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Big SkyMay 31-June 13, 2013Volume 4 // Issue #11

Exploring life and land from the heart of the Yellowstone Region

Big Sky's locally owned and published newspaper

explorebigsky.com

Big Sky gearS up for 3rd annual pBr Two nights of bull riding and music

yellowStone alpen guideS

Bozeman lands in Outside mag's Best Towns

aBSaroka creSt traverSe

Bozeman Deaconess, Billings Clinic consider medical facilities for Big Sky

letterS: reSorT Tax BoarD

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May 31-June 13, 2013VoluMe 4, Issue no. 11

PuBlIsHeREric Ladd

edItoRIalMANAGING EDITOREmily Stifler

EDITORJoseph T. O'Connor

STAff wRITER/DISTRIbuTION DIRECTORTyler Allen

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTMaria wyllie

cReatIVeCREATIVE DIRECTORMike Martins

VIDEO DIRECTORbrian Niles

GRAPHIC DESIGNERKelsey Dzintars

sales and oPeRatIonsCOO & SENIOR EDITORMegan Paulson

OPERATIONS DIRECTORKatie Morrison

DIRECTOR Of buSINESS DEVELOPMENT - YELLOwSTONE REGIONEJ Daws

contRIButoRsJamie balke, buscrat, Sheila Chapman, Mike Coil, Chris Davis, Mike Donaldson, bob foster, Jim Harris, Jon Holtzman, Sasha Hyland, John Layshock, forrest McCarthy, brandon Niles, Katie Smith, Kene Sperry, Patrick Straub, Ryan Day Thompson, Grace Young

edItoRIal PolIcyOutlaw Partners LLC is the sole owner of the Big Sky Weekly. No part of this publication may be reprinted without written permission from the publisher. The Big Sky Weekly reserves the right to edit all submitted material for content, corrections or length. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or the editors of this publication. No advertisements, columns, letters to the editor or other information will be published that contain discrimination based on sex, age, race, religion, creed, nationality, sexual preference, or are in bad taste.

letteR to tHe edItoR PaRaMeteRsThe Weekly accepts letters to the editor to give readers a plat-form to express their views and share ways they would like to effect change. These should not be Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, state accurate facts and figures, and proofread for grammar and content. we reserve the right to edit letters. Include: first and last name, address, phone number and title. Submit to: [email protected]

adVeRtIsInG deadlIne FoR next Issue, June 14June 7, 2013

coRRectIonsThe Big Sky Weekly runs corrections to errors we’ve printed. Please report them to [email protected]

explorebigsky

Letters...4Community...5Local News...7

regional...13Montana...15

opinion...17Business...18

Business Profile...19Sports...20Health..24

Classifieds...26

outlaw News...27events...28

Calendar...29events...30

environment...31outdoors...33

Fishing Column...38Fun...42

Column...43Back 40...44

TaBLe oF CoNTeNTSoutlaW PaRtneRs & tHe BIG sKy WeeKly P.O. box 160250,

big Sky, MT 59716

explorebigsky.com

(406) 995-2055

[email protected]

PuBLiSHer oF THeBig Sky weekLy

2011 Big SkyCHaMBer oF CoMMerCe

BuSineSS of the year

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© 2013 The big Sky weekly unauthorized reproduction prohibited

Big Sky weekly concentrated regional distribution est. 35,000 readers/edition

erik Morrison snowboarding in the Beartooths PHoTo By ryaN Day THoMPSoN

Here in southwest Montana, we make the most of Memorial Day weekend.

“I saw lots of old friends and new people,” said Erik Morrison, who snowboarded off the beartooth Highway with friends from big Sky. “we found some good snow, and the full moon was beauti-ful on friday night. Camping, cooking, 4x4ing... America!”

whether riding the beartooths, camping in beaver Creek, fly fishing the Madison River, barbequing in bozeman, or mountain biking in the Taylor fork, the tribe gets after it.

The word is out about this place. Outside magazine has bozeman on its list of the top 10 best active towns in America for 2013, with readers voting at outsideonline.com for No. 1.

The magazine has hosted ‘best towns’ features for two decades, and “bozeman, being in the middle of a great part of the country, has been highlighted three or four times,” said associate editor Ryan Krogh. Having big Sky down the road adds to the draw, he added.

we’re convinced: the Weekly’s sister publication, Mountain Outlaw, will be on stands June 1. This glossy 122-page magazine takes an in-depth look at life, land and culture in the Greater Yellowstone region.

Voting for the Outside contest is online through June 7. upwards of 20,000 people participated last year. Now is when we make the call: Do we rally the troops, or keep the secret?

After all, it does snow over Memorial Day weekend every year.

- Emily Stifler

the word is out

on the cover: a screaming eagle in yellowstone PHoTo By JoHN LaySHoCk

Call us for more information or private showings of Spanish Peaks properties:

406-995-2404Real Estate Brokerage, Consulting & Development

All information given is considered reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and should not be relied upon as such. These offerings are subject to errors, omissions, and changes including price or withdrawal without notice. All rights reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity. ©2013 LK REAL ESTATE, llc. lkrealestate.com

4 0 6 - 9 9 5 - 2 4 0 4 • L K R E A L E S T A T E . C O M

T H E C L U B AT S PA N I S H P E A K S

Ladd, Kulesza & Company

Ryan Kulesza – 406-539-4666Eric Ladd - 406-995-2404

Sales activity ramping up: 12 total sales in the last 6 monthsAvailable properties are down 50% from last year.

Currently, 30% of the active listings are under contract.

C U R R E N T A C T I V E P RO P E RT I E S

CABINS 4 Cabins priced from $995,000 - $1,555,000 (1 Under Contract)

430 Clubhouse Fork, Cabin 6 - $1,380,0004 bedroom, 5 bath, 2,585 sq ft. Settlement Cabin with quiet, pri-vate, end of street location,surrounded by forested meadows

L I S T I N G

HOMES6 Homes from $1,599,000 - $4,995,000 (1 Under Contract)

LOTS 17 Lots from $219,000 - $899,000 (7 Under Contract)

Least Expensive Lot: Ranch Lot 117, 2 acres - $219,000Easy sloping lot off Old Barn Spur Rd, open meadow wanders through the lot, grand views to Gallatin Canyon, Porcupine Preserve & Ramshorn Peak

L I S T I N G

Ranch Lot 93, 4.84 acres - $299,000On of the larger lots in SP, beautifully wooded, large old growth trees, level building site gently south-sloping, full sun exposure, quiet cul-de-sac location and views of the Gallatin Range

L I S T I N G

Note: The Club at Spanish Peaks is currently in bankruptcy, no amenities are being offered and membership may be required.

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com4 May 31-June 13, 2013 letterS

On behalf of our staff, the board of Trustees and myself, I would like to address the big Sky community regarding its careful consideration of the issues facing the fire depart-ment during our recent mill levy request. Decisions like these are never easy, and thanks to your sup-port, we look forward to providing

adequate emergency service over the coming years.

This summer we plan to find and hire the best candidates for four of the new firefighter positions and train them so we will have a ready work-force before the winter season arrives. with five new faces joining our organization by summer 2014, this

will be no small task. we plan to be methodical throughout our process in order to best enhance our abilities as a group.

Summer is almost here and the wet weather will soon give way to glori-ous sunny days. with that, wildfire season will be upon us. This requires everyone to work together to keep

big Sky safe. Please see our website (bigskyfire.org) for ideas on making your property defensible; this will help protect your home and could save your life. Please contact our office if you have questions or want more information.

– William FarhatBig Sky Fire Department Chief

letter to the editor:Fire chief looks forward

I think we are all in agreement – the big Sky fire Department is vital to the safety and wellbeing of our community. Due to the diverse demands and growth in big Sky, the community recognized the necessity to support the levy for the bSfD. we will find out on June 12 if our Resort Tax board follows the community’s lead and agrees to provide them 100% of their requested funding.

- Randy Van Horn

I am writing in support for two organizations that impact the big Sky School District: Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Skyline Transportation.

Gallatin county sheriff’s officeSafety is imperative to a school district. The bSSD has a critical crisis manage-ment plan called the Quick Response Team, which includes law enforcement. Having a part-time School Resource Officer on campus provides more than police action in time of crisis. I’ve had SRO’s in other school districts teach lessons in civics, government and health classes; act as a walking counselor for student con-tacts; save students from suicide; and intervene with students at-risk with drugs and alcohol.

skyline transportation One of our greatest resources is the service of Skyline bus. Many students remain on campus after school hours, and without those services, there would be a dras-tic cut in those participating in sports, music and other activities. Several staff members rely on Skyline to connect with routes to belgrade and bozeman, let alone our big Sky community. between 1,800 and 2,000 riders used Skyline last year alone.

- Jerry HouseBSSD Superintendent/Principal

letters to the Big Sky resort tax Board:

The Skyline shuttle provides a valuable service to Ophir students and parents. It picks children up from school and drops them at sports fields throughout big Sky. This summer Skyline will provide an additional service, once again transporting children from Ophir to the Community Park soccer field, saving working parents from worrying how their children will get from one activity to the next.

I hope the resort tax board realizes how vital the shuttle is to our community.

- Laura Bell

I 100 percent support the Gallatin/big Sky Noxious weed Committee program.

It is vital to keeping our land healthy. If left untreated noxious weeds will take over.

- Andrea Eastman

I recently had a house built on four acres in the Meadow area of big Sky. Jen-nifer Mohler of the Noxious weeds Committee worked with me in identifying the noxious weeds and establishing procedures for their elimination. Her expert advice was essential for the weed management of my property and is greatly ap-preciated. - George W. Wells, Jr.

My second grade students have engaged in service learning projects with the Gallatin/big Sky Noxious weed Committee over the past several years. These real-world projects impact the community, address academic standards and provide experiential education. The benefits are numerous:

• Increased academic engagement and student motivation • Promotes cohesiveness among peers• Promotes respect for the environment• Promotes respect among teachers, community members and students• Students feel more connected to the school, the surrounding commu-

nity, their environment• fosters relationships between the school and the local community

I’m excited that the resort tax board has the opportunity to support the noxious weed committee and the critical work it is doing in our area. That funding plays a role in the preservation of our state’s natural resources, as well as in lessons and activities for our students.

- Brittany EllisOphir Elementary School

As a big Sky resident, in a home bordering the golf course, I believe it’s important we promote the grass on the course and not the weeds. There are numerous empty lots along our street rife with Canadian thistle and other weeds. The big Sky Noxious weed Committee has been very help-ful in providing background information and methods of control. we need to reinforce its efforts to preserve the natural and manmade beauty of the area. - Mel Crichton

People come to big Sky for the natural beauty. Noxious weeds threaten this resource. The Gallatin big Sky Noxious weed Committee has educat-ed hundreds of landowners about noxious weed control. Its achievements would not have been possible without support from the big Sky Resort Tax board, and we hope that this support will continue. - Michael JonesAssistant Coordinator/Crew ForemanGallatin County Weed District

I would like to commend the efforts of the Gallatin/big Sky Noxious weed Committee. My family owns a relatively large tract of land in the big Sky area. An infestation of Canadian thistle was identified, and a nox-ious weed control plan was created and implemented with the commit-tee’s help. It is my sincere hope that this valuable program can continue its work as an effective resource for landowners.

- Mikel N. Kallestad

The Big Sky Resort Tax Board on June 12 will decide which entities it will allocate funding to for proposed projects in 2014. In the May 17 issue of the weekly, we urged Big Sky community members to send letters regarding the resort tax funding requests. All letters were edited for brevity.

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 31-June 13, 2013 5community

By Maria wyLLieBig Sky Weekly editOrial aSSiStant

bIG SKY – Twenty-eight big Sky School District Music Theatre students have worked feverishly since the end of January to produce A Journey

unknown, an original musical performed on Thursday, May 30, in the warren Miller Perform-ing Arts Center.

The story tells the journey of a young girl named Lovey, who is magically transported to a de-

monic underworld filled with a milieu of sinister characters. In order to return home, Lovey must navigate her way through a labyrinth of obstacles.

John Zirkle, artistic director of the warren Miller Performing Arts Center and a music paraprofes-

sional at the school, and band teach-er Christian Gutierez hatched the idea three years ago due to a shortage of human and financial resources in the department.

“with a class of only six students, it just made sense,” Zirkle said. “Especially with the motto of Ophir, which is where we ‘learn by doing.’”

Producing it themselves, the stu-dents became fully immersed in the process, working as composers, lyricists, writers, actors and direc-tors. They even controlled lighting and sound while designing the set, costumes and props.

The performance was accompanied by live, musical performances by the instructors, with Zirkle on keys and Gutierez on percussion.

“It’s so fun and cool to do something from scratch,” Zirkle added. “You re-alize how much goes into producing a new show and how difficult it is.”

music theatre students produce original musical

Students prepare for opening night in a rehearsal of a Journey Unknown in the warren Miller Performing arts Center on Tuesday, May 28. PHoTo By Maria wyLLie

VOLUNTEERS

W A N T E DGOT GLOVES AND A FREE SATURDAY MORNING?

Help cleanup your favorite fishing

access & recreation sites along the

Gallatin River with Trout Unlimited & Gallatin/Big

Sky Noxious Weed Committee, and enjoy coffee and muffins on us!

WHEN: Saturday, June 15th 9am-noonWHERE: Rendezvous in the Simms parking lot at Four Corners - 177 Garden Drive

Bring: Gloves and sun protection

Be eligible to win gear donated by Simms, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the

Greater Gallatin Watershed Council!RSVP By Wednesday June 13th

Event Sponsors:Madison-Gallatin Trout UnlimitedGallatin/Big Sky Noxious Weed CommitteeBig Sky Resort Area DistrictCross Charitable FoundationNorthern Rocky Mountain RC&D

Event Partners:SimmsGallatin County Weed District,Greater Gallatin Watershed CouncilGallatin National Forest, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Contact:Jennifer Mohler406.209.0905 or

[email protected]

N ow o p e N

M o n d a y - S a t u r d a y L u n c h & D i n n e r C l o s e d S u n d a y s

( 4 0 6 ) 9 9 5 - 3 3 5 5L o c a t e d i n M e a d o w V i l l a g e C e n t e r

1 5 1 C e n t e r L a n e # 2 , B i g S k y

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com6 May 31-June 13, 2013 community

By BarBara rowLey

bIG SKY – The Lone Peak National Honor Society raised more than $1,300 in support of girls’ education through its showing of Girl Rising at the Lone Peak Cinema this May, according to LPHS Honor Society President Tucker Shea.

“because the nonprofit we are working with has a donor matching gifts dollar-for-dollar this month, that translates into more than $2,600 for girls’ education,” he said.

According to LPHS Secretary Anna Middleton, who was the chief organizer of the event, the money is being earmarked for girls in Cambodia, where LPHS Sophomore Trevor House will travel as an American Youth Ambassa-dor with the u.S. State Department this June.

“we know that girls there often can’t attend school because they can’t get to school,” Middleton said. “Room to Read, the non-profit that we gave the money to, has an initiative where they buy bikes for girls so they can attend school.”

A donation of $50 pays a girl’s school fees for a year or buys a bicycle in Cambodia. The money raised at Girl Rising in big Sky means 52 girls will soon be able to attend school. The theater, donated for the evening by owners Sally and Scott Patrick, was sold out for the film. Several individuals and the Rotary Club paid the cost of bringing the movie to town.

“we were thrilled by how supportive everyone was in helping us bring the movie here, and the generosity of our audience,” Middleton said. “It seemed really fitting that a school like ours, that has so much, [would] take some time to support schools – and – children, who aren’t so lucky.”

lphS honor Society raises $2,600 for girls’ education

Big Sky rOtary

bIG SKY – The big Sky Rotary Club is encouraging support for relief and recovery efforts related to the May 20 tornado that left 24 dead in Moore, Okla., and an estimated $2 billion in damage.

The club is facilitating tax-deductible donations to help in efforts to aid the town rebuild. Approximately 12,000-13,000 homes were de-stroyed or damaged, in addition to businesses and schools.

Those who would like to help by donating may send checks to:

big Sky Rotary 5390 Tornado Disaster fund P.O. box 160473, big Sky, MT 59716 funds received by the Rotary Dis-trict’s nonprofit foundation will be used exclusively for the benefit of those affected by this tragedy.

The effort to help the affected com-munities and individuals is being coordinated by leaders from Rotary District 5770 (which includes Moore and Cleveland County) and Rotary District 5750 (which includes south Oklahoma City), and will work in conjunction with and in support of the Moore Rotary Club and local and state officials.

rotary club of Big Sky seeks donations for oklahoma tornado victims

Jack creek preserve outdoor ed center nearly complete Volunteers neededbIG SKY – The Jack Creek Preserve foundation’s Outdoor Education Cen-ter is in the final stages of completion, and the group needs all hands on deck for a workday on June 7.

Volunteers will help with clearing the site, making burn piles, sanding, painting, staining, random finish-ing work and general cleaning. The

day will last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone interested in helping should wear sturdy shoes, clothing that can get dirty and work gloves. JCPf will provide drinks, snacks and lunch.

To volunteer, call the JCPf office at (406) 995-7550 or email [email protected].

By kaTie SMiTHBig Sky COmmUnity COrp.

bIG SKY – Last year nearly 150,000 people nationally volunteered time, tools and teamwork for the American Hiking Association’s National Trails Day.

Locally, the big Sky Community Corp. hosted its own community trails event to develop the Kircher Park access trails, mitigate erosion at Ousel falls, and clean up its newest trail, the black Diamond trail. The event saw 38 vol-unteers participate.

National Trails Day is June 1, and this year bSCC will focus on the trails sur-rounding the community park and is encouraging all community members to lend a hand or shovel to fine-tune the trails for the upcoming summer season.

“Trails and trail access are an important part of any vital community,” says Herb Davis, who leads the bSCC’s trail maintenance and restoration initiative.

Participants will work to fix and restore sections of the Crail Trail, while continuing improvements at Kircher Park and the Ousel falls and Spur trails. Projects include trail resurfacing,

retaining wall construction, repairs to boardwalks and bridges, and erosion remediation.

Volunteers will meet at the commu-nity park behind the post office at 9 a.m. and should bring work gloves, sturdy hiking boots or shoes, water and sunscreen. bSCC is requesting anyone willing to supply a shovel or wheelbar-row to do so.

The event lasts until 1 p.m., but volun-teers can give as much or as little time as they choose. The work will conclude with a barbeque at the community park.

The bSCC maintains more than 16 miles of hiking and recreation trails.

“we are incredibly lucky as a commu-nity to have so much access to some of the best hiking and recreation trails in the country,” says executive direc-tor Jessie wiese. “Our National Trails Day event is a great way for friends and neighbors to come together in support of these trails and learn a little more about these areas we all love.”

for more information, contact [email protected] or visit bsccmt.org.

FiNe TuNiNg TraiLS iN Big Sky PHoTo CourTeSy oF BSCC

BScc’s national trails day event seeks to improve community recreation trails

May 17-30, 2013 7local newS

By eMiLy STiFLerBig Sky Weekly managing editOr

bIG SKY – Visitors will soon be able to find their way around big Sky – and find the community itself – more easily.

After a three-year effort by a group of community leaders, the big Sky Chamber of Commerce is set to install wayfinding signage around town, as well as a few entry roadway lights at the intersection of u.S. 191 and Lone Mountain Trail.

The contractor, Montana Lines, will start construction around the week of June 3, with a groundbreaking ceremo-ny on June 4 and phase 1 completion in July, according to big Sky Town Center Project Manager Ryan Hamilton, who is managing the project.

The design and approval process took three years, four governing bodies and jurisdictions, and fund-ing from two resort tax cycles. This included $150,000 in resort tax funding which will cover the first phase – fabrication and installation of 14 signs, about half of the num-ber of permitted signs.

The resort tax board also granted the chamber $60,000 for a project to build and install five entry road-way lights. That project will also be done in July, Hamilton said.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. on June 4, followed by a reception in the lobby of the big Sky Visitor Center.

chamber breaks ground on wayfinding signage, highway lightingCeremony is June 4

“Hoof Beats”

Paula PearlCapturing the Spirit of Life

33 Lone Peak DriveBig Sky, MT406.993.9400

406.586.6850 paulapearl.com

Represented by Creighton Block Gallery

Garden CenterOpening for the First Time

Saturday, May 25th!

Join us Wednesday, May 29th at 6:00 For a Vegetable Planting Seminar.

HOURS: M-F 10-6, SAT 10-4, SUN 12-4272 Snowy Mountain Circle. (In front of G.A.S.)

406-995-2668 • www.Bslmt.com

By kaTie MorriSoN Big Sky Weekly Staff Writer

bIG SKY – what started with The Club at Spanish Peaks homeowners reaching out to assist former Spanish Peaks employees through the LIfT program – short for Lifting Indi-viduals and families with financial Troubles – has become a nonprofit dedicated to the big Sky area: the Spanish Peaks Community founda-tion.

when the private club declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2011 and laid off most of its employees, LIfT grants helped 47 families who were affected.

Recognizing the outpouring of gen-erosity from members who wanted to give back to the community, SPCf founder John Haas knew it was important to build upon that, and has now started the community founda-tion.

The SPCf board used member contri-butions that exceeded the LIfT grant requests to initiate the nonprofit and plans to allocate funds through a new grant process run by the SPCf board.

“The response has been incredible,” Haas said, enthusiastic about the sup-port. “Our first event of the summer is happening in conjunction with the beach boys concert July 3 and is almost sold out.” The auction of Spanish Peaks’ assets is to be held on June 3, 2013 at the federal courthouse in butte.

The mission of the Spanish Peaks Community foundation is to support the greater big Sky area by funding community service projects, the arts, education, and management of the outdoors.

for more information, contact Haas at [email protected] or visit spanishpeaksfoundation.com.

Spanish peaks community foundation initiated as new ownership nears

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com8 May 31-June 13, 2013 local newS

By TyLer aLLeNBig Sky Weekly Staff Writer

bIG SKY – Momentum is building to make big Sky more than a world-class winter destination. The big Sky Community Corp. is requesting $50,000 in resort tax funding to study the feasi-bility of a facility that would serve the commu-nity and attract visitors year-round.

The $38,000 bid by the Isaac Sports Group and uSAquatics would assess the viability of a sport, recreation, aquatic and fitness center offering an alternative to tourists during the winter and attract them to big Sky when the lifts aren’t turn-ing. Another $12,000 would be earmarked for a facilitator in the community and for prelimi-nary render-ings.

“There’s been a group in the community that’s been try-ing to build a world-class rec-reation center for about three years,” said bSCC Director Jessie wiese. The board unanimously supported the application in spring 2013 and the proposal by ISG/uSAquatics came out on top among three other finalists. “They have access to the best people and consultants nationally,” wiese said.

The proverbial ball got rolling in winter 2010 when Andy Dreisbach, a contractor and owner of Cornerstone Management Services, was driving around one night at 11 p.m. He noticed many houses with their lights off and wondering what it would take to generate sustainability in big Sky when the resort isn’t open.

“One thing we don’t have is the anchor,” Dreis-bach said. “what is the town of big Sky? when

people drive up they ask, ‘where’s the liquor store or the post office?’”

Dreisbach formed a group that included core members Centre Sky Architecture owner Jamie Daugaard and Purewest real estate agent Mi-chelle Horning.

“Nothing was going on in big Sky at the time,” Daugaard said. “There was no construction hap-pening, so we asked, ‘what is a need for this com-munity? How can we stretch out the shoulder season?’”

They met once or twice a month to discuss ideas, and several other parties presented their visions

of what a recre-ational facility should look like. Eventu-ally, the vision evolved into a recreation and aquatics center, with a covered ice hockey rink that could double as an outdoor rodeo arena in the summer, plus other elements

that could be phased in like retail space and a ski-ing or Montana history museum.

“The skiing [in big Sky], as we all know, is great,” said Matt Morris, a professional baseball player who has lived in big Sky part time since 2000. “but training for my upcoming baseball season each year was more than difficult.” He would sling fastballs in the Ophir School gymnasium and on the snowy softball field, but it wasn’t quite enough.

“we need some sort of recreation center for these long, dark winters,” Morris said. “A great base-ball movie once said ‘if you build it, they will come.’”

Morris envisions a facility that would house indoor playing fields for all types of athletic pursuits.

“It’s safe to say that folks in big Sky want to explore other features besides aquatics, to see what else is possible,” said Duane Proell, an ISG Aquatic Consultant for Program and Design. “A facility to meet the needs of big Sky residents, with ways to attract more events and more visi-tors.”

If the funding is approved June 12 by the re-sort tax board, ISG/uSAquatics would start site evaluations this summer and plan to engage big Sky residents in the feasibility process.

“One of the key elements [in the process] is com-munity meetings and forums,” Proell said. “we make sure there are opportunities for everyone that wants to express an opinion to give us input. we take great pains to make sure everyone is informed.”

Dreisbach isn’t as worried about the building itself so much as the long-term sustainability of a facility like this in big Sky. “I don’t want to see 25 years from now that the town is encumbered by maintenance. what we’re looking for is a long-term satisfactory goal.” Energy sustainability is also a priority. “we want [this facility] to be sustainable as much as possible,” Daugaard said. Alternative energy sources could include solar hot water, photo-voltaics, ground source heat pumps and thermal mass, he said. Indoor air quality would also be a priority, as would being able to open the doors in summer to allow fresh air in.

“I think this is exactly the kind of community project that the resort tax board has been talking about wanting to fund,” wiese said. “It’s a great example of their ‘better together’ motto, with lots of different interest groups coming together and building something.”

if you build it, they will comeBSCC requests funding for rec center feasibility study

“we need some sort of recreation center for

these long, dark winters. a great baseball movie once said ‘if you build it,

they will come.’”

a proposed BSCC feasibility study would determine the best location for a recreation center in Big Sky PHoTo By CHriS DaViS

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 17-30, 2013 9local newS

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Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com10 May 31-June 13, 2013 local newS


bOZEMAN – with an updated feasibility study in hand, bozeman Deaconess Health Services is proposing a new medical center in big Sky. bill-ings Clinic is not far behind.

“It’s been part of our strategic planning for the past 10 years to look at all of the markets in our service area and evaluate the community needs,” said Cheryl Ridgely, Chief Strategy and business Development Officer for bDHS.

bDHS, which has operated a pharmacy in big Sky since 2004 and owned a lot in Town Center since 2007, last conducted a feasibility study here in 2009. That analysis concluded it would take 5-7 years for a freestanding medical facility to be sustainable. No local tax support was assumed in that forecast.

“The projections then, given the permanent population, second homeowners and resort activ-ity, was that there wasn’t a sufficient population to support a medical facility,” Ridgely said.

Things have changed.

The 2013 study shows the big Sky area’s perma-nent and seasonal populations, employment base and economic activity have rebounded and are poised for sufficient further growth.

bDHS is now proposing a 33,000-35,000-square-foot medical center that would serve the big Sky and south Gallatin County communities. It is proposed as a two-story building that initially would have five inpatient beds, expandable to 10, a primary care clinic and a 24-7 emergency department.

while bDHS doesn’t currently operate any criti-cal access facilities, it has a “strong, long term commit-ment to big Sky,” said bDHS CEO Kevin Pitzer, who was hired in April and has a background in rural health care administration. “we have a responsibility to serve the market area.”

funded by operations and some philanthropic support, the proposed medical center would be fiscally sustain-able in 3-5 years of operation, Ridgely said, contingent on volume and how it is used. bDHS estimates it would initially add 30 jobs to the local economy.

The building would be constructed in the Town Center, with initial site development this summer, and construction starting in spring 2014 and finishing the following summer.

“It’s very important that there is community sup-port to move forward with this project,” Pitzer said. “Not from a funding discussion - that they view we’re the right partner to move forward to the benefit of big Sky and the region down there.”

Pitzer and several bDHS trustees have presented the proposal to a number of stakeholders and

leaders in the big Sky community, including big Sky fire Chief bill farhat, the local physicians, general managers of several of the resorts, and members of the big Sky Resort Tax board.

“They laid out a plan of how they would bring a hospital to town,” farhat said. “It was kind of exciting. They laid out how they would finance it and that they felt it was a viable opportunity, and that they really wanted to be here. It’s a compre-hensive plan, well thought out, and it would be very good for us.”

billings Clinic also conducted a feasibility study this year, but those results weren’t released until after press time.

“we’ve done more exploratory assessments of the situation, but this is a major study,” said billings Clinic foundation President and Community Relations Direc-tor Jim Duncan. “It will be a comprehensive assessment of the medical needs and opportunities and situation of the big Sky commu-nity and region... we want to make sure we’re pro-posing the right mix of enhanced services.”

A billings-based not-for-profit, community-governed organi-zation, billings Clinic is the largest health care organization in Montana. It manages 10 criti-cal access hospitals in Montana and northern wyoming and is part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.f

“In each of the communities that we’re in, it’s been a collaborative effort to figure out how best we could help and how best we could augment the services,” Duncan said. “Each relationship is different.”

It began looking into big Sky a year ago, Duncan said, when a group of local community leaders approached billings Clinic about its interest in helping to advance medical services for big Sky.

Even with the study results, the billings Clinic study won’t propose a specific facility when it talks to community stakeholders in early June, Duncan said.

“It’s premature for me to say that billings Clinic is prepared to say we want to build a certain program,” he said. “It will be an ongoing dialogue that we have with the community leaders and the community as a whole… [we’d say], ‘Here’s what our feasibility study shows, you tell us what you think your list of desires is for the community.’ If

we’re a good fit to be part of that, then we move forward from there.”

