Explore Big Sky - September 5 to 18, 2024 by Outlaw Partners

September 5 - September 18, 2024 Volume 15 // Issue 18

LONE P EAK B EG I NS FA L L

S P O RT S S E ASO N

TAY LOR M ID DL E TON TO ST EP D OWN F ROM BIG S KY R E SO RT RO L E

M AD I SON COUNTY AS KS F O R

LO C A L F E E DB ACK ON GR OWT H

M DT DI R EC TOR VISI T S B I G S KY

B IG S KY LOCA L AWAR D ED F O R

B AT T LE AGA I N ST N OX IOUS WEE D S

P ICK L E B AL L P L AYERS, B S CO J O I N F OR CE S TO R E N OVATE COU RT S

September 5 - September 18, 2024 Volume 15, Issue No. 18

Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana

PUBLISHER

Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL

VP MEDIA

Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jack Reaney | jack@theoutlawpartners.com

DIGITAL PRODUCER

Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com

DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD

Fischer Genau | Fischer@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ME BROWN | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Josh Timon | josh@theoutlawpartners.com

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com

VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com

DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS

Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com

MARKETING MANAGER

Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTENT MARKETING LEAD

Taylor Owens | taylor@theoutlawpartners.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Allison Bradac, Kaley Burns, Neal Herbert, Rachel Hergett, Michelle Kendziorski, Zeke Lloyd, Dan Parnes, Benjamin Alva Polley

BIG SKY LOCAL AWARDED FOR BATTLE AGAINST NOXIOUS WEEDS

Big Sky resident Mel Crichton has spent years targeting invasive, noxious weeds in his spare time. His passion for protecting Big Sky’s landscape earned him Gallatin County’s Outstanding Noxious Weed Management Award this August.

MADISON COUNTY ASKS FOR LOCAL FEEDBACK ON GROWTH

Montana law mandates that counties update their growth plan every five years, but Madison County has fallen behind—it was 2012 when the county last made a meaningful snapshot of growth, visions and community priorities. To get back on track, leaders are hosting community forums in various communities, including Big Sky.

MDT DIRECTOR VISITS BIG SKY

Chris Dorrington, the new director of the Montana Department of Transportation, visited Big Sky during his first week on the job. He met with MDT’s project leadership team for the 191/64 Optimization Plan, which seeks to improve U.S. Highway 191 and Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail). On top of long-term goals for the Gallatin Canyon and Big Sky routes, the leadership team identified short-term projects to make a quick impact.

TAYLOR MIDDLETON TO STEP DOWN FROM BIG SKY RESORT ROLE

Big Sky Resort announced on Sept. 3 that President and COO Taylor Middleton will step down from his position on Oct. 1. Middleton began working for Big Sky Resort in 1981 as a desk clerk at Huntley Lodge, and he became general manager in 1996. Since then, he has spent nearly three decades as a key leader of the resort.

PICKLEBALL PLAYERS, BSCO JOIN FORCES TO RENOVATE COURTS

Big Horn senior Joe Gale broke a series of red zone tackles for his first touchdown of the season during his team’s 70-0 rout of Lame Deer High School on Aug. 31. Gale then rushed for a two-point conversion, giving the Big Horns a 64-0 lead to begin the fourth quarter of their first 2024 game. 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.

Tennis and pickleball players believe it’s time for resurfacing work on the more than 40-year-old tennis and pickleball courts in Big Sky Community Park. ⁠The effort includes dozens of Big Sky tennis and pickleball players and the courts’ owner, the Big Sky Community Organization. As of late August, about $720,000 has been raised for the $1 million project.

LONE PEAK BEGINS FALL SPORTS SEASON

As August turns to September, high school sports are back in Big Sky. To begin the season, Lone Peak High School’s football team dominated Lame Deer High School in the season opener at home. Soccer teams are also looking ahead at potential playoff berths, and focusing on building strong cultures with young teams.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to media@outlaw.partners.

ADVERTISING DEADLINE

For the September 19th issue September 11th, 2024

CORRECTIONS

Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners.

OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@theoutlawpartners.com

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

NEWS IN BRIEF BRIEFS

MONTANA FWP SEEKS INPUT ON MANAGING RIVER RECREATION

EBS STAFF

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will hear public input on river recreation to help manage recreation activities in the future. The state agency will hold three virtual and public workshops where participants can ask questions and share insights on trends and challenges in river recreation in Montana.

The meetings will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The River Recreation Advisory Council, a group that will consider how to protect natural resources and ensure high-quality experiences on Montana rivers, will host the workshops.

“Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, floating or swimming, we want to know what you think are important issues surrounding river recreation and any ideas the public might have on how we can improve river recreation management,” stated Deb O’Neill, acting administrator for FWP’s Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, in the release.

The release stated the rising popularity of river activities in certain areas has created challenges, including congestion on waterways and at access sites, and conflict among users and different types of recreation.

“As stewards of these public resources, FWP is committed to gathering broad public input to ensure sound management of these resources and opportunities,” the release stated. “The recommendations by the council will help create a fair and predictable system for managing river recreation.”

GALLATIN COUNTY PUBLIC INVITED TO REVIEW LAND USE AND HOUSING DRAFT

After several public meetings in March 2024, a project team put together drafts of a Future Land Use Map and Housing Strategy for Gallatin County. Both draft plans serve as action items in the 2021 Gallatin County Growth Policy, and are expected to build upon the policy.

The public is invited to meet the project team, review the draft FLUM and HS and ask questions at upcoming public meetings. One of the meetings will be at the Big Sky Water & Sewer District.

There will be eight opportunities to attend meetings across the county, and they will each run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 9, Bozeman: Public Library Community Room, 626 E. Main St.

Tuesday, Sept. 10, West Yellowstone: Visitor Center, 30 Yellowstone Ave

Wednesday, Sept. 11, Manhattan: Gallatin Conservation District, 120 S. Fifth St.

Friday, Sept. 13, Amsterdam Churchill: Manhattan Bank, 7175 Churchill Road

Monday, Sept. 16, Big Sky: Big Sky Water & Sewer District, 561 Little Coyote Rd

Tuesday, Sept. 17, Belgrade: Community Library, 106 N Broadway

Thursday, Sept. 19, Gallatin Gateway: Community Center, 145 Mill St

Wednesday, Sept. 25, Zoom: https://bit.ly/GLTN-VirtualMtg, Meeting ID: 828

number: 1-719-359-4580

YELLOWSTONE PARK REPORTS TOURISM CONTRIBUTED $828M TO LOCAL ECONOMY IN 2023

EBS STAFF

New National Park Service data reports that 2023 tourism to Yellowstone National Park contributed $828 million to local economies.

According to an Aug. 28 press release from the park, the 4.5 million visitors who visited Yellowstone in 2023 spent $623 million in communities around the park, supporting 8,560 jobs. The cumulative benefit amounted to $828 million.

Across the country, national parks hosted 325.5 million visitors in 2023, supporting 415,400 jobs. Visitors spent $26.4 billion in surrounding communities and provided $19.4 billion in labor income leading to an overall economic output of $55.6 billion.

Lodging led the way in contributions, totaling $9.9 billion in economic output and supporting 89,200 jobs. Restaurants came in second with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

Visitors spent $713 million in gateway communities around national parks in Montana in 2023.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” stated Chuck Sams, National Park Service director. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”

GALLATIN COUNTY SHERIFF CELEBRATES

SAFE

TRUMP RALLY,

EXPLAINS $62K IN EXTRA COSTS INCURRED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

EBS STAFF

On Aug. 9, former President Donald Trump visited Montana and hosted a rally at Montana State University in Bozeman. An Aug. 30 press release from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office praised county-wide first responders for helping ensure a safe event, and announced the extra costs incurred due to overtime work from Gallatin County peace officers.

Those extra costs totaled $62,557.38 across five agencies, according to the press release. In a follow-up email to EBS, the sheriff’s office confirmed its message from an Aug. 1 press release: “Neither the campaigns nor the federal government pay for any of the services local first responders provide for these visits. However, we have built-in contingencies in our budgets for events just like this.”

The Aug. 30 release declared that the event “went off safely due to the diligent collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement and other first responder agencies.” That collaboration included overtime hours resulting in extra costs for Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Bozeman Police and Fire departments, Montana State University Police and the Belgrade Police Department.

The release explained that when a candidate protected by U.S. Secret Service visits, the candidate’s campaign does not request additional law enforcement “and therefore [is] not financially responsible.” Instead, the Secret Service requests assistance from local law enforcement through mutual aid.

“The Secret Service is specific in their needs and requests, and it is our responsibility to meet those needs to keep our community safe,” the release stated.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

Curious about Big Sky's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)?

Join the Big Sky Resort Area District for an informal Coffee and Conversation and connect with our team about the status of the CIP. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, gain insights about the CIP projects, and learn about the progress being made to move them to the next phase.

Wednesday, September 11

8:00AM - 9:00AM Resort Tax O ce 11 Lone Peak Drive, Suite #204 (above Christy Sports)

Stick around for the BSRAD Board Meeting immediately following Coffee and Conversation for more discussion and decisions shaping our community's future.

OBITUARY

GERALD “JERRY” FRANCIS PAPE SR.

JUNE 5, 1939 – AUG. 15, 2024

Gerald Francis Pape, Sr. (Jerry), was born on June 5, 1939 to Chicago Police Captain Frank Pape and Catherine (Kitty) Tortorello Pape in Chicago, Illinois. When Jerry was born, together with his older sister Judy, the Pape family was complete. Jerry attended Fenwick High School, the University of Notre Dame, and later, DePaul Law School where earned a law degree and passed the bar exam. Jerry met Becky Ann Hogan at the South Ledge near Oak Street Beach where he was a lifeguard. Becky was a fashion model, city planner, Loyola University Chicago graduate and the love of his life. They were married on August 13th, 1966, at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, and started to build a family in 1967, including Jerry Jr., Frank and Rebecca (Becca).

Jerry was always an adventurer that never liked to sit still, and when his kids were still quite little, he and Becky took their family west. Fortunately for the young Pape family, Jerry’s dad’s camper broke down, not for the first time or the last time, at Moose Creek Flats in the Gallatin Canyon on their way to Yellowstone Park. They had to stay in one of the first condos in what would soon become Big Sky waiting for the camper to be repaired at the Conoco station. There were about 90 people living in Big Sky then, but for Jerry, that was part of the allure that convinced he and Becky to make one of their very best decisions which was to borrow from his dad, Frank, to buy Silverbow condo #25 and move to Big Sky in the summer of 1973.

