BIG SKY RESORT CONSTRUCTS INNOVATIVE CHAIRLIFT, REACHES 1,000 EMPLOYEE BEDS
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS ON ONE&ONLY HOTEL
SHORTCUTS AND SAFETY ON LITTLE COYOTE ROAD
July 11 - 24, 2024
Volume 15, Issue No. 14
Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana
PUBLISHER
Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com
EDITORIAL
VP MEDIA
Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jack Reaney | jack@theoutlawpartners.com
DIGITAL PRODUCER
Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com
EDITORIAL INTERN
Fischer Genau | frgenau@gmail.com
CREATIVE
LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ME BROWN | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com
SALES AND OPERATIONS
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Josh Timon | josh@theoutlawpartners.com
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com
VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com
DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS
Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com
MARKETING MANAGER
Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com
CONTENT MARKETING LEAD
Taylor Owens | taylor@theoutlawpartners.com
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD
Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Kaley Burns, Abby Butler, Doug Hare, Merrick Parnell, Lizzie Peyton, Benjamin Alva Polley, Miriam Schmidt, Jerry Tinianow
TABLE OF CONTENTS
At the end of June, more than 130 kids showed up to a free event in Big Sky featuring four National Football League players—all former Montana State University Bobcats—and three current ‘Cats. Kids participated in drills inspired by NFL Pro Day workouts, led by Lance McCutcheon, New York Jets wide receiver; Lewis Kidd, Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle; Ty Okada, Seattle Seahawks safety; and Daniel Hardy, Chicago Bears defensive end. PHOTO BY KALANI
TRAMPLED BY TURTLES TAKES BIG SKY EVENTS
ARENA
On Tuesday, July 9, folk-bluegrass artist Trampled by Turtles stopped in Big Sky for a concert that began the summer season at the Big Sky Events Arena. Supporting artists Shane Smith and the Saints, and Crowe Boys, injected spirit into the hot summer night as Big Sky looks forward to upcoming events at the Big Sky Events Arena.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS ON ONE&ONLY HOTEL
ON THE COVER:
On July 9, Trampled by Turtles took the stage at the Big Sky Events Arena for a night of foot stompin’, live music. They were preceded by Austin, Texas-based band, Shane Smith & the Saints and brother duo, Crowe Boys. The event marks the kick off of summer events at the Town Center arena. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU
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.
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Moonlight Basin is the new destination for One&Only’s catalogue of luxury resorts across the globe. The resort is expected to open in 2025 and with a focus on blending in with the landscape that overlooks Lone Mountain. A team of architects, designers and construction crews have worked to erect buildings that will hide behind pines in the quiet area.
SHORTCUTS AND SAFETY ON LITTLE COYOTE ROAD
In recent years, drivers have increasingly used Little Coyote Road as a shortcut to avoid traffic on Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail). Concerned residents have formed a group to pursue solutions, and the Big Sky Owners Association is working to find funding for solutions to slow drivers and deter them from using the residential road as a shortcut.
REMEMBERING MARTY PAVELICH
After spreading positivity for 96 years, four-time Stanley Cup champion Marty Pavelich passed away on June 28. As a Big Sky resident for more than three decades, he made countless contributions and acted as a gracious mentor long after his playing days lifted him to hockey fame.
BIG SKY RESORT CONSTRUCTS INNOVATIVE CHAIRLIFT, REACHES 1,000 EMPLOYEE BEDS
Big Sky Resort’s Six Shooter has been removed to make way for the new Madison 8 chairlift. The lift will be the longest eight-seat chairlift in the world and will carry its first riders this upcoming winter. In related construction news, the resort will achieve its 1,000-employee-bed goal in August with the completion of Levinski Lodge. The team at Big Sky Resort hopes that its focus on employee housing will set a benchmark for resorts across the U.S.
INSIDE BIG SKY’S BIGGEST WEEK: BIG SKY PBR GUIDE
As cowboys ride into town for Big Sky’s Biggest Week, event producer Outlaw Partners has compiled a guide of everything you need to know. From information about which nonprofits will benefit, to the roster of bucking bulls for the Big Sky PBR, the guide has it all.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to media@outlaw.partners.
ADVERTISING DEADLINE
For the July 25th issue July 17th, 2024
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
They say there’s two seasons in Montana: winter, and road construction. That’s especially proved true to those who frequent U.S. Highway 191 between Bozeman and Big Sky as the Montana Department of Transportation continues work on the pavement preservation and safety improvements project in Gallatin Canyon. In anticipation of Big Sky’s busy summer, EBS spoke with MDT about construction updates and any forthcoming wait times for canyon commuters.
South of Spanish Creek
The section of U.S. 191 between Spanish Creek Road and the Lava Lake trailhead underwent paving, with chip sealing and temporary striping complete as of July 3. Drivers may have experienced delays as frequent rainstorms and temperatures swings prevented crews from completing the work at night as initially planned.
“Seal and cover—chip seal—operations have minimum temperature requirements,” Kristine Fife, public relations manager for the project explained in an email to EBS.
“If the oil cools too quickly, the chips won’t adhere to the roadway. Temperatures in the canyon do not stay high enough at night to accommodate these minimum requirements.”
Final striping activities will occur later this summer, as chip seal needs a minimum of 30 days before permanent striping can be added to the roadway. Pothole repairs and crack seal operations on the Lava Lake Bridge will also occur later this summer. When that commences, drivers can expect reduced speeds, single-lane closures and delays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Work is paused on the project starting Tuesday, July 2, and will resume on Monday, July 8.
Turn bay north of Gallatin Gateway
Construction work on the turn bay continues between South Cottonwood Road and Zachariah Lane. Final paving operations will occur this week and crews will install guardrail and temporary striping. Drivers can expect reduced speeds, traffic control flaggers, single-lane closures and a 12-foot width restriction during the working hours of Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Both lanes will reopen during night hours, but drivers should expect reduced speeds and width restrictions 24 hours a day. Work has paused on the project as of noon on Wednesday, July 3, and resume on Monday, July 8.
“We understand that road construction is inconvenient, especially in an area where space is limited and there are no alternate routes,” Fife wrote. “We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience while we work to complete this project. We know the improvements will be worth the wait.”
Both projects are currently on schedule. Weekly updates are provided on the Montana Department of Transportation’s website. To subscribe to weekly text updates, text GALLATINCANYON to 41411.
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BIG SKY PARTNERS FORM ALPENSCAPES TO PROMOTE WATER-WISE, FIRE-SAFE, ECOSYSTEM-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES
COMMUNITY INVITED TO JULY 8 LAUNCH PARTY
EBS STAFF
Alpenscapes is a new partnership formed by four existing Big Sky organizations— Big Sky Fire Department, Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO), Gallatin River Task Force and Grow Wild—which came together to create a one-stop resource in Big Sky for encouraging alpine-appropriate landscapes that are collectively appealing, fire-safe, water-wise and ecosystem-friendly.
On Monday, July 8, from 4 to 7 p.m., Alpenscapes will host a launch party at Big Sky’s historic Crail Ranch Gardens.
According to the Alpenscapes website, Big Sky is at greater risk for wildfire than 93% of communities in the U.S. In addition, water demand in Big Sky increases by 160% from July to September due to outdoor water use, making irrigation the highest user of community water in the summertime. As a part of the bigger picture, Big Sky is a critical piece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, therefore the landscaping in the community has impacts that go beyond its boundaries.
“Having an Alpenscape-d yard does not mean going without a traditional lawn, but it does mean being smarter about what type of landscaping practices are used and taking into consideration the greater ecosystem,” explained the website. “Using the Alpenscapes approach allows for more curb appeal, less maintenance, more functionality, less cost, more wildfire mitigation, and less water usage.”
Attendees to Monday’s event can learn more about this new community resource and enjoy specialty cocktails, refreshments, light fare, lawn games, and giveaways including wildflower and native grass seed packets. There will also be a chance to sign up for free site visits, available to community members’ residential or commercial properties to assess their landscapes. The event is free and open to all.
Those unable to make it can learn more at Alpenscapes.org, which offers general info, design, installation and maintenance tips for friendly landscaping.
SHERIFF SEEKING INFORMATION RELATED TO FATAL CRASH ON 191
EBS STAFF
On July 9at approximately 5:45 p.m., a rollover motor vehicle crash took place on U.S. Highway 191 at mile marker 71, located immediately north of the mouth of Gallatin Canyon in the northbound passing zone area.
The crash resulted in the death of one driver. The victim was traveling southbound in a pickup truck towing a camper trailer.
According to a July 9 press release from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, it is believed that the crash may have been caused by a dark sedan traveling northbound at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of traffic.
“My understanding was that there was some reckless driving by the [sedan] … and that caused the vehicle that was heading south to take some evasive action and crash, and unfortunately the driver passed away,” Sgt. John Metcalfe with the Montana Highway Patrol told EBS in a phone call.
The incident is under ongoing, joint investigation between the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol. They are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the dark colored sedan. Anyone with dash camera footage of the incident or information about the vehicle, including make, model, color, or license plate number is asked to contact Montana Highway Patrol Dispatch at 855-647-3777.
“Especially on two lanes, and driving in Montana right now in the summer when we have so many tourists and extra vehicles on the road, it is important to drive the speed limit, wear seatbelt, and you don’t have to pass vehicles in two lanes,” Metcalfe said.
The name of the victim has not yet been released by law enforcement.
Business in Big Sky
Have a booth at an upcoming event? Setting up your property as a short-term rental? You are required to REGISTER with Resort Tax.
DID YOU KNOW
Although your business may not be required to collect Resort Tax, Big Sky requires ALL businesses to be registered whether you are providing a taxable luxury good or not. Registration is FREE.
Taxable items are goods and services that are not considered ‘Necessities of Life,’ including but not limited to lodging, prepared food, recreational activities, and souvenirs. If you have a question about taxable items, please refer to Ordinance 98-01 on our website or reach out to District sta .
WHAT IS RESORT TAX
Resort Tax is a local sales tax on luxury goods and services. It helps fund critical public services and infrastructure that would otherwise appear on property tax bills.
WHICH BUSINESSES REGISTER
ALL businesses operating in the District must register each year. Businesses based elsewhere entering the District to provide goods & services must also register. Simply create an account in the MUNIRevs portal and answer a couple quick questions.
WHEN DO I REGISTER
New businesses should register prior to opening (any time of year).
Existing businesses renew their accounts annually in November/December.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
GALLATIN FOREST PARTNERSHIP FALLS FAR SHORT; GALLATIN RANGE DESERVES REAL PROTECTION
Dear Editor,
North of Yellowstone Park lies a mythic land of volcanic peaks, petrified trees, rushing creeks, ice cold springs, vast flower meadows and world class wildlife. Familiar as the southern skyline of the Gallatin Valley and the eastern horizon for Big Sky, the Gallatin Mountain Range ranks among the wildest, most intact ecosystems in America. These great sweeping ridges and dark cliffs, vast snowdrifts and rugged canyons lure adventurers from around the country. This is also ground zero for rare animals like grizzly bears and wolverines.
If you want to experience it yourself, try a challenging hike along the “Devil’s Backbone” – the crest of the Gallatin Range. You will be enchanted by the wild beauty, abundant wildlife, lush vegetation and remote nature of this magnificent mountain range as you hike the 40 miles of high country hiking from Hyalite to Yellowstone.
The wild Gallatins are overdue for real, lasting, long term protection. For decades the Gallatin Range was subject to heavy logging, road building and extensive, unregulated off-road vehicle and snowmobile traffic. Shocking clearcuts spread through the pristine spruce and fir forests, and roads slashed across steep wet mountainsides. Trails were churned into muddy ruts by motor vehicles.
The Forest Service allowed dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles and mountain bikes to run wild in most
areas of the Gallatins despite the fact the core of the range (155,000 acres) had been set aside as a Wilderness Study Area in 1977. It was only through a 2004 lawsuit that the WSA was somewhat shielded from abuse by people on dirt bikes, snowmobiles and mountain bikes. But the critical wildlife habitat of the Porcupine and Buffalo Horn drainage—home to one of the biggest elk herds in Montana—was allowed to become a playground for people on motorized and mechanized toys.
The Gallatins are still under under siege, with recent logging taking a toll on forests close to the burgeoning city of Bozeman. But the biggest threat may be so called conservation groups.
The Gallatin Forest Partnership would have you believe they offer a progressive, protective solution for hotly contested wildlands of the Gallatin Range. They are selling their proposal as a consensus-created plan that will benefit wildlife and people. In reality the GFP is a regressive, milquetoast proposal that sells out wildlife habitat while locking in high-impact recreation that can only degrade the habitat. The GFP wants to designate a “Wildlife and Recreation Management Area” in Porcupine and Buffalo Horn—an oxymoron if ever there was one. Clearly recreation would take precedence and wildlife would once again be an afterthought.
Loud and fast machines like dirt bikes, snowmobiles and mountain bikes do not mix well with shy and sensitive wildlife like wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, lynx, moose and elk. These wild creatures are what define the Gallatin Range, recognized as a critical wildlife corridor
by the Forest Service and as the largest unprotected roadless area in Greater Yellowstone. The Gallatins are one of the last strongholds for iconic American wildlife. But the mountains are being parceled out by so called conservation groups in a massive compromise.
The Gallatin Range holds at least 230,000 acres of roadless land that should be designated as Wilderness. The GFP proposal would only designate about 90,000 acres of that as Wilderness—far less than the existing Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn WSA.
We do appreciate the GFP’s proposal to designate Cowboy Heaven as wilderness, linking the Beartrap wilderness with the Spanish Peaks. So why not do the same for the iconic Gallatin Range, linking the Hyalite Peaks with Yellowstone Park?
Over half of the national forest in the Gallatin Range has already been degraded by roads and logging, leaving drainages like Little Bear, Portal Creek, Eightmile and Swan Creek a maze of crumbling roads and scrappy regrowth forest. Let’s get it together and protect the remaining Gallatin Range wildlands—in the top 1% of wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states—as Wilderness. Anything less is a disservice to people and wildlife of the future.
Phil Knight
Bozeman, Montana
Co authored by: Dennis Glick, Clint Nagel, George Wuerthner and Lance Craighead
EAST CRAZY INSPIRATION DIVIDE LAND EXCHANGE CAN IMPROVE RANGELANDS MANAGEMENT
Dear Editor,
Checkboard landownership has created challenges for private and public land management since the railroad grants in the 1880s. One hundred and forty years later, the problems remain. The current checkerboard of private and public land creates problems for wildlife, recreation, public and private stewardship and livestock management. Simply put, habitat fragmentation is bad for both wildlife and resource functionality.
The Crazy Mountains pose a distinctive challenge due to the current mix of private and public lands. Checkerboard ownership disrupts wildlife behavior and habitat. The East Crazy Inspiration Divide Land Exchange provides a potential solution to this issue. The Forest Service and others collaborating on the issue must focus on rangeland and wildlife habitat. Blocking up and increasing public land ownership in roadless areas and wildlife migration
corridors makes sense.
Land exchanges that consolidate ownership into larger blocks provide opportunities to address fragmented ownership and habitat. Checkerboard ownership requires more fences than large blocks of land. Reducing fences generally improves wildlife movement and adds to recreational appeal. The East Crazy Inspiration Divide Land Exchange can establish uninterrupted natural corridors on Federal land which will allow both people and wildlife to move more naturally. Private landowners will also have a reduced need for fencing.
Land exchanges also provide opportunities to improve ranch management. The exchange will consolidate grazing areas, enhancing the ability of ranchers to more sustainably manage their herds. Improved grazing management will provide for better ecological function and habitat. Consolidating checkerboarded private lands into
larger parcels benefits ranching operations, which will help keep ranchers in business and keep open spaces open.
The East Crazy Inspiration Divide Land Exchange resulted from extensive community collaboration and compromise. It represents Montanans working at the local level and collaborating to preserve and protect our wild landscapes.
Community compromises may not be perfect. Competing philosophies, economic circumstances, and often diverse viewpoints shape their final make up. In the end, blocking up checkerboards will reduce habitat fragmentation and improve ecosystem function. That will make things better for both wildlife and people, which is a better solution than maintaining the status quo.
Jack Alexander Belgrade, Montana
BIG SKY EVENTS ARENA KICKS SEASON OFF WITH TRAMPLED BY TURTLES, SHANE SMITH AND THE SAINTS, CROWE BOYS
BY MIRA BRODY
This event was produced by Outlaw Partners, publisher of Explore Big Sky.
After exiting stage left, Ocie and Wes Crowe, who make up the brother-comprised folk band, Crowe Boys, could be found working their own merchandise tent at the Big Sky Events Arena on July 9. They offered two shirt styles: a white and blue, and a green and yellow, and fans quickly lined up, some to make purchases, others to compliment the artists’ set or grab a photo with the duo. Neither hesitated to take the time to greet each person until the line was spent.
“Surreal,” Ocie said to sum up the evening. The brothers had just opened for Shane Smith and the Saints, the dirt country band from Austin, Texas, and Trampled by Turtles, the folk-bluegrass group hailing from Duluth, Minnesota.
“It’s very much an honor to just be able to play with a band that’s just stood the test of time,” Ocie said of Trampled. “A lot of bands like that kind of get big and then die off, but bands like Trampled by Turtles, they’re just kind of an undeniable force at this point. So it really means a lot that they would ask us to come and play with them.”
After formally touring for three months, Crowe Boys were asked to “go play a couple of shows back in the mountains” before taking a bit of time off, explained Ocie. They jumped at the offer. Next, they head to Telluride, Colorado before returning home to work on writing more music.
Ocie, who has played music with his bandmate and brother Wes, as well as their entire family, for most of his life, believes it’s a good time to be in the music industry. With such an occupied market, he’s found that fans are attracted to authenticity, which the brothers hope shines through in their musical work. From the energetic crowd on Tuesday night, and the reception each band received, you’d be hard pressed to disagree.
Shane Smith and the Saints brought fans to their feet, and Trampled by Turtles played a long set well past a dramatic Lone Mountain sunset. The Big Sky crowd was not shy about their love for live music.
Near the end of their set, Crowe Boys were adamant about discussing an important topic—mental health. Both were open with the crowd about losing their mother at a young age and the isolation of being on the road, and have ushered those feelings into their writing in case their listeners were feeling the same. It’s their way of reaching out to their fans and checking in.
“As we started pursuing a career on the road, we started to see just how much a lot of people struggle with that,” Ocie said. “And it stayed so hidden because it was something you wanted to keep yourself. You didn’t want people to see you as broken. And I think with our music, we really just want to push it. It’s okay, you’re not alone. At least when you come to our show, it’s a safe place to navigate, and feel, and learn yourself.”
The event, presented by Lone Mountain Land Company and produced by Outlaw Partners, publisher of Explore Big Sky, kicks off a lineup of summer events in Big Sky Town Center at the Big Sky Events Arena.
On Friday, July 12, the Big Sky Community Rodeo, presented by Yellowstone Club, takes the arena for the fourth year, followed closely by a street dance at Len Hill Park with the Tony Marques Band, to celebrate the Big Sky PBR’s 10th time being recognized as the PBR Event of the Year.
Next week, Big Sky’s Biggest Week will include a family-friendly community day, then BINGO night on July 16, a charity golf tournament on July 17, then three nights of Big Sky PBR, all punctuated by a live music afterparty.
Wildlands Festival, featuring Dierks Bentley, Marren Morris, Wyatt Flores and Lukas Nelson, will take the stage on Aug. 2 and 3.
Back onstage, amid a warm July evening and to a rapt and swaying audience, Crowe Boys sang the lyrics: “‘Cause these are the good days.”
Looking around at the arena, full of smiling faces simply happy to be here, now, it’s hard to argue.
