2023 Summer Adventure Journal

There are no words that can tell the hidden speech of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm."

Theodore Roosevelt said it best: "

These are the words of Theodore Roosevelt, perhaps our country’s greatest champion of national parks and wildlife, who single-handedly ensured the preservation of some 230 million acres of public land.

Here at The Resort at Paws Up®, we’ve got about 37,000 acres—a mere sliver of this country’s natural bounty, but nonetheless we’re proud to preserve and share with anyone who’d like to come visit.

As stewards of our little slice of Roosevelt’s legacy, we’re always especially excited for the summer season, when we welcome visitors to experience the wilderness for themselves. The bison and the tall grasses on which they roam, the Blackfoot River and the osprey that swoop and dip and dine from it, the valleys and the mountains and their shadow play from dawn until dusk: it’s all part of the real-life documentary that plays out in Montana each and every day.

We’re lucky to be so close to it. And we’re even luckier to have the opportunity to share it with you.

Beyond nature, there are manmade spoils, of course. This summer, we’re looking forward to bringing back treasured traditions: shooting off an epic fireworks show for our Fourth of July celebration, surprising our glamping guests by inviting a famous singer to their campfire and toasting National S’mores Day with a world-class pastry chef.

We’re also excited to see guests make some memories with brand-new features and activities around the Ranch. This summer marks the debut of our spectacular new Mountain Bike Flow Trail with valley views for days. Tucked into the trees, there’s a thrilling new Sky Line adventure course for daredevils of all ages. And in the woods just next to Shed®, we’re building a series of bridges and lookout towers for exploring on either side of delicious live-fire meals.

You can read all about these new activities in this issue, as well as one heck of a fish tail: one man’s pursuit of peak fly hatch season on the Blackfoot.

Roosevelt was right when he said that there are no words that can capture the majesty of these landscapes. Instead, come experience them for yourself this summer.

The Lipson Family

The art of the marshmallow

By Lauren Viera

S’mores have been around for the better part of a century thanks to the Girl Scouts, which invented the delectable dessert. At Paws Up, s’moreology—the so-called study of s’mores—has been around since 2016, and has only gotten better with each summer campfire. That’s due in no small part to s’moreologists: glamping butlers who pride themselves on adding signature twists to the marshmallow–chocolate–graham cracker combination. The idea, says Paws Up Director of Glamping Brian Holwerda, is to bring out the kid in people by inviting them to get in on the creativity.

The "golden" rule

"Night one, they’ll teach you how to roast," Holwerda says, laying out the s’moreologist’s sweet strategy. The goal: school guests on how to roast a marshmallow to the perfect, golden-brown hue that’s ripe for pairing with ingredients. No torched ’mallows allowed.

The add-ons

Once guests have a hand on the basics, s’moreologists start adding ingredients. Often at first, "There’s a lot of huckleberry," Holwerda says, naming a local favorite. But from there, anything goes. "It’s all about guest creativity." Ingredients get more exotic. Kids get excited. Sometimes a slice of leftover steak is added to the stick; sometimes a truffle. The adults get excited, too.

The ceremony

By the third or fourth night, anything goes: huckleberry hot sauce, Mexican chocolate, gold-leaf glitters—the works. Campy culinary accolades are more popular with some than others, Holwerda admits. But for those excited to play along, it’s a Paws Up rite of passage.

Celebrate National S'mores day at Paws Up on August 10 with pro tips from world-class pastry chef Waylynn Lucas.

There’s surfing the Pacific Ocean. There’s surfing the Clark Fork River in downtown Missoula. And then there’s surfing on Salmon Lake.

By Lauren Viera

Set in the heart of the Clearwater River Chain of Lakes, Salmon Lake is known for camping and fly-fishing in summer and ice fishing and skating in the winter. But among Paws Up guests who spend a day on the Island Lodge, a beautiful historic property secluded in the pines on the lake’s private island, surfing is the thing.

MALIBU, MONTANA

Catch a wave on Salmon Lake

Gaining popularity over the past few years, wake surfing and wakeboarding on this otherwise still lake are made possible by a pair of Malibu boats that sparkle in the summer sun like glints of rainbow trout skimming for flies. "Getting up is the hard part," says Activities Manager Tyler Mullen, adding that guides have a lot of success helping newbies get the hang of it. "Once you’re up, you can get that wave up to 4 feet, and you can drift forward and backward in it."

The technology is relatively simple. Water ballasts within Malibu boats are operated by your captain, who can shift the boat’s weight to one side or the other, creating waves when you want, where you want ’em.

"The ability to control the wake and throw different patterns of waves and wake behind the boat, it’s significantly different from what we’ve been able to offer in the past," says Will Smith, General Manager of the Wilderness Outpost. "Ideally you're doing it without the rope, and you're closer in. That's what the Malibu boat allows you to do."

Not to mention, downtime at the Island Lodge is dreamy. Mullen likens it to a vacation away from your vacation: a beautifully remote spot to loll in the sun, savor a delicious private meal and cap the day with a sunset pontoon boat cruise around the lake. Surfing may be the main draw. But as Smith says, "It’s just as special to do nothing at all."

"Of all the questions which can come before this nation, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us."

President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt

Wild Ambition

HOW THE COUNTRY’S MOST CONSERVATION-MINDED PRESIDENT STILL INSPIRES US TODAY

By Ann Titus

"There are no words," he said, and then kept on talking. A naturalist at heart, Teddy Roosevelt had a lot to say about rivers, sunsets and craggy mountain peaks. From the waterfalls of Yosemite to the geysers in Yellowstone, the great landscapes of the West filled him with awe, and his remarks on the subject were poetic and prolific. More important, his glowing sentences were backed up with vigorous action.

While serving as president, Roosevelt signed legislation doubling the number of National Parks. He established bird preserves, game preserves and 150 National Forests. Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, Roosevelt established the country’s first National Monuments. In total, approximately 230 million acres were protected as a result of his bold leadership. And he never tired of advocating for the preservation of places he loved for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

In this century, it’s tempting to take our 26th president’s efforts for granted or to believe that his legacy only lives in the past. But as you set out on a hike in a state like Montana, so rich with scenic beauty and well-tended biodiversity, you can be assured that an enduring spirit of conservation continues to this day. And the love he felt for the environment is a sentiment that’s been handed down through generations.

Take measure of how your heart quickens when you spot dozens of wild elk wending their way through the trees, hear the whish-whish of grasses as a herd of white-tail deer prances over the meadow or notice a pair of bald eagles, standing imperiously over a riverbank, scanning for snacks. After pausing in wonder, do you turn your attention to your son or daughter? Are you hoping they see it, too?

How many times will your kids linger in amazement, not next to a Christmas tree but, rather, under an 80-foot Douglas fir? Will they know the gilded majesty of a tamarack tree as it stands in a forest of Ponderosa pines? It’s a powerful force, wanting to share in the experience of nature with the people who’ll outlive us.

So, when you visit 37,000 acres set aside here in Greenough, bring your children. Be a part of a long-standing history of Americans left speechless by spectacular scenery.

Against stirring images of rocky cliffs, in a rare recording, you can still hear President Roosevelt say, "There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness. That can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm."

Let’s carry on in T.R.’s footprints. Let’s show our offspring the places we treasure, and maybe one day our progeny will invent the language to describe them.

Take a 3-minute trip back in time. Scan the QR code to watch the video Roosevelt’s Vision

THE ORIGINAL FOOD CART

By Greg Eiden

Hard biscuits and cold jerky

Couldn’t appease a cowboy’s soul.

For hard work in the saddle

Would cause him to skedaddle

Unless a hot meal could soon console.

—Anonymous cowboy poem

THE OLD WEST WAS HOME TO THE AMERICAN CHUCK WAGON.

In 1866, cattleman Charles Goodnight was about to take a slightly different approach to the usual trail fare of burnt biscuits, beef jerky and meat on the fire. He had hired 18 drovers to drive 2,000 steers from Belknap, Texas, to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and then on to Denver (the beginnings of the famed Goodnight-Loving Trail). He knew that the way to keep cowboys happy along the hot, dusty, lightning-storm-filled journey was through their bellies.

Hell-bent on figuring out a way to serve top-notch victuals during the trip, Goodnight came up with the world’s first food cart. In fact, the name "chuck wagon" probably was coined for its inventor Charles’s nickname, Chuck.

