Explore Big Sky - January 12 to 25, 2023

PUBLISHER

Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR

Jason Bacaj | jason@theoutlawpartners.com

DIGITAL PRODUCER

Julia Barton | julia@theoutlawpartners.com

STAFF WRITER

Jack Reaney | jack@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ME Brown | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Rob Smith | rob@theoutlawpartners.com

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Treston Wold | treston@theoutlawpartners.com

VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com

MEDIA AND EVENTS DIRECTOR

Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com

MARKETING MANAGER

Sophia Breyfogle | sophia@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTENT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Badger, Scott Bosse, Dan Egan, Darrel Ehrlick, Frank Eltman, Jacob W. Frank, Jeremy Harder, Marne Hayes, Neal Herbert, Rachel Hergett, Roger Jenkins, Mike Koshmrl, Susie McDonald, Amirali Mirhashemian, Jim Peaco, Michael Reubusch, Paul Swenson, Marshall Tate, Angus M. Thuermer Jr., David Yarrow, Cy Whitling

ON THE COVER:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SKYLINE LAUNCHES BIG SKY CONNECT

After West Coast snowstorms delayed vehicle shipment, Skyline Bus finally launched its new micro transit service. Big Sky Connect functions on-demand through a mobile app, like Uber or Lyft, bringing riders from origin to destination within the service area of Big Sky’s Town Center and Meadow Village. The service is free, however, funded by the Big Sky Transportation District to help reduce local vehicle traffic.

LIBRARY COLLECTS DIRTBAG HISTORY

The Big Sky Community Library is pursuing dirtbag legends from the 1970’s and ‘80’s as the first installment of an oral history project. The library chose to start with the dirtbag culture to collect older stories before they continue to fade from local memory. However, they’ll need to make sure to gain the trust of dirtbags from that era.

AMERICAN LEGION REWARDS BSSD STAFF

In December, Big Sky’s Post 99 of the American Legion began a program to randomly draw one name from the Big Sky School District staff list each month, awarding them $300 and a thank you note. Big Sky Build stepped up and matched the budget, doubling the impact of the Legion’s new program.

IMPLICATIONS OF RULING ON CORNER CROSSING

Big Sky Ski Education Foundation athlete Michael “Witt” Schreiner carves a turn during a BSSEF race competition at Big Sky Resort on the weekend of Jan. 6-9. PHOTO BY MARSHALL TATE / bigskyphotos.com

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.

“Corner crossing”—stepping across private land at a“checkerboard” intersection of public and private property—could have major implications on rural and ranch real estate values. In a Wyoming court case regarding trespassing allegations against four hunters from Missouri who corner crossed at the Elk Mountain Ranch, the rancher claims the hunters damaged his property value by nearly one-third.

BACKCOUNTRY FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS

For the fourth time in Big Sky and the first in-person since the pandemic, grassroots conservation group Wild Montana will host the Backcountry Film Festival produced by Winter Wildlands Alliance. The series of 12 short films will be shown at The Independent on two upcoming dates this winter. Wild Montana will use proceeds from the showing to fund its outdoor-focused initiatives.

ADVERTISING

LETTERS

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.

For the January 26, 2022 issue: January 18, 2022 CORRECTIONS Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners. OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@theoutlawpartners.com © 2023 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, skiers got their first turns on 2 inches of fresh powder while clouds from the snowy night faded into a bluebird day at Big Sky Resort. After a sunny and dry start to 2023, snow showers returned on Jan. 9 and Jan. 11 to dust Big Sky’s porches, driveways, cars, trees, chairlift seats, and ski slopes with crystals of hope that this winter’s powdery pattern may soon return. PHOTO BY MICHAEL REUBUSCH

A legendary ranch located on the Jack Creek Road outside of Moonlight Basin, Big Sky Resort, Madison Valley, and Yellowstone National Par. You cannot put into words how magnificent this property is. Historically run as a summer guest ranch, all 160 acres are fenced and have corrals for horses. Large barn and outbuildings for vehicle maintenance and storage, an indoor tennis court, a spring-fed pond, Jack Creek, and Mill Creek run year-round through the property and it includes water rights. Adorable historically preserved log cabin homes. Lodge with commercial kitchen and enormous artisan stone fireplace where you can gather telling stories of your adventures from the day either fly fishing, horseback riding, skiing, hiking and so much more! This is an incredibly beautiful and picturesque ranch to complement your property in Big Sky or to leave the city and get back to nature in a setting that looks like it is out of the movies! With no zoning, you can run it as a business-create the ultimate guest ranch, or keep it for your private use.

DIAMOND J RANCH

LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF

MONTANA LAWMAKERS CONSIDER PROHIBITING RENT CAPS

UM LEGISLATIVE NEWS SERVICE

HELENA—Lawmakers in Helena are considering a bill that would prohibit rent caps, or limits on how much landlords can charge for rent.

Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, would make it illegal for local governments to interfere with rental prices on both private and commercial properties.

Several bill proponents told a Senate committee that rent control contributes to disrepair in rental properties and discourages new construction that could reduce the cost of housing over time. Opponents said the bill is unnecessary.

Kalispell renter Mandy Gerth said placing more obstacles to affordable housing amidst Montana’s housing crisis could further aggravate the issue.

“Despite good credit and full-time employment, buying anything close to affordable was impossible. In 2021, for example, I was paying 80% of my full-time salary for our housing,” Gerth said.

MEDICAID AND ABORTION TOP HEALTH AGENDA FOR

MONTANA LAWMAKERS

KAISER HEALTH NEWS

Montana lawmakers said lowering costs and expanding patient access will be their top health care goals for the new legislative session. But they also will have to contend with making changes to Medicaid, a management crisis at the Montana State Hospital, and proposals to regulate abortion.

Republicans, who hold a veto-proof majority, said they will focus on three areas of health care: transparency, costs and patient options.

Democrats, who are the minority party and need Republican help to pass their bills, identified lowering health care costs, protecting Medicaid coverage and preserving reproductive freedom as their priorities.

MONTANA MAN GETS NEARLY FOUR YEARS FOR ROLE IN US CAPITOL RIOT

EBS STAFF

A Montana man who was among the first people to illegally enter the U.S. Capitol while Congress was certifying the results of the 2020 election was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison.

Jerod Hughes, 39, of East Helena, was sentenced on Jan. 6 to three years and 10 months in prison for his actions inside the Capitol during the riot carried out by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

“Defendant sincerely regrets his involvement in the instant case and is embarrassed that he allowed himself to be so gullible,” his attorney, Jonathan Zucker, wrote in his sentencing memo.

In court documents, Hughes said he was duped into believing the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

His brother, Joshua Hughes, was sentenced in November to just over three years in prison.

GROUP OF REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE CREATION OF MONTANA FREEDOM CAUCUS

EBS STAFF

A group of Montana Republicans announced this month they formed the Montana Freedom Caucus, which includes all four of the Republican members appointed to the newly created select committee on election integrity.

The 14-member caucus is led by Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton with vice chairman Rep. Jerry Schillinger, R-Circle.

“We will stand on the founding principles of the supremacy of individual rights, limited government, and personal responsibility. We know that when government expands, liberty contracts,” Manzella said in the news release.

According to the release, the caucus’ goals include refunding income tax surpluses, election integrity, promoting school choice programs, “securing medical freedom” and “protecting religious freedom and free speech.”

MONTANA LAWMAKERS QUESTIONS TRIBAL RESERVATIONS

EBS STAFF

Republican state Sen. Keith Regier is questioning whether land set aside for Native Americans prior to Montana’s statehood should exist anymore. The measure, riddled with racial stereotypes, is unlikely to pass, but it’s causing tensions to surface at the Republican-controlled Montana Legislature that began earlier this month.

Native American lawmakers say they’re now spending time responding to the proposed resolution rather than focusing on their own legislative priorities, including extending the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force.

The draft argues reservations are “not in the best interests of either the Indians inside our borders or for our common Montana Citizens.”

“I’m tired of hearing what other people think is best for us,” said state Sen. Shane Morigeau, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. “Consult and seek the advice of Indian people."

TOGETHER

FY24 RESORT TAX FUNDING CYCLE KICKS OFF!

Resort Tax is collected and remitted by local businesses operating within the Big Sky Resort Area District. The locally elected Board of 5 volunteer Directors strategically invests funds to address critical community needs. Next month local organizations and the District will begin the thoughtful process of investing public funds for projects that address community needs. Stay tuned for updates and we look forward to having YOU join us in this process!

Have a community project?

Meet with District staff to find out if it’s a good fit for Resort Tax funding.

Care how community funds are invested?

Attend a Board meeting and share your feedback.

Want to be in the know?

Follow the District on social media or reach out to info@resorttax.org to receive updates. @BSRADMT ResortTax.org @bsrad_mt

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

February 1st

- February 15th: Letters of Inquiry (LOIs)

The first step of the application process, LOIs are used to gather information about the sponsoring organization as well as basic project information.

Deadline: To be eligible for funding, LOIs must be submitted by 11:45 pm on Wednesday, February 15th

March 1st - March 31st:

Project Applications

Approved LOI submissions are invited to complete project applications outlining project details including deliverables, goals, and milestones

Deadline: To be eligible for funding, applications must be submitted by 11:45 pm on Friday, March 31st

June 5th, June 6th, & June 8th: Application

Review Meetings

Open to the public, these meetings are where the Board hears community feedback, discusses requests, and determines funding awards.

If you have not registered or renewed your business for 2023, please visit: ResortTax.org/business-resources or call: 406.995.3234

LOCAL

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—On Monday, Jan. 2, Skyline Bus launched Big Sky Connect, the anticipated fare-free micro transit service intended to help alleviate vehicle traffic in Big Sky by completing short rides and helping locals and visitors reach bus stops.

Through the Skyline Big Sky Connect App, riders within the service area can request a free ride between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Both pickup and drop-off must occur within Big Sky’s Town Center and Meadow Village. The general boundaries of the program are the Firelight neighborhood to the south, Little Coyote Road (toward the Mountain Village) and the wastewater holding ponds to the east. Lone Mountain Ranch is included as a “satellite” service area, an exception to the service area boundaries.

Riders can expect to wait 10 to 15-minutes for their driver to arrive, and the vans are big enough to fit skis and snowboards—the service provider plans to add ski racks soon. One of the vans is ADA accessible for handicap use.

“We feel the service is going to be a game changer for the community,” said Darren Brugmann, executive director of the Big Sky Transportation District. “We feel very strongly that it will be well received. The [transportation district and board] are already looking into our next expansion. That could be Hidden Village, we could branch further down into the canyon, and we could also set up a service area up in the Mountain Village.”

Brugmann hoped Big Sky Connect could launch by mid-December. However, the launch was delayed by supply chain snags and vehicle shipping delays caused by a snowstorm in Sierra County, Calif. Finally active with three minivans, Brugmann is proud to announce that the third-party contractor, Downtowner, was able to implement service in near-record time from idea stages to execution.

“We’ve been very pleased with [Downtowner],” Brugmann said. The micro transit service is active in Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Park City (Canyons), Jackson Hole and has seven operations in Tahoe. Brugmann added that Mike Fisher, Downtowner’s region manager, has been in Big Sky since early

December to set up the service and hire drivers. Fisher told EBS it’s an absolute honor to bring this service to Big Sky. He’s been working seven days a week from 4:15 a.m. until the job’s done, often as late as 6 p.m. He’s an avid snowboarder, but said implementing this service has been his sole focus since arriving.

“This project is my baby,” he said. “Once we’ve got everything running smoothly, I’m gonna get out and get some turns.”

Fisher acknowledged this is a brand-new service for Big Sky’s riders and drivers. He emphasized Downtowner’s hands-on engagement; with around 25 operations around the country, he’ll hand off program

leadership to local operations manager Pete Black. But when challenges arise, Fisher said Downtowner is small enough that they’re easy to get ahold of, and he’ll make regular visits from Basalt, Colo. to check in on the local service.

Black told EBS he’s excited to help launch Big Sky Connect, “and to help all the workers in town get to and from work, while preventing any kind of intoxicated driving. We're here to serve the community and make life a little easier here in town.”

Black said Big Sky Connect’s growing team of about 10 drivers is fantastic.

“They’re all very good, very friendly people looking to help the community,” he said.

Fisher added that he can’t thank the local community enough, and he appreciates Big Sky’s reception to the new service. He said Big Sky’s team of drivers has been “really solid so far.”

FUTURE EXPANSION

Brugmann acknowledged that unfortunately, the Hidden Village neighborhood will not be included in the initial service area. However, he said that the first few months of Big Sky Connect will generate important insights to help adapt the program, including possible limited hours or seasonal expansion to include Hidden Village. Black also expressed his hope to expand service in the coming months.

“For now we concentrated on Meadow Village and Town Center, due to density and concentrations of where people live and work,” Brugmann said. “That’s what Downtowner told us to expect when we focus on a specific service area… After about a month you get a good feel for what’s happening.”

Brugmann said the first day was quiet, before demand doubled on Tuesday. He expects the service will continue to gain momentum by word of mouth.

Service area shaded in blue. Brugmann hopes a successful early stage will lead to expansion into the Canyon and Mountain Village in coming years. PHOTO COURTESY OF DARREN BRUGMANN

EBS put Big Sky Connect to the test, requesting a ride from Town Center to the golf course to photograph the van. The driver was a friendly and helpful local, and at least for now, EBS can confirm a genuine “new car smell” in the vehicle.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

SEMI-TRUCK COLLIDES WITH BISON HERD NEAR WEST YELLOWSTONE, KILLING 13 ANIMALS

On Wednesday night around 6:30 p.m., a semi-truck collided with a herd of bison north of West Yellowstone, resulting in the death of 13 bison.

According to Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Dan Haydon, a large herd of bison normally migrates from Yellowstone National Park into the West Yellowstone area using the road corridors and groomed trails. The truck was traveling northbound in the dark near mile marker four on U.S. Highway 191 and became disabled after striking the group of bison. No human injuries were reported, and the truck was towed to clear the roadway.

“A number [of bison] were immediately deceased,” Haydon said. “More were so severely injured that they needed to be dispatched by responding officers.”

When dealing with wildlife collisions, it’s typical for officers to assess whether the injuries are survivable for any animal, according to Haydon. The impact force from the semi was too great for animal survival, and the officers euthanized—or “dispatched”—several of the injured bison, bringing the herd’s death toll to 13.

Haydon said this is the most significant vehicle collision with bison that he’s aware of in the recent past, considering the number of animals involved. Unfortunately, similar events are more common with elk farther north along Highway 191 between Gallatin Canyon and Gallatin Gateway.

“The key is, when visibility drops from darkness or weather conditions, you need to make sure you’re driving

at a slow enough speed that you can react to obstacles in the roadway,” Haydon said, although he said it’s unknown whether the semi’s speed was a factor in the collision.

The eyes of bison do not reflect headlights, making the dark animal more difficult to detect at night.

“This is obviously a terrible thing to have so many animals be struck and killed,” Haydon added. “People operating vehicles at a slow and safe speed are really helpful to protect animals in that area.”

A Dec. 30 press release from the West Yellowstone police department suggested that road conditions this time of year often require travel below posted speed limits, and drivers not drive faster than they can stop in the distance their headlights project.

A pair of passenger vehicles were initially reported to have also collided with the bison, but the press release clarified that the other two vehicles were “secondary incidents.”

“We are always saddened by any of these incidents, especially when so many animals are lost,” the release stated.

EBS STAFF

A herd of bison uses a paved park road to travel near Madison Junction. Officials say bison tend to prefer paved and groomed surfaces for winter travel, creating driving and snowmobiling hazards. PHOTO BY NEAL HERBERT

AMERICAN LEGION POST 99 DRAWS RANDOM AWARDS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—In late November, the American Legion and Sons of the American Legion Post #99 of Big Sky announced a new program to show appreciation for Big Sky School District staff by awarding one randomly selected BSSD staff member each month with a $300 gift and a thank you note from the Legion.

Shortly after the first drawing, a matching gift from Big Sky Build enabled the program to draw two awards per month. Although the first four winners have been teachers, the program draws from all BSSD staff.

According to an email from Jeremy Harder, the Legion volunteer coordinator, the program was made possible through community support including bingo fundraisers at the Riverhouse BBQ & Events and honey sales at the farmers market. Community members are encouraged to reach out via email to the Legion’s fundraising coordinator Sara Sipe with interest in supporting communitybased initiatives like this BSSD campaign.

“The Legion welcomes any interest from individuals and businesses in the Big Sky area that area interested in partnering with the post to provide financial gifts to BSSD staff and educators,” Sipe told EBS. “We feel blessed that Big Sky Build heard our call to action and generously matched our budget for the school year, and we encourage

any individuals or businesses that are interested in helping build and maintain community.”

Sipe works for Outlaw Partners, the publisher of Explore Big Sky.

The first drawing was awarded to Cadie Williams, a fourth-grade teacher and assistant Lone Peak High School girls soccer coach.

Three days later, on Dec. 2, Big Sky Build responded to Sipe’s Facebook post which encouraged businesses to get involved.

To her surprise, they offered to match the Legion’s $3,000 program budget, allowing the Legion to draw two names each month for the rest of the 10-month cycle. In an unexpected second drawing on Dec. 6, Ophir Middle School math teacher Rosie Sullivan won the next award.

“We feel strongly about supporting the community and people working within our community,” said Beth Hoffman, process administrator at Big Sky Build. She said the company focuses on supporting children and child-support organizations including Big Sky Community Organization summer programs, Morningstar Learning Center and Discovery Academy.

Hoffman told EBS that Big Sky Build will consider revisiting their support if this program continues beyond 2023.

On Jan. 4, American Legion announced the next two winners: Kinsey Carney and Mariel Elleman.

Both provided short bios to the Legion, which Harder shared in an email.

Ms. Carney, a first-grade teacher, told Harder she “loves exploring Montana’s vast wilderness, finding new recipes to share with friends and family, and getting lost in a good book.”

Ms. Elleman described herself as an “outdoorloving, washable marker-covered, fourth-grade teacher,” and told Harder she feels pride and joy to be working for this wonderful school district. Harder added, “both want to thank the Big Sky community, Big Sky Build, The American Legion, and the Sons of the American Legion for their generous gift.”

Quarterly rent assistance drawings

In partnership with the Broken Spoke Bar & Casino, the Legion this fall began offering two awards of $1000 each to community members randomly pulled from the Big Sky Community Food Bank’s quarterly rent assistance program. Community members desiring rental assistance can visit the food bank and put their name in the bucket, Harder wrote.

Sipe said that Anderson Wallace, owner of the Broken Spoke, generously matched the Legion’s quarterly effort, allowing the Legion to give two quarterly awards of $1,000.

Interested businesses can reach out to Sara Sipe at sarasipe123@gmail.com

Left to right: Rosie Sullivan, Cadie Williams, Mariel Elleman and Kinsey Carney. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEREMY HARDER

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—For decades, dirtbags have been a skiing subculture of legendary status. As the first chapter in an oral history of Big Sky, the Big Sky Community Library is working to prevent that legend from fading.

Library Director Amy Hunter said dirtbags can participate by reminiscing in the library’s new recording studio funded by a recent grant from the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation. At least to start, Hunter said the recordings will be banked in a raw database, eventually made available to community members to come to the library and listen. However, the library might decide to splice recorded clips into a more digestible narrative, like a podcast. The dirtbag history is the beginning of a larger project to archive an oral history of Big Sky’s ever-evolving community.

Hunter credits the idea to Sarah Gaither Bivins, operations manager at the Big Sky Community Food Bank. Bivins suggested that the library should collect local history, focusing on topics like dirtbag culture.

Hunter agreed, seeing how important it was to execute the idea now, in a 50-year-old ski community where some of the original dirtbags have moved or are passing away.

“It feels like five years ago would have been a better time to do it, but better late than never, right?” Hunter said.

The library will provide snacks and ask basic questions to help prompt participants as they share stories. Hunter hopes to start with dirtbags from the 1970s and ‘80s and move throughout the generations. She asked any interested dirtbags—or anyone else who knows a relevant character—to send her an email.

As for the hard-partying side of dirtbag culture, Hunter said dirtbags are welcome to keep their war stories anonymous if they feel inclined. However, she added that you probably won’t get arrested for sharing something that happened 25 years ago.

“If anyone asks to have something removed from the record, for sure, we will,” Hunter said. If the library decides to splice stories together, Hunter plans to obtain additional permission from each source.

Keeping ‘little ones’ engaged

In other library news, Hunter recently announced that the South Fork loop will be Big Sky’s first “storybook trail” in time for the summer.

In a storybook trail, stations displaying a page from a picture book are posted at regular intervals, allowing a story to unfold during a stroll. This project is being funded by a grant from the Moonlight Club Community Foundation, and Hunter said it might be the first of many enhancements to Big Sky’s community trails if the community responds with joy.

“It’s kind of a fun activity to get out and do with little ones that keeps them engaged,” Hunter said. “Our goal is to change the story every month, and we’re really excited.”

The trail will consist of 26 posts, planted as soon as the ground thaws, Hunter said.

The Big Sky Community Library is open Monday through Wednesday from 4-8 p.m., Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday from 12-6 p.m.

Members of contemporary Dirtbag Royalty were celebrated in an October 2022 homecoming parade float. PHOTO BY JULIA BARTON

TODAY’S LESSON: YELLOW CURRY FOR THE FOOD BANK

BY JACK REANEY

Eighth graders from Discovery Academy visited Lotus Pad on Friday and got to work on the wok.

As part of a middle school project exploring food insecurity, three eighth graders—Discovery lost its other three middle school students to a weekend ski competition—learned how to cook yellow curry from general manager Marsha Barker. Supervised by art teacher Hannah Boyd and assistant head of schools Beth Marlington, the students packed up 10 containers of curry to donate to the Big Sky Community Food Bank, where the tubs will be frozen and distributed by operations manager Sarah Gaither Bivins. The students hope this can spark a pattern for community restaurants.

“It needs to be 10 ounces of vegetables, 4 ounces of chicken,” explained eighth grade student Liam Bevan as he placed a small mixing bowl on the kitchen scale. After some instruction, Bevan and his classmates added Thai cuisine to their cooking resumes which they said included scrambled eggs, mac and cheese, white rice, cheesy pasta and “five out of ten” skill.

Under Barker’s close watch, the kids took turns cooking curry from start to finish on the wok. Using leftover frozen vegetables and rice, the students each stirred and packaged servings as part of a project overseen by lead middle school and high school science teacher Alessandra Balyasny.

“Each quarter of the school year, middle school students have a capstone project they work on,”

Balyasny said. “We felt this was a perfect project for a real-life situation that focuses on specific goals.”

Among those goals, she said teachers wanted their students to practice communicating professionally with restaurant owners and chefs and learn to cook one or two meals. The students also interviewed Bivins from the food bank to contribute to the deliverables of the project: a paper on the importance of food banks, and a presentation to Discovery’s high school students.

“I think it’s a cool project to give the kids some perspective of what people go through in the real world as adults,” Balyasny said, adding that middle school-aged kids can struggle to put themselves in others’ shoes. She said the kids have done a great job thinking through food insecurity and designing a solution.

“Why don’t we go to restaurants, cook food and give it to food banks,” summarized Bevan of the

project’s premise. He said the idea could apply to Big Sky’s restaurants that close for weeks at a time during the shoulder season, as they might otherwise dispose of leftover food supplies.

Barker said the Lotus Pad has been in business long enough that they’ve learned to plan for shoulder season and limit waste, “but some of the newer businesses maybe have extra stuff that they don’t use.

“It’s fun to get kids involved and teach them things,” Barker added.

Classmate Lily Hoeksema said they’ve been working on the project for the last six weeks.

“Basically we learned about food banks and spoke with [Sarah Gaither Bivins] to ask questions so we could write essays and give presentations about food banks and why they’re important, how they help people.”

Marlington said the project’s timing did not lend itself to restaurant involvement; the students reached out as eateries geared up for the holiday season.

Alternatively, Bevan suggested that “the mail demon” may have intercepted some emails.

If the former is true, seasonal follow-ups in April or September might generate more participation from restaurants. In the case of the latter, restaurant owners might check their junk inbox and change their password.

Hoeksema pours the curry into one of the dozen containers donated by Lotus Pad to the food bank. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Discovery Academy student-chefs offered a spoonful for EBS review: the creamy broth hosted a diverse flavor profile ending in a muted kick of spice. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

REGIONAL

CORNER CROSSING WOULD DIMINISH RANCH VALUES ‘AT LEAST 30%’

BY ANGUS M. THUERMER JR. WYOFILE

An expert witness in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against four hunters accused of passing through the airspace above Elk Mountain Ranch says the alleged trespass has damaged the ranch by $1.64 million more than the $7.75 million previously asserted.

Attorneys for Elk Mountain Ranch owner Fred Eshelman last week designated real estate agent James Rinehart of Laramie as an expert witness in Eshelman’s civil suit against the hunters. Eshelman alleges the Missouri men trespassed on his 22,045acre Carbon County ranch in 2020 and 2021.

Eshelman asserts that when the men corner-crossed — stepping from one piece of public land to another at a four-corner intersection with his ranch — they damaged him by up to $7.75 million. That’s based on a 25% devaluation of the Elk Mountain Ranch, appraised at $31.1 million in 2017.

Rinehart would discount the ranch by 30% if corner crossing was declared legal, he said in an affidavit. His figure would raise alleged damages to a total of $9.39 million.

The defendants say they never set foot on private property as they stepped from one piece of public land to another in a checkerboard pattern of ownership.

Neither courts nor laws have explicitly stated that corner crossing is legal or illegal, experts say. The case could have implications for public access to 8.3 million acres of public land in the West, according to one estimate.

A Carbon County deputy cited the four Missouri hunters for criminal trespass in 2021. A Rawlins jury found the men not guilty last spring but they still face the civil suit.

Corner crossing “is a primary factor to consider” among a majority of ranch buyers and sellers, Rinehart wrote. “If a rural or ranch property is subject to forced/lawful corner crossing, such could impact the value…

“[I]f a court were to declare that [the ranch] must allow corner crossing, it would be my advice to list the property at a discount of at least 30% from the appraised or perceived value of the ranch before taking corner crossing impacts into account,” he wrote.

Public/private melange

Private Elk Mountain Ranch land walls off thousands of acres of public land on wildlife-rich Elk Mountain, barring access to much of that public land without corner crossing or landowner permission.

Ranch real estate agents in Wyoming often advertise ranch property by listing both deeded private land and public land leases.

One recent listing for a property in Platte County, for example, states “the ranch is comprised of 7,589 total acres, which includes 5,331 deeded acres, 240 acres of BLM Grazing Permit and 2,018 acres of State Lease.” Another for an Albany County ranch advertises “54,209± total contiguous acres [that] consists of 25,764± deeded acres, 5,338± State of Wyoming lease acres, 8,251± BLM lease acres and 14,856± private lease acres fenced into the ranch.”

Real estate agent Rinehart, who describes himself as “an avid hunter,” states that corner crossing can “impact wildlife resources.” He analyzes how “hunting/fishing/recreation use … affect the value of real property,” an affidavit he signed states.

If hunters and others are not stopped from corner crossing on Elk Mountain, “extra miles of private land boundary… must be patrolled or controlled in the face of increased public access,” he wrote.

If corner crossing is legal, “such a ruling would negatively impact my ability as a licensed real estate broker to list, market and attempt to sell rural and ranch properties,” Rinehart’s affidavit reads.

Eshelman said in an interview with Triangle Business Journal that he likes to hunt mountain lions. He held nonresident landowner elk licenses for the Elk Mountain Hunt Area 125 in at least 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and a leftover elk license in 2017, Game and Fish information obtained through a records request shows.

Ranch property manager Steve Grende said at the criminal trial that Eshelman “was actually on the east side” of Elk Mountain when the Missouri men were hunting public land on the west side. Asked whether they damaged the ranch, Grende said “no.”

At the trial, hunters’ attorney Ryan Semerad likened Elk Mountain to a medieval feudal fiefdom in which wildlife is considered “the king’s deer.” Under Carbon County corner-crossing enforcement, wildlife that’s the property of the state and on public land is available only to Eshelmen and those

he grants access to, Semerad argued. When asked, the jury foreman would not explain why the body found the four not guilty.

1885 Act

The hunters believe the 1885 Unlawful Enclosures Act prevents Elk Mountain Ranch from blocking their access to public land. That theory will be tested at the civil trial, which is expected to take place next summer.

“If the argument is that, absent corner crossing, the private landowner effectively controls public lands within their border, then that would seem directly contrary to the purposes of the UEA,” said Mark Squillace, professor of natural resources law at the University of Colorado Law School. He responded to questions from WyoFile in an email.

“If the UEA applies, then corner crossings have been legal at least since the passage of the UEA in 1885.” Nevertheless, “a realtor or appraiser who makes a reasonable assumption about the law that is only later found to be wrong should not be liable for over-valuing the property,” he wrote.

One law officer said in a video played at the criminal trial that he understood Carbon County is one of only three Wyoming counties that treats corner crossing as trespass.

Elk Mountain appears to have ample wildlife values. In the few days they hunted there, the showme-state hunters were successful. They killed two elk and a deer.

Never set food

The four hunters used onX — a GPS map app on cell phones — to navigate their way across public land.

They showed law officers screen shots of their app, including waypoints they marked at the corners.

A fence guards private property at the Elk Mountain Ranch, site of a corner-crossing controversy. PHOTO BY MIKE KOSHMRL

A second, newly listed Eshelman expert witness, surveyor David Coffee, took “professional land surveying equipment” and a cell phone with the onX app to Elk Mountain at Eshelman’s request, according to court filings. At three different corner monuments he noted their coordinates as revealed by his surveying equipment, said to be more accurate than cell phone GPS. He compared those to the locations indicated by onX on the phone.