As per usual, a Lone Mountain sunset stole the show at the July 9 Trampled by Turtles show. PHOTO BY JOSH TIMON
Trampled by Turtles, award-winning folk/bluegrass group from Duluth, Minnesota, takes the stage at the Big Sky Events Arena. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU
Matt and Amanda, newly engaged, embrace after a proposal during Shane Smith & the Saints. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU
Trampled by Turtles cello Eamonn McLain plays during their Big Sky show on July 9. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU
MOONLIGHT BASIN BECOMES NEW DESTINATION FOR ONE&ONLY LUXURY RESORT
BY JEN CLANCEY
BIG SKY—While the beauty of Big Sky may very well be familiar to those who live and have already visited the region, it’s now being recognized on a global scale. Following on the heels of Kéa Island, Greece, Moonlight Basin is the newest location for One&Only Resorts, a limited collection of luxury resorts across the world.
In an effort to highlight the hilly meadows and rows of pine that characterize Moonlight Basin, construction crews, architects and designers have collaborated to create low-lying builds among the greenery. Kevin Germain, vice president of Moonlight Basin, believes that a commitment to preserving Montana views, collaborating with Montana teams and creating a positive employee experience is what makes this development unique.
“This particular site, to me, is the best of Moonlight and you’ll see that when we get out here,” Germain said, driving through the construction site at the far edge of Moonlight Basin. Germain’s work with Moonlight exceeds two decades. “And one of the things that we’ve really stressed at Moonlight overall in our planning is we want to see ridge tops and not rooftops.”
As the developer of the project, Lone Mountain Land Company is working with Olson Kundig, an architectural firm based out of Seattle, to design private residences and buildings that are modern in appearance, and synergistic with the landscape—as the pines grow higher in the area, the 90 rooftops will be obscured from view.
In the resort there will be 92 hotel keys across 73 guest rooms and suites, and 19 guest cabins. The area will also have 62 private homes and eight private estate lots. Highlighted amenities include a year-round heated pool, hot tubs and a full service spa. Six restaurants and bars will be available to guests, and a public-facing ski lodge will welcome Big Sky Resort skiers during the winter season via a gondola that will transport skiers from the Madison Base Area.
With a philosophy of immersion in the landscape and lifestyle, One&Only will implement yearround activities like fly-fishing, horseback riding and cross country skiing, relying on local knowledge to provide services. “That’s another thing we’re
really good at with One&Only—is to realize that we don’t know everything about everything,” said Serge Ditesheim, general manager of One&Only.
Ditesheim in particular, is excited for the mountain bike trails.
One&Only Moonlight Basin will employ about 350 employees at full capacity, though that number can fluctuate as seasonal business changes. The resort is not gambling the question of housing for its employees, and has purchased Buck’s T-4 to create a living community for their staff. The locally-loved restaurant will soon be reopened to the public under the name Buck’s Roadhouse.
Ditesheim believes it’s the little things, like high quality food, or a workout space alongside housing that make a difference in employee experience. “You know, there’s people that say, ‘that doesn’t move the needle,’” Ditesheim said. “I say yes. Yes it does.”
“As we develop Moonlight, we will continue supporting local families,” said Andy Allen, the director of construction for Moonlight. “That’s very important to me.”
Allen is proud that the mission is being met through employment of Montana workers in the building process. Bozeman-based Langlas & Associates serves as the primary contractor on the project, Allen said. “If we’re going to spend this kind of money, I’d rather just stay as local as we can right? To support our economy.”
Moonlight Basin will be the first alpine resort destination for One&Only, and Ditesheim is excited to bring guests a sense of fun and adventure. “We don’t have anything that is connected to the mountain and the nature quite like this, that’s a big game changer for us,” Ditesheim said.
From the deck of the One&Only ski lodge on a July afternoon, Lone Mountain fills the view, a pocket of snow still clinging to the North Summit Snowfield. Expected completion of the hotel is in June 2025, but crews are working to coincide the ski lodge and gondola’s opening with the Madison 8’s first chairlift trip in December 2024. Soon enough the deck will be filled with visitors.
Kevin German (left) and Serge Ditesheim (right) pose in front of the Lone Mountain view from the main lodge. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Views from the ski lodge on July 8. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
A pool and hot tubs will operate year-round for guests. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Wood ceilings in the installation process at the ski lodge. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
1.
2. 3. Reserve your bear spray at heybear.com & pickup in store. Grab your Hey Bear recreation essentials. Get Outside!
SPEED BUMPS ALONG THE WAY
LITTLE COYOTE ROAD RESIDENTS, BSOA OFFICIALS PUSH TOWARD SOLUTIONS TO VOLUME AND SPEED FROM CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—Signs along Little Coyote Road in Big Sky are plastered with a candid message.
“NOT YOUR SHORTCUT. Save Little Coyote!”
The stickers’ origin is uncertain, but the message aligns with the purpose of the Little Coyote Traffic Safety Group—a grassroots assembly of homeowners taking action against drivers who use Little Coyote Road to skip rush hour traffic on Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail), often speeding along the neighborhood street.
Especially in the past two summers, TIGER grant construction has added seasonal congestion to Highway 64 and motivated drivers to take advantage of Little Coyote Road, which was not designed to handle high volumes of traffic.
Road work aside, it’s not a new problem.
Back in 2017, the Big Sky Owners Association funded a solution-oriented traffic study that counted vehicles and tracked their speed. The study revealed that average vehicle speed is between 27 and 31 miles per hour, according to BSOA Executive Director Suzan Scott. The speed limit is 25.
Representatives of the Little Coyote Traffic Safety Group have communicated often with the BSOA board in an effort to motivate traffic safety projects.
“We listen to them, we hear them, we take it into consideration... We have been going through our processes to figure out how best to resolve the situation,” Scott told EBS.
Jan Weber, one of those representatives, says the safety group has more than 130 members, including roughly 73% of all homeowners whose driveways directly access Little Coyote Road.
“Folks are pretty engaged, and really concerned,” Weber told EBS. She explained this isn’t the first time Little Coyote homeowners have coalesced to influence traffic safety—now they’re focused on pushing the BSOA to construct speed tables. Speed tables are like speed bumps but with a flat top suitable for Little Coyote Road’s speed limit. The study ruled out other solutions including roundabouts, road narrowing, stop signs and traffic lights.
Both BSOA and the safety group agree that speed tables would reduce speed, and potentially deter drivers from taking the route.
“We will be so happy to have those speed tables in, because they will just create resistance,” Weber said. “If you have to slow down a little bit, three times on the course of your ‘shortcut,’ then you might stop considering it to be a ‘shortcut.’”
“Our board has worked very hard on this project to make it happen,” Scott said. “A lot of consideration, a lot of deliberation, and I congratulate them on their efforts.”
Like many infrastructure projects, cost is a primary challenge.
Funding avenues
In 2017, BSOA was quoted $4,000 apiece for speed tables, Scott recalled. Two years ago, each would have cost $8,000. More recently, after BSOA’s “extensive out-to-bid efforts,” the best bid was $128,000 for three speed tables—almost $43,000 each.
“The $128,000 bid was a huge surprise for us... The availability of these road contractors is really what’s driving this [cost increase], I believe, with all the road construction that’s going on,” Scott said. At one point in 2023, BSOA did not receive any bids at all.
In June 2024, the Big Sky Resort Area District fully funded BSOA’s $47,000 nonprofit grant request to help fund speed tables. Around that time, BSOA Board Chair Clay Lorinsky led the board to implement a 5% special assessment fee—the maximum allowable without requiring a membership vote—for all BSOA members to contribute to the project. The assessment has not yet been enforced or collected, Scott said.
The 5% assessment will collect roughly $66,000, which leaves a gap of about $15,000. BSOA hopes the safety group will step up to cover the difference.
“The board has decided that because the Little Coyote residents will most benefit from the speed tables that [BSOA] would like to see contributions from those residents, as well,” Scott said.
Put simply, BSOA and the safety group disagree on funding; Weber believes that BSOA should have been budgeting capital reserves for speed tables since the study recommended them in 2017.
In 2024, one key question remains: whether constructing speed tables is considered maintenance of the road, typically funded by a Gallatin County rural improvement district that encompasses Big Sky’s Meadow Village. BSOA Project Manager Emma Lawler said RIDs would not classify the construction of speed tables as “maintenance,” which leaves the question of whether BSOA is responsible—and if not, who is?
Although speed table funding remains incomplete, BSOA did take action on other low-hanging fruit
Vehicles from the mountain surge past Little Coyote Road—a tempting shortcut to a highway traffic jam. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
recommended by the traffic study: driver feedback signs which show an oncoming driver’s speed.
Four or five years ago, BSOA installed two permanent feedback signs. In 2022 and early 2024, BSOA added two mobile feedback signs, which count the number of cars and record their speed. Data collected from June 2023 and June 2024 appear to show a decline in cut-through traffic volume, Scott explained. BSOA believes last year’s construction-related traffic may have created a high-water mark.
“You have a couple of spikes... but you’re seeing a significant decline in the number of vehicles from 2024 to 2023. However, that’s not what we’re hearing from our members,” Scott said. “But we have to follow our data, as opposed to what our members are reporting.”
Other efforts to slow the shortcut
Speed tables aren’t the safety group’s only recent effort to reduce the volume and speed of cutthrough drivers. Weber shared three key successes.
First, because many short-cutting vehicles are contractor rigs and even large construction vehicles—and much of the construction near Lone Mountain pertains to Moonlight Basin and the One&Only hotel—the group brought traffic data from weekday afternoons to Moonlight Basin VP Kevin Germain, who was “very supportive” in passing the message along to project managers and subcontractors: please do not use Little Coyote Road.
“And that had a really positive impact,” Weber said.
Second, the group recently gained county permission and financial support for crosswalks along the road, coupled with 15 mile-per-hour speed zones. The crosswalks will be striped this summer by the Big Sky Community Organization, and located at the Reflector Trail and the Crail Ranch Trail near Big Sky Community Park.
Big Sky Resort offered to fund the pedestrian speed limit signage. The resort’s Golden Eagle employee housing adds drivers to the road, and in the past, the resort has also asked its employees to use the shorter, more commercial section of Little Coyote Road.
Finally, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office previously did not issue speeding tickets on Little Coyote, only pulling over drivers for speed warnings. Drivers caught on.
“We actually spoke with some construction workers who told us, ‘Oh no, we know no tickets are issued on Little Coyote Road,’” Weber said.
In a meeting, Sheriff Dan Springer agreed to authorize deputies to begin issuing tickets, but warned that homeowners would be ticketed too. Weber said the group is happy to oblige.
Speeding tickets are now in play.
Beyond these small victories, there’s one longshot: to cut traffic volume, the safety group is attempting to restrict non-residents from turning left from Highway 64 onto the “upper” Little Coyote entrance when coming from the mountain.
The group contacted Montana Department of Transportation, and road and bridge officials from Gallatin County. MDT would require an enforcement plan, but road and bridge officials said enforcement wouldn’t be feasible.
At the May 8 Joint County Commission meeting in Big Sky, Weber asked the Gallatin County Commission for help convening all parties.
“To be clear, we are not asking to prohibit use of a county road. We are asking to restrict entry via just one of several access points to the road,” Weber told the county commission.
Commissioner Zach Brown said part of the reason MDT indicated restriction could be possible is because MDT works with 56 Montana counties, all of them nuanced.
“And a philosophy that has guided Gallatin County as an organization for decades is that we dedicate roads to the public when we go through subdivision process,” Brown said.
“MDT doesn’t necessarily have a very nuanced view of how Gallatin County operates, versus how the
other 55 counties in Montana operate,” he added.
“But we certainly have a very clear philosophy as an organization, as local government, that we dedicate roads to the public... That certainly relates to Little Coyote Road, and is related to why we are not accustomed to telling the public to use the road that they own.”
Weeks later, Weber said the left-turn restriction doesn’t seem likely.
“But we’re going to follow it through,” she said.
Beyond restrictions and law enforcement, speed signs and concrete installations, the concerned residents and HOA officials will need education and outreach to keep their neighborhood road safe for bike-riding children, dog walkers and the like.
The BSOA has a simple ask: use the improved section of Highway 64.
“Respect our residents who live along Little Coyote Road. For safety reasons, slow down. Be neighborly,” Scott said.
And Weber’s camp will continue self-enforcing what they believe to be a safe speed, 20 miles per hour—a petition to reduce the speed limit was denied based on Gallatin County statute—with a movement they call “the great 20-mile-per-hour slowdown.”
Even if it creates some road rage, the slow-driving residents believe it’s a fight worth fighting to keep their neighbors safe.
PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
Two of BSOA’s feedback signs can be moved where they’re needed. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY’S PRIDE WEEK CLOSES WITH DAY OF CELEBRATION, MARCH THROUGH TOWN CENTER
ORGANIZERS OF LAST YEAR’S EVENT CELEBRATE SECOND PARADE, STATUS AS A NEW NONPROFIT
BY JEN CLANCEY
In a line of hats, shiny belt buckles and rainbow fans, Big Sky carried out its second-ever Pride march. Big Sky OUT, an organization and newly-established nonprofit for queer inclusion and community-building in Big Sky, led the event. Donning neon vests, BSO members and volunteers kept participants on the route, yielding to occasional traffic as they marched along the sidewalks of Big Sky Town Center.
Just after the march, BSO Founder Brit Diersch reflected on the growth of Pride events with Explore Big Sky as music played in Len Hill Park on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s really beautiful to see because we were just an ambitious little group of friends that just wanted to have a little march and when so many people showed out [in 2023] it sparked so much passion for me personally,” Diersch said. What was a march with speeches and postermaking last year developed into a full roster of Pride Week activities in Big Sky for 2024.
“To have an entire weekend full of Pride events—it’s just incredible to see so many faces I recognize in the crowd and to see so many locals come out to support,” Diersch said.
After activities throughout the week, BSO kicked off the weekend on Friday with a Queer Variety Show at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center showcasing local queer talent.
“That was some of the biggest queer joy I have ever experienced,” Diersch said of the show—the first of its kind in Big Sky—recalling that she and many other attendees cried tears of joy while supporting performers. “I have never seen that much queer community in Big Sky in one place.”
By 1:30 p.m. the next day, preparation for the Big Sky Pride March began with poster-making and face painting in Len Hill Park. At 3 p.m., the march began. To the beat of a drum, attendees marched past BASE, made a right at the end of Simkins Road and walked their way through Town Center.
Volunteers from the Be Well Big Sky Navigator Network were among the safety crew members who guided the line, ready to step in for any first-aid needs and trained in de-escalation if conflicts occurred. Be Well Big Sky Navigators are trained persons that connect individuals with mental health resources, and encourage open discussion of mental wellness in the community.
Shannon Steele, director of Be Well Big Sky, said that her team was available to anyone seeking mental health resources or needs during the day. She was excited to celebrate community, echoing her Navigators’ hope for unity and diversity in Big Sky.
Safety crew members and attendees continued down Town
Center past Beehive Basin Brewery and under the arch of Big Sky Medical Center. From there, marchers strolled along Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail), with some passersby beeping and waving from their vehicles.
Paraders took a left turn at Ousel Falls Road and headed to Len Hill Park, where a drummer set a beat until the last person arrived. As attendees grabbed refreshments and took a seat on the grass in the park, transgender Democratic Representative for Montana House District 100, Zooey Zephyr, took to the stage.
“I am so excited about how Montana has shifted in the last five years from having one centralized pride that kind of bounced around from city to city, to prides everywhere,” Zephyr said to the crowd during her speech.
Throughout the summer, Zephyr has attended pride events across the state, including Bozeman’s Pride Stroll on June 1, the first day of Pride month. Earlier on the morning of June 29, Zephyr was in Anaconda’s Pride Fest—two hours of driving later, Zephyr arrived in Big Sky with her fiancé, Erin Reed, a transgender journalist who compiles “Erin in the Morning,” a newsletter that informs readers of queer and trans legislation.
As the queer community in the U.S. faces legislation and opposition, Zephyr asserted that small town prides are “anchor points.”
Montana’s legal history of queer rights is recent. Same sex sexual activity only became legal in Montana after a 1997 Montana Supreme Court case, Gryczan v. Montana, determined that criminalizing same sex sexual interactions was in violation of a person’s right to privacy in the Montana Constitution. Montanans secured the right to same-sex marriage 10 years ago.
In late April 2023, Zephyr spoke in opposition of legislation that would restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youth, known as Senate Bill 99. Montana Free Press reported that Zephyr was censured following her remarks, leading to protests in the Montana House gallery several days later.
Now in Len Hill Park, Zephyr eyed the crowd that showed up for BSP, and noted what it meant for the local queer community. “You see everything here from roller derby girls, to a trans mom and her daughter, a trans couple with our kid, 77-year-olds who have queer family members,” Zephyr said in an interview with Explore Big Sky. “There’s a dad of a trans daughter who cried in my arms here today.”
She reiterated a point she made in her speech: “Even if every queer person in Montana moved to an imaginary place where we could be fully and 100% accepted—queer people would be here again the next day, because queer people are not just in your communities, we are part of what it means to be a community,” Zephyr said.
In Anaconda, Libby and Big Sky, Zephyr has been inspired by the turnout for queer support at summer prides. She remembered a remark by colleague House Rep. SJ Howell, that Montana is big enough “for all of us.”
“That is sitting with me deeply in this moment here in a resort town up in some of the best skiing in the world, 30 minutes away from Yellowstone,” Zephyr said. “We are here and we are Montana too.”
Taylor McCaslin,a Big Sky OUT board member, described the legacy of Pride events in an email to EBS. “Pride is sustained by the unwavering commitment of activists and allies who courageously confront hatred and phobia, refusing to back down in the face of adversity,” McCaslin said. He continued, saying that people showing up for queer inclusion in a rural place like Big Sky shows the power of visibility.
McCaslin continued: “In essence, Pride is a testament to the resilience, love, and unity of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, who continue to fight for equality, acceptance, and the right to live authentically and freely … [to] live authentically and freely, isn’t that what we all want?”
Following the march, local organizations and businesses set up tents for a Pride Fair, followed by a roller derby at 6 p.m. Diersch thanked supporters and sponsors for the event, including WMPAC, who allowed BSO to use the theater space, and businesses that expressed their support for queer inclusion through funds and their presence at activities. She hopes business participation will inspire other organizations to express their support, and she is already excited for next year’s Pride.
“I think we are small but mighty,” Diersch said, laughing at how “cheesy” the statement sounded, but noted its truth— from her BSO board members’ commitment to making Big Sky a welcoming place, to the locals who showed up.
“[There are] so many people willing to do so much good for our community.”
Attendees formed a tunnel to end the march route in Len Hill Park.
PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Marchers making their way through Big Sky Town Center on Saturday, June 29. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Big Sky Pride organizers and Big Sky OUT board members ahead of the march (From left to right: Lee Tsairis, Morgan Heckerd, Brit Diersch and Taylor McCaslin.). PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
The 2024 Big Sky Pride final leg occured along Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail) and Ousel Falls Road. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
MARTY PAVELICH DIES AT 96, LEAVES SINGULAR BIG SKY LEGACY
FOUR-TIME STANLEY CUP WINNER, MENTOR AND STORYTELLER, FAITHFUL CHURCH
BUILDER, CHAMPION FOR LOCAL HOCKEY; THE LIST GOES ON IN MARTY’S MEMORY
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—On June 28, Big Sky resident Marty Pavelich passed away at the age of 96 due to complications from ALS.
Pavelich touched many lives during his 34 years living in Big Sky, and was known for various community roles, from developing a local hockey program and volunteering as an ambassador with Big Sky Resort, to being a “cornerstone” in the construction of the Big Sky Chapel or just a friendly face enjoying his lunch at the Hungry Moose Market and Deli.
Despite his star-striking glory days as a key member and alternate captain of the Detroit Red Wings—in the 1950s, he won four Stanley Cup championships and was a four-time National Hockey League All-Star—Pavelich was also known for his humility. He used his athletic esteem as a platform to give back, and to inspire generations of youngsters while telling stories and carrying himself like a regular guy.
Even as he grew to become the second-oldest living NHL veteran, behind 101-year-old Steve Wochy, according to reporting from NHL.com, Pavelich kept his mind as sharp as his skates, which he would still lace up into his 90s.
Ryan Blechta, former president of the Big Sky Skating and Hockey Association, which Pavelich helped develop, said kids nowadays might not have heard of Pavelich before he’d show up to the rink to drop the puck for Big Sky’s team, the Montana 64’s.
“He’d tell the kids about how many Stanley Cups he won, and their eyes would always get wide,” Blechta told Explore Big Sky in a phone call. Pavelich would show them his ring with four diamonds, one for each NHL title.
“Any time there were kids involved, he was there and was always so engaged,” said Madeleine Feher, director of operations for the Big Sky Community Organization, which took over for BSSHA to provide hockey programming in 2022. “The stories he would tell were captivating to all audiences.”
Pavelich was a driving force behind the construction of an ice rink in Big Sky, dedicated in Pavelich’s name by BSCO in December 2022.
Blechta remembers meeting Pavelich in 2010, when the hockey legend called a meeting to see if anyone would step up to help build a rink and a youth program to go with it.
“He always dreamed about having hockey in Big Sky,” Blechta said. “… He was just looking for someone to drive it.”
When volunteers stepped up, Pavelich stayed involved.
“He was always out there helping us out, giving us advice on making ice… We took his advice, and were able to make some really good ice back in the day,” Blechta remembered. It was special for Pavelich to watch Big Sky’s youth hockey program gain strength and popularity every year.
When the rink was dedicated, “He was in tears… He was just tickled by it, and it was great to see,” Blechta recalled. “My goal was to get that thing named after Marty. He’s such a legend, and hero in the community.”
Feher hopes it will be a lasting tribute to someone who shaped the major American sport and the Big Sky community.
“The Marty Pavelich Ice Rink is a place where all athletes can skate in the steps of a true hockey legend… It should be a place of inspiration,” Feher said.
She knew Pavelich for more than 20 years, and said he was an extraordinary individual.
“And I can say with absolute confidence that his influence extends far beyond the rink… His passion for the game and for life was truly commendable.”
Beyond the rink, community members Brian and Mary Wheeler said the Big Sky Chapel would not have been built without his leadership.
“The bottom line is Marty Pavelich was the cornerstone for the construction of the Big Sky Chapel,” Brian recalled. “… So many people were at the table, but Marty was the man who took the vision and the idea and put it into action for fundraising.”
Almost immediately when Pavelich moved to Big Sky in the early ‘90s, he put his charm to work as a fundraising agent for Big Sky’s Catholic community—people couldn’t say no to the hockey star, and he immediately brought in gifts needed to build the chapel.
And he didn’t just build it. He was there for Sunday mass, and the Wheelers joked that he was sometimes the oldest altar boy in the world— whenever needed, even into his 80s and 90s, Pavelich would perform the duties typically done by a local kid.
The Wheelers will remember Pavelich as charismatic and focused, the assertive mentor who instilled discipline through his advice to their own children and so many others.
“He gave Brian and I incredible advice over the years, and he did the same thing for young kids, trying to straighten them out on certain things… He’s just a great guy,” Mary said.
Brian added, “That’s what I’ll always remember most—the humble hockey player, but also the spiritual inspiration to our family. He was a moral compass, really.”
Sixteen celebrated faces of Big Sky
Pavelich ended up in Big Sky through his connection with Everett Kircher, founder of Boyne Resorts, Big Sky Resort’s parent company. Kircher got into the ski business in Northern Michigan, purchasing land to develop Boyne Mountain in 1947—the same year Pavelich began his NHL career in Detroit, a few hours away.
At some point in the 1950s, Pavelich became a frequent skier at Boyne Mountain. Stephen Kircher, now president and CEO of Boyne Resorts, remembers Pavelich playing pickup hockey on the resort’s skating rink.
“Ever since I was one or two, I remember Marty Pavelich as one of dad’s friends,” Kircher told EBS in a phone call. “He took me under my wing like he did everybody. He’s been my mentor… my coach, ever since I could talk.”
After moving to Big Sky, Pavelich ran Big Sky Resort’s mountain host program as a volunteer. Kircher said Pavelich cared deeply about the guest experience and acted as a mentor to numerous leaders at the resort, even including current GM Troy Nedved.
“He channeled my father better than anybody ever did… Having it run the way Everett would want it run,” Kircher said.
When Big Sky Resort celebrated its 50th winter this year, Kircher’s wife, Molly, co-created a book to document the mountain town’s history. In March 2024, a private launch party for the book doubled as a 50-year celebration for all the resort’s living general managers, and other VIPs in Big Sky history.
Naturally, Pavelich made the guest list.
Molly Kircher designed a poster with 16 distinctive faces painted in watercolor, from Barack Obama and David Letterman to Warren Miller and Chet Huntley, all celebrities who touched Big Sky in some way.
And there’s Pavelich, with jet-black hair of decades past and a beer in his hand, decked in his Red Wings uniform and talking to Olympic skier Spider Sabich.
At the party in March 2024, Stephen Kircher showed the design to Pavelich, and his 96-yearold eyes filled with tears. It was one of the “most amazing, touching moments” of Kircher’s life to celebrate Pavelich while he was still around.
“Marty,” Kircher told him. “You’re in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and you’re in the Big Sky hall of fame, and you’ll forever be in it.”
Kircher is sure that anyone who met Pavelich has benefitted from his guidance and words of wisdom.
Andrew Hofley, Pavelich’s son, feels strongly that without his father’s guidance, he would not have achieved half of everything he did in life— including a successful business career and service as a U.S. Marine.
“He had an eighth grade education, but he’s the wisest man I’ve ever known,” Andrew told EBS.
Andrew’s biological father died at a young age, and his mother remarried to Pavelich seven years later.
“And I won the lottery the day my mom married my dad,” Andrew said. He listed his father’s defining traits: he was positive, he believed in setting goals, he lived within his means, and he treated others the way he’d want to be treated.
Furthermore, Marty had contagious positivity—a knack for brightening anyone’s day, even a stranger who spent just a minute by his side. It was like the finger of God came down and touched him on the forehead, Andrew said. “He was just Mr. Positivity.”
Andrew wanted Marty to know how he felt, so he wrote his father’s life story while Marty would still be around to hear it. About three years ago, Andrew read aloud. It was an incredible moment shared between father and son.
“He changed the trajectory of my life,” Andrew wrote. “He made me the father, the husband, the friend—the man I am today. And I am not alone. Far from it. It has been my life experience that there are very few people you meet through the course of your life that make your day—let alone your week, month, or year—better… You couldn’t help but to feel better about your prospects after talking to Marty Pavelich.”
Andrew chronicled his father’s humble beginnings in his birthplace of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and youth in Park Hill, Ontario. Marty withstood hardship and family tragedy, including his father’s mining accident and suicide, before he turned sixteen when he was drafted to the Red Wings in 1944. He self-identified as a proud American, where he stayed to live out his life through the strong principles that got him there.
\In his informal biography, Andrew paraphrased the way that one Big Sky friend described his father.
“Marty is one of the greatest guys that you will ever meet,” they said. “Always positive. Genuinely nice, humble, successful in every meaning of the word, a true role model. Oh, and he played hockey.”
Marty and his son, Andrew Hofley.
COURTESY OF ANDREW HOFLEY
BIG SKY SOUL SHINE TO BRING BACK COUNTRY FAIR
FUNDRAISER FOR ALS WILL HOST FIRST STAND-ALONE EVENT AS NONPROFIT ON SATURDAY
BY JEN CLANCEY
BIG SKY—The Big Sky Country Fair is back—this time with a new mission. Big Sky Soul Shine, an event in memory of two community members who passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, will return this year in the form of a country fair at Len Hill Park on Saturday, July 13.
As a new nonprofit, Big Sky Soul Shine will celebrate its first freestanding event this year by raising funds for Team Gleason, an organization that supports individuals with ALS and their families, and support for a community member diagnosed with ALS in 2023.
Soul Shine organizers met Patrick Shaw at last year’s event, which coincided with Music in the Mountains. Shaw attended the concert with the purpose of enjoying live music but later introduced himself to organizers after learning that the concert supported individuals and families with ALS. The 29-year-old Island Park, Idaho resident had been diagnosed with ALS earlier in 2023.
ALS is a fatal nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and there is no known cause, relief of symptoms, or cure. A portion of the proceeds raised this year will support him as he and his family navigate ALS.
“We want to raise awareness for [ALS] … And we also want to raise funds to help other people that are going through it,” said Jackie Robin, president of the Soul Shine organization. Robin lost her husband, Mark, a prominent community member and familiar face at the Hungry Moose Market and Deli, to ALS in 2017. “But in addition, we're all about Big Sky and all the support that they gave our families, so this is also Big Sky Soul Shine saying, ‘Okay, we're going to take on bringing back organizing the Big Sky Country Fair.’”
In the past, Soul Shine has operated alongside a Music in the Mountains concert, but for 2024, Soul Shine will have a full day of stand-alone programming with the help of the Hungry Moose, Big Sky Community Organization, and other local nonprofits that have offered resources and volunteers.
“BSCO is honored to be a part of Big Sky Soul Shine,” said BSCO Director of Operations Madeleine Feher. “As you know, on June 28, we lost Marty Pavelich to ALS … [ALS] has affected the community in so many profound ways.”
Saturday’s events will begin with a friendly game of pickleball at Big Sky Community Park. The $50 registration opens at 8 a.m. and round robin play will commence from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, drinks, a T-shirt, and sunglasses are included for participants.
Pickleball volleys will end just in time for the country fair in Len Hill Park. BSCO donated the park and stage to the event so that the green space could be transformed into a celebration with live music, carnival games, inflatable bouncy houses, a hot dog and hamburger stand along with other food and beverage options, including beer from Beehive Basin Brewery, and margaritas from Alberto’s Mexican Cuisine. Vendors will donate a portion of profits toward Soul Shine.
“The kids will have unlimited access to inflatables, we've got carnival games, we've got face painting, we've got a glitter booth,” Robin said. To participate in the fair activities, wristbands are $25 per person, but anyone can enter the area, enjoy live music and purchase food and beverage without a wristband.
Lauren Jackson, treasurer of Soul Shine, has organized musical acts and is excited to perform with her own band, Dammit Lauren!, at the event, a yearly tradition for her. They’ll play alongside a new Big Sky band,
Daddyz Gurl, and have local and regional artists, Kevin Fabozzi and Lone Elder, perform for a total of four acts of live music throughout the fair.
Last year, Soul Shine raised $25,000. Organizers plan for this year’s funds to support the Shaw family and Team Gleason, and to bolster Soul Shine as a newly established nonprofit.
Remembering legacy of community members lost to ALS
Soul Shine found its name in 2017 after the Robins read a note from a young community member that read, “You have soul shine. I love you,” at their kitchen table with Tracy Jacobson, the Hungry Moose’s first employee and a close friend of the family. The letter was addressed to Mark Robin, Jackie’s husband, who had been diagnosed with ALS in 2016.
At the time, Mark was using an eye gaze computer to communicate, and Jocobson remembered the lightbulb moment that went off for Mark. The small organizing team decided on the name “Soul Shine” for the 2017 event, an extension of gratitude from the Hungry Moose’s 20th anniversary celebration they had hosted three years prior as the shop's owners.
The event included a carnival ahead of a Music in the Mountains concert, and raised funds for Team Gleason. Mark and Jackie Robin moved to Big Sky in 1993 where they opened a vegetable stand, which, in 1994, grew into the hub for casual eats, Hungry Moose Market and Deli.
Mark passed away from ALS in December 2017, 16 months after his diagnosis.
Jacobson, a Big Sky local and now the secretary of Soul Shine, remembers Mark’s generosity. “He was probably one of the most philanthropic, generous people I have ever known,” Jacobson said, recalling Mark giving children Swedish Fish when they came to visit the Hungry Moose. “My children still call him Uncle Marky Moose.”
Two years later, another Big Sky community member was diagnosed with ALS. Eric Bertelson moved to Big Sky in 2017 and was diagnosed with ALS in 2019. A father to three sons and married to Janie Bertelson, the family connected with Soul Shine and learned about Team Gleason, which immediately offered resources. Bertelson passed away in 2022 from the disease.
Jackie and her three sons feel grateful for the continued support and enthusiasm for Soul Shine from Big Sky.
“It feels really great to continue to work with the community after losing Mark … It feels good to continue to collaborate,” she said. She added that keeping the energy and positivity high is as important as supporting those who are going through what her family went through.
“They were more than humans—they were great fathers, spouses, and members of the community,” Jacobson added. As the organizer of past events and this year’s country fair, she hopes that all feel welcome to join the celebration and that the joy and celebration at Soul Shine will honor the legacy of community members lost to the disease.
“That space is for everybody to just have that sense of community, to be together and support [each other] all while having fun,”
said.
Jacobson
Mark Robin and his three sons Andrew, Micah and Howie at Big Sky Soul Shine 2017. PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG SKY SOUL SHINE
Patrick Shaw met Jackie Robin last year at Big Sky Soul Shine 2023. A portion of funds raised at Big Sky Soul Shine’s Saturday event will go toward Shaw and his family in support as he navigates ALS.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG SKY SOUL SHINE
BIG SKY SEES INCREASE IN CANCER TREATMENT AND SUPPORT RESOURCES
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY MONTANA TO SUPPORT RESOURCES CENTER AT BIG SKY MEDICAL CENTER
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—Forty percent of Montanans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and almost twice as many will have a close relationship with someone who is diagnosed, according to leaders with Cancer Support Community Montana.
Cancer Support Community is a global not-forprofit organization focused on supporting the nonmedical aspects of a cancer journey for patients and others affected by diagnosis. In Montana, CSCMT is based in Bozeman and has another facility in Missoula. In addition to CSCMT’s two brick and mortar establishments, it provides resource centers in 14 smaller communities across the state in partnership with local health care facilities, now including Big Sky through the Bozeman Health Big Sky Regional Medical Center.
Jasmine Surina, director of development for CSCMT, is proud that the organization is Montana’s leader in providing the psychosocial and emotional support sides of cancer care. She explained the non-medical services that CSCMT provides, including support groups and counseling, education, fitness and yoga. CSCMT offers various support groups online—some specific to cancer type or where people are at in their cancer journey—plus special programming is designed for families and kids of various ages.
All of CSCMT’s services are provided free of charge, and available to not only the cancer patient, but to family, friends, coworkers or anyone else impacted by an individual’s diagnosis or in their support system.
Surina told Explore Big Sky she’s spent two-anda-half years with CSCMT, and she’s most proud of the “incredible” improvements in participants’ spirit after a tough diagnosis, resulting from CSCMT’s programming.
“Our participants and the work that we do, simply enough, is what keeps me around here. It’s extremely impactful in different ways for different people, but it’s all really important,” Surina said.
On June 25, CSCMT announced its hiring of a new CEO, Chris Darnell, who previously served as administrator of the Big Sky Medical Center. Darnell clarified that his transition is unrelated to Big Sky Medical Center’s recent addition of the CSCMT resource center. Bozeman Health already had a longstanding relationship with CSCMT, and he took the job because he saw the right opportunity at the right time.
“It’s a local not-for-profit organization that supports people who have been affected by cancer… For me, I was really looking for an opportunity to impact people in a more personal way,” Darnell said.
Darnell said there’s always been interest in increasing cancer services for the Big Sky community. Two months ago, Bozeman Health Cancer Center expanded its oncology services to the Big Sky Medical Center.
The new satellite clinic helps overcome the distance- and travel-related barriers to care commonly experienced by patients in rural communities, allowing them to receive care in the communities where they live, according to Bozeman Health. Dr. Mark Hancock, Bozeman Health oncologist and oncology program medical director, now visits Big Sky Medical Center twice per month to provide clinical care for patients. As demand grows, he plans to increase the frequency of his visits.
“We are committed to improving the health of the communities we serve and are proud to bring expanded oncology care and expertise to residents across southwest Montana,” Hancock stated in an email to EBS. “Access to cancer care, close to home, undoubtedly leads to improved health outcomes for patients and their families.”
Bozeman Health Foundation is raising philanthropic support to expand cancer services in satellite clinics to include infusion therapy. Funds raised will support expansion of patient care space and new equipment.
Darnell said a lot has happened in the past two or three months for cancer care in Big Sky—Bozeman
Health added its oncology clinic and CSCMT formalized its concept for a Big Sky resource center.
“When we put it all together, it’s wonderful for folks in the greater Big Sky community,” Darnell said.
Cancer Support Community to host events in Big Sky this summer
As CSCMT establishes itself in Big Sky, it plans to host events to share the word and build connections with community members. Surina said anyone interested can keep up with events by following CSCMT on Facebook and Instagram.
To start, CSCMT will post up at the Big Sky Farmers Market on July 17.
On Aug. 8, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices will host a block party before Music in the Mountains to benefit CSCMT. Surina said Berkshire Hathaway—particularly realtor Jamie Roberts, who previously served on CSCMT’s board—has been a key supporter of CSCMT’s push into Big Sky.
Finally, on Aug. 13, CSCMT will host its Stronger than Cancer barbecue in partnership with the Big Sky Medical Center. Survivors of cancer and their loved ones are invited.
As Big Sky welcomes new care and resources to combat cancer, Darnell said the challenge is to get the word out about CSCMT’s programs and offerings, and making sure the community knows they are cost-free.
Surina and Darnell agreed that when people impacted by cancer learn about resources provided by CSCMT, it can feel life-changing, especially near the time of diagnosis. Ultimately, Darnell believes CSCMT’s programming can improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer in rural and underserved areas, and will work to bring the organization’s services across the state.
“Obviously, the direct medical care services are vitally, critically important,” Darnell said. “And so are those wraparound psychosocial services that we provide.”
Cancer Support Community Montana is based in Bozeman and is establishing a resource center in Big Sky through partnership with Bozeman Health. COURTESY OF CSCMT
COURTESY OF CSCMT
CSCMT offers programming including mindfulness and yoga classes. COURTESY OF CSCMT
BIG SKY RESORT REACHES 1,000 EMPLOYEE BEDS
BY MIRA BRODY
BIG SKY—This coming August, Big Sky Resort will open the doors to Levinski Lodge B and C, two employee housing units that will achieve the resort’s goal of more than 1,000 employee housing beds in Big Sky, a goal they hope can serve as an example for other resorts across the country.
“We are certainly at the top, if not the resort with the most team member housing in the industry at the moment,” said Stacie Harris, public relations manager at Big Sky Resort. “I don’t know of any other resort that has close to 1,000 beds. The industry average is about 184 beds, so we have five times the industry average.”
When fully staffed, Big Sky Resort hosts a winter workforce of about 1,900 and summer workforce of around 900.
The three-phased Levinski project began with Lodge A, completed in February 2023, which includes a one-bedroom unit and 17 two-bedrooms units. Building B includes 18 studio units, six onebedroom units and six two-bedroom units. Building C includes 52 dormitory-style units with double and triple occupancy, and two single or ADA compliant rooms.
All those living on the Levinski campus have utilities, Wi-Fi and cable TV included in their rent, as well as access to free laundry, a recreation room, gym, four quiet rooms, a community lounge, six common kitchen spaces, bike and ski storage and repair area, and an outdoor barbecue area. Each room is fully finished with beds, dressers and dining room tables, said Michael Henry, team member housing manager at Big Sky Resort.
An important aspect of employee housing for the resort is accessibility to the base area—where most employees will be working.