Part Frankenstein-ed wagon parts and part ingenious storage room, the first chuck wagon began as a sturdy U.S. Army Studebaker wagon. Goodnight drafted a cook/pseudo engineer to help him strip away unnecessary weight and add improvements, such as steel axles able to withstand rugged ground. Typically under four feet wide but a good 10 feet long, these wagons had to hold food prep gear as well as months-worth of foodstuffs. So they added all kinds of drawers, shelves and storage like a chuck box full of utensils with a fold-down food prep.

A coffee mill for grinding beans was cleverly attached to the outside of the wagon. Stashed in a boot below the chuck box was the one of the hardest-working essentials, the Dutch oven. A large water barrel fit on the side and a cook pot below.

The hero of this off-road show was the "Cookie," second in authority only to the trail boss. While Cookie was a common handle for the camp cook, nasty nicknames awaited if his dishes slipped to the subpar: "Chow Chump" and "Belly Bandit" among them.

Cookie made sure he started a drive with a good stash of foodstuffs that wouldn’t go bad or get too wormy. Supplies included flour for biscuits, molasses, sourdough start, dried fruits, chili peppers, salt, onions, potatoes, pinto beans and of course the all-important coffee beans.

Days started with endless pots of coffee and ended with a hearty hot meal. And yes, the main entrees were often beef—steaks, short ribs, pot roast and scraps for stew. Foraged wild onions and flavorings like sage and various mushrooms made it downright tasty.

SINCE COOKIE RULES, HE HAD SOME RULES:

No one eats until Cookie says so.

No one eats until Cookie says so.

Never ride up on the chuck wagon from downwind— horse hair and dust made for poor seasonings. Clean up your own damn mess. No one gets seconds until the last man eats. Don’t walk between his chuck box prep area and the fire.

Never ride up on the chuck wagon from downwind—horse hair and dust made for poor seasonings. Clean up your own damn mess. No one gets seconds until the last man eats.

Don’t walk between his chuck box prep area and the fire.

te: it’s been said some Cookies enforced their rules with a skillet upside the head.)

(Note: it’s been said some Cookies enforced their rules with a skillet upside the head.)

As for Chuck Goodnight, well, he may have come up with a way to ensure his cowboys ate well, but he seems to have preferred a diet of coffee, beef and Cuban cigars. He passed away at 93.

A FRESH TWIST ON AN OLD FAVORITE

The venerable chuck wagon at Paws Up is true to the originals, right down to the Studebaker kitted out with storage areas and gear. And while our menu may be a tad more refined, it’s still rooted in local ingredients and finger-lickin' flavor. For a sweet summertime recipe, click here.

Bozeman trail the

mining in

montana

By Wendy Altschuler

Risking life and limb for untold fortune has long been the ethos of miners in the early days of the American West, especially in gold-strike belts like Montana. According to popular shows like Discovery’s Gold Rush and Gold Rush: White Water, the magnetism of shimmering treasure still summons the brave.

With sections protected by the National Park Service, the Bozeman Trail connected the gold rush territory of Montana, specifically in Virginia City at the end of the trail to the Oregon Trail in Wyoming in the mid 1800s. It's named after pioneer and frontiersman John Bozeman, even though Native Americans had been using the route as a nomadic hunting corridor for centuries. With the most direct path to the goldfields, the route skirted the Bighorn Mountains, crisscrossed multiple rivers and traversed grassland and rugged terrain.

For the Sioux and their Cheyenne allies, the Bozeman Trail, known as "the last great overland emigrant trail in the American West," encroached on valued hunting land, which negated the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty. Violent conflict ensued against any settlers or travelers who ventured on the widened wagon path. Multiple forts were erected along the trail by the federal government, including Fort Kearney, where the Bozeman Trail snaked across the Bighorn River. Famously, three bloody attacks occurred: the Fetterman Fight, the Hayfield Fight and the Wagon Box Fight. Afterward, the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 was signed, forts were abandoned due to a presidential decree and the Bozeman Trail was closed. These conflicts, in tandem with the storied frontier history, have landed multiple segments of the trail on the National Register of Historic Places.