In court papers Coffee provided three comparisons that appear to show the onX locations as much as 6.814 feet away from the monument. On its website, onX itself says user-marked points “are usually accurate within +/- 2 meters,” or about 6.5 feet.

Relying exclusively on the onX app could have put the hunters several feet onto Elk Mountain Ranch land.

But the hunters stated on several occasions that they crossed at surveyed corner monuments and used onX only to get within sight of them. Regardless of coordinates, maps or apps, the surveyed corner monument is the legal property intersection, a surveyor told WyoFile.

“Real property is bounded by physical monuments,” said Rich Greenwood, a land surveyor who maintains the geographic information systems for 16 Wyoming counties.

One of the four hunters, Bradly Cape, is the owner of All-type Fence, Inc. of Cuba, Missouri, lending

the hunting group some knowledge about property boundaries. At every corner in question, the hunters were able to locate the survey monuments — often less than a foot high — because a taller stake or T-post, as well as the onX app, marked their locations, according to court records.

At one corner they used a makeshift fence ladder to climb over two T-posts that blocked the corner, evidence at their criminal trial revealed.

Cape himself said in a conversation recorded by a law enforcement body cam video “we never had been on private land.” Fellow hunter Phillip Yeomans wrote in a statement that the group

explained to ranch property manager Grende “that we crossed every corner legally and that we have pictures of every USGS corner and T-post marker.”

Wyoming Game and Fish Department law enforcement officer Jake Miller described the hunters’ actions in a report. “They understood that GPSs are only accurate to about 30 feet so they looked for the marker at every corner before crossing.”

In both the resolved criminal trial and the ongoing civil suit the hunters were alleged to have trespassed by passing through the airspace above Eshelman’s property.

the other caption: Corner-crossing defendants wait for their trial to begin in Rawlins on April 27, 2022. They are Phillip Yeomans, second from left and partly obscured; John Slowensky, foreground in the front row, Bradly Cape, second from left in back row and Zach Smith, right. PHOTO BY ANGUS M. THUERMER JR

BOZEMAN WHOLE FOODS TO OPEN FEB. 1

EBS STAFF

Montana’s first Whole Foods Market will open Feb. 1, 18 months after the company filed a building permit with the city of Bozeman, the company announced in a Monday press release.

The nearly 32,000-square-foot store is located by the Gallatin Valley Mall at 2905 W. Main St.

Whole Foods is a subsidiary of Amazon, which acquired the company for $13.7 billion in 2017. The more than 40-year-old grocer has about 500 stores across North America and the United Kingdom. The store’s opening coincides with larger plans by developers to renovate and modernize the mall, which includes changing the name from Gallatin Valley Mall to Gallatin Crossing.

The company is holding a hiring event on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the mall, the release states. Additional hiring events are scheduled for Jan. 19 and Jan. 26. According to the Whole Foods website, the Bozeman location is hiring for all positions, from supervisors and associate team leaders to full- and part-time roles. The full- and part-time roles have an advertised salary ranging from $17 per hour to $25.40 per hour.

The company also has opening day festivities planned, including gift cards for the first 250 customers and plans to make donations to Big Sky Youth Empowerment and Gallatin Valley Land Trust, according to the release. HRDC is also slated to receive a refrigerated van through the company’s Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program.

Bozeman’s Whole Foods will have a floral section, specialty cheese, local wine and craft beers, a Treeline Coffee bar, bakery and full-service meat and seafood counters, among other offerings.

NEW DOCUMENTS DETAIL HOW YELLOWSTONE DETERMINED THE IDENTITY OF A MISSING MAN WITH JUST A FOOT

BY DARRELL EHRLICK DAILY MONTANAN

Before Yellowstone National Park officials found a shoe with a human foot floating in Abyss Pool, an employee had found two shoe soles floating in the thermal spring a week earlier.

That began a weeks-long journey to find out what happened to Il Hun Ro, 70, whose foot was identified from DNA that matched a relative. Authorities determined he died, and Ro’s death has been ruled accidental, although how and why some of his remains were found there will likely remain unsolved. No one saw him go into the thermal hot springs, and besides the shoes, nothing has been recovered.

The Abyss Pool, a hot spring, remains one of the deepest at more than 50 feet and has a temperature that averages more than 140 degrees Farenheit. “We’ll likely never know the exact course of events. However, there are no signs of foul play or circumstances that would lead us to believe this involved more than just Mr. Ro,” said a Yellowstone spokeswoman on Tuesday.

Ro, who was living in California but is not a U.S. resident, was added to a list of people who have been injured or died because of veering too close or getting into the park’s superheated thermal pools. A batch of documents based on a Freedom of Information request has been released through the U.S. Department of the Interior. Those reports offer some explanation about Ro’s visit to Yellowstone National Park and what may have happened.

An investigation by Yellowstone Park Rangers, Wyoming law enforcement officials, and a coroner have confirmed the foot is Ro’s, but were able to help determine his identity because his car was left abandoned after the area in West Thumb Geyser Basin had been cleared.

Authorities believe that Ro fell into the pool on July 31, 2022. However, the shoe and foot weren’t found until Aug. 18, when a park employee noticed a shoe floating in the water and was able to reach just beyond the boardwalk with a tool to fish it out. From there, the employee noticed what appeared to be part of a human foot in the shoe, and called authorities, which triggered the investigation.

The law enforcement report chronicles an investigation that involved geologists, law enforcement officials, drone operators and rangers who were able to help close in on Ro’s identity because of his 2018 Kia that was left in a nearby parking lot.

Conducting a search of the area with drones and employees yielded no other physical clues to Ro’s disappearance or other signs of foul play. But why and how Ro entered the pool remains unsolved because authorities have never found a witness. Ro’s car contained clothing, a laptop, notebooks, maps of the United States and Yellowstone Park maps. Ro had also spent the night of July 30 in Canyon Lodges, before checking out on July 31. When authorities tried to contact Ro through vehicle ownership records, the call went to voicemail.

Park law enforcement also tracked down Ro’s family, and one member consented to a DNA screening to positively identify the foot. According to testing done by the Wyoming State Laboratory, the DNA from the foot showed a very strong association to the family DNA, with the chances of error greater than one in 15 million.

However, since the time Ro’s shoe surfaced, no other identifying clothing or remains have been found. But the investigation notes that geologists noted a sheen of fat-like substance floating near the edges of the thermal pool and took samples for analysis. The results of those tests were not part of the documents released by the Department of the Interior.

Authorities searched files on Ro’s computer as well as had a translator read through his notebooks, concerned that there might be a suicide note. Authorities found none, according to the documents released by the Department of the Interior.

Whole Foods Market’s Bozeman location is seen here in early December. PHOTO BY FRANK ELTMAN

Abyss Pool on a winter afternoon. PHOTO BY JACOB W. FRANK / NPS

OUTLAW PARTNERS

BIG SKY—Outlaw Partners, the most influential experiential marketing, media and events company in southwest Montana, is pleased to announce that Rob Smith has recently been appointed as CEO.

A former partner at creative powerhouse Goodby Silverstein and Partners, Smith comes to Montana from San Francisco. Before joining Outlaw, he led the creative technology company, Splash World Wide as CEO with clients such as Google, Uber, Nike, Sonos and Masterclass, before a successful exit to digital media company Jellyfish. Before Splash, Smith served as Chief Marketing Officer for two startups, Silent Circle and Kodak Moments. He previously ran global advertising accounts at Ogilvy in London, New York and Los Angeles, including IBM and Motorola.

With deep experience across both the creative agency and the client world, Smith brings an extensive track record of developing and leading teams and companies to growth across a variety of sectors.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have someone of Rob’s caliber now leading the Outlaw team,” said Eric Ladd, Founder and Owner of Outlaw Partners. “With his global experience in leading large-scale teams for clients at some of the most successful agencies in the world, he brings a level of leadership and credentials that will take Outlaw Partners to the next level, in Montana and beyond.

our clients.”

Outlaw Partners co-founder and former CEO, Paulson has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer

in order to focus on developing the company’s expanding client base and lead the sales team. Amongst its growing and impressive client list, Outlaw represents some of the top emerging brands in southwest Montana, which include Peak Skis, Montage International, Voormi, 406 Agave, Lone Peak Cannabis, Hey Bear, Northwestern Energy and more.

“I’m grateful to be leading a team of talented and creative Outlaws,” Smith said. “It is a unique company with tremendous potential in that it represents so many aspects of modern, experiential marketing. It’s rare to lead a team that creates world-class events, publishes award winning magazines, is the local news source for a community, and elevates so many innovative brands in a variety of realms, all at the base of some of the most incredible mountain scenery in our country. I’m excited to see where we can go next.”

Smith joins Outlaw Partners at a time of exponential growth for the company, with the intent to enhance the client and consumer experience in a way only Outlaw Partners can provide, grounded in the experiences and culture of southwest Montana.

“With such a unique position in all that we do, the totality of Outlaw is now reaching a level much greater than its individual parts,” said Smith. “By tapping into that, along with the experiences available in Montana, we’ve got something very special to provide.”

BIG SKY—Outlaw Real Estate Partners (OREP), one of the largest residential and commercial mixed-use developers in southwest Montana, has recently announced that Mike Magrans will be a key leader in the company as Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer.

Magrans previously spent 20 years with Ernst & Young LLP, leaving as Partner and Market Segment Leader for the Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction Strategy & Transactions business in the Eastern region. Previous to that tenure, he was with Arthur Anderson’s strategy consulting business for three years.

Based in Big Sky Montana, Magrans will lead the ongoing expansion of OREP in the Rocky Mountain West. OREP is currently developing over $250 million in residential and commercial mixed-use assets, with a focus on conservation and sustainable development.

“Mike’s appointment reflects our continued belief in the attractive Rocky Mountain West real estate market,” said Eric Ladd, Managing Partner & CEO of OREP. “His knowledge and experience

within the industry nationwide is an incredible asset for our company and further reflects our commitment to the continued growth of our business.”

Magrans’ extensive track record in real estate, finance and development across multiple asset classes will accelerate the expansion of OREP’s capabilities. In addition, he has also been appointed as a board member for OREP’s sister company, Outlaw Partners, a leader in media, marketing and events in the Rocky Mountain West.

