five years in Big Sky, she finally lives alone.
She watched after her granddaughter during the Oct. 24 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new apartment buildings, a project funded through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and led by the Big Sky Community Housing Trust. Lone Mountain Land Company is finishing up five privately funded buildings of its own on the eastern side of the RiverView complex.
Big Sky PBR punctuates Big Sky’s Biggest Week with three nights of professional bull riding in the Big Sky Events Arena, gathering thousands each night in Town Center. PHOTO BY TAYLOR ALLEN/ OUTLAW PARTNERS
Laura Seyfang, former executive director of the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, cuts the ribbon on a new workforce housing complex in Big Sky. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
SOUTHWEST MONTANA WOMEN’S CLUBS MAKE HISTORIC INTRODUCTION
SEPT. 17
By Leslie Kilgore
In the 1920s, two groups of women built friendships in communities separated by mountains, and the two clubs never met until September 2024. The first meetup of the Gallatin Canyon Women’s Club and the Madison Valley Women’s Club was a historic moment for the groups, which were formed to support other women and build connections between neighbors.
The Jack Creek Preserve meetup welcomed 70 women for a hike, potluck lunch, games and history, sharing stories from both sides of the mountain.
TAYLOR MIDDLETON ANNOUNCES TRANSITION FROM BIG SKY RESORT
SEPT. 3
By Jack Reaney
On Sept. 3 this year, Big Sky Resort announced that Taylor Middleton would step down from his role as president and COO. Middleton began his career at the resort in 1981 as a desk clerk in the Huntley Lodge. Since 1996, Middleton has been a key leader at the resort.
“I couldn’t have known when I landed here just a year out of college that this would be my forever home and that I would have the opportunity to lead a big team in serving our customers and community,” Middleton stated in an email to EBS. “And yet here I am four decades later looking back on a career that has been tremendously rewarding and humbling.”
COURTESY OF GALLATIN CANYON WOMEN’S CLUB
Middleton celebrates the ribbon cutting for the new Lone Peak Tram in December 2023. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
REMEMBERING BIG SKY’S BIGGEST AMBASSADOR, JERRY PAPE
AUG. 21
By Fischer Genau
Jerry Pape moved to Big Sky in 1973. The son of a Chicago cop, Pape lived life on his own terms and when he moved to the mountains, he opened Triple Creek Realty and became a cowboy. He also helped other Big Sky folk make this place home along the way, helping community members buy homes when money was tight.
“So many people, so rapidly, fell in love with my dad,” his son Jerry Jr. said in an interview with Explore Big Sky.
TRUMP, MONTANA REPUBLICANS PRAISE SHEEHY, LAMBAST SEN. TESTER AT BOZEMAN RALLY
AUG. 10
By Jen Clancey and Jack Reaney
Trump supporters began camping out in lines on a Friday morning this August to see the former president at his rally in the Montana State University Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Candidates who praised Donald Trump on the stage in speeches included Rep. Ryan Zinke, Susie Hedalen, Christi Jacobsen, future Rep. Troy Downing, Gov. Gianforte, attorney general Austin Knudsen and future Sen. Tim Sheehy. Seven candidates who appeared at the rally later won their respective races for political office in November elections.
The rally lasted for five hours, with Trump arriving 90 minutes late. The future president, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20, spoke for nearly one hour and 45 minutes.
COURTESY OF JERRY PAPE JR.
Donald Trump speaks at Montana State University on Aug. 9.
PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY’S LONE PUBLIC WASHER AND DRYER
JULY 31
By Jen Clancey
Big Sky might have a lot of resources, but a public laundromat isn’t on the list. Aside from a single washer and dryer available at the local food bank resource center, residents without machinery at home might need to drive an hour for clean clothes.
Sit and Spin Laundry Lounge, a retro bar paired with a public laundromat, opened on June 16, 2018. The business welcomed patrons to start their laundry, sit and buy an alcoholic beverage if they felt inclined, but the laundromat closed in 2022, leaving a clean-clothes void in Big Sky.
BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF MEGAARD RETIRES AFTER 31 YEARS OF SERVICE
MAY 31
By Jen Clancey
After nearly eight years with the Big Sky Fire Department and a total of 31 years in fire service, Chief Greg Megaard retired in May. Starting the role in the midst of a pandemic, his team of firefighters remember his composure in all situations and his "kindness and compassion." Chief Dustin Tetrault was sworn in on July 24 to fill Megaard’s role.
“I try not to get emotional, but it’s tough not to,” Megaard told EBS. “I love what I do. I love my job and I am so proud to be a firefighter. It’s the greatest job in the world.”
The word "Laundromat" fading on the Westfork Meadows Shopping Center sign along Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail). PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Chief Greg Megaard grew up in Gallatin Valley and will remain in the area after his retirement. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
STEVE JOHNSON, A HALL OF FAME COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, DIES AT 77
APRIL 11
By Jack Reaney
On April 8, Big Sky lost a driven and benevolent community member in Steve Johnson. In his 24 years in Big Sky, he volunteered and participated in countless efforts from firefighting, ski patrol and search and rescue, to public service roles with Resort Tax, BSCO and the Gallatin Forest Partnership.
“It’s people like Steve that make this community tick,” said Kevin Germain, a fellow Big Sky Resort Area District board member.
“I think that Steve would be the captain of the hall of fame in Big Sky as far as a citizen volunteer,” said Ron Edwards, who worked with Johnson on water and sewer initiatives.
COURTESY OF BSRAD
WELLNESS DISTRICT PETITION FAILS
JAN. 18
By Jen Clancey and Jack Reaney
As a coalition of Big Sky leaders and organizations worked to withdraw part of Big Sky from the Madison Valley Hospital District and create a wellness district to serve Big Sky’s local service needs, Madison County Commissioners hosted a hearing in Virginia City on Jan. 18 regarding the Big Sky petition to withdraw.
The hearing took a surprise turn when Madison County’s clerk and recorder revealed a discrepancy: the petition fell two signatures short, based on methodology that determined only 48 Big Sky residents were eligible to sign, despite more than 200 total signatures being submitted.
On Thursday, a hearing in Virginia City was held to decide whether the Madison County portion of Big Sky could withdraw from the Madison Valley Hospital District. Big Sky property taxes currently fund $1.7 million to Madison Valley Medical Center. PHOTO BY JOHN ZIRKLE
Conceptual rendering to give an idea of how a potential overpass may look on the landscape. Final location, size, dimensions, and other structural and aesthetic attributes will be determined in the pre-construction design phase should funding be awarded to this project. RENDERING COURTESY OF JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC.
ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 191 NOV. 8
NOV. 4 BRIDGING BIOLOGY AND ENGINEERING PLANNING WILDLIFE
WRITERS ON THE RANGE: GRIZZLY 399 WAS A BEAR FOR THE AGES
Grizzly 399 with cubs. PHOTO BY THOMAS MANGELSEN
Bozeman restaurant owner and community leader I-Ho Pomeroy passed away in March 2024, and leaves a strong legacy. PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT
