Montana and Big Sky: Worthy Classrooms

MONTANA AND BIG SKY:

WORTHY CLASSROOMS

BY ROBERT HALL

When I ventured out to Roscoe, Montana, in 1979 for a summer job, leaving behind my childhood home just west of Chicago, I was totally unaware Montana was so timelessly memorizing and would later become such a substantial component of my life.

It was during that summer that I worked on the Lazy EL ranch as a cook (their bad luck!) and ranch hand. My learning curve was steep that summer—riding fences, fly fishing and cooking grub were novel experiences for a young mid-Western urbanite.

As expected, the cowboys loved to give it to me. When I wore shorts, they suggested “whole” pants. I wanted to ride Pokey, a real plug of a horse, but they put me on a mercurial Pistol and kindly referred to me as “city boy.”

Yes, my fly cast was lousy, the cowboys were tough and my riding was worse, but after a few weeks I caught a few rainbows, figured out how to settle into a Western saddle and at least the cowboys knew I worked hard (just not smart).

Leaving Montana that summer after a full-scale crash course in the lifestyle and culture, I knew I would be back. I just didn’t know it would take 25 years. BOB AND THE HALL CLAN HITTING THE SLOPES—A PRIME MOTIVATOR IN PUTTING DOWN ROOTS IN As a father of three ski racers, and BIG SKY. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT HALL with a wife who is a reformed Vail ski bum, we collectively grew a bit we never saw a stitch of Bogner and a fancy tired of our quaint Pennsylvania ski lunch was a perfectly grilled bratwurst. hill, opting for an annual pilgrimage to the West for a ski trip. We hit The next spring our family made a repeat the classic, obligatory checklist: Vail, visit, during which we were blessed to Aspen, Jackson and most of Utah. No receive several inches of cold powder and doubt, they were all great spots, but discovered the earliest days of a love affair Vail was a bit like Disneyland, Aspen, with the steeps of Lone Peak. We relished well, glitzy for starters, and Jackson, watching our kids transform into big despite those incredible Tetons, never mountain skiers and, with our PIEPS handy, seems to ski well in late March. For those reasons, among others, none of HALL GETTING IN SOME TOURING IN THE NATURAL, WINTER-WONDERLAND BEAUTY OF BIG SKY. PHOTO BY KENE SPERRY will never forget those first tracks on North Summit Snowfield. the destinations really grabbed us for repeat visits. In July we came rushing back to glorious weather, endless hiking In 2002, our family visited Big Sky for the first time in the cast came back in full. midst of a warm spring. Until that point, we never knew what “chicken heads” were and learned, quickly, what “slide for life” That summer, we were lucky enough to meet several of Big meant. Though the conditions weren’t ideal, we loved the terrain, Sky’s gritty locals; as it turns out, they were approachable and the lack of lift lines and picked up on the Montana vibe. Simply, friendly, and we quickly figured out that the fishing guides, we were intrigued: Everyone seemed to be on fat powder skis, opportunities and, wouldn’t you know it, that hard-earned fly

ski patrollers and various outdoors instructors were the ones that with the real status in this town, unlike many ski town counterparts throughout the Rockies. We liked this.

Over the years, that array of local friends shared some of their most valuable secrets; where the best hiking trails, fishing holes and powder stashes may be. Encouraged by this intel and eager to gain some all our own, we have made it our mission to explore the state over the last two decades, ripping up 12 of the 16 Montana ski areas, fishing nearly every major river and hiking to the breathtaking summit of many of Montana’s storied peaks. Rodeos, pig races, music festivals and river floats have delivered us to one-of-a-kind places like Red Lodge and Whitefish, even allowing for foray into neighboring Greater Yellowstone haunts like Jackson, Salmon and Cody.

Lessons abound: Every river has its own character, each mountain range its own majesty and each local bar a classroom packed with learning opportunities. Such is the dynamic educational fabric of Montana.