Tertiary care referrals from big Sky wouldn’t necessarily have to go to billings Clinic, and in fact many would still be sent to bozeman Deacon-ess or Denver, he said. “That’s for the physician or the provider to decide.”

Duncan said billings Clinic is very interested in exploring opportunities to work together with big Sky, but emphasized that it “[likes] to work at the invitation of a community.”

Stroudwater and Associates conducted the study for bozeman Deaconess Hospital, and by ECG conducted billings Clinic’s.

Led by big Sky resident and former hospital ad-ministrator Jack Eakman, the local social services

nonprofit, women in Action, is requesting big Sky Resort Tax money to fund an inde-pendent feasibility study for a critical access hospital.

“we believe that both hospitals will be using their information to garner market share from big Sky rather than open the information to each other and to the community for the big Sky com-

munity’s own benefit,” Eakman wrote in an email to the resort tax board on May 21.

The wIA study, “if necessary, would be a com-munity study; funded by the community through resort tax, heard by the community through open meetings, and lead to recommended improvements as the community sees fit,” Eakman explained.

bDHS plans to host an informational town hall meeting in mid- to late June, in which it will outline the scope and timeline for its proposal and answer questions from community members.

billings Clinic has discussions planned with big Sky stakeholders, and is planning to take their lead on future communications with the larger community, Duncan said.

As an unincorporated community with no official local government, what happens next is anybody’s guess.

“I frankly think either hospital would be a wonder-ful partner,” said Les Loble, chairman of the big Sky Resort Tax board. “but you have to recognize the long history that our community has with bozeman Deaconess, because it’s the nearest hospital. we’ll just have to see how this plays out.”

BdhS proposes new medical center for Big SkyBillings Clinic feasibility study underway, wia requesting funding for independent study

“it will be a comprehensive

assessment of the medical needs and opportunities and situation of the Big

Sky community and region... we want to make sure we’re proposing the

right mix of enhanced services.”

May 31-June 13, 2013 11local newS

Be a part of appropriating resort tax funds

Attend the upcoming community meetings in the Big Sky Chapel June 12 at 1:00 p.m.

for more information go to resorttax.org

By Maria wyLLie Big Sky Weekly editOrial aSSiStant

bIG SKY – At the big Sky School board’s annual organizational meeting on May 15, all non-tenured staff were re-elected except for music teacher Christian Gutierez and first grade teacher Nikki Rust, both of whom Supt. Jerry House recommended for non-renewal.

“Hiring staff is the key responsibility of the board,” said school board chair-man Loren bough, “but we also have to uphold Montana state law.”

Montana school districts are prohibited from giving specific reasons for termi-nation due to employee privacy rights, bough said.

According to Montana Code Annotated 20-4-206, “Non-tenured teachers can be non-renewed ‘without cause’ any time after the first, second or third year of employment,” as non-tenured staff in Montana are considered probation-ary employees for the first three years of employment.

bough invited members of the public to come forward and state whether they opposed or accepted the motion.

One woman read a letter before the board in which she described how Gutierez, known as “Mr. G,” instilled a growing love for music in her son. More students and adults came for-ward; some with letters prepared, but bough informed them that, because of state law, they could only state wheth-er or not they opposed the action.

four students and six adults in atten-dance opposed House’s recommenda-tion not to renew Gutierez’s position. However, the school board passed the motion 3-2.

One adult opposed the recommenda-tion not to renew Rust’s position, but the motion passed unanimously.

A grievances hearing was also held for Girls Varsity basketball Coach Adam Olson, whose contract ended March 2. Olson requested a reexamination of board policies and procedures, stating that beardsley, House and bough had all violated policies.

Responding, three board members argued that policies had been in fact met. with a vote of 4-0, with one board member abstention, the board mem-bers agreed that the grievance was not warranted, meaning no further action will be taken.

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Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 31-June 13, 2013 13regional

By JoN HoLTzMaNBlUe Water taSk fOrCe

bIG SKY – In the words of Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us.

“Since recordkeeping began in the early 1970s, the levels of nitrogen in streams of the big Sky watershed have been steadily rising,” said Dr. Kristin Gardner, executive director of the blue water Task force in big Sky. “The in-crease has been in direct proportion to the growth of the number of residences in big Sky.”

Gardner recently presented at a workshop for big Sky Golf Course maintenance staff on May 28, to show the crew how they can help protect and improve water quality.

Nitrogen occurs naturally in the envi-ronment and accounts for about 80 per-cent of the atmosphere. It’s an essential nutrient for growth and is present in humans, animals and plants. but there can be too much of a good thing.

High levels of the plant available forms of nitrogen in streams typically lead to the rapid growth of algae. In the sum-mer, a green trail of algae is visible in the west fork from Meadow Village to the main stem of the Gallatin.

“At first algae can be a source of added food for fish and the bugs they eat,”

Gardner said. “but as it dies back in winter, it consumes oxygen from the water. High oxygen content is impor-tant to sustain healthy populations of trout, stoneflies, caddis flies and mayflies.”

The Meadow Village area was identi-fied as the biggest source of nitrogen in the Total Maximum Daily Load assessment conducted between 2005 and 2009. Sources include the use of fertilizer by residents, golf courses and businesses on lawns; waste from pets and horse corrals; seepage from septic tanks or sewer main leaks; runoff of ir-rigation water from pastures or the golf course; breaks in irrigation distribution systems; and the removal of buffering and filtering vegetation along stream beds.

“Although there are other potential ni-trogen sources, there were several good reasons to begin addressing the prob-lem along the golf course,” Gardner said, “not the least of which was that the resort was willing to take leadership in being part of the solution.”

Since the comple-tion of the TMDL assessment, bwTf has collected and analyzed water samples from five groundwater wells, eight collection sites and two springs along the west fork. Soil samples were col-lected and analyzed from 12 sites in the Meadow Vil-lage area. bwTf worked with the big Sky water and Sewer District to video sewer mains

in the Meadow Village area to look for leaks. All of this data has been ana-lyzed to better understand nitrogen sources to the river.

In addition, bwTf gathered informa-tion on the land management practices of the big Sky Golf Course. As a result of these discussions, the golf course has replaced 17 sprinkler heads that were spraying irrigation water directly into the river and has added vegetative buffers in areas next to the stream.

“we all have a responsibility to do our part,” said Sam woodger, golf course superintendent. “Some of the action steps will depend on fine tuning our testing and record keep-ing, repair and maintenance of the

irrigation system and close control of irrigation and fertilizer application.”

The irrigation water source for the golf course comes from nitrogen rich, treated wastewater supplied by big Sky water and Sewer. woodger noted better testing and control could lead to lower operating costs through a reduc-tion in fertilizer needed through the summer.

The workshop was a result of a three-year watershed study recently complet-ed by the bwTf under the direction of the Montana Department of Environ-mental Quality 319 Program, according to Gardner.

Other presenters included MSu exten-sion soil fertility specialist Dr. Clain Jones and a MSu extension horticul-ture specialist, who shared their knowl-edge on minimizing irrigation and fertilizer while maximizing yield. Mark Sembach from biolynceus discussed microbial alternatives to fertilizer.

The DEQ supplied major funding for the study, with additional support from big Sky Resort Tax, the Gallatin Local water Quality District and the Montana bureau of Mines and Geol-ogy. for more details on what individu-als and businesses can do to reduce impacts on water quality in the Gallatin watershed visit bluewatertaskforce.org.

Bwtf working to reduce nitrogen in gallatin watershed

Big Sky watershed Corps Member alicia Degroot, Mon-tana Bureau of Mines and geology hydrogeologist Mike richter, and young elijah Harder collect a groundwater sample in the Meadow Village to analyze for nitrogen and chloride levels.

richter and ophir School fourth grade teacher Jeremy Harder measure ground-water levels and chemistry on the Big Sky golf Course.

The gallatin river PHoToS CourTeSy oF BwTF

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com14 May 31-June 13, 2013 regional

infrastructure work continues in downtown Bozeman

fwp seeks comment on madison river recommendations

bOZEMAN – Northwestern Energy is continuing its work upgrading the natural gas distribution system in parts of downtown bozeman. This work is part of an extensive $360 mil-lion program aimed at boosting the reliability and safety of the company’s electric and natural gas service across Montana.

Replacing and relocating equipment in a number of communities’ down-town areas will be a significant focus of the program.

Northwestern Energy began work-ing in downtown bozeman on Monday, May 20, starting with the 100 block of west babcock between South Grand and South willson avenues.

Existing pipe configuration requires one lane of west babcock, between Grand and willson, to be closed May 21 - 27. both lanes will be completely closed May 28 through June 26 with traffic rerouted via Olive and Main streets.

mOntana fiSH, Wildlife and parkS

bOZEMAN – Montana fish, wildlife and Parks is seeking public comments on the recommendations made by the Madison River Citizen Advisory Com-mittee toward fwP’s development of a draft recreation management plan for the Madison River.

Endorsed by the fwP Commission at its May 9 meeting, the recommenda-tions address issues on the Madison as a whole, as well as concerns specific to certain sections of the river and indi-vidual fishing access sites. The MCAC

took into account all interested parties including anglers, guides and floaters, and their desired conditions for the river going forward.

The recommendations made by the MCAC are available on the fwP website at fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/madison. Comments can be submitted at that website, or sent via email to [email protected]. All comments must be received by June 21, 2013.

Hard copies of the document are avail-able upon request by contacting Cheryl Morris at [email protected].


SANTA fE – bozeman is in the running. Turns out this southwest Montana paradise may be one of the nation’s best places for an ac-tive person, according to Outside magazine. bozeman is included on a 2013 shortlist alongside San fran-cisco, waitsfield, Vt., and Honolulu, and readers are now voting for the “best active town” through a facebook app online.

The Outside editors first chose ap-proximately 100 u.S. cities, assessed them by metrics including average home prices and income and standard of living, said associate editor Ryan Krogh, who’s running the contest. To narrow them down to the 10 finalists, the editors “looked at outdoorsy things like mountain biking, trail running, road cycling and fishing,” Krogh said. “bozeman obviously fits.”

The magazine has written up a similar annual “best towns” feature for nearly 20 years, Krogh said, and this isn’t the first time bozeman’s been included.

“It’s one of our readers’ favorite pack-ages, and it gets the most attention from them.”

Now in its third year, the online con-test began in late May and runs through June 7.

Selecting the winning town in-volves two ranking systems, Krogh explained. “One is just pure votes, and the second part is more subjec-tive – the enthusiasm of [those] reaching out through the app, adding comments about their favorite trails, rivers they like to float or fish on, or their favorite bar to go to after a road bike ride.”

“People really are passionate about their hometowns or places they’ve lived in their lives, so when they see a competition like this, it’s an easy click. These towns are such great travel destinations as well as places to live, and people have opin-ions about these places.”

The contest has attracted upwards of 20,000 voters in the last two years, Krogh said, recalling the banter and smack-talk online.

Richmond, Va., won the contest last year for “best river town,” and was featured on the cover of the October 2012 issue of the print magazine.

“It’s one of those major accolades that we’ll be able to point to for years,” said Erin bagnell of Rich-mond Region Tourism office. “It gave us a catalyst to tout ourselves more and heavier as an outdoor destination, a nice stamp to use go-ing forward, a seal of approval and a wonderful thing to point to going down the road.”

The Richmond community rallied around the voting, bagnell said. “[You could] see the buzz in Rich-mond… It was very organic. People got really jazzed up about it. [One] brewery hosted a get-out-the vote event.” All 10 finalists from this year’s con-test will appear in the September issue of Outside magazine, with the winner featured in a larger-format piece.

“It’s fun to give readers what they want,” Krogh said. “frankly, who doesn’t dream of living in a bet-ter place? This is a great outlet for those dreams.”

Bozeman nominated as one of Outside’s ‘Best towns’

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 31-June 13, 2013 15montana

buTTE – Northwestern Energy is warning business and residential custom-ers about an attempted scam involving collection on allegedly overdue utility bills.

On May 24, an individual telephoned a business owner in bozeman, claiming to be an employee of NwE and demanding payment on an overdue energy bill. The caller said that if payment wasn’t immediately made, utility service would be terminated.

The business owner contacted NwE to report the suspicious activity, which in turn reported the incident to law enforcement authorities. The activity appears to a new version of a scam that targeted a number of customers earlier this year. The callers typically seek immediate credit card payment of “over-due” utility bills.

NwE is reminding customers to be vigilant when it comes to anyone seeking payment information on utility bills, either in person or via telephone or In-ternet. The callers can be convincing and could use “spoofing” software that lets them falsely display the name and phone number of the utility company on the recipient’s caller ID.

The utility will provide several past-due notices before terminating service. If you get a cancellation notification, always verify it by dialing the customer service number on your utility bill. Don’t supply any personal information unless you are sure you are indeed working with the utility.

Customers with questions or concerns about potential scams should contact Northwestern Energy or their state’s Department of Consumer Affairs to report possible scams or questionable business offers. Montana customers can contact Northwestern at (888) 467-2669.

northwestern energy issues alert about collection scam

mortgage assistance extended for unemployed mOntana department Of laBOr and indUStry

HELENA – The Montana Depart-ment of Labor and Industry has ex-tended the application deadline for a program that provides mortgage relief to unemployed homeowners until Dec. 31, 2013.

The Making Home Affordable pro-gram, which also provides foreclosure alternatives, “will help those Mon-tanans struggling to find employment stay in their home until they can get

back on their feet,” said Labor Com-missioner Pam bucy.

Administered by the federal depart-ments of the Treasury and Hous-ing and urban Development, the program helps reduce or suspend mortgage payments on a case-by-case basis for 12 months or more while individuals search for work.

To find more on the MHA program, call (888) 995-4673 or visit makinghomeaffordable.gov.

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Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 17-30, 2013 17opinion

Volume 4 // Issue No. 10

Section 2: BuSineSS, health and environment

By eriC LaDDBig Sky Weekly pUBliSHer

Small Town America never ceases to amaze me; here in big Sky, we can see the power of the individuals, grass-roots organizations and small businesses who help make our country great.

This past week, I found inspiration in two examples of locals thinking big, making change and progress happen.

1. Seven directions This new company based in big Sky was founded to help people live healthier, more self-sufficient lifestyles. End result: an Earthship in big Sky. This fully off-the-grid home was built primarily from recycled materials with a sustainable design. for all the world’s naysayers, it is inspiring to witness doers like the big Sky Earth-ship team of Michael Reynolds, Scott Maybee and Jeff Saad. In two-and-a-half weeks, the 25,000-square-foot home went from a conception, to dried-in; without any connection to a primary power source, it will maintain at 65 degrees year round. we’re all going to envy Saad’s power bills – or lack thereof – come february. find more at seven-directions.com.