Once a shortcut to the gold rush in Montana, the Bozeman Trail is now a major interstate highway with historic points of interest along the way, including the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Bridger’s Ferry and Fort Phil Kearny. Bannack, a Montana ghost town managed by Bannack State Park along Grasshopper Creek, became a boomtown when gold was discovered in 1862. Soon after, in 1863, gold was discovered at Alder Gulch in Virginia City, another boomtown that still has people living in it today. Both historic cities, where land was once worth living and dying for, will be interesting for intrepid visitors today.

gem

mine Mountain sapphire

For treasure seekers who want to get in on the action, mining for charms with a pan and heaps of hope, visit Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine. Nestled between Philipsburg and Hamilton, Montana, it's one of the oldest sapphire mines in the country, where mining began in 1892. Natural-gravel, two-gallon buckets are brought in from the mine location, allowing amateur miners of all ages to participate in gravel washing, using a fine screen. Playing in the dirt is fun for all, you’ll see! You’ll sift through gravel and dirt in hopes of finding a pastel-colored stone that the staff will then grade for authenticity. Thereafter, found treasures can be heat-treated and faceted. When exploring downtown Philipsburg, pop in the Gem Mountain town shop to marvel at jewelry, home decor, fossils and art.

A FEAST FOR THE AGES

Fishing the Blackfoot River during a major hatch

By Greg Eiden

When giant stoneflies first crawled out onto muddy banks, they were often crushed by some pretty big feet: those of Tyrannosaurus Rex. Today, these ancient creatures are still being crushed—by Montana’s most beautiful native, the Westslope cutthroat trout.

Stoneflies, in particular the 2- to 3-inch Pteronarcys californica, or giant salmonfly, indeed look like throwbacks to the Jurassic Era. A fisherman's dream is to find clouds of them on a scheduled trip to flyfish Montana’s Blackfoot River. Salmonflies are considered an indicator species. As an indicator of river quality, the nymphs only live in clear, clean waters. The fact they exist at all on the Blackfoot is a source of pride for the local Trout Unlimited chapter and other local conservation groups, who worked diligently to clean up the upper Blackfoot River after years of logging and mining. Today, anglers see a fairly consistent salmonfly hatch, typically as June ends, extending well into July.

CONSIDER THE SALMONFLY LIFE CYCLE.

Basically, the nymphs squiggle around on river bottoms for a couple of years until they get a nudge from Mother Nature—just about when river temps get in the 58–60 degrees range—to grow two pair of wings and flit around a bit in the air, eventually clinging to the willows lining the river. After mating, females will deposit eggs into the river. This makes them extremely vulnerable as big trout swim around in perpetual ambush mode.

On a late June morning, Mindy Marcum, one of the fly-fishing experts from The Resort at Paws Up, is gearing up to host this Oregon-based writer for two days of evening fishing. She quickly updates me on Blackfoot River conditions: "The river has been a chocolate brown color. We’ve had so much rain and heavy runoff this May and June." As one of Montana’s majestic freestone—or dam-free—rivers, the Blackfoot receives drainage from streams in the Bob Marshall Wilderness as well as the Swan Mountains. "Now, after a week of clear, warm weather, it’s dropping into fish-able shape, with greener water," Marcum says.

Serendipitously, the weather is cooperating as much as the water. Little wind, warm days, 58–62 degree water, all just right for big bugs to hatch. All that's needed to catch some cutthroats is a bit of luck. Well, that and just the right insect imitators.

Missoula’s Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop is the spot to pick the fish-fueled brain of Marcum’s husband and Grizzly employee, Rick Marcum. Walking through two long tables chock full of flies, Rick suggests trying old favorites like Chubby Chernobyl or Morrish’s Fluttering Salmonflies. Then there's one you've gotta buy just for the name: Roger’s Cat Puke.

Golden stones would also fit into the late June hatch mix. Giddy with anticipation, I grab a couple of Rogue Golden Stones as well. A more consistent hatch, they typically are seen during and well after the salmonflies. But when the salmonflies hatch, the big fish seem to want nothing else—they are the trout’s version of candied bacon.

"Those fish will crush your flies, gorging as long as they can. You can even feel them moving in trout bellies," Rick says. "There’s nothing subtle about a hit when the salmonflies are out."

On assignment in hopes of writing about this mystical hatch, it's music to my not yet sunburned ears.

Seasonal Blackfoot River hatches

SPRING:

MARCH BROWNS

SKWALA STONEFLIES

SUMMER:

SALMONFLIES (late June–mid-July)

GOLDEN STONEFLIES

YELLOW SALLY STONEFLIES

CADDIS

GREEN DRAKES

LATE SUMMER/FALL:

PALE MORNING DUNS

TERRESTRIALS (hoppers mostly)

TheCatch: BIGFISH

Armed with artificial flies that seemed way too big to imitate any real fly I've ever seen, I'm off to meet river rat and Paws Up guide Erik Oline and stalwart photographer Stuart Thurlkill. Around 6:00PM, we launch our three-seat river raft at the confluence of Clearwater and Blackfoot Rivers, planning to float down to the Outlaw takeout. As we're arriving, an osprey flies by, clutching a foot-long whitefish in its talons. I take it as a sign of epic fishing to come.

As we approach the first stand of salmonfly-lined willows along the shoreline, Oline says, "Put it right under those willows."

"Now mend. And mend again." It is a simple set of instructions we'll hear over and over: gentle reminders to mend our fly lines by simply whipping a loopy "O" back upstream, so the fly line never drifts past the fly, pulling it in an unnatural manner.

Suddenly, everyone is yelling. "Fish!" is all I hear. Something has inhaled my Chubby Chernobyl, a foamy floater with hints of red and a highly visible white tuft. Setting the hook, I hear Oline say, "Big fish, big fish!"—not for the last time on a magical evening. Finally coming to net is a gorgeous 16+ inch rainbow trout, it’s pink and blue sides flashing in the sun. It's probably eager to get back in the water and ambush more salmonflies.

Thurlkill and I look at each other, nodding: We know this is not going to be an ordinary evening of fishing. A cedar waxwing seems to agree, trilling a few notes from her perch on a willow branch.

"Oh, high alert; this is a real fishy area," I hear Oline say as another oversized fish, this time a native cutthroat, swirls and slams my fly. Struggling to bring it to the boat, I'm relieved when Oline deftly nets the twisting salmonid. I catch the slash of red at the gill plate and throat, confirming the species. Not long after, another big fish chows down on my fly, this time an oversized cutbow, a hybrid of the two species.

Later, Oline, a nature lover and savvy guide, will say it was an epic day of hatching and fishing: as good as it gets. Small wonder the fly-fishing guides like to stick close to the river during big hatches, crashing as close as they can to the big bugs. "Yeah, I pretty much lived in my car one year when these flies were hatching," he says.

On our last drift of the day, as I'm fumbling with a tangle of my dry fly and a trailing nymph, Thurlkill has stopped taking photos long enough to hook the biggest fish of the trip: a trophy-sized 18-inch rainbow he unhooks and lets swim off to fight another day.

That day’s success would be contrasted by what greeted us following evening. Temperatures dropped 16 degrees. The wind picked up. And the salmonflies quit hatching, at least for the day. (Oline would tell me later that after I left, thunderstorms turned the river back into chocolate milk.) The big fish seemed to opt out with them, simply swirling at our flies, only mildly interested.

But even a slow day on the Blackfoot emphasizes the peacefulness of Montana. And presents plenty of time for fish stories.

"Fishing this river, I caught the biggest trout I’ve ever seen," Oline begins. "After a bruising fight, I managed to work a monster 35-inch bull trout to shore. As I was gently releasing it, I noticed an odd chunk out of its anal fin, maybe from an otter attack." But this fish tale isn't done. "The next year, on the same stretch of water, I hooked another mighty fish. Finally getting it in, I saw that very same notch on the 35-inch bull trout."

After that last night’s fishing, I stopped by Charlie B’s in Missoula, the local fisherman hangout, for a celebratory cocktail. I felt like a local, telling people about the hatch and talking fly-fishing and big trout. As I mentioned flies wiggling around in trout bellies to an old timer he said, "That’s nuthin." Simms cap slightly askew, he started talking about a time back in the day when bull trout were legal to keep. "I remember a friend of mine cutting open a big ol’ bull trout. In its belly he didn’t find wiggling flies—nope, more like five rainbow trout."

