Mario Carr, Kristin Combs, Dan Egan, Robin Fedock, Rachel Hergett, Wendy Keefover, Benjamin Alva Polley, Michael Somerby
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEFS OBITUARY
A series of storms in early November have created the base of Big Sky’s snowpack, and Big Sky Resort already has significantly more snow coverage than last year’s opening day. If the weather keeps up, it will be a strong start to the season for all winter sports in the area. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
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.
OPHIR STUDENTS CAST VOTES
Local elementary school students voted in a mock election this afternoon as part of a study unit focusing on the history and processes of American elections, and discussing democracy and the traits of responsible citizens. Educators spoke with EBS about the importance of involving kids in democracy.
FUNDING CHALLENGES FOR MT 64
TIGER grant construction wrapped up in mid-October, concluding a seven-year, $13.4 million project to make various large-scale improvements to Montana Highway 64 through Big Sky. However, the surface of the road remains in poor shape, and MDT does not see a clear funding solution to address highway maintenance.
SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVES ELECTRIC BUS
In May, the Big Sky School District received a $345,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Bus Rebate Program after its own students advocated for the change in a January 2024 board meeting. A group of four Lone Peak High School seniors spurred the change through their presentation to the board about the environmental benefits plus long term savings of electric school buses.
COMMUNITY POND NAMED ‘HUNTLEY-KERN’
Across Little Coyote Road from the Big Sky Community Park, a pond under renovation will be named “Huntley-Kern Pond” after Big Sky visionary Chet Huntley and his surviving Big Sky lineage, Huntley’s niece Kristin Kern and her late husband Frank Kern.
HUNGRY MOOSE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS
On Halloween in 1994, the first official purchase was made at the Hungry Moose. In the 30 years since, “the Moose” has changed locations, changed hands and evolved to meet Big Sky’s needs, but it remains an iconic local business serving the community.
MAN CHARGED WITH MOOSE CREEK HOMICIDE
In an Oct. 31 press conference, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer named the suspect in the Oct. 10 Moose Creek homicide. The 41-year-old killer confessed to the vicious crime on Oct. 29, and is being held on no bond.
PLUS: GIFT AND GEAR GUIDE
Attention holiday shoppers! Explore Big Sky’s Gift and Gear Guide has a wide variety of local and regional gifts, all curated to fit in with Montana lifestyles. Read firsthand product reviews from our team and try the products out yourself!
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.
Veterans, students and community members gathered at Lone Peak High School for Big Sky’s 15th annual Veterans Day assembly on Monday, Nov. 11. This year, the student council invited more than 40 veterans from Big Sky, West Yellowstone and the Gallatin Valley to attend the ceremony. PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
NEWS IN BRIEF BRIEFS
EARLY OPENING BEGINS 90TH SKI SEASON FOR LOOKOUT PASS
BY JACK REANEY
Although Lookout Pass Ski Area clings to the Idaho side of the border, Montana skiers took note when the hill, about 100 miles west of Missoula, announced an early opening last week.
The mountain opened on Friday, Nov. 8—more than a month earlier than last year’s Dec. 12 opening—with five groomed trails in addition to some off-piste powder, according to marketing director Matt Sawyer.
“We had fresh snow, we had enough of it, but more importantly, we had done a lot of work in the fall to allow us to open with less [snow] than what we typically would need in the past,” Sawyer told EBS in a phone call Monday.
In addition to roughly a three-foot base on the summit, the mountain staff used a device that functions like a heavy-duty lawnmower for the outdoors to help cut down brush ahead of the winter season, Sawyer explained. The method allows Lookout Pass to comfortably open with a base depth in the range of 14 to 18 inches, which helped on the lower mountain.
“Boy, there was a really good vibe,” Sawyer said. “People were excited just to get out… It was just an opportunity to see old friends, gather around a place they have a fondness for, and get some early season turns.”
Sawyer hopes the mountain will be open seven days a week by early December. But if the snow keeps coming, that may shift to Thanksgiving week.
BOZEMAN VOTERS REJECT FIRST RESPONDER LEVY, FIRE STATION BOND
Bozeman voters faced two ballot initiatives regarding public safety in Tuesday’s election: a construction bond for a fourth fire station, and a mill levy to fund additional first responders. Both failed.
The fire station bond received 11,552 votes in favor, but was overwhelmed by 15,637 votes against. The first responder mill levy failed by a slightly wider margin, with 16,083 votes against, according to Thursday’s unofficial results from the Gallatin County Elections Office.
“While we are disappointed, we respect and understand the difficult choices people faced as they made this decision,” Interim City Manager Chuck Winn stated in a Nov. 6 press release. “The two questions were big asks, and these are challenging times for many in our community… There was also a strong concern about taxes and the cost of living, and that’s likely a major factor in how this vote turned out.”
Winn added that the City of Bozeman will continue searching for ways to improve public safety without increasing tax burden, noting that “The safety concerns that we shared throughout this process and the need for additional public safety resources aren’t going away.”
Winn thanked police and fire staff for taking time to meet with the community and educate them on the ballot initiatives, and thanked the community for taking the time to learn and vote.
NEW FUND PROMOTES STUDENT WELLBEING, SUICIDE PREVENTION IN BOZEMAN SCHOOLS
EBS STAFF
Montana has one of the nation’s highest rates of suicide and self-harm among adolescents, and local data shows Bozeman’s rate is higher than the Montana average, according to recent research by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
An Oct. 23 press release from the Bozeman Schools Foundation announced the creation of a fund to combat this challenge in Bozeman schools. The Walker J. Nelson Youth Resilience Fund is named after a 2022 Bozeman High School graduate who died of suicide in 2022. The fund seeks to be proactive, and was created using memorial funds donated at the time of Nelson’s passing.
DPHHS research shows that Montana residents aged 11 to 17 have a suicide rate of 17.5 per 100,000, more than triple the national rate for the same age group, per 2022 data. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 15% of Montana high school students had attempted suicide in the 12 months before being surveyed.
“Our family is committed to addressing the current crisis head-on by equipping our young people with the resilience they need to overcome life’s challenges,” Walker’s father, Erik, stated in the release. “We are grateful to all who will join us in this effort. Together, we can provide hope and create a safer, stronger community for our youth.”
Annual Business Registration Is Now Open
REGISTER BY 12/31
Get ready for 2025 and register your business with Big Sky Area Resort District (BSRAD) before the December 31 deadline.
DO I NEED TO REGISTER?
All businesses operating within the District are required to register annually, regardless of whether you collect resort tax. This includes event vendors, accountants, short-term rental owners, private chefs, and more — if you’re conducting business in Big Sky, you must register. And just because you registered in 2024 doesn’t mean you’re set for 2025. You must renew each year to ensure your information remains up to date.
Head to resorttax.org/business-resources to register for the new year. Registration is free.
WHY REGISTER?
In addition to being a legal requirement, registration provides essential data that helps monitor community needs and make informed decisions that shape our future. You play an important part in supporting Big Sky.
OBITUARY
CODY DIBLE
Cody Dible, 31, of Big Sky, Montana, formerly of Michigan, passed away unexpectedly in an automobile accident on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
Born on Dec. 7, 1992 in Lansing, Michigan, Cody is the son of Robin (Jerry) Emineth and Mark Dible. From a young age, Cody was an explorer, learning to snowboard at eight years old, when his snowboard was taller than him. He took that sense of adventure and soared with it, from hiking and backpacking, to skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, snowmobiling, surfing, wakeboarding, you name it; Cody probably loved it and excelled at it. He was a natural talent and was at home in the outdoors. He lived for adventure. One of his favorite things to do was backcountry snowboarding in the fresh, untouched powder of the mountains. Continuing that sense of thrill seeking, Cody morphed his adventurous spirit into a career he loved. He went back to school and became a Certified EMT and loved helping people in his newly found joy of wildland fire fighting as an EMT. It was a job that was perfect for him. In the off season of wildfires, he worked many jobs to fund his adventures, from ski patrol at Big Sky Ski Resort, to bartending at various places. Cody
also had a love for natural hot springs and would slip away whenever and wherever he could to enjoy nature’s hot tub. Cody also loved his family, he had a very special bond with his sister, Meagan, and her children. He loved being an uncle and spending time with the ones he loved. Cody lived a lifetime in his short 31 years, he never wasted a moment, and he will be greatly missed.
Cody is loved and survived by his mom and stepdad; Robin (Jerry) Emineth of Rockford, his dad; Mark Dible of Caledonia, his sister; Meagan (Michael) Vaynerman of Chicago, his nephews; Theo and Toby, his grandparents; Connie Dible, Linda (Bill) Kemper, aunts and uncles; Scott (Kim) Day, Tracy (Jim) Ross, Kim Dible-Glasser, Rick (Tricia) Dible, Joe (Ronda) Dible, along with many other extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his grandpa; Richard Dible, an uncle; Dave Glasser and his cousins; Justin Mark Ellsworth and Crystal Day.
A time to celebrate Cody’s life and accomplishments was held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from at the Riverhouse BBQ & Events, and also in Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Bostwick Lake Inn, Rockford.
For those who wish, memorial contributions in memory of Cody may be directed to eaglemount.org
MICHAEL EDWIN BROWN
MAY 9, 1939 – OCT. 24, 2024
Michael Edwin “Mike” Brown passed away peacefully with family by his side, on Oct. 24, 2024, after a long duration of challenging health issues. Mike was born May 9, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Willis (Bill) Brown and Cassaline (Honey) Stephenson Brown of Edina, Minnesota. He is preceded in death also by his sister Stephanie Brown Porterfield, her husband Christopher Porterfield and niece Tessa Porterfield. Mike is survived by his wife, Sandra of Folsom, California, daughter Michelle Brown Reid and son-inlaw Scott Reid, son Michael Edwin Brown II, granddaughters Madeline and Olivia Reid and nephews Christopher and Kevin Porterfield.
Mike graduated from Edina High School and then attended the University of Minnesota before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, in 1958. He graduated as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, serving with both the Navy and Marines, before his honorable discharge in 1964. Mike was a proud patriot.
After his service, Mike continued his studies graduating from St. Cloud State College in 1965, earning a BA Degree in Business. In 1966, he married Sandra Lepel of Plato, Minnesota. They
moved to the Chicago area, where he worked for “LOOK” Magazine, and they started their family. Mike accepted a new position with Jostens that relocated them to Rockford, Illinois. In 1976, they settled in Roscoe, Illinois, until retirement moved him to Big Sky in 2001.
Mike fell in love with snow-skiing at a young age and shared his love of skiing with family, friends and his two children, teaching them to ski and planning many ski trips across the country. His 20year retirement with Sandy, to Big Sky, Montana, proved to be the “peak” of his life. Mike proudly spent several years as a Big Sky Resort Mountain Host, enjoyed many a day skiing and passing his love of the sport onto his granddaughters, spending time with amazing friends during social and charity events, hunting, fishing, golfing, hiking, rafting, family gatherings and taking in the beautiful mountain and meadow scenery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made in Mike’s honor to either the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the All Saint’s Church in Big Sky, where he was a member.
LOCAL
YOUNGSTERS CAST BALLOTS IN OPHIR ELEMENTARY MOCK ELECTION
STUDENTS ENGAGE IN ‘REMARKABLE’ CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONS DURING
UNIT ON ELECTIONS, DEMOCRACY
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—Voters queued for hours at polling places around Montana on Nov. 5, and possibly none were as rowdy or jubilant as those waiting their turn at the Ophir Elementary School gym.
Big Sky students from kindergarten to fifth grade participated in a 2024 mock election, with the majority of students casting their ballots during 45 hectic minutes on Election Day, just like their parents but with a bit more dancing and shouting.
Fourth- and fifth-graders voted early on Monday so they could volunteer on Tuesday, serving as impartial ballot assistants to help the youngsters read and properly fill out their ballots. Kindergarten
“If we can’t do this with kids, who is going to? We’re the school, we should be able to present the opportunity and do it in an unbiased way.”
- Brittany Shirley, Principal
through second grade students completed shorter ballots showing only the presidential candidates, while the older kids also selected a U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and Montana Governor.
Students then touched a historical artifact, placing completed ballots in a once-official Gallatin County ballot box. It’s a relic from the days when
Ophir School was Big Sky’s local polling place, according to Ophir Principal Brittany Shirley.
Voters were rewarded with an “I voted” sticker, handed out by a pair of helpers who coined a “catch phrase” and proudly repeated it with gusto.
“You want a sticker? You get a sticker,” the boys shouted.
Educators like third grade teacher Suzie Klein have been covering the history and processes of American elections, discussing democracy and the traits of responsible citizens—all part of Ophir’s first “unit of inquiry” of the 2024-25 school year. Klein said Ophir Elementary has done mock elections in the past, but this may have been the first school-wide election.
“Obviously give an unbiased approach, let the kids make their own decisions based on the facts,” Klein explained. “It’s been a ton of fun.”
The goal is for students to understand that their voice is their choice, and that democracy gives everybody a say. They made “baby steps” before Tuesday’s general election, voting on topics like favorite lunch or favorite sport.
But things became serious as Nov. 5 approached. Students would need to vote on decisions with more polarity and weight.
Shirley said there was “some trepidation” from some people about the idea of a school-led mock election, but they forged ahead for one important reason.
Principal Brittany Shirley served as an election administrator, checking voters in. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
Fourth- and fifth-grade Big Sky students helped younger classmates cast their ballots on Election Day. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
“If we can’t do this with kids, who is going to? We’re the school, we should be able to present the opportunity and do it in an unbiased way,” Shirley said.
Furthermore, American kids have been absorbing a lot in the weeks and months leading up to the general election—campaigns and PACs spent $16 billion to influence presidential and congressional races around the country, making 2024 the most expensive election season in history, including more than $255 million in the Montana race between incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and challenger Tim Sheehy.
Klein said kids are hearing a lot of conflicting messages from campaigns through various forms of media. “You really have to sift through things and understand the facts,” she said. “We’ve been really approaching this with a fact-based approach.”
Klein has seen young students engaging in “remarkable” conversations that they may not normally focus on, given their age. Shirley agreed, and said the staff is leaning in, teaching students that they may have different opinions, but they can still have a respectful discussion.
Shirley said many parents have shared that the elections unit has also spurred interesting conversations at home. “I think it’s a neat way to engage our school community, and have that bridge to home, too,” she said.
After collecting dozens of ballots, the teachers calmed the raucous crowd. Shirley spoke to attentive students, thanking them for their vote.
“The really cool thing about the election process and the way we count ballots is, you can tell all of these ballots are going into a voting box, right? A ballot box,” Shirley said. “Did you notice what’s on the top?”
“A lock,” a few kids shouted in response. Shirley emphasized that every student only got to vote once, and that the staff will tally their votes shortly.
“And you can have confidence in the security of the election process, because—and this is the same
for your parents who might be going out to vote today… it’s not connected to the internet,” Shirley said, explaining that nobody can interfere with the results by hacking.
In the hours after the mock election, the nation learned the results from hundreds of races. The victors were broadcast loud, wide and fast across the world. But for the electorate of Ophir Elementary School, they needed to check the bulletin board for the hand-counted tally of their votes.
PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
TIGER GRANT FULLY COMPLETE; MONTANA 64 STILL A BUMPY RIDE
MDT CITES FUNDING CHALLENGES FOR POTHOLES AND CRACKS ALONG THE 10-MILE ROAD
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—The Montana Department of Transportation announced in mid-October the completion of TIGER grant work on Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail). The $13.4 million project is responsible for new turn lanes, improved signage for wildlife and curves, pedestrian bridges and a pedestrian tunnel, a new traffic signal, and other improvements to improve safety and mobility on Big Sky’s main road.
Gallatin County applied on Big Sky’s behalf for federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) funds in 2017 and was awarded $10.3 million in 2018 from the U.S. Department of Transportation. By early 2022, rising construction costs left a $3.1 million funding gap, so MDT committed an additional $2.1 million, and three entities covered the final $1 million: Gallatin and Madison counties, and the Big Sky Resort Area District each pitched in $333,333. The work was finally completed in 2023 and 2024.
However, despite large-scale upgrades to Highway 64, frequent drivers may not feel inclined to celebrate.
Sections of the 10-mile highway are bumpy, cracked and potholed. TIGER projects focused on large-scale layout and design, and added safety features for pedestrians, but the project scope did not include icing on the cake.
Brad Niva, CEO of the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, said many residents are confused why Big Sky—with some of Montana’s most valuable real estate and a massive property tax base—is stuck with its main road in such poor condition.
“As we go into the winter season this year, you see a lot of potholes already forming,” Niva said. “And you know in the coming months, it’s going to get worse… And they’re not going to get fixed the right way, it’s usually just a band-aid that lasts about six weeks.”
Niva drives around with a can of orange spray paint in the back of his truck. When he sees a
bad pothole, he sprays it orange to alert drivers. And then he calls the agency responsible for maintaining the road.
Highway 64 maintenance is MDT’s responsibility, but the relationship is complicated.
Geno Liva is MDT’s Butte district administrator, which includes Big Sky. He said the TIGER grant work has been successful and thanked the community for its patience through two busy summers of construction. He added that MDT is working to improve the stoplight activated in October 2023 at Little Coyote Road—drivers have voiced feedback to MDT about traffic jams during rush hour, worsened by the frequency of red lights.
Beyond the TIGER grant, Liva said MDT has its eye on the highway corridor between Big Sky and Bozeman, a frequent commute for the 75% of Big Sky’s full-time workforce that live outside the resort area district boundary.
“We’re constantly looking for improvements to that corridor to make it better for folks living in the Big Sky area, and traveling that way for work as well,” Liva told EBS.
Liva is aware of the problem with Highway 64’s road surface. “We’re hoping we can get potholes fixed in a timely manner,” he said. “…It is on our list to keep in mind and look for funding opportunities to make improvements to that roadway surface.”
That’s the challenge—MDT does not have regular funding to maintain and improve Highway 64.
Project Engineer Danielle Scharf and local leader Ciara Wolfe cut the ribbon on the TIGER grant On Oct. 9, beside a new pedestrian tunnel under Highway 64. COURTESY OF KRISTINE FIFE
Montana Highway 64 was widely improved by TIGER grant construction, but still faces surface-level challenges. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
“Montana 64 is what we call an ‘x route.’ So, it’s different with how it’s funded,” Liva said. Typically, auxiliary routes or “x routes” are funded through MDT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program or a bridge project. Roads like Highway 64 are excluded from maintenance funds reserved for interstate, national or state highways. Even though MDT is responsible for maintaining auxiliary roads like Highway 64, those roads don’t fall into any category for consistent funding.
“We are looking further at what options we may have in the future, acknowledging the amount of construction that is happening [in Big Sky], and the impact that those trucks may have on the roadway as we move forward,” Liva said.
Highway 64 is eligible for funding through MDT’s statewide maintenance fund, but that fund is already stretched thin. Because it’s a dead-end road that does not provide connectivity, Liva doesn’t believe it’s realistic for Highway 64 to be funded among state highways at this time.
He added that MDT is paying close attention to the 2024 election, which may change the agency’s funding capabilities.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough dollars to take care of every road, and they have to go through a prioritization,” Liva said. MDT evaluates various factors, primarily safety risks, and priority projects involve curves with poor sight distance, and areas with inadequate signage and accident clusters.
Highway 64’s deficiencies may be a nuisance for drivers, but there’s a lot of roads in Montana facing bigger risks. The rising cost of construction makes it hard for MDT to keep up, Liva said, and MDT is forced to optimize its limited budget to improve mobility for the traveling public.
“It’s hard when our needs are outpacing our funding. It’s the reality we live in,” Liva said.
MDT strongly encourages communities across Montana to pursue grant opportunities to bring federal dollars to the table—for example, regional partners recently applied for $22.8 million to help
construct wildlife crossings between Bozeman, Big Sky and West Yellowstone.
Niva understands MDT’s limitations, but he believes MDT should be creative and improve its management of underfunded auxiliary routes. As an unincorporated community with unique government and infrastructure services, Big Sky often finds unconventional ways of funding infrastructure. But MDT tends to follow more of a strict process.
For example, Niva praised MDT for taking an unusual approach to improve the 191/64 intersection. MDT fast-tracked the project when Resort Tax committed to purchase adjacent land.
“We just committed $10 million to make that project happen… I think MDT sees that. That we are making commitments,” Niva said, noting that MDT’s standard procedure could have taken 15 to 20 years.
He added that Big Sky should not always have to write a check to get a project moving.
MDT increasing engagement with Big Sky
Liva is pleased that MDT has built collaborative partnerships with Big Sky leaders in recent years, to help understand Big Sky’s rapid growth and often unusual challenges.
Niva also feels grateful for MDT’s effort. He’s seen the relationship improve greatly in the past three years.
“We are really on [MDT’s] radar, and we really appreciate the partnership,” Niva said. “… They’re trying. We’re not here to throw them under the bus by any means.”
In 2023, MDT heard enough feedback about the importance of Highway 64 to add it to the optimization plan MDT had already launched to improve U.S. Highway 191. Niva now serves on a recreation-focused committee, providing input alongside leaders including Troy Nedved, Big Sky Resort president and COO.
“At least there is an ongoing conversation of the future needs our road is going to provide,” Niva said. “And how are we going to fund it.”
Liva is pleased with the impact of recent projects on Highway 191, identified in the optimization plan. MDT is preparing to redesign the Lava Lake area and add enhanced turnouts and passing lanes in Gallatin Canyon.
For Highway 64, the optimization plan doesn’t unlock new funding, but it allows MDT to narrow down the hundreds of millions of dollars in recommended projects from a 2020 study of the 191 corridor, focusing on the projects with largest impact, “to get the biggest bang out of our buck for funding,” Liva said.
As the optimization plan develops, Big Sky drivers will be curious to see if MDT can also find regular funding for Highway 64. Until then, Big Sky’s main road will continue putting vehicle suspension to the test.
At one of Big Sky’s busiest intersections, Ousel Falls Road and Highway 64, a significant pothole punishes eastbound drivers who fail to swerve left. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
Montana Highway 64 connects Big Sky Resort to U.S. Highway 191. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS TO TRANSPORT BIG SKY STUDENTS THIS YEAR
BY JEN CLANCEY
BIG SKY—As early as December, an electric school bus will be added to the Big Sky School District fleet.
In May, the school district received a $345,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Bus Rebate Program after its own students advocated for the change in a January 2024 board meeting. A group of three Lone Peak High School seniors—Libby Coltea, Frieda Fabozzi and Addy Malinowski—spurred the change through their presentation to the board about the environmental benefits plus long term savings of electric school buses.
Eight school districts in Montana were awarded funding to go electric in the 2024 round: East Helena, Bozeman Elementary and Anderson Elementary, Livingston Elementary, Stanford, Lone Rock Elementary-Stevensville, Alberton and of course, Big Sky.
According to the EPA, electric school buses offer reduced greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air and a quieter environment for passengers, and reduced maintenance costs. And in a state holding the lowest recorded temperature in the contiguous U.S. at -70F, the logistics lend themselves well: electric buses still operate in frigid conditions.
In Havre, about 30 miles from the U.S. northern border with Canada, Allen “Woody” Woodwick with Havre’s Blue Pony School District thinks it’s a no-brainer to include electric buses in school routes.
Havre earned a grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to acquire two electric buses in 2022 at an 85% reduction in cost. The buses began regular routes in January 2023.
“The drivers like them a lot,” Woodwick said on the phone with EBS. “They are exceptionally quiet. You can hear the kids talk about you. There's no oil changes. There's no transmission flushes … They're pretty maintenance-free.”
Woodwick spent 15 years as a bus driver, and in the last five years he’s worked in the shop taking care of the school district’s bus fleet and overseeing the building, maintenance, custodial operations and transportation as an assistant supervisor. Almost two years after transitioning to electric buses, Woodwick reported savings that sliced per-mile costs in half compared to diesel, better mechanic operations like doors opening and closing in subzero temperatures and a perk for drivers: a remote start so that drivers arrive to pre-warmed buses in the mornings and afternoons.
“With the grant funding opportunities right now, that is the perfect way to experiment,” Woodwick said, noting the upfront cost differences between electric and diesel buses, about $375,000 and about $170,000, respectively. Federal funding helps cut down the extra cost of electric buses.
In Big Sky’s case, federal dollars will fund $345,000 of the $375,000 total. The remaining $30,000 will come from the school’s usual bus budget.
The Big Sky students who pushed the initiative, with help from mentors Barbara Rowley and Lizzie Peyton at Big Sky SNO, received assistance in applying to the grant from Harlow’s Bus and Truck Sales, the company which will eventually provide the bus this year.
Peyton said it took a lot of research into the proposal and application to see how an electric bus would work for Big Sky.
“For me, it was all the front side of understanding and learning what the other school districts were doing, making sure it was viable, making sure we were able to debunk the myths … making sure we have a clear understanding of the capacity that the bus has,” Peyton said. She described a trio of cost, environment and health benefits as a “win, win, win.”
Electric buses will require a charging station, which will be located at a transportation facility near the school. In Havre’s case, non-electric buses remain the main mode of transportation in longer trips like
athletic events which require coach buses to other towns in its conference, and electric buses are used primarily in fixed routes for school pick-up and drop-off.
Big Sky School District Superintendent Dustin Shipman said that putting the electric school bus to use will be a learning experience.
School districts approach the funding of bus depreciation differently. As an electric bus paid by federal money packs on miles, the school district will need to decide how to effectively plan for maintenance costs and the eventual replacement as the value of the bus depreciates on a schedule that works for the district, according to Shipman.
Shipman commends the work students put into the proposal.
“This was a grassroots effort by a group of students partnering with Lizzie and Big Sky SNO,” Shipman told EBS. “What always sticks with me about kids and students who really go after something is their passion and their awareness around how to make their community, first of all, and the world a better place.”
For Malinowski, who presented with her peers Coltea and Fabozzi, the experience was exciting.
“Our school takes pride in being at the peak of excellence,” Malinowski said. When she realized that other school districts, even ones Lone Peak battled in sports, were ahead on implementing cleaner buses, she hoped to support a more ecofriendly approach to transportation in Big Sky.
“I think it's really empowering,” Malinowski said. “It just feels good to leave my mark on the school and feel like I made it a better place.”
She hopes the effort will inspire future students to take action on issues important to them. More than 300 miles away, Woodwick is so satisfied with the electric buses that he’s looking at ways to get more for Havre schools in upcoming funding cycles.
Havre Public Schools’ electric bus. PHOTO BY WOODY WOODWICK
FEATURED RESIDENCE 203 3BED, 2BATH | 2,307 SQFT
BESPOKE LIVING IN DOWNTOWN BOZEMAN
Wildlands is located in Bozeman’s vibrant Northeast neighborhood and consists of 12 high-end residences only four blocks from downtown and 10 minutes from Yellowstone International Airport.
With a mix of Scandinavian-modern architecture and industrial elements, the finishes at Wildlands are the highest of quality, including Poliform cabinetry, 11-foot ceilings, wide plank American white oak floors, 8-foot window bays and an outdoor deck. With a private rooftop deck boasting breathtaking views, Wildlands offers an unmatched living experience in Bozeman, MT.
RENOVATED COMMUNITY POND TO BE NAMED IN HONOR OF HUNTLEY, KERN FAMILY
BY JACK REANEY
BIG SKY—Across Little Coyote Road from the Big Sky Community Park, a pond under renovation will be named “Huntley-Kern Pond” after Big Sky visionary Chet Huntley and his surviving Big Sky lineage, Huntley’s niece Kristin Kern and her late husband Frank Kern.
Kristin Kern, who has owned the Hungry Moose Market and Deli since 2019, made a “significant” financial contribution to help the pond’s steward, the Big Sky Owners Association, finish the beautification and public amenity phase of its long-awaited pond renovation. The project will result in environmental benefits and recreational access to the public—primarily fishing, boating and swimming.
Kern was reading a book on conservation and re-wilding, “American Serengeti” by Dan Flores, and she noticed construction happening at the Little Coyote Pond. Once she learned how the project aligned with her new knowledge, she was eager to contribute.
“I thought, this is really so timely,” Kern told EBS. She was also encouraged to see a community project happening on the north side of Montana Highway 64—much of Big Sky’s recent business and amenity developments are located on the south side of the road, in the fast-growing Town Center area. Kern is proud of Big Sky’s Meadow Village community, where the pond is located. She and her friends call it “Old Town” as the historic center of Big Sky.
“Not everything happens at the Wilson Plaza… It’s like, we’re the OG over here,” Kern said. “We have a water feature, and now everybody is going to be able to take advantage of that. And I just love it.”
The pond happens to be where Kern, as a high school student in the late 60s, remembers meeting Arnold Palmer. The golf icon was visiting to design the Big Sky Golf Course with Kristin’s uncle Chet, and Palmer and Huntley rolled up to the pond in a golf cart, Kern recalls.
“That pond has been in my life forever,” Kern said. “And it’s always just sort of been a feature on the golf course. But now it can be shared by everyone… Now it’s just going to be all dressed up.”
She is grateful that this pond will add another recreation feature beside BSCO’s Big Sky Community Park, where her Hungry Moose employees compete as the “Mooseketeers” in the Big Sky Softball League.
“I just think it’s a really exciting project for the community,” said Kristin’s daughter, Hungry Moose co-owner Kelly Kern, adding that she looks forward to summer visits to the Huntley-Kern Pond with friends.
Kristin is working with local entrepreneur Andrew Robin of Peak Creative Designs to design a H-K (“H bar K”) brand for a new sign at the entrance to the recreational facility.
will anchor the Huntley family name. Ossorio sits on the board for
Benefit Big Sky, a nonprofit established to allow BSOA to collect donations for community-oriented projects like the pond renovation. Stacy’s husband, former BSOA board member Eric Ossorio, said Benefit Big Sky is intended to benefit the entire community, not any smaller constituency—projects funded by Benefit Big Sky will be open to all. The Huntley-Kern Pond project is the largest to date, by a wide margin.
“It has taken a while. We’ve had some road blocks, we’ve had some delays. But we’re very excited to get this project completed,” said Suzan Scott, BSOA executive director. “And thus far, we have completed the construction of the pond, we’ve separated the West Fork from the pond… At this point we have the amenities to still complete.”
With $1.6 million already spent on the project— Resort Tax granted $262,000 and Lone Mountain Land Company donated $100,000—BSOA still needs to raise between $200,000 and $300,000 through Benefit Big Sky to finish the amenities, including a parking lot, picnic area, native plant garden, landscaping and a multipurpose boathouse.
Kenny Holtz, a local developer and Benefit Big Sky board member, hopes everyone in Big Sky who plans to use the pond will make a financial contribution at the level they’re able. He thanked the Kerns for taking the lead, and Kristin added that she hopes the community will join in contributing. Donors will be recognized at various nature-themed tiers.
“This is the icing on the cake,” Stacy said. “This is the fun part, this is where you can actually donate to an amenity that will memorialize a legacy of your choice.”
Holtz said the amenities will take cues from other waterfront experiences around Big Sky, like Ulery’s
Lake at Moonlight Basin or Lake Levinsky at Big Sky Resort. BSOA plans to construct a boathouse to allow patrons to rent equipment such as kayaks and paddleboards, while offering a public restroom beside the pond. BSOA also plans to collaborate with Camp Big Sky, to help kids learn to fish.
“A boathouse or pond cabin is going to be a quality asset to go along with the pond to be able to store those things, and maybe grab an ice cream or some worms to fish with,” Holtz said. BSOA plans to complete the building by the middle of summer.
Holtz said the project is a win-win for river health and recreation.
The Gallatin River Task Force helped with planting willows to help filter water flowing downstream. Gallatin County provided $100,000 grants in two consecutive years through its Open Lands Program. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has granted $92,000 through various programs, and Grow Wild has expressed interest in helping plant native species.
Eric Ossorio said this project represents a new era—back in the 1990s, it was “man versus nature” and people used machinery without regard for the environment. Now, it’s being done thoughtfully to benefit the river and create a pond that will survive on its own.
Kristin Kern said her late husband Frank was very involved in Big Sky and would have loved this project. She thinks the pond is going to be the town’s wealth, and the community will share the health it offers.
“That little pond has always been significant,” Kern said. “But it was so underappreciated. And now I just think it’s going to have a whole new life.”
Stacy Ossorio is glad the pond
Kristin Kern (left) and her daughter, Kelly Kern. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
BELL TO BELL: THE HUNGRY MOOSE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS IN BIG SKY
BY FISCHER GENAU
BIG SKY—On Halloween in 1994, a customer purchased a pumpkin at the brand new brick-andmortar location for the Hungry Moose Market and Deli off Montana Highway 64, marking the first official sale of the longstanding grocery. In the 30 years since, “the Moose” has changed locations, changed hands and evolved to meet Big Sky’s needs, but it remains an iconic local business serving the community.
In 1994, Big Sky was in dire need of fresh produce. Not much grew in the high alpine soil, and the nearest fresh fruits and veggies were miles down the canyon in Four Corners. Two of Big Sky’s newest residents, Mark and Jackie Robin, decided to do something about it. The couple, who arrived in 1993 and had their first son Andrew, opened up a farm stand on Wednesdays in the
Westfork Meadows, called it the Big Sky Farmers Market, and became the only vendors selling fresh cucumbers, onions, cherries, and flowers in town.
It was an immediate hit.
“The customers who were year-round residents and loved fresh food just said to us, ‘You’ve got to keep this going,’” Jackie Robin told EBS. “That’s what sparked the idea of the Hungry Moose and that’s when [Mark] and I looked at each other and said, ‘Okay, should we do it?’”
Three decades later, it seems like they made the right choice. In the fall of ‘94, the Robins moved their farmstand into a 700-square-foot building and officially opened for business on Nov. 1—after selling that inaugural pumpkin the day before. The Robins wanted to supply foods that weren’t readily available in Big Sky, and since the Donovan family
already operated the Country Market grocery store, the Hungry Moose stocked its shelves with items they didn’t carry, like all-natural and world foods in addition to fresh produce and flowers. The Moose, like that first farmstand, was an immediate success, and it soon outgrew its 700-square-foot space.
“We filled the store up to the brim,” Jackie said.
Mark and Jackie purchased the second half of the building in 1998 and added a deli, selling sandwiches, smoothies and whatever else they could whip up in their tiny kitchen. The Moose kept growing, and expanded again in 2005 when it moved into its current location on Ousel Falls Road. And once the Moose opened its doors, it rarely closed them.
“It was important that we don’t close and that we don’t shorten our hours,” Jackie said. “My husband was really adamant about that. We didn’t close for anything.”
That often involved working the store from when it opened in the morning until it closed late at night—”bell to bell,” Jackie recalled—especially over the holidays, but Mark and Jackie were totally committed to the business.
“We did put so much of ourselves into it. There was really no going back,” Jackie said.
The Moose stayed open 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days a year, to serve Big Sky’s residents, and the market and deli quickly became a place to gather.
Meet me at the Moose
“The Moose has been a staple in this town forever,” said Kristin Kern, who co-owns the Hungry Moose
PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU
PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU
with her daughter Kelly after she and her husband Frank purchased it from Jackie Robin in 2019.
The Kerns were regulars at the Moose, and Kristin says it was always a place people could catch up on the latest local news, get a wildflower report, or just chat with Mark and Jackie, who always took time during the hustle and bustle of running the store to talk. Mark and Jackie’s eldest son Andrew remembers the Moose in the early days as a kind of town square, with people who had just arrived in Big Sky mingling with locals who lived there full-time. Andrew grew up in the store and started working formal shifts when he was 12 (he worked informally there long before that, and his dad used to tell a story of leaving Andrew at the store to run an errand and coming back to see an eight-yearold Andrew sitting behind the counter, handing a customer change—albeit an incorrect amount—for a purchase).
“My parents would take time to stop and scoop ice cream for local kids,” Andrew said. “The priority was the community. The culture was very positive— we’re here for you, we want to know what you’re doing, how you’ve been.”
That culture at the Moose extended to its employees. Mark and Jackie worked hard to give employees working there, called “Moosers,” benefits like health insurance, vacation pay and 401k, and Jackie would agonize over creating employees’ schedules to give everyone two days off in a row.
“We all tried really hard to give people attractive schedules so they could get a break, so they could ski or hike or bike or whatever their recreation was,” Jackie said. “We also worked with employees that were struggling, if they had substance abuse issues or it was their first time out on their own and they were really not making it. We didn’t just kick them out the door, we tried to really nurture our employees.”
Attracting and retaining employees is difficult in a seasonal town like Big Sky, but the Robins’ attitude towards Moosers kept many coming back. When Ashley Dodd moved to Big Sky in 2005, the very first place she set foot in was the Hungry Moose to buy some groceries, and she started working parttime in the deli soon after. Dodd moved away for a
few years to start a family, and when she returned in 2013, she immediately called Jackie to ask about a job.
“Mark and Jackie, they were really, really wonderful,” Dodd said. “I liked the environment of the Hungry Moose. Even when I worked there part time, they were very encouraging of just my life in general.”
Lindsie Feldner, now the food service manager at the Big Sky School District, worked at the Moose as the head of savory foods while Dodd was the head baker and had a similar experience.
“It was very social and very fun, and Jackie and Mark just ran a true community business,” Feldner said. “They love their employees, and they love them as people, not just employees.”
A lasting legacy
The culture and character that the Robins created has remained intact over the years. After the Kerns purchased the Moose in 2019, Jackie and Andrew Robin stayed on for a six-month transition period to help them learn the business. Mark fell ill with ALS in 2016 and passed away a year later—his life is celebrated each year as part of the Big Sky Soul Shine Festival—and the Kerns wanted to perpetuate the tradition that he and Jackie had established.
“Mark and Jackie and the Robin family did really build such a strong culture,” said Kelly Kern. “We want to make sure that [the Hungry Moose] retains this really special community feel.”
Before buying the business, the Kerns had mostly interacted with the handful of people working in the Hungry Moose storefront, and they were surprised to discover that Jackie had about 70 employees on the payroll. They were also surprised when, on the first day of the transition, the Robins gave the Kerns a handbook three inches thick with advice, protocols, and procedures. But the handoff went smoothly, and Andrew and Jackie both enjoyed working with Frank, Kristin and Kelly.
“They’re just great people, so I just love that I had that moment to be able to work with them, get to
know them, and get to learn from them,” Andrew said. “I think they still are very much supporting the community of people that are just coming to Big Sky for their first time and people that have been here forever.”
Andrew still visits the Moose “pretty much every other day,” and continues to feel a connection to the Moosers working there. Former head chef Lindsie Feldner also remains connected to the Moose.
“I think they still have a really great staff,” Feldner said. “Some of the people that I used to work with are still there, and I think that says a lot for the people that [the Robins] sold it to.”
Frank Kern, who initiated the purchase of the Moose to become more involved in the community, passed away in 2020, but his wife Kristin and daughter Kelly have kept his vision alive. Under the Kerns’ leadership, the Moose remains a community staple for many Big Sky residents, preserving the legacy that the Robins established.
“Hungry Moose Market and Deli has been an integral part of the community building of Big Sky since 1994, and that is what I’m most proud of,” Jackie said. “It wasn’t just groceries and deli food and coffee and breakfast sandwiches and the things you need to nourish yourself.”
The Hungry Moose has been feeding the community with more than just food for 30 years, and the Kerns intend to keep that going long into the future.
“We will grow to continue to meet the needs of Big Sky, and hopefully help continue to shape the culture of Big Sky to keep this a really special place,” Kelly said.
The Hungry Moose now includes two locations, one in Town Center and one at the base of Big Sky Resort that opened in 2013, and it currently employs 62 people, a number that rises to around 70 in the winter and summer months. The Moose still serves Big Sky 365 days a year.
“I think there’s a great future for the Moose,” Kelly said. “It’s such an amazing history, and there’s a really awesome future. We just want to keep nourishing the community.”
Jackie Robin with Frank and Kristin Kern after they purchased the Moose. PHOTO BY MICHAEL SOMERBY
SHERIFF NAMES MOOSE CREEK HOMICIDE SUSPECT IN OCT. 31 PRESS CONFERENCE
BY JEN CLANCEY
BOZEMAN—After three weeks of investigation, Daren Christopher Abbey has been arrested for the murder of 35-year-old Belgrade resident Dustin Kjersem. Abbey confessed to the crime on Oct. 29, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
At an Oct. 31 press conference, GCSO explained that 41-year-old Abbey lives in Basin, Montana and worked in the Big Sky area on occasion in the construction business. On Nov. 1, Abbey was formally charged with one count of deliberate homicide and two counts of tampering with or fabricating evidence in the Gallatin County Justice Court.
“I will no longer refer to him by his name as I don’t want to give him any further notoriety regarding this homicide,” Springer said after announcing Abbey’s name during the press conference.
DNA from a beer can inside Kjersem’s tent led detectives to Abbey after they sent the can, present at the crime scene, to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis. On Oct. 25, the lab informed GCSO of the match, and Abbey was arrested in the Butte area while leaving a local establishment. He was interviewed by detectives and investigators from the Montana Department of Justice on Oct. 29.
“This individual confessed to the murder of Dustin Kjersem,” Springer said.
“By all accounts, this homicide appears to be a chance encounter,” Springer said. “There does not appear to be any connection between our victim and our suspect.”
According to Springer, on Oct. 10, Kjersem set up camp in the Moose Creek area about eight miles north of Big Sky. Kjersem’s plan was to pick up his
girlfriend on the evening of Oct. 11 to spend the weekend with her.
“On Friday night, Dustin did not show up to pick up his girlfriend and she became worried. On Saturday morning, she and her friend drove to the campsite and found Dustin deceased in the tent,” Springer said.
In his confession, Abbey said he was looking for a camping spot on the night of Thursday, Oct. 10 and planned to camp where Kjersem had set up, according to Springer.
“As he approached the site, he realized someone was staying there. He stated Dustin welcomed him to the campsite and offered him a beer,” Springer said.
At some point in the evening, Abbey “struck Dustin Kjersem with a piece of solid wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and ultimately hit him with the axe,” the sheriff said. The Estwing camp axe was noted in a previous release as a missing item from the crime scene.
“This appears to be a heinous crime committed by an individual who had no regard for the life of Dustin Kjersem,” Springer said.
“This individual removed items from the campsite he believed had evidence that could tie him to the crime. He removed the items he had touched to include the cooler, the firearms, and the axe,” Springer explained. Abbey returned to the scene of the crime the next night to remove further items.
“To the other criminals out there, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and its partners will not stand for this type of behavior,” Springer said. “You will not get away with it in our community. If you have some need to commit these types of crimes, let it be known, we will hunt you down. And we will make sure that you never see the light of day again.”
GCSO Captain Nathan Kamerman thanked agencies, volunteers, labs, analysts and members of GCSO who contributed to the investigation.
“I’m thankful to my team, and everyone helping them, for their commitment to finding answers and building this case,” Kamerman said at the press conference. “The community and the Sheriff’s Office can be proud of the work they’ve done.”
Springer thanked his deputies, investigators and families of investigators for their support in the more than three weeks of investigation. He addressed Kjersem’s loved ones.
“To the family and friends of Dustin Kjersem, you are all in our thoughts and prayers,” Springer said. “No one deserves to have this happen to them. I hope this can bring a little bit of peace to all of you and I’m sorry you’re having to go through this.”
After the press conference, Springer told EBS that the Big Sky community was helpful in the investigation.
“I mean, it was right outside their door,” Springer said. “They allowed us to do our job. They provided whatever resources we needed when we asked for it.” He acknowledged that a couple people found some items for GCSO.
“They allowed us the space to get our job done, and we really appreciate that,” Springer said.
In an Oct. 16 press conference, Springer explained that he and his department didn’t know if there was still a threat to the community. To answer whether it’s safe now, Springer gave one word.
“Yes.”
On Nov. 1, Abbey’s bail was set at $1.5 million in the Gallatin County Justice Court.