“When our family moved to southwest Montana, we were in absolute awe of its beauty and access to adventure,” Magrans said. “What I love about being a part of the Outlaw team is our dedication to keeping this region special while also finding opportunities to build community among the rivers, ski terrain and public trails. Southwest Montana is our home, and we strive to help others discover their home here too.”

OUTLAW PARTNERS

Rob Smith is the new CEO of Outlaw Partners.

Mike Magrans will take over as Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer with Outlaw Real Estate Partners

PEAK SKIS SHOWROOM

Featured Residence 205

At Wildlands, Residence 205 is one of two two-story residences. There are two entries in this residence, one on the main level intended for guests, and one on the second level providing private access to the two bedrooms. Eastern facing views of the Story Hills and Bridger Mountain Range accompany dramatic vertical cladding on the fireplace, the high end finishes, and the elegant neutral living palette. In addition to the dual covered decks (one on each level), there is also a main level wet bar that is perfect for entertaining.

BY JACK REANEY

Although his works are shown in galleries in major cities and larger ski towns including Aspen and Jackson Hole, photographer David Yarrow says Courtney Collins Fine Art of Big Sky sells more of his art than the galleries he works with in New York or Los Angeles.

On Dec. 20, the Big Sky art gallery opened Yarrow’s “Storytelling” exhibit in conjunction with his new photobook by the same name. The showcase will remain open to the public for free until Jan. 23 with copies of the book for sale. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Yarrow told EBS that Big Sky is among his top-10 markets in the world including Berlin and Monaco.

“Clearly as a result of things like the Yellowstone Club, there is a huge accumulation of wealth here,” he said. “If you’re building a chalet or a home here costing $25 million, you’re probably going to fill it with good art. And big art.”

He says wealthy homeowners, including YC members, visit each other’s homes and often ask where they found their art. If high-quality art is available, Yarrow believes that art collectors would rather purchase from a local gallery than import from larger markets. He estimates that Courtney Collins Fine Art sells more than a million dollars worth of his photographs each year.

“When I first heard of Big Sky, I never thought we’d be doing those kinds of numbers,” he said. “We do tend to go to the areas where there’s new build, and there’s wealth. It’s not rocket science… it’s just business sense. Places like Big Sky, I see such growth in terms of people moving here, perhaps accelerated by COVID.”

He began photographing western Montana—mainly Virginia City, Billings, Big Timber, Butte and

Ennis—around 2014. He was surprised to see that his Montana shots sold almost all over the world except for Montana. Around 2018, gallery owner Courtney Collins helped introduce Big Sky’s luxury-tier market to his art.

“It’s a huge honor to sell David’s work,” Collins said. “I work really, really hard with my team to do it. Work is hard but it’s a huge honor and a privilege. He’s one of the top selling photographers in the world.”

Yarrow travels the world to bring global experiences to his consumers, but he said the American West has been “kind of a happy hunting ground of ours” for its dramatic backdrops and alluring characters.

“[The West is] also a metaphor for human endeavor and resolve and fortitude,” Yarrow explained. “Some of the people that first came here must have been very tough. The circumstances were not easy.”

Many of Yarrow’s western shoots are staged with wolves that have been habituated to humans as primary characters. He recognizes wolves used in metaphor, including language like “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” and said they are a beautiful, revered animal that represent Montana and the West. However, he’s transitioned away from photoshoots with actual wolves and now uses Tamaskan wolf dogs, which share 99% of a wolf’s DNA.

“Because we’re living in an area of political overcorrectness and cancel culture and wokeness, all of which I think impinge on creative art, we got a bit of [criticism] for using wolves for perceived commercial gain,” Yarrow said. “It’s a bit of nonsense in that horses are used all the time in horse racing for commercial gain, so where do you draw the line?”

Yarrow said these dogs look just like wolves, “but it just gets the wokes off our backs.”

Juxtaposing wild animals with human subjects in staged photographs is one way that Yarrow feeds viewers’ desire for interpretive art.

“They don’t want things that are too literal,” he said, although he pointed to his photo of two musk oxen in Yukon snow as a rare example of a subject so exotic it can stand alone.

“Quite often I think you need to throw in something which creates a visual disconnect with the viewer and allows them to look at it, look at it again, perhaps see something they haven’t seen before.”

This past spring and summer, Yarrow held a photoshoot at the Crazy Mountain Ranch east of Clyde Park. On Dec. 28 at Montage Big Sky, Courtney Collins Fine Art hosted a party for clients, collectors and hotel guests, showcasing and selling shots from the photoshoot.

“People trust [Collins], and they like her. That’s the most important thing,” Yarrow said. “Courtney has the preeminent art gallery here, and she’s got some good artists. She’s done a fantastic job and people trust her, which is so important in an unregulated market like art.”

Yarrow shows his work in about 35 galleries around the world. He tries to visit each a couple times per year.

“And for my family who are all out skiing today, if we give them a choice for where we’re going to visit at this time of year, they’re going to say, ‘Dad, can we go to Big Sky, Montana?’” said Yarrow, who also grew up skiing in Scotland. “And what’s wrong with that? You can’t get better than that.”

On Dec. 28, Yarrow held a public book signing and displayed 17 new photographs, never seen before in public. Some of them are selling, according to Collins. For Yarrow, the book signing was “fun, one of the nicest things, just chatting away with people.”

He added, “there’s a spirit of friendship here in Montana, and collaboration, because we shoot here an awful lot. Our network grows every year, and it’s almost like a second home for us.”

David Yarrow stands in front of a photograph he took in Nevada City, Montana. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

David Yarrow’s “The Quick and the Dead” was the top-selling photograph at the Dec. 28 showcase. Yarrow said he aims to tell stories with a little parody, “a bit like the Coen Brothers do in some of their movies,” he said. PHOTO BY DAVID YARROW

BACKCOUNTRY FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO

BY JACK REANEY

On Jan. 26 and March 9, the Madison-Gallatin chapter of Wild Montana will host screenings of the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, featuring 12 short films made by winter backcountry explorers. The film festival began in 2005.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. at The Independent for 6:30 p.m. showings, with tickets available online and at the door for $15 or $10 for children under 12. Wild Montana purchased rights to screen the films from Winter Wildlands Alliance, and proceeds from the Big Sky showing will fund the local chapter of Wild Montana in its efforts to protect public lands in Madison, Gallatin and Park counties.

Although the Backcountry Film Festival is sponsored by Boise-based Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Big Sky showing is an unaffiliated fundraiser for one of seven regional chapters of Helena-based grassroots conservation organization Wild Montana.

The Backcountry Film Festival “ignites wild conversations and inspires action to communities that celebrate the present while looking towards the future,” according to the event website. Wild Montana board member Tom Ross said this will be the fourth winter Wild Montana has brought the festival to Big Sky, and the first in-person since 2020.

“[The films] are trying to empower people to do good things in the outdoors,” said Wild Montana board member Tami Clark, who attended past showings and is responsible for bringing the flicks to Big Sky this winter.

A Bozeman resident, Clark has been collecting prizes from Big Sky businesses for a raffle which will take place at each event. She said that purchasing $10 worth of raffle tickets will count as the enrollment fee into the Madison-Gallatin chapter for those who wish to join.

“We’re getting more boots on the ground in these heavily-trafficked [outdoor] places in the summer,” Clark said. “Tourists often don’t understand the leave-no-trace ethics, and they’re often out here hiking unprepared. We’re trying to educate people

at the trailheads, how to act on the trails.”

Clark explained that Wild Montana is a 501(c)3 organization that sees great value in protecting the character of—and public access to—outdoor recreation areas. Local volunteers lead cost-free guided group “wilderness walks” year-round to introduce and educate explorers in the region’s backcountry. The group performs trail maintenance at Beehive Basin, Lava Lake and Cliff Creek.

Clark said Wild Montana’s central Helena office focuses on educating voters on conservation laws with the goal of “[earning] Wilderness designation with a capital ‘W’” for certain vulnerable regions, but local chapters consist of volunteers looking to act on their passion for the outdoor spaces in their region.

She gave an example from last summer, when chapter funds helped a University of Montana student volunteer as a wilderness ranger in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The Forest Service provided a cabin for her to live in, and the Madison-Gallatin chapter paid for her gas and food. The chapter will sponsor another ranger in 2023.

Ross described a trail stewardship program in which the chapter posts volunteers near crowded trailheads or peaks in the summer to greet hikers and inform them of good practices to minimize human impact. He also described the “wilderness mini-grant program,” which provides scholarships of $500 to $2,000 for Ph.D. candidates researching wildlands or wilderness research.

“I love the organization,” Clark said. “[It’s] a lot of young people fighting the fight for these wild spaces… Getting involved with Wild Montana has really opened my eyes and exposed me to so many parts of the state and the conservation work going on.”

Founded in 1958, Clark said Wild Montana is one of the oldest outdoor conservation groups in the state. The Madison-Gallatin chapter is made up almost entirely of volunteers, including Clark, with only one paid staff member.

Hannah Breslin is the field coordinator for Wild Montana’s Madison-Gallatin chapter and southwest wildlands chapter in Butte. She joined in August and has an extensive background in environmental nonprofits between Wyoming and Alaska. She helps connect the pair of local chapters to relevant land policy issues unfolding on the state and national levels.

“The largest part of becoming a member is you’re supporting the policies that we stand behind,” she said. A large part of her role is to connect members’ and volunteers’ love of wild places with Wild Montana’s advocacy efforts.

With regards to the Big Sky community, Breslin said the local chapter provides a great way for outdoorspeople to connect with each other, and to have a means of getting involved with environmental activism on the trails they share.

Volunteers and staff at the Wild Montana table at Bozeman’s 2022 Christmas stroll. Left to right: Tami Clark, volunteer Doug Bartholomew and Hannah Breslin. PHOTO BY ROGER JENKINS

Still from “Next Stop Sneg,” a short film by Marco Tribelhorn included in the Backcountry Film Festival. PHOTO COURTESY OF WINTER WILDLANDS ALLIANCE

Volunteers lead a hike to Cowboy Heaven in the Madison Range with a view of the Tobacco Root Mountains.

