Winter 2010-11

Features

  • Leader of the Pack

    Dana Gleason just keeps on truckin'. After 35 years of making packs, longtime Bozeman local Dana Gleason is busy. And his company–Mystery Ranch–shows no signs of slowing down, ramping up production to meet the massive…
  • A Yellowstone Winter

    With three million people swarming its gates every year, Yellowstone can get a little crazy in the summertime. Not so in winter, when the endless human hordes are replaced by open roads, vast fields of white, and a cold,…

Departments

  • DIY Epic

    How to fail like a pro. Anyone can succeed. It takes a rare and special talent, however, to fail—and fail with such gusto that the failure becomes secondary to the triumphant achievement of mere survival. This is the…
  • Girls on Patrol

    There are some places that many women try to avoid, and let’s face it, a locker room full of sweaty guys—along with their stinky, unwashed capilene—is one of them. And some women would shy away from waking in the wee hours…
  • Winterize Your Skin

    Hooray, winter is here! Get out your skis, snowshoes, and ice skates—it’s time for fun in the snow. As an outdoor enthusiast, you might ready your body, strengthening knees, legs, and arms for the activities ahead. But do…
  • Ridge Rules

    We've all seen him: the guy up on the ridge who looks like a total mess. He's holding the line up, he's swinging skis and poles everywhere, and he's stopping in the middle of everything to fix his gloves. His I've-never-…
  • Save Your Skis!

    No pair of devoted, loyal skis should ever be left to rot in the garage—no matter how unshaped, heavy, geriatric, or neon. Fortunately, there are more than a few ways to reincarnate your skis and give them a useful second…
  • Chair to Nowhere

    Why is there a chairlift in that one guy's front yard? If you've lived in Bozeman in the last 20 years, you've probably noticed it—Greg Beardsley's two-chair setup in his front lawn on Church Street. As a 30-year veteran of…
  • Key Nutrients for Winter

    In winter, it's just as important to consume Vitamin D and Vitamin C as it is to keep up physical activity. However, intakes of these micronutrients tend to decline in winter due to limited sunshine (for Vitamin D…
  • More than a Ski Town

    While Big Sky has a reputation as a ski town, there are plenty of other diversions in this little mountain hamlet. Big Sky Resort always has entertainment for every family member: check out the Sno-Ball in the plaza for…
  • Uplift

    I turn my face skyward to soak in a little reassurance before I cross into the Ridge’s shadow. I’m riding the Pierre’s Knob chair at Bridger Bowl by myself on a weekday. Empty chairs ahead of me glide silently out of sight…
  • Cabin Life

    Local winter abodes. Licks of window frost, blue in the darkness of morning, frame the distant glow of Gallatin Peak. You roll over in your sleeping bag, and the ancient bunk mattress beneath you squeaks in the cold. The…
  • Bozeman Vs. Moab

    As the snow piles up around Bozeman, the touristy outdoor town of Moab in the deserty south of Utah starts to look like a welcome respite from the cold. But does this climbing and biking haven have what it takes to take…
  • The Avalanche

    Skiing down through deep powder snow Spinning And as I spun, the mountain fell, Laid down at its foot like the curve of a bell, Crumpled and dead, and fearsome to see The power of tension and gravity, Rocks lay exposed,…
  • So Close You Can Taste It

    Without a doubt, offering local and organic food is definitely a trend in Bozeman's restaurants these days. Norris Hot Springs, Wild Joe’s Coffee House, the Emerson Grill, Weebee’s Café, Nova Café, and John Bozeman’s Bistro…
  • By the Numbers

    87: reported avalanche incidents in our area last winter 21: people caught in avalanches 9: partial burials 3: full burials 3: fatalities 35: total avalanche fatalities last year in the U.S. 0: days the avalanche danger was…
  • Same-Sex Snowboarding

    There’s a wise older woman in my life who told me, “Don’t give advice, just tell your story.” So as we head toward winter and the plethora of outdoor recreational activities associated with cold smoke, I can’t help but give…
  • Montana Jamboree

    People generally don't associate Boy Scouts with ice climbing. But Bozeman's Troop 679, composed of eight boys all around the age of 14, is far hardier than most: last winter, the boys went ice climbing with Ron Brunckhorst…
  • Bring on the Snow

    In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy. –William BlakeIn most parts of the country, people dread the winter season. Griping about the “God-awful weather,” their faces contort into stubborn scowls as they rush…
  • Warming Trend

    Winter is a fine time in Montana, not just for skiers, but for wilderness aficionados as well. Elk are in the low country, bison are often on the move, and wolves are visible against the pale palette of snow. And tracks…
  • Owl and Eagle

    Walking through a Jefferson County ranch one summer day, I inadvertently flushed a great horned owl. Before I could clear out so she could return to her roost, two ravens and a golden eagle swooped in from above. The eagle…
  • Board Burns

    Insults for your foe.  As the temperatures cool down, the age-old rivalry heats back up: skiers vs. snowboarders. Both have an unjustified sense of superiority over the other, and jokes abound about each type. Here’s a…
  • Cheap Fun on the Hole

    Ice fishing in southwest Montana. Typically, the term ice fishing conjures images of crotchety geezers hunched around a hole in the ice, slapping back macro-brews, and jawing about the good ol’ days. But you don’t have to…
  • Action Shots

    Getting good action shots can be tricky—if you don’t do it right, your high-speed freeriding friend will look like he’s creeping down the bunny slope. Here are a few things to think about when you’re trying to capture those…
  • Ruffer Maddness

    Getting your dog high might sound like a funny thing to do, but it’s ultimately no laughing matter. “The dogs that come in are not having a good time,” says Sean East, emergency veterinarian at PETS in Bozeman. Since the…
  • Powder Hounds

    It’s no secret that Bozeman is a dog-friendly town—make that dog-loving town. In the summer months, dogs are everywhere—on the trails, in the streams and lakes, downtown, and in the parks. Like their handlers, they crave…
  • Surf and Turf

    Here’s a great winter recipe that’s simple, tasty, and hearty. After a hard day of skiing or snowshoeing, come home and fire up the BBQ for this classic meal.Ingredients: TURF1 12-16oz Montana natural New York beef steak1…

Gear Reviews

  • Review: Black Diamond Cyborg Crampons

    Black Diamond’s new Cyborg crampons may not the lightest on the market, but they'll last forever—no need to get new ones when your front points go out; just hop on the Web and order up another set. BD has also ditched the…
  • Review: Injinji Toesocks

    I had no idea what I was in for. Even though my roommates and colleagues teased me for wearing the Injinji Toesocks, the joke was on them. After a day hike and a long day in the mountains, my feet felt fabulous. These socks…
  • Review: Princeton Tec Byte

    Night hiking, camping, or biking, the Byte keeps you going after the sun stops shining. Weighing in at a mere 64 grams, its lightweight structure and comfy elastic headband let you forget that it’s strapped to your skull.…
  • Review: MSR Evo Tour

    Post-holing through deep snow is my definition of a cold day in hell. Luckily, snowshoes are a dime a dozen and the only problem is choosing the right pair. For unparalleled traction on hardpack, shallower snow, and…
  • Review: SCARPA T2 Eco

    Last year, Scarpa joined the eco-friendly party with their specially designed T2 Eco tele boot. The key distinction is in the shell—it’s built with Pebax Rnew plastic, which is made from castor plant oil rather than…
  • Review: Yaktrax Diamond Grip

    YakTrax are all the rage in Bozeman, and they’re fine for mild hardpack; but if you want to take your traction up a notch, pick up a pair of Diamond Grip Ice Trekkers. These lightweight yet sturdy mini-crampons will grab…
  • Review: Planet Dog Wood Chuck

    The Planet Dog Wood Chuck is perfect for earth-conscious Bozemanites with hyperactive canines. Made from bamboo and cork scraps—instead of the usual hard plastic of its forerunner, the Chuck-It—this is one ergonomic, eco-…

Book Reviews

  • Book: Gold Under Ice

    The talented local author Carol Buchanan debuts her second novel based on the Vigilantes of Montana with Gold Under Ice (Missouri Breaks Press, $17). This gripping Montana tale details life in the lawless gold-mining town…
  • Book: Ski the 14ers

    In 2006, Chris Davenport set out to ski all of Colorado’s 14,000’ peaks in one year. Ski the 14ers: A Visual Tribute to Colorado's 14,000-Foot Peaks from the Eyes of a Ski Mountaineer (Wolverine Publishing, $50) chronicles…
Outside Bozeman Stack Winter 2010-11

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