2. first Security Bank Hoping to take advantage of lower interest rates, I’ve been trying to refinance my home loan over the past 10 months via large nationwide banks like Citi bank. I have paid my loan without fail every month for a decade and have great credit. After wasting countless hours with call center loan agents, paying for appraisals and bank fees, I was turned down on my loan because I’m self employed and don’t fit into “new government loan regulation standards.” Hard to imagine that a leading national bank, recently bailed out with our tax dollars, has regulations so stringent that a person who has kept current with his loan through the recession cannot refinance that same loan.

Enter Joe Miller at first Security bank in big Sky. four-teen days later, my loan was approved and his friendly local staff did all the work. first Security has recently created new loan packages for primary home loans. The thick stack of applications on Miller’s desk combined with his smile said it all. “we are amazed on how many loans we are getting approved for locals,” he said. Kudos to first Security bank’s board for making intelligent decisions about expediting the process of approving sensible loans.

Remember the power of shopping local. Support small town living. Our country’s future relies on it.

Small towns, big thinking

Jeff Saad and Scott Maybee in front of the construction of Big Sky's earthship PHoTo By keNe SPerry

First Security Bank employees (L-r): Janet wittenberg, Joe Miller, Clare Nixon, Carol Collins and Deb Purcell PHoTo By JoSePH T. o'CoNNor

Seven Directions' earthship open house event PHoTo By keNe SPerry

18 May 31-June 13, 2013 BuSineSS


bIG SKY – The big Sky Chamber of Commerce’s new website, visitbigsky.com, is set to launch mid-June. According to the Chamber’s membership sales and event manager Danielle Chamberlain, it will offer information in a visually appealing, user-friendly format; all in an effort to better serve visitors and member businesses.

Chamberlain says the new site will sell big Sky to people thinking about taking a vacation here. It will also provide information on specific ac-tivities in the area, such as fly-fishing, hiking and rafting.

Although the site’s focus is shifting to an emphasis on the visitor experi-ence, members will still have a listing on the site.

“It will be better for them now because the whole goal is to make it easier for visitors to connect with our chamber members,” Chamberlain said.

Once the website launches, a new blog will answer visitor questions, and content will be continually updated to guide visitors through the process of vacationing in big Sky, Chamberlain explained – from gain-ing general information on the area, to learning about specific activities, to booking lodging.

chamber to launch new website in June


bIG SKY – Gardeners rejoice: an abundance of flowers, plants, trees, bushes and bulk planting materi-als are now available in west fork Meadows.

big Sky Landscaping opened its gar-den center at 272 Snowy Mountain Circle over Memorial Day weekend.

“we’ve never had a retail space before,” said owner Alan McClain, who opened the business in 2003 “with one old truck and an old bro-ken down trailer,” and now man-ages 25 employees.

business included bicycle deliver-ies in the neighborhood, a client planting his potted plants in the greenhouse to keep while waiting for better weather, and others who

purchased plants but left them at the greenhouse.

big Sky Landscaping also has a holding yard on Highway 191, where McClain stores stock, machines and trucks, but “when it’s not muddy, it’s dusty, so it’s not really a place for the public,” McClain said.

with a 1,500-square-foot greenhouse, a retail garden shed and a half-acre lot, the new location will also stock fertilizers, potting soil, pots and gardening tools, McClain said.

He plans to host several free wednesday night seminars there throughout the summer, with one on planting summer annuals and container gardens planned for June 12 at 6 p.m.

The garden center’s grand opening will be June 15. Its regular hours are Mon-day –Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Big Sky landscaping opens garden center

PHoTo By graCe youNg

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 31-June 13, 2013 19BuSineSS profile

By JoSePH T. o’CoNNorBig Sky Weekly editOr

wEST YELLOwSTONE – when Scott Carsley was teaching junior high and high school in Ruby, Alaska, he didn’t expect to move back to southwest Montana.

but in 1984, he and his wife Janis packed their bags for west Yellowstone when Carsley’s longtime friend David Ritchey suggested they start a snow-coach business together.

That winter, Carsley opened Yellowstone Alpen Guides with Ritchey, and began touring visitors through the world’s first national park.

Today, YAG offers summer and winter tours and specializes in sharing Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres of wilderness, wildlife and geography with visitors.

“I came to west 35 years ago thinking I’d stay for a couple years,” recalls Carsley, 54, who’s originally from Mechanic falls, Maine. “but with the moun-tains and geysers – the whole region is wilder-ness.” when he and Ritchey first started YAG in the win-ter of 1984, they ran with the same vehicles they use today, 10-passenger snowcoaches.

“It’s our niche,” Carsley said. “People may not know Yellowstone Alpen Guides, but they know those old red bombadiers.”

built between 1952 and 1981, two of YAG’s eight bombadier Snowbuses were originally part of com-mercial park tours that started in 1955. Don Perry, owner of Yellowstone Automotive and YAG’s me-chanic for 18 years, recently updated the machines with eight-cylinder, 5.3-liter Chevrolet Vortec motors that average between six and seven miles per gallon.

“we’re the cleanest [coaches] in Yellowstone,” Perry said. “we’re lightweight and with fewer pounds-per-square-inch, we’re able to float. If you’re on top of the snow, you can get around better than if you’re plowing through it.”

while the bombadiers get park-goers to far reaches of Yellowstone, Carsley says his employees make YAG’s wheels turn. “They represent the company, our phi-losophy and the service we provide.”

Mike breyers has been on the team for 28 years. Originally from Victor, Colo., breyers, 63, started

guiding as a kid, leading hunters around the mountains looking for elk. “I can’t be indoors,” he says, adding that surprises abound in the park. “You never know what’s around the next corner in Yellowstone.”

breyers also credits the company’s success to its tight-knit staff. “we have a great camaraderie and a great brotherhood,” he said.

In summer, YAG offers a lower park loop tour with visits to Yellowstone Lake, Old faithful and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, which Carsley says “gives you a taste of it all.”

Evening wildlife safaris give visitors a chance to spot megafauna, and Carsley says early summer is the time to go. with temperatures warm and food abundant, guests aboard YAG’s summer vehicles – 12- and 15-passenger vans – regularly see elk, pronghorn, bison, moose, wolves and bear.

“One tourist saw 15 grizzlies in one day from 2 – 10 [p.m.] last year,” he said. “If you want to see griz, go in June. It’s the prime time to see preda-tors.”

winter 2012/2013 was YAG’s “best winter ever,” said Carsley, who lives primarily in west but also owns a home in big Sky.

with an affable grin, he says why he’ll stick with Yellowstone Alpen Guides beyond next season, when the company celebrates its 30th anniversary.

“I don’t make much money, but I smile a lot.”

for more information on YAG private tours, bom-badiers or bruins in Yellowstone, visit yellowstoneguides.com.

yellowstone alpen guidesBombadiers and bruins

Some of the local crew at yellowstone alpen guides: (L-r), Brenda Holland, Joe Moore, John Layshock, Mike Breyers and Drew Mentzer. PHoToS By JoHN LaySHoCk

"Chip" was built in 1953. It was bought locally and used to be brown, like a buffalo chip. "Cygnet" is the oldest snowcoach operating in Yellowstone. Built in 1952, it was originally owned by a veterinarian in red Lodge, Mont.

53 days in yellowstonea photographic winter journal

John Layshock spent winter 2012/2013 the way he spent the previous three seasons – guiding visitors around 141-year-old yellowstone National Park and taking photographs. But this year, he made a book.

Spending 53 days in the park this winter, the guide for yellowstone alpen guides logged photos from his tours and compiled them into a visual guide.

The “photographic diary,” as Layshock calls it, was a “personal exercise to get the juices flowing,” and will be on display at the yellowstone Public Library in west yellowstone from June 5-12. a reception will be held at the library June 5 at 6 p.m.

Layshock’s work has been published in rolling Stone magazine, Sports illustrated, men’s Journal, powder magazine and national geographic traveler.

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com20 May 17-30, 2013 SportS

Cleveland Cavs score first draft pick

By BraNDoN NiLeSBig Sky Weekly SpOrtS COlUmniSt

The Cleveland Cavaliers won the May 21 NbA draft lottery and will have the first overall pick on June 27. This will be the second time in three years the Cavs have had the first pick, after they selected Duke point guard Kyrie Irving in 2011.

The Cavs had the third best odds of winning the lottery at 16 percent, behind the Charlotte bobcats (20 percent) and Orlando Magic (25 percent). Lottery odds are assigned by record, as the team with the worst regular season record has the highest odds. The Magic wound up with the second pick, the washington wizards won the third choice and the bobcats ended up fourth.

while a victory for Cleveland fans, this is a weak draft lacking the star power of recent seasons. There is no

consensus top pick for the first time since 2006, when Italian forward Andrea bargnani went first overall to the Toronto Raptors. This year’s draft is one that appears to be full of solid players who should help teams, but without a superstar player at the top.

Complicating the decision for Cleveland is that the one player who may be the best prospect, Kentucky center Nerlens Noel, is coming off a torn ACL injury and may not be able to play until midway through next season. furthermore, the other top prospects are at the point guard and shooting guard positions, two spots Cleveland has bolstered with Irving and the fourth overall pick from last year, Dion waiters of Syracuse.

because the draft is so weak at the top, it isn’t surprising the Cavs are hinting at an interest in trading the first pick. Often a team will gain more value acquiring a veteran with a draft pick than by drafting a college player, though this is unheard of with the first overall choice.

Several teams may be interested in moving up. The bobcats may target Noel or Kansas’s skilled shooting guard ben McLemore, who struggled in the NCAA tournament to close out the season. The Phoenix Suns,

picking fifth, may also be interested in trading up to draft McLemore. Any team drafting in the top ten and needing help at the point may try to trade up for Michigan point guard Trey burke, a likely target for the Magic’s second pick. The Cavs should have suitors if they want to deal, but

the question is whether they can get enough value from a trade in this weak draft.

The last time a team traded the first overall pick was in 1993, when the Magic dealt Michigan forward Chris webber to the Golden State warriors for the third overall pick, Memphis shooting guard Penny Hardaway. The trade occurred on draft night, and the Magic received three future first round picks in addition to Hardaway in the deal. That kind of compensa-tion set the precedent for a team

trying to move up in the draft, but it seems unlikely the Cavs will get that kind of offer.

ultimately I think the Cavs will entertain offers, fail to get one that entices them, and draft Noel despite the injury. They could also draft

Georgetown forward Otto Porter, who fills more of a need, but Noel has the most upside in this draft. The old adage is that it’s better to miss big if you’re go-ing to miss on a draft pick. with question marks

on every prospect, the Cavs will likely follow that advice.

Brandon Niles has done online freelance writing about sports since 2007, and co-hosts the 2 Guys Podcast. With a Masters in Com-munication Studies from the Uni-versity of North Carolina Greens-boro, Niles is also an avid Miami Dolphins fan, which has led to his becoming an avid Scotch whisky fan over the past decade.


bIG SKY – Tennis is growing in big Sky. Introduced to Ophir School in 2011 as part of the k-5 spring After School Program, this year the sport was offered as an intramural activity, open-ing up to kids in grades k-8.

The majority of the program’s 30 partic-ipants are elementary students, learn-ing fundamentals through QuickStart Tennis, a new play format designed for kids ages 10 and under. Rather than playing with adult-sized equipment on a full court, kids use smaller racquets to hit larger, lower-bouncing balls on a smaller court with lower nets.

“The idea behind it is that we want kids to be playing all the time and to be con-stantly moving on the courts, not just standing in line, waiting to hit 10 fore-hands and 10 backhands,” said program coordinator Julie Towle, who also works as the tennis director for Camp big Sky.

Cyle Kokot, who primarily coaches older students, said it’s been fun to see the program expand and watch the kids improve. “we got a lot more kids than we thought, and that was awesome.”

by giving the younger kids more time on the courts, Towle and Kokot hope the sport will continue to grow and that one day big Sky will have a high school team.

intramural tennis program shows promise

Lining up a lob PHoTo By Maria wyLLie

2013 Big Sky Softball league scheduleNational League

Team 1 Country Market

Team 2 blue Mooners

Team 3 Yellowstone Club

Team 4 black bear

Team 5 Milkies

Team 6 big Sky Resort

Team 7 beavers

American League

Team 8 Huckers

Team 9 broken Spoke

Team 10 Yeti Dogs CSC

Team 11 black Soxs

Team 12 Cab Lizards

Team 13 Scissorbills

Team 14 first Place

Date Time field Teams umpire

10-Jun 6pm 1 4v5 1

10-Jun 6pm 2 6v7 2

10-Jun 715pm 1 5v6 1

10-Jun 715pm 2 7v9 4

11-Jun 6pm 1 1v2 10

11-Jun 6pm 2 8v9 3

11-Jun 715pm 1 2v3 1

11-Jun 715pm 2 8v10 9

12-Jun 6pm 1 11v13 4

12-Jun 6pm 2 12v14 5

12-Jun 715pm 1 11v14 4

12-Jun 715pm 2 12v13 5

Check future issues of the big Sky weekly for continued schedule.

May 31-June 13, 2013 21SportS May 3-16, 2013 21

CuSTER – Three Lone Peak High School football players will par-ticipate in the annual 6-Man All-Star football game on Saturday, June 1 in Custer, Mont.

Seniors Haven Morris, Tucker Shea, and Jake Cruse reported to a training camp in Custer on May 28 and will represent LPHS at the game. The student-athletes were selected by western Conference football coaches to represent the all-star team due to their perfor-mance on the field this past fall.

LPHS football coach Tony beard-sley was selected as an assistant

coach for the “red” team at the game.

“This will be a great experience for all of our players and I’m honored to be selected as one of the assistant coaches,” beardsley said in an email. “It will be a great learning opportu-nity.”

Kick-off is at 7 p.m. at Custer High School. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for students in grades 1-12 and free for preschoolers. for questions, email Jim Goltz at [email protected] or call Custer High School at (406) 668-7315.

local football players to represent lphS in annual all-star game June 1

By SHeiLa CHaPMaNBig Sky reSOrt bIG SKY – The big Sky Golf Club opened for the 2013 summer season on May 24 after receiving two awards for its playability and its local golf profes-sional last season.

The area golf course, located along Lone Mountain Trail in big Sky, received the 2012 Golf Range Association of America Top 50 Range in the Public Cat-egory and the 2012 Horton Smith Award from the Rocky Mountain Section of the Professional Golf Association of America.

Mark wehrman, head golf professional at the big Sky Resort Golf Club, was awarded the PGA Horton Smith Award recognizing golf professionals who are model educators within the PGA.

“I am truly honored to be chosen by the Rocky Mountain Section PGA as the 2012 Horton Smith Award recipient,” wehrman said. “being recognized by your peers is the ultimate honor in my profession and I couldn’t be more proud.”

The big Sky Resort Golf Club was featured in the January 2013 issue of Golf Range Magazine and online at golfrange.org after receiving the 2012 GRAA Top 50 Range in the Public Category. Peers in the Pacific Northwest sec-tion of PGA industry recommend the golf ranges they believe deserve to be ranked in the top 50 ranges. The 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed public course opened in the early 1970’s and has been updated several times to continue to provide exciting play. The course is 6,500 feet above sea level offering longer drives, views of Lone Peak, and winds along the banks of the west fork of the Gallatin River.