Not a bad ending for an epic trip. Not bad at all.

F GO WITH THE LOW

MOUNTAIN BIKING THAT'S DEFINITELY YOUR SPEED

By Nancy DePalma

Maybe it was a shiny red Schwinn, or maybe it was a rough-and-tumble model with dusty tires. Either way, you never forget your first bike. There's just something special about that moment when you swing your leg over the seat and your sneaker meets the pedal: There is a palpable sense of hope and excitement when you set off on a bike ride.

As a kid, bike riding was all about the journey. But somewhere along the way, we grew up and started disregarding the beauty of the journey, focusing instead on the destination. Mountain biking forces a pendulum shift. It's the grown-up version of the devil-may-care rides of your childhood. And at Paws Up, we've taken the mountain biking experience to another level (pun intended).

You end up with the Flow Trail, a 2.5-mile adventure course that snakes through the woods, high in the hills on the Paws Up property. Masterminded by Bozemanbased Integrated Trail Lab, the trail was designed to take advantage of the beauty of the setting (and yes, the vistas are worth every bead of sweat from the uphill climb). It was also created to appeal to everyone from hard-core enthusiasts to Peloton lovers who want to take their ride outside.

The team spent days walking the land to determine the best route that would be as jaw-droppingly beautiful as it was thrilling. They dropped flags and sketched out a rough path and then started digging. It took six weeks to build from start to finish, and most of the trail was done by hand. The trail opened to riders last summer, with Paws Up Assistant Activities Guide and co-designer Jake Kvale making the first tracks.

"We designed it to be physical—you’ll be climbing up hills—but depending on your skill and comfort levels, our guides will bring it to any level to make it a successful experience," says Will Smith, General Manager of the Wilderness Outpost. It’s also a workout just to get there, since it’s a two-mile journey to the start of the trail. Riders can take their pick from Trek Roscoe bikes along with a full fleet of electronic bikes designed to ensure that all riders can experience the thrill of biking up and over the hills and through the woods.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU INTRODUCE A MOUNTAIN BIKING ENTHUSIAST (AND PAWS UP GUIDE) TO A MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL DESIGN COMPANY?

Just For KIDs... o F ALL A ges

OUTDOOR EXPLORATION

ADVENTURE INSPIRATION

By Alyssa Onisick

,

Mini–tree houses with mountain views, connected by a series of suspension bridges. A nature-inspired sensory experience complete with a sapphire hunt. A full ropes course for adventurers younger than six years old.

This summer, just steps away from Shed®, Paws Up's youngest guests will have two new areas of exploration, designed just for them. Influenced by his own childhood and interactions with The Resort's guests, Wilderness Outpost General Manager Will Smith has dreamed up two big projects for the little ones.

"So much of being a kid is going and exploring," Smith says. "Both of these spaces stem from the same idea of, ‘How do we do something that’s Paws Up and uniquely us, and fits what we’re trying to accomplish at Wilderness Outpost?’"

TREETOP VILLAGE

While their parents relax in the outdoor dining area, young explorers can wander through a treetop village above the grownups' heads. Suspension bridges connect the tree houses together, and the houses themselves will be built around existing trees. Eventually there may be binoculars provided to see nearby mountains, a communication system between tree houses and maps.

But kids won’t only be looking up and out. They can also look at the action taking place beneath them in an exploration area. Boulders, rocks and tree stumps will provide the tools for imaginative play. And eventually, there will be a Kids Corps of Discovery favorite: sapphire hunting. Gravel hauled in from nearby Philipsburg provides hours of fun for campers to sift through looking for sapphires, and Smith is excited about the possibility of bringing that energy to this new space full-time.

"Something like this, I can see us creating it and then adding to it, and adding to it," Smith explains, noting that the project is expected to be complete by June. "That’s my favorite part of stories in general: They all start somewhere, but from there you can add color to them."

NEW SKY LINE COURSE

Immediately following the completion of the treetop village, work will begin on a new course at the Sky Line™ Aerial Adventure Park. Designed for adventurers who are too small for the Canopy Course and Challenge Course, the new course will be built just one or two feet off the ground. But if being closer to the earth sounds like less of an adventure, think again. The course is designed so that once you reach each of the 15 or so platforms, you can choose to go in either of two directions.