Jerry was the cowboy from Chicago—a dreamer, an athlete (a Notre Dame swim team captain and a fantastic skier, golfer, fisherman, and cowboy), a dear friend, the unofficial ambassador to and champion of Big Sky, a role model, a mentor, a father, a father-in-law, a godfather and a grandfather…and he was great at every role.

Jerry’s dream to build Big Sky into the amazing place that it is today began over 50 years ago when he and Becky started working at Triple Creek Realty and then bought TCR in 1975. Over the ensuing decades, Jerry went on to sell so many friends and families their first slice of Heaven. Even if they could not afford it, he would still get the deal done for so many, including many of the original Big Sky families.

Jerry’s kids were fortunate enough to tag along on many of his adventures, and what they will remember most will be the raucous laughter that would erupt once one of them told a joke or pranked another, or he did the same. As anyone who knew Jerry, they know he liked a good joke, a better prank and loved, truly loved, to laugh, a laugh so infectious that many of those who loved Jerry can still hear it now. That laugh, that smile, and those twinkling eyes.

Over the years, as Big Sky grew, Jerry built lifelong friendships with some amazing people that shared

the same gratitude to be in Big Sky as he did. He also began team roping and rodeoing which opened up a whole new community of friends for Jerry. Jerry never lacked friends, and truly had some of the very, very best and loved and appreciated each and every one of them. To be Jerry’s friend was to know his generosity, both of his time and his spirit. If you needed anything, Jerry was likely the first in line offering to help or offering a kind word (or a swear word when needed).

Anyone that knew Jerry knew he truly loved kids and animals of all sizes. Jerry was a wonderful godfather, and when he was blessed to become a grandpa to Trinity, Pierce, Ryan and Peyton, he became the best grandpa one could ever ask for — he was there for his grandkids — Jerry taught each of his grandkids to ski, golf, horseback ride and fish, he went to their baptisms, birthdays, sporting and artistic events, graduations, and Sunday dinners which often involved having a horse in the back yard. He would drive them around for hours, although some of them started driving him around too the past few years, looking for all the animals that call Big Sky home, and making up perfect nicknames for all four of them. He was so proud of each of them and loved them immeasurably which is why he wasn’t ready to go, even at 85, when he’d already had such a full life with Becky.

Jerry and Becky’s 58th anniversary was on Aug. 13, and he held on to make it past that memorable day and passed away the next day. We know that he never wanted to leave Becky alone, but we also know that because he had his family, and thousands of friends everywhere, she will never be alone.

Jerry is in Heaven right now…which really means he’s still here with us…because Big Sky was his Heaven. So, when you go skiing, golfing, fishing, horseback riding, team roping or on a safari for animals with your kids or grandkids, pay close attention, because he’ll be right nearby to tell you how lucky you are to be in the last, best place— Jerry’s Big Sky.

Jerry is survived by a family that deeply loved him and will miss him immensely, including his wife, Becky, their three children, Jerry Jr., Frank (Anouk), and Becca (Ross Wenger), their four grandchildren, Trinity and Pierce Pape, and Ryan and Peyton Wenger. He is also survived by his sister, Judy (Dick) Clark, his nephews, Rick, David, and Chris Clark, his niece, Katie Clark; his sister in-law, Rae Hogan; his dogs, Minnie and Peewee, his horses, Itchy and Luther, Becky’s bird, Peeper, his granddogs, Po and Wookiee; and thousands of great friends that were fortunate enough to have met him.

Jerry’s funeral service will be held on Sat., September 14, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Big Sky Chapel with a reception at the Chapel afterward from 12-2 p.m. In addition, a memorial celebration will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 from 12-4 p.m. at the Black Bull Clubhouse. If any of Jerry’s friends would like to donate to causes near and dear to Jerry’s heart, please consider the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the Montana State Chute Boss Club and the St. Joseph of Big Sky Church.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY

Dear Editor,

My Trump-leaning friends chide me for being part of a “climate cult.” My children and their friends chide me for being unsympathetic and not doing more to address climate pollution. So, I’ve come to call myself on old white guy that is in the “radical middle!”

The reality of it is that climate pollution can be addressed without any sacrifice. My children’s generation can be the first one to stem climate pollution and do so while raising living standards around the world. The progress young leaders have quietly made on both sides of the aisle is encouraging. All we (primarily, my generation) must do is take the approach that Ronald Reagan and George Shultz started discussing already in the 1980s: put a price on carbon, send the revenue back to all Americans to make their own decisions and get out of the way. Let our economic system drive the change.

We all know there’s no silver bullet to solve climate pollution. But our economic system has been a great catalyst for so many positive changes we have experienced over our lifetime, without growing the size of government.

That is why I have become a member of Citizens Climate Lobby. We look to take market-based solutions and help our members of Congress put together the appropriate legislation. So, please join me in reminding our legislators and those running for office that we will vote for our health and for

our children’s future. As our planet’s stewards, let’s move forward with clean energy to ensure we can all still ski, hike, fish, ranch and farm for centuries to come.

Max Scheder-Bieschin Big Sky, Montana

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX SCHEDER-BIESCHIN

GALLATIN COUNTY CROWNS BIG SKY LOCAL AS NOXIOUS ‘WEED WARRIOR’ LOCAL

BY FISCHER GENAU

BIG SKY—Noxious weeds like spotted knapweed, Canada thistle, and leafy spurge are persistent, pernicious plants that threaten biodiversity and can irreversibly transform and overwhelm natural landscapes. But in Big Sky resident Mel Crichton, they’ve met their match.

“Basically, I’ve been Canada thistle’s mortal enemy now for 13 years,” Crichton told EBS.

Gallatin County awarded Crichton its second-ever Outstanding Noxious Weed Management Award on Aug. 14 for his work combating noxious weeds in his yard, neighborhood and the surrounding community.

When Crichton and his wife moved to Big Sky’s Meadow Village 13 years ago, he noticed seeds of Canada thistle, a particularly hardy invasive plant species, blowing onto his lot and causing the weed to spring up there. Soon after, he met Jennifer Mohler, executive director of nonprofit Grow Wild, at a farmers market, and she gave him a book of invasive plants and tips on taking care of them. Ever since, he’s been waging a war on weeds.

“I’m retired so I’ve got time, and instead of playing golf, I go out and execute weeds,” Crichton said. “It’s something that I figure I’m giving something back to the community—it’s not a whole lot, but I hope by setting an example, other people do the same.”

Noxious weeds are a problem in Big Sky. They typically take root at newly built homes or vacant lots and spread into surrounding natural areas, where they push out critical native vegetation that wildlife need, affect water quality and quantity, and can exacerbate fire danger. They can depreciate the value of landowners’ property too.

“Weeds are ecological tumors in the landscape,” Mohler said. “Once it starts on your property and creeps out to open space or Forest Service public lands, it has tremendous detrimental effects.”

When Crichton eradicated that first infestation of Canada thistle in his yard, he didn’t stop there. Next he tackled the neighboring lot, then started making

sorties onto the nearby golf course, dispatching weeds with his trusty sprayer, herbicide and shovel. Before long he was drawing his neighbors’ attention to the issue of noxious weeds.

The first thing he counsels people do is learn to identify them. Crichton uses a plant identification app on his phone, then determines how best to control them. Small infestations of taproot plants like houndstongue or oxeye daisy can be managed by handpulling, but others with extensive root systems like the Canada thistle require a more integrated approach. Crichton learned many of these techniques from Mohler, who nominated him for the noxious weed management award.

“He’s just a genuine human being who just does the work, doesn’t look for recognition, gives back to his community, and makes a difference,” Mohler said. “He really does make a difference. He’s my greatest success story, and he’s a total inspiration for me, because when things get rough here, I just go, look what Mel has done. He just keeps me going.”

Mohler hopes that others will be like Crichton and start making a difference in their communities. There are many vacant lots and people who only stay on their property half the year in Big Sky,

and these places can become breeding grounds for invasive plant species.

“Noxious weeds don’t respect property lines, so what happens on your property can soon affect your neighbor,” Mohler said. “People think, ‘Oh, I’m just going to let it grow wild and it will be fine,’ but that’s not the case. Good stewardship is about ongoing, regular management, and we’re here to help.”

Mohler encourages people to contact Grow Wild for help managing noxious weeds on their property. They offer free site visits to identify weeds and provide counsel, and they offer a variety of resources for people who want to act.

“You have to take responsibility for your land, but also step up and be part of the solution and the bigger picture,” Mohler said. “If we all just do a little bit, we can really conserve the places we love. Mel is a shining example of that.”

Crichton’s labors have had a tangible impact. After almost a decade living in the meadow, where he pretty much wiped out all the weeds he could find, Crichton moved to Aspen Groves and resumed his offensive. He and his neighbor bought the vacant lot between them that was choked with weeds, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

“When I first moved here five years ago that lot was full of Canada thistle, dandelions, and oxeye daisies. Now they’re gone, and I think I counted 40 different varieties of wildflowers coming up in those spaces.”

Mel doesn’t want to be singled out for his work, but he does hope more people take matters into their own hands, as he did.

“It’s important that people understand the need for just regular people to get involved. I’m just a regular person here, and fortunately I’m retired so I’ve got some more time for that,” Crichton said. “If everybody would just take care of their own property, we wouldn’t need weed warriors. We’d all be weed warriors.”

The Gallatin County Weed District is currently accepting nominations for next year’s award.

Crichton (right) and fellow weed warriors work near the Big Sky Community Park in 2013. COURTESY OF DANIELLE JONES

PHOTO BY DANIELLE JONES

MADISON COUNTY SEEKS FEEDBACK ON GROWTH POLICY

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—On Thursday, Sept. 12, Madison County Planning Department officials will host a community forum in Big Sky to hear feedback as the county updates its growth policy, which has not been updated in 12 years.

The growth plan is meant to lay the framework for Madison County’s policies and regulations regarding land use and zoning. The plan is not a regulatory document, but it would provide an informal, community-based reference as Madison County creates regulations that impact whether new developments and subdivisions would be approved or denied, according to Cody Marxer, county planning director and floodplain administrator.

The Big Sky event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Moonlight Tavern, which will be open to the public at the Moonlight Lodge, 66 Mountain Loop Rd. in Big Sky. The event is part of a series of sessions in various Madison County communities, which will have the opportunity to provide input as Madison County develops its growth policy, a fiveyear community plan.