Sheriff Dan Springer at the Oct. 31 press conference. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY
Amazing Investment Potential BRIDGER VIEW ESTATE
1700 NELSON ROAD | BOZEMAN, MT 10.035± ACRES | LISTED AT $4,995,000
Bridger View Estate presents an exceptional opportunity for a versatile family estate or income-generating property. Just 7 minutes from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, this private 10-acre property boasts stunning Bridger Mountain views—perfect for weddings, events, or simply savoring Montana’s beauty.
With three residences, an expansive barn, and meticulously landscaped grounds, the estate is suited for gatherings of all kinds, from weddings to family reunions and corporate retreats. Combining luxury, space, and proximity to Bozeman, it’s ideal as both a family estate and a profitable event venue.
Whether envisioned as a private retreat or premier event destination, Bridger View Estate offers a rare investment opportunity in Bozeman’s flourishing tourism market, alongside the serene charm of Montana living.
DETAILS
• Main House: 4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,997 sqft
• Guest House One: 2 Bed | 1.5 Bath | 1,929 sqft
• Guest House Two: 2 beds | 2 Baths | 1,036 sqft
Listed with Ashley Keller
Scan the QR code to visit the website and learn more!
OP NEWS
OUTLAW PARTNERS NEWS
GVLT CELEBRATES TRAIL SYSTEM ADDITIONS, PARKING LOT EXPANSION AT PAINTED HILLS
EBS STAFF
Bozeman trail users have a reason to celebrate as Painted Hills in south Bozeman off Kagy Boulevard received an expansion. On Nov. 4, 1.5 miles of new trail connecting into the Painted Hills and Highland Glen Nature Preserve trail systems, as well as a new 10-car parking lot opened to the public. The new stretch, named the Sandhill Trail, was developed in conjunction with a new residential community by the same name.
Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Outlaw Partners and Bridger Development Strategies partnered to make the expansion possible to the system already well-loved by bikers, hikers and trail runners – the new trail attracted over 50,000 visitors in 2024, according to data from GVLT. The Sandhill Trail is accessible from Kagy Boulevard, directly adjacent to the current Painted Hills trailhead. The trail provides an alternative route to the section of the Painted Hills Trail that travels through land owned by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, creating a new three-mile loop option within the existing trail in the Painted Hills neighborhood.
“We were very pleased with how this project turned out,” said Matt Parsons, trails director for GVLT. “GVLT was able to work with the developers to seamlessly integrate the Sandhill Trail into our existing trail system south of Bozeman. This will be a nice route for a lunchtime bike ride or an evening stroll.”
GVLT utilized portions of the Sandhill community to reroute a section of the Painted Hills Trail, replacing steep switchbacks with a longer, more gradual climb. A culvert was also replaced with a new boardwalk to better protect the existing wetland, and a new bicycle rollover was installed at
the north gate allowing bikers to avoid dismounting their bikes.
“We were committed to preserving as much of the natural habitat and riparian areas as possible while enhancing access to outdoor recreation opportunities on the property,” said Eric Ladd, CEO of Outlaw Partners, developer of Sandhill.
“We worked closely with GVLT and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to ensure that the Sandhill Trail has a light touch on the land.”
The Painted Hills Trail enhancements were funded in part by a Montana FWPRecreational Trails Program grant and Athletic Brewing’s “Two for the Trails” program. It will be maintained by the Sandhill homeowner’s association.
New boardwalk along wetlands section of Painted Hills. PHOTO COURTESY OF GVLT
The new Sandhill Trail adds 1.5 miles of new trail between Painted Hills and the Highland Glen Preserve. PHOTO COURTESY OF GVLT
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PIRSIG PILGRIMS RIDE ACROSS AMERICA FOR ZEN
ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF A LEGENDARY BOOK, A GROUP OF ACOLYTES FOLLOW IN ITS AUTHOR’S FOOTSTEPS
BY FISCHER GENAU
BOZEMAN—On July 7, 2024, over 20 people descended upon the Minneapolis Zen Meditation Center in Minnesota. They came from all over the country, and most of them had never met in person, but they had one thing in common: a deep affinity for a certain book.
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” was published 50 years ago by Robert M. Pirsig, a writer and philosopher who taught creative writing for two years at Montana State University, and it quickly amassed a following. The book is hard to describe—part travelog, part philosophical text, Pirsig’s meandering chautauqua (philosophical discussion) on quality can be confounding to some. But for others, like those congregated at the Minneapolis Zen Meditation Center, it resonates deeply. The book is considered a significant contribution to independent thinking and quality in thought, and half a century after its publication, it’s still changing lives.
The Minneapolis visitors had been so touched by “Zen” that they were about to follow in its author’s footsteps, riding 2,814 miles and 17 days across the country on motorcycles—with some driving along in cars—from Minneapolis, Minnesota to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Pirsig made that journey on his ‘66 Honda Super Hawk motorcycle—which now hangs in the Smithsonian—with his 12-year-old son Chris in 1968, and the group, who call themselves “Pirsig Pilgrims,” would try to follow his route exactly. But Pirsig’s road was quite different from their own.
“There’s an important difference between what they did and what we did,” David Matos, who helped plan the trip, told Explore Big Sky. “They were following their noses. We were following a set route, so it was more of a pilgrimage kind of experience.”
Matos’ group was occasionally turned back by rutted, potholed roads and gates barring their way that had been erected across old routes Pirsig had traveled. On the road, the pilgrims were exposed to the elements, and being the middle of summer, it was often very hot. By the time they reached Laurel, Montana, it was a sweltering 108 degrees, but from there the pilgrims climbed the Beartooth Highway up into the mountain range to find snow lining their path and spectacular views of its bristling peaks and sweeping valleys.
“Seeing America on a cross-country trip, almost from coast to coast, you definitely get an appreciation for the grandeur of the country and the beauty of the land and the sense of place in the different places that we went to,” Matos said. Matos is a member of the Robert Pirsig Association, and the RPA arranged the trip and brought together a hodgepodge of people through an online community whose only connection was
their love for the book. Though most of them were strangers when the trip began on July 8—the same date Pirsig set out in 1968—the motley crew became fast friends.
“We worked together well and we liked each other’s company, and that really showed through,” Matos said. “Everybody had a really deep understanding of the book, and everybody came at it with a little bit of a different perspective from their own life history and their own ideas.”
On the trip, the pilgrims got to see things from Pirsig’s perspective. They saw what he saw, felt what he felt, and several of them even had to do their own motorcycle maintenance along the way. But when Pirsig took that first ride, he wasn’t thinking about how it would be considered half a century later, while many of the pilgrims traveled with a copy of his book tucked in their belongings, and they had the opportunity to reflect on Pirsig’s journey.
A highlight for Matos and many other pilgrims was their stay in Bozeman, where they visited Montana State University and the Museum of the Rockies’ Pirsig collections. Mel Pomeroy, the Curator at the MSU Library, arranged a tour for the group, showing them old materials like Pirsig’s briefcase and a copy of his original manuscript, which was rejected by 121 publishing houses before William Morrow picked it up.
The MSU library receives a number of Pirsig pilgrims every year, many who come looking for his old office or university lodging, but the library saw an increase in visitors this summer due to the 50th anniversary.
“A group like the Pirsig pilgrims who care really deeply about Pirsig and ‘Zen in the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,’ the deep, deep engagement is there,” said Jodi Allison-Bunnell, head of archives and special collections at the MSU library. “We didn’t talk at them much. We wanted to hear from them what they were, what brought them here, what interested them, and then let them explore the collections. We just had the best time having them.”
After picking through his paraphernalia to learn more about the man behind the manuscript, many of the pilgrims convened in nearby Cottonwood Canyon at the home of the DeWeeses. Pirsig had been close friends with Robert and Gennie DeWeese, and their daughter Tina communed with the pilgrims on the DeWeese porch where Pirsig had done the same with Tina’s parents all those years ago.
“They had their memories and their impressions, but they also had questions about the book,” Matos said. “They were interested in learning from the Pirsig pilgrims that were visiting, and of course we were interested in them.”
After examining some of Pirsig’s own artifacts and enjoying Tina’s hospitality at one of his old haunts, the journey was far from over. Another 1,600 miles lay between them and the Golden Gate Bridge, and the long days of travel wore on the pilgrims.
“I was driving, and it was grueling just driving it,” Matos said. “I can only imagine what it was like going up and down all those curvy mountain roads on a motorcycle. But I’m sure it was enjoyable too.”
Despite the endurance required for such a crosscountry road trip, spirits never waned. Pirsig himself wrote, “Physical discomfort is important only when the mood is wrong… But if the mood is right, then physical discomfort doesn’t mean much.” And so it was with the pilgrims.
The mood was right for much of the trip, and despite several members of the crew falling ill with COVID, forcing them to cut their journey short, everyone considered the ride a great success.
After crossing the Bitterroots into Idaho, stopping in Grants Pass, Oregon to visit the old shop of welder Sandy McGregor—who’s featured in the book—and shooting south down the coast, Matos and Henry Gurr, another RPA member who was the trip’s architect, arrived in San Francisco on July 19. They crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, which Matos described as “almost the goal post for finishing the trip.”
“It was definitely this amazing voyage to go on,” Matos said. “We were able to relate it to this work of literature and deepen our understanding and appreciation of the book, while the book also gave us an appreciation of the places that they went to.”
The trip had its bumps, but everyone returned home safely and Matos was satisfied that they achieved their goal.
“It was a demanding trip, don’t get me wrong, but we actually achieved it,” Matos said. “We did something that we set out to do.”
But it wasn’t the end of the road just yet. Matos had to drive another 40 hours back to his home in Aiken, South Carolina. And the trip’s effects are still reverberating in all the pilgrims’ lives. Matos said it took some time to adjust to normal life, and some of the pilgrims are talking about doing another trip next year.
“They had all found this incredible community,” said Jodi Allison-Bunnell from the MSU Library. “Whether that is a long-term or even permanent community for them, or if it was just the experience of a lifetime one July.”
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” is one of the best-selling philosophy books of all time, and will likely continue to inspire successive generations of pilgrims in the future.
BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR
Thursday, Nov. 14 – Wednesday, Nov. 20
If your next event falls between Nov. 28 – Dec. 11 please submit it to explorebigsky.com/calendar-event-form
THURSDAY, NOV. 14
Big Sky Resort Area District Meeting Resort Tax office, 9 a.m.
Ladies Night Four Corners Saddlery & Botique, 4 p.m.
Monster + Farmer: A Frankenstein Tale WMPAC, 7 p.m.
Warren Miller’s “75”: A New Chapter The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOV. 15
Warren Miller’s “75”: A New Chapter The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOV. 16
Warren Miller’s “75”: A New Chapter The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, NOV. 17
St. Joseph Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.
All Saints in Big Sky Worship Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.
Dinner and a movie The Waypoint, 4 p.m.
Big Sky Christian Fellowship Worship Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.
MONDAY, NOV. 18
Montana’s Housing Crisis Summit
Norm Asbjornson Hall (Bozeman), 6 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOV. 19
Montana Trout Trivia Lockhorn Cider House (Bozeman), 5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
Mindfulness Sitting Group WIA, 6:30 p.m.
Trivia The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
No Man’s Land Festival The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
Sound Bath with Lily Goldberg Santosha Wellness Center, 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, NOV. 21
Big Sky Transportation District Meeting Resort Tax office, 3:45 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOV. 22
Live Music: Lost Canyons Tips Up, 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, NOV. 24
St. Joseph Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.
All Saints in Big Sky Worship Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.
Dinner and a Movie The Waypoint, 4 p.m.
Big Sky Christian Fellowship Worship Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.
MONDAY, NOV. 25
Public skate Ressler Motors Ice Rink (Bozeman), 11:15 a.m.
TUESDAY, NOV. 26
American Legion Bingo Riverhouse BBQ and Events, 5:30
Western Roots Country Dancing Tips Up, 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27
Trivia
The Waypoint, 7 p.m.
FEATURED EVENT:
Compost your Pumpkin BASE, Nov. 18-25
From Nov. 18-25, the Big Sky community can compost their pumpkins in bins outside of BASE. The composting drop-off is organized by Yes Compost, Big Sky SNO and Resort Tax and all decor should be removed from the pumpkin prior to drop-off.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
BIG SKY COMMUNITY THEATER PERFORMS
‘TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING’
SOLD-OUT WEEKEND REFLECTS HARD WORK, DEDICATION OF SMALL, LOCAL GROUP
BY LESLIE KILGORE
BIG SKY—The Big Sky Community Theater outdid themselves again with last weekend’s production of the popular improv experience, “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.”
The performance is an immersive, improv comedy show staged as a wedding for two Italian American families, inviting the audience to mingle with the cast while also participating in the festivities as “guests” of the ceremony and reception, which includes an actual dinner, cash bar and a DJ for dancing.
The cast and production team turned Lone Peak High School’s cafeteria into a wedding venue that most 1980s brides only dreamed of having, while the attendees arrived in their best 80s wedding attire.
“I had many friends involved in a production of ‘Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding’ in San Francisco in the early 2000s and had always thought it would be a fun challenge for BSCT,” said Ashley Dodd, one of the producers for the show. “As well as a great way to utilize our unique theater and school setup. Tapping into the excellent school cafeteria staff to provide catering for the immersive wedding reception experience was a natural fit.”
To continue growing the community theater program, Dodd said the group’s production choices in the past few years have trended towards largerscale ensemble pieces to enable the opportunity for bigger casts. This season’s performance was their largest with a cast of 25. In addition to six people behind the scenes on the production efforts, the school district’s kitchen staff and several high school students as docents.
Lindsie Feldner, a longtime Big Sky local and current food service manager for the Big Sky School District, created an Italian menu for the 80s wedding experience. BYWOM provided a cash bar for the immersive show and reception, which featured a playlist of 80s hits and quintessential wedding songs of the time.
“The show’s improv and interactive format made this production a fun and unique way to bring new people to the theater experience,” Dodd said. “In addition, the casual nature of the show encourages the audience to be as interactive as they like, truly becoming guests at this wedding. We saw everyone from firefighters, teachers, and doctors to real estate agents, journalists and a broad variety of community members showing off their talents.”
Ophir Middle School science teacher Vanessa Wilson—who has been in every BSCT production—directed the show. Dodd said every production is an impressive group effort and they are always looking for more community members to get involved, while also encouraging past participants to try out new leadership roles.
“This performance blew me away,” Wilson said. “From watching the cast evolve into their amazingly talented performance, to all the different members of the community who came together to help make this production a success, I am truly grateful and proud of what we accomplished. It takes a village, and we have a great one.”
PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
PHOTO BY LESLIE KILGORE
A LA CARTE A LOVE LETTER TO BYWOM DINING
BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST
Dear BYWOM,
I hope you understand that I am writing this out of love, even when I know that it goes against your core philosophy, and in fact your name: By Word of Mouth. But with 29 years under the ownership of Pam and John Flach, you are a Big Sky staple I just can’t ignore.