The course is designed to have the same look and feel as the larger courses, so young guests feel like they’re tackling the same obstacles as the rest of the family, Smith says. This new aerial course will also be folded into the Kids Corps of Discovery program.

"This is going to be one kids are going to love; I think they might even want to do that for an entire day," Smith says. "The options on it are endless, so I think it can be special."

“So much of being a kid is going and exploring, and when you can climb up into tree houses at different heights with different bridges and platforms in the treetop structure, that’s the idea: to discover and go up and round.

—Will Smith

Leash Required No

Fifteen

years of the CaniNe ClasSic

By Brian Krumm

FOR ONE DAY EACH YEAR, The Resort at Paws Up® becomes a 37,000-acre dog park. On August 27, Paws Up will celebrate its fifteenth year of welcoming two-legged and four-legged competitors to the annual Canine Classic, a dog-friendly two-mile walk, five-mile run or half-marathon. The event sends 100 percent of its proceeds to the Working Dogs for Conservation organization, headquartered in nearby Turah, Montana, whose mission is to "train the world’s best conservation detection dogs and put them to work protecting wildlife and wild places." Conservation dogs specialize not in the more typical canine duties of detecting drugs, bombs and cancers but rather in sniffing out larvae of invasive mussels or highly endangered flowers hidden in fields, for example.

Mindy Marcum, director of special projects and one of the Canine Classic’s organizers, is especially excited to welcome runners and their furry friends for the milestone fifteenth year. She mentioned that the Classic is unique in that competitors can let dogs off their leashes for the event, which takes place on the animal-trap-free Paws Up property, and that the half-marathon participants are in for quite an experience: "The 13-mile is really amazing. You run through the entire property, next to the river, along the homes, through the camps, along the rock quarry. Literally all the terrain you can think of, you're probably running it."

Marcum also applauded the Working Dogs organization's efforts, because the dogs utilized are typically rescue dogs that can't be housed due to aggressive tendencies. The dogs are given jobs such as finding illegally traded ivory in Africa or locating endangered animals instead of being euthanized.

For the Classic, Marcum says usually about 200 people participate, of varying skill levels: "We have some serious runners that really want to be timed and then we have participants that casually jog along the trail. There are some who just hike, too. So, it really is for everybody." First place in the men's and women's categories is officially recognized, with some fun awards presented as well, such as "dirtiest dog" and "fastest dog." Lunch is served after the race.

As is tradition, the Wine & Bitch Dinner, hosted by co-owner Nadine Lipson and her dog Fenway, takes place the day before the Classic, on August 26 this year. Last year, the dinner was held at the new outdoor dining venue Shed, and an auction was held, featuring various goods from local businesses and artisans. That is the plan for this year as well, Marcum mentioned. Canines can expect treats from the Honest Kitchen and human runners will get a schwag bag after the race.

To sign up for the Canine Classic and the Wine & Bitch event, visit pawsup.com/events/canine-classic Participants have the option of fundraising instead of paying a registration fee (and fundraisers get a shot at a glamping gift card), but all runners are contributing to supporting an innovative and humane organization—and to the health of dogs and humans alike.

An Activity-Filled Summer at Paws Up

JUNE 7

JULY 12

AUGUST 2

SEPTEMBER 6

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: MONTANA MAJESTY PAINTING

When it comes to art classes, Montana is our classroom.

With artist Ashley Mitchell, you might find yourself painting Montana’s state bird or flower or making cowboy and cowgirl portraits, with Paws Up providing the perfect inspiration.

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: BIG SKY CANVAS CLASS

JUNE 14

JULY 5

AUGUST 23

Finding inspiration under Montana’s Big Sky

Put the magic of Montana’s evening sky onto canvas with artist Carrie Kohles. Enjoy a casual, fun and artistic experience as she leads you step by step or feel free to wander down your own creative path.

JUNE 12–18

JUNE 26–JULY 4

AUGUST 14–20

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: GETTIN’ PRIMITIVE Skills that could actually save your hide

Real-deal Montana mountain man Gary Steele will show you and your family outdoor survival techniques, such as edible plant identification, fire making, knot tying, longbow archery and tracking.