With the addition of Levinski Lodge, 75% of Big Sky Resort’s housing offerings are within walking distance. While tenants have access to parking should they have their own vehicle, the setting encourages walking, biking and utilizing the nearby Skyline bus system—passes to and from Bozeman are provided to all employees.
Levinski Lodge’s rent is kept within 50-60% of local market rate, as established by the Big Sky Community Housing Trust’s Rent Local program. One-bedroom units go for $850, while twobedroom units are $1,700.
“The rates are flat for the units,” explained Henry. “We are no means looking to exceed 30% of someone’s income.”
Tenants also have flexible leases and are only required to pay for the nights they are living in their unit, terms which are meant to accommodate those arriving halfway through the month, or leaving early. Tenants in good standing are also able to secure a unit ahead of the following season if they have plans to return, and have the option of requesting preferred roommates. Harris said the resort is also open to housing a family of a resort employee.
The amenities in Levinski units B and C were designed based on feedback from team members that have been living in unit A for the last year. That feedback was compiled from community town hall meetings and implemented into the plans for the new units, Harris said.
“We’ve had great feedback surrounding our team members that are in the Levinski building,” Henry said. “I think a lot of it does surround access and the location alongside having those apartment style amenities, like the ability to cook right there.”
Harris said while the resort has their eyes set on going beyond 1,000 beds in the future, right now focusing on a high quality employee experience is paramount.
“We set a goal … as we were talking about the road to 1,000 beds, was how do we become the best employer in the industry—in the entire industry. It’s a challenge that we think about all the time, and we try to benchmark ourselves against other folks in the industry and other towns and try to figure out ways to offer the best employee experience possible,” Harris said. “Housing is certainly a huge part of that and definitely kind of where it all starts for everyone’s experience working at Big Sky Resort.”
Dorm-style rooms include a large communal kitchen space. PHOTO BY MIRA BRODY
The lodge offers communal amenities, including a ski and bike tuning and storage room. PHOTO BY MIRA BRODY
Levinski Lodge is walking distance to the base area of Big Sky Resort. PHOTO BY MIRA BRODY
BIG SKY RESORT CELEBRATES MADISON 8 AS ANOTHER NORTH AMERICAN FIRST
NEWEST CHAIRLIFT TO DOUBLE CAPACITY, PROVIDE WARMER RIDE UP MOUNTAIN’S NORTH-FACING ASPECT
BY MIRA BRODY
While jokingly referred to Big Sky Resort’s coldest and windiest side of Lone Mountain, it’s a warm July afternoon in the Madison Base Area as work progresses on another new chairlift. A meticulously excavated crater sits where the previous Six Shooter chairlift once did, and instead of snow, the area is dotted with construction equipment—a towering red crane, orange lift and towers of rebar and plywood—as crews from the resort and Jackson Contractor Group work to install Six Shooter’s replacement, the new Madison 8 chairlift, scheduled to carry its first skiers up Lone Mountain for the winter 2024-25 season.
“The old lift has been taken down, it was taken apart very carefully and it got put on trucks and is, I believe, already unloaded in a parking lot in Sugarloaf, Maine,” said Tom Marshall, vice president of mountain operations. “That went really smoothly. From there it was clearing snow.”
Marshall explained that crews were clearing snow the day after the Madison Base Area closed for the 2023-24 season.
Six Shooter, a high-speed six-seat detachable chairlift first constructed by Moonlight Basin Ski Area in 2003, carried its final skiers on that closing day in April 2024. It will find new life after refurbishment and upgrades in Sugarloaf Ski Resort in Carrabassett Valley, Maine.
Marshall began working winter seasons at Big Sky Resort in the fall of 1999 and has been yearround for the last nine years. In fall of 2013, when the resort merged with Moonlight Basin, he was
running the ski school in the Madison Base Area. Even standing at over 6 feet tall, Marshall’s stature is dwarfed by the construction activity, as well as Lone Mountain’s shadow behind him.
Madison 8 will double the capacity of its predecessor, transporting 2,745 skiers per hour at a speed of 13 miles per hour from base to top in eight minutes. The lift consists of 80 chairs and 29 towers along a path that is straightened slightly from the existing—riders will remember Six Shooter had to take a slight right turn on the way up the mountain.
The new chair will feature blue bubbles, heated seats, automatic safety bars, footrests and the “whisper quiet” mechanics riders have become familiar with from other recent upgrades at Big Sky Resort—namely Ramcharger 8 and Swift Current 6 chairlifts—made possible by Doppelmayr D-line engineering, designed to be smooth, quiet and lowmaintenance. It provides a load time of 12 seconds
with a loading carpet that can be adjusted to more easily accommodate children.
Big Sky Resort will be the first North American resort with three D-line lifts featuring chairlift bubbles, and with two eight-seat lifts. Madison 8 will be the world’s longest eight-seat lift.
Madison 8 will feature an indoor loading experience; chairs are able to be stored overnight in the lower or upper terminals as needed. The larger lower terminal also allows for an enclosed space for guests as they embark up the mountain, a first for Big Sky. The lower terminal will also sit 40 feet uphill from where Six Shooter’s was in order to create more queuing space.
In order to summarize the list of engineering feats, Marshall said the lift will combine the biggest elements of Ramcharger and Swift Current, arming it with both length and speed.
“I wasn’t directly involved in building Ramcharger. That was built in one summer. Swift Current was built in two, the gondolas [will be] in three, the tram in two, and they were still tight schedules,” said Marshall, listing the resort’s recent upgrades, both complete and in-progress. “But this is the first project of this scale that I’ve been involved in where the expectations are its going to be done in one building season and ready for next winter.”
While ambitious, Marshall is optimistic about the timeline. Next, crews will pour tower concrete, completing the tower installations from bottom to top, and backfilling excavated areas. Chairs are expected to arrive before the end of July, to be filled in no time with eager skiers for the resort’s upcoming season.
Six Shooter has been shipped to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine for refurbishment. PHOTO BY CHRIS KAMMAN VIA BIG SKY RESORT
Derringer lift can be seen to the left of Madison 8’s new lower terminal construction. PHOTO BY MIRA BRODY
Tom Marshall, vice president of mountain operations, oversees the construction of Madison 8. PHOTO BY MIRA BRODY
Madison 8’s upper terminal below Headwaters Ridge. PHOTO BY MIRA BRODY
OP NEWS
OUTLAW PARTNERS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL ACT FOR WILDLANDS FESTIVAL
FADER MAGAVIN AND THE RISKY LIVERS JOINS FRIDAY, AUG. 2 LINEUP
OUTLAW PARTNERS
Outlaw Partners is excited to announce an additional act for this summer’s Wildlands Festival lineup, Aug. 2-3 at the Big Sky Events Arena. Fader Magavin and the Risky Livers will open the festival Friday, Aug. 2 along with headliner Maren Morris, and Lukas Nelson. Headliner Dierks Bentley will perform on Saturday, Aug. 3, along with Wyatt Flores.
Self-described as “underground basement country” and based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Fader Magavin and the Risky Livers will bring a local authenticity that melds the lyrics of a famed backcountry cowboy and a group of wayfaring strangers brought together to tell stories of drinking, regret, loves lost, and hope for a better day.
“It is a great pleasure and honor to be performing amongst such country music royalty at this year’s Wildlands Festival,” said Fader Magavin. “We are looking forward to the opportunity.”
In its fourth year, Wildlands Festival will continue its commitment to celebrate and support wild and scenic lands through world-class musical performances, fundraising and education in the intimate Big Sky Events Arena with Lone Peak as the backdrop. Last year, over $500,000 was raised for river conservation, an unprecedented amount for such fundraising efforts. The goal is to continue that momentum this year through sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, musical performances and personal connections with those who share a love for wild places.
As the largest conservation-focused outdoor music festival in southwest Montana, Wildlands aims to raise awareness and funds for nonprofit organizations dedicated to saving wild and open spaces while featuring an all-star lineup of musicians.
“We couldn’t be more excited to add Fader Magavin and the Risky Livers to this year’s event,” said Josh Timon, Outlaw Partners’ chief operations officer. “We have some truly iconic musicians performing. Now with a regional band and the most incredible views as the backdrop. That, and the ongoing fundraising efforts for this special place we call home is a synergy that Outlaw Partners is very proud of creating through the Wildlands Festival.”
Learn more at wildlandsfestival.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FADER MAGAVIN AND THE RISKEY LIVERS
More Bookings, Less Worry with Natural Retreats
Through the years, we have cultivated a devoted following of travelers who know and love our brand. These are people who appreciate stunning homes in amazing destinations, like Big Sky. And they want to book your home.
Whether you’re looking to maximize revenue from season to season or elevate the level of maintenance and care your home receives in our challenging alpine environment—we are here for you.
SPORTS
BIG SKY RESORT’S WOMEN’S BIKE CLINICS HIT THE TRAILS
BY MERRICK PARNELL
EBS CONTRIBUTOR
The women of Big Sky will soon be able to hit some of the region’s best mountain bike trails with two programs this summer: the Lone Mountain Ladies Bike Clinic and the Women’s Bike Skills Series, both hosted by Big Sky Resort.
“The idea for the women’s specific events is to get more women on bikes riding together. Creating this inclusive environment of women supporting each other is so rad,” said Lexie Hendricks, bike program manager at Big Sky Resort.
Hendricks has been instructing women’s specific camps and clinics for eight years.
“Everyone has left a special impact on me, and I wanted to bring that to Big Sky three summers ago. As the program in Big Sky has continued to grow, I am thrilled that we can offer more to women interested in the sport,” Hendricks continued.
Throughout five Fridays, between 2 and 4:30 p.m. and beginning on July 12, female riders from the Bozeman and Big Sky area, as well as visitors from all over the country, will have a chance to learn or build on their skills and explore the offerings of the resort’s trails.
descending down the resort’s more challenging terrain. Clinics cost $10 per session. Mountain bike and bike haul tickets are not included, but discounted lift tickets, and rentals are available for clinic registrants. Organizers also recommend wearing a full-face helmet.
Lone Mountain Ladies Bike Clinic
In addition to the Women’s Bike Skills Series, Big Sky Resort offers another mountain bike program for the first time this summer. In its inaugural year, the Lone Mountain Ladies Bike Clinic will allow female bikers to “level up” with this clinic on Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28.
“The series is made for experienced and brand-new riders just getting started in mountain biking. The series will be geared towards what the women want to learn and practice,” said Hendricks.
The Women’s Skills Series began three summers ago to welcome more women to the sport. It covers basic bike maintenance, such has regular checks and fixing flat tires; fundamental techniques, such as body positioning, braking and balance; advanced maneuvers, like cornering, switchbacks and speed management; terrain negotiation, like line choice, berms and roll downs; and more dynamic skills like jumping, bunny hops, drops and technical
“All women mountain bikers can benefit from this bike camp. Ladies who are beginner bikers are welcome, as are those looking to improve their technical riding skills at a high level. Groups will be organized by ability level,” said Hendricks.
According to organizers, the two-day bike camp experience offers smaller group sizes, more one-on-one time with coaches, and better group splits with improved coach-to-student ratios.
During the camp riders will develop their skills in body positioning and balance, braking, cornering and berms, technical descending, jumping, drops and most importantly—confidence.
Big Sky Resort’s women’s bike clinics hit the trails for the summer season. PHOTO BY CLAIRE LICHTWARDT
BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR
Thursday, July 11 – Wednesday, July 24
If your next event falls between July 25 – Aug. 7 please submit it to explorebigsky.com/calendar-event-form
THURSDAY, JULY 11
Music in the Mountains:
El Laberinto del Coco
Len Hill Park, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 12
Big Sky Community Rodeo presented by Yellowstone Club
Big Sky Events Arena, 5 p.m.
Community Street Dance 10X Event of the Year Celebration
Len Hill Park, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY, JULY 14
Sunday Service Soldier’s Chapel, 11 a.m.
MONDAY, JULY 15
Pickup Co-ed Soccer
Big Sky Community Park, 6 p.m.
The Lone Bellow
Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 16
Community Day and Mutton Bustin' Big Sky Events Arena, 2 p.m.
Dick Allgood Community BINGO Night
Big Sky Events Arena, 6 p.m.
Women’s Pickup Soccer
Big Sky Community Park, 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
Big Sky PBR Golf Tournament
Big Sky Golf Course, 9 a.m.
Community Yoga
Len Hill Park, 12 p.m.
Rodeo Week Trunk Show
Montage Big Sky, 12 p.m.
Pickup Basketball
Big Sky Community Park, 6 p.m.
Trivia
The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 18
Big Sky PBR night 1
Big Sky Events Arena, 6 p.m.
Adult Pickup Volleyball
Big Sky Community Park, 6 p.m.
Music in the Mountains:
The Wood Brothers
Len Hill Park, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 19
Rodeo Week Trunk Show
Montage Big Sky, 12 p.m.
Big Sky PBR night 2
Big Sky Events Arena, 7 p.m.
PBR Afterparty with Corb Lund
Big Sky Events Arena stage, 9 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 20
Big Sky Artisan Festival
Len Hill Park, 11 a.m.
Big Sky PBR night 3
Big Sky Events Arena, 7 p.m.
PBR Afterparty with Jason Boland & The Stragglers
Big Sky Events Arena stage, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY, JULY 21
Sunday Service Soldiers Chapel, 11 a.m.
MONDAY, JULY 22
Pickup Co-ed Soccer
Big Sky Community Park, 6 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 23
Women’s Pickup Soccer
Big Sky Community Park, 6 p.m.
Bravo! Big Sky Chamber Music Series
The Wilson Hotel, 7 p.m.
Community Yoga
Len Hill Park, 12 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
Pickup Basketball
Big Sky Community Park, 6 p.m.
Trivia
The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
FEATURED EVENT: BIG SKY PBR
Big Sky PBR is back at the Big Sky Events Arena July 18, 19 and 20. Named Event of the Year for the 10th year in a row, the Last Cowboy Standing event brings the best bull athletes and best cowboy athletes to the dirt for an unforgettable showdown that honors a longstanding Western tradition. Each night is followed by live music.
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ROAD TRIP: NEW ADVENTURES AWAIT ISLAND PARK,
IDAHO OFFERS AN EASY SUMMER GETAWAY FROM BIG SKY WITH UNIQUE OUTINGS FOR DAY TRIPS AND OVERNIGHTS
BY LESLIE KILGORE
For those who have traveled from Big Sky to Jackson Hole at any time of year, Island Park is often a spot for snacks, gas or a bathroom break without any true exploration of the area past the gas station. However, it’s worth the visit for the many year-round recreational activities.
Just over an hour’s drive from Big Sky, my daughter and I have visited the Island Park area on multiple occasions in the summer, with out-of-town guests for both day and weekend trips.
For activities, we’ve tried everything from fly fishing on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, to riding ATVs and Razors throughout the area’s extensive trail system, to renting a ski boat for wakeboarding, waterskiing and tubing, jumping on water trampolines at a local lakefront bar and restaurant, and hiking to the beautiful Mesa Falls. Every time we visit, Island Park delivers.
On overnights, we’ve stayed at the Lakeside Lodge and Resort in both their hotel rooms and rustic cabins. The bar and restaurant is lively on the weekends, they have a great outdoor deck for dining and watching the sunset on the Island Park Reservoir, and everything you’d want for a hot summer lake day is right on the property. The resort rents ski, pontoon and fishing boats, kayaks and paddleboards, wakeboards, skis, pull tubes, and jet skis from the dock right on the property. The resort also offers several trampolines and fun water activities for kids, in view from the restaurant’s deck so parents can watch at cocktail hour.
Another fun spot for families is Mack’s Inn, which includes a laid back pizza restaurant, local homemade ice cream, fishing and swimming during the day and a relaxing, more refined place to stay for the night. Built in 1949, the Mack’s Inn log motel has been an iconic focal point in Island Park for decades. In 2020, a new 111-room Marriott hotel was built near the rustic inn to accommodate more visitors. Nestled along the river, it’s a great spot to wade, fish or float on a hot afternoon.
If staying right on the water near the main thoroughfare is not for you, we also tried Wander Camp last summer. Never having glamped before, we thought it would be a fun overnight for outof-town guests visiting us in Big Sky. And it was worth the stay. The beds were comfy, the décor
was creative and eclectic, and the night skies and mountain views were gorgeous. We even woke up to the sound of nearby grazing cattle at an adjacent ranch that enhanced the experience for our East Coast visitors.
During that trip, we tried the Meadow Vue Ranch rodeo and chuckwagon dinner, offered all summer on Wednesday and Saturday nights. The rodeo, along with live music, dancing and an outdoor buffet dinner, was fun for both our family and our out-of-town guests. In other words, not too touristy, but just enough. With beautiful views of Henry’s
Lake, and the rodeo and line dancing performed by young cowgirls and cowboys attending the ranch’s rodeo camp, the night was certainly entertaining, endearing and Western.
As most Big Sky locals know, summer here is short and sweet. With so much to do within the community, it’s often hard to leave town once the idyllic weather sticks around for weeks at a time. But if a quick getaway or a memorable day trip is needed, Island Park is a relaxed and easygoing choice.
Line dancing is an activity of choice at Meadow Vue with the help of a live band. PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
Meadow Vue Ranch in Island Park offers an authentic Western experience.
PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
Awake to the sound of the neighborhood cows near your camp. PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
Wander Camp provides fancier “glamping” accommodations for those passing through. PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
A NEW WAY TO EXPERIENCE BIG SKY: ASPECTS UNVEILS FURNISHED HOMES FOR ALL STAYS BUSINESS
BY TAYLOR OWENS
Sponsored content
Aspects, a company dedicated to the idea that exceptional outdoor environments help us reconnect with what truly matters, has launched a range of furnished residences in Big Sky, welcoming both long-term residents and Big Sky visitors. There is increased and ongoing demand for both group travel and longer-term stays and Aspects is filling a new need in the community.
“We saw a unique opportunity to introduce this concept to Big Sky, which certainly experiences unique demand patterns throughout the year, and it is evidenced by the fact that we have folks staying for days, weeks, and years all in the same community today,” said Bryan Dunn, co-founder of Aspects.
“Big Sky draws in people from near and far with its natural beauty, tight community and exciting opportunities,” said Albert Nichols, co-founder and COO of Aspects. “That love of this area is the root of what inspired us to create a home-like and nature-oriented property. Regardless of how long our visitors and residents live here, we’re committed to providing a thoughtful experience inspired by the nature and community that surrounds us.”
The core concept of Aspects is to establish a community that effortlessly links visitors and residents to the unique places, people and passions that define Big Sky. Through carefully curated homes, Aspects provides a blend of homey comfort and exceptional standards, encouraging everyone to fully embrace the area's outdoor and recreation offerings.
“We’re excited to be broadening the base of options for people who want to experience everything that Big Sky has to offer,” Dunn said. “We think it's important that there's also a diversity of rental housing stock in Big Sky, just as you would expect in Bozeman or other destinations that are compelling for residents and visitors alike.”
Aspects is located eight minutes from Big Sky Town Center, 15 minutes from Big Sky Resort, and two minutes from the Gallatin River. Aspects is a six-acre property with 10 modern residences surrounded by miles of walking trails complete with mountain views. Amenities at the property include an outdoor sauna, hot tubs, fire pits and communal gathering spaces.
“The intent of the property is to give residents peace of mind so they can fully embrace Big Sky,” Nichols said. “That starts within the four walls of the home; ensuring each home is spotless, all the amenities are there that you may need like a ski rack, boot dryers, a fully stocked kitchen and a garage you can clean your gear off in. We thought about as many meaningful small things as we could so that daily living is as easy as possible.”