BYWOM has long been one of my go-to restaurants. Every meal that I’ve had at one of your tables over the years has been a delight. You make me feel like the best of your friends each time I darken your door. I appreciate this sense of community. On my latest visit, you were hosting the local theater troupe for a rehearsal dinner of sorts for their wedding-themed play. Your friends are my friends and the periodic visits of these costumed characters to my table kept me thoroughly entertained. It was the dinner show I didn’t know I needed.
Now, to the food. I usually start with French onion soup. The sweetness of the wine and onions complements the salty cheese and the cheese’s gooeyness combined with the crisp bits of it and the bread on top provide a delightful contrast of textures. It can be hard to find a good French onion soup, especially one that is never too salty from an extended time on a burner. Yours never disappoints.
I kept being drawn to the basil shrimp with sweet pepper risotto. With an odd bell pepper allergy, any mention of an unnamed pepper scares me a little.
But there was no need to fear: My server happily went to the kitchen to check the ingredients. Thank you for that. Your accommodating nature is one of the many reasons I love you.
The risotto was off the table for me, but I could still have the shrimp alongside a choice of sides. I don’t think I’ve ordered the dish before, but I will again. A buttery herbaceous sauce highlighted the delicate shrimp and added zest to the broccoli. Microgreens added another, more substantial, fresh component to play with the herbs.
I chose a Caesar salad as a side because, like the French onion soup, it is a restaurant staple that so often goes wrong. It’s easily over dressed with wilted lettuce or has soggy croutons. Oh, but not you. My salad was perfectly dressed with the house dressing, to the point that even the next day’s leftovers were crisp. You make these classics sing, simply by letting them be the best versions of themselves. They are the little black dresses of a menu.
But your metaphorical wardrobe isn’t all little black dresses. I love your creativity in dishes like the serrano lime chicken wings with their sushi rice breading or the house smoked tofu sandwich with chipotle cashew cream and goat cheese. I love that you draw from different cuisines like the Japaneseinspired tuna katsu and the Canadian-inspired poutine, while still featuring a damn fine standard American cheeseburger. And I love that you have options for different diets and tastes and that every plate still feels like it comes from the same kitchen and is made with love. So thank you again, BYWOM. I’ll be seeing you soon.
Cheers, Rachel
Rachel Hergett is a foodie and cook from Montana. She is arts editor emeritus at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and has written for publications such as Food Network Magazine and Montana Quarterly. Rachel is also the host of the Magic Monday Show on KGLT-FM and teaches at Montana State University.
I rarely golf, since I’m not very good, and playing the mental game where I don’t judge myself to others or how well I hit the ball is the key to me having an enjoyable outing.
This past summer I golfed in a tournament in beautiful Lake Placid, New York, and I was teamed up with three golfers I had never met. There were two legit golfers, one “never-ever” and me, a “hack.” Right away I knew it was going to be an interesting outing.
Like in all sports, the actual golfers have an air about them from the way they dress, the equipment, the lingo and a bit of swagger. The never-ever was a college senior, seemly athletic with a confidence that said, “I’ve got this.” And me: I just was observing and anticipating what the day was about to hold.
It was best ball rules, which I don’t like. I like to hit my ball regardless of where it goes, if I can find it. Hitting from someone else’s location just takes the fun out of it for me. So, I knew I had to overcome this mentally and not let it get in my head.
On the first tee I quickly realized that the real golfers gaff as much as the hacks. Our two experts hooked their drives into the woods, I hit a worm burner, and the college kid cracked it right down the center of the fairway. We played his ball to the green.
As the day progressed a pattern started to form. The golfers spoke to each other about what club to use, where would be good placement and talked golf—almost ignoring the college kid and myself. I don’t speak golf. I hit irons off the tee, have a knack for chipping and for sinking the occasional long putt.
The college kid was having a blast. He was hitting the snot out of the ball and more than a few times he hit key shots for the team. It was hard to believe he had never played before.
Clearly, he was free of expectations and technique. He just went up there every time and swung for the fences. When he connected and it went straight it was jaw dropping. He barely took warm up swings. You could see he was in the moment and having fun.
It was so striking to me how free he was. He was never rejected on the bad strokes and in a state of amazement every time he connected with the ball. He was having fun.
And I was having fun watching him and because he was so joyful and a pleasure to talk to. We rarely spoke about the game or a certain shot. Rather the conversation was about life, hobbies and general chatter.
The other amazing part of the day was how little advice he sought about the game and when one of the “golfers” tried to give him a tip it was like he almost didn’t hear it. It was not important to him.
After some time, I did an experiment. I started to complement the experienced golfers with a comment like, “man that was a clutch shot” or “nice
putt.” They would almost always come back with a comment that was like, “ya, close but not really what I wanted,” or “I misread the green.”
Then I would complement the never-ever, the college kid, and his responses were way more engaging and mirrored his enthusiasm for the day.
It really made me think about skiing and how much more fun it is when we are in the moment and embracing the joy of the day. As I often say, “don’t let performance ruin a great day of skiing.”
I believe it is possible to get better by enjoying the freedom of movement, saturating in the moment and discovering the flow state.
As my golf outing was coming to the close, I finally started finding my groove, inspired by my new college-aged friend. I hit my best chip shot of the day on the 16th that saved the hole for our group. On the 17th, I putted for birdie and on the 18th, I clobbered my drive with my driver for the best ball on the last hole. It felt good. It made me want to golf again one day. But for now, at the start of the ski season, I’m going to bring the attitude of the never-ever golfer.
So, bring on a new ski and snowboard season and go discover that freedom is found not in performance, but expressed in the joy you share with others. See you on slopes!
Dan Egan coaches and guides at Big Sky Resort during the winter. He has written books including “Thirty Years in a White Haze,” a must-read for winter enthusiasts, and “All-Terrain Skiing II.” Learn more about his projects, adventures and worldwide ski camps at dan-egan.com.
COURTESY
BUSINESS
BIG SKY TUBWORKS BRACES FOR A BUSY WINTER
IN THIRD WINTER, OWNER CASEY HANSEN AIMS TO IMPROVE SERVICE WITH ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE, OPTIMIZED SCHEDULING
BY MARIO CARR EBS CONTRIBUTOR
BIG SKY—With winter approaching, hot tubs are a hot commodity in ski towns like Big Sky, and they require a lot of work.
Originally from Bigfork, Casey Hansen spent several years working with vacation rental homes. While managing those homes, Hansen admired the work of the hot tub maintenance specialists that he would interact with on a regular basis. With a desire to become a business owner, and an interest in the hot tub trade, Hansen purchased the Big Sky Tubworks business in February 2023.
Tubworks, founded in 2007, maintains hot tubs for full- and part-time residents, as well as for vacation rental homes. Whether the hot tub is being used only two weeks out of the year, or nearly every day, Hansen and his team provide the service needed for each specific tub. A major focus of hot tub maintenance is monitoring the pH of the water, according to Hansen.
“If it’s overly acidic or too [basic] it’s gonna eat rubber gaskets and mechanical parts,” Hansen said. To help prevent costly repairs, Hansen emphasizes the importance of regular maintenance, especially when tubs are left alone for extended periods of time.
“We get used to it living here… this is an extreme environment, I’ve worked in negative 20 degrees and just around 100,” Hansen said.
Working with hot tubs requires a variety of skills that Hansen describes as “part plumber, part electrician.” Whether it’s fixing the heater, the pumps, or even repairing the shell or cover of the tub, Hansen says he and his crew have seen it all.
Hot tubs are used year round in Big Sky, but most heavily in the winter. Montana law requires that all vacation rental hot tubs be drained and refilled between each visit, which keeps businesses like Tubworks busy all winter long. When it comes to preserving the life of any hot tub, Hansen emphasized the often ignored advice of showering before soaking. The reality of skiing in snow gear means that most sweat and dead skin becomes trapped on the body, and when users don’t shower, that will all build up in a hot tub pretty quick. And whether it’s a group of college kids with beers in the tub, or kids with sugary drinks, it’s best to keep any non-water beverages from spilling in the tub as well.
Hansen appreciates all of his business, but is especially thankful for the relationships he is able to form with the property owners and residents of Big Sky.
“That’s the fun part of the job,” he said. “I’m somebody that’s taking care of something for them… and they know that they can reach out and I’m happy to help.”
Hansen echoed that many of his customers are very kind and appreciative of his work. Hot tub manufacturers tout their numerous purported
health benefits, with many relating to releasing muscle tension and stress. Hansen described the hot tub as the second dinner table in many homes—it’s a place where people can gather, relax, and share ski-stories and good times.
By leaving a little extra room in the schedule and hiring another employee this winter, Hansen hopes Tubworks can be ready for the many surprises that come throughout the winter.
“I want to play more of a swingman, so we can be more responsive… I don’t want my guys feeling like their hair is on fire,” he said.
Over the last two years Hansen has learned how chaotic things can get during peak season in Big Sky. When there are so many tubs to service all over Big Sky, only the most pressing issues can be addressed. But Hansen is aiming to increase Tubworks’ capacity to be there for his customers, so minor repairs don’t have to be put off.
“I’m gonna over-hire this year so we can be more responsive and get things done… I don’t have one guy work in Moonlight and then in Spanish Peaks because that’s a 45-minute drive,” he said.
Currently, Hansen is changing as many filters as possible in preparation for the busy season. He does not own a hot tub himself, and he compared his situation to a chef not wanting to cook dinner at home after cooking all day. And while Hansen finds other ways to unwind, he recognizes how important a hot tub can be to the people of Big Sky.
Local business owner Casey Hansen works alongside his business partner of 14 years, Lieutenant Dan. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY
ENJOYING THE RIDE ALIGN YOUR MONEY WITH YOUR GOALS
BY BRANT WIEHARDT EBS COLUMNIST
Sponsored Article
As we enter the fourth quarter, work our way through the shoulder season, move from fall into winter and get ready for the holidays, consider taking some time to review your portfolio before the start of 2025. Doing so can give you a better chance of aligning your money with your personal goals and ultimately help you enjoy the ride.
As you do so, one of the questions you can consider is, are your personal biases derailing your investment goals?
Your investment portfolio may need variety to help fit your needs. Too much of one kind of asset, or too little, and you’re likely to find yourself without the pieces that can potentially help you meet your long-term financial goals.
The trick is to guard against making decisions based on trends or biases you might not be aware you have. Tracie McMillion, head of Global Asset Allocation for Wells Fargo Investment Institute, took a closer look at some of the biases that can cloud your thinking.
Identify your biases
Even savvy and knowledgeable investors can be blind to their own biases — tendencies that can thwart smart decision-making. Common investment biases include:
Sector bias - All too often, professionals gravitate toward stocks in industries that they’re most familiar with. Doctors, for instance, may load up on healthcare stocks.
• Risk: You may lose out on potential earnings in other industries and unduly expose yourself to downturns in industryspecific markets.
• Consideration: The key is to diversify among sectors. Work with your investment professionals to gain an understanding of how assets in various sectors may potentially help a portfolio perform better as a whole over the long term.
Company bias - From favoring a family business to maintaining too much loyalty to a long-time employer, this bias can weigh down a portfolio with one company’s stock.
• Risk: Sinking too much of your retirement savings into one brand can leave you exposed to company-specific volatility risk that can be sizable. It can even expose your portfolio to the possibility that that one company may cease to exist.
• Consideration: Diversification may potentially help buffer the effects of severe problems at an individual company level.
Bias toward recent events - Called “recency bias,” this tendency relates to how investors respond to everyday market activity. With investment information and the news of national and international events at our fingertips 24/7, many of us are very tuned in to what’s happening in the world — and in the financial markets.
As human beings, we tend to project what has just happened into the future, reacting to upward and downward trends by buying and selling stocks as if yesterday’s good or bad news will continue into the future.
• Risk: Letting short-term news drive your investment decisions could cause you to abandon your personalized, long-term investment plan.
• Consideration: Self-discipline. Work with your financial team to create a personal investment philosophy statement and stick to it. This customized strategy should account for your desired asset mix, risk preferences, liquidity needs, and time horizon. It can help you keep your cool when the headlines start to heat up.
Home country bias - Investors — be they American, Italian or Brazilian — typically feel most comfortable when they choose to invest in companies headquartered in their home countries. After all, they’re usually the companies that such investors read about in local or national media and the companies that they do business with as consumers most often.
• Risk: Home country bias may translate to missed investment opportunities. Heavy reliance on U.S. stocks, bonds, and real estate can keep you from expanding your investment strategy to take advantage of global investment opportunities.
• Consideration: We believe it’s a good idea to see to it that most of your assets have some global component. And remember that while currency exchange rates may introduce risks to your portfolio, they also may pave the way toward enhanced returns.
Some additional caveats
In addition to these biases, we see other habits and attitudes that can affect our clients’ portfolios. You may not be susceptible to all of these tendencies, but being aware of them can help keep your investment strategy on track.
• O verconfidence - Do you think you can beat the Street? Striving to micromanage your portfolio stock-by-stock or trying to outsmart the market in a short time frame is a common, but often flawed, tactic in our view. Instead, trust your plan and don’t try to anticipate short-term market movements.
• Aversion to loss - Is there an asset you just can’t bear to sell because it has lost value? Well, with each passing day, you could be putting off the inevitable, and in our view, you may be robbing yourself of access to investment dollars that could be working for you elsewhere. Ask yourself if it’s time to move on.
• Anchoring - This tactic comes into play when you hold on to an investment because you are comparing its current value to a reference value, such as a top-dollar price point from the past. Anchoring thinking might go something like this, “I just want the stock price to return to the high it hit two years ago before I sell.” But by mooring yourself to a potentially unrealistic expectation, you may find that your investment plan doesn’t move forward.
• Favoritism in asset classes - Are you showing preference for one type of asset over others? Do you have “rules” against investing in certain asset types? Showing favoritism may unnecessarily exclude a choice — including a new investment strategy — that could serve you well. Our goal is to help clients make their investment plans personal without allowing such unintentional biases and tendencies to creep in. The overall solution comes back to self-control during volatile times. Work with your investment team to maintain objectivity, manage risk and stay focused on long-term goals rather than toward short-term investment or emotional rewards.
To help provide focus and direction, every investor should consider establishing a personal investment philosophy. For couples, the philosophy statement should reflect their mutual investment goals and their unified strategy as a household.
Here’s a short list of action items that can get you started on formulating your personal investment strategy.
• Deter mine how much cash you need to hold to your commitment to your long-term investment plan. Before and during retirement, you may need to tap cash holdings to pay for living expenses, emergencies, or other major planned expenses, such as a son’s or daughter’s wedding. We call the amount of cash that you may need to access “your sleep-well number” — the figure that may allow you to feel more at ease regarding your investment plan.
• Commit to diversification of your investments. Not to sound repetitive, but this tactic can help you deal with market ups and downs. Just as you need an overcoat in winter and a swimsuit in summer, various assets simply tend to perform better during different economic cycles. So position yourself for different financial seasons with a diversified combination of fixed income, equity holdings, real assets and alternative investment strategies.