“These events are organized as open-house-style, so come and go as you are able,” an event flyer states. “These forums will provide the opportunity for discussion with your neighbors about the issues that

matter most to you and how Madison County can work towards responsibly balancing conservation and development.”

For those who cannot attend, the county has issued an online survey, open broadly to full- and part-time residents, former residents, visitors, and employees who work within the county— which includes a significant share of the Big Sky community.

The survey will remain open through September. “We’ve got a really good amount of [survey] feedback from Big Sky residents so far, and that’s super encouraging to me,” Marxer said in a phone call with EBS.

Marxer is a co-host of the in-person forums, which also are scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Sheridan Senior Center, Sept. 17 at the Pony Senior Center, and Sept. 23 at the Ennis Library. All events are from 4 to 6 p.m.

She said that although conversations around growth and development can be difficult, it’s valuable to get people together in the same room and have open discussions.

Updates needed on ‘grossly outdated’ plan from 2012

Montana statute requires counties to update their growth plan every five years—Madison County has

fallen behind and has not updated its plan for 12 years.

Marxer said the 2012 plan is “grossly outdated” in the wake of Madison County’s significant population and demographic changes.

“We need a better snapshot of where we are right now... We need a better snapshot of what our resource availability is,” she said.

The growth plan should function like a community master plan document, gauging where Madison County is today, and its vision and goals for the next five years.

“Right now, in Madison County, we don’t have a lot of regulations, in all honesty... This growth policy is a way of checking in with the community to decide, is what we have enough? Or do we want to see more? Or do we want to see less,” Marxer said.

She added that once the growth plan is updated, it could open the door for Madison County to apply for grant funding to pursue specific studies around resources like water or wildlife conservation.

Marxer’s team recognizes that the large county is full of varying concerns, hence the series of meetings across the county. She expects that the updated growth policy document will reflect each region’s unique priorities, based on feedback collected in the community forums.

NEW MDT DIRECTOR VISITS BIG SKY, DISCUSSES 191/64 OPTIMIZATION PLAN

PROJECT LEADERSHIP TEAM IDENTIFIES ‘QUICK WINS’ IN FIRST-ROUND PROJECTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY, MOBILITY, LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—The Montana Department of Transportation continues to pay close attention to improving highway safety and mobility in the Gallatin Canyon and Big Sky.

During his first week on the job as MDT director, Chris Dorrington paid a visit to Big Sky for a tour of U.S. Highway 191 between Four Corners and Beaver Creek, and Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail) into Big Sky.

“A well planned and operating transportation system is the backbone of Montana’s economy,” Dorrington stated in an Aug. 23 release from the Big Sky Resort Area District. “We understand that US 191/MT 64 plays an important role to the area’s prosperity and quality of life, and we value partnerships such as this to find solutions for communities.”

Dorrington wasn’t alone in his visit—it was the first time MDT’s project leadership team met onsite together to tour initial projects, according to the release. The team includes members from MDT, BSRAD, engineering firms HDR and Sanderson Stewart, and leaders from Madison and Gallatin counties.

The release stated that the 191/64 corridor “not only serves as a key artery between Montana’s busiest airport and Yellowstone National Park’s busiest entrance, it is also essential to the Big Sky community, where 75% of the workforce commutes daily.”

Kevin Germain, BSRAD board chair and member of the project leadership team, stated that 191 is Big Sky’s “lifeline,” and that the two-lane highway sees 5,000 drivers on peak days.

In 2020, MDT published its study of the same section of 191, which recommended over $370 million in improvement options. In 2023, MDT formed the US 191/MT 64 Optimization Plan to determine priorities and take action on the 2020 study. Based on feedback from Big Sky stakeholders familiar with local traffic challenges, MDT added Highway 64 to the optimization plan, which seeks “context sensitive solutions” by collecting stakeholder feedback and addressing community interests.

“We are so grateful for Director Dorrington, the MDT staff, and Madison and Gallatin Counties for their dedication to this plan,” Germain stated. “We can’t emphasize enough the importance this corridor has to our community’s economy but also for our continued environmental stewardship within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”

During the visit, the team discussed some “high-value ‘quick wins’” among the first round of projects identified since MDT launched the optimization plan.

One task is to finalize design alternatives for the 191/64 intersection in Big Sky—in April, BSRAD committed to purchasing the land adjacent to the intersection to make room for improvements.

“The design team is finalizing possible alternatives at this location that would maintain access to local businesses and minimize impacts to the Gallatin River,” according to MDT’s 191/64 project description.

Other priorities include enhancing access to the Lava Lake trailhead and the adjacent bridge over the Gallatin River, improving existing pullout areas for use by the public and emergency responders, and “exploring options to add passing lanes along the corridor.”

The team will also explore strategies to reduce travel time, improve reliability and expand public transportation along the corridor.

“Given recent growth and associated traffic impacts, the urgency for improvements has intensified for this one road in one road out… A financial plan, budget, and overall risk-based program schedule will be developed in alignment with these highvalue priorities as part of the overall Optimization Plan,” the release stated.

The project leadership team will give a public presentation during Big Sky Community Week in October, and host public meetings in the coming months, according to the release.

MDT continues to accept public comment through its Optimization Plan webpage, which includes a project description updated on Aug. 7.

Visit the webpage at mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/ us191mt64/ to provide feedback.

The project leadership team toured the highways, including the Lava Lake bridge and trailhead area to the 191/64 intersection in Big Sky. COURTESY OF BSRAD

MDT launched an unprecedented “optimization plan” in 2023 to improve U.S. Highway 191. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

TAYLOR MIDDLETON ANNOUNCES TRANSITION AT BIG SKY RESORT

GENERAL MANAGER TROY NEDVED WILL STEP INTO MIDDLETON’S ROLE AS PRESIDENT AND COO

On Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 3, Big Sky Resort announced that President and COO Taylor Middleton will step down from his role on Oct. 1.

Middleton began working for Big Sky Resort in 1981 as a desk clerk at Huntley Lodge. He became general manager in 1996 and has spent nearly three decades as a key leader of the resort.

“I couldn’t have known when I landed here just a year out of college that this would be my forever home and that I would have the opportunity to lead a big team in serving our customers and community,” Middleton stated in an email to EBS. “And yet here I am four decades later looking back on a career that has been tremendously rewarding and humbling.”

“As I reflect on Taylor’s remarkable career, his wise, long-term vision has played a pivotal role in Big Sky Resort’s trajectory,” Stephen Kircher, CEO of parent company Boyne Resorts, stated in a Big Sky Resort press release. “His leadership has consistently focused on the betterment of the resort and the surrounding community, leaving an indelible mark on the region. Taylor has led with enthusiasm for the mission and love for what Big Sky is and what it can and will be.”

Troy Nedved, current resort GM, will assume Middleton’s role as president and COO. Middleton will continue to serve the company in a new strategic and advisory role, according to the release. Nedved also began his Big Sky Resort career as a seasonal employee, when he took a job as a ski instructor in 1995.

“I’m honored to take on this new role and build upon the strong foundation Taylor has established,” Nedved stated.

Kircher praised Nedved for his strengths in strategic and organizational thinking, his experience in guest service and operations, and his passion for mountain sports and the Big Sky community.

As Nedved vacates the general manager role, the position will be split into two roles: general managers of hospitality, and of mountain experience. Kircher stated that the realignment will “support our substantial growth in both size and aspirations.”

“These new positions will allow us to focus more deeply on specific aspects of our operations,” Nedved stated. “By specializing our leadership, we can ensure that every facet of the guest experience receives the attention and expertise it deserves.”

Middleton emphasized that he and his wife, Barbara Rowley, have no intention of leaving Big Sky or being any less engaged with the community in which they raised their family—both daughters will be ski patrollers this winter, he added.

“It has been a thrill and honor to serve teammates, guests, and community, and to be able to be a part of building the pieces of a town I love so much and the mountains I treasure,” Middleton stated. “I see a bright future coming and the right team is in place to handle it thoughtfully.”

Nedved also began his Big Sky Resort career as a seasonal employee, when he took a job as a ski instructor in 1995.

“I’m honored to take on this new role and build upon the strong foundation Taylor has established,” Nedved stated.

Kircher praised Nedved for his strengths in strategic and organizational thinking, his experience in guest service and operations, and his passion for mountain sports and the Big Sky community.

Middleton celebrates the ribbon cutting for the new Lone Peak Tram in December 2023. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Troy Nedved. COURTESY OF BIG SKY RESORT

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BSCO, COMMUNITY GROUP RALLY TO RENOVATE AGING PICKLEBALL AND TENNIS COURTS

BSCO SEEKING COMMUNITY DONATIONS FOR REMAINING $180K NEEDED

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—Tennis and pickleball players in Big Sky mobilized quickly this summer to resurface the aging courts that have deteriorated quickly near the end of their 40-plus years at the Big Sky Community Park.

“It got to the point where we said, we need to do something major to them, or we won’t have anything to play on next summer,” Mike Scholz, a Big Sky resident and leader of the effort to renovate the courts, told EBS in a phone call. “They’re at the point where if they crack up much more, it would be dangerous to play on them.”

Scholz’ group of activists, made up of dozens of tennis and pickleball players in the community, did the research and found a solution to resurface the courts using post-tension concrete with a 50-year warranty. The catch is that the entire project costs about $1 million, and the group needed to help the Big Sky Community Organization raise that money in August alone.

The effort came together in the past six weeks, because leaders realized the importance of starting construction this fall to allow for completion in the spring, saving the 2025 summer season for pickleball and tennis players. Future improvements were already planned by BSCO, which owns and manages the Big Sky Community Park, but the community group helped to accelerate the renovation.

Scholz said one anonymous donor gave $500,000 and another gave $100,000, which helped show other donors that the effort is serious. Although BSCO did not yet have complete funding set aside for the project, the nonprofit signed the contract to do the construction without all the money in hand—about $720,000 had been raised by the time BSCO signed the contract on Aug. 21.

“This is a great collaboration between community donors and BSCO fundraising,” said CEO Whitney Montgomery.

He said construction will be significant. Necessary renovation includes replacing sidewalks, resurfacing and expanding pickleball space from six to eight dedicated courts and making extra space on the end lines. The project will also preserve two dedicated tennis courts, and the entire facility will have fences and nets replaced.

Additional funding will be needed to improve facilities including the tennis building, restrooms, parking lots, and to possibly add a retail pro shop, Montgomery explained.