At Aspects, you can slip right into what it would feel like if you had lived in Big Sky for a couple of years and had your home set up exactly to your standards. The design team at Aspects painstakingly looked at the considerations one would need in a house to feel like they could slip into daily living. Everything from the garage, the entryway, the outside amenities, the bedrooms, and all that sits between was considered.
“While houses are nice, you don’t come to Big Sky to stay inside,” Nichols said. “For our residents,
we set out to bring Big Sky to the property and integrate the land into the surrounding area. That started first with connecting our property and residents to the trail system that's around us.”
Immediately out the door at Aspects, you can walk to an amazing hike with sights of Lone Mountain or get going on your mountain bike and ride the trail system. A health and wellness space, as well as gathering spaces at the property, are right outside your door, complete with native Montanan plants and grasses brought back to the property.
“Big Sky is one of the most naturally rich areas in the world, and it’s no surprise that we are home to some of the most experienced and talented outdoor enthusiasts, preservationists, and outfitters,” said Zachary Parker, general manager at Aspects. “We are very lucky to have worked with talented landscape designers, builders, and trail makers, to seamlessly integrate our property to our natural surroundings, and are fortunate to partner with Big Sky’s leading guides and outfitters to connect our visitors and residents to the nature around us.”
Aspects has cultivated partnerships with several trusted businesses in the area. Aspects residents will have access to a number of Big Sky’s most alluring experiences via the Aspects team such as fly fishing on the Gallatin River, snowmobiling through Buck Ridge, or exploring Yellowstone National Park. Additionally, Aspects residents are seamlessly connected with local outfitters to handle any gear rental needs prior to their arrival in Big Sky.
“It's exciting to see the positive early reception from residents, guests, and neighbors alike,” Dunn said. “We're looking forward to continuing to grow in Big Sky and involving the entire community even more over time.”
Find out more about the Aspects community and reserve a home at experienceaspects.com
Aspects offers both long-term and short term rentals in beautiful Big Sky. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASPECTS
An overview of the Aspects property area. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASPECTS
Aspects properties offer sweeping views of Gallatin Canyon and the Big Sky area. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASPECTS
BY MIRA BRODY
Outlaw Partners is Big Sky’s marketing, media, events, real estate, real estate development, retail and adventure firm. If that sounds like a mouthful, that’s because it is— since the company was founded by CEO Eric Ladd and CMO Megan Paulson in 2009, Outlaw has remained unafraid to shy away from challenge.
The only news source in Big Sky, and one of the only independently owned publishers in the region, Outlaw produces Explore Big Sky newspaper, the award-winning Mountain Outlaw magazine, VIEWS. real estate magazine, as well as a nightly digital news source, Town Crier. Outlaw is also a full-service creative marketing agency, partnering with national brands, is the producer of the 10X Event of the Year, Big Sky PBR, alongside accompanying events during Big Sky’s Biggest Week, and Wildlands Festival. They’re also the premier outfitter on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Boundary Expeditions, a bear advocacy retail store, Hey Bear, and finally, Outlaw Realty brokerage and Outlaw Real Estate Partners, serving the entire southwest Montana region. No matter what department, Outlaw remains passionate about sharing stories that matter.
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: First, tell me a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with Outlaw Partners.
Josh Timon: I’ve known Eric Ladd, Outlaw’s founder and CEO for over 40 years. Together, we’ve been jointly involved in number of different businesses, from renewable energy to luxury real estate, to now Outlaw. My family and I have been coming up to Big Sky for 20 years, and most recently the last 13 to help with the numerous events Outlaw puts on during Big Sky’s busy summer. I’m thankful to have fond memories of bringing my family out here over the years both for work and to recreate.
I formally joined Outlaw this past fall as chief operating officer for the company. I’m happy to join Outlaw and the talented crew to grow our organization and benefit this amazing community.
EBS: Things are pretty busy at Outlaw this month, can you explain what Big Sky can anticipate in the coming weeks at the Big Sky Events Arena?
JT: This month is Outlaw’s Super Bowl. It kicked off last Tuesday night with an incredible live music show featuring Trampled By Turtles, Shane Smith & the Saints and Crowe Boys. Friday, July 12 we’ll host the Big Sky Community Rodeo with the help of Yellowstone Club, followed by the 10X Event of the Year celebration street dance with the Tony Marques Band, and next week will be filled with cowboys, golf, bingo and bulls as we prepare for Big Sky’s Biggest Week.
Every year the event grows in some form or fashion, whether its additional bleachers, amazing support from our sponsors, additional family activities. It’s also worth mentioning that Big Sky PBR just won the Event of the Year for the 10th time in a row—a prestigious
honor bestowed upon us by the PBR cowboy athletes themselves. We’re proud to hold this honor as its shows just how hard our team works to make it happen each year, and how much our sponsors and spectators support us at our arena here in Big Sky, Montana.
EBS: Big Sky has changed a lot over the years. With Outlaw going on 14 years, can you speak to what has changed or grown at the company as the area has?
JT: I think Outlaw continues to expand its capabilities as the area grows. As you know, not only do we produce this amazing paper, Explore Big Sky, and Mountain Outlaw magazine, as well as events with world-class performers, but we also are strong in the real estate and real estate development industry in and around southwest Montana through Outlaw Realty and Outlaw Real Estate Partners. As we look into the future, our team is looking to foster additional partnerships to expand into the Greater Yellowstone region.
I’ve also been fortunate to be a part of Boundary Expeditions, our premier outfitter, since its inception nine years ago, as we embark each summer down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Getting to know our guests, where they’re from, their personalities and seeing a different side of them on the river is what we call mastering the art of 3 MPH. This year, Boundary is in the middle of our biggest year ever, with 13 sold out trips. Next year is almost sold out and we're already selling well into 2026. People are so receptive to the power of what happens on that river and with our Boundary crew and I’m proud to be a part of that.
EBS: Despite that change and progression of time, what are some core values that drives Outlaw each day to produce the work we do?
JT: I think Outlaw’s strength is its adaptability and strong sense of teamwork. I think in general Outlaw wants to continue emphasizing Big Sky as a four season destination. We are always looking for ways we can focus on the spring and fall, and how we can keep the community strong.
EBS: What are some of Outlaw’s greatest strengths?
JT: I’ll use last year’s Wildlands Festival as an example of where Outlaw’s strengths come into play. Last year we had Foo Fighters at the Big Sky Events Arena, and these massive rain and lighting storms kept rolling in, postponing their act. Our crew was out there mopping down the bleacher seats, diverting water from walkways and making sure guests were safe, entertained and happy. After a long deliberation with Foo Fighters’ crew, we rallied and the show went on. Guests were excited to come back into their seats once it was safe, and the Foo Fighters put on one of the most amazing shows I’ve ever seen.
All that is to say, Outlaws rally to make it happen when it matters most, even under the most unpredictable circumstances.
EBS: What is your favorite part about working with Outlaw, or what is a favorite memory you have with the team?
JT: My favorite part about working with Outlaw is seeing how many balls everyone is juggling at once and how multi-talented and cross-functional we are as an organization.
EBS: When you’re not working, what is your favorite thing to do in the Big Sky area?
JT: I like to hang out with my son, Grayson, and go hiking with my wife and daughter. I am also a foodie so I enjoy visiting the local restaurants here in Big Sky. I am fortunate to also be able to manage multiple restaurants in my hometown of Denver, Colorado.
EBS: What’s some business advice that drives you each day?
JT: My biggest piece of advice in business is to listen and be open to suggestions from any and all employees, to produce A+ work, and to not be afraid to admit that you’re wrong. Also, no matter how chaotic, remember to take a step back and enjoy what you’re doing.
The Outlaw Partners team at last year’s PBR. OUTLAW PARTNERS PHOTO
Josh and his daughter, Finley, at PBR back in 2015. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH TIMON
Drain
Ryan Coombs Operations Director
Photo by Whitney Kamman
Perfectly located in Bozeman’s Northeast Neighborhood, just a few blocks from Main Street, Wildlands is a truly exception allocation. Conveniently situated near multiple coffee shops, restaurants, trailheads, and within 20 minutes of Bridger Bowl Ski Area, living at the Wildlands means you are never far away from world-class adventure and culture.
The six remaining residences each offers top-of-the line finishes, large living spaces, and meticulous detail. Schedule a tour today and experience the masterpiece that is Wildlands.
AM EN ITIES
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Beautifully designed condos and penthouses in an incredible, highly sought-after location. Footsteps away from Big Sky Town Center restaurants, shopping, farmers markets, live music, and all that Big Sky has to offer. A downtown lifestyle where rooms are filled with natural light and breathtaking views no matter the time of day or the season. 3rd level penthouses come with private, 4th-level rooftop decks. Relax in your hot tub and let the stargazing begin. CONVENIENT MAIN STREET LIVING IN BIG SKY
AMENITIES
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• 3rd level penthouses come with private, 4th-level rooftop decks.
ENVIRONMENT
DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD
HOW ANIMALS COMMUNICATE
BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST
One summer evening, I was stationed at an isolated fire lookout in the Bob Marshall Wilderness when I overheard hoary marmots squealing alarms outside the glasswalled building. Also known as “whistle pigs,” a hoary marmot’s call is a long-drawnout whistle followed by a long pause, then repeated at intervals. I kept searching as to why they were making a commotion. I scanned the trail for visitors, but they rarely came this late because I was 14 miles back. I checked the skies, searching for golden eagles, and swaggered outside to look over the cliff’s edges for other predators. The warnings continued for a solid 20 minutes.
Then, the calls abruptly changed. Instead of sustained seconds of a keened whistle followed by a long pause, they were a series of short, rapid half bleats with brief breaks. These shrieks continued for another 10 minutes. I realized a marmot colony was strung along the mountain kingdom’s broken cliffs. Their warnings were an invisible wire alerting others of danger beyond my periphery.
Animal language may be more complicated than we previously acknowledged, with some animals using sentences that contain nouns, verbs and adjectives, which researchers have discovered can be understood across various species. According to Dr. Erick Greene, a University of Montana biology professor, birds can understand “squirrelese,” and squirrels can understand “birdese.” Animals can also convey a lot of information in their alarm calls, including a predator’s level of threat and its specific behavior. For example, a squirrel can indicate whether a red-tailed hawk is flying around hunting or just passing.
Scientists have found that this information can travel incredibly quickly and across long distances. However, many alarm calls are subtle; most people don’t notice them as they sweep through the forest. Greene is studying bird language with the help of a mock predator. He had a taxidermist create several mechanical birds of prey, which he calls “robo-raptors,” using the taxidermy remains of northern pygmy owls. Greene’s research team arranges these birds in an undisclosed Rocky Mountain coniferous forest and observes the reactions as they remotely control a stump to reveal the decoy. When the “robo-owl” swivels its head, the birds suddenly hush, followed by a frenzy of sound as chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches flock and mob the owl, warning all eavesdropping species, from red squirrels to mule deer, that there’s a predator intruding.
Researchers like Greene have found that mammals, birds, and even fish recognize alarm calls from other prey species. Many small birds catch the newswire of one species and take notice. Chickadees and other members of the Paridae family act as forest crossing guards. Other prey species can listen at the same frequency and take notes by ducking or hiding. Squirrels, gophers and other birds mimic these alarm calls to help amplify the warning system. This sophisticated system, which can travel faster than 100 miles an hour, precedes the predator by a few minutes, showcasing the speed and efficiency of their communication.
Greene aspires to comprehend the language of the forest by decoding the nuances of bird alarms and their communication patterns. He gives an example of the chickadee bird, a well-known bird named after its call. Chickadees repeatedly make this call to urge other birds to mob and harass predators until they leave. Adding more “dees” to their call signals the predator’s size to other birds. One additional syllable means a larger predator threatens them—but may not threaten larger species.
For instance, a northern pygmy owl, about 2.2 ounces and 6.75 inches long, can easily match the chickadee’s maneuverability through the forest and pose a considerable risk. Therefore, chickadees add five to 12 “dees” when they spot a pygmy owl. Squirrels larger than the owl continue eating pinecones and making squirrel midden when they hear this specific call because they are not at risk. But small songbirds hide immediately, especially red-breasted nuthatches that winter flock with chickadees. It’s also likely that squirrels will take notice if they hear the chickadees’ description of a northern goshawk.
To investigate this sophisticated interspecies communication, Greene and his team joined forces with researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They measured bird alarm calls using an acoustic microscope, and the signals appeared as a spectrogram on the screen, highlighting the collaborative spirit in understanding bird language.
Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, a Northern Arizona University biologist, debuted a similar instrument to decode prairie dog language. Slobodchikoff has pioneered research on prairie dog colonies in New Mexico, translating their complex language. His work, along with that of other researchers like Dr. Erick Greene, is revolutionizing our understanding of animal communication and behavior.
Biologists meticulously observed predators’ and prairie dogs’ behavior, noted their responses to alarms, and used advanced computer analysis to decipher the alarm call’s acoustic structure. The computer software generated a sonogram, a graphic representation of a vocalization’s frequencies and time values. Each alarm call, lasting onetenth of a second, was repeated frequently, ensuring the findings’ accuracy.
Through rigorous statistical methods, researchers decoded the variability in a single chirp. A different key distinguished a coyote from a domestic dog or a person. To test this variability, the researchers had the same individual walk into a prairie dog colony wearing different colored t-shirts at various daily intervals. The subsequent alarm calls contained the person’s size, shape and clothing color. In some experiments, prairie dogs could even describe objects they had never witnessed.
The alarm calls are composed of smaller sound units akin to human phonemes—vowels and consonants. Each alarm call is like a human sentence, with nouns representing the species, verbs representing the activity, and adjectives describing the physical characteristics. For instance, a prairie dog chirp decoded from the experiment sounds like this: “A tall and thin, yellow-haired person wearing a green shirt and blue pants is running.” This groundbreaking research provides new and thrilling possibilities in experts’ understanding of animal communication.
However, prairie dogs also have social chatter that scientists haven’t yet decoded because they cannot tie some conversations to specific behavior changes during these vocalizations. “This research shows that prairie dogs have the most sophisticated animal language that has been analyzed so far,” Slobodchikoff said. “However, as other scientists start looking at animal signals concerning the messages’ context, we will see other animals have just as sophisticated languages. We will find that other animals have even more sophisticated languages.”
Mock road experiment
As we delve deeper into the intricacies of animal communication, we are confronted with a global issue. The artificial noise from quarries, natural gas development, factories, trains, airports and automobiles disrupt these critical communication lines. In the United States alone, studies reveal a staggering statistic: Over 80% of the land area now lies within two-thirds of a mile from a road.
Dr. Jesse Barber of Boise State University created a “phantom road” in a forest outside Boise, Idaho, examining how human noise interferes with animal and bird communication. That forest is an important rest stop for migrating birds. No road exists, but Barber and his team amplify the sounds of a busy highway on speakers that they can turn on and off. They found more than a one-quarter decline in bird abundance when the artificial road noise was switched on; some birds avoided the area almost entirely. In a 2013 study, Barber deduced that these birds changed their behavior and decided to route through a quieter area due to road noise.
“What we found was that the birds that did continue migrating here had lower overall body condition, and they gained significantly less weight when the road was ‘on,’” Barber said.
The impact of artificial noise is more than inconvenient for migratory birds—and other animal species—which are declining worldwide. It’s a threat to their very survival. One factor in this decline might be how artificial noises hinder their ability to gather information, such as warnings about danger and food sources, forcing them to alter their overall behavior. If birds can’t hear others’ warnings of danger, they must spend more time looking out and less time foraging. In winter, birds must gather enough calories to survive long, cold nights. Unnatural noise could create a trade-off between collecting food and being vigilant.
Species like prairie dogs and chickadees are more than just local communicators. They are purveyors of information, passing out vital facts to their immediate family groups and whatever other species may be eavesdropping. This is not a localized phenomenon but a global one, happening with all life forms.
Freely available information helps others. The information generated by chickadee or ground squirrel species worldwide is always trending in the communities where they live among hundreds of sparrows, thrush, warblers, woodpeckers and other animals that know the lingo. This communication feed could mean a better meal for this woodpecker so it can live another day.
Before industrialization, people listened to this language, which was older than words. This newswire is all we had. In our self-created anthropocentric universe, we began to think we had a monopoly on language. But now we again realize how these nonhuman languages invisibly string the world together. These soundscape components are evolutionarily crucial for species survival, and these species have evolved together in these socially complex networks. If we, as a collective, quiet the human world a few decibels, we may hear many other things we’ve been missing from this intricate, vast interspecies communication web. The power to make a difference is in our hands.
Back at the fire lookout, I continued eavesdropping on the marmot calls. I am sure I wasn’t the only species listening. I looked over the reef’s wall again as a mountain lion stole silently on big furry paws, creeping below. I watched the profile of its long, black-tipped tail airbrushing the sky as the muscular feline crouched, then leaped toward a bumbling marmot. The marmot dived down its black hole, barely escaping. I snapped photos before the tawny mountain lion vanished into the shadows. Later, I realized the first marmot whistle meant danger, and the second described lion hunting.
I was nervous knowing my neighbor was this large and stealthy, and lived here like a ninja. I looked over my shoulder more frequently whenever I left the safety of the fire lookout’s confines and tried to decode the language of other species to hear if they were alerting me of danger.
Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His stories have been published in Audubon, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian US, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and other publications on his website. He holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.
TO BUY, OR NOT TO BUY—THAT IS THE QUESTION A SHORT GUIDE TO BUYING CARBON OFFSET CREDITS
BY LIZZIE PEYTON AND J ERRY TINIANOW GUEST COLUMNISTS
It’s happening more and more. You are booking some travel online—a flight, a car or hotel reservation— and you are asked if you want to buy a “carbon credit” to offset the greenhouse gas emissions related to your travel choice.
You have a vague sense that offset credits are good. You want to do the trip, but you also want to avoid feeling guilty about how your travel contributes to climate change. The offset credit could help you avoid the guilt.
You also have a feeling of unease. Aren’t offset credits just a form of greenwashing? Are they even real? Or do they just take make you feel good, without really doing anything about climate change?
These are legitimate questions. After all, Delta Airlines is currently defending a lawsuit in federal court in California, Berrin vs. Delta Airlines Inc., asserting that Delta’s claim to be a “carbon neutral airline” was false and deceptive, because the carbon offsets it purchased to support its claims did not produce the carbon reductions needed to offset all of Delta’s emissions.
Many carbon offset credits are legitimate. They fund important projects that make genuine contributions to avoiding the worst effects of human-induced climate
change. But offset credits must be approached with a bit of caution. How can you know if you are getting a reliable credit and not just buying into a scam?
The Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO) has been studying this problem and can provide some guidance. It’s paying attention to offset credits because trustworthy ones can be part of SNO’s effort to reduce the community’s net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
A “carbon offset” is a way of confirming and quantifying an activity that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, or GHGs, or removes them from the atmosphere. The financial instrument that documents and quantifies an offset is called a “carbon credit” or “offset credit.” It confirms the amount of GHGs that will be reduced or removed by a stated activity, such as putting up wind turbines or planting trees. These credits can be bought, sold and traded. To be credible, they need to be certified by a trustworthy organization as part of a “certification regime.”
There is virtually no government regulation of certification regimes or offset credits, but there are several private organizations that have set up criteria for verifying whether certification regimes and offset credits are trustworthy. The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market has developed ten “core principles” for assessing the integrity of individual offset programs. The council also rates categories of credits and the organizations that certify them.
There are several organizations that certify offset credits, usually applying a version of these core principles. These include Green-e, a certification program sponsored
by the Center for Resource Solutions, as well as Verra and the American Carbon Registry. If you purchase a carbon offset credit that is certified by one of these organizations, you can feel confident that your money is being used to reduce GHG pollution by the amount represented in the credit. In other words, you will get what you paid for.