• Actively manage risk. Don’t forget to revisit and rebalance your portfolio about once a year and when you experience a major life event. Reallocation can help your portfolio stay on plan and reduce risk or enhance return potential when markets have moved significantly.
• Weave goals into your overall plan. Many investors who have significant resources also have aspirations of making their world a better place. To understand how you spend your investment dollars, consider asking a financial advisor to run screens on your complete portfolio, including investments, charitable trusts, and asset transfers. Then collaborate on any adjustments needed to help the overarching investment plan operate within your customized preferences.
Brant Wiehardt is an Associate Vice President and Financial Advisor at Shore to Summit Wealth Management. He currently works and lives in Bozeman, MT with his wife and children.
ENVIRONMENT
BRIDGING BIOLOGY AND ENGINEERING: PLANNING WILDLIFE CROSSINGS ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 191
CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
Wildlife crossings—including vegetation-covered overpasses spanning a highway and their lessapparent underpass cousins—are becoming more familiar in the West. The “Animals’ Bridge” over Montana Highway 93 on the Flathead Reservation and dozens of underpasses along the same route are Montana’s best-known examples. In the coming years, U.S. Highway 191 south of Gallatin Gateway may get its first series of wildlife crossings. With levels of traffic from 10,000-16,000 vehicles per day, over 24% of crashes on 191 are with wildlife and the highway poses a barrier to animals attempting to access key habitats.
Should an application recently submitted to the Federal Highway Administration by the Montana Department of Transportation prove successful, 191 may gain a new wildlife overpass, upgrades to an existing underpass, and a bridge retrofit providing a pathway for wildlife below. The series of crossing structures would be combined with fencing to funnel wildlife to safe crossing opportunities.
Wildlife crossing structures in combination with fencing, if located and designed correctly, can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by 85% or more. But how are the locations and types of structures determined? Bridging biology and engineering, scientists and engineers collaborate to determine which structures will be effective and where and how to build them.
Shannon Crossen, senior biologist at Jacobs—a consulting firm engaged by the Bozeman-based Center for Large Landscape Conservation to carry out an engineering feasibility study for the potential crossings—described key factors in location and design of wildlife crossings.
“In combination with extensive analyses of wildlife movement, traffic, and land use conducted by CLLC and Jacobs, we also reviewed multiple factors that influence the siting and design of wildlife crossing structures,” Crossen said. “For this U.S. 191 overpass, factors included location of conservation easements, current and future developments, proximity to regulated floodplains, target species needs and movement patterns, future highway improvements and terrain.”
While elk and deer are the primary target species for the crossings, as they are most frequently hit by vehicles in this area, Crossen said the structures are designed to maximize the number of species that could benefit from the safe passage opportunities.
“Siting within protected habitat and away from floodplains and designing for multiple species maximizes the lifespan of the crossing structure and its ecological value. Our design takes into account transportation needs while also addressing the need to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and maintain habitat connectivity,” Crossen explained.
This image is a conceptual rendering provided to give an idea of how a potential overpass may look on the landscape. The final location, size, dimensions, and other structural and aesthetic attributes will be determined in the pre-construction design phase should funding be awarded to this project. RENDERING COURTESY OF
“Planning and designing wildlife crossings is a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative process,” Crossen said. “Our team includes biologists, environmental planners and engineers spanning transportation, hydraulics, geotechnical, structural and construction, as well as other technical specialties who worked closely with each other and CLLC on all aspects of the project.”
Crossen said that while the team was conducting the field review for the engineering feasibility study, Jacobs transportation engineer David Baker located a stock pass in the project vicinity that the team was not initially aware of.
“Upon further inspection, we determined this was an opportunity to integrate an additional crossing about 700 feet south of the proposed overpass,” Crossen said. “This stock pass could not accommodate elk passage but could support many other species by upsizing it with little additional cost, effort, or roadway impacts to the project.”
Crossen explained that having multiple types of crossings allows the project to provide diverse species passage opportunities and bring the best available research and practice to the project design, maximizing habitat connectivity in the project area.
The engineering feasibility study was made possible by donations from community partners, and the application MDT submitted is based on its results. If the application succeeds, the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, a discretionary program of the FHWA, will pay for over 80% of the cost of the $26 million project. One of the requirements of the highly competitive WCPP is a non-federal match. CLLC has secured pledges from businesses, nonprofits, foundations and private donors, and
is continuing to fundraise to achieve the $3.5 million required.
Prior to the engineering feasibility study, CLLC and Montana State University’s Western Transportation Institute—in consultation with public agency personnel—identified the area from Gallatin Gateway to Spanish Creek as the top priority of 11 potential sites for measures to accommodate habitat connectivity. This was based on an in-depth examination of motorist safety, wildlife movement, and habitat in a 191/MT 64 Wildlife and Transportation Assessment.
“The Assessment showed where actions are most needed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and maintain or improve wildlife’s ability to move across the road to access important resources and habitat,” said CLLC road ecologist Liz Fairbank, who was the lead author of the assessment.
While crossing structures require upfront investment, given their 75-year lifespan, they often pay for themselves well ahead of schedule due to the cost savings of fewer wildlife-vehicle collisions. Based on a 2020 corridor study by MDT, the estimated cost of injuries and property damage related to these accidents between Four Corners and Beaver Creek is $27 million over 10 years.
“In situations like this, building wildlife crossings can actually cost less over the life of the project than doing nothing to fix the problem,” said Fairbank.
Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program awards are expected to be announced in early 2025. If the 191 application is successful, a planning process for construction should commence in 2026.
JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC.
DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: THE LAND GRAB RISES ONCE AGAIN
UTAH IS SUING TO SEIZE FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND. IS MONTANA NEXT?
BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox recently sued the Bureau of Land Management to turn over 18.5 million acres of federal public land to the state. He prefers the state to control and manage that land how it sees fit, specifically to open it to extractive industries or development. Utah filed its lawsuit with the Supreme Court in August, arguing that the BLM can’t hold onto land in perpetuity without designating it as a national forest, monument, park or wilderness area. The state calls BLM land, which is none of these things, “unappropriated land” — that is, land with no congressionally defined purpose, even though BLM land is leased for grazing and resource extraction and open to the public for an array of recreation.
Utah has a long history of attempting to sell off public lands. Utah’s recent land grab started in 2012 when the state legislature passed a bill called the Transfer of Public Lands Act, demanding that all federal land be handed over to the state by 2014. That litigation cost the state taxpayers millions of dollars and ultimately failed.
The idea of selling off public lands isn’t just a rare occurrence isolated to Utah. It has also arisen in 12 other states, including Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
Just months ago, Montana’s GOP—the party with an overwhelming majority in the state legislature and administration—posted its policy stance on public lands on its party platform. In part, it reads: “We support granting federally managed public lands to the state and developing a transition plan for the timely and orderly transfer.”
Is this what Montana taxpayers want? According to a recent poll, 81% of Montanans want more public lands, including national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges and protected tribal lands, not less. Recreation in our state is big business and generates $5.5 billion annually.
The BLM manages 8.1 million acres of subsurface land and 700 million acres of federal mineral estate within Montana’s boundaries.
Some people in Montana’s republican legislature and administration want to privatize public lands, whether it’s for extracting natural resources or selling real estate. They would prefer the state to make money off land within the state rather than the federal government. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is on the record, saying that he prefers subdivisions over preserving open spaces. He calls Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks—the government agency that works with landowners who want to place their land under easement—an “empire builder.”
Are we in the Gilded Age all over again, where out-of-state gazillionaires buy up public land for their playground and lock the public out, like what has happened with the Yellowstone Club and is currently happening in the Crazy Mountains as we speak? These federal lands belong to the people. They shouldn’t belong to the state or be privatized and sold to the highest bidder.
Let’s not allow what is happening in Utah to happen in Montana. Montanans love public lands.
Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His stories have been published in Audubon, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and other publications on his website. He holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.
PHOTO BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY
PHOTO BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY
Mythic Creatures Mermaids: Dragons,Unicorns, &
LEAD SPONSOR:
Chris McCloud and Stephanie Dickson Charitable Fund
SIGNATURE SPONSOR:
Sheehy Family Foundation –Richard and Denise Sheehy
SUSTAINING SPONSORS: Wellness WORx / Walk-In Chiropractic Hohbach Family Foundation Cole and Abbi Robertson
CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR: In Loving Memory of Liam Prorock
Through January 5, 2025
Immerse yourself in the origins of legendary beings worldwide, unveiling a mesmerizing showcase of imaginative models, captivating paintings, and rich cultural artifacts. From the mythical Creatures of Water to the majestic Dragons, each section promises a breathtaking adventure. Encounter awe-inspiring, larger-than-life models like the 17-foot dragon and 10-foot unicorn.
Mythic Creatures is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org) in collaboration with The Field Museum, Chicago; Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau; Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; and Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta
For more information please scan the QR Code or go to museumoftherockies org/creatures
WRITERS ON THE RANGE GRIZZLY 399 WAS A BEAR FOR THE AGES
BY WENDY KEEFOVER AND KRISTIN COMBS WRITERS ON THE RANGE
She was 28 years old and dealt with the hordes of picture-taking tourists and repeated motherhood. When she was killed by a car a few weeks ago, the loss of grizzly 399 left people all over the world shocked and saddened.
Grizzly 399 wasn’t just another wild bear in northwestern Wyoming; she was a window into the secret lives of grizzlies. Over nearly three decades she raised 18 cubs amidst the millions of visitors and residents of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park.
Her death speaks, as her life did, about the urgent need to better protect these intelligent, rare creatures from roads, human foods, farm animals and trophy hunters.
Grizzly 399’s life captivated millions of people. Attentive and patient, she worked hard to make sure her cubs had sufficient food and warm dens and were protected from male bears and other dangers.
The doings of her many families, the first in 2004 and the last in 2023, made her legendary, like the time she and her four cubs feasted on serviceberries right next to a road, gently picking berries among the leaves.
There was also the time she crossed the Snake River with four cubs following like the tail of a kite, while hundreds of people gathered to witness. These intimate glimpses inspired countless numbers of visitors to Wyoming’s wilderness and gave them a connection with the famous bear and her broods.
Grizzly 399 had always been careful around roads. She often waited at a highway's edge until a photographer stopped traffic or she heard no vehicles coming her way. She frequently navigated busy highways and the streets around Jackson Hole. In the end it was not enough.
Vehicle collisions, a leading cause of wildlife deaths, are just one more threat for grizzly bears. This year alone, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has seen record numbers of mortalities. By October 2024, at least 68 grizzlies had died—most killed because they came near humans or were shot by hunters.
With their habitats shrinking, their foods vanishing and more roads fragmenting their territories, grizzlies have become marooned on geographic islands for their survival. Their lands have been increasingly hemmed in by developments, energy projects and deadly highways.
Once 50,000 strong, fewer than 2,000 grizzly bears now survive in the lower 48 states. Coexisting with them means addressing preventable conflicts by bear-proofing human-food sources or safeguarding livestock. Many of grizzly 399’s cubs were killed by humans. Perhaps half of them survived to adulthood.
One Jackson Hole resident, for example, deliberately and defiantly fed them, despite the dangers of getting bears accustomed to humanprovided meals. Teton County has since introduced tougher enforcement measures, including requiring bear-resistant garbage cans with self-locking mechanisms. The Wyoming Department of Game
and Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also required residents of Teton County to make garbage and bird feeders inaccessible to keep grizzly 399 and her cubs safe.
One takeaway is that grizzly bears can be managed with compassion. This needs to be the norm, not the exception, and we need to shift practices to prioritize coexistence over killing.
In bear country, people can make human foods unavailable, ranchers can employ electric fencing and remove cattle and sheep carcasses, and hunters can carry bear spray and accurately identify their targets before shooting.
Grizzly 399’s last surviving cub, Spirit, has not been seen since its mother’s death. Nearly two years old, the cub was last reported as healthy and may have a chance at survival. Its future—indeed, the future of all grizzlies—depends on people’s willingness to change behaviors.
It is especially important that we resist calls to strip grizzly bears of their Endangered Species Act protections, certainly until grizzlies are truly recovered, with genetically diverse and connected populations across secure habitats.
This means creating safe passages, including highway crossings, between their populations. We must also hold the line against trophy hunting. Removing Endangered Species Act protections, which are now under attack in the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and elsewhere, could set back years of conservation work.
With grizzly 399’s passing, it feels as though something is missing in the Tetons—something vivid and wild that moved us. Her legacy calls us to act, to create a future in which grizzly bears and people live together in safety.
The writers are contributors to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. Wendy Keefover works for the Humane Society of the United States; Kristin Combs is executive director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates.
A close up protrait of Bear 399. PHOTO BY THOMAS MANGELSEN
Bear 399 trudging through the snow with her three cubs following. PHOTO BY THOMAS MANGELSEN
EVERY DROP COUNTS
MAKING RIVER RESTORATION PROCESS AT GREEK CREEK CAMPGROUND
BY ROBIN FEDOCK EBS COLUMNIST
Take it from the parent of a four year old: not everyone feels compelled to stay on the trails and designated access points of our public lands and waterways. But everyone who cares about the future of river access should aim to, because when you combine unmanaged access—or failure to follow management recommendations—with an increased number of visitors, sites begin to degrade, resulting in conditions that compromise the ecological health and recreational appeal of our favorite places.
Beyond heavy and careless recreational use, river access sites can degrade for other reasons too. For example, severe flooding during spring runoff in 2022 eroded the streambank at Greek Creek Campground in the Gallatin Canyon, which accelerated the streambank erosion that was already happening. This prompted the Gallatin River Task Force and the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the campground, to take their long-standing restoration plan for Greek Creek to the next phase. Just like the squeaky wheel gets the grease, the rapidly eroding streambank gets the willows.
The goals of the greater Gallatin River Restoration Strategy are to repair the existing natural resource degradation and prevent further damage at 91 sites along the entire 39-mile stretch of the Upper Gallatin corridor. Special focus will be on sustainable access and restoration approaches that mimic the natural systems of the river. The cost to complete the restoration projects identified in the strategy lands at around $3.5 million, with funding coming from both public and private sources. More than $1 million has already been invested in the restoration work.
In order to make this ambitious plan a reality, Kathryn Barker from the U.S. Forest Service believes that the partnership is key. “Working collaboratively with groups like the Gallatin River Task Force helps us establish sustainable river access points that maintain the availability of recreation, and also reduce the negative effects of
dispersed use on the watershed,” she said.
Previously successful restoration projects at Moose Creek, Deer Creek and on the Middle Fork show us that this approach works. The Greek Creek project uses a combination of low-tech process based restoration techniques to protect the riparian buffer and slow the flow of water. Maintenance of flow and vegetation will maximize the ecological benefits, as will creating sustainable access elements that direct foot traffic to designated hardened spaces along the river. The plan even includes an outhouse upgrade.
Jeff Dunn, water resource specialist at WGM Group, the engineering firm that designed the project at Greek Creek and is leading the implementation phase, is committed to restoring the natural processes there. “Streambanks do erode, but if they have healthy vegetation, they erode slowly, naturally. When the vegetation is removed for whatever reason, then they’re much more prone to erosion, which adds sediment to the stream.”
There are other benefits of this bioengineered streambank, too. Adding vegetation — in this case, willows — back to the streambank also increases shade and cover for fish and creates habitat and a food source for macroinvertebrates, like the salmonfly, songbirds and even ungulates like moose.
Dunn also explained how using low-tech process based techniques like beaver dam analogs and post assisted log structures are critical. “We’ve installed BDAs on the flood plain at Greek Creek so that during large flood events they’ll be able to trap sediment and slow the flow of water as it moves across the floodplain.”
The benefits of the PALS placed at the entrance to overflow channels are similar. “The PALS are also designed to slow the flow and have the added benefit of providing fish habitat and refugia where fish can conglomerate during high water,” he noted.
PALs will create upstream ponds, force flow to split, create eddies, alter erosion and deposit patterns, increase channel-floodplain connectivity, improve wildlife habitat, and increase biodiversity.
Construction of the bioengineered streambank, BDAs, PALS, and installation of a rock terrace and updated outhouse will be completed this fall. Additional riparian planting will take place in the spring. For more on this project, gallatinrivertaskforce.org
Robin Fedock is the communications and marketing manager for the Gallatin River Task Force.
BDAs will slow water flow during spring runoff and flood events, trap and convert nutrients and other pollutants, and increase habitat variety and water surface area, leading to better biological diversity. PHOTO BY ROBIN FEDOCK
The installation of a rock terrace will provide designated sustainable river access. PHOTO BY ROBIN FEDOCK
The Big Sky Bravery Peak 98 was designed to honor Big Sky Bravery’s mission to provide proactive support for active duty special forces. This custom winter camouflage top sheet featuring Big Sky Bravery’s logo gives customers the opportunity to support an incredible non-profit, and ride their choice ski.
$2,600,000 | #388104
$1,750,000 | #389834
$1,600,000 | #380146
TBD TIMBERLOFT DRIVE
Big Sky
40± acre alpine meadow overlooking the Gallatin Canyon, outstanding views of the Spanish Peaks and Lone Mountain. Two adjacent 40± acre properties, designated building sites, end of the road privacy easy all season access. Close to Ophir School and the West Gallatin River.
TBD SKYWOOD ROAD
Big Sky
Enjoy privacy and outstanding views of Lone Peak from this beautiful Skywood Preserve property. Rolling forested hills combined with a grassy alpine meadow complete with a small natural pond create a beautiful 21± acre parcel, just minutes from Town Center or Meadow Village.
TBD LOW DOG ROAD
Big Sky
Ski accessable w/ biking and hiking access to area trails. Convenient to all the services at Big Sky’s Mountain Village. Great access to the Middle Fork of the Gallatin River by taking an established trail from the building site directly to the stream. Property located on the North side of Low Dog Rd.
2024 Gift & Gear Guide
Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life? Our local gift and gear guide has something for everyone, from top-notch products that support local businesses and stocking stuffers, to sturdy mountain-tested gear for your off-piste adventures. Peek inside for incredible RegenMarket meat for your next family gathering, complete with tried-and-true recipes, to a handcrafted Santoku knife from NewWest Knifeworks, a trip to Turks and Caicaos with Seven Stars, or heated socks and gloves by Thaw Gear to keep your fingers and toes warm, found locally at Big Sky ACE Hardware.
This guide is your one-stop shop for thoughtful, locally-sourced gifts that will inspire your loved ones to get outside and make the most of every adventure. Happy holidays!
– The Editors
LMNT
I’M GENUINELY HOOKED.
BY JACK REANEY
When I first tasted LMNT in the summer of 2021, the intense flavor was surprising and not enjoyable. But I knew these folks were on to something—my peers in the fitness world, especially endurance athletes, had been talking about the benefits of salt in the diet. I realized that my performance and recovery was improving significantly when I drank LMNT during or after workouts, and I also trusted what I was putting in my body. Salt is the headliner, but potassium and magnesium are a nice bonus.
I also feel benefits in my brain: in the earlyafternoon doldrums, I feel that LMNT gives me a more sustainable pick-me-up better than any caffeine. LMNT sharpens my mind.
Here’s the secret to taste: although LMNT recommends one pouch per 16 to 32 ounces of water, I think anything under 32 ounces is a little too strong. I aim for at least 32 ounces, nearly one liter of water—it not only dilutes the strong saltiness, but it spreads out the hydration over more sips.
Finally, I was intrigued when LMNT released its aluminum can holding a slightly carbonated sports drink. Not only is aluminum highly recyclable, I found the can to be portable and convenient for certain activities. And again, I thought the carbonation tasted odd at first, but I eventually found myself reaching for more.
In my apartment, I still have a few tubes full of Nuun, an electrolyte tablet competitor. I purchased them years ago amid my years of loyalty to that brand. Now I simply prefer LMNT for its taste and effects, and if you’re an athlete, I think you will too.
Visit drinklmnt.com
LONE PEAK CANNABIS COMPANY
Featured LPC items for your stocking stuffer and holiday needs!
MT Kush Pre-Rolls
A sativa that is both relaxing and energizing. Watch your dosage or it can be couch-lock time, but with proper usage can keep you feeling happy all day long. Great for body pain! Very mellow, yet powerful and long lasting.
CLEAR Disposable Live Rosin
This perfectly light golden honey rosin serves up a balanced and interesting blend of grapefruit citrus-earthiness without the cloying sweetness of some strains. Its effects range from engaged to fuzzy depending on the dose. Unless you’re looking for an extremely specific effect or flavor profile, you can’t go wrong grabbing one of these half gram carts. It’s smooth and clean, which in addition to generally better flavors and highs is why it’s always worth it to cough up the money for a rosin
vape. The cartridge itself looks like ceramic which is always a plus and certainly lends itself to a better experience throughout the cartridge in my experience with disposables.
Smokiez: Sour Watermelon Gummies
Based on the effects I experienced across multiple times of day, it’s likely to be more firmly in the middle of the hybrid continuum for many people. That said, if you want to get lit, you won’t have to work terribly hard to accomplish the mission. Its effects for me ranged from mentally engaging and even introspective on the small dose side all the way to a pronounced yet relaxed fuzziness when I took a few chews. If you’re looking for a highquality edible to take the edge off, that won’t leave you mentally bereft of common sense (unless you really go to town on it) that has great flavor, you should definitely grab a pack of Smokiez Edibles.
REGENMARKET
STANDING RIB ROAST (BONE-IN PRIME RIB)
12 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF COOKING
1 tsp coarse salt per pound 1/2 tsp coarse black pepper per pound 1-2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• Spread over all sides of rib roast including bone side
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate (at least 8 hours, no more than 12)
2 HOURS IN ADVANCE COOKING
• Remove rib roast from refrigerator and let come to room temperature
COOKING
• Preheat oven to 425F
• P lace rib roast on rack in roasting pan, rib side down/fat side up
• Insert oven safe thermometer, careful to not touch bones
• Cook for 30 minutes
• Drop oven to 375F
• Baste with pan juices and continue cooking until thermometer reads 120F for rare or 125F for medium-rare (approx. 1 – 1 ½ hours / time will vary depending on size of roast)
• Remove from oven and put roast on large rimmed cutting board
• Tent loosely with foil and let rest 20 minutes
HORSERADISH SAUCE
1 cup sour cream
2 tbls prepared horseradish
2 tbls chopped chives
Pinch of salt
• Combine well and serve in individual ramekins or serving dish
HALF HAM (COMES FULLY COOKED)
COOKING
• Preheat oven to 325F
• P lace ham on rack in roasting pan, bone up/flat side down
• Pour 1 cup of water into bottom of the pan and cover in tinfoil
• Cook for 8 minutes per pound
• Remove from oven
• Remove tin foil and baste with glaze and pan juices
• Return to oven - uncovered
• Continue basting every 5 minutes for 20 minutes
• Remove from oven and tent loosely with foil and let rest 15 minutes
GLAZE
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup orange soda
(can substitute orange juice)
1/2 tsp ground clove
Pinch of salt
BY SARA SIPE
Get ready for the holiday season by ordering from RegenMarket now. They offer a huge variety of ultra-high quality, Montana raised meats that can be delivered directly to your doorstep or shipped across the country. They are based in Big Sky and value relationships with their local customers and Montana ranchers.
Before getting ready to prepare items for this review, I visited their website, which states, “All RegenMarket products are produced using regenerative agriculture practices, which forms the base of the food chain for humans and land animals, ensuring the highest level of quality nutrients in your food.” That sounds good, right? But what does that mean? It means that RegenMarket’s focus is on the food the animals eat, caring for the land, and elevating relationships with Montana ranchers. What I really hoped is that would translate into a delicious holiday meal for my friends and family. And boy did it ever!!
I prepared a standing rib roast for a “mock” Christmas. The smell in the house was enough to bring the neighbors over. I used a simple dry brine and herbs. I wanted to make sure the flavor of the meat stood on its own and wasn’t masked by too many strong flavors or spices. What we ended up with was a perfectly cooked, medium-rare, bone-in prime rib that was absolutely delicious. It was tender and flavorful. I served it alongside a horseradish sauce, spicy creamed spinach, and roasted new potatoes. It was a huge hit with my guests!
The next product I tackled was RegenMarket’s half ham offering. This is a foolproof product that takes very little effort but yields great results. This is precooked so getting it on the table is hassle free and doesn’t take long. I did a simple brown sugar, orange soda, and clove glaze and served it alongside roasted carrots and mashed potatoes. This would be perfect for any end-of-year holiday gathering or special occasion. In addition to being so easy to prepare, the leftovers were put to good use as part of a morning eggs benedict and in an au gratin potato casserole.
RegenMarket offers monthly subscription plans for ordering from their entire product offering, as well as special holiday gift boxes. They will deliver
locally and are also able to ship throughout the country. The products they offer include beef and bison, pasture-raised pork, poultry, lamb and fish (fish is one of the few items not from Montana). They also offer prepared meals and sides, along with grains, legumes, honey and oils.
PROS: Extremely high quality, regenerative ranching practices, local community focused, great customer service, free monthly trial.
CONS: May be cost prohibitive for some, currently only a monthly subscription option (however, you can sign up for the free trial and then place all your holiday orders).
OVERALL: I highly recommend RegenMarket. This is an incredibly high-quality product line that does not disappoint in the taste department. I love the variety of RegenMarket’s meat offerings, and other specialty products like regional honey and grains. It just feels right to order from a local Big Sky business that is so focused on regenerative ranching practices and collaborating with Montana ranchers. It really is a win-win.
Visit regenmarket.com
BIG SKY BUSINESS IS A WIN-WIN FOR CUSTOMERS AND MONTANA RANCHERS!
SEVEN STARS RESORT & SPA
A TURKS AND CAICOS’ GEM
BY JOSH TIMON
If you had to choose one spot on earth that naturally boasts the quintessential cyan blue, you’d have to be on the beach at Seven Stars Resort in Turks and Caicos. Never have I seen a more perfect hue of the dynamic, turquoise-colored water kissed by the soft, white sand beaches for miles. It gave me pause to think I had the opportunity to walk this path every day for the next week, the exact recharge I had needed.
Our hotel guide was clever to take us to the beach as the first part of our tour, leaving us with that memory in front of mind. As she took us to the room, we saw the luxurious property from the fifth
level, and we were astounded at the perfectly placed deck chairs, various staff tending to guests and quiet hum of festive music playing from the deck bar overlooking the beach. We could not wait to take it all in!
Our room was as luxurious as the rest of the resort: well-appointed; clean; spacious; and modern. I loved having the kitchen to make my morning coffee in the room, laundry to wash swimsuits each night, and the huge patio to sit out and take calls in the shade in the afternoon while watching the waves roll in and out.
We ate at all the restaurants on-site and had great food throughout. I recommend the Greek salad
and curried chicken sandwich poolside, the lobster bisque from The Farm, and the grouper at Seven. Many other great restaurants were within walking distance, and we felt safe doing so. A great grocery store is located just across the street.
We went out on a clear bottom kayak excursion one morning, and it was magical. Getting so close to the sea turtles to hear them take a breath for air was unmatched. The people of this island are treasures, and Seven Stars has given us the opportunity to be pampered by them and discover this magical paradise while doing so. Thank you!
Visit sevenstarsgracebay.com
LUCCHESE BOOTS
MAKE A STATEMENT, EMBRACE THE WESTERN SPIRIT
BY JENNY BLUE
Buying a pair of Lucchese boots is a whole experience, not just your average shoe shopping trip. It’s near impossible to just try on one pair of boots, but I ended up purchasing the gorgeous Myrtle boots. Dark blue, lizard skin with various shades of teal leather makes a statement, and the wood bottoms make me feel like a true cowgirl living out West. Whether you want a classic brown boot or something to catch onlookers’ attention, Lucchese boots will always deliver with exceptional customer service and a wide variety of boots in both styles and materials. If you’re looking to truly spoil someone special in your life, take them to experience buying a pair of Lucchese boots. Each and every time I wear mine, I look forward to the day I get to buy my next pair.
Visit lucchese.com or their bozeman location at 131 E Main St.
406 AGAVE
AÑEJO OLD FASHIONED: A TASTE OF MONTANA’S SPIRIT
BY TUCKER HARRIS
Nestled in the heart of Big Sky, Montana, 406 Agave boasts tequilas born of rugged landscapes and artisanal craft. Made by generations-old distillers in Jalisco, Mexico with 100% Blue Weber Agave, the Blanco, Reposado or Añejo tequilas are sure to serve the perfect cocktail this holiday season.
The Añejo Old Fashioned transforms tequila into a cozy, smooth and sophisticated treat. In this cocktail, aged tequila meets a spoonful of agave syrup, plus dashes of orange and Angostura bitters, creating a harmony of smoky and citrusy flavors. Served in a rocks glass over a large ice cube and garnished with orange zest, it’s a cocktail meant to be savored with friends.
The Añejo’s journey from field to bottle echoes in its impeccable quality, meticulously handcrafted in small batches to ensure the smoothest drinking experience. Perfect for gifting or sharing at festive gatherings, it’s more than a drink—it’s a celebration of Montana’s spirit and the joy of the season. Cheers to the holidays with every sip of 406 Agave!
Visit 406agave.com
WILDRYE DISTILLING
BY JEN CLANCEY
The Queen Bee Honey Gin also has Montana honey in it, and has a robust, rich flavor. As a person not keen on sipping gin by itself, this one stood out to me. It was warm and smooth. I would describe it as not only pleasant, but fitting of its name, holding a depth from the smidge of honey, and once again, balanced out with spices and a thoughtful process. Visit wildryedistilling.com or in person at 111 E Oak St #1E, Bozeman.