TAKING IN THE VIEW AFTER AN ARDUOUS HIKE TO PINE CREEK LAKE IN THE PARADISE VALLEY. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT HALL

pack a lunch” or “the spruce moth hatch is going off on the Gallatin, let’s head out tonight.”

Perhaps being a part of this community will lead you to moments a bit more mundane (no less worthy), like getting involved in raising money for a community center or fighting for the school bond to pass. There are no wrong answers, and no matter your route, all of these activities are what makes a visitor become one with a small town in this truly great state.

How lucky I am that I was talked into driving across the country in 1979 (frankly, on a whim), only to HALL WITH LEGENDARY LIVINGSTON COWBOY JOHN HOILAND, REMINISCENT OF DAYS return to those charms 25 years later. We came as SPENT ON THE LAZY EL RANCH IN ROSCOE. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT HALL visitors and, with some work, feel as if we are soon Back East it’s not always easy to move into a new town, where approaching the distinguished rank of “local.” one might heavily factor the right business opportunities, preferred schools and even an expected way of dressing. As Tom Brokaw once said, “Montana truly is the last best place, just don’t tell anyone else.” I may have done just the opposite of In Montana, quite conversely, life all about existing in the exquisite moment, where instead of stock market or political chatter dominating at tables of friends, a Big Sky resident will hear “It’s a powder day tomorrow, meet you at Swifty at 8:15— Brokaw’s plea, but you’ll find every story in Montana is all its own and my words have only revealed a sliver of that experience. There is plenty of storyline yet had by Montanans, including myself, and two questions arise: how will yours start, and what will you learn?

For those ready for what’s next

Your home is more than a building or an address. It’s where you experience life, family, connection, growth. Your home should be as exceptional as you are, and as you are going to be. For a lifestyle inspired by your potential, there is only Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty.

bigskysir.com | Big Sky, Montana | MLS ID 348905

VISIT US IN BIG SKY: 33 LONE PEAK DRIVE, UNIT 105 | 406.995.2211 BOZEMAN: 2000 SOUTH 3RD AVE, SUITE A | 406.596.6688

MONTAGE HOTELS & RESORTS PROUDLY UNVEILS MONTAGE BIG SKY, SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN LATE 2021.

Consisting of 150 guest rooms and suites and a limited collection of 39 Montage Residences for sale. Montage Big Sky is centrally located within the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club community, adjacent to the 18th green, and offering ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort’s 5,800 ski-able acres. Resort amenities include a restaurant, lobby bar and lounge, market, pub and recreation room with bowling alley, indoor lap pool, family swimming pool, fitness center, signature Spa Montage, ski lockers and skier services, and 12,870 SF of some of the finest meeting and event space in the greater Rocky Mountain region. The 39 Residences range from 2-bedrooms to 6-bedrooms, and from 2,300 to 8,000 interior square feet.

We invite you to learn more about this unique opportunity to call Montage home at Big Sky.

888 700 7748 MONTAGERESIDENCESBIGSKY.COM

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value if any, of this property. This is not an advertisement or solicitation to purchase or sell property in states where prohibited by law. The resort project described herein (the “Resort”) and the residential units located within the Resort (the “Residential Units”) are not owned, developed, or sold by Montage Hotels & Resorts LLC or its affiliates or their respective licensors (collectively, “Montage”) and Montage does not make any representations, warranties or guaranties whatsoever with respect to the Residential Units, the Resort or any part thereof. CH SP Acquisition LLC uses the MONTAGE brand name and certain MONTAGE trademarks (collectively, the “Operator Trademarks”) in connection with the sales and marketing of the Residential Units in the Resort under a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and non-sublicensable license from Montage Hotels & Resorts LLC. The foregoing license may be terminated or may expire without renewal, in which case neither the Residential Units nor any part of the Resort will be identified as MONTAGE branded project or have any rights to use the Operator Trademarks. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING.