0

Winter 2023-24

Features

  • mountain and sky
    Culture: Books

    Words of the West

    A sampling of Montana’s best outdoor literature. In a world of mind-numbing devices and diminishing attention spans, books act as a lifeboat for our mental vigor and wellbeing. Books: those colorful, screen-less rectangles…
  • cross country skiing yellowstone
    Activities: Nordic Skiing

    Bunsen Burner

    A skiing pilgrimage in Yellowstone Park. Have you ever gone on a pilgrimage? You know, a journey into terra incognita. Maybe you were seeking an enlightened understanding of yourself. Or even of life in general. It could…
  • Andy Newell skiing
    Activities: Nordic Skiing

    Proving Grounds

    How Bozeman cultivates a competitive Nordic ski scene. Bozeman’s physical and cultural landscapes go hand-in-hand with skiing. Our long winters, abundant snowfall, and easy access to mountains make it no surprise that the…
  • Cooke City skiing
    Activities: Backcountry Skiing

    Half-Throttle

    Taking the slow road to Cooke City. What comes to mind when thinking of a winter trip to Cooke City? Full-speed, hardcore snow-and-ice itineraries? Snowmobile capital of the West? Gate to the remote Absaroka-Beartooth…
  • skiers in avalanche
    Activities: Skiing

    Rune’s Last Run

    A requiem for a ski buddy. It had been snowing regularly for days. The base at Bridger Bowl was in good shape. Twelve inches more fell overnight and it kept snowing into the morning. I was in line for the opening bell and…
  • Select Peaks greater yellowstone region map
    Activities: Climbing

    Peak Mentality

    Fifteen years after going out of print, Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone is back—and it’s even better than before. It was 20 years ago now that an unusual book about local mountain ranges made its debut. While some…

Departments

  • Skiing trees discovery
    Road Trips

    Disco Party

    Hitting the slopes outside P-Burg. The time has come. You know Bridger like the back of your hand, and the parking lot and lift lines are tiresome some days. You don’t have the poshness tolerance, or pocketbook size, for…
  • Bombardier snowcat
    Activities: Miscellaneous

    Track Record

    The history of snowcatting. There was once a time in the mountain West when the only motorized sounds of winter came from a few gas-powered ski lifts and some scattered snowcats powering up mountaintops. Long before the…
  • Skinning skiing backcountry
    Training: Injury Prevention

    Hips Don’t Lie

    Winter mobility & hip-strengthening exercises. Ever wish you could get your hip just a little further into that kick turn? Or do you get that nagging hip pain after your first skin up Bradley’s Meadow every year?…
  • BOB scud fly pattern
    Training: Fly Tying

    Shrimp Cocktail

    Tying the Baby-On-Board scud. Fishing a local tailwater is an excellent way to spend a winter day. The fish are hunkered down, schooled up, and looking for easy meals—typically scuds and sowbugs in nearby tailwaters and…
  • Roosevelt camp in Yellowstone
    Culture: Lingo & Etiquette

    Tweeting Teddy

    Old news from Yellowstone Park. This year marks the 120th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s historic two-week visit to Yellowstone National Park in 1903. But what actually happened on that trip? A recent journal…
  • Seasonal worker
    Culture: Around the Bozone

    New Roots

    Thoughts on belonging, from the world of transplants. Nine months gone in a blink. After a summer spent ranch-handing in Colorado and an autumn harvesting apples in Norway, I am settling for a third winter into the busy…
  • Doug Chabot digging avalanche snow pit
    Culture: People

    My First Time: Doug Chabot

    Digging deep with the GNFAC director. Doug Chabot moved to Bozeman in 1986. He was following a girl, but also looking for a place to live with nearby ice climbing. It all worked out—he got the girl and found the ice. Doug…
  • Deer roast on grill
    Culture: Food & Drink

    Road to Plate

    A smoked deer roast. One of the givens of roadkill is the difference in fieldcare compared to what might be called an “intentionally harvested” animal. After a gunshot, my priorities in dressing an animal are to remove the…
  • Southside park hockey
    Culture: Season Opener

    Hello Darkness

    Finding light in a Montana winter. Lady winter sneaks in, and she sneaks in quick. In the blink of an eye, we go from strolling trails saturated in golds and reds, to a cold duochromatic season of white and blue. Our…
  • Avalanche arm in snow
    Training: Avalanche Education

    Avy Savvy

    A rundown on snow-safety resources. “If you want to learn about something, going to school is just one way to do it.” —Doug Chabot, director of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (GNFAC) Avalanches: the big,…
  • Karst Ski Jump
    Activities: Alpine Skiing

    First Tracks

    Defunct Montana ski hills. Before the days of high-speed ski lifts, trams, and advanced avalanche mitigation, Montana’s ski scene was simple. It was an era of rope tows, wooden skis with leather straps, and thick wool…
  • couple Nordic skiing falling
    Activities: Nordic Skiing

    Nordic Nuptials

    Marrying into cross-country skiing. Committing to a lifetime with my fiancé wasn’t the scary part—it was the skiing that came with it. Days after getting engaged, I consigned to another ambitious commitment: learning how…
  • Orion night sky
    Training: Astronomy

    Grand Prism

    Exploring the color spectrum of the winter sky. Frigid, snowy Montana winters start out cheery enough with the holiday season—until the long, cold slog to spring sets in after New Year’s. But the winter sky remains…
  • Champs & Chumps
    Culture: Conservation

    Champs & Chumps

    Stone Creek access is under threat. With close access to a pile of trails and abundant National Forest land in our back yard, it’s easy to take them for granted. But every year, we’re reminded of how tenuous that access is…
  • Skiing apres beer drinking on patio
    Training: Nutrition

    Glass Half Full

    Benefits of apres-ski beer. After a strenuous day on the slopes, few things sound as inviting as a cold, refreshing beer. And in a mountain town with no shortage of breweries, kicking back and rewarding yourself with a…
  • Skiing jumping cliff
    Training: Injury Prevention

    Don’t Sweat It

    Pre-game and post-game ski exercises. Let’s face it: the commute to Bridger Bowl is getting longer. In addition to the stress of the Bridger Canyon conga line, the longer commute leaves more time for stiffness to set in—on…
  • Otters in blizzard
    Nature

    Unveiling Winter

    All that is hidden in the storm. The wind comes in gusts as I trudge through calf-deep snow with two cameras, two long lenses, and a tripod slung over my shoulder. It’s agony, and I wonder if it is worth the effort. A few…
  • magic forest mark gear
    Culture: Arts & Culture

    Winter Poems

    "Firewood" by Paul Zarzyski A sacrilege against my blue-collar Catholic manhood, I no longer cut my own winter supply. I pay 85 a cord delivered, but I’ll be damned if I’ll stand idly by and watch Willy stack it solo. When…
  • Ice fishing release
    Activities: Fishing

    High Expectations

    Burgers, beers, and hot fishing on a local reservoir. The ice-fishing day started as most do: late and hungover. My roommate and I were sitting on the couch nursing coffee and watching English Premier League soccer as the…
  • Duck hunting blind dog
    Activities: Bird Hunting

    Looking Up

    Learning from my dog’s first hunt. First hunts for a dog are more introduction than trial. They are the culmination of many lessons, corrected failures, and increasing hopes that this bundle of fur and bones has been…
  • Crosscut nordic clinic skate skiing
    Activities: Nordic Skiing

    Gettin' Schooled

    The skinny on Nordic skiing. On a cold, blustery day in late January, Crosscut Mountain Sports Center hosted a somewhat rambunctious group of eight O/B staff members for a Nordic skiing clinic. Each of us arrived with a…
  • masters ski racing
    Activities: Alpine Skiing

    Masters of the Piste

    Adult ski racing melds camaraderie and competition. Artfully linking turns down a snow-covered slope is the challenge that motivates expert skiers to improve their technique. For some, additional demands make the pursuit…
  • Ski boots
    Training: More

    Foot Fetish

    Winter care for skiers. Winter in Montana brings exciting ski outings, but for those who spend their days in ski boots, it’s essential to prioritize foot care to ensure comfort and avoid common skin issues during the…
  • Fat tire roller skiing
    Activities: Nordic Skiing

    Rolling Fatties

    A new spin on roller-skiing. As we interviewed Bozeman’s top Nordic skiers this past fall (see “Proving Grounds,” p. 106), we were surprised to discover that the reason many winter athletes call Bozeman home has nothing to…
  • Dog looking out window
    Culture: Dogs

    Golden Years

    Ode to an old ski dog. He stares longingly out the window, then turns to look at me, brown eyes full of questions. The heavy snowdrifts accumulating on our porch taunt us both, yet due to an unfortunate language barrier,…
  • Skiing back flip
    Activities: Alpine Skiing

    Flipping Gears

    Older and wiser, but less impressive. It’s closing day at Bridger. The sun is out, babes are in bikinis, and the fellas are feelin’ flashy. Everyone’s throwing down. The mogul line under the lift looks like a choreographed…

Gear Reviews

  • costa king tide
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Costa King Tide 6

    On those extremely bright days, especially in winter when the midday sun radiates off the snow, there’s no better eyewear choice than the Costa King Tide 6. The large frame and removable side shields keep your peepers…
  • Aqua-Vu AV822 HD Camera
    Gear: Misc

    Review: Aqua-Vu HD Camera

    If you spend time attempting to catch fish through the ice, don’t you want to know if there are fish around? The Aqua-Vu AV822 HD Camera is up to the task. It’s easy to operate, with 60 feet of cable attached to a 1080p HD…
  • Sitka Core Merino 220 Bottom
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Sitka Core Merino Bottom

    As all woodsmen know, perhaps the most ubiquitous hunting-camp breakfast topic is: “Are you wearing long underwear today?” And it’s not a decision to take lightly. Sweating too much on a morning hike will inevitably lead to…
  • Toko Nordic Ski Vise
    Gear: Misc

    Review: Toko Nordic Wax Bench

    The wrong wax ruins a day of skate skiing before it even begins; but at $25 a pop ’round town, consistent waxings really add up. For avid recreational skiers, an at-home setup from Toko makes daily touchups easy and saves…
  • Line blade optic 104 ski
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Line Blade Optic 104 Skis

    These days, companies seem to be selling skis branded as “all-mountain quiver-killers,” or something similar. But let’s face it, there is no one ski that is truly perfect for all conditions—especially in Montana. What is on…
  • Fjallraven padded vest
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Fjällräven Abisko Vest

    The lightweight, packable Abisko Padded Vest from Fjällräven has recently become an essential companion on my adventures. Lightly padded and crafted from a pliant polyester fabric, this vest offers a level of warmth and…
  • vtoman power station
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: VTOMAN Power Station

    With our ever-more digitized, electrified existence, portable power stations are becoming increasingly popular among the outdoor crowd. From elevated camp meals to apres-ski tailgates, phone-charging to van-lifing, there's…
  • Gear: Misc

    Review: Gerber Sedulo Knife

    “You have anything sharp in your bag?” the TSA lady asked me. “Not that I know of,” I told her. “Want to bet on that?” she retorted, and then proceeded to extricate my pocketknife from the deep recesses of my duffel.…
  • Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Fjallraven Pack-Down Hoodie

    Spend a lick of time outside in the Montanan winter, and you’ll know the importance of having a high quality down jacket in your wardrobe. The Fjällräven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie is a winter essential that meets all the…
  • Patagonia DAS Light Hoody
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Patagonia DAS Light Hoody

    Some pieces of outdoor apparel are a cut above the rest, and the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody is one of them. Its combination of fit, feel, and features (or lack thereof) make this jacket the obvious choice for a lightweight—…
  • Yakima SkyBox NX 16 Review
    Gear: Misc

    Yakima SkyBox NX 16

    There's nothing better than getting the crew together for a camping weekender. In go the tents, sleeping pads, the cooler, the camping box, then everyone's gear. And just like that, the back of my SUV is packed full,…
  • biolite alpenglow 500 lantern
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: BioLite Alpenglow

    Classic kerosene lanterns have an unmistakable aesthetic appeal, but they're also a pain—the odds of a successful mantle replacement, for example, seem to match those of winning the lottery. Not so with the BioLite…
  • Burton GoreTex Mittens
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Burton Gore-Tex Mittens

    The state of your extremities can make or break a ski day. My poor circulation makes keeping my fingers warm a challenge, regardless of gear. This is until I started wearing Burton's Gore-Tex Mittens. I can now spend more…
  • Montec Kilo Ski Glove
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Montec Ski Gloves

    Cold fingers have been the ruin of many a good day outside in the winter. Whether cross-country skiing up Sourdough, lapping runs at Bridger, or even a stroll downtown, the fun ends when the fingers get cold. That’s why…
  • Maloja Fuchsm Jacket
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Maloja Fuchsm Jacket

    The Maloja Fuchsm down jacket takes puffy performance and comfort to the next level. The Fuchsm is stuffed with 700-fill-power recycled down, which means it’s well-insulated. But, at the same time, the material impressively…
  • Gordini Radiator Mitts
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Gordini Radiator Mitt

    Designed for harsh summits and bitter cold nights at basecamp, the Gordini Radiator Mitts live up to their name and don't disappoint during the iciest temps. The mitts combine a tough woven polyester shell with a synthetic…

Book Reviews

  • Blood Memory book
    Culture: Books

    Book: Blood Memory

    In just a 20-year span, from the 1870s to the 1890s, many Native American tribes lost their most important resource: the buffalo. Today, mostly treeless grasslands stretch as far as you can see to the horizon, but this…
OB Winter 2023-24 cover

Most Popular This Week

Newsletter

Outside Bozeman OutPost Newsletter

Sign up here to be added to our OutPost mailing list. You'll be apprised of weekly goings-on, contests & giveaways, and great local content. We'll also let you know when a new print issue hits the stands and when our digital edition goes up online.