The million-dollar project is part of BSCO’s All Out for Parks and Trails campaign, which includes recent construction of a new playground, skate park and pump track at the park, and plans to renovate sand volleyball and basketball courts, and athletic fields at the park.

When the fundraising for pickleball and tennis is complete, BSCO will have secured $6 million toward its $15 million goal—almost $2 million

has been granted by the Big Sky Resort Area District. Montgomery said the progress has been “phenomenal” since the campaign launched in July 2023.

But the job isn’t done yet, as Scholz, his group, and BSCO are still working to secure roughly $180,000 to cover the project. Scholz said the group is working hard to secure donations, and they have continued to receive support from dozens of families.

“We are reaching out to anyone in the community that has an interest in pickleball or tennis, or has an interest in helping us complete a vital part of the park,” Scholz said.

Donations can be made through BSCO’s All Out website, and by adding a note regarding pickleball or tennis court construction.

Scholz said pickleball is a great way to keep the whole community active. He sees a wide age range of players at the Big Sky courts, from kids and young workers to folks in their 80s, as tennis and especially pickleball gain popularity.

Montgomery is excited about the project because the sports bring people together in line with BSCO’s mission.

“It’s going to be a great facility,” he said. “There’s a 50-year warranty on these courts, so we feel this investment is well worth it for our community… Right now this is what the pickleball community and the tennis community feel they need.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF BSCO

BSOA SIGNS $128K CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT SPEED TABLES ON LITTLE COYOTE ROAD

BIG SKY—Safety on Little Coyote Road has concerned residents for years, but the topic gained focus in recent months as the Big Sky Owners Association earned a $47,000 grant from Resort Tax, and a separate grassroots group of residents intensified efforts to reduce speed and volume of cut-through traffic.

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, the BSOA announced it signed a $128,000 contract to install three speed tables on Little Coyote Road. Speed tables are like speed bumps but with a flat top suitable for Little Coyote Road’s speed limit of 25 miles per hour.

BSOA signed the contract on Aug. 7 and anticipates construction will begin in early September. The speed tables should be complete by winter, according to a BSOA press release.

The project is being funded by BSOA, the $47,000 grant from the Big Sky Resort Area District, and private donations from residents, according to the release. BSOA also spent $41,000 for a 2017 traffic study and traffic calming measures, according to the press release.

“The effort to determine the best methods to improve and implement traffic calming measures on LCR was a lengthy process by the BSOA,” the release stated. “This included a speed study to quantify the problem, followed by a traffic calming study which recommended three traffic calming measures unique to LCR including: a) additional speed limit signs; b) installation of driver feedback signs and; c) speed tables that allow snowplowing without damage to the road. In addition, BSOA

needed approval from Gallatin County, which was a multi-year process.”

In addition to the speed tables, the grassroots Little Coyote Traffic Safety Group was successful in working with Big Sky Resort and the Big Sky Community Organization to gain permission and funding for crosswalks with 15-mile-per-hour speed limit signage.

BASECAMP TO CONTINUE OFFERING AFTERSCHOOL CHILD CARE TO BIG SKY STUDENTS

BY JEN CLANCEY

With school days ending at about 3:30 p.m. in the Big Sky School District and a few minutes earlier at Discovery Academy, it can be hard for working families to coordinate after-school child care. Starting Aug. 26 and following the Ophir Elementary School academic calendar—except Fridays—BASE continued its BASEcamp program, an after-school care and enrichment program.

Parents can register children from kindergarten through sixth grade in the program which will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday. New this year is a discount for multiple children in the same family, and extended hours to accommodate Discovery Academy’s schedule. A BASE pass is not required for registration.

“We wanted to keep our program operational because it is centrally located here in Town Center, and that was hugely important to a lot of parents that work around here and who live around here as well,” said Madeleine Feher, Big Sky Community Organization’s director of operations.

BSSD students registered for BASEcamp and within route one (trout) and route two (bison) school buses can catch their regular bus to BASE. BASEcamp staff will meet the kids at the bus stop. For families not included in the bus route, parents often get creative with carpools to transport kids to BASEcamp.

From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., BASEcampers will have a snack and work on homework. Afterward, staff will carry out an activity from 4:30 to 5:30 followed by free play from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

“I think for working families, especially since I’m a working mom, I think [it’s] just the peace of mind that your kids are being well looked after and having a great time in those after-school hours,” Feher said of the program.

“We spend a lot of time working on social, emotional learning and how to better support these kids, and I’m just really proud of our staff and how

we handle the programs, activities and children and their needs within the after-school program.”

Tuition is $15 for one child, $20 for two children and $30 for three children each day. Parents can learn more about the program on the BASE website.

In the future, BASEcamp plans to incorporate Big Brothers Big Sisters into BASEcamp through BASE Buddies, inviting Big Sky middle schoolers to mentor younger campers and assist in activities and programming.

In 2022 and early 2024, the Big Sky Owners Association installed driver feedback signs, following recommendations to improve safety on Little Coyote Road. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF CASSIE CARLSON / BSCO

The

Inn Residences at Montage Big Sky

Big Sky, Montana

SPORTS

LONE PEAK SOCCER PROGRAM LOOKS AHEAD TO FALL SEASON

BY JACK REANEY

Editor’s note: The full version of this story at explorebigsky.com includes a football team preview

BIG SKY—The Big Sky School District opened the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 26, and Lone Peak High School varsity athletics are scheduled to begin at the end of the week.

After catching up with the trio of new volleyball coaches, EBS spoke with head coaches of the Big Horn soccer and football programs to see what’s in store this fall season.

The boys soccer team enjoyed a standout season in 2023, including a deep playoff run to the state semifinal. Head coach Tony Coppola said the 2024 team looks to build on that success, but with a different approach.

Instead of five or six exceptionally skilled leaders carrying the team, this squad is more balanced. Some players might need to try new positions, and most starting spots are up for grabs.

Junior Oliver McGuire is back this season, after missing most of last season while studying abroad. He will be the team’s primary goalkeeper, simplifying the equation a bit.

The team’s five seniors—Finn McRae, Garin Staudt, Arlo Hurlbut, Cam Pecunies and Jack Sheehan—have played many seasons together, and they’re beginning to step up as the leaders they’ve followed in seasons past.

“I feel like they’ve all found their voice … They’ve kind of learned to fill that role in a different way,” Coppola said.

But overall, the team is young—17 of 24 players are freshmen or sophomores. One upside is that many of them have

played club soccer together for years, as Big Sky’s youth soccer continues to gain popularity.

“I feel like soccer has just caught on, it’s a sport that Big Sky kids kind of gravitate toward,” Coppola said. “… As a sport, soccer is exploding in America, and that’s reflected in Big Sky.”

This year’s roster of 24 players is the Big Horn boys’ largest-ever.

Over Lone Peak’s first four soccer seasons, Coppola and assistant coach Jeremy Harder have been through a lot of trial and error. Coppola said one thing that has stuck is the coaches’ compassionate leadership by example, trying to model strong character and instill a growth mindset.

“We want to build better humans, soccer players are second,” Coppola said.

So far, Coppola sees chemistry building. The players are working hard, responding positively to demanding workouts, and fighting for starting spots more than ever.

Both boys and girls will play their first home game on Saturday, Sept. 7, hosting Bigfork High School.

Girls focused on making every moment count

Last year, the girls soccer team was young. They narrowly missed the playoffs by just one goal, but the team developed and progressed during the season.

Head coach Kim Dickerson looks forward to seeing that growth continue this year, especially after their experience missing playoffs by such a small margin.

The team’s theme this season is “every moment matters,” Dickerson said.

“I think the girls took that lesson from last season and definitely brought it into this season, in terms the intensity and the buy-in needed right now,” she said. She believes her players put in hard work during the offseason to prepare, and she’s confident about the style of soccer they’ll bring to the turf.

“We’re going to be relentless,” Dickerson said. “They’re a fun group to watch, they’re super passionate, they’re a smart group of girls, they each bring their own personalities which is awesome.”

To promote accountability, Dickerson and assistant coach Patty Hamblin asked the team to create their own values to uphold. Dickerson said the team’s responses showed the makings of a strong culture.

Over her three years as varsity coach, Dickerson has realized the importance of her players showing up with a strong, competitive mindset.

“Win or loss, you’ve got to just put in the work. With us playing against

other bigger schools, it shouldn’t matter… If these girls can come together as a team, we are able to compete,” Dickerson said.

It’s another young team, as Big Sky’s youth soccer program continues to grow and attract young players that feed into the high school program. The Big Horn roster has 20 players, the same as last season including 15 freshmen and sophomores with lots of experience playing with each other in Big Sky’s youth soccer programs.

The Big Horn girls do not have any seniors on their 2024 roster.

Dickerson coaches for Montana’s Olympic Development program, and sees how the rest of the state is developing its players. She said fellow Montana coaches have complemented Big Sky.

“We’ve got great coaches, we’ve got great parents, we’ve got a great environment for kids to play this game, and it will hopefully continue to feed into our program,” she said.

Head Coach Tony Coppola. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Head coach Kim Dickerson. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

FOOTBALL: BIG HORNS TROUNCE LAME DEER IN OPENER, TO FACE TOUGHER TEST IN

ENNIS

WILL HELMS SCORES SIX TOUCHDOWNS IN HIS FIRST GAME AS QUARTERBACK

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—Lame Deer High School visited Lone Peak High School for the first home game of the fall sports season on Aug. 31, and the Big Horns looked comfortable enough—a 70-point shutout doesn’t happen every week.

As the artificial turf magnified the August heat, Big Horn junior Will Helms returned the opening kickoff to about half field. On the first play from scrimmage, junior Eli Gale took a handoff from Helms the rest of the way. Within seconds, the Big Horns led 6-0.

Gale hurdled a fallen defender for another touchdown in the first quarter, giving his team a 20-0 lead. By halftime, the Big Horns led the Morning Stars, 50-0.

“Felt great,” Gale said after the game. “Great way to start off the season… This year we have a great group of kids, really disciplined, willing to fight for the win.”

Many players are stepping into new roles, including Helms, who was named the starting quarterback before Saturday’s game. Helms spent 2023 at IMG Academy, an athletics-focused school in Florida, where he improved his footwork and field awareness as a cornerback. This fall, he returned to Big Sky to a team needing a quarterback.

It was Helms’ first-ever game under center, but he wasn’t shy in pursuing the goal line. He ran for four touchdowns, threw to junior Ebe Grabow for two more, and converted multiple two-point attempts with his arm and legs.

“I think Will Helms looked comfortable enough at the quarterback position that we know where we can build from there,” head coach Dustin Shipman said after the win.

Helms said his six-touchdown game was a lot of fun. He added that he’s trying to beat Lone Peak

records set by his older brother, George, who began his Division I college football career on Friday, as a running back and utility player for Elon University. Will Helms was proud to see his team work together to finish out a perfect game—the Big Horns won, 70-0.

“There’s definitely stuff to work on, but we’ll go into practice, and that’s what practice is for,” Helms said.

“I think I see opportunities to improve everywhere,” coach Shipman said. “First game of the year, first live contact, first time we’re playing anybody other than ourselves.”

Shipman expected the team’s physical and mental errors, and saw a good baseline to return to practice and improve upon. Overall, he was pleased to see players follow their assignments.

He commended some rising stars, including freshman Kenan Masonic.

“He started on defense, and as the game progressed, he played almost every snap on both sides of the ball. I couldn’t be more proud of the kid coming in as a freshman,” Shipman said.

Sophomores Thomas Trulen and Boone Jorgenson, and junior Aeneas Espinosa “really stepped in and played well down the stretch,” he added.

Trulen rushed for a touchdown after halftime, and Gale gave a special shoutout to Jorgenson for “ballin’ out.”

Shipman said the best thing about games like this is that the kids had fun, which keeps them coming back and working hard.

Lone Peak will need to work hard on a short week, as they prepare to welcome Ennis High School on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Last year, Ennis beat Lone Peak, 50-22. This year, Helms said they’re looking forward to the rivalry matchup.

“Short week of preparation, but I think we feel good,” Shipman said. “… We’ll just get back to work Monday morning and see where we end up on Thursday. But I expect us to be very competitive come Thursday night in Big Sky.”

Lone Peak junior Will Helms breaks a goal line tackle for one of his four rushing touchdowns in his quarterback debut. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

Senior Joe Gale also rushed for a second-half touchdown. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

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‘ROCK

REGIONAL

ON WITH JON’: TESTER, PEARL JAM BASSIST JEFF AMENT DISCUSS IMPORTANCE OF 2024 ELECTION, LIVING IN MONTANA

MISSOULA RESIDENT HANK GREEN LEADS A Q&A SESSION WITH CONGRESSMAN AND MUSICIAN, BOTH NATIVES OF BIG SANDY, MONTANA

BY JEN CLANCEY

In late August, Sen. Jon Tester invited Montanans to “Rock on with Jon” in Missoula for a campaign event and Pearl Jam concert. On Wednesday, Aug. 21, Tester supporters filed into the Wilma Theatre for a Montanans for Tester Q&A event featuring the senator, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and author and entrepreneur Hank Green.

The three Montanans discussed affordability in the state, art as activism, and the importance of November 2024 elections, in which Tester is running for a U.S. Senate seat.

Ament and Tester grew up in the same town of Big Sandy, Montana and have been good family friends since Ament was a child. Outside of playing with a historically outspoken crew of musicians in Pearl Jam, Ament has been involved in the Montana Skatepark Association through Jeff Ament’s Army, an organization that supports philanthropic efforts to make a positive impact on Montana communities.

For Ament, using music for change is what drew him to art in the first place.

“As a kid, I was always attracted to the music that had some weight behind it … John Lennon was anti-war and cared so much about all the stuff that he was witnessing … that’s why that music spoke to [me], because it came from a deeper place,” Ament said in the Q&A.

He encouraged visitors to experience the “Our Village” Festival the following day, which last occurred when Pearl Jam performed in Missoula six years ago. The “Our Village” Festival was a free community event in the tailgate area near

Washington Grizzly Stadium featuring more than 30 nonprofits with food vendors, merchandise sellers, live music and local businesses. This year, “Our Village” partnered with four nonprofit organizations—Forward Montana, Montana Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana and Western Native Voice— in a “Pledge to Vote,” encouraging attendees to register to vote and receive reminders as election day comes closer.

During the Q&A conversation, Tester addressed Montana’s troubles with housing and education. He said housing starts with a balance of supply and demand, and “for some reason there’s not enough supply right now.”

He said he supports housing tax credits so that private developers would be encouraged to build more affordable housing and make the housing accessible to the workforce.

“I think the downside of this is that once we get enough houses on the market, it’s going to force the market down, and it’ll reduce the cost of housing,” Tester said, noting that he understands why new homebuyers may not be happy with that.

“We’ve got to not only focus on housing, we also have to focus on ways to make higher education more affordable too,” he said.

He reflected about how attainable it was to afford higher education when he attended school in the 80s, compared to today. “Now it’s insanely expensive, and part of that reason is because education is seen by policymakers like me as not a public good, but a personal good, so the person needs to pay most of the costs, when in fact, it is both.”

The clock is ticking for candidates in this election season. There's less than two months until Nov. 5 polls open.

Tester made it clear that he believes his opponent, Tim Sheehy, does not promote policies that reflect Montanans values.

“For a guy to say that we’re going to turn our public lands over to the state of Montana, is somebody that doesn’t know Montana,” Tester said. “I mean, Jesus Christ, it’s fundamental to who we are. It’s what makes us the greatest state in the greatest country that’s ever existed.”

He expressed that the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump is the most important. “There’s democracy at stake. There’s rural America at stake, there’s how we treat one another at stake … I think it’s an important election for Montana.”

He credited a quote to gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse, saying, “if you want the Montana we’ve grown up in to still be here for 10 years from now, we damn well better pay attention this election cycle, because I think it is a watershed public cycle,” Tester said.

As the conversation came to a close, a glowing birthday cake arrived for the senator. It just so happened that “Rock on with Jon” coincided with Tester’s 68th birthday on Aug. 21. The crowd sang happy birthday and mingled in the back of the historic theater in the heart of Missoula. Just over a mile away, crews prepared for Pearl Jam’s first Missoula concert in six years, which took place the following night.

Jeff Ament, Jon Tester and Hank Green wave to the crowd at the Wilma Theatre in Missoula. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU

ROCK THE VOTE: PROGRESSIVE NONPROFITS, PEARL JAM UNITE IN MISSOULA TO ENCOURAGE VOTER PARTICIPATION

BY JEN CLANCEY

Montanans will soon head to polls and submit mail-in ballots to decide key elections of local, regional and national officials, including the U.S. president.

To improve voter turnout, American rock band Pearl Jam partnered with four Montana organizations to register and educate voters at its “Our Village” festival in Missoula. On Thursday, Aug. 22, Pearl Jam hosted the free public event on the green of the University of Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium tailgate area.

After a six-year hiatus since the band last performed in Missoula, Pearl Jam made use of this election year to encourage activism and voting. “Our Village” festival partnered with four organizations in a “Pledge to Vote” initiative: Forward Montana, Montana Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana and Western Native Voice.

Each nonprofit organization has different goals and methods per the communities they serve, but organizers were united under the objective to engage voters.

For Danae Yellowkidney, field manager with Western Native Voice, the more urban environment of Missoula is different than her typical field. Yellowkidney works primarily with the Blackfeet Indian community through outreach like tabling and assisting in resources such as free ballot pick up and free rides to polling locations. She said the biggest challenge in civic engagement in Native communities is voter registration.

“We have just a lot of generational trauma with getting people to sign pieces of paper from the government, and so we’re just out there reminding them that this is safe,” Yellowkidney said. “This piece of paper isn’t going to harm them. It’s not going to take anything away.”

“It’s going to empower their voice, so that they have people in places of power that are going to be held accountable for Indian country, and that our voices are heard just as much as anybody else here in the United States,” Yellowkidney continued.

She acknowledged that voter participation is low within her own age group, 18-29 years of age. “I’m really hoping that we get our young people

interested in voting so that they carry it on through their whole life.”

Yellowkidney’s hopes align with Forward Montana, a nonprofit aimed at improving civic engagement in Montana’s young people. John Bazant, the organization’s Missoula office and field coordinator, believes that the young peoples’ vote could have a huge impact on November elections.

“I think that if youth voters voted at the same rate as older generations, they would decide every election, especially in Montana,” Bazant said. He’s found that apathy and the idea of not knowing enough can be a challenge in some youth voters.

“It can be so very intimidating,” Bazant said about the voting process, which Forward Montana has worked to streamline through a step-by-step Voter Hub on their website.

Montana Conservation Voters’ Executive Director Whitney Tawney noted that the ballots are packed with consequential roles this year, from the Montana Supreme Court to U.S. Senate candidates. She commended Pearl Jam’s willingness to host an initiative to support participation in the political process.

“People are really nervous these days to be able to stick their neck out and say something, right?”

“I love the fact that we also have Jeff Ament, our own rock star from Big Sandy, Montana, who really cares about the state and wants to make sure that it’s protected for the next generations,” Tawney said. She’s been a Pearl Jam fan since her brother used to drive her around in his van, with a sound system redesigned to play loud music by rock bands like Pearl Jam.

Donning a Pearl Jam baseball cap, Quinn Leighton, the director of external affairs for Planned Parenthood Montana and PP Advocates of Montana, attended the Pearl Jam concert later that night.

Just two days earlier on Tuesday, Aug. 19, Leighton learned that a ballot initiative to protect reproductive rights in the Montana Constitution would appear on ballots in November. Ballot initiative CI-128 received 117,000 signatures from every county in Montana—“the most signatures submitted on any initiative ever,” according to Leighton.

“I mean, it’s incredibly exciting,” Leighton said. “I think that Montanans have really shown that this is incredibly important to them … People want to vote on this.”

Leighton and their team spent the day registering voters at “Our Village,” even running out of buttons, given as “thank yous” for registering to vote.

“Everyone needs to vote because there’s so much at stake,” Leighton said. “And so I really hope that people do vote and understand that a lot of fundamental human rights are at stake … we just need to get the right people elected, and we need to get this ballot initiative across the finish line.”

Montana Poet Laureate Chris LaTray and his band American Falcon laid a metal soundtrack to end the festival, signifying that the Pearl Jam concert gates would soon open.

In the parking lot, Pearl Jam fans lined up for the night’s big event. Elevated above the maroon end zone with “Grizzlies” painted in white, Pearl Jam at last eyed the 8 p.m. crowd. Lead singer Eddie Vedder gave a shout out to Sen. Jon Tester, who for the past two days held his “Rock on with Jon” fundraiser in Missoula. The concert was not a fundraiser for, or directly affiliated with Tester, but some campaign ticket packages granted buyers access to both the Q&A event on Wednesday night and the Pearl Jam concert.

Vedder added that everyone has a purpose, “especially between now and election day,” continuing the conversations that happened at “Our Village” festival.

Vedder included that he was excited about everyone showing up for each other that night, some Montana residents offering camping spots on their land.

“I guess that’s how they do it in Montana,” Vedder said. The band moved into the rest of their set. Fans lifted cell phone flashlights to the sky during “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.”

Election season is nearing the finish line, and advocates will remain engaged until the final hour of polls and mail-in ballots in November. For people who pledged to vote, they will receive reminders as the countdown wanes.

"Our Village" festival brought together local music acts, nonprofits and food vendors next to Washington-Grizzly Stadium. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU

ARTS COUNCIL TO HOST WOMEN’S ADVENTURE FILM TOUR

The Arts Council of Big Sky will present the 2024 Women's Adventure Film Tour on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. in the theater at The Waypoint. This event is part of the Arts Council's Adventure Film Circuit, a collection of outdoor and recreationfocused film festivals packaged together for a greater impact on Big Sky.

The Women’s Adventure Film Tour is an official part of Women’s Health Week by the Jean Hailes Foundation in Australia. Every year, a selection of unique films is carefully chosen to show awesome women achieving their personally adventurous goals. Being adventurous doesn’t always have to mean being the fastest, going the highest, or doing the most extreme things. Adventure for most of us is stepping outside our comfort zone and climbing our own personal Everest. The films showcase real stories about women from a variety of cultures and sports around the world.

Presented by Wild Basin, the eighth season of The Women’s Adventure Film Tour features an exhilarating selection of eight new short films that showcase the inspiring journeys of remarkable

women who have fearlessly pursued adventure in various fields. This year's tour promises to captivate audiences with incredible stories of determination, courage, and triumph.

The Women’s Adventure Film Tour has been celebrated for its unique approach to showcasing women achieving their adventurous goals. Unlike traditional adventure films focusing solely on

extreme feats, this tour aims to inspire everyone to step outside their comfort zone and challenge their boundaries—their personal Everest. It's a celebration of bravery, perseverance, and the indomitable spirit within us.

Advanced tickets are $15 and are available at bigskyarts.org. Any remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

Pour and Gore: A Spirited Good Time for Adults

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

6 – 10 p.m. | Age 21+

$49/member, $55/non-member

Join us for an unforgettable evening of eerie elegance and historical intrigue! Immerse yourself in a night of hauntingly historic activities, including a Victorian séance, a chilling historic funeral, and a spine-tingling planetarium show. Delight in Montana whiskey from local distilleries, savor hearty appetizers from Sadie’s BBQ, and indulge in delectable desserts. For an extra touch of frightful delight, enjoy a seasonal cocktail from Plonk, with mocktails and non-alcoholic options also available.

Scan the QR Code and purchase your tickets if you dare! museumoftherockies.org/pour

PHOTO COURTESY OF WOMEN'S ADVENTURE FILM TOUR

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR

Thursday, Sept. 5 –

Wednesday, Sept. 18

If your next event falls between Sept. 19 – Oct. 2 please submit it to explorebigsky.com/calendar-event-form by Sept. 11

THURSDAY, SEPT. 5

Music in the Mountains: Pinky & the Floyd

Len Hill Park, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

Live Music: Hoppy

The Waypoint, 6 - 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

Live Music: Deco & Miscoe

The Waypoint, 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

St. Joseph Mass

Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints in Big Sky Service

Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service

Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT 9

Indigenous Bigfoot stories and Investigations

Museum of the Rockies, 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 10

27th Annual Big Sky Chamber Fore-0-Six Golf Tournament

Big Sky Resort Golf Course, 10 a.m.

2024 Women’s Adventure Film Tour

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11

QPR Suicide Prevention Training

Wellness in Action, 5:30 p.m.

Trivia

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12

Metal in the Mountains: Blistered Earth w/ Scavenger

Len Hill Park, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13

Live Music: Kent Johnson The Waypoint, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14

Get Out the Vote Block Party Emerson Cultural Center Lawn, 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 15

St. Joseph Mass

Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints in Big Sky Service

Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service

Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 16

Chamber Board Meeting

Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, 9 a.m.

Future Land Use & Housing Strategy Public Meeting

Big Sky Water and Sewer District, 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18

Trivia

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

Awakening Higher States of Consciousness Santosha Wellness Center, 7:30 p.m.

METAL IN THE MOUNTAINS: BLISTERED EARTH WITH SCAVENGER

Sept. 12, Len Hill Park, 6 p.m.

As a bonus to the Music in the Mountains 2024 series, the Arts Council of Big Sky will present “Metal in the Mountains” featuring Metallica Tribute band Blistered Earth and local openers Scavenger and Squid Bomb.

DINING

A LA CARTE: SINCLAIR’S BAKERY

WARM BAGUETTES, PASTRIES ON OFFER FROM FARMERS MARKET STAPLE

BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST

I arrived at the Big Sky Farmers Market in early August with a mission. I was seeking out Mark Sinclair, owner of Sinclair’s Bakery, and perhaps more importantly, a fresh baguette.

For Sinclair, freshness does not mean that something was baked the day before, or even that morning. His bakery is a one-of-a-kind trailer, loaded with commercial baking equipment, and able to deliver breads and pastries fresh from the oven, and in many cases still warm.

The freshness aspect plays into Sinclair’s beliefs around food. He leans into simplicity and quality ingredients like Montana-grown wheat.

Sinclair’s fascination with pastries began with exposure to European coffee shop culture during a ski trip to Switzerland when he was 14, long before there was a Starbucks on nearly every corner of American cities.

“I fell in love with the idea of not being rushed out of places, but having things made fresh,” he said.

In the years since, Sinclair seems to have lived many lives. Once upon a time, Sinclair left graduate school in Vermont with a master’s degree but not enough experience to land a full-time teaching job. After substitute teaching for three years, he found himself asking for a job in a Vermont bakery he frequented as a customer, Baba a Louis. He also speaks of time working construction, experience that allowed him to convert his basement in Kalispell into a bakery, and of his series of instructional baking DVDs that were sold in 22 different countries.

Then, in 2012, after splitting from his then-wife, Sinclair took the basement bakery equipment to a company in Idaho that built a trailer around it.

Sinclair’s Bakery has been a staple of the Big Sky Farmers Market since 2013, except for the threeyear hiatus when he moved the whole set-up to Spain to try to make it work in Madrid.

“A lot of customers I have were with me before I left,” Sinclair said.

The Big Sky Farmers Market runs Wednesdays through Sept. 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Town Center. Starting in October, Sinclair’s may be found at the Bozeman Winter Farmers’ Market at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. He can also be found online on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Back in the Sinclair’s Bakery trailer, I’m in some sort of pastry heaven. Each time the oven opens, a new smell makes its way to my nose, deliciousness piled on deliciousness to the point of overwhelm.

Sinclair moves around constantly, rotating trays of pastries or sectioned baguette pans from the fridges to the ovens to the shelves, and rating each one in his head. Baguettes should be crispy, not crunchy. He’s looking for rise and crust and color and so many more factors honed over years of experience. He’s a harsh critic. It’s not that any are bad, he explains.

“To me, it’s better than any other bread you can buy here, but I want it to be the best I can make,” he says.

Customers start to line up, or peek into the back door to ask when the baguettes or other favorites will come out of the oven.

“I follow him online,” one customer notes, not knowing I had plans to write an article. “He’s my hero.”

In a heavy New York accent, the customer gushes over Sinclair’s sour rye loaves, which seemed fitting, as the rye is a bread Sinclair learned to make from a Jewish New Yorker.

I scan the trays. There are pinwheeled palmiers— French pastries that, sans filling, remain flat like

cookies with a shape resembling hearts or their namesake palm leaves. Ham and cheese croissants and spinach artichoke puffs provide savory counternotes to the almond-flavored bear claws, and fruit-filled apfelstrudel, strawberry turnovers and berry danishes featuring a mix of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. The oven opens again and a new aroma fills the trailer—that of pain au chocolat.

While many of the pastries have French roots, Sinclair likes to keep others on the menu that are representative of other areas and food cultures. Take the casadiella, a pastry endemic to northwestern Spain that Sinclair likens to baklava. Sinclair’s version is baked, rather than fried. Pastry dough surrounds chopped walnuts doused in sambuca, an anise-flavored liquor. It’s deceptively simple.

“It’s one of those things where the combination is more than the individual,” Sinclair says, naming the casadiella as his favorite item to come out of the truck. I’m inclined to agree.

As I leave the trailer, Sinclair hands over a fresh baguette, giving it a rating of 8.5. In this moment, though, it is perfect.

I step into the crowd, cradling the baguette as if it were a newborn babe, feeling its warmth deep in my chest and earning a chuckle from a group of seniors for the act.

“I just want to break off the crispy end,” one says, miming grabbing the end of the baguette.

So I let her. Why not? Food, I often say, is love. It is best shared. And what better way to embody that than the literal breaking of bread?

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.

Mark Sinclair’s tray of pastries for sale at the Big Sky Farmers Market. PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

BUSINESS

ENJOYING THE RIDE

THE SYNERGY OF

ASSET ALLOCATION

AND RELATIVE STRENGTH MOMENTUM INVESTING

BY DAN PARNES EBS CONTRIBUTOR

Implementing the combined strategy

To effectively implement this combined approach, investors should start by establishing a solid asset allocation plan that reflects their long-term goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. Regularly review and rebalance the portfolio to maintain the desired allocation. Simultaneously, apply relative strength momentum techniques to identify and invest in the best-performing assets within each asset class, adjusting as trends evolve.

In conclusion, the synergy of asset allocation and relative strength momentum investing offers a robust strategy for navigating the complexities of financial markets. By blending the stability of diversification with the agility of trend-based investing, investors can create a portfolio that not

only potentially withstands market volatility but also helps capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Dan Parnes is a Financial Advisor at Shore to Summit Wealth Management. He currently works and lives in Washington, DC. Asset allocation and diversification are investment methods used to help manage risk. They do not guarantee investment returns or eliminate risk of loss including in a declining market.

Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is not a legal or tax advisor. Be sure to consult your own tax advisor and investment professional before taking any action that may involve tax consequences.

Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network did not assist in the preparation of this report, and its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network or its affiliates. The material has been prepared or is distributed solely for information purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and Shore to Summit Wealth Management are not legal or tax advisors. You should consult with your attorney, accountant and/or estate planner before taking any action.

Shore to Summit Wealth Management is located at 105 E. Oak Street, Unit 1A Bozeman, MT 59715 # 406-219-2900. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Shore to Summit Wealth Management is a separate entity from WFAFN. ©2023 – 2024 Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK

EBS STAFF

Like many, Shayna Blaser ended up in southwest Montana because she fell in love—with both the beauty of the area, and her now-husband. Now married for over a decade, Blaser has made herself at home here and is working with Prospera, an economic development agency based in Bozeman, which helps businesses all across the valley, and now—thanks to a rather new partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce—all the way down Gallatin Canyon and to Big Sky. Explore Big Sky spoke to Blaser, now Prospera’s director of regional economic development, about this partnership and how it can bolster the work our chamber does, and how they help businesses both young and old succeed in the unique climate of the Big Sky area.

This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: Shayna, first tell me a little about yourself—when did you move to the area and what brought you here?

Shayna Blaser: I moved to Bozeman in 2012 after graduating from college at the University of Alabama. I was born and raised in Colorado and while on break my sophomore year of college, I met my now husband who was a lifelong fly-fisherman. Long story short—I followed a fishing boy to the Montana waters, and it worked out, we’ve been married for over 10 years.

EBS: How did you get involved with Prospera?

SB: I had a background in business consulting and nonprofit work. In 2021, Prospera was hiring for a new women’s business center program director, and a friend that worked at Prospera at the time recommended me for the position. This role combined my knowledge of business ownership and operations as well as nonprofit program management. In the women’s business center role I helped women launch, scale and operate their Montana-based small business through no-cost business counseling and planning business technical trainings. In 2022, I helped to launch a statewide mentorship program for women called, 56Strong, where we aim to connect women owned businesses in all of Montana’s 56 counties. We are launching our third cohort of the program in January 2025.

EBS: Give me a little background of Prospera and how it got started in the Gallatin Valley area.

SB: Prospera is a nonprofit organization advancing community-centered business development in southwest Montana. Founded in 1985, Prospera emerged at the intersection of business and

community, dedicated to fortifying businesses and the regional economy. In its early days, Prospera spearheaded initiatives to recruit new businesses to the area, initiated a community driven revolving loan fund, and garnered widespread backing for local industry. During this period, the economy faced slow growth, prompting a concerted effort to attract highpaying job opportunities.

Beginning in the early 2000s, Prospera gained momentum and broadened its influence, achieving new milestones in its endeavor to enhance businesses and stimulate regional economic growth. By 2006, the organization extended its services to Gallatin and Park counties, assumed management of local loan funds, and launched the Montana Women’s Business Center in 2010. In 2012, the Montana Department of Commerce designated Prospera as a Certified Regional Development Corporation, opening avenues for the organization to be the premier business and community development organization in southwest Montana. These milestones facilitated the establishment of future innovative programs and collaborations.

EBS: For those unfamiliar, what does Prospera do and what services do you offer?

SB: Prospera helps businesses and communities find their pathway to success, acting as the navigator, problem solver and catalyst for a strong Montana economy. Prospera does this by offering access to capital, business advising and trainings, community development, and peer networking. Prospera is home to a regional Small Business Development Center, a Food and Agriculture Development Center, the Montana Women's Business Center, and the Prospera Loan Funds Program.

EBS: How has Prospera changed and adapted to need with the growth of the area?

SB: Prospera has adapted to the growth of the area by expanding its focus to meet the evolving needs of the community. This includes expanding our programs and services to support a broader range of entrepreneurs, in all types of industries including expanding our reach to our rural communities. The organization has also placed greater emphasis on collaboration with local partners to address economic challenges and seize new opportunities, ensuring that we remain responsive and relevant in a changing landscape.

EBS: Tell me about the partnership between the Big Sky Chamber and Prospera. How do your strengths work together to help local businesses succeed?

SB: Brad Niva, CEO of the Big Sky Chamber, came to us with this idea to have a more formal process of supporting businesses in Big Sky. In 2023, seven businesses in Big Sky closed their doors due to challenges they faced from operating in Big Sky. The challenges that businesses face in Big Sky are unique, from being in two counties, a lack of workforce, transportation to Big Sky, child care expenses and shortage, strong tourism traffic and slow off-season sales, and the list goes on. Our partnership provides businesses with more support in overcoming these unique challenges. Prospera now has business counselors in Big Sky two times each month meeting with businesses through our no-cost business counseling and we are hosting a Business Lunch and Learn Series where business owners are able to, for one hour a month come together and share resources, network and focus on specific challenges currently facing them and their businesses. Funding for this partnership came from Big Sky Resort Area District.

EBS: What has been your favorite aspect of working with local businesses?

SB: One of the most rewarding aspects of working with local businesses is seeing firsthand how passionate entrepreneurs transform their ideas into thriving enterprises. It's incredibly fulfilling to help guide them through challenges and witness their growth, not just in terms of business success, but also in their personal development as leaders and community contributors.

EBS: Anything else you think the Big Sky and surrounding community should know about Prospera and the work you do?

SB: We’re not just about helping businesses succeed; we're committed to building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous community where everyone has the chance to thrive. Our work is driven by the needs of the community, and we continually adapt to ensure we're providing the most relevant and impactful support. To get connected with us simply call at 406-587-3113 or reach us online at prosperamt.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAYNA BLASER

ENVIRONMENT

DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: GRIZZLIES ON THE MOVE

ARE THE TRANSLOCATIONS ENOUGH TO SHOW MONTANA IS READY FOR DELISTING?

BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST

On Aug. 7, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks successfully relocated two subadult grizzlies from northwestern Montana to Yellowstone National Park, specifically Wyoming. This is part of an ongoing effort to support genetic diversity in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s isolated population. The Gianforte administration believes this effort further warrants that grizzlies be delisted from the federal Endangered Species List. Does this translocation prove the state is ready to take over the management of grizzlies?

“Working with the state of Wyoming and our partners, we achieved the goals set for us, and we’ve shown the ability to manage bears, protect habitat, and population numbers,” Gianforte said outside Montana’s Capitol in Helena the Monday after. The Gianforte administration is known for its pro-business and pro-hunting-grizzlies stance.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide in late January 2025 whether to delist grizzlies. Montana and Wyoming have petitioned the federal government to delist, asserting the states can manage them without assistance from the feds. In the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems, the states have met the delisting requirements, addressing concerns identified by the public and outlined by courts through various proceedings that overturned previous delisting. Those criteria include reaching population recovery, having conflict prevention and response programs in place, continuing research and monitoring, establishing a regulatory framework for managing grizzlies once delisted, and safeguarding genetic health.

When I spoke with Christopher Servheen, president of the Montana Wildlife Federation and retired grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for a Mountain Outlaw story in 2023, he emphasized that grizzlies reaching a population target was not the only criterion for delisting. Instead, he stressed the need for adequate mortality management strategies to ensure grizzly populations don’t decline. He pointed out potential threats, such as FWP's allowance of wolf snaring, which could harm grizzly populations, and the removal of bears that leave the recovery areas. This underlines the potential negative impact of delisting on grizzly bear populations, a concern that should deeply resonate with everyone.

“I used to be for grizzly delisting until a few years ago,” Servheen said. “Montana’s proposed plan does not emphasize conflict reduction or coexistence.”

The plan talks about reducing grizzly numbers and their range by killing bears outside their recovery areas deemed “threatening,” a term never defined in the plan.

“Montana’s draft management plan provides a ruthless approach to grizzlies outside recovery zones,” Servheen said. “It allows the killing of non-conflict bears just because they exist on public and private lands outside the recovery zones. This is such a departure from how Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks used to do things in the past.”

In the last few years, Montana’s legislature passed several bills allowing wolf snaring, expanding wolf trapping seasons into the period when grizzlies are out of the den, and using hounds to hunt black bears. According to Servheen, all of these acts also infringe upon grizzly safety.

“In the past, there were good regulatory mechanisms that are now being eroded by legislation and politicians getting into wildlife management,” he said. “Politicians shouldn’t be making wildlife policy.”

Has Montana’s state animal fully recovered enough to warrant delisting? According to estimated historical populations, as many as 50,000 bruins once strutted from the Pacific Coast to the Mississippi River and from northern Mexico to Alaska. Today, an estimated 2,000 bears roam the Lower 48, primarily in Montana and Wyoming, with a few trickling into Idaho— but even those estimates are tenuous. The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem has over 1,000 grizzlies, as does the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, but these two populations are isolated. They are separated by a roughly 35-mile gap on certain edges.

As one of the slowest-reproducing mammals on the planet, grizzly bears will always be sensitive to mortality and thus require continuous, strong conservation measures. The need to keep Endangered Species Act safeguards in place is urgent until science shows grizzly bears are fully recovered and until the states have adequate rules to ensure grizzly bears will thrive for future

generations. This urgency is a call to action for all stakeholders in grizzly bear conservation, emphasizing the importance of their role in continued conservation efforts.

While FWP's translocation of a 3- to 4-year-old female and a 4- to 5-year-old male is a step towards conservation, it's important to remember that their survival and breeding ability are not guaranteed. Humans must complete wildlife corridors and bridges connecting these isolated populations. This will ensure that more than two bears enter the opposite population, fostering a sense of hope for the future of grizzlies.

Female grizzlies don’t sexually mature until four to eight years. When they mate, they can have one to four cubs and raise them for three years before the subadults go out and look for a home range. Mating season is usually May through July. This female wasn’t translocated until August. It could be another year before she mates and two winters before she gives birth. That’s five to seven years before either of these bears has offspring old enough to join the population independently and help boost genetic diversity within the species.

This timeline underscores the need for patience and a long-term commitment to conservation efforts, which are not just crucial but also urgent in wildlife conservation. Delisting grizzlies would reverse the slow and steady progress that has brought us this far.

Given the current situation, I don’t think the state is ready to take over the reins of managing grizzlies from the feds until this administration proves that science, not politics, is guiding it. We need to proceed with caution and ensure that the best interests of the grizzlies are at the forefront of any decision.

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.

Collared grizzly bear No. 211 in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley in 2015. PHOTO BY NEAL HERBERT / NPS

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The penthouse residences stand out with 11-foot ceilings and private rooftop decks, complete with hot tubs—a rare find in Big Sky. Additionally, secure underground heated parking and private storage lockers provide convenient spaces for your ski gear and other recreational equipment.