PHOTO BY SUSIE MCDONALD

Jan.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

Live Music: Telemark Tom Scissorbills Saloon, 3:30 p.m.

Afterschool ARTventure BASE, 4:30 p.m.

Screening: “The Tinderbox” The Independent, 6 p.m.

Live Music: Marcedes Carrol Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Drop-In Hockey Marty Pavelich Ice Rink, 8 p.m.

Live Music: Lindsay Jordan Band Tips Up, 9:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

BSCO Social Cross-Country Ski South Fork Loop, 10 a.m.

Live Music: Robby Hutto Scissorbills Saloon, 3:30 p.m.

Open Pottery Studio BASE, 5 p.m.

Live Music: Honey and Rye Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Screening: Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Willson Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Live Music: Trio Grandio The Independent, 8 p.m.

Live Music: StiLlGone Tips Up, 9:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

Big Sky Winter Market

The Wilson Hotel, 5 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Mass Big Sky Chapel, 5 p.m.

Screening: NFL Wild Card Game The Independent, 6:45 p.m.

Live Music: Amanda Stewart featuring Annie Clements Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Screening: Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Willson Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Shaamaahs Throat Singing and Mantra Sounds Experience Santosha Wellness Center, 7:30 p.m.

Live Music: Jacob Rountree Duo The Independent, 8 p.m.

Live Music: DJ Take A Chance Tips Up, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

St. Joseph’s Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

Pop-Up Boutique Wellness In Action, 10 a.m.

All Saints in Big Sky Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Open Pottery Studio BASE, 4 p.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

Screening: NFL Wild Card Game The Independent, 6:45 p.m.

Live Music: Zander Chovanes Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Live Music: Boot Juice Tips Up, 9:30 p.m.

MONDAY, JAN. 16

Live Music: Amanda Stewart Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17

Big Sky County Water & Sewer Board Meeting Big Sky Water and Sewer District, 8 a.m.

Big Sky Rotary online Gold Auction opens Online, 9 a.m.

Art of Self Care Class: AcuTouch & Self Massage BASE, 6 p.m.

Live Music: Kylie Spence Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18

Learn to Skate (4-5) Marty Pavelich Ice Rink, 5:30 p.m.

Learn to Skate (6-8) Marty Pavelich Ice Rink, 6:15 p.m.

Trivia Night

The Independent, 7 p.m.

Live Music: Chandler Huntley Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Live Music: Kayt Banahoom Tips Up, 9:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19

Live Music: Marcedes Carrol Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Drop-In Hockey

Marty Pavelich Ice Rink, 8 p.m.

Live Music: Cole Thorne Duo Tips Up, 9:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 20

BSCO Social Cross-Country Ski Crail Ranch, 10 a.m.

Open Pottery Studio BASE, 5 p.m.

Live Music: Jacob RounTree Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Live Music: SAVVY!! Tips Up, 9:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

Full Moon Sound Bath Ceremonies Montage Big Sky, 10:15 a.m.

New Year Skin Regimen: Derma Rolling Santosha Wellness Center, 3 p.m.

Big Sky Winter Market The Wilson Hotel, 5 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Mass Big Sky Chapel, 5 p.m.

Screening: NFL Divisional Round The Independent, 6:45 p.m.

Live Music: Amanda Stewart featuring Annie Clements Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Performance: Brooklyn Rider & Magos Herrera WMPAC, 7:30 p.m.

Live Music: Chandler Huntley The Independent, 8 p.m.

Live Music: DJs Take A Chance and Jenn N Juice The Independent, 10 p.m.

Live Music: DJ Sperience Tips Up, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

St. Joseph’s Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints in Big Sky Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Open Pottery Studio BASE, 4 p.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

Screening: NFL Divisional Round The Independent, 6:45 p.m.

MONDAY, JAN. 23

Live Music: Amanda Stewart Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

Art of Self Care Class: Movement & Mantra BASE, 6 p.m.

Live Music: Kylie Spence Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Screening: “Jeremy Jones: Higher” The Independent, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25

Big Sky Fire District Board of Trustees Meeting Big Sky Water and Sewer District, 8:30 a.m.

Learn to Skate (4-5) Marty Pavelich Ice Rink, 5:30 p.m.

Learn to Skate (6-8) Marty Pavelich Ice Rink, 6:15 p.m.

Trivia Night

The Independent, 7 p.m.

Live Music: Chandler Huntley Montage Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Live Music: Hanna & Robbie Tips Up, 9:30 p.m.

FEATURED EVENT: JEREMY JONES JANUARY

The Arts Council of Big and the Independent have joined forces to bring films by Teton Gravity Research’s Jeremy Jones to Big Sky every Tuesday evening this month. The 2014 film “Higher,” featuring Jones snowboarding legendary lines across the globe, will screen at the Independent on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m.

BUSINESS

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: OLIVE B'S

BY MIRA BRODY

BIG SKY—Ian Troxler purchased Olive B’s in the middle of the pandemic. Although it felt risky at the time, today he has grown the Big Sky food staple into an epicenter of delicious dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Although a change of ownership always comes with some alterations, Troxler has done a good job at honoring Warren and Jennie Bibbins’ legacy in many ways, one of which is keeping their famous pork chop on the menu.

Explore Big Sky sat down with Troxler to talk about Olive B’s, its history and future, as well as how the Meadow Village eatery got its name.

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: I’d like to start with a little background information on you: When did you first come to Big Sky and what brought you here?

Ian Troxler: I came to Big Sky in 2002 for a job of all things. I had spent the summer working as camp chef at a fly-fishing camp in the Kola Peninsula of Russia (not a possibility these days) and was looking for work. Lynne Perkins who had the Bighorn Café (now Café 191) was looking for a chef to start a dinner service to add to the breakfast and lunch she was doing there already. I worked for her that winter season and then was hired as executive chef at Lone Mountain Ranch in the summer of 2003 where I worked for 13 seasons. I left Big Sky in 2006 to pursue my love interest in New York City. After 14 months working for Jean George Vongerichten at his Perry Street Restaurant I’d secured the girl. I’d had enough of the gritty city and returned to my position at LMR with my now-wife.

EBS: Tell me about the history of Olive B’s: Where did it get its name? When did it first open?

IT: The founders of our restaurant, Warren and Jennie Bibbins, named it for their daughter Olive. It first opened on Valentine’s Day of 2012. After a number of years running it, Bibber and Jennie were looking for a way to retire. Having known me from cooking their wedding dinner they invited me to come work for them and after a time we made arrangements for me to purchase the restaurant from them. Due to the pandemic and other issues the process took over a year. On New Year’s Eve of 2020 I finally took ownership. Buying a restaurant in the middle of the

“

I find it to be important to ride the Lone Peak Tram every now and again on a bluebird day and put yourself in the mind of someone who’s never been.”

–Ian Troxler, owner, Olive B’s ”

pandemic seemed akin to setting sail into a hurricane but it has worked out for me.

EBS: How big is your team?

IT: I usually have about 20 people on staff.

EBS: You’ve been a food staple of Big Sky for quite some time. How have you watched the area grow? Despite growth, what hasn’t changed around here?

IT: When my friend Eric Stenberg and I first came to Montana to run the Gallatin Gateway Inn we had come from a food scene in Portland, Oregon that was all about sustainable locally driven agriculture. It was a bit of culture shock to find that there wasn’t much at all happening here. We did eventually meet Mel and Sue Brown and their wonderful goat cheese from Amaltheia Dairy, now carried on by their son Nathan. We met Matt and Jacy Rothschiller who started Gallatin Valley Botanical and were growing veggies on par with the quality we had been used to seeing in Portland. Slowly but surely the local agriculture scene here has blossomed and now there are many great local producers supplying restaurants.

One thing that hasn’t changed is that Big Sky will always be surrounded by wilderness and National Forest that are among the most beautiful anywhere. Even as more and more homes are constructed and the traffic gets worse, it only takes a few minutes hike to be out in the wilds of nature and forget about all the troubles of the human-made world.

EBS: What is your favorite item on the menu?

IT: I am proud of our pork chop. The pork comes from a rancher in Belgrade who focuses on consistency and quality and it gets rave reviews. It is one of Bibbins’ original dishes and though I didn’t conceive it I wouldn’t change it.

EBS: What is your favorite memory or favorite part of running Olive B’s? What about your favorite thing about working and living in Big Sky?

IT: I have come to enjoy the seasonality of business here. It allows for a chance to relax and recharge that isn’t usually a part of a chef’s lifestyle. We have a loyal local following and it’s nice to see familiar faces from the kitchen window and be a part of a small community. The skiing on Lone Peak is so amazing and getting to share that with my daughter is one of my favorite things about living here.

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

IT: As a young cook just out of culinary school we are taught to pursue the highest level of cuisine we can. Find the best chef to learn from and the fanciest, most impressive restaurant you can get a job at. But one thing young cooks fail to recognize sometimes is that the most successful restaurant company in the world isn’t Eleven Madison Park or Noma or any other Michelin three-star gastronomic temple, it is McDonalds, and they got there by being consistent. The same every time everywhere. At any level it is more important to put out a consistent quality product than any other factor.

EBS: Is there anything else that you’d like the Big Sky community to know?

IT: I find it to be important to ride the Lone Peak Tram every now and again on a bluebird day and put yourself in the mind of someone who’s never been. Looking at the rocks and super steeps of the couloir and wondering how you’re going to survive this run. Get to the top and instead of jumping right into your gear to get some pow, walking up to the top and have a look around. Take in the glorious views from the Tobacco Roots all the way to the Tetons awe-struck, mouth agape.

Ian Troxler purchased Olive B’s in 2020 and has since been carrying on the Bibbins’ legacy in many ways, while evolving the Big Sky staple into something of his own. PHOTO BY GREEN DOOR PHOTOGRAPHY

OPINION

SKI TIPS WITH DAN EGAN POLE

PLANTING THE KEY TO UPPER STABILITY

BY DAN EGAN EBS COLUMNIST

The focus in “All-Terrain Skiing” is on keeping your motion going in the direction of gravity. Poleplanting initiates the skier’s motion down the hill. A problem occurs when many pole plants are angled in the direction of the ski tips or across the hill. Your poles should always be planted at right angles to your feet.