Wildrye Distilling accomplished the perfect flavor for fall and the winter months in its Apple Pie Liqueur. While attempts at capturing these flavors in a bottle can teeter into syrupy, oversweetness, Wildrye lands on the warm apple and aromatics smoothly, achieving a not-too-sweet liqueur. The spirit includes fresh apple cider, spices and Montana honey to create a rich flavor to enjoy in cocktails in the winter.
BIG SKY NATURAL HEALTH
BY LESLIE KILGORE
For those on the gift list who like to be proactive when it comes to their health and wellness, and especially during the colder months, the Winter Wellness Boost package at Big Sky Natural Health is the perfect stocking stuffer.
The package includes a series of three vitamin shots taken 4-6 weeks apart that improve mood, energy, boost the immune system and help with sleep, among other benefits that are felt almost immediately. Taking a series of shots during winter can ensure a healthy and vital flu season even more. The generous doses of B vitamins and Vitamin D can also help to quell those winter blues.
This wellness package is a great gift choice for parents who are constantly on the go and needing more sleep, or for those who need to hustle and stay healthy while working outside during the ski season.
Visit bigskynaturalhealthmt.com
BIG SKY ACE HARDWARE
STAY WARM THIS WINTER WITH THAW GEAR FROM BIG SKY ACE HARDWARE
BY SOPHIE GOTWALD
The THAW Heated Oversocks, Knit Beanie and Rechargeable Hand Warmers should be staples in your winter gear setup. For the person whose winter activities are cut short due to cold feet in their boots or not being able to feel their fingers, these are a game changer.
The Heated Oversocks come with three different modes to allow you to adjust the amount of heat you need that can last for up to eight hours. The battery-powered hand warmers fit easily in your pockets to give your cold hands the warmth they need at any given moment while you’re out in the elements.
Luckily, our local Big Sky ACE Hardware carries these products! Stop by to pick up the perfect gift that will keep you warm and make recreating in the elements more enjoyable. Visit acehardware.com/store-details/15730 or in person at 1565 Lone Mountain Trail.
SMITH
SMITH DELIVERS ON ALL FRONTS WITH MISSION HELMET AND ARVO SUNGLASSES
BY HILLER HIGMAN
Smith Mission Ski Helmet
The Smith Mission is the best ski helmet I’ve ever owned—though, to be fair, it’s also the only one. After nearly 50 years of skiing, I finally decided to give helmets a try, and so far, it’s been great. From the moment I put it on, it fit perfectly right out of the box.
It pairs seamlessly with my Smith goggles—no fogging or awkward gaps—and is super lightweight. I was worried a helmet might feel bulky or uncomfortable, but I barely notice it’s on.
The removable ear flaps are a nice touch—perfect for those cold, sub-zero Montana days, but easy to pop off when spring skiing rolls around. The vents are another great feature, keeping everything comfortable no matter the weather.
For my first helmet, the Smith Mission has made the transition easy. Going from a hat to a helmet was a no-brainer, and I’d highly recommend it!
Smith Arvo Sunglasses
I’m 100% sold on Smith sunglasses. The Arvo is the first pair I’ve owned, and they’re a definite step up from any other sunglasses I’ve used. What really stands out are the flexible hinges—they have just the right amount of give, so the fit is always comfortable, even after hours of wear. The wraparound design is perfect, offering excellent coverage without feeling bulky, and it seems to fit my face better than other pairs I’ve tried.
The lenses are another highlight. They’ve got a great finish that cuts glare and enhances clarity, which I’ve especially appreciated on bright days. Whether I’m hiking, biking, or just running errands, these have become my go-to sunglasses. They stay put during activity but are still lightweight enough for all-day wear.
If you’re looking for a versatile, comfortable pair of sunglasses that can handle both outdoor adventures and daily life, the Arvo is a great choice. I’m already thinking about getting a second pair!
Visit smithoptics.pxf.io/EEaqRK
WHY TURTLEBOX IS THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE SPEAKER TURTLEBOX
BY ELI KRETZMANN
Did you know trout are drawn to late ‘90s rock ’n roll? Yeah, we didn’t either, until we brought Turtlebox waterproof speakers fishing with us.
We like our jams on the river. As guides who spend our summers in the backcountry, we are always looking for that portable speaker system that checks all the boxes: large sound, battery life, and weatherproof. Enter Turtlebox. Left out overnight in a rainstorm? No problem. Bouncing around with the rest of the gear in the back of the truck? No problem. Strapped to the raft pumping beats through the whitewater? No problem.
Considering we spend six days at a time in the backcountry, we need a speaker that lasts. Giving guests the option to play their favorite tunes on the raft is pretty slick. Plus, sometimes the campfire circle just wants to jam out. With several Turtleboxes on the river this past summer, we pretty much had all our bases covered.
Now about those trout and music…We can’t say with scientific accuracy that ‘90s rock brings the cutthroats to the surface, but it sure does add a lot of fun to long days on the water.
STIO
BATTLE OF THE BOOTS – HIGH OR LOW? WHICH STIO COLTER BOOT FITS YOUR MOUNTAIN STYLE?
BY TUCKER HARRIS & MEGAN PAULSON COLTER WATERPROOF LOW BOOT
The Women’s Colter Chukka Boots are the perfect winter boots, insulated and weather-resistant with a good-gripping rubber outsole for traction. These are the perfect shoes for taking my dogs on long walks in sub-freezing temperatures. Their easy slip-on and lightweight design make them convenient for heading out the door on a quick errand and they’re stylish enough to be worn out on the town too. I can’t wait to switch out of my ski boots and into the comfy Colter Chukka Boot at après after a long day of skiing once the lifts start spinning!
COLTER WATERPROOF TALL BOOT
Everyone knows a solid boot is key in the mountains and Stio’s tall waterproof version of the Colter is no exception. These are some of the lightest, best fitting and coziest boots I’ve worn. The Colter Tall is quick and easy to slip on and off for running the kids to school, shoveling the driveway and heading to the mountain for some turns. In addition to being waterproof, the boots have durable treaded soles that have proven to be grippy on wet and snowy surfaces. Stio was able to incorporate a merino liner topped with fleece that keeps my feet warm but doesn’t overheat, a bonus for wearing these all day long.
THE PERFECT BLEND OF STYLE AND FUNCTION STIO WOMEN’S CREDENTIAL JACKET AND PANTS
BY ELLIE BOESCHENSTEIN
The Stio Women’s Credential jacket and pant set is everything I hoped for and more. It feels stylish but athletic, which is exactly the look I’m going for when hitting the slopes. The fit is flattering and true to size with room to add layers underneath. The pants have an adjustable waist allowing me to customize the fit to my liking. I love this feature, especially after an après burger and beer. The jacket is the perfect length and has great coverage without feeling bulky. I love how when fully zipped, I can pull it up to cover my exposed face or use it to keep the wind and snow away from my fuzzy buff.
This set is designed for mountain weather, and it shows. The waterproof, breathable shell keeps me dry in heavy snow and the jacket’s wind resistance is impressive. I also appreciate the ventilation
options, which help manage temperature, perfect for spring skiing. The fabric has a slightly stretchy feel, so movement feels natural when I’m skiing. Here in Big Sky, Montana we can experience some brutally cold temperatures, but we can’t let that stop us from taking on the mountain! I once was told “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” This set locks in warmth and allows me to own those “bad weather” days.
I was thrilled to see the set was offered in my favorite color, navy blue. If that’s not your favorite color, the set is also offered in a few other popping colors. I never want to be super flashy in my ski fit and this set makes me feel cool, confident and ready to ski in any conditions.
stio.com/products/womens-credential-jacket
WARMTH, STYLE AND WESTERN FLAIR THE STIO TURNBOLT JACKET
BY TAYLOR OWENS
The Stio Turnbolt Down Jacket is a fantastic investment for anyone facing truly cold winter days and wanting a stylish, high-performance layer. Right away, the down insulation feels impressively warm and light—perfect for freezing temperatures without the bulky look. The windproof and waterrepellent fabric feels reliable and keeps out chill and light snow, making it ideal for staying cozy
during mountain getaways, urban commutes, or après-ski adventures.
Adding a uniquely Western flair, the jacket’s color palette and inner lining evoke a classic mountain-town aesthetic. It feels right at home on the slopes, at a ranch, or in town, effortlessly blending rugged practicality with style. This is the jacket you can wear straight from a backcountry trail into a small-town saloon, fitting right into the modern
outdoor scene while capturing that Western look.
The Turnbolt Down Jacket is the perfect choice if you want something stylish, functional, and incredibly warm. It has quickly become my go-to jacket this winter, perfect for everything from walks in the mountains to chilly evening strolls in town.
Who doesn't love 2 for 1? When I found out Dovetail – a made-bywomen-for-women brand - had a reversible sherpa fleece / flannel jacket offering this winter I was all in. Dubbed ‘utility apparel’ the Old School Reversible Work Jacket is versatile and works equally well for outdoor chores, walking the dog and daily office wear. It packs a lot of warmth when the wind picks up and is equally comfortable wearing indoor. Bonus features – easy snap closure on both sides, big pockets, and soft feel. The color-blocked sherpa fleece is my favorite side and packs a cozy, retro style. The ladies on your list won’t be disappointed if this Old School jacket ends up under the tree. Tip: The sizing chart online is a little difficult to understand but just go with your regular size and the oversized girlfriend fit will give you plenty of room to layer.
SEAT OVERALLS, THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR COZY, CONVENIENT STYLE
BY CONNER CLEMENS
The Dovetail Women’s Freshly Drop Seat Overalls are a game changer for anyone tired of the usual struggle with bathroom breaks in overalls. I recently got to experience them firsthand, and the innovative zipper at the back made it incredibly easy to “drop and go” without removing the entire outfit—such a time-saver. Made from thermal stretch denim, these overalls kept me warm and cozy, with a smart, slim fit that didn’t feel bulky. Whether you’re at a tailgate, working outdoors, or just want a cute pair of overalls, the thermoregulating insulation offers just the right amount of warmth without overheating, while also being eco-friendly. Functional, comfortable, and stylish—these overalls made my day a lot easier.
The first time I tested out the 7-inch Teton Edge Santoku knife from NewWest Knifeworks, I was putting it up to the true test of what it claims to do: slice, dice and mince. I made a simple beef chili – a recipe that half of the time is spent chopping up vegetables. However, with this new Santoku knife, the dreaded task became a breeze. I started out with the onion: a smooth and crisp slice. I then moved onto dicing the celery, peppers, tomatoes and jalapenos. The edge of the knife ensured nothing stuck to the sides. And finally, I minced the garlic. All scooped up with the wide blade and thrown into the pot, this knife made everything so simple.
The 7” size is comfortable for the average home chef, with the quality and elegance of a superior chef knife. Beyond just the technical benefits, the look and design of the knife is beautiful. The Shoshone colorway and Teton Edge give ode to the origin of New West knifeworks in Jackson Hole. The Teton Edge has me excited to try many more recipes with lots of slicing, dicing and mincing.
Whether you’re a modern adventurer or avid outdoorsman, the TJB Hatchet should be a top item on anyone’s gifting list. TJB collaborated with Adler, a German company with over 100 years of hatchet and ax-making mastery, so the TJB is made in Germany and high quality and powerful given its compact size. Chopping kindling for our fireplace and wood for our camp firepit was done with ease – the Hatchet has a great swing weight and super sharp blade making it easy to crush through outdoor tasks. It looks great too – a green accent stripe compliments USA-sourced hickory, all-steel blade, black handle and leather sheath. Plus the TJB Hatchet comes packaged in an all-wood gift case with unique clasps and the TJB x Adler story, making it feel even more elevated out of the box. You won’t even need wrapping paper for this outdoor staple!
TJB ELLIS MULTI-TOOL
Rivers, trails, and DIY projects are no match for the Ellis Multi-Tool which successfully tackled any task I asked of it in both the extreme outdoors and during everyday activities. The James Brand created a sleek design with the Ellis, so it’s small and easy to carry along in your pocket but didn’t disappoint when needed to carry out big tasks. On the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, a scenario that demands constant maintenance of gear, the Ellis Multi-tool came in handy for tightening oars, cutting rope and fixing my tent in a windstorm. Its razor-sharp, stainless-steel blade and pry bar provided quick fixes on a hiking trip, and excelled on the job site when I needed to pry nails and tighten screws. The clip that attaches to your pants or pack is handy, while the tool's scissors provide extra utility for precise cuts. I’ve even found myself using the serrated blade for cutting small branches for fires. These tools are designed for adventure, whether in the wild or on the job, and are built to last. The most difficult decision you have to make is what color best matches your vibe.
BRIDGER ANIMAL NUTRITION
BY PATRICK MAHONEY
Are you looking for the perfect gift for your dog this Holiday season? Then look no further than the West Paw Toppl. Being the owner of a pair of cattle dogs I can tell you that physical activity doesn't always get the job done by the end of the day. No matter if we go on countless walks, chase the ball, or hit our favorite hiking spot, these dogs are still ready to rock and roll. That's where the Toppl shines. The Toppl is an extremely durable treat dispenser built for the toughest of chewers. I like to fill mine with a mixture of pumpkin puree, peanut butter, kibble, and treats. I freeze my Toppls overnight and give them to my dogs at the end of the day to provide mental stimulation as we wind down into the evening. Shortly after they are done you can hear that sweet, sweet sound of snoring dogs.
What separates the Toppl from other treat dispensers is its wide mouth. This gives the dog access to the entire bowl making sure it's licked clean. Other dispensers you may have to clean by hand if your dog can't reach the bottom. The Toppl is also made from recyclable material and is dishwasher safe.
You can pick yours up at Bridger Animal Nutrition. They are a one stop shop for all things pet related! Cattle Dog Approved.
Visit bridgeranimalnutrition.com or their Bozeman location at 501 Evergreen Dr.
HEY BEAR
GRIZZLY 399 TRIBUTE COLLECTION
BY MIRA BRODY
Last week, we received heartbreaking news—Grizzly 399, the iconic bear of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, was tragically killed in a vehicle collision in her home of Grand Teton National Park. At 28-years-old she was the region's oldest known reproducing grizzly and raised nearly two dozen cubs, inspiring countless visitors and conservationists worldwide. Hey Bear, the region’s bear awareness brand, is offering some incredible tribute gear that give back to an amazing cause.
Pre-order Hey Bear's Grizzly 399 tribute collection, including a hat and shit featuring the iconic grizzly, now through Nov. 30. Orders ship Dec. 9. $10 per item will go to the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, a Bozeman-based nonprofit with a global reach that assesses habitat fragmentation. Their efforts help establish solutions like wildlife crossings, like the one proposed just at the mouth of Gallatin Canyon.