Scan here to visit the website for floor plans, virtual tours, and more.

WRITERS ON THE RANGE HIKERS IN A WILDERNESS TURN INTO FIREFIGHTERS

BY ZEKE LLOYD WRITERS ON THE RANGE

More frequent wildfires in the West can turn hiking through beautiful, highelevation country into a dangerous game for hikers. In July, seven friends from Idaho, Colorado, Washington and Montana took off for a week of backpacking in southwestern Montana. Everything went off without a hitch their first night. A rainstorm passed through but it wasn’t a big deal.

But when they woke up, they saw a plume of smoke rising into the sky. Darren Wilson had anticipated something like this, even before their trip began.

“It was in the back of my mind—I hope we don’t hike into somewhere and get trapped by a fire,” recalled Wilson, a Hamilton, Montana, resident.

They were hiking through the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness and knew it was under strict restrictions: No building campfires, no fire allowed anywhere, no exceptions. The summer had been dry and hot, and wildfires had been erupting throughout Montana.

But as the group continued hiking toward Hidden Lake, they realized the trail of smoke ahead might be the early stage of a wildfire.

The hikers weren’t trapped, but 200 yards from Hidden Lake they came upon scorched earth surrounding a tree split down the middle, most likely from a lightning strike. Its bark was

blackened and glowing, and beneath the tree the charred ground smoldered. The smoke they’d seen was seeping from beneath hot charcoal and dry wood.

“You could tell the tree torched and burned while it was standing and then cracked and fell on the ground,” said Darren’s wife, Chelsie, an x-ray technologist with previous experience in wildland firefighting.

“I think everyone had different feelings,” she said. “Those who had never seen forest fires before were panicking.”

The group put Chelsie Wilson in charge, and she laid out a two-step process: Some people would run to Hidden Lake to fill every water bottle and hydration pack. Everyone else would use the water to turn the smoldering dirt into mud.

Chelsie Wilson and Brittney Erickson, one of her fellow hikers, poured water on dirt, using the wet earth to put out the fire bit by bit. Chelsie kicked a burning stump into the ground. The team smothered it. She instructed and delegated jobs, describing the team as willing, communicative and diligent.

“It was really scary at first,” Chelsie said, “and then it became fun.” After two hours, she gave her team the all-clear. They had transformed the patch of smoldering char into a wet pile of dirt and debris.

On a hike later the same day, the group climbed West Pintler Peak only to spot another fire, this one on the horizon some 10 miles away. They called in the sighting from a ridge with cell service

and heard a plane fly low overhead the next day. Weeks later, they said they think that was the first alert to the Johnson Fire, a 270-acre blaze southwest of West Pintler Peak.

If there was a theme to the hikers’ trip it was definitely fire, because while camping near the bank of Oreamnos Lake, they spotted wispy smoke billowing from the opposite shoreline.

“We start yelling across the lake, top of our lungs,” Darren Wilson said. “‘Is there anybody there? Do you have a fire?’” Hearing no response, they initiated a then-familiar course of action. Gathering every container of water they possessed, the group rushed toward the smoke’s source.

“Like children of the corn, we come out of the trees,” Wilson said, only to find three men huddled around a prohibited campfire. The hikers explained that they’d put out a smoldering wildfire, spotted another and were worried about a third—the campfire they were now looking at.

“The guys were not very impressed with us, though,” Chelsie Wilson said, as the men reluctantly extinguished their fire. “They didn’t like our story at all.” Still, they’d agreed to douse the fire and the hikers withdrew, hoping this was the end of fires popping up on their trek.

“It’s a real possibility,” Darren Wilson said. “You could be caught behind the wrong side of a fire.”

Zeke Lloyd is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He lives in Helena, Montana and writes for the Montana Free Press.

HEALTH

LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH: ANTICIPATING SEASONS OF CHANGE COMMITTING

TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER AS FALL APPROACHES

BY MICHELLE KENDZIORSKI AND ALLISON BRADAC GUEST COLUMNISTS

Summer in Big Sky is no doubt beautiful. And so is the winter. And so is that in-between time we call fall, when the leaves are a-blazing. Even though the colors can be magnificent and the hiking trails less congested, it’s important to realize how changing seasons may present additional stress or anxiety to many individuals.

Taking care of your own mental health is crucial, and it’s equally important to be mindful of the mental health of those around you, especially as seasonal changes approach.

Seasonal changes can impact mental health, often leading to increased stress, changes in mood, or even seasonal affective disorder. Being proactive about mental health during these times is important. This could mean maintaining routines, seeking sunlight or adjusting your self-care practices to fit the season.

Mental health is often interconnected within families and close relationships. If someone close to you is struggling, it can affect your own mental state and vice versa. Healthy, supportive relationships can provide a buffer against stress and emotional difficulties.

When you prioritize your mental health, you're better equipped to offer support to others. Conversely, if those close to you are struggling and you aren’t addressing your own mental health needs, it can create a cycle of stress and emotional strain.

Addressing mental health proactively can prevent more serious challenges down the line. This might involve regular check-ins with yourself and your family members, setting aside time for self-care, or seeking professional help when needed.

By fostering open communication and understanding within your family and friends, you create an environment where everyone feels supported. This mutual support promotes a more balanced and healthier atmosphere, a strong foundation in mental health which helps provide a buffer in the face of life’s challenges.

Understanding seasonal affective disorder

As the seasons change, it’s a great time to evaluate your mental health strategies and check in with your loved ones. Encourage open conversations about how everyone is feeling and discuss any adjustments that might be helpful during this transitional period.

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that can set in the same time each year, commonly in the fall and into the winter months. Symptoms can include feeling down or listless consistently, losing interest in the activities you often love, low sluggish energy, or unusual alterations in your sleep and appetite. While it’s normal to have some days when you experience some or many of these symptoms, be mindful of your feelings and others when these symptoms increase or seem to become regular.

While we do not know the specific causes for SAD, we do know that factors like decreased sunlight can cause a decrease in serotonin levels, impacting mood, and a decrease in melatonin levels, impacting sleep. These all play valuable vital roles in our mental health. If you can recognize these symptoms early in yourself or your friends, meeting with a counselor can help. And supporting each other is something we all can do—although cliché, we are indeed stronger together.

September is upon us, and it is national Suicide Prevention Month.

We can each do our part to recognize how seasons can affect all of us and simply to acknowledge and be present in the lives and community that surround us. We—Michelle and Allison—will be walking with Wellness In Action as part of Team Big Sky in the Out of the Darkness Walk on September 8 at Lindley Park in Bozeman. We hope you’ll join us to support the American Foundation for Suicide Preventions—register on AFSP's website.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to speak with a trained counselor 24/7.

Michelle Kendziorski is the board president for Wellness in Action and is committed to community connectedness by advocating for mental health. She supports WIA as the first organization in Big Sky to provide affordable and accessible options for better mental healthcare and knows firsthand how essential these services are for our community.

Allison Bradac is the executive director for Wellness in Action. She continues to be encouraged by Big Sky’s commitment to improve mental health and is hopeful for more resources and increased accessibility to care.

Gallatin Canyon in early October. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

GET YOUR GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE LICENSE PLATE

With the purchase of a Friend of the Gallatin License Plate, you are doing your part to support conservation and preservation of the Gallatin River. Find yours at any MVD office in Montana, and Rep the River!

HEALTH BUZZ A HOLISTIC RUNDOWN—THE GI SYSTEM

BY KALEY BURNS EBS COLUMNIST

“Gut health” is now accepted as the catch-all term for our digestive system. The masterminds behind our digestive process include a variety of enzymes, immune cells, neurotransmitters and a multitude of bacteria. Plus, virtually every other cell and organ is connected to our gut, making the overall health of our brain, cardiovascular system, and immune system significantly reliant on our digestive wellbeing.

The digestive process involves everything between consumption of food and elimination. There are necessary steps for breaking down, absorbing, transporting, and eliminating what we consume. Our genetics, environment, nutrition routine, and mind all contribute to our gut health. While there are aspects of digestion that may be impacted by genetics, more often than not, digestive issues derive from factors within our control—mainly what we eat and our stress load.

Most of us have experienced one or more of the symptoms of a suboptimal digestive system, from gas and bloating to indigestion, constipation and

diarrhea. But there are other indirect and less obvious outcomes such as fatigue, mood swings or skin concerns that reflect our gut health.

It sounds simple, but one of the best things for our digestive health is to chew. Chewing 20 to –30 times increases production of saliva which contains epithelial growth factor, a polypeptide that stimulates growth and repair of epithelial tissue. This means that thoroughly chewing your food supports the integrity of the intestinal lining and nourishes the gut. Chewing your food about 30 times also forces you to slow down while eating. This brings us to be more mindful as we eat and allows us to savor our food and enjoy our tablemates.

One of the most important factors to achieving optimal gut health is determining the nutritional choices that work best for you as an individual. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to a healthy diet and self. Many people consume common foods that their body simply cannot break down well. This can set up an ongoing low-level inflammatory process which leads to issues beyond just digestive symptoms, such as leaky gut sydrome, immune reactivity and so on.

In addition, it is important to determine which foods, food groups, micro- and macro- nutrients or minerals may need to be increased in the diet or supplemented. Taking this step helps ensure that

the body is receiving the key nutrients it needs to function well.

Apple cider vinegar is also helpful for digestion. Adding 1 tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a small glass of water and drinking 15–30 minutes before each meal balances the pH in the stomach and small intestine so that the body can more easily break down food and absorb the nutrients.

Eating more prebiotics such as artichokes, bananas, asparagus, apples, leeks, dandelion greens, jicama, garlic, and onions feeds the good bacteria in the gut, which helps with digestion, immune function and nutrient absorption.

We are still learning the many ways a healthy gut optimizes our overall wellness. Having a “gut feeling” related to your health? Talk to your provider and start improving your body’s wellness. An optimally functioning digestive tract is the cornerstone of good health.

Dr. Kaley Burns is a licensed Naturopathic Physician providing a wide range of services for her clients, including: Naturopathic Medicine, IV Nutrient Therapy, Regenerative Injections, Rejuvenation Therapies, Vitamin Shots, and Nutrition Counseling. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspireand guide others on their health journey.

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HEALTH BUZZ A HOLISTIC RUNDOWN—THE GI SYSTEM

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