At my Dan Egan Steep Camps at Big Sky Resort and around the world, we explore these four points:

1. When you reach downhill with your pole plant, your shoulders square off to the fall line.

2. When you move your hips and core toward your downhill pole, you’ll move your body out and over your feet.

3. What you discover in these movements is how the skis seem to release and flow into the fall line.

4. When you plant your pole in the direction of the fall line, your eyes are looking down the hill.

Planting your pole down the fall line will set up a chain reaction that makes you more efficient, expends less energy, and makes skiing more dynamic.

In my new book, “All Terrain Skiing II” the pole planting drills are in the Upper Body Section. For the best demonstrations download the All-Terrain Skiing app, available on both Apple and Google app stores.

In this article I’ll share two drills from the book that will help you achieve better pole planting techniques. “Pole Point” and “Mogul Pole” these drills will help make you more efficient and get you skiing at your maximum potential.

UPPER BODY: POLE POINT

The Pole Point drill is intended to teach how to use your poles properly.

Get yourself on a comfortable slope with your hands holding your poles out in front of your body in a relaxed position. Now, point your index fingers downhill.

Begin skiing the fall line. As you move forward, extend the tip of one pole by cocking your wrist so your index finger points up. Plant the tip of the pole in the snow. As you do so, your index finger will level out. Ski past the planted pole, so your index finger is pointing down at the snow. As you turn, repeat the motion with the other pole. Keep your index fingers pointed to give you a reference for the proper motion.

Plant one pole tip, moving your arm forward to the extent of your reach. Point the opposite pole tip out in front of your body and repeat the motion. Chant this mantra: Point, plant, push. Continue this smooth, rhythmic motion until you have a natural feeling of wrist movement. Keep pointing until the motion becomes muscle memory.

Pole Point further emphasizes the isolation and separation of body parts, in this case the arms and

wrists. This drill reminds you to always keep your hands out in front, where you can see and use them. You’ll now be skiing more naturally, and you will have more confidence.

UPPER BODY: MOGUL POLE

This exercise elevates the upper body drills to a new level and you’ll see how effective pole pointing can be.

Mogul skiing depends on a quiet upper body. Mogul Pole teaches how to use your poles to maintain upper body poise while your feet and skis fly over and around moguls. Begin skiing a small mogul field that is not too steep. Face your upper body downhill, holding your arms out in front. Grasp the poles gently and point your index fingers down the fall line.

Plant a pole and use the same movement you learned in the prior drill: point, plant, push. Move your wrist forward as you aim for the back side of the mogul. Keep your hands visible. Always try to plant the tip of your pole on the back side of the mogul.

Planting on the back side has many benefits: it allows natural hand and arm movement; keeps your shoulders square to the hill; allows you to better anticipate the mogul; and forces you to reach down the hill, which keeps your body perpendicular to the hill.

You should experience a flowing sensation as you ski with your pole plants from one mogul to the next. Notice on the videos on the ATS II App how smoothly and quickly the skier moves from bump to bump. Concentrate on your hands and your feet will follow. You’ll see your skiing skills improve dramatically!

Extreme skiing pioneer Dan Egan coaches and guides at Big Sky Resort during the winter. His 2022/23 steeps camps at Big Sky Resort run Jan 11-13, March 1-3, and March 8-10. His book, “Thirty Years in a White Haze” was released 2021 and his newest book “All-Terrain Skiing II” was released this past November, his books and worldwide ski camps are available at www.Dan-Egan.com

No.2 Mogul Pole: The skier demonstrates the drill’s second step. PHOTO BY DEGAN MEDIA

No.1 Pole Point: A skier demonstrates the first step in the Pole Point drill. PHOTO BY DEGAN MEDIA

Dear Not Emily Post,

This is a tough one. It seems like a straightforward issue that should have a straightforward answer and, in 1990, it would be just that. But we are living in a different time. It’s 2023, and this badger has seen a lot of changes since then. I do remember the days where everyone said please and thank you. I remember crawling out of my hole and some other woodland creature would greet me with a “Good morning, badger.” Even the grizzlies were polite enough to chew with their mouths closed but now it seems that even that has gone out the window. When did people stop telling their small humans (and themselves) to chew with their mouth closed?

I don’t know but I think it went out with the please-and-thank-you bathwater!

Here’s the problem. A lot of therapists and people who are self-help gurus have told small humans that they do not need to say thank you when someone does something for them. They do not want the child to feel forced to feel appreciation. I only have a few degrees because badgers can do

Dear Badger,

I’m getting frustrated with what I see as a lack of manners wherever I go. I’m not that old but I do have a young child that I’ve taught to say ‘thank you’ whenever someone does something nice. Or ‘please’ when you want something.

How do we help others find their manners and help children find their manners without sounding like a condescending a—? Do unto others and all that...

Sincerely, Not Emily Post but I do like her work

that what with all the online courses these days, so I don’t want to come across as the end-all-beall expert. I do, however, want to say that telling your small humans that it’s okay not to show appreciation or to hold a door open for someone is wrong... in my badger opinion column.

Here is why I THINK it’s wrong. If I woke up early one morning to kill an ermine and bring it back to my friend who loves ermines and they just ate it without saying thank you, I’m not going to do that again. Why? I don’t think they appreciated it. If I don’t hold a branch up so my coyote friend doesn’t get smacked in the face with it, then he’s not going to do the same thing for me or any other woodland creature. Kindness, appreciation, thankyous, pleases, they all serve a larger purpose and it’s absolute garbage to tell your small humans that it’s OK just to do whatever they want to in regards to manners. Why not give them independence in the other 1,000 things they can do throughout the day? If someone does something nice for them, they should say thank you or else the world is upside

down and I’m going to start eating people’s faces on the subway next week like that rogue rat.

As parents, you should exhibit the behaviors you want your kids to display. If you’re not helpful, they won’t be helpful. If you do not say thank you and please, guess what? They’re not going to either unless it’s to spite you which small humans can do from time to time. Life is short and people like to feel special. Everyone, even the smallest of ones, wants to feel appreciated and loved. So if you open the door for someone, that’s going to go a long way. They might do it for someone else. If you tell someone how thankful you are for what they have done in front of your small human, they are going to do the same thing on a smaller scale at school when a friend shares something with them. All of the little kindnesses ripple like a rock in the river and I sure hope that you feel more of them soon, Not Post.

Sincerely, Badger

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE PRINCIPLED

BY PAUL SWENSON EBS COLUMNIST

For all the times I have driven the Gallatin Canyon from Big Sky to Bozeman or vice versa, I am always struck by the diversity of rock structure and the myriad of rock types. Depending on where you are, the landscape is formed mainly by sedimentary rocks or metamorphic rocks. In this column I would like to focus on the sedimentary rocks from Spanish Creek to Garnet Mountain, and Dudley Creek to Porcupine Creek.

Dominating the skyline in the lower stretch of the canyon is Castle Rock, or Storm Castle, depending on how long you’ve been around. It is such a beautiful mountain visually, and an excellent place to study the sedimentary rocks that are exposed on its slopes.

In this climate, shales form slopes since they are easily eroded, and limestones and sandstones form cliffs since they are more resistant to erosion. When you look at the photograph of Castle Rock, or observe it when you drive by, or even better yet, when you are hiking to the top, you notice alternating cliff bands separated by treed slopes. In describing and naming geologic formations, geologists use a change in lithology (rock type) to delineate a boundary or name change, so one can actually see the 10 named formations from the river to the top, ranging in age from a 525-million-yearold shale at the river level to a 315-million-year-old limestone at the top. This limestone is called the Madison Formation which you read about two columns ago. Keep it in mind.

the 17th century church—that the earth was young and static—and it was difficult for many scholars to accept the difference in ages between different rock layers.

Back to the photograph, it appears that the layers of sedimentary rocks are fairly horizontal, which means by applying the Principle of Superposition, the rock layers at the bottom of Castle Rock are the oldest, while the “Castle” is the youngest.

Now look at the second and third photographs. These show sedimentary layers between Dudley Creek and West Fork, and Levinski Creek and Porcupine Creek, that are very close to vertical. When sedimentary rocks are in this orientation

that Plate Tectonics became the theory that could explain the amount of energy, force and deformation that geologists saw throughout the mountain ranges of Earth.

The rock formation forming the flatirons at the top of Levinski and Tick ridges is the Madison Limestone, the same rock at the top of Castle Rock. If one can imagine it, all the rock layers discussed above where uplifted with the core of the Spanish Peaks then eroded off the top of the mountains over the last 65 million years and washed downstream into the Gallatin Valley, and further downstream. There is a small remnant of the oldest of these sedimentary rocks at the very top of Table Mountain.

Geology has several guiding principles, two of which I would like to discuss here: Original Horizontality and Superposition. In most situations when sediment is deposited in water it will form horizontal layers. If you throw buckets of dirt in a pond, they will settle to the floor in horizontal layers. The first bucket you throw in will settle first, the second on top, etc.

This is the idea of Superposition, that sedimentary rocks will be oldest on the bottom and get younger as you approach the top of the set of rocks. It seems obvious to us now, but the budding science of geology was initially in conflict with the dogma of

and exposed to the elements, they erode into a shape called a “flatiron.” If you look closely at the third photograph, you can see the shape of the eroded rock looks like the bottom of an iron you press clothes with, i.e. its name. Those of you from Colorado know the Flatirons outside Boulder, formed in a similar manner.

These vertical rock layers violate our guiding principle of Original Horizontality. Early geologists had to struggle with this type of conflict and propose mechanisms that could explain how rocks that were once horizontal could now be vertical. It actually took centuries for a complete theory to be accepted, and it was not until the mid 1960’s

So as you sit at the light waiting to turn left to go to Bozeman, look straight ahead and notice the near vertically oriented Madison Limestone and connect it in your imagination up and over the mountain to the top of Storm Castle. It’s a fun thought experiment to do now that you know.