Contact the pro shop at 406-995-5780 for more information and tee times.

Big Sky resort golf club opens with accolades

Mark wehrman, head golf pro at the Big Sky golf Club, instructs a group in sum-mer 2012. wehrman won the 2012 Pga Horton Smith award for golf instruction.PHoTo CourTeSy oF Big Sky reSorT

LPHS makes a play during a 2012 season football game. PHoTo By Mike CoiL

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 31-June 13, 2013 23SportS


ENNIS – The Lone Peak High School boys’ varsity golf team fin-ished first in the team competition at the Montana High School State Class C Tournament in Ennis on May 22, bringing LPHS its first state championship title. but Mother Nature made it no easy task.

Heading into the second day of play, cold temperatures, cloudy skies and sustained 30 mph winds played mayhem with the golfers’ games.

“It was an extra element the players weren’t really prepared for,” said head coach Mike King.

The players also battled nerves on the course, knowing they could be the first team to bring home a cham-pionship for LPHS.

“I coached them along the way, but it ultimately came down to them and their determination and will to win,” King said of the team. “for me, it was gratifying to see them fight the challenges and come out on top.”

They finished 7 strokes ahead of Chinook, the second place team, and 44 shots ahead of third place fair-view.

Defending individual state cham-pion and team captain Tate Tatom, an LPHS sophomore, finished first for the boys, winning soundly by 18 strokes. He finished with an even par round of 72 for a two-day, 2-over-par total of 146.

Despite the adverse conditions, Tatom remained in control, both mentally and physically. “He might be only a sophomore, but he played an unbelievable round of golf,” King said. “He was the rock of the team.”

Prior to the tournament, Tatom said he doubted himself, wondering if he would be able to defend his title. but when he won by 18 strokes, his con-fidence was restored and he realized just how strong his game is.

Aiming to compete on the college level, Tatom will spend this summer playing in individual tournaments around the country to improve his game and gain experience on differ-ent courses.

The House triplets, also sopho-mores at LPHS, all finished in the top 15, helping boost the team to victory. Trevor House shot a two-day total of 173 to finish in 7th place, Quinn shot 179 to finish 11th, and Griffin posted a 182 to place 15th.

“It was pretty awesome,” Tatom said. “I really enjoyed getting to watch the triplets excel under

pressure and win a state champion-ship as a team.”

One player short, the LPHS girls’ team headed into the tournament with just three players – Tehya braun, Gabrielle Gasser and Janie Izzo – and finished sixth overall. Captain Tehya braun, a sophomore, finished in fourth place for the indi-vidual competition.

“for her to have her career-best finish at state was really cool to see,” King said. “She’s had the ability and just needed to prove it to herself, and she did.”

braun said she was having so much fun, she was relaxed throughout the game.

“I think being in the [championship] group really helped my game, because I loved all of the girls I was playing with,” braun said. “All of a sudden I was making all of my shots.”

from an experience standpoint, King said it was impressive for all three of the girls to qualify for states, consid-ering each had just picked up a club for the first time last year.

King said the girls showed promise, especially being so young, and he expects them to be more competitive next year. Molly Sharr, a sophomore on the JV team, will join them next season.

for the boys, beating the competition on a day when they didn’t even play their best was a confidence booster. “They are only going to build on this year’s performance,” King added.

“Next year, we’d like to win by a lot more than seven strokes as a team,”

Tatom added. “And I’d like to win my third straight championship.”

The school celebrated the victory at an awards assembly on May 24, where King and assistant coach Mark

wehrman recognized each player’s accomplishments. The teams encour-aged middle school students to begin practicing so they can continue to build a strong program.

LPHS boys golf team celebrates first state championship

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2013 LPHS Bighorn State Class "C" Champions. L-r, Mark wehrman assistant coach,Trevor House (7th place, all-State); grif-fin House (15th place); Tate Tatom (1st place, State Champion); Quinn House (11th place); Charlie Johnson (State Alter-nate); head coach Mike king

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com24 May 31-June 13, 2013 health

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HELENA – Three companies have filed paper-work to sell health insurance through the online federal Health Insurance Marketplace in Mon-tana.

Created under the Affordable Care Act, and previously called the Health Insurance Exchange, the marketplace will be an online portal where residents can shop for private health insurance beginning Oct. 1.

blue Cross blue Shield of Montana, PacificSource Health Plans, and the Montana Health CO-OP filed paperwork to sell products on the marketplace.

“The law creates these marketplaces where all health insurance products will be on one website,” said Jennifer McKee, press secretary for Montana Insurance Commissioner Monica Lindeen. “People can compare the ones they like and buy from the site.”

The idea is to create transparency, competition be-tween providers, and easy access to health insurance for consumers, according to information sent out from Lindeen’s office. under the ACA, states like Montana whose legislatures opted out of support-ing the marketplace will have their sites built by the federal government. Lindeen retains authority over the insurance companies working in Montana.

To use the marketplace, consumers must live in the u.S., be a u.S. citizen or lawfully present in the u.S., and must not be incarcerated. Indi-

viduals with employer-offered insurance are not precluded.

The marketplace will also be a mechanism for people who qualify for federal assistance through the ACA to use their tax credits, McKee said. Consumers can continue to purchase insurance products outside the marketplace; however, the

only way to obtain assistance paying for insurance is through the marketplace.

“within the marketplace, Montanans will be able to see if they qualify for immediate tax credits to offset the cost of insurance and by how much,” McKee explained in a memo. “Enrollment for the tax credit and buying health insurance will hap-pen in the same visit to the marketplace, so there will be no lag time in waiting for your tax credit.”

blue Cross blue Shield of Montana, headquar-tered in Helena, has sold the “lion’s share” of

health insurance in Montana in recent years, accord-ing to McKee.

In addition to filing with Lindeen’s office by the May 15 deadline, bCbS-MT also submitted forms for a multi-state insurance plan developed under a contract with the federal government. These are intended to give consumers more options in states that don’t have much competition, McKee said, not-ing that the federal contract doesn’t give consumers assistance with the premium beyond standard tax credits and subsidies available on the exchange.

The nonprofit, member-controlled Montana Health CO-OP was created in response to the ACA and is “dedicated to making health insurance available for all Montanans, including the low income segment of [the] population,” according to its website.

“Member-governed, nonprofit CO-OPs will drive down health insurance costs by adding com-petition and accountability to the marketplace,” said president of the National Alliance of State Health CO-OPs John Morrison in a statement. Morrison is also former Montana Insurance Com-missioner.

Similar CO-OP groups have formed in 24 other states.

The marketplace opens for business Oct. 1, 2013, with coverage and associated costs effective Jan. 1, 2014. In August, insurers will make final com-mitments to sell insurance on the marketplace.

for more information, visit healthcare.gov.

health insurance marketplace to work with three insurers

“within the marketplace, Mon-tanans will be able to see if they qualify for immediate tax credits to offset the cost of insurance and by how much. enrollment for the tax credit and buying health insur-ance will happen in the same visit to the marketplace, so there will be no lag time in waiting for your tax credit.”

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Housekeeper wanted for big Sky home. Cleaning, shopping, some cooking. Approximately 15 hours per week/2 days per week. Pay is $15.00 per hour depend-ing on experience. Please re-spond to [email protected].

big Sky School District 72 will be hiring a route bus driver for the 2013-14 school year. Pay rate-$18/hr. Some custodial work available with this position. for more details, see website @ www.bssd72.org.

The big Sky School District is now taking applications for fall 2013 for the fol-lowing: .5 fTE Counselor, .5 fTE Title I/Indian Ed teacher, 1.0 fTE K-12 Mu-sic teacher, 1.0 fTE 1st Grade teacher. Additional information and application available at www.bssd72.org (see Em-ployment). Submit by June 15, 2013. Mail to: Jerry House, Superintendent, bSSD #72, P.O. box 161280, big Sky, MT 59716.

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As organizer of the Weekly’s events calendar, I’m constantly on the lookout for southwest Montana happenings. This summer many festivals are hitting the area, among them Sweet Pea, Magic City blues, farmageddon Records Music and big Sky fly fishing.

The word “festival” has come to represent part of the region’s summer culture and is a driving force in many of Montana’s rural economies, helping promote tourism and support small, local businesses.

but these aren’t the only events fueling Montana’s towns. between free con-certs, farmers markets, sporting events and art shows, businesses are finding that local events create a strong commu-nity, both fiscally and culturally.

I spend the two weeks prior to press time searching for upcoming events in big Sky, bozeman, west Yellowstone, Livingston and Paradise Valley.

Most I find online or are directly emailed to me via newsletters and requests from businesses, but I also discover homegrown affairs on flyers tacked to coffee shop bulletin boards –

some of which are nowhere to be found online.

In this issue of the Weekly, you’ll find stories on the big Sky Community Corp.’s annual Parks and Trails Gala, big Sky’s Professional bull Riding event, the bozeman Art Auction, and the big Sky big brothers Celebrity Golf Tournament. Although very different, they are all important to the area.

festivals are typically multi-day oc-currences; they give people a reason to travel to small, beautiful Montana communities such as big Sky, west Yellowstone and Gardiner. but bear in mind, people travel for all sorts of events. feel free to send me yours.

Summer weekly print dates, followed by submission deadline:

June 14, submit by June 5June 28, submit by June 19July 12, submit by July 3July 26, submit by July 17Aug. 9, submit by July 31Aug. 23, submit by Aug. 14

To increase awareness of your event, please email listings to [email protected].

why the calendar matters

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com28 May 31-June 13, 2013 eventS

Big BrOtHerS Big SiSterS

bIG SKY – The big Sky branch of big brothers big Sisters has announced that its 12th annual Celebrity Golf Tournament will take place July 14-15 at the big Sky Golf Club. This charitable event will begin with a cocktail party at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, in the Summit Hotel at big Sky Resort. Emmy award-winning songwriter Jim Salestrom will entertain at the party, which will also include hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and a silent auction. A live auction will start at 8:30 p.m. and feature an autographed painting by American west artist Tom Gilleon, a photography session from local photogra-pher Tori Pintar, and a vacation package from boyne Resorts, among other items. All proceeds will benefit big brothers big Sisters’ big Sky branch. The celebrity golf tournament will begin at 11 a.m. on July 15 at the big Sky Golf Club with a shotgun start. Registration is at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided and the day will conclude with an awards ceremony and recep-tion at the bunker bar and Grill.

Celebrities including NfL players Eric Dickerson, LeRoy Irvin and Travis Dorsch will be participating, as well as ‘N Sync co-founder Chris Kirkpatrick, former NHL player Greg Smith, and The Weather Channel meteorologist Paul Goodloe.

To register early or to secure a corporate sponsorship spot, call (406) 587-1216 or visit bbbs-gc.org.

annual celebrity golf tourney returns to Big Sky

bOZEMAN – The North American Auction Com-pany is hosting its Absolute Art Auction on June 15 in bozeman, featuring rare and valuable collect-ibles. A live auction, it will include western, Native American, contemporary and midcentury works; bronze and glass sculpture; pottery; and midcentury furniture. 'There will be no reserves and every item will sell to the highest bidder regardless of price. Online absentee bidding will also be available. The preview

is June 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the auction begins Saturday, June 15 at 9 a.m.

Run by Mark and Tucker Markovich, the North American Auction Company is based on 78 wildcat way Lane in bozeman. The company is also hold-ing its firearm, western, Native American Antique Auction on June 22.

find more information and a complete catalog at northamericanauctioncompany.com.

absolute art auction is June 15 in Bozeman


bIG SKY – Last year, the big Sky Community Corp.’s sold-out Parks and Trails Gala raised a net profit of more than $100,000. The second annual event is set for Saturday, July 27, at the community park.

because the organization has many programs, each with different supporters, the Gala is an opportunity for community members to come together under one roof, said bSCC Executive Director Jessie wiese.

founded in 1998, the bSCC’s goal is to provide excel-lent recreational opportunities in the community, primarily accomplished via parks and trails.

“but bSCC does so much more than that,” wiese said, pointing out the kids summer camp program for first through 12th grade students and the Historic Crail

Ranch museum.

Proceeds from the Gala go toward parks and trails projects, such as building out eight miles of recently obtained trail easements around the community, im-proving landscaping in the community park, and con-structing park pavilions, concessions and restrooms.

The night will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails beneath a large, canvas tent. At 7 p.m., guests will sit down for a dinner catered by the Corral, followed by a silent and live auction. Dancing and live music by big Sky’s own country-western band bottom of the barrel is from 9 p.m. to midnight

wiese was thrilled about the auction items, which include a trip with Kingfisher Heliskiing in british Columbia; a dinner in Rainbow Ranch’s private wine cellar; and a three-night vacation package at the Inn and Spa at Loretto in Santa fe, N.M.

bSCC board members expect this year’s event to sell out quickly and, although a specific fundraising goal hasn’t been set, they hope to surpass last year’s impressive total.

“It’s a validation of what bSCC is doing for the com-munity,” said bSCC board member Steve Johnson. “when you see that kind of crowd in our fund-raising efforts, it shows that they really value the bSCC.”

Sponsoring this year’s event are the Yellowstone Community foundation, The Outlaw Partners, Highline Partners, Northwestern Energy, Ham-mond Property Management, Rotary International, On Site Management, Inc., bozeman Audi, big Sky western bank and Republic Services of Montana.

To purchase tickets, on sale now, or sponsor the Gala, visit bsccmt.org or call the bSCC office at (406) 993-2112.

BScc annual parks and trails gala set for July 27

The 2012 Parks and Trails gala PHoToS By keNe SPerry

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 31-June 13, 2013 29header

Big SkySaturday, June 1Lone Mountain ranch opens for summer season

2nd annual Big Sky wide openTown Center Fire Pit, 3:45 p.m.

DJ “Caddy Shack” TinyBroken Spoke, 10:30 p.m.

tueSday, June 4Big Sky Signage groundbreaking CeremonyBig Sky Chamber, 10:30 a.m.

ophir School elementary Spring Program wMPaC, 7 p.m.

wedneSday, June 5gourmet gals Cooking ClassThe Gourmet Gals, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Live MusicLone Mountain Ranch Veranda, 8-9:30 p.m.

thurSday, June 6ophir/LPHS 5-12th grade Band PorgramwMPaC, 7 p.m.

friday, June 7Jack Creek Preserve outdoor education Center Volunteer DayOutdoor Education Center, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 8Big Sky resort opens for summer season

Free orvis 101 Class LMr outdoor Shop, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

monday, June 10Pig roast320 guest ranch, 5-8 p.m.

wedneSday, June 12gourmet gals Cooking ClassThe Gourmet Gals, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Riverside BBQ & Wagon Ride320 guest ranch, 5-8 p.m.

Live MusicLone Mountain Ranch Veranda, 8-9:30 p.m.