When you are solicited to buy an offset credit in the middle of an online travel booking, you probably won’t have time to vet whatever vendor is providing the credit. Fortunately, you don’t have to. You can buy credits on your own later. They don’t even need to be associated with travel. A trustworthy credit can be used to offset any activity that increases GHG pollution.
For individual purchases, the Green-e website provides a good starting point. Green-e does not sell credits directly from its website, but it lists a number of entities that do. A good place for businesses to search for offset credits is the Climate Trade website. It provides guidance on how to purchase offset credits and also includes a marketplace in which your business can choose from many certified vendors.
Buying trustworthy carbon offset credits can be tricky, but there are many resources available to help you locate them. Big Sky SNO has a brochure that can provide some guidance; you can request a brochure by emailing bigskysno@gmail.com.
Lizzie Peyton is the Director of Community Sustainability of Big Sky SNO. Jerry Tinianow is the proprietor of WestUrb and served as Denver’s chief sustainability officer from 2012 to 2019.
NMLS
TURFGRASS: MISMANAGED AND MISUNDERSTOOD
BY ABBY BUTLER GUEST COLUMNIST
Grow Wild is all about cultivating a sustainably managed and intentional landscape filled with native and ecologically beneficial vegetation. This often leads to the belief that if you haven’t replaced every inch of your turfgrass, you are committing a cardinal landscaping sin. Thankfully, we are here today to set the record straight and banish this notion from your gardening minds. Our hope is to make you aware of the benefits of turfgrass, the reality of how it has been historically mismanaged and finally, how you can intentionally manage it to achieve the greatest benefits for the environment and your wallet.
The words “Kentucky bluegrass” can usher in a whole host of feelings: anger, frustration or even apathy. Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most widely planted cool-season grasses in North America, found in all 50 states and extending into Canada and Mexico, according to research from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Kentucky bluegrass gets a bad rap because it is often found growing as a monoculture that sucks up large inputs of water. With much of the West experiencing historically significant drought conditions, water usage has become an increasingly hot button topic—one deserving of attention and action. Still, turfgrass is valuable in our landscapes even with current and future drought conditions.
When managed correctly, turfgrass has the structural ability to prevent erosion and improve water and nutrient uptake into the soil. As a perennial plant, its deep, fibrous roots continue to grow and deepen throughout its lifetime, binding the soil together and preventing it from being carried away as sediment under rainy or windy conditions, according to National Park Service research.
Healthy and extensive root systems also serve as vital habitat for microbial populations. These microbes break down pollutants commonly found in runoff, such as hydrocarbons and heavy metals, thus keeping our water systems safer and reducing the need for additional chemical treatment. Aboveground, grass blades serve as “catchments and filtration zones for polluted runoff water,” according to a 2023 National Park Service study, as well as obstacles for sediment carried by flowing water. Turfgrass also increases the moisture content of soil by slowing the speed and force of flowing water on the landscape, allowing for deeper groundwater recharge.
For our data-driven gardeners, Utah State University research showed that 5,000 square feet of lawn can capture between 2,000 and 27,000 gallons of water.
Turfgrass also produces oxygen and can help trap dust and airborne allergens including pollen, while preventing weedy, pollen-producing plants from growing.
While large swaths of forest may be the first thing that springs to mind when considering carbon sequestration—the uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere into a stable form of carbon—let us
take a break from this tree-centric perspective and consider the sequestration capacity of a primarily grass-based ecosystem. As mentioned earlier, the perennial nature of grasses means that their roots, stems and leaves periodically shed, adding large amounts of decayed organic matter to the soil. This organic matter started as CO2 in the atmosphere and has now been converted to a more stable form of carbon with the potential to be stored in the soil for decades and even centuries. This cycle of grass growth and decay is essential to the continued removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. However, maintenance practices requiring fossil fuels, such as mowing or the production of fertilizers negates some of the positive carbon sequestration provided by turfgrass. Sustainable management like leaving grass clippings after mowing and conservative watering and feeding can increase turf’s ability to sequester carbon, according to research by University of Minnesota.
So there you have it, turfgrass is not entirely deserving of scorn and ridicule. In fact, when managed intentionally in combination with a variety of native plants, it can produce a droughttolerant haven for microbes that protects Big Sky’s water supply, provides clean air and even sequesters carbon.
Key improvements to make
Below are some best practices for a droughttolerant, water-wise lawn.
Irrigate in the evening or early in the morning to avoid evaporation or uneven watering due to wind.
Get in the habit of long, infrequent waterings that allow the water to seep deep into the ground. Short, frequent waterings make for “lazy” roots that do not have to work hard to reach moisture deep in the soil.
Set your mower to a higher cutting height—two to four inches ideally, but the higher the better. Mowing is actually known to stimulate grass growth, but cutting too low will cause a longer cessation of root growth, resulting in shallow roots. Remember to keep those blades sharpened so as not to damage the tips of the grass.
Keep in mind that promoting deep root growth does not necessarily mean that you will use less water overall. The deeper the roots, the more water it takes to recharge the rooting zone. The best way to use less water is careful and intentional management of your lawn.
Speaking of careful and intentional management, installing technology like weather-based smart irrigation controllers, rain sensors or soil moisture meters are prime examples of how an upfront cost can more than make up for itself in wateruse savings. Furthermore, the Gallatin River Task Force can help you with some of those costs through its rebate programs.
Be wary of over-fertilizing. Many landowners live by products like Weed & Feed that promise to control nuisance weeds like dandelions and keep your turfgrass lush and green—without realizing the negative impacts of fertilizer runoff and excessive herbicide use. Fertilizer can sometimes exacerbate your weed problem as well as lead to excess nutrients landing in your water source. If you have more questions about this topic, reach out to
our team at Grow Wild, we’d love to get into the nitty gritty with you about herbicides and fertilizers.
Not all landscapes are made equal. Turfgrass will require more intensive management with limited results in areas that are highly trafficked, have a steep slope—less water uptake, more runoff—or are narrow or very shaded. These areas can be replaced with creative alternatives like terraced flower beds, decorative rocks or hardscaping, according to Colorado State University research.
In high stages of drought—ideally level three, but definitely four or higher—best practice is not irrigating at all. In the summer months your water utility company will have specific restrictions, and those should be followed to conserve water in those periods of high stress.
Strong species picks for Big Sky
Not all grass is made equal, so your landscaping goals will dictate the best grass species for you. For high elevation areas like Big Sky where the growing season is short, cool-season grasses are the best choice. These green up faster and can withstand the cold. Taking the time to consult with local experts will ensure that your seeding matches your planting goals, as not all mixes result in the same kind of turfgrass.
Here are some examples of native and introduced cool-season grass mixes: Common dryland lawn species like sheep fescue, Canada bluegrass and hard fescue; Pioneer Mountain Mix (especially formulated for Big Sky); mountain brome, slender wheatgrass, snake river wheatgrass, hard fescue and streambank wheatgrass; and a native mix of slender wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, thickspike wheatgrass, mountain brome and bluebunch wheatgrass.
With all this in mind, it is important to recognize that converting your Kentucky bluegrass is not always the best choice. The water-wise management practices mentioned above can still apply to your Kentucky bluegrass. In addition, small steps like replacing patches of grass with native wildflower mixes adds to the biodiversity of the landscape and benefits wildlife and pollinators alike. Another option is choosing to let your turfgrass go dormant in the summer months. Now you might ask, “Won’t that ruin my grass and cause me even more problems?”
Our answer to that is an emphatic “Nope!”
Kentucky bluegrass naturally goes dormant during dry, hot conditions, but will return to normal when the temperature cools and precipitation increases. So, if a beautifully manicured lawn isn’t a necessity, letting your lawn go dormant for the summer saves you money and water—remember to pay attention to drought conditions.
We know making big landscape changes can be overwhelming, but always remember that the team at Grow Wild is here to support your endeavors and connect you with resources. Additionally, Alpenscapes—a joint partnership with Big Sky Fire Department, Big Sky SNO, GRTF and Grow Wild—offers resources and tools to educate and equip homeowners to make their landscapes in Big Sky water-wise, fire-safe and ecosystem-friendly. Their website has all the information you need to get started.
ZEPHYR, BIG SKY RESORT TEAM UP FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE SPIN CLASSES HEALTH
BY LESLIE KILGORE
Spinners rejoice—Big Sky Resort’s Elevated Wellness event will take place for the second year on the deck of Everett’s 8800 restaurant on three consecutive Fridays in July, beginning with two cycling classes led by Bozeman-based Zephyr Cycling Studio on Friday, July 12.
The idea to host Elevated Wellness came from a collaboration with the founder and owner of Zephyr Cycling Studio, Carolyn Williams, and Big Sky Resort’s senior manager of brand experience, Liv Grubaugh. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in challenging workouts at high elevation with Lone Mountain as their backdrop.
“There’s nothing like training at elevation,” said Carolyn Williams, founder and owner of Zephyr.
“But in reality, it's a workout that's accessible to all
HEALTH BUZZ ALTITUDE GUIDE
BY KALEY BURNS EBS COLUMNIST
Welcome to wonderful Big Sky, Montana! As you take in the beautiful scenery, your body may also be reminding you that you are not at sea level anymore. Depending on where you are in town, you could be resting anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 feet of elevation.
At higher elevations, you will take in less oxygen per breath. This means the higher you climb, the greater the risk of developing altitude-related illness. Altitude sickness is actually a type of stress on the body and can be a big concern for travelers. The stress of lower oxygen levels can lead to symptoms such as nausea, trouble breathing and weakness.
Thankfully there is no need to miss out on the fun and leave the mountain to alleviate altitude-related symptoms. Reference this guide for helpful tips and tricks.
Dr. B’s Top 10 Tips to Adjust to Altitude
1. IV nutrient and hydration therapy: Especially if you know you are sensitive to elevation changes, I suggest getting a nutrient intravenous drop (IV treatment) as soon as you get into town. Don’t wait until you are already feeling ill.
2. Keep up hydration with electrolytes: Our favorite electrolyte on the market is LMNT. Add a packet to your 40-ounce water bottle once to twice per day to keep your muscles happy and allow you to enjoy the mountain to the fullest. Water intake is advised to be half your body weight in ounces, PLUS if you are physically active adding roughly 8 ounces for every 15 minutes.
Along with the cycling class on July 12, instructors from Zephyr will be leading their Evolve class on Friday, July 19, which will feature a full-body, matbased, cardio-strength workout also on the deck of Everett’s 8800.
New to the event this year, BASE community center will be offering an outdoor, all-levels yoga class at Everett’s on Friday, July 26.
“We are so excited to partner with Big Sky Resort for the Elevated Wellness event,” said Eileen Coil, recreation and wellness manager at Big Sky Community Organization. “The Everett’s deck is such a spectacular place to practice yoga with the views of Lone Mountain on the horizon.”
—the good vibes are so strong, and everyone is just excited to be working out on the deck at Everett's while gazing right at Lone Peak. It's fun and exhilarating.”
Classes are each 45 minutes long and Big Sky Resort said participants should allow for at least 15 minutes to ride to the top of Ramcharger 8 and set up. Registration must be made in advance and lift service is included in the registration fee.
For more information and to register, visit bigskyresort.com/events/elevated-wellness.
Pro tip: Drink 24 ounces of water within the first 30 minutes of waking. Your body dehydrates overnight.
3. Mind your activity levels: Many people notice that they need to monitor their intensity and duration of activity as they are adjusting to higher elevations. It’s common for physical performance to become more difficult when you ascend in altitude. It is best not to push yourself too hard for the first two to three days.
4. Get adequate amounts of sleep: Sleep disturbances are common at higher elevations. If you are struggling to sleep, check your caffeine intake and try improving sleep hygiene with a dark room, white noise or calming essential oils such as lavender.
Pro tip: Magnesium is great for helping promote optimal sleep. Current research shows that magnesium can help the body relax to help improve disruption and even insomnia.
5. Be cautious with alcohol intake: Alcohol is dehydrating and can affect many people more significantly at altitude. Alcohol intake can also disrupt sleep patterns. Your safest option is to wait about 48 hours before you consume alcohol at altitude.
6. Boost your nutrient intake: Foods such as bananas, avocados, spinach, greek yogurt and kale are all high in potassium which can help mitigate some of the effects of altitude.
Pro tip: Another favorite way to support your nutrition— and help with hydration levels—is consuming bone broth. There are a couple great restaurants in town that offer this tasty treat as well!
7. Keep an eye on your calorie intake in general: Your body has to work extra hard to keep you functioning with less oxygen available. Therefore, your body requires more fuel. A nutrient-dense diet combining complex carbohydrates, plant and animal proteins and healthy fats can help keep you full and enable your body to run well at higher elevations.
Pro tip: If you experience appetite reduction, this is a great time to utilize nutrient-packed fluids including bone broths, juices and quality protein shakes. Just check labels and steer clear of sugar levels above 12 grams per serving!
You may have to ditch the keto routine. Instead consume adequate complex carbs, which require less oxygen to metabolize and help you maintain a better ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide, allowing you to use oxygen more efficiently.
8. Recruit quality supplementation as needed: I recommend NEO40 or SuperBeets supplements to support nitric oxide production. Research has found that optimal nitric oxide levels are key to improving high altitude function.
Beets contain iron and vitamin C as well, which can be a good way to help maximize the metabolic benefits of being at altitude.
9. Protect yourself from the sun: Ultraviolet rays are more intense the higher you go in elevation, meaning sunburn can occur more easily. The effect is intensified by the sun reflecting off the snow, so don’t underestimate the power of sun protection.
10. Go lower or seek support if necessary: Don’t wait too long to seek medical attention if your health is struggling as you adapt to altitude. If needed, make arrangements to sleep at a lower elevation; This has been found to help the body adjust more optimally and can allow you to still enjoy a day at the mountain!
Dr. Kaley Burns is a licensed Naturopathic Physician providing a wide range of services for her clients, including: Naturopathic Medicine, IV Nutrient Therapy, Regenerative Injections, Rejuvenation Therapies, Vitamin Shots, and Nutrition Counseling. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey.
Big Sky Resort will host Elevated Wellness events on three consecutive Fridays in July, beginning with two cycling classes led by Bozeman-based Zephyr Cycling Studio on Friday, July 12. PHOTO BY LEO CORALES/BIG SKY RESORT
BY MIRIAM SCHMIDT GUEST COLUMNIST
A few months ago, I was asked to help facilitate a circle for grieving the death and celebrating the life of a person who helped teach Holistic Emotional First Aid tools to many who are currently part of Be Well Big Sky’s Navigator Network. “Shakti” Shannon had come to Big Sky to facilitate an intensive weekendlong HEFA training in the fall of 2022 and again in 2023, but by March of 2024 she had suddenly died, incurable disease having assaulted her body.
Some members of our community had known her for years. Others had simply met her for a weekend workshop. Yet she was a force of a human—an organizer, teacher, activist, and healer—and her death was felt profoundly. So we gathered with candles and objects that reminded us of her. We gathered to sing and make art and share memories. We gathered to remember and to grieve.
This gathering—along with other memorials, funerals, scatterings of ashes, and celebrations of life that I have helped facilitate over my 16 years as an ordained pastor, chaplain and spiritual leader—was one communal response to loss and grief.
If I’ve learned anything over my years of listening to people’s stories, it’s that you don’t have to look far for suffering. Every single one of us faces loss throughout life—we lose beloved family and friends, but also homes, jobs, physical abilities, health, pets, financial security and fertility. Every single one of us at some point is hit with
grief—that acute and sometimes long-term pain following a loss that affects our mental health. What many of us don’t know is how to actively move toward healing, how to intentionally grieve in the face of grief.
Perhaps the first step—as is the case with many things— is awareness. People are walking around all the time weighed down by grief but without being able to name their experience. No wonder. The emotions of grief are complicated, including not just sadness, but regret, guilt, apathy, rage and even relief. These emotions can manifest in our bodies—as nausea, headaches, upset stomach or insomnia—and in our behaviors—including difficulty with focus or decision making, and confusion. Kubler Ross’s classic 1969 book, The Five Stages of Grief, states that denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are often part of the grieving process, but these stages are rarely linear. To complicate things even more, grief can be anticipatory, before the loss has actually happened; delayed, surfacing months or years after a loss; cumulative, the combination of multiple losses; or collective, loss shared by a community or even a nation.
But once you recognize that a recent death, life-changing accident, miscarriage or pandemic has caused you grief, you can start the work of grieving. Not that there is one right way. But be warned: Grieving, as my godmother Elaine Ramshaw says, is like a 20-hour-per-week job, requiring more energy than you can imagine. Grieving, for you, may involve doing less than you usually do, so that you have more time to feel what your body and spirit need to feel. Grieving, for you, may look like making space for more quiet, meditation, prayer, long walks, weeping or letting yourself yell your heart out in the wilderness. Grieving, for you, may require intentionally reaching out to connect with specific friends or family members; finding a counselor or grief therapist; joining a grief support group—learn more about the current grief group
opportunity in Big Sky through Wellness in Actions; making time for a spiritual retreat; decreasing your alcohol or drug intake; and learning to be more gentle with yourself. Again, there is no one right way to grieve. But suppressing and ignoring the reality of grief is generally not the best way forward toward hope and healing.
Of course, communal, spiritual rituals around death are yet another way we grieve. When members of the Big Sky community gathered to grieve and celebrate “Shakti” Shannon, we were able to honor each others’ emotions and witness to Shannon’s powerful memory. Grief rituals abound throughout time and space: Some communities wash and lay out the bodies of their dead in their homes; some families make a pilgrimage to significant places and spread ashes of their loved one in each spot; some pray an ancient prayer every day for eleven months.
In public memorial services or celebrations of life, we try to speak the truth about our love for the one who has been lost, and acknowledge the pain that comes from loving and losing. In such rituals, we grope together for healing, sometimes looking to God or a higher power to help us on the hard and holy journey that is grief. The ancient Psalm 30:5 reads, “weeping spends the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Grief may keep us weeping in the night, but as we actively grieve—with the help of our communities and through ancient and modern practices— we hope for a day that dawns with joy.
The Rev. Miriam Schmidt has served since 2016 as the Pastor/Priest at All Saints in Big Sky, a shared ministry of the Episcopal and Lutheran (ELCA) churches at Big Sky Chapel. She is also a Navigator with Be Well Big Sky and a member of the Spiritual Health Team at Bozeman Health and the Big Sky Medical Center. She loves Nordic skiing, backpacking, reading, and sharing meals with family and friends.
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VIPER'S LAST DANCE
The taming of bulls has ancient roots dating as far back as Minoan culture around 3100 B.C. During the 18th century, Mexican bullfights consisted of traditional native games including roping, saddling, and riding a bull like a horse until it stopped bucking. By the mid-19th century, charrería competition, equestrian, ranching and bullfighting skills were popular on Texas and California ranches. Professional Bull Riders (PBR) was formed in 1993 and has become one of the fastest-growing and largest spectator sports in the country.
PBR features incredible human and animal athletes. Entering our 13th year, we are honored to announce that Big Sky PBR was awarded Event of the Year for the 10th time this past May. Standing in the center of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, members of Outlaw and the Freestone Productions team proudly accepted this award on behalf of the Big Sky Community. We are grateful to have the CEO of PBR, Sean Gleason, and members of his executive team joining us at this year’s event. Thank you for your support.
Big Sky PBR has and continues to take a village to produce, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank the teams that produce this event, the sponsors who help underwrite, and the incredible fans who make this event so special.