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

Castle Rock showing layers of limestones, shales, and sandstones of the Paleozoic Era, 525-315 million years old. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

Flatirons of Madison Limestone along Tick Ridge that are nearly vertical. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

Flatirons on Levinski Ridge. PHOTO BY PAUL SWENSON

A LA CARTE COOKING CAN BE AN EXPRESSION OF CREATIVITY, LOVE

BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST

I’m definitely not a vegan. If I sniff the air, I can still smell the steak I cooked up for lunch. It was seared in bacon grease on a cast iron skillet, then thrown on top of a Caesar salad. It had pork, beef and anchovies, in addition to eggs and milk and cheese. Many animals contributed. And they were appreciated for the delicious sustenance they provided.

When I’m finished writing, however, I will clean the pan and use it to make an appetizer for my cooking club’s vegan-themed dinner. This month’s theme was chosen because a member was recently urged by their doctor to adopt a vegan diet. While future meals may be a celebratory exception, there is love in making food people can eat.

Imagine a holiday feast. I see nibbling on a baked brie or a cheese plate. Follow that with a couple of roast meats, celebratory nuts such as chestnut gracing stuffings or salads, maybe a pie with an eggy curd filling or some ice cream. Sounds delightful. But what if you can’t eat protein?

Enter Molly, my Bellingham, Washington-based cousin Will’s high school sweetheart and longterm girlfriend. There was a big to-do the first year Molly was going to make an appearance at Thanksgiving dinner in Bozeman. One of the first tests administered to newborn babies is a foot prick screen for phenylketonuria, or PKU. Molly has it.

Someone with PKU can’t break down an enzyme present in protein, and thus eating what some would consider a healthy, protein-filled diet leads to irreversible brain damage, according to the Mayo Clinic.

We still had a smoked turkey and a goose that year, but the sides looked a little different. My favorite hot dish—green bean casserole—was replaced with roasted green beans, mushrooms and onions. Everyone who contributed cooked so that Molly could eat her fill. It was beautiful, and a dinner my family still talks about for both its deliciousness and the lack of couch lock we felt in its aftermath.

Food sensitivities may not be as severe as PKU, but for those that have them, someone else preparing a meal you feel good about eating can be an incredible luxury. I like to consider it a challenge of my creativity in the kitchen and will ask people I’m cooking for what they can’t (or won’t) eat to create a menu around. Are you gluten free? Dairy free?

Vegan? I like a good steak, but I don’t need to make one for every meal.

I’ve been into shakshouka lately, or really since I first had it at a writing retreat led by Virginia City author and amazing cook Allyson Adams. Shakshouka is a dish popular in northern Africa and the Middle East that usually features eggs poached in a simmering sauce of spiced tomatoes and peppers.

Tonight, I’ll make it vegan. And an appetizer. I’m adding toasted quinoa to the sauce, stuffing it in roasted mini sweet peppers and topping it with some vegan feta, parsley and cilantro. The sweet peppers are for me: Most people use bell peppers, which top my own list of food sensitivities.

Some dishes will already fit into the needs of the people you cook for, but don’t be afraid to get a bit creative. Start with a dish you know and love, and use its flavor as a base to lift up any substitutions you make. Your effort will be appreciated.

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.

Shakshouka is a dish popular in northern Africa and the Middle East that usually features eggs poached in a simmering sauce of spiced tomatoes and peppers. PHOTO BY AMIRALI MIRHASHEMIAN

EVERY DROP COUNTS

BY MARNE HAYES EBS COLUMNIST

Snow is important for a lot of reasons. Good snowfall allows us to enjoy epic ski days, find quiet moments of winter solitude in our forests, or have the perfect reason to cozy up next to a fire. What is likely lower on the list of reasons why we pray for snow is that a healthy snowpack as a predictor of drought and spring runoff, which relates to water conservation. While we can’t control the amount of snowfall, we can control how we actively engage in our own sources of water use and conservation, being mindful of how those activities are directly related to drought and water supply.

With all of the recent snow, our snowpack is in good shape; though we are no longer in a drought, we are still in what is described as "abnormally dry" conditions. This reminds us that it is important to consider water conservation measures now, and not wait until extreme drought status. Any conservation that happens now will make us more resilient when temperatures rise, and the tougher summer months hit.

Currently, the Gallatin is at 116% of snowpack, which is great. However, there is more to snowpack and drought than meets the eye. If we see early spring runoff and warmer spring temperatures like we have been seeing, even this healthy snowpack will not last us through the summer like we would hope. Our community pulls from the same

groundwater aquifer year-round; an aquifer that is fed by precipitation in the form of snowfall, snowmelt and eventually rain. This aquifer provides us with our community drinking water, serves as the source that feeds the Gallatin, and is our ultimate defense against wildfire.

Precipitation is beneficial to our groundwater in any form, and while we are grateful for any and all snowpack that we can accumulate over the winter months, we cannot assume that it will stay long enough to be reliable as a source for our community water year-round. That’s where water conservation comes into play.

The slow melt of snow is ideally what we are looking for to preserve our water sources. However, being in a drought-prone region and faced with climate change, spring seasons are less predictable, and summers are only getting hotter and drier, leading to faster snowmelt, lower streamflows and more wildfires.

Luckily, there are ways to think about and participate in water conservation, even in the winter months. In fact, water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to thrive through drought, stretch water supplies and protect the Gallatin River.

The Big Sky Water Conservation Program outlines several tactics that are easy to implement, and can go a long way for conserving our water in all months and seasons of our year. Specifically:

Check for leaky pipes. Pipes become vulnerable in winter, if not properly winterized or used regularly, pipes can be damaged by freezing and thawing water, which can lead to minor leaks that may not cause large damage to the plumbing system, but can be a tremendous source of wasted water.

Upgrade your fixtures and apply for rebates. By participating in our indoor and outdoor rebates, you are benefitting the Gallatin by conserving community water sources, and you are saving money on your residential or commercial water and energy bills. Replacing faucets, toilets and outdated fixtures and appliances with WaterSense options will do wonders to cut down on your water use, and your bill.

Get a head start on planning your water-wise garden. Landscape irrigation is the leading use of water in Big Sky. While we aren’t tending to our plants now, winter is the perfect time to plan your landscape for spring, laying out plenty of ways to reduce your outdoor water use and still have a thriving lawn come summer. Consider how a native landscape could reduce the amount of irrigation needed to make your home and garden beautiful.

Being more mindful of water conservation is a New Year’s resolution that we hope you can get behind, because every drop counts.

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

Deep snow along the bank of the Gibbon River. PHOTO BY JACOB W. FRANK

A NEW YEAR’S WISH LIST FOR MONTANA’S RIVERS

BY SCOTT BOSSE EBS CONTRIBUTOR

Now that 2022 is in the books, it’s time to reflect on the past year and ponder our hopes and dreams for 2023. As someone whose job it is to protect and conserve Montana’s bounty of spectacular rivers, I’ll say that last year was a momentous one due to the 500-year flood events on the Yellowstone River and several of its tributaries along the AbsarokaBeartooth front.

If these historic floods taught us anything, it’s that we need to give rivers ample room to roam within their floodplains and steer development away from high-hazard areas to minimize the loss of life and property. Kudos to Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly for heeding this lesson and deciding not to immediately rebuild the floodravaged road along the Gardiner River between Gardiner and Mammoth.

As for the coming year, here are some of my top wishes for Montana’s rivers:

— Montana’s entire congressional delegation gets behind Senator Jon Tester’s Montana Headwaters Legacy Act and Congress passes it, forever protecting 20 rivers and 385 river miles in the upper Missouri and Yellowstone river systems. Among the treasured waters that would gain protection when this visionary legislation passes are portions of the

Boulder, Gallatin, Madison, Smith, and Yellowstone rivers.

— Senator Steve Daines releases his hold on the Blackfoot-Clearwater Stewardship Act and Congress passes this locally crafted legislation that’s been over a decade in the making. Among other things, this popular bill would protect the headwaters of the Blackfoot River by adding 80,000 acres to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Mission Mountains wilderness areas.

— The Montana Supreme Court upholds a state district court ruling that found the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) wrongly issued a permit for the Black Butte Copper Mine in the headwaters of the Smith River. The mine is located on Sheep Creek, the Smith River’s most important rainbow trout spawning tributary. The Montana DEQ determines that the middle segment of the Gallatin River from the Yellowstone National Park boundary down to Spanish Creek is impaired by algal blooms from nutrient pollution in Big Sky. Once this happens, the state must develop a cleanup plan to restore the river back to health.

— The U.S. and Canadian governments agree that selenium contamination from mountaintop removal coal mining in the Elk River drainage in southern British Columbia is harming aquatic life on our side of the border in Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River, and the issue is finally referred to the International Joint Commission, which was created to address such disputes.

— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) orders the owners of the former SmurfitStone property along the Clark Fork River between Missoula and Frenchtown to clean up this toxic site so it no longer poses an acute threat to fish, wildlife, and people during major flood events.

Governor Greg Gianforte and the Republicancontrolled Montana Legislature reject proposed bills by Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-Libby) and others that take direct aim at Montanans’ constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.

Unfortunately, none of these wishes are likely to come true if Montanans sit on the sidelines and wait for our elected leaders and agency officials to do the right thing. You can bet that out-of-state special interests like Sandfire Resources, Teck Coal and International Paper Company will spend tens of millions of dollars lobbying to maintain the status quo so they can rake in huge profits and stick Montanans with their cleanup costs. That’s why I urge every Montanan who cherishes our rivers to join American Rivers and their local watershed group to learn how you can make a difference in the new year.

Scott Bosse is the Northern Rockies Director for American Rivers based in Bozeman. He has fished, paddled, and hiked along Montana’s rivers for over three decades.

JIM PEACO

ILLUSTRATION BY CY WHITLING

BIG SKY BEATS

A POSITIVE START

BY JULIA BARTON

January is often synonymous with new beginnings—a resolve to keep a cleaner space, finally getting back to the gym after a hiatus, committing to a healthy diet, moving on from a project. In the spirit of celebrating the beginning of a new year, I put together a playlist of songs with bright, positive energy to jumpstart whatever tasks you may choose to embark on for 2023.