Bozemanfriday, may 31ryan Bingham w/The wild FeathersThe emerson, 8 p.m.

Mel The Continuing Story of a Boy who refuses to grow upVerge Theatre, 8 p.m. (and Sat.)

kurt and kellyFilling Station, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 1alpaca Shearing FestivalCircle L Arena (Belgrade), 9 a.m.

Space adventure Family DayMuseum of the rockies, 1-3 p.m.

2013 Montana Beer Festivalgallatin Valley Fairgrounds, 4 p.m.

gene kelly Double FeatureSinging in the rain, 7 p.m.

An American in Paris, 9 p.m.The ellen Theatre

The Salamanders CD release PartyFilling Station, 9 p.m. monday, June 3BOYS, Rose Gold & Do it KappaFilling Station, 9 p.m.

wedneSday, June 5walcrikStarky’s, 6:30 p.m.

thurSday, June 6Symphony of wineStory Mansion, 5 p.m.

friday, June 7Big Sky youth empowerment Spring run offMSu, SuB Ballrooms, 5-10 p.m.

Nickel B Hip Hop ShowcaseFilling Station, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 8eagle Mount’s 18th annual western rendezvouseagle Mount indoor riding arena, 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Singer/Songwriter eric TaylorPilgrim Church, 7:30 p.m.

The Petty BandFilling Station, 10 p.m.

wedneSday, June 12Beau HoustonStarky’s, 6:30 p.m.

thurSday, June 13Rob QuistPeach Street Studios, 9 p.m.

weSt yellowStonefriday, may 31The riot actwild west Pizzeria, 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 1Kennedy & the Assasinswild west Pizzeria, 10 p.m.

thurSday, June 6Send it Home knit Night30 Madison Avenue, 7-9 p.m.

friday, June 7Holler N’Pinewild west Pizzeria, 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 8Kole Moulton & LNLY Rd.wild west Pizzeria, 10 p.m.

tueSday, June 11Train DayYellowstone Historic Center, 9 a.m.

thurSday, June 13Send it Home knit Night30 Madison Avenue, 7-9 p.m.

livingSton & paradiSe valley

friday, may 31kurt Prond w/Linc and LisaPine Creek Café, 7 p.m.

one Leaf Clover,Murray Bar, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 1Shields Valley ranch Ladies garage SaleCivic Center, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The FossilsPine Creek Café, 7 p.m.

Bluebelly JunctionMurray Bar, 9:30 p.m.

tueSday, June 4zach Bryson and His Natural Born easemenMurray Bar, 9 p.m.

wedneSdSay, June 5aaron williamsMurray Bar, 9 p.m.

friday, June 7Prairie wind DuoPine Creek Café, 7 p.m.

Brass FlaskMurray Bar, 9:30 p.m. (and Sat.)

Saturday, June 8Livingston Car ShowBest western yellowstone inn, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

PCCF electronics waste recycling FairLivingston Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. HooligansPine Creek Café, 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 9Livingston Vegan Food PotluckLivingston Public Library, 4:30 p.m.

tueSday, June 11red Cross Blood DriveAmerican Lutheran Church, 2-6 p.m.

wedneSday, June 12CalistaMurray Bar, 9 p.m.

thurSday, June 13StrangewaysMurray Bar, 9 p.m.

norriS hot SpringSMusic starts at 7 p.m. every Fri., Sat., Sun.

Big Sky local govt.tueSday, June 11Big Sky Chamber Board MeetingBig Sky Chamber of Commerce, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

wedneSday, June 12resort Tax appropriations MeetingBig Sky Chapel, 11 a.m.

planning an event? let uS know! email [email protected], and we’ll Spread the word.if your event falls between June 14 and June 27, please submit by June 7.

calendar

Big Sky Broadway performers will be dancing in this year’s production of Peter Pan, on July 6 and 7 at the Warren Miller Performing arts Center. Most of the cast had never received dance lessons before, but are now being taught by local dance teacher Jennifer waters. PHoTo By aNNa MiDDLeToN

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com30 May 31-June 13, 2013 eventS

By TyLer aLLeNBig Sky Weekly Staff Writer

bIG SKY – One of big Sky’s most anticipated sum-mer events will be even bigger this year. The two-day big Sky Pro bull Riders competition will feature 40 elite riders and 80-90 world-class bulls, July 31 and Aug. 1.

Now in its third year, the event has grown into one

of the premier stops on the Touring Pro Division series. This is the first time it will feature two nights of competition.

“The events in 2010 and 2011 were welcomed with open arms in the big Sky community,” said Eric Ladd, CEO of Outlaw Partners, which sponsors the PbR (also publisher of this newspaper). “both events were sold out, and we’re excited to expand to two nights this year, making it one of the largest Touring Pro Division events in the country.” The riders love it too.

“The big Sky PbR is a special event,” said retired rider wiley Petersen. “You get to see the best bulls and bull riders in the most beautiful place in the world.”

but this year, it won’t be just the scenery that attracts the best riders. The expansion coincides with a shift in the PbR built ford Tough Series this season, where the top riders on the circuit now have to earn more points in the Touring Pro Division to improve their world standings.

“The top 45 riders used to hole up in the summer,” said Jacey watson, co-owner of freestone Produc-tions which produces the big Sky event. “Now they have to ride this summer to stay in the built ford Tough Series.”

because 50 percent of the points riders score at the big Sky PbR go toward their bfTS total, while most touring series events only contribute 15-20 per-cent, it’s a particularly enticing destination, watson explained.

The prize money doesn’t hurt either. Riders will vie for a $40,000 added purse, with the champion taking home $20-25,000, which is on par with bfTS events, watson said. The top four places in each of the three rounds will pay out.

“with our new points system… this is definitely one that our riders want to hit,” said Jay Daugherty, Vice President of the PbR Touring Pro Division who attended the big Sky event in 2011. “It has great production, great bulls and [it’s] in one of the most beautiful spots in the country.”

Round one will be held July 31, and round two and the championship ride on Aug 1. The aggregate score from the first two rounds will determine the 10 riders competing in the championship, on 10 of the toughest bulls.

On July 31, the top rider after the first round will be invited back for a bonus “bounty bull,” with funds raised by a 50/50 raffle. If he manages to hang on for eight seconds, he’ll split the pot with the winning ticket holder. If he gets bucked, half the money will be donated to a local nonprofit and the other half will roll over to next year’s bounty.

big name bull riders like J.b. Mauney, Chase Out-law, beau Hill, Luke Snyder, Douglas Duncan, Cord McCoy and Pistol Robinson have competed in past big Sky events, and watson says these and other top bfTS bull riders may be on this year’s roster, as well.

Each night of competition will be followed by a free concert in the Town Center, with all-female AC/DC cover band Hell’s belles on July 31, and south-west Montana outlaw country juggernaut the Dirty Shame to close it out Aug 1. A temporary stage will be built specifically for the event.

The big Sky Town Center will host the event for the third straight year, and this year’s expansion “speaks volumes about the athletes, the community, the western culture, the sponsors, and the organization behind promoting the event,” said Town Center project manager Ryan Hamilton.

“when the show comes to town we put in the arena, four chutes, 40 back pens, tents and port o potties,” watson said. “being able to be outside in the mountain air in big Sky makes it unique, and to see that sunset behind Lone Mountain is pretty amazing. It’s like sitting down in a small theater with [thousands] of your closest buddies.”

Approximately 70 percent of the PbR crew travels across the country on the bfTS circuit, from New York City to Anaheim, Calif.

“They always say this is the best crowd,” watson said. “The fans that come are off the hook.”

Brand your calendarBig Sky PBr tickets on sale June 10

limited sponsorships are still available; contact Outlaw partners at 995-2055 or [email protected]

yellowstone club - Title Sponsorcontinental construction - Presenting Sponsoroutlaw partners - Marketing SponsorBig Sky town center - Venue SponsorSimkins hallin - Venue SponsorBig Sky resort - Lodging Sponsormoonlight Basin - Mutton Bustin’ Sponsorfay ranches - Barrel SponsorSpanish peaks community foundation - Calcutta Sponsorl&k real estate - golden Buckle Ticket sponsorressler toyota - general admission Ticket Sponsorpure west-ania Bulis - Program Sponsorlone pine Builders - Big Sky Bounty Bull Sponsormurdochs - Product Sponsoralpine property management - Shuttle Sponsor chute gate SponsorsHaas Builders kenyon Noble Montana Living rotherham Construction SToa Management vendorsBig Horn Boutique Jubilee facepainting Moonlight Basin willow Boutique Burger Bar Lone Peak Brewery Scissor Bills wrap Shack Studio aV

Banner SponsorsStifel NicholausBig Sky western Bank First Security Bank Lone Peak Cinema Nordic Hot Tub

it takes a village: community supporters of Big Sky’s pBr

ticketS to the main event

Tickets go on sale June 10 at 9 a.m. for the rain or shine events. Purchase them at explorebigsky.com/bigskypbr or the Outlaw Partners office in Big Sky Town Center (next to grizzly Outfitters).

general admission - $40: ga tickets include free after party concerts. Tickets are first-come, first-serve bleacher seating.

kids 6 and under - $10: Both golden Buckle and general admission tickets are $10 for kids ages 6 and under, and in-clude a free gift with purchase.

golden Buckle - $150: golden Buckle tickets include a sepa-rate entrance and parking area, preferred seating with views into the chutes, a hosted happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. with a meet and greet auto-graph session with riders, and a Calcutta charity auction (proceeds to benefit the Yellow-stone Park Foundation and Big Sky Community Corp.).

a bull rider enters the arena at the 2012 Big Sky PBr ouTLaw ParTNerS PHoTo

May 31-June 13, 2013 31environment May 31-June 13, 2013 31environment

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is home to a wide array of wildlife, na-tive plants, insects, geothermal features and other natural wonders. A new comprehensive field guide is the first to catalogue them in a single place.

A glance at the table of contents reveals the sweeping scope of The Field Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, with sections on geol-ogy, geothermal features, rocks and minerals, mushrooms, trees and shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, mammals, tracks and scat, and the night sky.

Author Kurt f. Johnson, a wildlife biologist and professional naturalist who lives in Jackson, wyo., started the Field Guide as a personal resource to use when guiding clients on wildlife-watching tours in the parks. His clients spurred the development of the book.

Dr. Susan Clark, Professor of wildlife Ecology at Yale university and author of Ensuring Greater Yellowstone’s future, called the Field Guide “a must-have book for anyone interested in the Greater Yellowstone region and its natural history.”

Rigorous enough for professional naturalists yet easy to use for everyday visitors, The Field Guide is a compilation of exhaustive research and nearly a decade of fieldwork. with 1,200 photographs, 131 illustrations and 15 color maps, it includes descriptions and images of more than 650 species, 54 geothermal features, 21 waterfalls and 12 night sky charts.

The Field Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is available at local bookstores and gift shops, through online retailers, or from farcountry Press at farcountrypress.com.

First comprehensive field guide to the greater yellowstone on shelves S T R I N G S

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Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 31-June 13, 2013 33outdoorS

Volume 4 // Issue No. 11

Section 3: outdoorS, yellowStone

By ForreST MCCarTHyBig Sky Weekly COntriBUtOr

On the windward side of a knife-edge ridge, the remnants of a massive cornice cling above a rocky abyss. The thin line of snow stretches toward the horizon. Delicately, I pick a route toward the summit of 10,308-foot Sheepherder Peak, taking advantage of firm spring snow while avoiding trigger-ing its collapse.

Jim Harris and I are 70 miles into an ambitious 120-mile ski traverse. we started five days ago at Sylvan Pass near Cody, wyo., and traveled more than 40 miles to Cooke City, Mont., rarely descending below timberline. Another 30 miles put us here, more than halfway to Livings-ton, our planned destination.

Our route follows the crest of the remote Absaroka Range, where eons of stream and glacial erosion have sculpted a massive volcanic plateau. Extending 150 miles across the Montana-wyoming border, the volcanic debris has been carved into jagged peaks, high cirques and steep rocky slopes.

below, deep valleys, thick forests and alpine meadows provide refuge for grizzly, wolf, mountain lion and wolverine. Every day, we see large clawed carnivore tracks in the snow and mud.

few skiers have ventured this deep into the Absarokas. Access is tough and information scant. One who did was bozeman resident Hans Saari.

In the 1990s, alongside fellow ski-mountaineer Kris Erickson, Saari pioneered steep, technical ski lines throughout the range’s northern reaches, many of which haven’t been repeated.

Guiding together in the Tetons for a few summers, Saari and I traded sto-ries of ski explorations and dreams for future adventures. we both saw skiing as more than athletic chal-lenge: It was also a means to travel, explore and discover wild places.

“It’s a personal expression, an embodiment, either in the objective or in the actual movement, of what I like to think is my soul,” Saari posted in a dispatch from Antarctica in 2000.

He was killed in the french Alps in 2001, while attempting to ski a variation of Gervasutti Couloir on the east face of Mont blanc. The Hans Saari fund was established in his memory, providing financial aid to adventurers exploring on skis.

This year it helped fund our Absa-roka traverse.

unlike Saari, my focus isn’t big, vertical lines. Instead, I’m inter-ested in big, horizontal lines. Long ski traverses through technical terrain require an intimate relation-ship with landscape and climate. In the last 20 years, I’ve completed

high traverses of all the major mountain ranges in the Greater Yellowstone includ-ing the Tetons, wind Rivers, Gros Ventre, Madisons, Gallatins and beartooths. but the Absarokas have been elusive.

The Absaroka Range is the largest in the Yel-lowstone region, and arguably the wildest. four separate wilder-ness areas comprising more than 2.5 million acres, combined with adjacent Yellowstone National Park, protect the primeval character of this rugged country and ensure future gen-erations have opportu-nities for exploration, adventure and discov-ery there.

On this spring tour, we become that future generation.

from Sheepherder’s windswept summit, Jim and I are surrounded

by a seemingly infinite mountain expanse. Steep couloirs, alpine cirques and endless ridgelines stir our imaginations.

we have several route options. be-low us, to the north, is more benign terrain below timberline. Sheltered from the wind and sun, a series of benches promise reliable snow cover and fewer obstacles. while longer, we’d be less likely to get cliffed out. Yet, we desire to stay in the alpine terrain along the crest. Our topography maps indicate a high, aesthetic route following the spine of the northern Absarokas for more than 50 miles.

During the first part of our jour-ney, the nearly vertical rock flanks of Grand Teton to the south and Pilot Peak to the east contrasted against a universe of blue sky, lush green valleys and snow-covered summits. Like lighthouses in the days of old, these massive rock spires were familiar, reassuring landmarks. To the west, Old faith-ful emitted visible bursts of steam.