Let’s tip our collective hats to the cowboyswelcome to Big Sky and thank you for coming! To our talented stock contractors, Chad Berger and Cord and Sara McCoy, thank you for bringing some of the best animal talent on the planet to our event. To the Outlaw and Freestone teams led by Ennion Williams, Sophie Gotwald, and Andy and Jacey Watson, you are the best and I am grateful for you. To Jim Murphy, Bill Simkins, Sam Byrne and Loren Bough, the group who sat in the first
meeting 15 years ago and helped us launch this event, thank you for taking a bet on this. Megan Paulson, a loyal Outlaw, has worked and led teams at every event and been a critical part of our success. Big Sky PBR is grateful for you. To Lone Mountain Land Company, who continues to extend use of the land in Town Center for this amazing event. Lastly, to our phenomenal fans— thank you for the support and patronage through the years!
Big Sky PBR now generates tens of millions of dollars in financial impact for the town and brings thousands of fans together for fun nights under the Big Sky. In addition, millions of dollars have been raised for charities. This charitable giving will continue as long as the event lives on. I hope that future generations, including my young son Haydon, will get to enjoy the community camaraderie of Big Sky PBR for many years.
TEN YEARS ON TOP
Let me close with a special thanks and gratitude to our bull Viper who will have his last buck this weekend. Viper has been part of the Big Sky PBR event for years and is owned by a collection of Big Sky residents and the McCoy’s. Viper has been known for some theatrical bucks, including a famed outing in Madison Square Garden, been called the Michael Jordan of bulls, and was the top-rated bull of Big Sky PBR many times. We all hope that Viper enjoys his much-deserved retirement on the open spaces of the McCoy ranch in Oklahoma.
Enjoy the Greatest Show under the Big Sky!
Eric Ladd
BIG SKY PBR’S UNPRECEDENTED RUN AS EVENT OF THE YEAR
For 13 years this summer, Outlaw Partners has co-produced Big Sky PBR and Big Sky’s Biggest Week with plans that all events will be bigger than ever to celebrate their 10th time Event of the Year win. What began as a way to bing activity to Town Center in the summer season, is now a community tradition.
“We’re proud to have supported the PBR since its inception in Big Sky,” said Sam Byrne, Managing Partner at CrossHarbor Capital Partners and Lone Mountain Land Company. “Over the years, we have witnessed its growth and transformation, as it continues to be a keystone summer event in our community.”
On May 18, at the PBR World Finals in Arlington, Texas, Outlaw Partners was presented the 10x award, joined by longtime PBR entertainer Flint Rasmussen and stock contractor Cord McCoy, putting Big Sky on the map once again amongst die-hard fans of professional bull riding and worldclass western sports.
“Big Sky PBR is my favorite event,” said PBR stock contractor and former “Amazing Race” contestant, Cord McCoy. “I have been around the globe 3 times on the Amazing Race, rode bulls in 5
different countries, and Big Sky PBR is the best of both worlds.”
The Big Sky PBR event was voted the Event of the Year by PBR bull riders for nine consecutive years from 2013 to 2022. PBR CEO and Commissioner Sean Gleason presented the event team with their tenth award in closing out the 2024 PBR World Finals.
“Drawing tens of thousands of attendees and creating significant economic impact to Southwest Montana, Big Sky PBR is one of our hallmark events each season,” Gleason said. “Our hardworking team and the world’s best bull riders, who love competing in Big Sky each year, put on a great show filled with top-tier action in a breathtaking setting.”
While fans and riders are what make PBR one of the most exciting sporting events to experience, the incredible setting, intimacy of the arena, and superiority of the bulls that compete in Big Sky are what has made the event the best in the world for ten years in a row.
“The consistent recognition of Big Sky as the top PBR event for a decade speaks volumes about the community’s ability to host remarkable world-class events, all while preserving our small-town charm and highlighting the area’s natural beauty,” Byrne said.
Along with receiving the 10x award, Big Sky PBR also raises funds annually for many local and national non-profits during several events throughout Big Sky’s Biggest Week. Learn more about this year’s beneficiaries on page_____.
Outlaw Partners CEO & PBR fan
Big Sky PBR won Event of the Year for its tenth year at World Finals this past spring. Photo courtesy of Eric Ladd.
PHOTO BY OUTLAW PARTNERS
BIG SK Y ’ S B I G G E S T WEEK
COMMUNITY EVENTS PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDING
FRIDAY, JULY 12
BIG SKY COMMUNITY RODEO
7:30 PM - Big Sky Events Arena
10x Event of the Year Celebration Street Dance with Tony Marques Band
9:30 PM - Len Hill Park
TUESDAY, JULY 16
FREE COMMUNITY DAY & Mutton Bustin’ 2:00 PM - Big Sky Events Arena
DICK ALLGOOD
COMMUNITY BINGO NIGHT
6:00 PM - Big Sky Events Arena
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
BIG SKY PBR GOLF TOURNAMENT
9:00 AM - Big Sky Resort Golf Course
THURSDAY, JULY 18
BULL RIDING NIGHT 1
6:00 PM - Big Sky Events Arena
MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS CONCERT
8:00 PM - Featuring The Wood Brothers Len Hill Park
FRIDAY, JULY 19
BULL RIDING NIGHT 2
7:00 PM - Big Sky Events Arena
PBR AFTER PARTY 9:15 PM - Featuring Corb Lund
Purpose Built Big Sky Events Arena Stage
SATURDAY, JULY 20
BULL RIDING NIGHT 3
7:00 PM - Big Sky Events Arena
PBR AFTER PARTY 9:15 PM - Featuring Jason Boland & The Stragglers
Purpose Built Big Sky Events Arena Stage
Friday, July 19th and Saturday, July 20th
FRIDAY JULY 19 & SATURDAY JULY 20 THURSDAY JULY 18
PBR Arena / Will Call
450 Aspen Leaf Drive
Big Sky, MT
Outlaw Partners / Hey Bear
Event Producer & Partner Brand
11 Lone Peak Drive Unit 104
Big Sky, MT
Big Sky Natural Health
Partner Brand
87 Lone Peak Drive | Big Sky, MT
LPC | Partner Brand
115 Aspen Leaf Drive Unit 1D Big Sky, MT
The Java Joint by LPC Partner Brand
245 Town Center Avenue #1B Big Sky, MT
GRAB YOUR PBR MERCHANDISE
Tops
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT TIME DOES THE EVENT START?
Thursday, July 18: Gates open at 4:30 p.m., Calcutta starts at 5:30 p.m., PBR starts at 6 p.m.
Friday, July 19: Gates open at 5:30 p.m., Calcutta starts at 6:30 p.m., PBR starts at 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 20: Gates open at 5:30 p.m., Calcutta starts at 6:30 p.m., PBR starts at 7 p.m.
CAN I BRING IN MY OWN FOOD AND DRINK?
No outside food and drink is allowed at the event. However, we do encourage attendees to bring an empty reusable water bottle that can be filled at the multiple water-filling stations throughout the arena.
WHERE DO I PARK?
Limited free parking is available in Big Sky near the arena. The closest lot adjacent to the arena is reserved. We recommend walking from Town Center or carpooling.
WILL THERE BE AN ATM ON SITE?
Yes, there will be two ATMs available on site.
WHERE AND WHEN DO I PICK UP MY TICKETS?
Will Call will be open Monday - Wednesday, July 15-17 at the Outlaw Partners Office located at 11 Lone Peak Drive Unit 104 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, July 18-20, Will Call will move to the trailer at the Big Sky Events Arena and open at 11 a.m.
We strongly encourage picking up your tickets (wristbands or lanyards) before the event to avoid lines.
WHAT DO I NEED TO PICK UP MY TICKETS?
Please bring your ID and your ticket confirmation email to pick up your tickets.
DO I NEED A TICKET FOR THE MUSIC AFTERPARTY?
Your purchase of a ticket to the PBR includes music-only ticket access on Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20 to see Corb Lund and Jason Boland & the Stragglers respectively on stage inside the Big Sky Events Arena. The concerts will start promptly after the PBR ends. You must either have a music-only ticket or a PBR ticket to attend.
Thursday, July 18 afterparty music with The Wood Brothers at 8 p.m. is free and open to the public in Len Hill Park as part of the Arts Council of Big Sky’s Music in the Mountains event; You do not need a ticket to attend.
WHAT ARE THE CALCUTTA DETAILS?
Calcutta winner(s) are based on individual longgo rider score, not cumulative team score. The 45 riders are split into nine teams of five with each team auctioned off to the highest bidder. 50% of proceeds will be pooled into a ‘pot’ and split, with the other 50% going to charity. 1st place will receive 60%, 2nd place will receive 30% and 3rd place will receive 10%.
The charities for each night include:
Thursday, July 18: Big Sky Community Organization
Friday, July 19: MSU Athletics and MSU Rodeo
Saturday, July 20: Big Sky Bravery and Warriors & Quiet Waters
MY KID IS IN MUTTON BUSTIN. WHERE DO WE GO AND WHEN?
Mutton bustin’ will take place during intermission each night of the PBR. When announced over the speaker, one adult and the child should come down behind the bucking chutes to get set up. The child will be provided with a helmet and protective vest and then lined up in order to ride their sheep.
CAN I BRING MY DOG TO THE PBR?
No, please leave your furry friends at home. Service Dogs require strict pre-approval 72 hours in advance of the event.
Email events@theoutlawpartners.com.
WILL THE BIG SKY PBR BE RECORDED, PHOTOGRAPHED, AND/OR LIVESTREAMED, VIDEO, OR TV?
By purchasing a ticket and attending the event you and all individuals in your party acknowledge Big Sky PBR is a public event and you grant permission to the Event Organizer(s), partners, licensees and assigns, including but not limited to our brand and media partners, to utilize your image, likeness, acts, poses, and appearance at the event in any live or recorded video or photographic display for any purpose in any medium, without further authorization form, or compensation to, you or anyone acting on your behalf.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Big Sky, Montana is at an elevation of approximately 7000 feet, and has mountain weather patterns which range from chilly nights to warm days. Expect nighttime temperatures in the 30s-50s and daytime temps in the 50s-70s. Dressing in layers is a good idea, and a jacket and/or rain jacket is recommended. The PBR venue is outdoor in a sagebrush field with a mix of dirt, rocks, grass and other natural elements, so supportive, closed toed shoes are recommended.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO ARRIVE?
The best time to arrive for PBR is early! Parking will fill up quickly and lines may start to form.
DOES THE VENUE OFFER ADA ACCOMMODATIONS?
Yes, please contact us at events@ theoutlawpartners.com prior to the event to request assistance.
CAN I CAMP OR PARK MY RV ON SITE?
No, camping and RV parking are not allowed on or near the venue. There are limited first-come, first-served Forest Service campgrounds near Big Sky including Red Cliff, Greek Creek, Moose Creek and Swan Creek. Dispersed camping may be available in other public land adjacent to Big Sky. We recommend booking a campsite through the US Forest Service website.
OUTLAW'S PARTNER BRANDS
REGENMARKET
Inspired by the agriculture that is at the heart of the West, RegenMarket is an online, membership-based marketplace that connects consumers with Montana producers who grow food with the planet’s future in mind. All products are produced using regenerative agriculture practices, which forms the base of the food chain for humans and land animals, ensuring the highest-level quality nutrients in your food. Start your 30-Day Free Trial Membership today and receive 20% off your first order!
Sign up today, or learn more at regenmarket.com.
BIG SKY NATURAL HEALTH
Big Sky Natural Health embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey. Dr. Kaley Burns has advanced training application of regenerative and intravenous injection therapy and knows how important it is that you get back out and conquer your favorite activities with a strong mind and body this summer.
Stop by to learn more about her offerings at 87 Lone Peak Dr or online at bigskynaturalhealthmt.com.
LMNT
Drink LMNT is here to change how you hydrate. Utilizing a delicious salty mix devoid of sugars, gluten and other filler ingredients often found in electrolyte drinks, LMNT is also vegan and paleo and keto-friendly, working with most diets, and is tried and true amongst endurance athletes.
Try some at the arena—LNMT will be available at a variety of hydration stations throughout the event, or order today at drinklnmt.com.
LONE PEAK CANNABIS CO.
Lone Peak Cannabis Co. is your local expert on cannabis products. They specialize in organic, top-tier medicinal and recreational cannabis products guaranteed to fulfill your needs and elevate your experience here in high country. With multiple locations from Big Sky, Bozeman, West Yellowstone and Ennis, online ordering and a handy LPClub loyalty program, you can stay up-to-date with new arrivals and special offers.
Stop by LPC’s Big Sky shop located at 115 Aspen Leaf Dr Unit 1D, the Java Joint by LPC location at 245 Town Center Ave #1B, or visit them online at lonepeakcannabiscompany.com.
406 AGAVE PREMIUM TEQUILA
406 Agave believes in a drink that pairs well with the Montana outdoor lifestyle.
Try their new Anejo, or tried and true favorites, Blanco and Reposado.
Learn more about their story and how you can get tequila shipped straight to your door at 406agave.com.
BIG SKY’S BIGGEST WEEK GIVES BACK
Big Sky’s Biggest Week, Big Sky PBR, and Outlaw Partners are proud to partner with area nonprofits to highlight their hard work in the community and give back. Since the event’s inception in 2011, we have raised over $3
Wellness in Action
When to support: 4th Annual Dick Allgood Community BINGO Night
Wellness In Action was founded by nine women in the Big Sky community who wanted to address the concerns of children and families missing out on opportunities for quality education and health and human services. Some of these services include sliding scale counseling, wellbeing opportunities such as camp scholarships so that people may participate in educational, recreational, and cultural events and a community health worker program. Visit bigskywia.org to learn more.
Western Sports Foundation
When to support: Big Sky PBR Golf Tournament
Western Sports Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the overall success of western sports athletes by advancing their health and well-being by providing medical, life counseling and financial resources to meet immediate needs and prepare athletes for life beyond competition. Visit westernsportsfoundation.org to learn more.
Big Sky Community Organization
When to support: Thursday night’s PBR Calcutta
Big Sky Community Organization (BSCO) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating yearround recreational programs, outdoor spaces, and community partnerships that serve all of Big Sky — enhancing access and quality of life for everyone that lives, works, and plays here.
BSCO has a 20-plus-year track record of successful programs, initiatives, and stewardship. As a community organization, they act as a catalyst for individuals and community partners to get involved and help shape the present and future of Big Sky.
Big Sky Rotary
When to support:Thursday night’s PBR at the 50/50 raffle
Rotary is an international membership service organization made up of more than 1.2 million people who share a passion for, and commitment to, enhancing communities and improving lives across the world. The Big Sky Club is active in community and international endeavors. Some of their recent projects include a playground in Town Center, hosting and sending exchange students for a high school year, solar-powered emergency call boxes along Highway 191, and the Giving Tree for families in need during the winter holidays.
MSU Athletics & MSU Rodeo
When to support: Friday night’s PBR calcutta at Blue and Gold night
Montana State University Athletics encompasses all hardworking MSU athletes including the exceptional MSU rodeo team. Bobcat Rodeo is one of the most storied programs in the history of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. In addition to almost 30 years of hosting the College National Finals Rodeo, MSU Rodeo teams have claimed 9 national team titles, 34 individual national championships, and a multitude of Big Sky Regional
million dollars for charity. Learn about the organizations we’re working with this year to help to raise funds.
crowns. Help us in supporting these athletes during Blue and Gold night at Big Sky PBR! Visit montana.edu/rodeo to learn more.
Big Sky SNO
When to support: Friday night’s PBR at the 50/50 raffle
Big Sky SNO works on identifying sustainability issues in several key components of every day life in Big Sky, looking for solutions to both big and small challenges that we face as a dynamic growing community.
Their team explores solutions for everything ranging from waste reduction and recycling, to community education, carbon emissions, environmental resource protections, transportation, energy consumption, tourism and more. Their goal is to engage the community, to identify ways that both residents and visitors can contribute to a more sustainable community, to identify resources and implement tactics that will help us all achieve a more mindful path to moving Big Sky forward.
Big Sky Search and Rescue
When to support: Saturday night’s PBR during the 50/50 raffle
Big Sky Search and Rescue began serving the community in 1994 and has helped countless adventurers that find themselves in trouble in the backcountry. The all-volunteer Big Sky team is made up of people that can assist in a variety of activities including horseback riding, biking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. Visit bssar.org to learn more.
Big Sky Bravery
When to support: Saturday night’s PBR Calcutta
Big Sky Bravery is a nonprofit that supports active duty Special Operations Forces. Big Sky Bravery was founded in 2015 to provide weeklong programs (Task Forces) in Montana’s restorative surroundings. These Task Forces are an allexpense paid, world-class experience that grants these individuals the rare opportunity to decompress, rediscover what was lost on the battlefield, and experience the hope and freedom they are all fighting for. Visit bigskybravery.org to learn more.
Warriors & Quiet Waters
When to support: Saturday night’s PBR Calcutta
Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation (WQW) believes in the power of nature to heal and transform the lives of post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones. WQW’s story began in 2007 with the Solo Fishing Experience – a week-long fly-fishing experience in Southwest Montana – to help veterans cope with the physical, psychological, and moral trauma of combat. WQW’s programming was designed to provide respite, healing, and a safe space for veterans to connect and find belonging with veterans and the volunteers who cared deeply about them.
Over the many years since 2007, the Solo Fishing Experience has done what it was designed to do – help nearly one thousand veterans find healing and hope through fly fishing. It also sparked multiple other veteran programs based on fishing to include a couple’s program, family program, ice-fishing program, and backcountry fly-fishing program. Visit warriorsandquietwaters.org to learn more.
MEET THE PBR OUTLAW BULLS
SHERIFF
Sheriff, a world champion in his class, makes his PBR debut this year. Stock Contractor Cord McCoy has focused all year on preparing him for Big Sky PBR. Sheriff starts his career here from Louisiana, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the roster.
VIPER
One of the rankest bulls in the world, Viper is back to challenge riders and give them the opportunity for a ride of a lifetime at the Big Sky PBR this summer. Although Cord McCoy says Viper will retire this year and become a breeding bull, we’re confident his pedigree will live on.
CHOC TEASE
Choc Tease, owned by BuzzBallz, is a veteran on Cord McCoy’s bull roster. He knows there’s a job to be done and executes with perfection. Choc Tease split the Bounty Bull with the highest score at the Big Sky PBR last year, and he’s ready to bring the heat again this summer.
OUTLAW
Outlaw has consistently lived up to his name, continuously bucking off cowboys and getting the job done. He is sure to bring the crowd to their feet at the Big Sky PBR and has goals to make it to the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas this coming December.
RIDIN’ SOLO
Ridin’ Solo, the defender of the PBR Yeti World Champion Bull title for the second year running, is a bull born to buck. He’s known for his intelligence, particularly in listening for the latch; any sound from it signals him to go. As of June 1, Ridin’ Solo holds the top spot worldwide with an impressive average score of 44.4.
PEYTON’S DADDY
Peyton’s Daddy started as an okay bull, but “when this bull went to his first pro event, it was like he knew exactly what he was bucking for,” McCoy said. Peyton’s Daddy has attended several major events this year, with his team enthusiastically sharing his story and what he represents. Every time his story is told, he exceeds expectations and gains numerous fans wherever he goes.
RIDIN’ SALTY
Ridin’ Salty has been traveling across the country gaining experience and bucking hard. According to McCoy, he is a “Top Pick Pro Player,” weighing in at roughly 1,400 pounds. Ridin’ Salty is motivated by his fans and does his best with a rowdy, cheering crowd – His rides in Big Sky will not disappoint.
CLIFF HANGER
Cliff Hanger effortlessly continues to buck off top bull riders. As the highest scoring bull at the Big Sky PBR in 2022, he returns this year to defend his title. One of the largest bulls you’ll see this weekend, Cliff Hanger is definitely one to watch!
MIDNIGHT ROCK
Midnight Rock has remained unridden for the past two years, consistently bucking off top bull riders before the clock strikes 8 seconds. As a former World Champion, he remains in his prime and is definitely one to watch at the Big Sky PBR.
CLIFF
Cliff is the offspring of one of the rankest bulls in the world, Viper. Cliff has been to a handful of minor league pro events, but PBR in Big Sky will be the biggest days of his career thus far.
CHILI MANGO
Chili Mango, owned by BuzzBallz, is a spirited young bull, tipping the scales at 1,200 pounds. Renowned for his incredible speed and unique habit of spinning to the right, he is a standout contender. Chili Mango is set to make his professional debut in Big Sky.
THE LIFE OF BUCKING BULLS
BY DOUG HARE STAFF WRITER
This article was originally published in the summer 2019 issue of Mountain Outlaw.
Some bulls are bred to buck, that is, to drop, kick and spin in an erratic manner that makes it hard as hell to ride them for eight seconds. The cowboys who attempt to ride them are still being bred the old-fashioned way.
North Dakota-native Chad Berger would know. After a storied rodeo career, Berger says he “found his passion” raising bucking bulls and has since gone on to become the eight-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year. In our conversations over a three-day bull riding event in Billings, Montana last April, Berger is laconic and soft-spoken, but candid about what goes into raising a successful bucking bull.
Former-PBR-athlete-turned-contractor Cord McCoy would know a thing or two as well. While he considers Chad Berger Bucking Bulls to be like the Yankees and his own operation to be more like a farm team, he is already producing bulls like 51 Viper, whose bucking ability as a three-year-old could command a six-figure price if he sold to the highest bidder.
Berger, whose father was a rancher who raised bulls himself, has about 350 crossbred Brahman bulls split between his ranches in Mandan, North Dakota and Henrietta, Oklahoma, where the milder climate makes for easier calving and a better locale to winter his cattle. Between 150 and 200 of them are mature enough to compete in top-tier events nationwide.
Like McCoy, in his younger days Berger competed in every rodeo event there is. When asked about the difference between bull riding and saddle bronc riding, he cracks a wry smile and says he should have concentrated more on saddle bronc riding because he could have had a longer career. “Bronc riding is more about figuring out the timing. Bull riding is different; it’s harder on the body.”
In 1992, 20 bull riders ponied up $1,000 each in order to split from the traditional rodeo circuit and form the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. as a standalone circuit. Ever since then, the most extreme Western sport has been gaining more attention and more fans—both for its cowboys and for its bovine athletes.
Today the most dominant bulls in the PBR have their own fan clubs. At PBR events you can buy stuffed animals, trinkets and tokens of your favorite bull. One of those infamous bulls, nine-year-old Smooth Operator, is one of Berger’s rankest and is a contender to win a World Champion title even in his relatively old age. Most bulls come into their prime bucking conditions during their fourth and fifth years, Smooth Operator being twice that age.
Before the first night of competition, PBR entertainer Flint Rasmussen, unprompted, tells me the bull he most wants to see buck is Smooth Operator. “I think he caught a second wind if you look at his career, and he seems like the older guy now so I’m rooting for him this year.”
The last time Smooth Operator was ridden for the full eight seconds was in 2018 at the Atlantic City Invitational, when former World Champion Cooper Davis rode him for 93.75 points (out of a possible 100) in what Berger considers the greatest ride in PBR history. PBR arena announcer Brandon Bates agrees: “It should have been a 97 point ride. The judges missed that one. That’s what makes [Smooth Operator] so fun to watch; if anyone can figure him out, you might be seeing one of the highest scores ever in our sport.”
Bulls are only getting ranker. With the introduction of enhanced breeding techniques like artificial insemination, egg collection, in vitro fertilization and
using sperm that only produces bull calves, the quality of bucking bulls has increased dramatically in the last 25 years. In 1995, the first year PBR kept records, cowboys finished their rides 46 percent of the time; in the past three years, the qualifying ride rate has hovered around 29 percent.
“If you watch the World Finals Events from the beginning days of PBR, well, I’d say 90 percent of those bulls wouldn’t even be able to make the cut here in the Billings event,” said Berger on an early April morning in the stockyard where his bulls had rested overnight.
Berger seems at ease in the yard. He strolls the corral pointing out his bulls and describing their unique personalities, and then Beaver Creek Beau, son of the legendary Bodacious, jaunts over for a pat on the head like a one-ton golden retriever.
In 2003, PBR and a group of stock contractors acquired a DNA registry formerly known as Rodeo Stock Registry, a database that would become the foundation of American Bucking Bull Inc. In just over a decade, a genetic registry of 20,000 has grown to nearly 200,000 cows and sires.
The semen of champion bucking bulls can sell for thousands of dollars per straw—about one-tenth of a teaspoon—making them valuable even past their competition days. But Berger and most other livestock contractors believe the cow’s DNA, temperament and nurturing methods could be more important than the role of the sire’s genetics, not so much based on hard science but on personal observation.
ABBI also developed stand-alone events in which young bulls, yearlings to 3-year-olds, are judged on their bucking with just a flank strip or 23-pound dummy attached that releases after a few seconds. The combination of the database and events for younger bovine athletes lead to bigger paydays and the explosion of bucking bull breeding programs across the country.
In the old days of bull riding, the biggest payday a bull could hope to earn was $20,000 for being selected World Champion Bucking Bull. Nowadays the bulls, as much athletes today as the riders themselves, can earn up to $500,000 between the ages of 2 and 4, competing at ABBI events—before they even hit their prime and start competing in PBR sanctioned events.
Berger isn’t much a fan of letting his younger bulls buck at these events, preferring to let his bulls mature and develop without too much additional stress, slowly introducing them to the lights, pyrotechnics, and loud music of PBR events that resemble monster truck rallies more so than traditional rodeo.
Even without extensive practice from an early age, Berger can spot the ones with the most potential.“You can tell the ones that are more alert than the others— always keeping their eye on ya’, always wondering what’s going on, them ones that really pay attention to ya’—those are the ones that usually end up being the best bucking bulls,” he said.
Two recurring themes arise when the cowboys most familiar with bull riding try to dispel the myths behind the chute gates. The first one is that mistreated bulls will become mean and that the meanest bulls will be the hardest to ride.
“Everybody knows you can’t take a horse out of a pasture and do something to him that will make him win the Kentucky Derby,” said Rasmussen before heading off to apply his iconic face paint as the world’s most recognizable rodeo clown. “But somehow people seem to think you can take any bull and do something to them that will make them perform at the PBR level.”
Cord McCoy, another storied bull rider who raises bulls on his ranch in Lane, Oklahoma, agrees. “Some of the best bucking bulls have the calmest demeanor,” McCoy said. “It’s not about how agitated they get, it’s really about if they can perform under pressure, just like the cowboys.”
The other misconception comes from the detractors who see riding bulls as form of animal cruelty: “There is no animal that I know that gets treated better than a bucking bull. They get the best diet, best exercise routines, and they get taken to the vet at the first sign something is wrong,” Berger said.
When I ask him about the unexpected death of his prize bull Pearl Harbor, he chokes up a little and clears his throat before explaining how an autopsy revealed a blood clot from a neck injury had gone to his brain, killing him instantly. Seeing the raw emotion from a stoic cowboy, it’s easier to see that the best bucking bull contractors treat their cattle like their own children, not because they are major investments, but because they develop emotional attachments to their overgrown pets.
“If you think the flank strap is wrapped around their testicles, I suggest trying that on yourself, pull it tight, and see how high you can jump,” Berger said with a quick laugh. “You’d be lying on the ground and so would they. It’s just a cotton rope tied tight enough so it won’t fall off, a foreign object on their hindside that gets them to kick a little higher and buck a little harder.”
Will the selective breeding of bulls continue to breed superbulls that are ever-increasingly hard to ride? While that is a possibility, Berger thinks we’ve reached a plateau. “If the bulls got any bigger and stronger, they might just buck themselves right in two.”
Despite the future of these bovine beasts, one thing will remain the same—they will continue to be afforded the reverence and affection that world-class athletes deserve.
Lachlan Richardson gets a re-ride on Cord McCoy/Big Sky Bulls LLC’s Viper during the first round of the Las Vegas PBR 25th Anniversary Unleash the Beast World Finals. PHOTO BY ANDY WATSON
Eight-time PBR Contractor of the Year Chad Berger in his element as he tends to his bulls before the PBR Billings Invitational. PHOTO BY JOSEPH T. O’CONNOR
THE BASICS OF BULL RIDING
SCORING
A rider must stay atop a bull for eight seconds, ride with one hand, and is disqualified if he touches himself or the bull.
Judges award higher marks to riders with good control and body position.
A rider who spurs the bull earns extra points. Half of the rider’s score is based on the bull’s performance and how difficult he is to ride, and the other half is determined by how well he matches the animal’s movement.
The clock begins when the bull’s shoulder or hip crosses the bucking chutes and stops when the rider’s hand comes out of the bull rope or he touches the ground.
Touring Pro Division events have two judges. Each can award up to 50 points for the ride (25 points for the bull and 25 for the rider). The total is added together to make up the score. The total score possible for a bull ride is 100 points. Riders earn points at each event based on their ride scores, their finish in each round, and their overall finish in the event.
If a bull doesn’t perform at the level of others in the competition, judges can award a re-ride, so the cowboy has a fair chance to earn points on a different animal.
THE FLANK STRAP
This is what makes the bull kick. The idea: Rig it just snug enough so it stays on, but loose enough so the bull thinks he can kick it off.
THE BULL ROPE
This is what the rider grips throughout his ride. A metal bell hanging at the bottom of the bull rope is designed to add weight, allowing the rope to fall off the bull as soon as the rider is bucked off or dismounts.
FOUL
If a rider is fouled, it means something happened during the eight-second ride that gave the bull an unfair advantage over the rider. This can include the animal hitting the rider or himself on the bucking chute before the ride, or the flank strap falling off before the ride is over. When a foul occurs, the judges often award a re-ride.
BOUNTY BULL BONUS RIDES
There are $5,000 bonus rides up for grabs both Thursday and Friday nights, presented by Republic Services. The top scoring riders on Thursday and Friday will each be invited back out for a bonus ride. If the cowboys manage to hang on for eight seconds, they’ll each win the $5,000 bounty. If the cowboy falls off on Thursday night, that night’s bounty will carry over to the next night, and the top rider on Friday will have a chance to win $10,000.
HIGH POINT BONUS
The High Point Ride Award (separate from the Bounty Bull) sponsored by Engel & Völkers is a $2,500 bonus given out on Saturday night of the PBR to the rider with the highest individual score from any of the long-go rounds on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights.
LAST COWBOY STANDING
BY TAYLOR OWENS
The Big Sky PBR, which has won the PBR sanctioned Event of the Year Award a record 10 times in a row, will have a new format: a progressive Last Cowboy Standing concept. This year’s event will have $40,000 in added money, as well as several bonuses built in, which will take the total purse to over $100,000.
Each PBR teams organization will have an opportunity to designate two cowboys off their Teams Roster to represent them in Big Sky and earn the team a $20,000 bonus if they win the event as the Last Cowboy Standing.
“Drawing tens of thousands of attendees and creating significant economic impact to Southwest Montana, Big Sky PBR is one of our hallmark events each season,” Sean Gleason, PBR CEO andCommissioner, said. “Our hard-working team and the world’s best bull riders, who love competing in Big Sky each year, put on a great show filled with top-tier action in a breathtaking setting.”
THE FACES OF PBR
Cord McCoy
Cord McCoy is a premiere stock contractor, training bulls on his ranch in Atoka, Oklahoma. He became a champion saddle bronc rider at 16, starred on CBS’s “The Amazing Race” for three seasons with his brother, and graced the TEDxBigSky stage in 2019. He’s competed professionally in the PBR circuit, clinching six trips to the World Finals in Vegas and a spot on Team USA.
McCoy and his wife, Sara, operate McCoy Ranch in Lane, Oklahoma, specializing in raising ranch/performance horses and bucking bulls. With deep roots in the bucking bull business, Cord and Sara are always excited to contribute to the continued growth in the industry and join Big Sky PBR each summer.
Chad Berger
While soft spoken, Chad Berger holds a strong presence in the arena, moving with ease among the animal athletes of the evening–the bucking bulls. The North Dakota-native boasts a storied rodeo career, but found his passion raising bucking bulls, going on
to become the eight-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year. Berger’s father was a rancher who raised bulls himself.
Today, Berger has about 350 crossbred Brahman bulls split between his ranches in Mandan, North Dakota and Henrietta, Oklahoma, where the milder climate makes for easier calving and a better locale to winter his cattle. Between 150 and 200 of them are mature enough to compete in top-tier events nationwide.
Matt West
Matt West is hard to miss at Big Sky PBR. Sitting casually along the chute gates with a microphone often in hand bantering with the other announcers, West has held a passion for rodeo sports for most of his life and built a career around that passion. A well-known personality in the Western sports world, the native Oklahoman first began his career with the PBR in 2007 and quickly made a name for himself within the sport’s Velocity Tour and Touring Pro Division. West’s talent rapidly moved him along to work on the league’s premier tour and the milestone of announcing his first PBR World Finals in Las Vegas in 2010.
Today, West is an integral part of the PBR team including appearing on RidePass, the sport’s 24/7 western sports digital network, and representing
Gleason will introduce the Last Cowboy Standing format to the Big Sky PBR for the first time in 2024.
Last Cowboy Standing features one of the most thrilling competition formats in Western sports, bringing together the world’s elite bull riders in a five-round ride-survive-and advance showdown. The action kicks off with 45 riders in Round 1 on Thursday, with the same fearless 45 riders returning for Round 2 on Friday.
On Saturday, the top 30 riders, based on their combined scores from Thursday and Friday, will battle it out in Round 3. Only the cream of the crop will make it through to Round 4, where the top 10 riders from all three previous rounds will clash in an epic showdown.
The grand finale, Round 5, will feature the top three riders of the weekend. The rider who conquers this final round with the highest score will win the title of Last Cowboy Standing.
Follow your favorite cowboy as they navigate the adrenaline-pumping rounds each day throughout the weekend and then onto Cheyenne Frontier Days.
PBR across international markets. When he’s not at the rodeo, West runs his own gym, Westfit, and a podcast, Matt West Now.
Flint Rasmussen
Over his 30 years in the game Flint Rasmussen, in his familiar Cooper Tires jersey, straw cowboy hat and unmistakable mask, has walked (and danced) on a lot of rodeo dirt. He’s become familiar with arenas coast to coast, many boasting audience capacities of over 20,000. Born in Choteau, Montana, Rasmussen got his start as a sports broadcaster for the University of Montana Western and made his first appearance as a rodeo clown in Superior, Montana, at the age of 19 and has since stood as one of the most recognizable and beloved rodeo entertainers in the U.S.
On July 22, 2023, Rasmussen took his last bow as a rodeo clown at the Big Sky Events Arena on the final night of Big Sky PBR. “Montana is the only place I’ve lived,” he told Explore Big Sky newspaper last summer after his final performance. “Why not end this great ride anywhere else than where it started, in Montana?”
Today, his familiar voice carries on as a sideline reporter for PBR.
MUTTON BUSTIN' A BRIEF HISTORY
This year’s Big Sky PBR mutton bustin’ is presented by Langlas & Associates. Community Day mutton bustin’ is presented by On Site Management.
A sheep. A young cowboy or cowgirl. An arena of screaming fans. That’s mutton bustin’, the fan favorite during Big Sky PBR.
In mutton bustin’, a sheep is held still, either in a small chute or by an adult handler while a child is placed on top in a riding position. Once the child is seated on the sheep, the animal is released and runs into the arena in
an attempt to get the child off. While there are not set rules or national organizations of the sport, the child that hangs on the longest is usually crowned winner of locally celebrated events.
Mutton bustin’ was introduced to the National Western Stock Show by the 1980s when an event was sponsored by Nancy Stockdale Cervi, a former rodeo queen. At that event, children ages five to seven who weighed less than 55 pounds could apply, and ultimately seven contestants were selected to each ride a sheep for six seconds. While immensely
entertaining, some also consider mutton bustin’ as a way to introduce young children to the adult rodeo “rough stock” riding events of bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding.
Big Sky’s Biggest Week hosts Mutton Bustin’, sponsored by On Site Management, on Community Day on July 16th this year. Mutton Bustin’ on all three nights of Big Sky PBR is sponsored by Langlas & Associates. A popular event, it fills up quickly and sends the smaller members of our community into the arena to get a taste of rodeo life.
THE MAN BEHIND THE INFAMOUS BIG SKY PBR POSTERS
Dan Levar is the owner and founder of Sleepy Dan’s Supply Co., a design studio based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dan attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and graduated with a BFA in Illustration in 2011. Since then, he has honed his skills in silk screen print production, handdrawn type, murals and logo design while working with notable brands and companies such as Duluth Coffee Company,
Los Campeones Gym, P’tula, Sweeney Fitness and more. When not working, Dan can often be found backpacking around the globe, gaining inspiration for his next project and adding stamps to his passport.
“This year’s poster design was inspired after attending Big Sky PBR in 2023 and witnessing one of the most spectacular sunsets I’ve ever seen during one of the nights of PBR,” Levar said. “Seeing
the sun lower behind Lone Peak, and the colors that proceeded, inspired not only the direction, but also the color palette. I wanted this year’s poster to be distinctly different from the previous years, with a heavy emphasis placed on the landscape, as well as the bulls that make an event like bull riding possible.”
You can purchase this year’s poster at our merchandise tent all three nights of Big Sky PBR!
MUSIC LINEUP
THE WOOD BROTHERS
| THURSDAY, JULY 18 | 8 P.M.
Len Hill Park
The Wood Brothers have learned to trust their hearts. For the better part of two decades, they’ve cemented their reputation as freethinking songwriters, road warriors, and community builders, creating a catalog
CORB LUND | FRIDAY, JULY 19 | 9:15 P.M.
JASON BOLAND
Purpose-Built Big Sky Events
Arena
Stage
Corb Lund is an alt-country singersongwriter from Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a ranching and rodeo family in the foothills
of diverse music and a loyal audience who’ve grown alongside them through the years.
That evolution continues with Heart is the Hero, the band’s eighth studio album. Recorded analog to 16-track tape, this latest effort finds its three creators embracing the
of Southern Alberta, then spent the early years of his career writing songs and playing bass for the indie rock band called The Smalls.
Lund’s music reflects his Western heritage and rock and roll roots. His distinct blend of Americana-meets-roots-meets-alt-country
chemistry of their acclaimed live shows by capturing their performances in real-time direct from the studio floor with nary a computer in sight. An acoustic-driven album that electrifies, Heart is the Hero is stocked with songs that target not only the heart, but the head and hips, too.
has attracted accolades from critics in Canada and the U.S., who have called him “one of the best contemporary country songwriters” (Popmatters) and one of the “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” (Rolling Stone Country).
& THE STRAGGLERS | SATURDAY, JULY 20 | 9:15 P.M.
Purpose-Built Big Sky Events
Arena
Stage
For the past 20 years, Jason Boland & the Stragglers have dazzled audiences all over as one of the leading ambassadors of the Oklahoma and Texas music movement. Millions of fans cheering him on, over 500,000 records sold independently and 10 albums later, Boland is a career musician
whose legacy continues to grow. From his early days touring in cramped vans and playing in front of tiny bar crowds to the packed venues he performs in today, Boland’s uncompromising approach has grown his profile dramatically, especially in the past handful of years. Add to that the legions of musicians who are influenced by Boland, and his impact on the scene is undeniable.
For most of his career, the only thing you could expect from Boland is to do the unexpected. On what’s now his 10th studio album, he not only does that, but he did it in his own organic and authentic way. He’s making the music he wants while continuing to please the people who want to hear where his artistic journey takes him next. With a catalog like his, that’s no easy feat.
Thank you for your support and for creating amazing memories over the last 13 years! Looking forward to many more together in the heart of Big Sky.