TASTE OF MONTANA

JUNE 17

Experience the culinary cream of Montana’s crop.

Sit down to a meal where you’ll enjoy food and drink from local growers, ranchers and beverage crafters. It’s a glorious evening, proving that Montana’s culinary resources are as supersized as the landscape itself.

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: TREE RING PRINTING

JUNE 21

JULY 19

Let nature make its mark on you.

Missoula artist Michelle Nowels guides you through a printing process that utilizes tree stump tree rings to create art. Participants print multiple cards to enjoy or frame the prints back home.

LIVE FIRE LEGENDS

JUNE 22–24

Where BBQ magicians show their tricks

You’ll be licking your fingers as you pick up BBQ pointers from James Beard Award winner Chef Jonathon Sawyer. Feel free to sip craft beers, jam to live music and challenge your friends to lawn games.

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: PAINT ‘N’ POUR

JUNE 29

JULY 27

Toast your artistic side.

There’s nothing like a little wine to awaken your inner Frida Kahlo or Frederic Remington. Allow us to pour you a glass of wine while artist Linds Sanders instructs you on the finer points of painting.

CAMPFIRE STARS

You won’t believe your ears.

Campfire Stars brings in big-name talent for live, intimate performances across The Resort. Join Grand Ole Opry favorites, indie rockers and Grammy nominees as they pluck out tunes and singalongs around the campfire and under the big, starry sky

Will Hoge (June 7–11), Zach Schmidt and Jackie Berkley (June 20–25), Rhett Miller (June 27–July 1), Gary Louris (July 6–10), Chuck Ragan (July 13–18), Austin Jenckes (July 27–31), Dave and Tim Hause (August 1–6), Brian Pounds (August 8–12), Phillip-Michael Scales (August 25–29)

JULY 4

FOURTH OF JULY

Out here, the stars shine brighter than the fireworks.

Come along for a quintessential American celebration made even better with outdoor adventures, live music, craft cocktails, a float-decorating contest, gunnysack races and epic fireworks.

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: BRUSHES WITH GREATNESS

JULY 7–10

Beautiful landscapes start with beautiful land.

Whichever parts of the landscape speak to you, watercolor artist George Van Hook will help you capture them on canvas. You can learn from a pro as well as find plenty of inspiration for your work.

ARTISANAL PICNIC

JULY 22

Nobody does a picnic like Chicago, especially in Montana.

Every year, the top picnic chefs of the Windy City blow into Montana for our Artisanal Picnic—culinarians skilled in everything from uber-tasty fried chicken to super-creative hot dogs and craft pies.

NATIONAL S’MORES DAY

AUGUST 10

Victory has never been sweeter.

We’ll be throwing an all-out celebration of the ooey, gooey grahamcracker treat. The day culminates in a grand competition to make the best gourmet s’more, judged by Cake Wars star Chef Waylynn Lucas, who also be hosting a Cookbook Live® session (August 12) and cooking as a Campfire Chef (August 10–13).

AUGUST 16

SEPTEMBER 20

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: WILDFLOWER WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP

Watch your talents bloom.

Artist Michelle Nowels will guide participants to find their own magic while painting plants or flowers that are native to Montana or creatively filling in borders or stamps highlighting outdoor adventures.

BOUNTY ON THE BLACKFOOT

AUGUST 19

How to pack an entire summer into one evening

On the scenic banks of the Blackfoot River, you’ll find a farm-to-table feast dreamed up by the visiting Chef Brooke Williamson.

For a full schedule of upcoming events and workshops at Paws Up, visit pawsup.com/events.

For the best cuisine of the

EAST

WEST. head

This fall, refined Carolina cuisine comes to the Montana wilderness with a side of Southern hospitality and a big helping of live Montana music. Talk about a distinctive group of Paws Up guest Master Chefs: Raleigh’s five-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Scott Crawford, foodie-haven Asheville’s vaunted Chef William Dissen and TopChef star Annie Pettry and Wilmington’s seafood specialist Chef Dean Neff. After feasting with the visiting chefs, savor heart-pounding outdoor adventures and Montana’s stunning fall splendor.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT: CALL 866-991-1354 OR VISIT PAWSUP.COM/EVENTS/MONTANA-MASTER-CHEFS.