North of Cooke, we spent a day in the headwaters of Slough Creek battling through brush and dead-fall. During the strenuous miles, I questioned why we even brought skis. Regaining the grandeur of the

snow-covered high country, I knew. Jim and I decide to take our chances on a higher route along the crest.

we advance along a series of ridges between boulder and Hellroaring creeks. Exposed to sun and prevail-ing winds, the southwestern slopes are nearly void of snow. Often the most efficient line is along the exact crest, where a winter’s worth of blowing snow was deposited on the windward side. Recent warm weather has caused some of these massive overhanging cornices to fail, however, and avalanche debris is scattered 1,000 feet below. we follow the remaining narrow band of snow for miles at a time.

Navigating around 10,727-foot Crow Mountain proves more chal-lenging. After contouring to a high saddle on its western flank, an intimidating north face stops us. Jim eyes a precipitous snow covered ledge that winds between cliffs toward the top of the glacier. The only other viable way is to down climb a lower angle section of the crumbling cliff band.

I opt to down climb but soon regret it. The first 100 feet of my descent go smoothly, but 10 feet above the glacier the cliff steepens, and gaps between the rock and glacier hint of

absaroka ski traverseFollowing the crest

Fat cornices still lingered in mid-June near Crow Mountain, Mont. PHoToS By JiM HarriS

Forrest McCarthy crosses Slough Creek, Mont.

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com34 May 31-June 13, 2013 outdoorS

a hidden bergschrund or crevasse. I feel trapped. Escaping via a sketchy traverse, I find a narrow, snowy gully that provides safe passage.

As I chop out a ledge where I can click into my skis, Jim confidently traverses the exposed snow ledge above, effortlessly pointing his skis down the steep fall line. Soon he is relaxing at a small lake at the foot of the glacier. when I catch him, he can’t stop grinning, thrilled with the descent and watching me flounder.

Jim Harris and I met in 2011 on a ski expedition to Antarctica. I was impressed by his friendly demeanor, competence on skis and passion for exploration, and on our flight back to the States, we hatched an idea for a spring ski traverse.

That afternoon, the weather begins to deteriorate. Thick, dark clouds march across southwest Mon-tana. As we traverse the headwaters of Meatrack Creek toward 10,730-foot Pyramid Peak, the rain begins. we stop and put up our small, single-wall tent on a bench near timberline. The rain contin-ues.

by the time we’ve retreated inside, we’re drenched. The tent drips with condensation, and our light, down sleeping bags lose their loft as

they become soaked through. I shiver all night. by morning, six inches of snow has accumulated outside. Our strategy on this trip was to go light as pos-sible. Nighttime temperatures were forecasted at around freezing, and no major storms were predicted. with 40° bags and a three-season tent, our packs weighed only 10 pounds with-out food or fuel. This approach allows agility and efficient travel, but leaves us ill equipped for long spells of bad weather.

wet, cold and lacking visibility, we hold up for the day. The weather continues to deteriorate, and we don’t have enough extra food or fuel to wait longer than a day.

by the next morning, the storm has deposited over a foot of heavy snow. In addition to be-ing cold, wet and mildly hypothermic, we’re increasingly concerned about avalanches.

Seven days and 80 miles into our traverse, we bail. we stuff soggy gear into packs, then fight westward over the windy mountain crest. Previously barren ridges are now blanketed in thick snow. In the steep headwaters of Mill Creek, we trigger several small avalanches.

Thick, wet brush and fallen trees further im-pede our exit.

Lower, we find reprieve on an old logging road. we hitch a ride in the back of a rusty pickup into Livingston and that night feast on pizza, beer and storytelling.

The next day, high pressure returns. As we head home to Jackson, wyo., through Yellowstone, fresh snow along the high Absaroka glistens below a cloudless blue sky. I lament our decision until I hear a radio report of an avalanche that buried and seriously injured a skier in the nearby Gallatin Range during the same storm. My thoughts return to my friend Hans Saari, and I know he would agree we made the right deci-sion.

Forrest McCarthy has been a professional mountain guide and adventurer for more than 20 years. He lives in Jackson, Wyo., with his wife Amy and their dog Fryxell. As of 2013, the Hans Saari Fund dis-continued its Ski Exploration Grant program and is now focused solely on its Youth Ski Mountaineering Camps.

The only snow left on this slope was drifted along an old mine roadgrade. Forrest McCarthy skis the white ribbon near Stinkingwater Peak, wyo.

YELLOwSTONE N.P. – Scientists and managers are gathering June 3-5 to review the geothermal system in the Old faithful area – they’ll review both what they know, and what they don’t.

Panelists with a wide range of back-grounds and experience will share knowledge about the area’s hydro-thermal systems and discuss potential areas for research.

The goal, according to NPS informa-tion, is to help current and future park managers understand how the

hydrothermal system is influenced or impacted by human actions in the area to aid in decisions about any potential infrastructure changes.

The panel discussions begin at 8 a.m. each day and are open to the public. Limited seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the second floor conference room of the Old faithful Snow Lodge.

The panel is funded through a grant from the Yellowstone Park founda-tion.

old faithful’s geothermal system subject of upcoming scientific review

Now that you’ve retired, it’s time to reevaluate your investments in order to ensure your assets will be working for you throughout your senior years.

Stifel can help.Koy Hoover, CFP®

Vice President/[email protected]

Shawn M. HertzSenior Vice President/Investments

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Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com36 May 31-June 13, 2013 header

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Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 1-June 13, 2013 37outdoorS

the Weekly staff is an outdoor-loving crew who play hard almost every second we’re not in the office. Some of the gear seen here is brand new, and some of it’s stuff we’ve had for ages – here, we tell you about some of the gadgets, gizmos, gear and garb that make our lives even more fun.

GE AR REVIEW

By CHriS DaViSBig Sky Weekly COntriBUtOr

Rather than clambering along the trail with kitchenware dangling from your backpack’s utility loops, pick up Sea to Summit’s Delta Spoon and Spork with serrated knife ($3.50 each). Each weighing just .5 oz, these utensils are made from food grade nylon 66 and are bPA-free.

To save even more weight, pick up a set of Sea to Summit’s Alpha-Light Cutlery ($6.95 each). Com-posed of hard-anodized aircraft grade aluminum, these utensils are the lightest metal cutleries on the market. with their hardened shell, there’s no risk of the alloy leaching into your food.

Sea to Summit nailed the design and execution of their camping utensils – lighten the load and get yourself a set.

seatosummit.com

Sea to Summit kitchenware

Noxious Weed Spotlight: Hoary Alyssum Hoary alyssum, commonly called whitetop, is an annual, biennial, or perennial in the mustard family and can grow up to three feet tall. It’s proven to be highly invasive, as it’s particularly adapted to dry conditions. All parts of the plant are covered with short, star-shaped hairs that give the plant a silver-grayish appearance. You can find it almost everywhere; along roads, trails, gravelly stream banks, in lawns, vacant lots, and overgrazed pastures. It’s toxic to horses, and remains toxic in cured hay. More photos & information @ www.bigskyweeds.org.

Help protect wildlife habitat, water resources, & native plants by controlling noxious weeds!

Got Noxious Weeds?

We can help! Now is the time to manage the noxious weeds on your

property, and the Gallatin/Big Sky Noxious Weed Committee can help!

We provide free onsite assistance, includingidentifying weeds on your property & recommending

treatment methods.For assistance, contact Jennifer Mohler at 406‐209‐0905 or [email protected],

and visit www.bigskyweeds.org.

Visit us at our booth at the Big Sky Farmers Market!

By BoB FoSTerlmr general manager

gonna kick off my shoes and run in bare feet

Where the grass and the dirt and the gravel all meet

goin’ back to the well, gonna visit old friends

and feed my soul where the blacktop ends

- keith urban

For 98 years, Lone Mountain ranch has served up west-ern hospitality to the Big Sky community and to guests from around the world. our little valley is just off the blacktop, beside the North Fork of the gallatin river. inspired by the country song, Where the Blacktop ends, this column shares our philosophy and culture.

where the blacktop endsTales from Lone Mountain ranch

This summer LMR has a herd of 95 horses. Just like people, they come in all colors, shapes and ages and have different strengths and weak-nesses. As herd animals, horses have a clearly defined social structure, which can be broken into three categories.

The horse shown here, Paintbrush, is a 20-year-old paint gelding. He is great with kids, and has “been there and seen that.” Nothing bothers him, and he makes the transition from winter pasture in white Sulphur Springs to big Sky with ease. we can never have enough Paint-brushes in our herd.

Gunner, a 9-year-old bay gelding, is like a teen-ager. He arrives at the ranch with an attitude and seems to forget everything he learned last summer. It will take two weeks of riding with a wrangler to remind him of his manners and what his job is all about. After his re-training, he will have a great summer taking adults around the Spanish Peaks.

At the elementary level is Pryce, a 6-year-old sorrel gelding. He is inexperienced, new to LMR and needs a gentle touch and lots of train-ing before guests are allowed on his back. If we do our job well, he will be ready by July 1.

The hardest job for a new wrangler is to learn the individual traits of each horse and the hierarchy among the group. However, since our employees have the same general traits, it’s a two way street.

Paintbrush takes rhett on a kid-friendly ride PHoTo CourTeSy oF LMr

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com38 May 31-June 13, 2013 fiShing column: THe eDDy LiNe

By PaTriCk STrauBBig Sky Weekly fiSHing COlUmniSt

A rare thing happened recently on the upper Madi-son River: a fly shop owner actually fishing for fun.

As shops, guides and outfitters ready their inven-tory, boats and guide crews for the summer season, personal fishing time is precious – it comes as rare as a winnebago on Highway 191 in January. but sometimes responsibility and better judgment deserve a backseat, and one must go fishing. The sooner duties are put off, the more time there is to catch up, right?

And obligations should be kicked to the curb, be-cause great fishing exists right now. Just be sure your fly box is full of what the trout currently want… rubberlegs!

The majority of our local rivers harbor an abundance of stonefly patterns. Most of us know of the salmon and golden stonefly hatches, but over-hyped skwala and well-kept secrets like capnia and pneumora stonefly hatches make it possible to fish a stonefly pattern from March through October. In fact, you may already be fishing these insects if you’re using a nymph with rubberlegs, which become more active as snowmelt peaks and rivers drop.

for big Sky anglers, a must-have fly is a Pat’s Rubber-legs or variations of such. So, who is Pat and why are his legs so important? He was a fish-catching machine and created a simple and very effective fly. There are many variations: the Girdle bug; the Turd or Cat Poo (yes, these are real names); the Pickle; and whatever the next half-baked university of Montana fifth-year senior decides to call his trout-slaying pattern.

A Pat’s Rubberlegs is a simple fly: a hook with plenty of lead wrapped around it, contrasting colors of yarn or chenille, and rubberlegs. A stout tippet is essential because this time of year most fish are caught along or adjacent to bank-side structure, where it’s easy to snag submerged debris.

As of Memorial Day, stonefly nymphs were migrat-ing toward the bank, logs or large rocks. In a few weeks they’ll “hatch,” crawling out of the water and emerging from their nymphal casing. The first hatch is the massive salmon fly, and many of the rivers’ largest trout eat three-inch-long dry flies off the sur-face…that is great fun, but we aren’t there quite yet.for the time being, most of our fishing will be with a Pat’s Rubberlegs fished subsurface using two preferred methods. The first and more popu-lar, is fishing it under an indicator as part of two-fly weighted rig. And yes, it’s OK to fish two Pat’s Rubberlegs at once.

The second is to fish a dry fly that’s large and bushy enough to float a 3-4-foot-length drop-per onto which is tied a Pat’s Rubberlegs. be sure to have lots of rubberlegs or tie very good knots because you will lose a few flies trying to get them near the fishy structure. If you’re not losing a few flies, you’re not fishing close enough to the bank or structure.

but losing flies isn’t necessarily a bad thing – someone’s got to make sure those busy fly shop owners tend the store and aren’t playing hooky every day.

Pat Straub is the author of six books, including The Frugal Fly Fisher, Montana On The Fly, and the forthcoming Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fly Fishing* *but were afraid to ask. He and his wife own Gallatin River Guides in Big Sky.

Stonefly nymphs, like the Pat’s Rubberlegs are a vital piece of your angling quiver for the next month. Sizes 4 through 12 are the most effective. PHoToS By Mike DoNaLDSoN, gaLLaTiN riVer guiDeS

This good-sized bank-hugging Madison brown trout fell for a well-drifted size 6 rubberlegs. Stout tippets and good drifts are necessary to catch these trout.

when the rubber meets the rod:‘Tis the season for rubberlegs and stonefly nymphs


RAP I ER CHAR I TABLE TRUST PRESENTS

A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR MORNINGSTAR LEARNING CENTER

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BIG SKY TOWN CENTER, BIG SKY, MONTANADOORS OPEN 5PM / SHOW TIME 6PMTICKETS $50CHILDREN 12 & UNDER FREE WITH PAID ADULT

TICKETS ON SALE MAY 1ST AT TICKETRIVER.COM, THE CAVE SPIRITS AND GIFTS (BIG SKY) AND CACTUS RECORDS (BOZEMAN)

WEDNESDAY

JULY

201303

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com40 May 31-June 13, 2013 outdoorS

4Big Sky Hikers – 2013 Season – FINAL

Date Rating-Hike Trailhead Length* Climb* Leaders CommentJune 1 National Trails Day Big Sky Community

ParkN/A N/A Steve Johnson (995-4566) Meet at the Community Park

at 9:00 amJune 13 A Purple Mountain Yellowstone NP 5 miles 1560 ft. Leslie & Rich Piercy (993-2303)

B Deadhorse Creek Taylor Fork – Cache Creek

6 miles 700 ft. Chuck Tufts (995-3892)

C Bighorn Yellowstone NP - Bighorn

5 miles 500 ft. Barbara Blesch (995-2422)Barb Gillespie (995-2160)

Mary Grundman (995-3201) if needed

June 20 A Bangtail Divide Trail Brackett Creek 11 miles 1790 ft. Jessie Wiese (993-2112) Bozeman - Bridger

B Lemon Drop Twin Cabin Creek 5 miles 1200 ft. Jeff Strickler (995-4768)

C Specimen Creek Yellowstone NP – Specimen Creek

5 miles 700 ft. Karen Strickler (995-4768)Carol McGuire (995-7422)

June 27 A Cinnamon to Albino Lake

Cinnamon 12 miles 2000 ft. Steve Johnson (539-6660) Shuttle required

B Bighorn Fawn Pass Loop

Yellowstone NP – Bighorn

10 miles 500 ft. Lance Krieg (995-3112)

C Reflector Chief Joseph Trail 4 miles 650 ft. Joan Mills (995-4554)Nancy Mikeson (995-4164)

July 4 A Avalanche Lake Beaver Creek – Potamogeton Park

9 miles 2200 ft. Lud Long (995-3931) Trailhead near Hebgen Lake; depart at 8:00

B Beehive Basin Beehive Basin 6.6 miles 1360 ft. Kim Ranstrom (995-2843)

C Flower Hike TBA TBA miles TBA ft. Jeff Strickler (995-4768) Will repeat on July 6

July 9 Potluck Picnic Community Park N/A N/A Priscilla Young (995-2629) See Potluck Picnic Details Above

July 11 A Ernest Miller Ridge Yellowstone NP - Bacon Rind

12 miles 2500 ft. Betsy McFadden (995-2068)

B Cinnamon Creek Cinnamon 8.5 miles 2680 ft. George Tallichet (995-2909)

C Swan Creek Swan Creek 6 miles 612 ft. Margaret Leeper (995-4146)Jeanne Johnson (995-4566)

July 18 A Mirror Lake Spanish Creek 13 miles 2300 ft. Heather Walker (995-2765) Depart at 8:00

B Lizard Lake Taylor Fork – Cache Creek

11 miles 1600 ft. Irv Golden (995-7905)

C Gneiss Creek Gneiss Creek 5 miles 200 ft. Christl Gump (995-4406) Trailhead near Hebgen Lake

Big Sky hikersmeeting place and timeThe big Sky Hikers meet Thursday mornings at the community park, off Little Coyote Road in big Sky. All groups depart at 8:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to sign up and prepare for a prompt departure. Groups will carpool to the trailheads.

multiple hike groupsThree hikes are scheduled every week. Each will go to a different trailhead, with a limit of 15 participants per hike. Hikes are subject to change due to weather or trail conditions.

hike rating system“A” hikes are strenuous, involving long distances and significant altitude gain. These are best suited for fit, altitude-acclimated and well-prepared hikers. Leaders: Leslie and Rich Piercy (406) 993-2303

“b” hikes are more moderate. Leaders: Chuck Tufts (406) 995-3892 and John Loomis (406) 995-3808

“C” hikes are easy, and suitable for hikers of all ages and abilities. Leaders: barbara blesch (406) 995-2422 and Margaret Leeper (406) 995-4146

Call one of the assigned leaders with questions regarding a particular hike.

hiking etiquettewe keep groups together on the trail, taking occa-sional breaks. This ensures no one becomes separat-ed or lost and is also the best way to avoid surprising a bear. All hikes follow the “leave no trace” policy. No toddlers or pets.

equipmentHikers should carry daypacks with water, food, rain gear and other clothing layers to cope with the abrupt changes typical of mountain weather. Sturdy, broken-in shoes with good soles are sug-gested, as many of the trails are rocky and may cross patches of snow and streams. Hike leaders will have basic first aid kits, but participants should bring bear spray, insect repellant and sunscreen.

Look for future scheduled hikes in the next issue of the Big Sky Weekly.

Phone and Internet DiscountsAvailable To CenturyLink Customers

The Montana Public Service Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $14.73 per month and business services are $30.00 per month. Speci c rates will be provided upon request. CenturyLink participates in a government bene t program (Lifeline) to make residential telephone service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers are those that meet eligibility standards as de ned by the FCC and state commissions. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal bene ts if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless telephone. A household is de ned for the purposes of the Lifeline program as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Lifeline service is not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in the program. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain Lifeline telephone service can be punished by ne or imprisonment and can be barred from the program.

Lifeline eligible subscribers may also qualify for reliable home high-speed Internet service up to 1.5Mbps for $9.95* per month for the rst 12 months of service. Further details are available at centurylink.com/internetbasics.

If you live in a CenturyLink service area, please call 1-855-954-6546 or visit centurylink.com/lifeline with questions or to request an application for the Lifeline program.*CenturyLink Internet Basics Program – Residential customers only who qualify based on meeting income level or program participation eligibility requirements, and requires remaining eligible for the entire offer period. First bill will include charges for the rst full month of service billed in advance, prorated charges for service from the date of installation to bill date, and one-time charges and fees described above. Qualifying customers may keep this program for a maximum of 60 months after service activation provided customer still quali es during that time. Listed High-Speed Internet rate of $9.95/mo. applies for rst 12 months of service (after which the rate reverts to $14.95/mo. for the next 48 months of service), and requires a 12-month term agreement. Customer must either lease a modem/router from CenturyLink for an additional monthly charge or independently purchase a modem/router, and a one-time High-Speed Internet activation fee applies. A one-time professional installation charge (if selected by customer) and a one-time shipping and handling fee applies to customer’s modem/router. General – Services not available everywhere. CenturyLink may change or cancel services or substitute similar services at its sole discretion without notice. Offer, plans, and stated rates are subject to change and may vary by service area. Deposit may be required. Additional restrictions apply. Terms and Conditions – All products and services listed are governed by tariffs, terms of service, or terms and conditions posted at centurylink.com. Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges – Applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges include a carrier Universal Service charge, carrier cost recovery surcharges, state and local fees that vary by area and certain in-state surcharges. Cost recovery fees are not taxes or government-required charges for use. Taxes, fees and surcharges apply based on standard monthly, not promotional, rates.


B I G S K Y ’ S F U L L S E R V I C E G R O C E R Y S T O R EHand- cut meats • Fresh baked goods • Gourmet i tems • Beer & wine

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Insert dealer logo and address.Covers normal factory scheduled service for 2 years or 25K miles, whichever comes first. The new Toyota vehicle cannot be part of a rental or commercial fleet or a livery or taxi vehicle. See participating dealer for complete plan details. Valid only in the continental United States and Alaska.

Toyota of Bozeman 866-623-5535

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com42 May 17-30, 2013 fun

www.VectorOpen

Stock.com

guest picks

Big Sky BeatsBy Maria wyLLieBig Sky Weekly editOrial aSSiStant

Find out what tunes we’re bumping! in “Big Sky Beats,” the Weekly’s staff and guests talk soundtracks for summer activities in the Rockies – anything from training for a marathon to float-ing down the river with friends.

kent Johnson’s playlistBozeman musician kent Johnson is known for his ability to get a crowd dancing no matter where they are. whether he’s playing solo at a coffee shop or with his band one Leaf Clover at the Haufbrau, you’ll want to throw it down.

The following playlist features some of the songs he listens to when he’s not playing for you.

“From the clean, emotional perfor-mance of Stevie ray Vaughan, to the hard-hitting, don’t give a #@%* attitude of Dr. Dre, to the pure magic of Beethoven’s 45-minute Fifth Symphony, these are songs that i truly love,” Johnson said, adding that they take him to a place of happiness and good times.

1. “idioteque,” radiohead 2. “Notorious Thugs,” The Notorious B.i.g. (feat. Bone Thugs and Harmony) 3. “Little wing,” Stevie ray Vaughan 4. “while My guitar gently weeps,” The Beatles 5. “Biological Speculation,” Funkadelic 6. “Forgot about Dre,” Dr. Dre (feat. eminem) 7. “Seven Story Mountain,” railroad earth 8. “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor,” Ludwig van Beethoven 9. “SpottieottieDopaliscious,” outkast 10. “California Love,” 2pac

kent Johnson and friends playing at the Haufbrau on May 23. PHoTo By Maria wyLLie

Listen!Buscrat's fables

“I’m worried about my job,” Jax’s friend said.

“I’m thinking of buying a new smart phone,” said Jax as he looked at his phone.

“They said they’re going to be letting some people go, and I‘m afraid I’m going to be one of them,” his friend said.“I wonder if I should switch cell phone carriers while I’m at it,” Jax said.

Just then Jax’s mouth opened wide and his tongue started bouncing up and down uncontrollably. He couldn’t stop from making the noise “LA-LA-LA-LA” as his friend talked.

Jax’s friend left, because he could tell Jax wasn’t interested in his problems. Jax’s phone vibrated, then the phone spun in his palm and exploded into a huge piece of popcorn.

Another friend walked up to Jax, upset. “what’s the matter?” Jax asked.

“My boyfriend yells at me all the time,” she said.

Jax decided to show more interest in her problem and tried to relate with her. “My girlfriend makes me mad sometimes,” he said.

“He always blames me for everything that goes wrong,” she continued.

“My girlfriend does that a lot too,” Jax said. Just then his hands came up, and his arms crossed his face, his left hand covering his right ear and his right hand covering his left ear. He couldn’t control his arms and hands or hear his friend.

His friend left, sad Jax wouldn’t listen.Jax felt his arms relax and come into his control again.

Another friend came up to Jax, and this time, Jax decided not to talk about himself.

“what’s the problem?” Jax asked.

“My car broke down again, and it’s going to cost me a lot of money to get it fixed,” his friend said.

“You need to take care of your car better so it won’t keep breaking down,” Jax said.

“I do take care of it,” his friend said defensively.

“but what about the way you drive? You’re hard on your car. No wonder it breaks down.” Just then his mouth became O-shaped and shrank until it disappeared.

His friend left, discouraged about his car and angry at Jax.

Jax’s mouth returned. Another friend came and started talking about her prob-lem. Jax decided to listen and not preach.

“I’m ugly,” she said.

Jax said nothing.

“Everyone laughs at my hair and my clothes,” she continued. “Nobody will ask me out.”

Jax nodded and listened. He didn’t talk about himself or preach. but his left eye grew four times its size. Then they went cross-eyed and his tongue hung out.His friend could see Jax wasn’t inter-ested, and she left upset.

His eyes returned to normal, and another friend appeared.

“I hate my job,” he said.

Jax wanted to let his friend know he was listening and was sincerely interested, so he repeated back his friend’s frustration. “That’s hard working at a job you don’t like. why don’t you like it?”

“It’s boring, and I won’t ever make a good income,” his friend said.

“That would be hard working forever in a boring job that doesn’t pay enough,” Jax said. Then he started working on the solution. “what are you going to do to resolve it?” he asked.

“I’m going to quit,” his friend said.

Jax thought that was a bad idea, but just asked questions. “what will happen if you quit?”

“I don’t know,” his friend said. “Then I’ll really be in bad shape.”

“what else could you do that will make you happier?” Jax asked.

“Maybe I should go back to school and get a degree, so I can get a job as an engi-neer,” his friend said.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Jax said. “You have a lot of determination. I think you’ll be a great engineer.”

Soon after, Jax became known as a great listener.

Buscrat’s Fables are simple stories that teach a moral. Buscrat welcomes you to visit buscratsfables.com for more fables, and welcomes your comments, sugges-tions and requests.

Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com May 1-June 13, 2013 43column: wanderer at reSt

By JaMie BaLke Big Sky Weekly COlUmniSt

I enjoy attending barbeques, but it wasn’t until last summer that I transformed from a semi-reluctant attendee to an aspiring grill master. I’m a vegetarian.

barbeques, for me, typically mean the host makes a big fuss out of a sit-uation that could be remedied with a frozen veggie burger. They often hand me a grilled portabella that has been painstakingly seasoned. while I appreciate this thoughtful and generous gesture, I also always feel like a bit of a bother.

In response, when I host a meal I try to provide a meat option. Some-where along the line last summer, this turned into barbeque fever.

I can’t explain it, but I love grilling hamburgers. I’m not talking about the frozen ones.

Aside from consumption, I get involved in the whole process: puttering around the ground beef section at the grocery store searching for the perfect fat ratio, seasoning, fashioning the patties, preparing a good bed of charcoal in my tiny grill, and shuffling the burgers around inconsistent heat pockets.

I’ve been told the results of these efforts are tasty. I enjoy the experience, and under my brother’s guid-

ance, I hope one day I’ll know by smell when the burgers are done.

for me and the other vegetarians, I normally stick to premade veggie burgers, as the one time I attempted tofu was an epic failure.

from time to time, my brother lets me use his grill, which is 100 times more awesome than mine. Not

only is it gigantic in comparison, but it has a thermometer and a crank that you can use to raise or lower the coals.

There have been some bumps along the way. because my porch is uncovered and faces west, it becomes unreasonably hot around dinnertime. In an effort to improve conditions, I purchased an umbrella, which only occasionally takes flight in the wind. Chasing after it is all part of the Jamie balke barbeque experi-ence.

Another highlight last summer was learning to have hot charcoal before putting the food on the grill. before I knew the importance of this, I once put the meat on before

the coals were adequately hot. fearful of dumping the burgers while moving the grill, I decided to add lighter fluid without first moving the food. I begged guests not to eat the burgers accidentally seasoned with a dash of the lighter fluid, but they assured me they were fine. I guess that’s what friends are for. This summer, Jamie Balke hopes to successfully grill peaches and steaks.

flaming burgers: a vegetarian’s story

Balke's grill isn't just for Boca Burgers PHoTo By JaMie BaLke

contact outlaw Partners (406) 995-2055 or [email protected]

bus wraPs available - Target thousands of local consumers including Resort employees, permanent residents, MSU Students and 300,000 seasonal tourists

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Big Sky Weeklyexplorebigsky.com44 May 31-June 13, 2013

For the Big Sky Weekly, the Back 40 is a resource: a place where we can delve into subjects and ask experts to share their knowledge. Topics include regional history, profiles of local artists and musicians, snow and avalanche education, how-to pieces for traditional or outdoor skills, and science.

Noun: wild or rough terrain adjacent to a developed area Origin: shortened form of “back 40 acres”

BY SASHA HYLAND, BIG SKY WEEKLY CONTRIBUTOR

The following are suggested guidelines, as circumstances vary. The author is founder of the Montana Awareness Education and Equine Rehabilitation Association, a nonprofit based in Emigrant. A horse rehabilitation and education and rescue facility, MAERA also offers survival/primitive skills classes.

The mind is the most important aspect of survival. In an unfamiliar situation, think clearly, and see what you already have with you that can help. Evaluate your position without blame, worry or wants. It’s all about your mind and attitude.

THE MINDA healthy person can die from exposure to the elements (example: hypothermia, heat stroke) in as few as three hours, from lack of water in three days, and from lack of food in three weeks. This rule of threes can be used as a guideline to determine your survival priorities.

THE RULE OF THREES

SHELTER PRIORITY 1 WATER

FIRE FOOD

Knowing techniques for shelter building, making fire, collecting safe drinking water (including making bowls for boiling water) and food identification can help you survive. To learn more, sign up for a survival skills class at montanaawareness.com.

Shelter is mandatory. It keeps you warm, dry and shaded, and protects you from the elements. Even clothing is shelter for your body.

Your mind and organs need water to function. Since the body processes water quickly, finding a source within three days is imperative.

Fire generates light, warmth and heat for boiling water and cooking. It helps prevent and treat hypo-thermia by drying you and your clothes.

Note: Fire and water are seen as inseparable, because in certain situations you’ll need to boil water to rid it of parasites, microorganisms and diseases.

Although you can survive much longer without food, it is critical in a longer survival scenario. A vast array of edible plants, animals and insects are edible, but many are fatal. Poisonous plants often resemble edible ones, so if you can’t identify it, don’t eat it.

DEBRIS HUT

PRIORITY 2

PRIORITY 3 PRIORITY 4

SOLAR WATER STILL

SMALL ROCKPLASTIC SHEET

PLASTIC SHEET

CONTAINER

VEGETATION

TIPI STYLE FIRE BUILD DEADFALL TRAP

1

2

3

iNFograPHiC By keLSey DziNTarS

130531_weekly_WEB_02

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