New Year's Eve Bash - Explore Big Sky

explorebigsky.com Big Sky Weekly 

Big Sky’s Locally Owned & Published Newspaper explorebigsky.com 

Big Sky 

December 16, 2011 

Volume 2 // Issue #22 

Happy 

Holidays 

state budget surplus 

eStimated at $426.7 miLLion 

Photo: Lucy Stratford talks to Santa at Big Sky's Christmas Stroll 

pierre family 

fundraiser: 

december 26 

big sky Hockey 

media@theoutlawpartners.com


Volume 2, Issue 22 

PUBLISHER 

Eric Ladd 

COO & SENIOR EDITOR 

Megan Paulson 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Mike Martins 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Emily Stifler 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

Kelsey Dzintars 

EDITOR 

Abbie Digel 

PuBLiSher of the 

Big Sky WeekLy 

2011 Big Sky 

ChamBer of CommerCe 

business of tHe year 

ASSISTANT EDITOR 

Taylor Anderson 

SALES DIRECTOR 

Frank Jordan 

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR 

Danielle Chamberlain 

VIDEOGRAPHER 

Brian Niles 

VIDEOGRAPHER/DESIGNER 

Chris Davis 

ACCOUNT RELATIONS COORDINATOR 

Kacey Brown 

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR 

Katie Morrison 

coNTrIbuTors 

Josh Allen, Greg Allred, Erin Bills, Evelyn Boswell, Anne 

Cantrell, Crystal Images, Jamie Daugaard, Brent Day, 

William Farhat, Denver Fowler, Julia Gustafson, Allyson 

Hagen, Marcie Hahn-Knoff, Brian Hurlbut, Jamie Kujawa, 

Ellen-Therese Lamm, Joe Miller, William Mendoza, Brandon 

Niles, Eric Ross, Greer Schott and Diane Tipton 

eDITorIal PolIcy 

Outlaw 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 ParameTers 

This is a platform for readers to express views and share ways 

they would like to effect change. The Weekly will run letters, 

positive or negative, of 250 words or less that are respectful, 

ethical, state accurate facts and figures, and are proofread for 

grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters. 

Please include: first and last name, address, phone number and 

title. Send letters to emily@theoutlawpartners.com. 

aDVerTIsING DeaDlINe For 

December 30 Issue: 

December 23 

correcTIoNs 

The Big Sky Weekly runs corrections to errors we’ve 

printed. Please report them to 

emily@theoutlawpartners.com 

© 2011 The Big Sky Weekly 

Unauthorized reproduction prohibited 

2 december 16, 2011 explorebigsky.com 

table of contents 

Community...4 

LoCaL neWS...6 

regionaL...9 

montana...12 

CoLLage...17 

heaLth...19 

BuSineSS...21 

CLaSSifiedS...24 

arChiteCture...27 

reaL eState...29 

gaLLery...33 

SPortS...37 

SCienCe...41 

gear revieW...44 

outdoorS...46 

BaCk 40...48 

entertainment...49 

Beer...51 

Word from the reSortS...52 

eventS...54 

fun...56 

ouTlaW ParTNers & 

The bIG sKy WeeKly 

P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 

explorebigsky.com 

(406) 995-2055 

media@theoutlawpartners.com 

Johnny “rad” marshall shot this awesome 

photo for the dec. 2 Weekly cover. We 

forgot to credit him and wanted to give a 

shout out. thanks, Johnny! 


Big Sky Weekly exclusive distribution 

and placement 

explorebigsky 

explorebigsky 

Happy Holidays! 

On behalf of the entire Outlaw Partners team, I’d like to wish you a happy holiday season. Here at Outlaw we have 

much to be thankful for and appreciate all of your support as we’ve grown. Each Outlaw employee has chosen a charity 

to which we’ll donate money. In addition, we’ll market these worthy causes through our media. Below is a list of all the 

organizations we’re supporting this year. Thank you, and let it snow! -Eric Ladd 

Eric Ladd: Owner 

Charity Water charitywater.org 

Mike Martins: Creative Director 

M.A.E.R.A. montanaawareness.com 

Chris Davis: Videographer 

Partners in Health pih.org 

Emily Stifler: Managing Editor 

HAVEN havenmt.org 

Taylor Anderson: Assistant Editor 

Cloudbase Foundation thecloudbasefoundation.org 

Kacey Brown: Account Relations Coordinator 

Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter 

heartofthevalleyshelter.org 

Danielle Chamberlin: Distribution Director 

Big Sky Search and Rescue bssar.org 

featured distribution point of the 

week: kagy Corner 

Don’t be afraid of the butler, he’s not real. But just like everyone else who works at 

Kagy Korner convenience store, he’s friendly. 

Located on the corner of Kagy and Tracy in southeast Bozeman, Kagy Korner has 

long been a spot for morning coffee drinkers to sit and talk. The store serves the 

growing needs of the southeast community, where recent development, including 

the new Town and Country, are bringing more activity to this side of the town. 

One of the coolest things about Kagy Korner is their milkshake machine, where 

you can choose from flavors and mix your own shake. Check it out the next time 

you pass by and don't forget to pick up the current edition of the Big Sky Weekly 

newspaper. - Danielle Chamberlain 

• 6,000 - 8,000 editions distributed across Montana 

• Online at explorebigsky.com 

• 3,000 + rental properties 

• 2,500 + Big Sky taxi rides 

• Hotels and resorts throughout Southwest Montana 

• Subscriptions distributed to 32 states 

Hi 

Megan Paulson: COO 

Love Inc. loveincgc.org 

Daniel Bullock: Staff Photographer, Videographer 

Sulfur Springs Animal Shelter 

petfinder.com/shelters/oK330.html 

Kelsey Dzintars: Senior Graphic Designer 

Gallatin Valley Food Bank 

gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org 

Katie Morrison: Operations Director 

Big Sky Community Corporation 

bsccmt.org 

Abbie Digel: Editor 

Planned Parenthood of Montana 

plannedparenthood.org/montana 

Brian Niles: Director of Video Production 

Ten Friends Project tenfriends.org 

bc 

ak 

Anaconda 

Hamilton 

Bozeman Big Timber 

Three Forks 

Livingston 

Wisdom 

Dillon 


Ennis 

Virginia City Gardiner 

West Yellowstone

Signature 

the 

Group 

2 0 1 1 

SIGNATURE 

Alpine Meadows Chalet 

#76, Seller a 17 Renegade 

Rd at Cowboy Heaven, Buyer 

a 17 Renegade Rd at Cowboy 

Heaven, Seller a Westfork Lot 6, 

Seller a 1792 Little Coyote, Buyer a 

Yellowstone Club Andesite Ridge Lot 46, 

Buyer a Saddle Ridge Townhome U-1, Seller a 

Powder Ridge Cabin 131, Seller a 10 Hackamore 

Diamond Hitch, Seller a Powder Ridge Cabin 130, Seller 

a Cascade Home Site 126A, Buyer a 820 Elk Meadow Trail 

at The Club at Spanish Peaks, Seller a 98 Limber Pine, Seller 

a Yellowstone Club 160 Acre Compound, Seller a Diamond 

Hitch Lot 20, Buyer a Pines Condominium F-2, Buyer a Moonlight 

Mountain Home 47, Seller a Moonlight Mountain Home, 47 Buyer a 


Saddle Ridge Townhome C-2, Seller a Saddle Ridge Townhome C-2, Buyer a 

Cascade Highlands Home Site 168A, Buyer a Beavercreek West Lot 22B, Buyer 

a 500 Beaver Creek Road, Seller a Yellowstone Club Andesite Ridge 123, Buyer a 

Cowboy Heaven Luxury Suite 2C, Buyer a Cowboy Heaven Luxury Suite 2C, Seller a 

Saddle Ridge Townhome D-2, Seller a Moonlight Mountain Home 60, Buyer a Buck Ridge 

Ranch Lot 12, Buyer a Buck Ridge Ranch Lot 12, Seller a Cowboy Heaven Cabin 11, Seller a 

170 Gray Owl, Buyer a 126 Diamond Hitch, Moonlight Basin, Buyer a 126 Diamond Hitch, Moonlight 

Big Sky’s Top Producing Real Estate Team 

Basin, Seller a 6A 

Firelight Condominium, 

Seller a 49 

Candlelight, Buyer a 

Saddle Ridge B-2, Buyer 

happy holidays and thank you to clients past and present 

Branif Scott 

Broker 

406.579.9599 

branif@purewestproperties.com 

Ania Bulis 

Broker 

406.580.6852 

aniabulis@hotmail.com 

GROUP SALES 

Jason Parks 

Broker 

406.580.4758 

jason@purewestproperties.com 

To become a part of our 2012 Tree, 

Call or visit us at www.realestateofbigsky.com 

Bring family & friends and join 

us on December 29th at the 

Moonlight Lodge Bar from 

6-8 p.m for some holiday cheer!

Community 

Beehive Basin in Big Sky is one of 

Southwest Montana’s finest trailheads, 

both winter and summer. 

Starting at 7,800 feet, it allows access 

to terrain spanning the spectrum 

from mellow hiking to serious ski 

mountaineering. 

But as the private land surrounding 

the trailhead has been developed 

in the last decade, there have been 

increasing user conflicts in the area. 

This is private land, and backcountry 

users have been given tickets for 

trespassing here. 

The first half-mile of the trail (F.S. 

trail #40) crosses through private land 

on its way to National Forest and wil- 

4 december 16, 2011 

derness land. Wooden posts with trail 

blazes mark the 20-foot wide public 

easement through the meadows, and 

a trail corridor is cut through the 

trees. 

The various other trails that leave 

from the trailhead are all on private 

land. This includes a popular skin 

track that winds up a wooded ridge 

on the north side of the basin, as well 

as the jumps that are often built in 

this area. 

“We want [people] to follow the 

trails(s) to the public land and then 

have a ‘ball’,” said Corey Bronstein, a 

Beehive Basin Homeowners Association 

board member. He also wants 

to remind backcountry users about 

avalanche danger in the basin: “It is 

real and quite dangerous.” 


Although the BBHOA doesn’t own 

the road, it plows a mile prior to 

its private gates. The cost to plow 

from October to June is about 

$25,000-$30,000, Bronstein said. 

The association covers all of it, and 

since the Big Sky Owners Association 

doesn’t participate, there is no 

financial burden for the local community, 

he said. 

The trailhead this year has reduced 

parking capacity due to a culvert 

replacement project paid for by 

homeowners and the Forest Service. 

The project wasn’t finished due 

to October snowfall, according to 

Jonathan Kempff, the lead engineer 

for the Gallatin National Forest. 

Because there will only be room for 

a few cars to park there this winter, 


Big Sky Weekly 

respect at beehive basin trailhead will allow continued access 

Construction will limit parking this winter 

By emiLy StifLer 

big sky weekly managing editor 

b I G s K y a r e a 

Christmas Services 

Dec. 24 chrIsTmas eVe serVIces 

5 p.m. Big Sky Christian Fellowship at the Big Sky Chapel 

8 p.m. Candlelight Service of Carols and Lessons All Saints in Big Sky 

(A shared ministry of the Episcopal and Lutheran (ELCA) Churches) 

at the Big Sky Chapel 

5 p.m. St. Joseph's Catholic Mass at the Big Sky Resort Yellowstone 

Conference Center 

5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service at Moonlight Lodge 

Dec. 25 chrIsTmas Day serVIces 

8 a.m. St. Joseph's Catholic Mass at the Big Sky Chapel 

9:30 a.m. All Saints in Big Sky at the Big Sky Chapel 

11 a.m. Big Sky Christian Fellowship 

bigskychapel.com (406) 995-3336 

big sky community library news 

Holiday Hours: 

the library will be open during Christmas break. it will be closed 

Sunday, dec. 25 and monday, dec. 26 and will resume regular 

hours on tuesday, dec. 27 from 4 - 8 p.m.. 

library Holiday open House: 

Join the friends of the Library on Sunday, dec. 18 at 2 p.m. for their 

annual holiday open house. a special guest will be appearing! this 

event is free and open to the public. 

Kempff suggested backcountry 

users ski from the lower trailhead 

parking in the highway turnout, 

which adds several miles for skiers 

looking to tour out of the basin. 

Road paving, rebuilding the parking 

lot, seeding, signing and other 

cleanup will likely resume in June, 

Kempff said, and ultimately the lot 

will be expanded and have room for 

eight or nine vehicles. 

Bronstein requested that users not 

park on the steep hill just before 

the lot, which makes it difficult for 

emergency vehicles to pass through. 

Other Beehive trailhead parking 

ethics: don’t block others in, and 

don’t park in front of the gate. 

Make-a-Wish foundation 

needs air miles 

The Make-A-Wish Foundation needs busy travelers to donate air miles this 

holiday season. Serving all 56 counties in Montana, the nonprofit grants wishes 

to children with life-threatening medical conditions. 

Travel is the biggest expense for wishes granted by the foundation. Miles from 

Delta, U.S. Airways, Continental and United are eligible; once donated, the 

miles never expire. montana.wish.org or (877) 574-9474 

northWestern energy looking for 

2012 charitable partner 

NorthWestern Energy’s Charitable 

Giving Program is seeking proposals 

from nonprofits to partner with the 

utility company’s employee volunteer 

effort for the upcoming year. 

Partner organizations receive a 

$25,000 donation; associated events 

typically raise an additional $25- 

30,000. Previous partners include the 

March of Dimes’ Walk for Babies, the 

corrections 

American Cancer Society’s Relay for 

Life, and Special Olympics. 

Nonprofit organizations with affiliates 

in Montana, South Dakota 

and Nebraska can apply. Organizations 

must provide opportunities 

and support for employee volunteer 

engagement. Proposals due Dec. 28. 

northwesternenergy.com (keyword: 

charitable giving program) 

In the Nov. 18 Weekly, Sharlyn Izurieta wrote that the TTF hosted Chirgilchin, 

a four-member group of throat singers from Mongolia in Bozeman. The concert 

was actually hosted by the Bozeman Folklore Society and the Ellen Theater. 

In the Dec. 2 Weekly special gift guide, 

we reported that Brewies 100 percent 

Organic Dog Treats, made in Bozeman, 

are "made from left over beer hops." This is 

untrue—hops are not in Brewies products 

at any level, and are poisonous to dogs. 

Brewies products are made from malted beer barley, and are available in Montana, 

Vermont and Illinois. The homemade treats are made with care, and take 

6-7 hours per batch, from crushing and mashing the malt barley, to pulling them 

from the oven. 

The best part about Brewies? What other treat allows you to share in the fun of 

having a cold one with your best friend?

Community 

letter: BSSef fundraiser a success 

The Big Sky Ski Education Foundation’s fundraiser, "Raising Cash with Cold 

Hard Cash," hosted by Buck's T-4 on Dec. 10 was a resounding success. The event 

was successful in raising funds, and more importantly, it was a terrific way for the 

team to connect with the Big Sky community and kick-off the ski season. 

The success of this event required the hard work of numerous volunteers, plus 

the generous contributions of auction items from many individuals and businesses 

throughout the community. Please help me extend special thanks to all 

those helped. 

With this event being such a great success, the BSSEF has targeted Dec. 8, 2012, 

for next year’s season kick off and hope that you will join us then. 

See you on the slopes! 

Kindly, 

Peter Bedell, Event Director 

BSSEF Board Member 

don’t miss the gallatin Valley 

coat and boot drive 

The first annual Gallatin Valley coat and boot drive is accepting gently used 

winter coats and boots through the end of the year. Drop off points are in 

Bozeman at Bob Wards (N. 19th) and First Montana Bank (N. 19th Ave. and 

Oak St.). Gallatin Laundry will clean the coats give them to HRDC/Head 

Start for distribution to families in need. Mountain 107.7 FM helped organize 

the effort. 

big sky fire department 

happenings 

By WiLLiam farhat 

big sky Fire ChieF 

I’m new to Big Sky, and am enjoying getting to know my co-workers at the 

Big Sky Fire Department and learning about the community. As part of this 

process, I’d like the community to know more about the BSFD, and thought I 

should share some of my own background. 

I first started as a volunteer in southwestern Michigan in 1989, and continued 

as a firefighter, captain and chief officer until 2008. I worked as 

a paramedic for municipal ambulance services then spent 13 years in law 

enforcement in the Vail, Colo. area, and then back in Michigan. These law 

enforcement positions also included fire investigation and hazardous materials 

team duties, which allowed me to blend my full time work and volunteer 

responsibilities throughout my career. 

In 2006, I joined the University of Notre Dame Fire Department and became 

chief two years later. NDFD was an interesting mix of fire service and 

emergency medical responsibilities, building inspection, and fire detection 

and suppression needs, along with special event coverage for up to 110,000 

people during home football games. While appreciating the challenges of 

this position, I realized I wanted to return to a more rural setting and be more 

involved with the operations of a department rather than be an administrator 

within a large organization. 

In Big Sky, I’m able to fulfill that desire and live in a great setting to raise a 

family. My wife Beth and I have our four daughters enrolled in Ophir School. 

I’m proud to be part of BSFD, a very professional organization with a history 

of exemplary service. 

In future articles, I hope to share who we are, what we do, and provide information 

regarding fire safety, current events and related items. In the meantime, 

additional information can be found on our website bigskyfire.org and 

our Facebook page. 

Chief Farhat became fire chief of Big Sky in September 2011. He can be 

reached at 995-2100 or wfarhat@bigskyfire.org. 

explorebigsky.com Big Sky Weekly 

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december 16, 2011 5

LoCaL neWS 

The Big Sky Community Corporation received a 

little boost Tuesday toward creating the second 

annual Big Sky PBR event. 

To the tune of $12,201.35, the BSCC was 

granted—among seven other recipients—was 

granted money from the Montana Department 

of Commerce Special Events Grant Program. 

BSCC was the eighth and final group to receive 

part or all of the requested money. 20 applicants 

didn’t receive any grant funds. 

Eric Ladd, who helped coordinate the event 

last summer, said he was glad to see statewide 

recognition after the first PBR. 

“It’s a wonderful community event for Big 

Sky,” he said. “It’s nice to see the state recognize 

it and help make it a bigger event next 

year.” 

The West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce, 

two groups from Kalispell and Helena, and 

groups from Great Falls and Hobson each received 

grants to execute their tourism-boosting events. 

The Office of Tourism website says the purpose 

of the program “is to diversify and enrich Montana’s 

tourism product by developing new and 

enhancing existing community-based tourism 



festivals and events. The goal of SEGP is to create 

and sustain economic development through the 

advertising and promotion of “hallmark events.” 

In total, $100,000 was awarded to the eight 

groups, up $20,000 from the previous year. 

The commerce department received more than 

$400,000 in requests. 


big sky pbr receives $12k for repeat event 

By tayLor anderSon 

big sky weekly assistant editor 

More than $500k raised at 

spanish peaks vehicle auction 

trustee begins liquidation process 

with 54-vehicle sale 

By tayLor anderSon 

big sky weekly assistant editor 

More than 250 people filed into the lodge at the now-defunct Spanish 

Peaks resort to bid on the remaining vehicles once used at the club. 

The 54 vehicles included pickups, SUVs, ATVs, snowmobiles and trailers, 

and drew crowds from as far as New York to bid on cars at discounted 

prices. 

In total, the vehicles, including a few that didn’t start, went for more than 

$550,000 after a 15 percent buyer premium was added to purchases. 

The sale represents more than cheap Chevys. The sale means those 

representing the now closed resort have begun liquidating the estimated 

$10-$50 million in assets to pay off a list of debtors valued as much as 

10 times that much. 

Several Spanish Peaks members bid on items during the sale. One was 

quoted as saying, “It was sad to see them sold, but hopefully we can find 

a new owner who can return the luster to what was once a great club.” 

Also present in the audience Dec. 13 was the trustee, in from New York 

City, to oversee the sale. He said the representatives are in the process of 

finding a brokerage to market and hopefully sell the property. 

Meanwhile, it’s unclear whether anything else would be sold to pay 

creditors. The trustee was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying 

Spanish Peaks Holdings, which owned the club, had just $27,000 in 

cash, with as much as $500 million in debt (although some estimates are 

as low as $50 million). 

By aBBie digeL 

big sky weekly editor 

The Big Sky Chamber hosted its semiannual 

Town Hall meeting on Dec. 7, 

in the Big Sky Chapel. Started last year, 

the Town Hall meetings allow local 

organizations to present on a variety of 

projects, including community marketing, 

organizational improvements and 

working initiatives. 

About 50 people attended the Town 

Hall meeting. “It was a good turnout, 

but we always hope for more,” said 

membership director Robin Brower- 

McBride. 

This was Marne Hayes’s last Town Hall 

meeting as the chamber's executive 

director. Her final day at the Big Sky 

Chamber of Commerce is Dec. 20. The 

top candidates for her position were 

interviewed on Dec. 13 at the Board of 

Directors’ meeting. There will be an 

opportunity for full public interaction 

with the top and final candidates during 

their final interviews. 

The board hopes to have a new director 

by the end of this month and starting 

within the first few weeks of January. 


Money must be spent on media marketing at least 100 

miles outside of the recipient's town. Last year, the Big 

Sky PBR received $12,000 total in government funding 

from the Big Sky Resort Tax Board. 

Grant recipients were decided based on an 800-point 

scale. The Big Sky PBR received 671 points, 27 more 

than the next group—the cutoff for grant recipients. 

billings marketing group to revamp 

big sky's brand 

Cowboy hall of fame and Biggest Skiing in america 

campaign also discussed at Big Sky Chamber’s town 

hall meeting 

The chamber is looking for part time 

help to assist Brower-McBride with 

administrative responsibilities between 

the few weeks after Hayes leaves and a 

new director is hired. 

The chamber recently chose the 

Billings-based A.D. Creative Group to 

assist in development and implementation 

of a strategic planning, marketing 

and branding initiative to identify and 

promote Big Sky as a travel destination. 

A.D. Creative Group has hosted two 

private meetings in Big Sky, and plans 

to conduct more through December and 

early January that will be open to the 

public. Contact the chamber of commerce 

for more details at (406) 995- 

3000 

Hayes also discussed improvements to 

the Biggest Skiing in America campaign. 

Ryan Hamilton and Eric Ladd, 

both of the Cowboy Hall of Fame and 

Montana Western Heritage center committee, 

spoke of the success of their 

final round interview with the CHF 

and MWHC board. The home of the 

facility will be announced by the end of 

January.

By Joe miLLer 

big sky XC 

Planning for the fourth Big Sky XC 

motorcycle race is quietly building on 

last year’s successes. 

The off road motorcycle race hosted 

by Big Sky Resort set its 2012 dates 

for Aug. 25-26, and secured a new title 

sponsor, Kenda Tires. This allows a 

larger pro purse and 

expanded regional 

and national marketing 

efforts. 

The event has grown 

since the first race in 

2009. Last August 

20 states and two 

Canadian provinces 

were represented at 

the 2011 event, and 

racers traveled from 

Florida and New 

Jersey. 

Kenda’s involvement, 

and $10,000 pro 

purse, will help build 

it into a major economic 

impact during 

summer in Big Sky. 

The race weekend has 

two major components. 

The amateur 

race classes represent 

95 percent of the 

participants, and Big 

Sky XC is becoming a 

marquee event for as- 

LoCaL neWS 

nominate an outstanding volunteer 

By JuLia guStafSon 

governor’s oFFiCe oF 

Community serviCe 

The Governor’s Office of Community 

Service, in partnership with 

First Lady Nancy Schweitzer and the 

Montana Commission on Community 

Service, is accepting nominations 

for outstanding public volunteers. 

Nominations are due Dec. 21. 

Categories include: 

servemontana awards are for 

service and volunteer work in the 

areas of education, healthy futures, 

environmental stewardship, veterans 

and military families and economic 

opportunity. 

new sponsor for big sky Xc in 2012 

350 fans came to event last august 

piring racers looking to build a resume 

and attract sponsors. 

The second part of the weekend is 

the professional race class. The purse 

increase (up from $5,000) will draw 

a larger pool of top racers. In turn, 

these high-level racers draw more 

spectators. 

bigskyxc.com. 

Photo By CryStaL imageS 

readymontana awards are for 

service specifically related to disaster 

services, emergency preparedness and 

emergency response. 

First lady's math and science 

awards are for outstanding individuals, 

organizations and businesses that 

promote math and science education 

in Montana. 

All Montanans, including National 

Service members, are eligible for 

nomination. The Lt. Governor and 

First Lady will present these awards 

at the ServeMontana Symposium 

luncheon. The 2012 ServeMontana 

Symposium will be held Feb. 23 and 

24 at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel 

in Helena. Registration will open in 

January. 


Integrity. 

Vision. 

Craft. 

406-995-2174 


To view a video tour of this property visit: 

continentalconstruction.com/montana 

explorebigsky.com december 16, 2011 7

photo courtesy of travis andersen // travisandersenphotography.com 


J A M I E P I E R R E F A M I L Y 

F U N D R A I S E R 

DECEMBER 

26 

7:00 PM 

Please contact Doug 

Timm or Outlaw 

Partners to donate 

items for auction. 

581-0142 

OR 

cash donations 

can be made 

at Wells Fargo: 

Jamie Pierre 

Memorial Fund 


AT BUCK’S T-4 LODGE, BIG SKY, MONTANA 

MIN. $10 DONATION 

SILENT AUCTION 

& FOOD 

FROM 

LOCAL 

RESTAURANTS 

100% 

of the proceeds benefit 

the PIERRE FAMILY 

The food will include 

a “DINE AROUND” 

format with food from 

numerous restaurants in 

the Big Sky area 

visit explorebigsky.com for more information 

Jamie Pierre 

1 973 - 2 0 1 1

egionaL 

big sky makes 1,000 places to 

see before you die 

In her recent sequel to the first edition 

of 1,000 Places to See Before You 

Die, Patricia Schultz included Big 

Sky, Mont. 

The travel author praises what she 

calls “mountain bliss without the 

crowds,” stating that the resorts’ average 

two skiers per acre is something 

not to be missed. 

“Much of the annual 400-plus inches 

of snowfall is the bone-dry talc 

reverently called ‘cold smoke,’” the 

passage reads. (She may have mixed 

up our rocks with the snow, but hey, 

she went big.) 

montana Fish, wildliFe and Parks 

Five volunteer positions are open on 

the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 3 

Citizens’ Advisory Committee. The 

committee helps FWP achieve its goals 

in Southwest Montana by sharing information, 

ideas, emerging trends, and 

initiatives from the public. Half-day 

meetings are held quarterly in Bozeman. 

FWP is interested in candidates representing 

various interests, including 

hunters, anglers, landowners, trappers, 

outdoor recreationists, conservationists 

and the general public. The functions 

of the advisory committee are: 

• Help promote Montana’s hunting, 

fishing, trapping and outdoor 

recreation traditions 

• Give citizens direct input into 

FWP decisions 

Photo By eriC roSS 

Schultz advises not missing Lone 

Mountain Ranch from January-February 

for cross-country skiing. 

Her list also mentions staying at 

the Big EZ Lodge and trying the 

restaurant’s “Rocky Mountain-style 

cuisine.” 

The book has no shortage of Montana 

throughout, including mentions of 

Darby, Glacier National Park and Big 

Hole Country. But the inclusion of 

Big Sky could have readers flocking to 

town and perhaps never leaving. T.a. 

region 3 fWp seeks applicants 

for citizens’ advisory committee 

• Provide a forum for communication 

with neighboring communities 

• Help FWP maintain and improve 

responsiveness to the 

public 

• Help identify emerging issues 

• Provide advice and perspective 

on resource and management 

issues 

• Assist with crafting local, sustainable 

solutions on regional 

and statewide issues 

To obtain an application, visit the 

FWP Region 3 office at 1400 S. 

19th Ave. in Bozeman, call (406) 

994-4042, or email anjones@mt.gov. 

Applications due Jan. 13. 

big sky weekly wire serviCes 

The interim winter strategy in effect 

for the Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn 

Wilderness Study Area will remain in 

effect following last week’s court ruling 

by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

Responding to the initial ruling by 

Judge Molloy, snowmobiles within 

the WSA are constricted to the Big 

Sky Snowmobile Trail and an open 

“play” area for cross-country travel near 

Golden Trout Lakes and areas west of 

Windy Pass. 

The court said the volume of motorized 

use depends on if a WSA provides 

“outstanding opportunities for solitude”, 

a factor found in the Wilderness 

Act’s definition of wilderness. 

The court endorsed Forest Service 

arguments that the Travel Management 

Plan doesn’t need to replicate the 1977 

conditions precisely, as long as the 

forest maintains the overall wilderness 

character of the WSA. 




Wilderness study area remains in 

effect following court ruling 

much of the central gallatin range 

off-limits to snowmobiles 

The court concluded “an area’s ability 

to provide solitude depends on a 

current user’s perception of other users 

around them—not just on the physical 

characteristics of the land,” and that the 

Forest Service’s analysis of the physical 

factors failed to grapple with this important 

aspect of wilderness character. 

The Wilderness Study Area was 

designated by the Montana Wilderness 

Study Act of 1977 and is managed to allow 

uses occurring in 1977 while maintaining 

the area’s wilderness character. 

The Forest Service will use the court’s 

decision moving forward with management 

of the WSA. 

Mary Erickson, Custer and Gallatin 

Forest Supervisor, acknowledged “the 

frustration felt by most people involved 

in this issue, including ourselves.” By 

leaving the interim strategy in place, 

the forest aims to give everyone time to 

work through the court’s ruling. 

The travel plan for national forest land 

outside the WSA remains in place. 

december 16, 2011 9

10 december 16, 2011 


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egionaL 

bozeman airport to open 

direct flight from New York 

Board votes to change name 

from gallatin field airport 

BOZEMAN, MT 



A coalition including Gallatin Field 

Airport, the ski resorts in Big Sky 

and other regional businesses recently 

received a bid from an airline 

for the proposed non-stop flight 

between New York and Bozeman. 

They wouldn’t say which airline 

submitted the bid. 

With $1.6 million on hand to 

fund the flight route for its first 

two years, the group is optimistic, 

says Scott Humphrey, the airport’s 

deputy director. 

Negotiations with the airline, 

which start mid-December, should 

take four to six weeks, Humphrey 

said. Days of service and the 

amount of revenue guaranteed to 

the airline are yet to be determined. 

The more flights per week, the 

more revenue the service will bring 

in. 

“It’s going to come down to frequency,” 

Humphrey said. “It’s balancing 

[how much funding] the collation 

can put forth to the airline, 

versus the airline’s cost to operate 

the service and the revenue they’re 

going to require for each flight.” 

“Here’s the goal: To sell the June 

2012 seats, we want this flight for 

sale, in the system, by February 

2012,” said Meg O’Leary, Big Sky’s 

Director of Sales and Marketing 

and a member of the coalition. 

If the coalition and the airline can 

come to terms on that timeframe, 

NEW YORK, NY 

Humphrey says, they could have 

the service by June 2012. 

Funding has come from a Department 

of Transportation grant and 

private contributions. Gallatin 

Field Airport already has flights to 

Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, 

Salt Lake City and Seattle. 

The Gallatin Airport Authority 

board also voted in December to 

change the facility name to Bozeman 

Yellowstone International 

Airport at Gallatin Field. 

This tongue twister will help align 

the airport with the constituent 

that travels here, Humphrey said. 

The new name will associate the 

facility with Bozeman, its largest 

population center, and with Yellowstone 

Park, the largest draw for 

travelers coming from out of state. 

“It’s really to compete with Jackson 

Hole, Cody, Billings and Salt Lake 

City,” he said. 

About 65 percent of travelers that 

fly into Gallatin Field come from 

out of state, and the airport is trying 

to position itself as the premier 

gateway to Yellowstone, Humphrey 

added, pointing out it’s situated 90 

minutes from two year-round park 

entrances. 

These changes follow on the heels 

of a two-year $40 million airport 

expansion completed this past July. 

The new terminal added about 

125,000 square feet to the existing 

building, making the airport the 

largest in Montana. 



moonlightbasin.com 


Come visit the new 

Jack Creek Grille and Bar 

L O C A T E D A T M O O N L I G H T L O D G E 

D I N I N G R O O M 

Lunch 11am-3pm, Dinner 5-10pm 

Dinner reservations recommended 

(406) 995-7777 

B A R 

Open 11am-close 

Beer, Wine, Specialty Drinks 

Appetizer & Bar Menu 

december 16, 2011 11

montana 

The state of Montana has $343.8 million 

in the bank. 

By July 2013, its ending fund balance, 

or surplus, should be $426.7 million, 

if current estimates from the Legislative 

Fiscal Committee are correct. 

Republicans outnumbered Democrats 

almost 2–1 in the 2011 state Legislature, 

and budget arguments were 

heated near the end of the session. 

The governor’s budget office estimated 

a surplus, while the Legislative 

Fiscal Committee projected a 

potential $400 million budget gap the 

legislature would have to address. 

Schweitzer and other Democrats 

wanted to spend some of that money 

on programs during the current biennium, 

the 24-month budget period between 

sessions. 

When Schweitzer set forth a $3.7 billion general 

fund budget, the legislature balked. Respond- 

12 december 16, 2011 


ing to the LFC’s fiscally conservative report, 

the legislature cut spending by 6 percent more 

than the previous biennium, as compared to 

the governor’s proposed 5 percent. This ended a 

plan to increase state employee pay, and one to 

construct new state buildings. 



Montana general fund surplus for 2013 

estimated at $426.7 million 



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graPh CourteSy of the LegiSLative fiSCaL diviSion 

the fy 2011 unaudited ending fund balance was $343.8 million (currently unaudited) 

the current estimated ending fund balance for fy 2013 is $426.7 million. 

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Dinner 5:30-10:00 

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These decisions were based on the climate of huge economic 

uncertainty, said Sen. Joe Baleat, R-Bozeman. 

“During my 12 year legislative tenure I've seen the LFD's 

projections turn out to be too high on several occasions... 

one time by more than $250 million,” Baleat wrote in a 

comment on a Great Falls Tribune opinion piece.

montana 

Where the money 

came from 

The general fund has over 30 sources 

of revenue, but six big contributors 

make up 80 percent of that: property 

taxes, personal income, corporate 

income, vehicle fees and taxes, insurance 

premium taxes, and oil and gas 

taxes. States with sales tax were more 

affected by the consumer-driven 

recession. 

The surplus was caused by larger 

than expected revenues, mostly 

from unprecedented prices on commodities 

and the resulting increase 

in corporate and personal income 

tax collections, as well as the higher 

price of oil, said Sen. Larry Jent, D- 

Bozeman. 

Schweitzer said his administration 

has saved the government more than 

$100 million, without cutting programs. 

He cited a variety of means: 

more efficient governmental operations; 

state employee pay freezes; 

savings; cuts to human service spending, 

corrections, universities and 

public schools; and 5 percent spending 

cuts across the board. 

“When you have good years, you 

keep a little grain in the bin, you don’t 

know what’s going to happen next 

year,” the governor said, using his 

classic metaphor of running government 

like a ranch, his previous job. 

Other money came from strong 

revenue growth in 2011, and from 

sales of mineral rights on state lands, 

according to a Dec. 7 article in the 

Missoulian. 

how the system works 

Because the Montana Legislature 

isn’t always in session, it functions 

differently than the federal government. 

Montana’s two-year budget period 

runs from July 1 of odd-numbered 

years to June 30 of odd-numbered 

years. By law, the state budget must 

be balanced by the end of the fiscal 

year, and deficit cannot be carried 

over. 

In November of even-numbered 

years, the governor submits a budget 

to the legislature, based on proposals 

from government departments. The 

legislature then has the authority to 

pass or alter it. In turn, the governor 

has the power of line item veto on 

the legislature’s budget—Schweitzer 

exercised that authority in a show of 

branding vetoes on the capitol steps 

in 2011. 

When the legislature goes into session 

every two years, it has a balance 

in the general fund to appropriate. 

While this system works remarkably 

well, Jent, now a gubernatorial 

candidate, says a few of its parts are 

clunky. 

First, the citizen legislature only 

meets for a 90-day session every 

other year, but it has to budget for 

two years, something Jent likens to 

using a crystal ball: 

“Some sources of revenue are relatively 

certain, like property tax,” he 

said. “Others depend on the economy, 

such as personal income taxes 

and corporate income taxes.” 

Second, Jent said, The Legislative 

Fiscal Committee and the governor’s 

budget office don’t communicate 

well enough, and even though they 

use the same stats, they often have 

“different worldviews of economic 

forecasting.” 

This causes chaos and turmoil at the 

end of the session, Jent says, allowing 

that some tension between economic 

experts forecasting revenue is healthy. 

“However, it would be nice if the 

smart people in [the LFC] would talk 

to the smart people in the governor’s 

office.” He suggested a revenue estimate 

adjusted with current economic 

factors much earlier in the session 

could create a more homogeneous 

projection. 

Leftover cash 

Since 2005, Montana has had a series 

of high ending fund balances like the 

current one. That money has acted as a 

rainy day fund for the state, which has 

been helpful during the recession. 

The LFC’s current 2013 projection of 

a $426.7 million projected surplus is 

based on several things: 2011 legislation 

and gubernatorial vetoes; final 

closing accounting the year; forecasted 

revenues; and forecasted spending. 

The $426.7 million is only an estimate, 

and things can turn around in a 

hurry, Baleat said. 

An appropriate projected ending 

fund balance is 5 percent of biennial 

expenditures, according to a rule of 

thumb set by the National Conference 

of State Legislatures. That’s in the 

range of about $175 million for 2013, 

according to Terry Johnson, the LFC’s 

principal fiscal analyst. 

If the current LFC estimate holds true, 

Montana will exceed that 5 percent 

and have $275 million extra in the 

general fund it can either sit on or 

spend. 

Johnson says the legislature usually 

tries to use surplus money for onetime 

initiatives like building projects. 

“If they use it for something that 

is going to continue to cost in the 

future, then they create a problem for 

future bienniums.” 


Price 

Was 


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Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed by 

Rivers to Peaks. Prices subject to change without notice. Independent 

investigation is recommended”. 


montana 

schweitzer launches Montana 

winter tourism campaign 

to include Warren miller, heather mcPhie and kevin Connolly 

big sky weekly wire serviCes 

Gov. Brian Schweitzer and the 

Montana Office of Tourism have 

launched a marketing campaign 

to entice travelers to Montana. 

The campaign features renowned 

skier and cinematographer Warren 

Miller, as well as other Montana 

skiers. 

“We are honored to have Warren 

Miller choose to endorse and 

promote Montana’s winter ski 

experience,” Schweitzer said in a 

statement. “It is also a powerful testament 

to the incomparable quality 

of skiing that Montana offers.” 

The campaign includes stories from 

of well-known Montanans who’ve 

been inspired and shaped by their 

experiences here. The goal is to 

help potential visitors see the full 

spectrum of experiences, and how 

those can transform and influence a 

person. 

These personalities include Olympic 

mogul skier Heather McPhie 

and X-Games medalist, author and 

photographer Kevin Connolly, as 

14 december 16, 2011 

well as other photographers, naturalists 

and historians. 

Skiing and wildlife watching are the 

leading motivators for Montana’s 

winter travelers. The campaign 

will target audiences by working 

to build awareness of and intent 

to travel to Montana in its ‘secret 

season’. 

Most of Montana’s 10.5 million 

annual visitors travel during the 

summer. Visitors spend $2.5 billion 

here annually, contribute $180 

million in tax revenue and support 

more than 28,000 jobs. Visitor 

expenditures provide more than 

$785 million for Montana workers, 

with 30 cents of every visitor dollar 

paying wage and salary income for 

Montana residents. 

The office estimates each Montana 

household saves $480 in taxes annually 

due to tax revenue generated 

through visitor spending. 

Montana winter stories: visitmt. 

com/montana-stories 

Warren Miller media: j.mp/rIIg4y 


The Montana Office of Public 

Instruction has decided not to seek 

a waiver from the Department of 

Education from requirements of No 

Child Left Behind. 

Montana’s Superintendent of Public 

Instruction Denise Juneau explained 

the decision: 

“After careful consideration of the 

impacts on Montana schools and the 

financial resources that would be 

necessary to meet the 'all or nothing' 

requirements of the waiver, it is 

clear the strings attached to this option 

do not make sense for our state." 



Montana won't seek waiver from department of education 

By aLLySon hagen 

oFFiCe oF PubliC instruCtion 

Juneau spent the past several months 

seeking input from Montanans regarding 

the waiver option, including 

representatives of several statewide 

education groups. 

Education leaders expressed concern 

that the waiver plan is a replacement 

program for current NCLB requirements, 

and would cost the state 

millions. Implementing the waiver requirements, 

which could be overruled 

by Congress, would be shortsighted, 

Juneau said. 

Juneau, an advocate for rural states, 

said Montana will move forward with 

its current reform efforts to improve 

graduation rates, adopt higher standards 

in English and Math, and helping 

the lower performing Montana schools. 

$50,000 available for community-based history projects 

Montana History Foundation announces first ever Preserve Montana Grants 

The nonprofit Montana History Foundation is offering $50,000 in grants this 

year to organizations and individuals who want to preserve historical assets of 

importance to Montana’s history. The Preserve Montana Fund aims to protect the 

historic legacy of communities across the state. 

Grants will be awarded for projects ranging from $500 – $5,000, and the money 

will go toward preserving historic buildings, oral histories and collection/archival 

preservation. Deadline is Jan. 11, 2012. Criteria and guidelines available at 

mthistory.org, or by contacting (406) 449-3770 or gena@mthistory.org.

montana 

report: Montana rural areas “exporting” workers 

By deB CourSon Smith 

big sky ConneCtion 

Rural Montana is missing something in 

the middle, according to a new analysis 

of U.S. Census numbers. The Center 

For Rural Affairs report finds a downward 

trend of residents in their 20s, 30s 

and 40s, while the numbers of young 

people and seniors are holding steady. 

Report author Jon Bailey, the center's 

research director, explains that working-age 

Montanans leave because they 

need good-paying jobs that tend to be 

scarce outside of cities and towns. 

"So, you're left with these 'bookend 

generations' that require, generally, 

a lot more human services than the 

middle, working-age population." 

The research demonstrates the need to 

focus on new and innovative ways to 

new Montana state librarian named 

Jennie Stapp, the current digital 

library director and chief information 

officer at the Montana State 

Library, was named the new montana 

state librarian after an extensive national 

search. Stapp replaces Darlene 

Staffeldt. 

Stapp has held various positions at 

the state library, worked in other 

libraries, and served in the Peace 

Corps. She holds a Master's of Library 

Science from the University of Arizona. 

With a budget of $9.7 million and 

46 employees, the Montana State 

FwP wire serviCes 

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is 

requesting comments on two proposed 

rule changes, one that would 

allow nonresident falconers to capture 

raptors in Montana, and another 

to align regulation of raptor propagation 

with new federal rules. 

Montana was one of only a few states 

that forbid nonresident falconers 

from capturing birds until the 

Montana Legislature eliminated the 

restriction in 2011. FWP has proposed 

a quota of three raptors and a 

$200 capture fee. 

Library meets information needs 

of Montana government agency 

management and staff and ensures 

citizens have access to government 

information. 

The Montana Library Association, a 

private nonprofit membership organization 

that lobbies on behalf of all 

Montana libraries and library patrons, 

will hold its 2012 annual conference 

in Big Sky, April 11-14. The Big Sky 

Community Library is assisting in 

planning efforts for the event. Hundreds 

of people from around the state 

attend, including Stapp. 

new raptor regulations proposed 

Nearly 97,000 businesses filed 

their annual reports online in 2011, 

a record number, according to the 

Secretary of State’s office. 

Improvements in that office’s online 

services have significantly reduced 

In revising regulations to comply 

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, FWP would increase the 

licensing period for raptor propagators. 

Having captive bred birds 

available for falconry reduces the take 

of wild raptors for the sport. Today, 

15 people have the state and federal 

licenses necessary to breed and raise 

raptors in Montana. 

Comments due by Dec. 30. Email to: 

bmoe@mt.gov or by mail to: Falconry, 

P.O. Box 200701, Helena, M.T, 

59620-0701. 

Record online filings for 2011 annual reports 

oFFiCe oF the seCretary oF state 

create rural economic opportunities, 

Bailey says. Renewable energy, broadband 

expansion and ecotourism are recommended 

in the report as investments 

that could help grow working-age 

populations, and in turn, better support 

the younger and older generations. 

"This affects what we do policy-wise 

and what type of services have to be 

provided in rural places, and how that 

gets funded." 

Rural areas depend on the taxes paid 

by working-age folks to fund education 

and health care, Bailey says, so 

it hurts the whole community when 

they leave. The trend isn't unique 

to Montana; the report shows the 

same story throughout the Great 

Plains. The report, "Age Distribution 

on the Great Plains," is online at files. 

cfra.org. 

office spending by $1.3 million in 

the first year, and made doing business 

with the state more convenient. 

Montana law requires foreign and 

domestic corporations and limited 

liability companies to file annual 

financial reports. Businesses that 

don’t file the report can’t legally 

operate in Montana. 




THE WEST MAY BE WILD, 

but it’s not uncivilized 

The restaurant at Rainbow Ranch is now open 

for the season and featuring a delicious new winter 

menu with -RR specialties and culinary delights. 

Open Daily: 

Happy Hour 4:30pm - 6pm • Dinner 5:30pm - 9:30pm 

Call 1.800.937.4132 for reservations 

A Sparkling Celebration 

Ring in the new year in signature -RR style! 

Enjoy a four-course dinner for two and a midnight 

toast and sparkler party on the deck. Start 2012 by 

waking up in our luxurious Anichini Italian Linens. 

Visit EscapeToRainbowRanch.com 

to see all our packages and specials! 

escapetorainbowranch.com • 1.800.937.4132 

Five miles south of Big Sky entrance on Hwy 191 


16 december 16, 2011 




seCtion 2: 

heaLth // BuSineSS // reaL eState 

annual 

Madrigal dinner 

at buck's t-4 

dec. 5, 2011 

PhotoS By aBBie digeL 







Open 7 days a week 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. 

18 december 16, 2011 




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 E 

H a n d - c u t m e a t s • Fr e s h b a ke d g o o d s • G o u r m e t i t e m s • B e e r & w i n e 

LOCAL 

Delivery available - have your home 

stocked upon your arrival! 406-995-4636 

FRESH 

Located in the Meadow Village Center next to Lone Peak Brewery 

New Year’s Eve 

BASH 

AT AT CHOPPERS 

CHOPPERS 

Tom Cook Band & The Boozehounds 

9pm | $10 cover 

Patron/Sims Snowboard Giveaway at Midnight! 

Signup at Choppers, must be present to win 

Dine with us on New Year’s Eve! 

PLUS 

Regular menu available for everyone in the bar 

Join us for a special NYE dining experience - Surf & Turf 

Three-course Surf and Turf dinner with 

complementary glass of Champage 

with dinner 

Two seatings - 6:00pm and 8:30pm 

Limited seating, Reservations required 

for surf & turf dinner - 995-3830

heaLth & WeLLneSS 

Holiday-related injuries 

By erin BiLLS, mPh 

big sky weekly Contributor 

Not only does December bring Santa 

and his eight reindeer, it also brings the 

potential for holiday-related injuries. 

Whether you’re stringing lights in the 

tradition of Clark W. Griswold, rolling 

the dice at buffet tables, or baking 

Christmas cookies, you may be popping 

the cork on a bottle of holiday health 

hazards. 

Every year, the Center for Disease Control 

and Prevention reports more than 

17,000 emergency visits for holidayrelated 

injuries. 

A significant 

percentage of 

these result 

from decorating. 

At your next 

holiday gathering, 

consider 

these simple 

tips to keep from fa-la-la-ing apart. It’s 

all fun and reindeer games until someone 

gets hurt. 

If you’re not santa claus, leave the 

rooftop work to the elves or professional 

home decorators in your area. 

Christmas lights are to blame for many 

slips, sprains, strains and shocks. Teetering 

on a ladder haphazardly perched 

atop a snowy, slippery surface has the 

obvious risk of falling. 

opt for leD lights and appropriately 

utilize electrical outlets by 

using a power strip and limiting the 

number of strings used per outlet. 

If overstuffing electrical outlets with 

old strings of lights is more your style, 

you may find yourself in a hair raising 

situation. The risk of electrical shock 

and fires caused by holiday lights 

drastically increases during the holiday 

season. 

Trees, real or artificial, should be 

placed away from heat sources, watered 

daily (if real), and kept away 

from small children and pets. O 

Tannenbaum, that seasonal symbol of 

joy and happiness, comes with its own 

unique health risk factors. If ingested, 

artificial tree parts may present a choking 

hazard, while real pine needles may 

trigger allergic reactions. 

Poinsettias and mistletoe: traditional 

and toxic. These holiday plants 

are naturally poisonous if ingested. 

Another bonus? Mistletoe, that opportunistic 

plant, gives many the courage 

to pucker up and spread communicable 

diseases this time of year. Spare your 

Christmas crush the seasonal sniffles 

and offer a cookie from the holiday buffet 

table instead. 

holiday baking, cooking, and feasting 

might be one of the biggest 

holiday health risks of all. Not so 

fast! Food borne illness is not the way 

to spread holiday cheer. Ensure that 

food is cooked thoroughly and kept 

at the proper temperature to decrease 

the risk of making others sick. Cuts 

and burns during the food preparation 

process could place you on a fast track 

in the front wheel drive sleigh to the 

emergency department. 

You may be starting to think ‘oh, what 

fun the holidays are not.’ Or perhaps 

this holiday health Grinch is a fun 

hater. Maybe it’s time we take a look at 

some reindeer games. 

When taking the family out for 

some holiday 

every year, the Center for 

disease Control and Prevention 

reports more than 17,000 

emergency visits for holidayrelated 

injuries. 

sledding its 

important to 

remember 

that sledding 

hills are 

named just 

like ski runs. 

Remember 

your favorite childhood sledding hill? 

Was it Devil's Drop, Suicide Slide, Back 

Breaker, or something similar? Unless 

you’re an experienced sledder on familiar 

terrain, think before you drop in to 

an appropriately named black diamond 

sledding run. Remember, adults don't 

bounce up off of the ground as well as 

10-year-olds. Your tailbone and shoulders 

may thank you. 

Football and skiing are responsible 

for many sports-related injuries 

during the holiday season. There is 

high risk for football injury when not 

playing with appropriate equipment, 

such as when tackling your friend in 

the living room to celebrate your college 

team’s bowl win, or when "touch" 

football degenerates into "tackle" 

football. 

If you’re on vacation or on the ski 

hill for the first time this year, 

start slow. Make a few runs on some 

easier runs before riding the tram 

and dropping in to the Big Couloir in 

early season conditions. Take a lesson 

if you need one, and make sure your 

equipment is in reasonable condition. 

Depending on your ability, it might be 

better to start out on Southern Comfort 

before skiing the Dictators with your 

mom who is on vacation. 

After reading this, you might think the 

holiday season is the riskiest time of 

year. One reason is the fact that people 

are getting out and doing things with 

their friends and families. After all, it 

wouldn’t be the holidays if someone 

didn’t say, “hold my beer and watch 

this.” 

Erin A. Bills, MPH lives in Big Sky and 

is dedicated to improving the health of 

Montana’s rural populations. Follow her 

blog at projectbagbalm.wordpress. 

com. 

Sometimes life doesn’t go as 

planned—even on vacation. 

That’s why Bozeman Deaconess 

Pharmacy at Big Sky is here for 

you. 

We offer a full range of pharmaceutical 

items including 

bandages and OTC 

medicines and 

creams for 

aches and 

pains. And, 



When the ride down isn’t as smooth as the ride up 

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED 

should you have 

forgotten your 

medications, we’re 

happy to assist you in getting 

what you need to fully enjoy life 

under the Big Sky. 

Whether you’re here for 

the week or a lifetime, we 

want to help you enjoy a 

smooth ride— 

on and off the 

mountain. 

• Pediatrics • Chronic C onditions 

• Women’s Health • Prenatal Care 

• Osteopathic Manipulation 

Maren Dunn D.O. 

Board Certified in Family Medicine 

18 Meadow Village Drive, Big Sky, MT 

(across from the post offi ce) Phone: 406-995-3111 


20 december 16, 2011 




BuSineSS 

open a Montana Medical savings account 

before dec. 31 for 2011 tax savings 

msu news serviCe 

Did you have medical expenses during 

2011 that weren’t covered by 

health insurance or a flexible spending 

account? If so, you can open a 

Montana Medical Care Savings Account 

by Dec. 31 to cover them. 

Up to $3,000 of these deposits are 

deductible from 2011 Montana 

adjusted gross income, thus reducing 

state taxes. A Montanan with taxable 

income over $16,000 could save 

about $207 in state income taxes by 

depositing the maximum $3,000 in a 

Montana MSA, according to Marsha 

Goetting, MSU Extension family 

economics specialist. 

internal revenue serviCe 

The IRS is looking to return $153.3 

million in undelivered tax refund 

checks. This year, 99,123 refunds 

averaging $1,547 were not delivered 

because of mailing address errors. 

The "Where's My Refund?" tool on 

IRS.gov or at (800) 829-1954 provides 

the status of refunds and, in 

tax audit 

*The tax board is required to perform 

an audit each year and have the 

findings available to publish. 

An audit of the affairs of Big Sky 

Resort Area District has been 

conducted by Holmes and Turner (a 

professional corporation). The audit 

covered the fiscal year ending June 

30, 2011. 

Eligible expenses include medical 

insurance premiums, long-term care 

insurance, dental and orthodontic 

care, eyeglasses or contacts, or prescription 

drugs. Medical-related bills 

already covered by a supplemental, 

primary or self-insured plan are not 

covered. Reimbursements for paid 

eligible medical expenses are available 

until Jan. 15. 

An MSU Extension MontGuide can 

help decipher if you’d benefit from an 

MSA: msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialmanagement/mT199817hr.pdf 

Where’s my refund? 

irS has $153 million in undelivered checks; 

recommends e-file, direct deposit 

Fine Western Art & Bronzes 

some cases, instructions on how to 

resolve delivery problems. 

By filing returns electronically and 

receiving refunds through direct 

deposit, taxpayers can reduce errors 

on tax returns, speed up refunds and 

eliminate lost paper returns. Nearly 

eight out of 10 taxpayers e-filed last 

year. 

Section 2-7-521, MCA, requires the 

publication concerning the audit 

report include a statement that the 

audit report is on file in its entirety 

and open to the public inspection 

at the tax board office, and that the 

Big Sky Resort Area District will 

send a copy of the audit report to 

any interested person upon request. 

Gift your home the spirit of the American West 

this holiday season! 

Join us for a glass of wine daily from 4-6 p.m. to view our 

original artwork, bronzes, furniture, and jewelry. 

We are located next to Grizzly Outfitters & Rivers To Peaks 

Real Estate in the Big Sky Town Center 

Open Daily (406) 580-5891 

buy 



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Company 

real estate 

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Shawna Winter 

Shawna Winter 

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SELL 

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www.MTwinter.com Shawna@MTwinter.com 

Shawna Winter 

Winter & Co. Welcomes 

www.MTwinter.com Shawna@MTwinter.com 

Shawna@MTwinter.com 

Aimee Gerharter 

406-599-4448 aimeegerharter@msn.com 

Winter & Co. Welcomes 



406-599-4448 Aimee@MTwinter.com 

406-599-4448 aimeegerharter@msn.com 

and more ‘COMPANY’ to come! 


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• Quick Reference Section 

• Hard To Find Numbers Section 

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• Complete A-Z White Pages 

• Phone Number Reverse Index 

• Community Maps 

CORPORATE OFFICE 

5009 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite H 

Kennewick, WA 99336 

support@statewideyp.com 

Fax: (509) 734-5362 



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BuSineSS 

Business Profile: dee-o-gee 



Josh Allen always wanted to own his own business. 

He didn’t think it would be dog store, but he’s 

happy that’s how it turned out. 

“Pet people, dog owners, generally are happy,” he 

says. “I think pets enrich our lives.” 

Allen and his wife Holly, both Montana natives and 

Montana State alumni, started Dee-o-Gee in 2008. 

It wasn’t the best time to start a new business, Allen 

admits, but it’s grown anyway, and now has five 

other employees. 

The store, on Eighth and Main streets in Bozeman, 

sells mostly eco-friendly products manufactured in 

the U.S., and from “small mom and pop businesses,” 

Allen says. They also offer dog grooming, healthy 

dog food and homemade gourmet dog treats. 

The grooming, which accounts for 25 – 30 percent 

of business, draws customers from Bozeman, Big 

Sky, Ennis, Livingston, Gardiner and Billings. 

Allen credits community support—plus the number 

of dog owners in Bozeman—for Dee-o-Gee’s 

success. 

“We learned firsthand the value of local small business 

to a local or regional economy,” Allen says, 

and “how important it is to support people who are 

your neighbors, instead of spending dollars at a big 

chain.” 

The company’s new website has online shopping 

for everything in the store, and a full line delivery 

service that includes toys, treats and pet food. 

While the delivery service is only in and around 

Bozeman, regional one-day shipping is also available. 

NOW IS THE THE TIME OF 

YEAR TO BRING OUT YOUR 

HOME’S INNER BEAUTY. 




The Allens started Dee-o-Gee because “it was hard to find a good local place to get your dog 

groomed, to get good dog food you can trust, and to get a fun toy.” PhotoS CourteSy of JoSh aLLen 

• Painting, drywall, wood finishes applied on site or in our pre-finishing facility. 

• Pick up the phone, email us or check out our websites for more info. 

406-580-0331 | email: cboyd@montanapaintinc.com 

montanapaintinc.com // montanaprefinish.com 

Allen says having loyal customers has also enabled 

Dee-o-Gee to give back. The owners donate 

dog food to the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter 

in Bozeman, sponsor events at the shelter and 

the fairgrounds, and give a cut of their profits to 

their church. 

“I love that part of being a business owner,” he 

says, “being in the fabric of a community.” 

10+ 

YEARS OF LOCAL EXPERTISE 


CLaSSifiedS 

for rent 

reNTals 

snowmobiles, 

side by side/Trax, 

snowshoes, baby Gear 

bigboystoysrentals.com 

4065874747 

------------------------------------------------- 

Office Space - Executive Office 

suites available in amazing building 

in Meadow Village, Big Sky - $300 

to $500/mth depending on terms 

and office size. Each office has private 

door, shared conference rooms, 

shared kitchen space. Terms Negotiable. 

Call Eric 570-0639 

serVices 

Victoria Bentley is the Owner 

and Director of Bentley Bodies, a 

premiere mind-body-wellness 

boutique committed to healthy 

lifestyle choices. Locations are in 

Big Sky and Bozeman. 

bentleybodies.net 

24 december 16, 2011 


Help Wanted 

Excellent opportunity to join the 

team at First Security Bank as a 

F/T Teller at our Big Sky Location. 

Must provide excellent service to 

our customers! Requires cash 

handling experience. Full benefit 

package and competitive wages. 

Contact for a complete hiring package. 

ADA/EEO/ 

------------------------------------------------- 

Office Manager needed, wage 

DOE. Send resume to stan.feagler@ 

purewestproperties.com 

$ 10 

classifieds! 

Email classifieds and/or 

advertising requests to: 

media@theoutlawpartners.com 

406-995-2055 

Complete Line 

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MENTION YOU SAW THE AD IN THE WEEKLY AND RECEIVE 

$10 OFF YOUR NEXT PURCHASE OF $100 OR MORE 

Join us! 

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Saturday, December 17th 

9am - 6pm 

Holiday Sale Raffles Chili Feed 

Four Corners Saddlery 

81720 Gallatin Road • Bozeman 

406-587-7503




Explore Big Sky, 

wherever you 

may be. 

We mail our publications around the world. 

Subscribe today—$75 for 26 issues of the Big Sky Weekly and 2 issues of 

Mountain Outlaw magazine delivered to your doorstep. 

Daily news and all publications available online at explorebigsky.com 

Credit Cards accepted for subscriptions 

call or email us today 406-995-2055 | media@theoutlawpartners.com 

some restaurants 

do italian food. 

some do chinese food. 

WE DO 

BIG SKY 

FOOD 

we deliver 

4069952305 

serving breakfast 

lunch & dinner 

view menu at: 

explorebigsky.com/blue-moon-bakery 


26 december 16, 2011 




www.PruMT.com 

406.995.4060 • 800.995.4060 

Big Sky Town Center • 55 Lone Peak Drive • Suite 3 

Prudential Montana Real Estate is your statewide real estate company with 12 offices to serve you in the communities of 

Big Sky, Bozeman, Dillon, Ennis, Sheridan, Twin Bridges, Hamilton, Florence, Missoula, Seeley Lake & Polson. 

beaVer creek weSt 

$1,725,000 • #157935 • call don 

• 4 bd, 6 ba, 4,001 +/- sf custom home 

• furnished, deck on three sides 

• 20 +/- acres, trout pond, stream 

• tremendous views of the Spanish Peaks 

PRice ReducTiON 

PiNewood hiLLS eState 

$1,075,000 • #175582 • call George 

• 3 bd, 5 ba, 4,500 +/- sf home 

• 8 +/- acres (2 contiguous lots), pond 

• beautiful natural landscaping, mature trees 

• guest home, Yellow Mountain views 

LoSt traiLS Lot #6 

$775,000 • #179325. • call Stacy 

• 20 +/- acres, 8 lot subdivision 

• Spanish Peaks views, sunny lot 

• 3 miles to Big Sky Ski and Summer resort 

• fabulous location with outstanding views 

raiNbow trout ruN 

$479,000 • #176526 • call Stacy 

• 3 bd, 2.5 ba, 2365+/- sf, custom finishes 

• bonus room above 2 car attached garage 

• massive wood burning stone fireplace 

• hot tub, flagstone patio with fire pit 

aNtLer ridGe, Lot 149 

$269,000 • #161824 • call don 

• .35 +/- acre lot, Lone Mtn. views 

• exceptional building site, southern exposure 

• community water system 

• between Mountain and Meadow Villages 

Don Pilotte, Broker, GRI, RRS, SFR, 406.580.0155 

Eric Ossorio, Broker, 406.539.9553 

Stacy Ossorio, Broker, 406.539.8553 

Debbie Applebaum, Sales Associate, 406.570.7474 

North fork rd, tract 2 

$1,400,000• #180623 • call Stacy 

• 20 acres Triple Triangle Ranch 

• extraordinary views and nordic ski trail access 

• desirable, private enclave 

• contiguous to North Fork Tract 8 

NeW LiSTiNg 

craiL raNch towNhome 

$990,000 • #180839 • call George 

• 4 bd, 4 ba, 3,500 +/- sf 

• furnished with over $124,000 furniture 

• next to flowing creek with outstanding views 

• heated 2 car attached garage 

355 Low doG road 

$759,000 • #180986 • call marc 

• 4 bd, 3.5 ba, 3136 +/- sf, 1+ acre lot 

• fresh paint, wood floor 

• at the base of Wardance ski run 

• nestled in the trees at Mountain Village 

aLPeNGLow coNdo 18c 

$396,000 • #174888 • call eric or Stacy 

• 3 bd, 3 ba, 2,054 +/- sf 

• gourmet kitchen, knotty alder cabinets 

• gas rock fireplace, furnishings negotiable 

• deck, 1 car attached garage 

cedar creek #61 

$173,000 • #179877 • call George 

• 2 bd / 2 ba, 991 +/- sq feet 

• beautifully furnished, gas fireplace 

• clean, well appointed 

• good rental income 

Toni Delzer, Sales Associate, 406.570.3195 

Mark Dobrenski, Sales Associate, 406.599.2175 

George Hagar, Sales Associate, 406.580.2248 

North fork rd, tract 8 

$1,100,000 • #180527 • call Stacy 

• 20 acres Triple Triangle Ranch 

• hiking and ski trails to lot 

• desirable, private enclave 

• contiguous to tract 2 to create 40 acres 

Powder ridGe cabiN 

$795,000 • #176798 • call Stacy 

• 4 bd, 3 ba, 2,577 +/- sf, furnished 

• ski-in/ski-out to White Otter lift 

• numerous upgrades, river rock fireplace 

• entertaining deck off of the kitchen, hot tub 

beaVer creek w, Lot 13 

$695,000 • #176399 • caLL don 

• 20 +/- acres, spectacular views 

• located on gentle slope, private driveway 

• ideal for a new home, well is drilled 

• convenient to all of Big Sky 

caScade Lot 71a 

$299,000 • #173281 • call Stacy or eric 

• 1.3 +/- acre Knob lot, ski-in/ski-out 

• adjacent to Thunderwolf lift 

• breathtaking Lone Mountain views 

• agent owned 

aNtLer ridGe LotS 

$105,000 • call George 

• .46 +/- acres lots 

• wonderful building sites, gorgeous views 

• water & sewer (septic) metered 

• purchase 1 lot or make an offer on both 

Marc Lauermann, Sales Assoc., ABR, SFR, 406.581.8242 

88 Gray owL LaNe 

$1,100,000 • #179265 • call don 

• 3 bd, 3 ba, 2402 +/- sf home 

• custom home on 2+/- ac lot 

• sited on 2 lots 

• heated garage with storage 

LoSt traiLS Lot #8 

$780,000 • # 178440 • call don 

• 20 +/- acres sunny, south-facing building sites 

• between Mountain and Meadow Villages 

• views of Yellowstone Mtn and Spanish Peaks 

• community water system with fire flow 

NeW LiSTiNg 

GaLLatiN hiGhLaNdS 

$575,000 • #180951 • call Stacy 

• 20 acre tract w/gorgeous mtn views 

• price includes Locati Home plans 

• south facing, old growth fir trees 

• compelling price and offering 

caScade Lot 69b 

$299,000 • #174621 • call Stacy 

• premier mountin enclave 

• Spanish Peak views 

• close to Thunder Wolf lift 

• Big Sky sewer and water 

PRice ReducTiON 

1350 hiLL coNdo 

$36,000 • #179795 • call eric 

• 1 bd, 1 ba, 440 +/- sf 

• top floor unit overlooks lake 

• great condition 

• very nice upgrades, short sale 

Anne MacKenzie, Sales Associate, 406.223.1095 

Peter MacKenzie, Sales Associate, 406.223.1195

arChiteCture 



europe, part 2: koln, germany 

By Jamie daugaard 

Big Sky WeekLy ContriButor 

On a recent trip to Europe, I visited 

the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg 

and Italy. Here, I’d like to 

discuss the architecture of the Koln 

Cathedral, which exemplifies the 

Gothic Architecture during the medieval 

time period, in Germany. My 

next article will continue to be on 

the Rheinland of Germany and in 

particular the Roman city of Trier. 

As I traveled from Amsterdam, 

Netherlands to Koln (pronounced 

Cologne), Germany by the Autobahn, 

I noticed a change from the 

urban density of the Netherlands to 

smaller clusters of towns and rural 

farms. 

My first destination in Germany 

was Koln, and with it, a visit to the 

Koln Cathedral. I’ve studied architectural 

history and taught as an 

aide at Montana State University, 

so experiencing this type of architecture 

in person was stunning, awe 

inspiring and humbling. In it, I saw 

the culture’s importance of expressing 

a higher belief and making 

every effort to celebrate that. 

Koln Cathedral is based on gothic 

architecture. It was constructed 

between 1248 and 1880. Yes, 632 

years to construct, although the cathedral 

started to be used in the 1330s. 

At 515 feet, the spires once made Koln 

Cathedral the tallest structure in the 

world. 

As gothic architecture evolved from 

Romanesque architecture, construction 

techniques and engineering 

improved. The mass of the exterior 

supporting walls became smaller, 

and were replaced with larger 

openings. This type of architectural 

style was able to nurture and 

celebrate vertical expression and 

natural light in its spaces. 

The Koln Cathedral is made completely 

of stone and embodies 

gothic ecclesiastical architecture, 

with the exterior flying stone buttresses 

built to support the outward 

thrust caused by the weight of the 

structure above. Much of its decoration 

is pointed up, toward heaven. 

Its stone windows and "plate and 

bar tracery" are capped with rich 

stone articulation at entries, roof 

edges and spires. 

Approaching Koln Cathedral I felt 

the impressive scale in height and 

width. As I got closer, the ornamentation 

everywhere was evident. 

Interesting is the patina of the 

stone, where weathered older stone 

turns a darker black color and more 

prominent at the top of the Cathedral 

and fades to a gray as you get to 

lower elevations. 

Inside the Cathedral, the immensity 

of space and the verticality 

is captivating. I noticed so many 

details: faint sounds and tones; 

colored light pouring in from the 

stained glass; the stone rib for the 

vaulting, soft colors; and the large 

relieved stone furniture pieces. 


The stone on the interior is less 

worked and ornamented than the 

exterior; I believe it was done this 

way to direct focus on the bishop 

at the end of the nave. The stone 

tile flooring mosaics are articulated 

throughout, and I’m certain with 

religious and historical meaning: 

Emblem seals compliment Latin 

scriptures, and there are repeating 

elements such as leaves, birds and 

geometric shapes. 

This site is a beautiful project on 

a massive human scale, all built 

before power equipment, lifts, steel 

cranes or gasoline powered vehicles 

existed. 

Koln Cathedral is also listed on the 

UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

CENTRE SKY 

A R C H I T E C T U R E L T D 

Jamie Daugaard, principal of 

Centre Sky Architecture, received 

his B-Arch and M-Arch from MSU. 

Sustainability is deeply rooted in his 

work, which is mostly in mountain 

regions, with offices in Denver and 

Big Sky. He will post more photos 

from this trip at facebook.com/centresky. 

If you would like to comment 

on this article or would like to learn 

more about another topic, you can 

contact him at jamie@centresky.com 

or (406) 995-7572. centresky.com 


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big sky real estate update: 

Reflections on 2011 and predictions for 2012 

from the local experts at Sotheby’s international realty, Jeff helms, tallie Jamison and ryan kulesza 

First and foremost, we want to welcome you back 

to Big Sky, the best place to enjoy the holiday 

season. Since your last visit, we’d like to bring 

you up to speed on our local real estate market. 

What follows is an overview of the last year’s 

activity in our entire region including the Meadow, 

Mountain, and Canyon areas, as well as the 

four resorts. There is a lot of data and doing the 

research on your own can be daunting, so we’ve 

done the work for you. We invite you to review 

the numbers in our data driven report on pages 30 

and 31 or visit us next to the Hungry Moose for a 

personal overview. 

a year IN reVIeW 

In 2011, we created a marketplace in which properties 

actually traded. That may sound insignificant, 

but in comparison to 2009 and 2010 where 

we saw a relatively inactive marketplace, we 

had difficulty determining values because there 

were so few sales. Thankfully, now, we can look 

at comparable data within distinct segments and 

discern true market value. Just over two hundred 

properties traded hands this year, for a total 

of $106,000,000 (excluding Yellowstone Club 

transactions). 

We hit an important milestone late this year: 

our inventory levels fell below 500, contracting 

by 38% since the highs of 2008, when we had 

over 750 listings in the entire Big Sky market. 

This absorption shows both confidence in the 

market and a correction in the balance of supply 

and demand. 75% of the transactions were under 

$500,000, leading buyers to seek value at price 

points over $500,000. We were encouraged to see 

many $1M+ sales in the fourth quarter. 

buyers’ marKeT 

The most important step a buyer can take towards 

making a purchase is to get an education on the 

finer points of their market segment. Well priced 

properties, foreclosures in particular, have seen 

multiple offers within 48 hours and even sold 

over the listing price. Buyers need to know when 

to strike so they don’t miss a great opportunity. 

With the combination of decreased prices and 

very low vacancy rates in the long- and shortterm 

rental markets, investors have begun to allocate 

money to acquire income-producing properties. 

We expect 2012 to continue to be a buyer’s 

market, with high-end properties in particular. 

DIsTresseD ProPerTIes 

Short sales, foreclosures and bank-owned properties 

are still affecting our overall market. In 

2011, 24% of solds were technically classified as 

distressed, while only 10% of our active listings 

are distressed. In other words, we have a high 

demand for distressed properties, but the supply 

has been diminished. Buyers continue to ask for a 

list of foreclosures; that list is shrinking. The opportunity 

to purchase top quality distressed real 

estate is now. 

PreDIcTIoNs 

We remain cautiously optimistic about the overall 

Big Sky market. Over the past year, we have 

watched Yellowstone Club stabilize, Moonlight 

Basin begin to emerge from bankruptcy, and 

Spanish Peaks Holdings II, LLC file for Chapter 

7 bankruptcy with all services coming to halt. 

Through it all, Big Sky Resort seemed to make 

wise and prudent decisions in all facets of their 

operations. Resort areas rely heavily on real estate 

sales in order to sustain their business models. 

Thus, you can anticipate new product development 

and releases in the later half of 2012 in 

order to generate much needed revenue to sustain 

operations in both Yellowstone Club and Moonlight 

Basin. For example, we expect the release of 

the final phase of the Powder Ridge Cabins (4B), 

a ski-in ski-out condo development at Big Sky 

Resort. 


We anticipate vacant land sales to increase in 

2012 due to such low prices throughout Big Sky. 

Inventory levels in Moonlight Basin will continue 

to diminish into the first quarter of 2012, 

which will lead to an increase in value for many of 

the ski-in ski-out properties there. Yellowstone 

Club will continue to see absorption in their 

secondary market, which will eventually lead to 

new developer releases. They are launching built 

product that the consumer can purchase ‘turnkey’. 

Yellowstone Club will continue to be our 

glimmer of hope in the high-end luxury segment. 

As occurred in 1998 to 2001, when YC values 

improve, the rest of the market follows. 

We confidently predict that in 2012, absorption 

rates in Moonlight Basin, YC and Big Sky Resort 

will increase over 2011. We guarantee that 

Big Sky remains an incredible destination with 

quality of life unmatched by any other mountain 

resort community. Our advice to you is to begin 

tracking the data in order to stay in tune with 

market dynamics. 

Insider’s Edge 

The Big Sky real estate market can be difficult to 

navigate. It’s hard to predict true market values, 

so we rose to that challenge by developing a solution 

called the “Insider’s Edge.” On this portion 

of our website, we will simplify local news and 

real estate updates. Now more than ever, buyers 

and sellers need a knowledge-based resource to 

make informed real estate decisions. 

Jeff, Tallie and Ryan are an integral component 

of the leading real estate firm in Big Sky and are 

proud to live, work, and play here. See our Year 

End Review on pages 30 and 31 for an in-depth 

analysis of the entire Big Sky real estate market. 


Year in Review - 2011 Properties Sold (To Date) 

Our mission is to give you the knowledge base to make informed decisions. We represent buyers and sellers. 

PROPERTY LIST PRICE ORIGINAL 

PRICE 

Canyon Area 


$/SF 

TBD Gallatin Road $79,000 $99,000 127.42 

1000 Cascade Creek Road $92,000 $92,000 296.77 

531 Cascade Creek $79,700 $79,700 120.76 

TBD Storm Castle Road $130,000 $130,000 194.03 

54320 Gallatin Road $184,900 $194,900 264.14 

34 Primrose Lane $300,000 $309,000 121.21 

43 Paintbrush Place $425,000 $425,000 130.65 

65550 Gallatin Road $449,000 $495,000 249.44 

1299 Dudley Creek Road $429,000 $623,000 268.13 

312 Windy Pass Trail $599,000 $599,000 183.97 

49825 Gallatin Road $699,000 $699,000 272.2 

355 Beaver Mountain Trail $749,900 $824,900 314.42 

84 Lazy T-4 Road $1,174,900 162.06 

200 Towering Pines Road $1,595,000 299.59 

54725 Gallatin Road $1,695,000 426.2 

500 Beaver Creek Road $1,495,000 282.08 

360 Rainbow Ranch Road $1,995,000 306.92 

59400 Gallatin Road $97,500 $125,000 178.57 

Beavercreek West Lot 22B $279,000 $399,000 

Buck Ridge Ranch Lot 12 $299,000 $450,000 

Porcupine Park Lot 13A $369,000 $369,000 

Greathorn Ranch Tract 1 $3,200,000 

Meadow Area 

RJS Building Unit 204 $275,000 $275,000 

659 Spruce Cone Drive $295,000 $350,000 98.33 

Gallatin Building Unit 13 $34,900 $39,900 95.36 

Spruce Condo 6 $63,750 $75,000 101.19 

Gallatin Building Unit 16 $48,000 $90,000 89.55 


Firelight Condo 3C $85,000 $85,000 77.84 

Firelight Condo 6A $75,000 $99,500 68.68 

Silverbow 55 $75,000 $75,000 107.76 

Firelight Condo B6 $79,900 $94,900 73.17 

Firelight Condo C8 $84,900 $84,900 77.75 

Firelight Condo B8 $77,250 $77,250 70.74 


Yellowstone Condo 88 $83,500 $83,500 125.75 

8 Firelight Drive $89,900 $89,900 82.33 

Spruce Condo 51 $94,900 $99,900 110.09 



Spruce Condo 11 $94,500 $94,500 132.17 

Broadwater 185 $89,000 $89,000 134.85 

Glacier Condo 160 $109,900 $137,500 149.73 

Broadwater 187 $98,000 $136,000 104.7 

Firelight Condo 10D $105,000 $159,000 96.15 


Firelight Condo D6 $105,000 $105,000 96.15 

Pine Ridge Condo #8 $96,000 $96,000 81.77 


Broadwater 180 $149,500 $175,000 151.32 

Firelight Condo 2D $115,000 $115,000 105.31 

Aspen Court 1 $149,000 $189,000 128.89 

Hidden Village 81 $179,900 $220,000 93.41 

Glacier Condo 152 $145,000 $145,000 197.55 

Glacier Condo 157 $159,900 $199,900 217.85 

Madison Court 11 $144,900 $157,900 103.5 

68 Rose Hip Circle $142,500 $142,500 73.15 

109 Candlelight $143,900 $156,900 77.41 

Gray Wolf Condo 2830 $150,000 $150,000 84.65 

Madison Court 5 $179,000 $189,500 157.02 

Call us directly for up-to-date market information - 406.995.2244 


PRICE 

62 Candlelight Meadow 

Drive 

$/SF 

$180,000 $180,000 96.83 





Drive 

$184,900 $184,900 86.44 



Drive 

$201,000 $201,000 93.97 


277 Candlelight Meadows 

Dr 

$199,900 $199,900 93.45 

2575 Curly Bear Road $225,000 $279,000 173.08 

Silverbow 48 $239,000 $375,000 170.71 

Deer Run 4E $210,000 $224,900 110.06 

677 Sunburst Drive $239,000 $279,000 115.46 

2575 Curley Bear Road $239,000 $239,000 137.04 

51 Rose Hip Circle $259,000 $259,000 135.32 

647 Sunburst Drive $275,000 $275,000 125.46 

41 Blue Flax Place $350,000 $350,000 179.49 

21 Blue Flax Place $299,000 $315,000 107.25 

Deer Run H2 $375,000 $395,000 176.3 

C3 Blue Spruce Way $325,000 $375,000 161.21 

3525 Ringneck Road $299,000 $299,000 163.93 

Deer Run G1 $395,000 $489,900 185.71 

Deer Run I2 $375,000 $375,000 176.3 

Spanish Peaks Club Condo 

16D 

$329,000 $399,000 153.74 

Deer Run I1 $375,000 $375,000 176.3 

F2 Blue Spruce Way $345,000 $345,000 171.13 


21D 

$339,000 $472,500 158.41 

Crail Creek Condo 615 $399,000 $495,000 159.6 


27A 

$424,900 $448,000 176.82 

Elevation 6000 B1 $550,000 $550,000 203.18 

Lone Peak Townhome 10 $499,000 $499,000 207.92 

145A Pheasant Tail Rd $444,900 $509,000 173.92 

133A Pheasant Tail Lane $497,500 $497,500 166.28 


8E 

$519,900 $549,000 204.04 

2265 Little Coyote Road $299,000 $319,900 190.69 

2455 Little Coyote $350,000 $350,000 194.44 

98 Limber Pine $329,000 $389,000 219.33 



2165 Yellowtail Road $299,000 $299,000 91.27 

2310 Yellowtail Road $399,900 $599,900 151.48 


50 Skywood Road $429,000 $490,000 336.21 

125 Chief Joseph Trail $499,000 $799,000 210.37 



2715 Little Coyote $599,000 $649,000 239.6 

2605 Little Coyote $689,000 $689,000 217.08 

466 Antler Ridge Road $633,600 $633,600 113.14 

336 Autumn Trail $759,000 $949,000 210.83 

121 Silverado Trail $795,000 $795,000 277.97 

350 Misty Way $864,000 213.86 

170 GRAY OWL LANE $999,000 293.82 

1555 Silverado Trail $1,999,995 307.69 

229 Amber Lilly Lane $2,695,000 374.31 

West Fork Meadows Lot 6 $63,500 $63,500 

Block 5 Lot 10 $79,900 $99,900 6.66 

Helms, Jamison & Kulesza 

JEFF 

HELMS 

Broker 

TALLIE 

JAMISON 

Associate 

RYAN 

KULESZA 

Broker 

406.995.2244 • BIGSKYSIR .COM 


PRICE 

Michener Meadows Lot 20 $225,000 $685,000 

Grey Drake Lot 7 $299,000 $299,000 

Moonlight Basin 

All statistics included in summary derived from MLS. This material is based upon information which we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we 

cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions and changes including price or withdrawal 

without notice. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Offi ce in Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is listed with a real estate 

broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. 

$/SF 

Saddle Ridge C2 $314,900 $329,900 178.82 

Saddle Ridge F2 $359,000 $359,000 203.86 

Saddle Ridge F4 $389,000 $399,000 220.9 

Saddle Ridge B2 $410,000 $410,000 232.82 

Saddle Ridge D2 $430,000 $430,000 244.18 

Saddle Ridge L1 $499,000 $499,000 229.32 

Saddle Ridge U1 $595,000 $649,000 276.1 

Alpine Meadows Suite 6A $1,295,000 518 

Alpine Duplex 1A $1,395,000 604.42 

Alpine Meadows Suite 6C $1,595,000 531.67 

Luxury Suite 2C $1,495,000 498.33 

Cowboy Heaven Cabin 10 $450,000 $699,000 576.92 

Cowboy Heaven Cabin 11 $542,000 $865,000 694.87 

Mountain Home 60 $895,000 $895,000 349.61 

Mountain Home 63 $899,000 $899,000 340.53 

Mountain Home 47 $1,079,000 421.48 

Alpine Meadows Chalet 76 $1,295,000 488.68 

126 Diamond Hitch Road $2,495,000 629.57 

10 Hackamore Rd $2,335,000 447.92 

17 Renegade Road $3,995,000 574.99 

105 Peaks View Drive $4,495,000 620.6 

Lot 20 Diamond Hitch $499,000 $499,000 

Mountain 

The Lodge at Big Sky #320 $32,900 $39,000 71.21 

The Lodge at Big Sky #214 $29,900 $29,900 64.72 

Hill Condo 1192 $40,000 $40,000 90.91 

Hill Condo 1243 $40,000 $48,900 90.91 

Hill Condo 1203 $37,950 $54,950 86.25 

Hill Condo 1264 $52,000 $52,000 118.18 

Hill Condo 1260 $49,000 $49,000 108.89 

Hill Condo 1277 $75,000 $99,000 112.28 

Hill Condo 1229 $63,000 $65,000 143.18 

Hill Condo 1352 $65,000 $125,000 147.73 

Hill Condo 1334 $78,000 $78,000 177.27 

Cedar Creek Condo 8 $82,000 $82,000 144.88 







Stillwater Condo 1021 $129,500 $129,500 242.51 

Stillwater Condo 1040 $259,000 $269,000 287.78 

Shoshone 1953 $199,000 $199,000 227.17 

Big Horn 11 $300,000 $325,000 172.71 



Village Center Room 208 $449,000 $449,000 590.79 

Alpenglow Condo 19A $369,000 $479,000 159.12 

Elkhorn Condo 1302 $485,000 $515,000 149.97 

Arrowhead 1672 $675,000 $775,000 346.15 

Moosewood Condo Unit F $644,900 $644,900 231.15 

Black Eagle Lodge 30 $698,000 252.9 

Powder Ridge Cabin 130 $699,000 $825,000 341.48 




Black Eagle Lodge 11 $995,000 $995,000 361.82 


PRICE 

Visit page 29 for more 

information about our team 

$/SF 

Powder Ridge Cabin 47 $1,195,000 358.43 

Summit Hotel Room 1007 $1,600,000 513.31 

5 BEEHIVE BASIN Road $849,000 287.8 

44 Summit View $1,274,000 148.61 

38 Middle Rider Road $1,695,000 339.88 

928 Cascade Creek Rd $84,900 $95,900 141.5 

Summit View Lot 5 $225,000 $699,000 

Cascade Sub Lot 186A $199,000 $395,000 

Lot #168A Cascade SD $180,000 $224,900 

Cascade 126A $299,000 $299,000 

Cascade Lot 340, Block 6 $280,000 $310,000 

Cascade Lot 120A $299,000 $350,000 

90 Summit View Drive $349,700 $349,700 

Ridgeview Lot 3 $890,000 $890,000 

Spanish Peaks 

Cabin 23 $1,699,000 591.57 

Cabin 22 $2,250,000 657.32 

6519 Beaver Creek Rd $999,999 571.43 

820 Elk Meadow Trail $3,250,000 449.7 

658 Elk Meadow Trail $5,000,000 542.53 

542.53 

Ranch 121 $140,000 $140,000 

Ranch 23 $139,900 $255,000 

Ranch 122 $195,000 $195,000 

Ranch 31 $197,000 $298,000 

Big EZ Estate 20 $179,900 $229,900 

Wildridge 37 $359,000 $359,000 

Ski Tip Glade 12 $1,050,000 

Yellowstone Club 

Sunrise Ridge Condo 42A $2,850,000 740.26 

Andesite Ridge Lot 123 $6,750,000 961.4 

Andesite Ridge Lot 130 $1,500,000 

Andesite Ridge Lot 46, YC 

Phases I&II 

$1,475,000 $1,475,000 

Commercial 

Condominium 

Lot 

Home 

HELMS 

JAMISON 

KULESZA

Condos 121 59% 

Homes 55 27% 

Land 28 14% 

Commercial 2 1% 

Sold By Type 

With Condo values generally down as 

much as 60% from the highs of 2007 

and long term vacancies staying below 

3%, investor interest in this product 

type rose in 2011. Interest in vacant land 

continue to lag as replacement costs are 

still significantly higher than the cost 

of already built homes and condos. We 

traded two commercial properties in all 

of Big Sky and continue to see a high vacancy 

rate in commercial leases. 

$0-$100,000 46 22% 

$100,001-$200,000 37 18% 

$200,001-$300,000 26 13% 

$300,001-$400,000 26 13% 

$400,001-$500,000 15 7% 

$500,001-$600,000 5 2% 

$600,001-$1,000,000 26 13% 

$1,000,001-$3,000,000 20 10% 

$3,000,001-$5,000,000 4 2% 

$5,000,000+ 1 0% 

Price Ranges Sold 

by Transaction Count 

A wave of activity occurred in the lower 

end market (under $500K) and we expect 

it to flow into the higher end market 

(over $500K) in 2012. Value opportunities 

have been absorbed (read: sold) 

in the low end market and buyers have 

just started to participate in the higherend 

market in an effort to find value in 

well-priced inventory. 

Profile & Status Updates for our Resorts 


Moonlight Basin is a 8,150 acre public business model situated between Lone 

Mountain and the Spanish Peaks range in the Jack Creek drainage of Madison 

County. There are 1651 residential units fully entitled for development of which 

353 have been built and sold. Amenities include a spa, 8,000-yard Jack Nicklaus 

golf course (the back 9 holes are completed) and 1,900 acres of pristine groomers, 

tree glades, and challenging steep terrain (with more terrain to come). Vacant land 

parcels vary in size from 1 acre to 160 acres. Residential options include private 

ski-in ski-out homes, cabins, and condos. Much of their real estate can be accessed 

on skis to both Moonlight Basin and Big Sky Resort’s 5,512 skiable acres (with the 

Lone Peak Pass). Moonlight Basin filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008 and has 

worked to restructure their debt. A definitive settlement between Lehmann Commercial 

and Moonlight Basin is tentatively scheduled for December 16th (as of 

press time). The close of the sale of Moonlight’s assets to Lehmann and an issuance 

of final decree will mark an official end to the bankruptcy. 

# active listings: 39 $ active listings: $66,792,000 

# sold in 2011: 15 $ sold in 2011: $27,711,000 

Average sold / sf : $521.26 

Big Sky Resort Area 

Big Sky Resort is a public business model that is owned and operated by Boyne 

Resorts and is capitalized by CNL based in Orlando, Florida. The iconic Mountain 

Village operates as the ski area’s hub of activity and nightlife. Amenities 

include 3,832 acres of worldclass skiing, including 150 named runs covering over 

85 miles on three separate mountains and a tram-accessable 11,166 foot peak, 

heated outdoor pools, two hotels, 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course located 

in the Meadow. and a variety of on-mountain summer activities. Residential 

developer options include ski-in ski-out cabins and slopeside condos, starting at 

$149,000. There are no developer land options at this time. 

Mountain Village 


# sold in 2011: 49 $ sold in 2011: $21,636,250 


Yellowstone Club 


$0-$100,000 $3,148,834 3% 

$100,001-$200,000 $5,518,500 5% 

$200,001-$300,000 $6,506,339 6% 

$300,001-$400,000 $8,765,525 8% 

$400,001-$500,000 $6,512,300 6% 

$500,001-$600,000 $2,774,000 3% 

$600,001-$1,000,000 $20,087,999 19% 

$1,000,001-$3,000,000 $32,885,684 31% 

$3,000,001-$5,000,000 $14,945,000 14% 

$5,000,000+ $5,300,000 5% 

Price Ranges Sold by 

Dollar Volume 

It is intersecting to see that while the 

lower end market (below $500K) represents 

75% of the transactions, it is only 

31% of the total market volume. It is 

many people’s perception that foreclosures 

typically occur in the low end market, 

but you can see in the list to the left 

that there were 4 distressed sales over 

$1M this year. 

Yellowstone Club is a 13,600 acre private business model encompassing Pioneer 

and Eglise Mountains in Madison County, adjacent to Lone Mountain. There 

are 864 entitlements of which approximately 345 non-equity residential memberships 

have sold since they opened in 2000. Amenities include 2,200 acres of 

Private Powder, a Tom Weiskopf 18-hole golf course, first-class fitness center 

and outdoor heated pool, 140,000 square foot Warren Miller Lodge housing a 

spa, kids’ facilities, and a variety of entertainment and dining outlets. Residential 

options include custom homes, 160-acre private ranches, slopeside chalets, and 

base lodge Condos which range between $2M and $26M. In 2008, the Club filed 

Chapter 11 bankruptcy but has since successfully emerged. They are now well 

capitalized by a group comprised of CrossHarbor Capital Partners, LLC, Discovery 

Land Company and about 60 members. They have seen strong sales in the 

last year due to a re-setting of values in the resale market. 

# active listings: Contact Us Directly $ active listings: Contact Us Directly 

# sold in 2011: Contact Us Directly $ sold in 2011: Contact Us Directly 

Spanish Peaks 

The Club at Spanish Peaks is a 5,700 acre private business model situated between 

Big Sky Resort and Yellowstone Club on Andesite and Flat Iron Mountains. They 

have 850 entitlements of which approximately 318 non-equity Residential and Golf 

Memberships have been sold since they opened in 2000. Approximately 40 homes 

have been built with about 6 currently under construction. Vacant land parcels 

vary in size from 1 acre to 25 acres. Their ski accessible real estate is also uniquely 

adjacent to a Tom Weiskopf 18-hole golf course, and offers private access to Big 

Sky Resort’s public skiing. A clubhouse acts as the center of activity for members 

as well as a yurt near the base of the Southern Comfort lift. In October 2011, their 

holding company, Spanish Peaks Holdings II, LLC filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 

a Delaware court. Things are changing daily with respect to their future so please 

contact us directly for the must current information. 


# sold in 2011: 12 $ sold in 2011: $$13,683,999 



Two 

2012 

ways to DELVE into 

New Year’s Eve at 

Moonlight Lodge 

For the adults... 

Join us at Moonlight Lodge for a night of revelry. 

Enjoy a special dinner at the new JACK CREEK 

GRILLE, followed by music, dancing, party favors and a 

champagne toast. 

6pm till close 

(Dinner seatings available from 6pm - 9pm) 

$125 FOR THE ENTIRE EVENING 

NOT DINING WITH US? Attend our music 

celebration only - $25 AFTER 10PM 

32 december 16, 2011 



New Year’s Party 

at Headwaters Grille 

For the family... 

Ring in 2012 with family fun for all ages at HEADWATERS 

GRILLE at the Madison Village Base Area! 

Celebrate the new year with karaoke, party favor crafts, a 

balloon drop, and s’mores around the outdoor fi re pit. 

6pm - 9pm 

$15 PER PERSON 

moonlightbasin.com 


For more 

information or 

reservations for 

either event, please 

contact Guest 

Services at 

(406) 995-7600 

my mountain is 

MOONLIGHT

seCtion 3: 

Life // Land //CuLture 

gaLLery 

In 2009, Rebecca Soulé sent a text 

message to her sister-in-law Erin with a 

photo of an extraordinary sunset, and a 

note saying she loved her. Erin was sick 

with leukemia, and Soulé hoped the 

photo showing beams of light coming 

from the clouds would comfort her. 

Erin died two days later. 

Several years later, Soulé received a call 

from a woman who’d seen that same 

image on a business card Soulé had 

posted in the Cateye Café in Bozeman. 

The woman had lost both of her 

parents that year. Seeing that image, 

she told Soulé, was the closest to god 

she’d ever felt. 

“Knowing I could make someone feel 

like that was a pivotal point for me,” 

Soulé says. “It was the biggest compliment 

I’ve ever received.” 

That phone call eventually led Soulé 

to her next project—a show depicting a 

year of sadness and healing in her own 

life, told through self-portraits and images 

of others. 

Soulé, 35, lives in Bozeman with her 

3-year-old daughter Olivia. A self- 

taught photographer, 

she has an intuitive and 

emotional connection to 

people. 

Photography has been a 

tool for healing, and something 

Soulé never planned 

to share with anyone. But 

when Erin was diagnosed 

with leukemia, it put life 

in perspective. 

“It made me think about 

what I want to do, what 

I want to be,” Soulé says. 

“Life is short. I realized it 

was time to start showing 

this work, to actually go 

for it.” 

She launched her business, 

LucaPhotography, in June 

2010, figuring if she was “meant to 

be in it, it [would] show itself.” 

Right away, she published a two 

page black and white spread of 

canoes on Hyalite Lake, in Outside 

Bozeman—a centerfold, she jokes. 

A month later she won five awards 

in the Gallatin County Fair photo 

contest. Her work appeared in Montana 

Parent, Kidsville and Healthy 

Living soon after. 

By late spring, she was shooting 

more family portraits and kids, 

something she likes because kids are 

“silly, and have the freedom to be 

themselves.” 

Describing herself as a “dual artist,” 

Soulé likes this whimsical photography 






the art of healing: LucaPhotography 



and also more challenging work where 

she can dig deeper into human emotions. 

This summer she shot photos with 

Family Promise, a nonprofit that helps 

and houses homeless families. The 

images of volunteers and two homeless 

families that hung in the U.S. Bank pagoda 

let her realize the potential power 

behind her work. 


gaLLery 

“I am a life photographer who at times is the visual 

messenger.” 

When Soulé first found Bozeman in 2004, she was 

on a road trip from Seattle and just stopped for a few 

hours. Standing on Main Street, she watched people 

greeting each other on the street. The community 

feeling and artistic energy inspired her, and she knew 

she’d found home. 

34 december 16, 2011 


Soulé’s current show, which is hanging in the Nova 

Café in Bozeman this December, exemplifies the two 

sides of her work. One room holds a visual storyboard 

with 11 mostly black and white images showing her 

powerful year of transition and growth. The other is a 

collection of family portraits. 

The first series shows deep emotion—innocence, 

vulnerability, wrenching sadness, angst, freedom, 

peace and strength. The images include Soulé and her 

daughter, and other acquaintances who wanted to be a 

part of the project. 

Admitting it sounds “a little bit out there,” she says 

the participants “showed up when they were supposed 

to,” each with something to say. “They came to me to 

try and photograph that—to give them a voice. They 

were the chosen people.” 

The second set of photos is a color collection 

that captures kids and families 

together, happy. They’re not manicured 

family portraits, but are sweet, earthy, and 

with a sense of purity. 

“I like capturing a child how they are. I 

follow them around, sometimes run after 

them. I make up crazy jokes to get them to 

laugh or smile, put something on top of 

my head so they’ll look at the camera.” 

This show was cathartic, Soulé says. 

“The photography is the art of healing 

for me. For this show, I’m hoping it is for 

others.” She thinks of it as a gift for others, 



and none of the photos are for sale. 

After a year that was clearly very difficult, Soulé is 

confident in life, and loves being a mother and an artist. 

“Being a single mom is empowering. It’s kicked my ass, 

and it’s made me do this [show]. Because everything I 

do is for that little girl. She’s my inspiration, my light.” 

Looking around the room at her work, Soulé seems 

comfortable with herself. 

“This is me. This is my heart and soul.” 

lucaphotography.net 

lucaphotography@yahoo.com 

Rebecca Soule's work is hanging in the Nova Café in 

Bozeman for the month of Decemnber

Rob Akey 

Greg Alexander 

Jim Barrett 

Diana Brady 

Lynn Cain 

Creighton Block 

 

Todd Connor 

Jerral Derryberry 

Flavia Eckholm 

Edd Enders 

Thomas English 

Todd Connor 

“Protector” 

36” x 24” 

Charles Fulcher 

Mark Gibson 

Don Grant 

Mimi Grant 

Ott Jones 

ARTIST PROFILE 



David Lemon 

Asha MacDonald 

Mike Patterson 

Paula Pearl 

Jacqueline Rieder Hud 

Shiela Rieman 

Daniel San Souci 

Deb Schmit 

Laurie Stevens 

Shirle Wempner 


MEET ARTIST TODD CONNOR IN PERSON 

Wednesday, December 21st from 5:30-7:30pm 

BIG SKY TOWN CENTER 

10:30 AM - 6:30 PM TUESDAY THRU SUNDAY 

MONDAYS BY APPOINTMENT 

Todd Connor was born in 1964 and raised in Tulsa, OK. He began painting in pastels and oils at 

the age of 12. After high school he joined the Navy, where he served as a Navy SEAL in Coronado, 

CA. After military service he toured National Parks and historical sites throughout the 

West, and determined to return to painting. After 4 years of study divided between landscape 

and figurative work, he received a BFA in 1997 from the prestigious Art Center College of Design 

in Pasadena, CA. He briefly worked as a colorboard painter for Universal Studios in Japan before 

making the leap to full time painter in 1999. 

Todd Connor has met with much success in venues including the CM Russell show and auction in 

Great Falls, MT and Settlers West Galleries’ annual Great American West show in Tucson, AZ. His 

influences include Impressionists, Asian calligraphy, and early American Illustrators. His exceptional 

ability to convey a strong sense of character, as well as a sense of time and place in his art, has led 

to commissions and acquisitions by some of the country’s most distinguished art collectors. 

406-993-9400 

CREIGHTONBLOCKGALLERY.COM 

Ar twork also displayed at Outlaw Par tners and Lone Mountain Ranch Dining Room 


Locally owned and operated 

We are Big Sky! 

The Club at Spanish Peaks - Elk Wallow Lodge 

Custom built home on 4+ acres. $2,295,000. 


350 Low Dog Road - Big Sky retreat. 

Ski-in/out, 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath. $1,699,000. 


www.RiversToPeaks.com Phone:(406) 995-2022 

The Club at Spanish Peaks - Luxury Cabin #25. 

Ski-in/golf-out, 4 bedroom. $1,199,000. 

Furnished! Incredible location. 

Trophy Bull at Beaver Creek West 

Huge views, 3 bedroom, 5 bath on 20 acres. 

$1,950,000. 

In the heart of Big Sky - The Pines L2 

Fabulous views 4 bedroom, 4 bath. $399,000. 

A River Runs Through It! 

Wonderful log home & guest cabin with an easy 

walk to the Gallatin River. $999,000. 

343 Grey Drake Road - 4 private suites, 5.5 bath, 

5+ Acres. Gorgeous wine & cigar cellar. River 

frontage. $3,495,000 $2,950,000. furnished! 


The Club at Spanish Peaks - Big EZ Duck’s Pond Cabin. 

20 acres, pond, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath. 

$2,250,000 $1,725,000. Furnished! 

Stop by our office next to Grizzly Outfitters in the Big Sky Town Center for a market update and a 

glass of wine. Daily from 4-6 PM 

This information is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change, withdrawal and approval of purchase by owner. All information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed by Rivers 

To Peaks ~ Big Sky Real Estate, independent investigation is recommended. For properties being purchased at The Club at Spanish Peaks approval for membership is required prior to 

closing. If you are currently working with another real estate agent, this is not intended as a solicitation.

SPortS 



big sky skating and Hockey association opens rink to skaters 

new features include lights, memberships and lessons 

bsha board 

After 10 days of flooding, a day of assembling the 

boards and gathering together about 20 ice fans to help 

erect the Town Center Ice Rink is open for its second 

year of public skating and hockey. 

The Big Sky Skating and Hockey Association has relied 

on help from volunteers and donations from numerous 

people throughout Big Sky and Bozeman. 

Jason Martel, of Martel Construction and the Bozeman 

Ice Dogs hockey team in Bozeman, told BSSHA 

board member Ryan Blechta to come to the ice rink in 

Bozeman. 

“He had an old Zamboni that was back in the day the 

old (ice rink’s) backup,” Blechta said. 

When Blechta got to the rink and saw the stash of 

out-of-use Zambonis, he saw a rundown rust-bucket 

that had been sitting in the lumber yard for four 

years. 

“I saw what it looked like and thought, ‘with a little 

sand blast and paint, this Zam could look real nice,” 

Blechta said. 

Now, after some serious cosmetics and drastic 

makeover, and some help from the Yellowstone Club 

Community Foundation, the Zamboni shimmers under 

a boat of shiny black paint and its propane engine 

kicks over at the turn of a key. It doesn’t hurt that the 

ice runner keeps warm in the Blechtas’ garage, either. 

The group boasts two new full-time lights that 

shine on the rink till 11 p.m., and the board hopes 

it can gather interested families with skaters and 

hockey players to step up and join this year as 

members. 

The BSSHA has created a schedule and allows 

members-only skates on Friday and Sunday 

nights, open skating times everyday, and local 

hockey player, board member and BSSHA 

founder Griffin Kilby will offer hockey lessons 

for those looking to learn. 

Lady Big Horns play first game ever 

Big Sky teams swept by mount ellis 

By graySon BeLL 

big sky weekly Cub rePorter 

boys JV 

On Saturday, Dec. 10 the Lone Peak High School 

basketball teams opened up their season. The three 

teams traveled to Mount Ellis Academy for a night 

filled with basketball action. 

The junior varsity game started off very defensively, 

with both teams playing at high intensity, and 

stayed this way until the final buzzer. At the end of 

the first quarter Lone Peak led 9–5. 

Mount Ellis took offensive control in the second 

quarter, almost tripling their score from the fist 

quarter. 

The Big Horns came out with almost no offense 

except for a mid range jumper and free throw from 

Trevor House. Mount Ellis led the Big Horns 13–12 

at the end of the second. 

Coming out of the locker room at halftime it was 

much of the same; defense, defense, defense. The 

only points for the Big Horns came on a 3-pointer by 

freshman Griffin House and a shot in the paint by 

freshman Justin McKillop. 

At the end of the third quarter, Mount Ellis was up 

21–17. 

In the fourth quarter McKillop came out with unmatched 

intensity. McKillop accounted for seven of 

the 13 points for the Big Horns in the fourth quarter. 

McKillop’s late-game intensity was not enough to 

bring in a win for the Big Horns, and Mount Ellis 

won 36–30. 

the first annual Pavelich invitational in January 2011. 

girls 

The LPHS girls played their first game in Lone Peak 

High School history that night. 

The Lady Big Horns were at a disadvantage in numbers, 

with six girls to Eagles’ 11. This didn’t stop the 

Big Horns from hustling and playing great defense. 

The first half saw bright glimpses of offense from 

freshmen Gabby Michel, Tehya Braun and Gabrielle 

Gasser. 

In the third quarter the Lady Big Horns held the 

Eagles to only two points of offense, but in the end, 

Mount Ellis was too much for the Lady Big Horns. 

Mount Ellis won the game 35–12. 

Four Big Horns starters are freshman and will 

continue to improve. Tehya Braun scored half of the 

points for the team. 

Varsity boys 

The varsity boys came from a successful previous 

year, but it was apparent from the beginning that 

the Big Horns had the first game jitters. Junior 

Haven Morris, who has looked promising for 

years, accounted for more than half of the Big 

Horns’ points. 

He ended the night with 19 points and made 3 of 

5 from the free throw line. In the end, the Mount 

Ellis Eagles showed a higher intensity and desire 

to win, and the team won 50–29. 

The first home games will be on Jan. 5 against the 

Shields Valley Rebels. The Big Horns would love 

to see the support of the community at that game. 


“These are going to be hockey clinics for kids trying to 

learn to play the game,” Kilby said. 

There are two ice rinks (one full-sized with boards and 

a smaller one for those looking to skate around), warming 

hut, permanent lights, and, of course, a brand new 

Zamboni to resurface the ice. 

The group is excited to announce the rink open and 

ready for business. 

Now it’s time to get everything ready for the Second 

Annual Pavelich Invitational hockey game on Jan. 7. 

ophir athletics schedule 

dec. 16 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball @ ennis 

dec. 22 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball @ Sheridan 

Jan. 5 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball vs. Shields valley 

Jan. 6 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball @ gardiner 

Jan. 7 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball vs. twin Bridges 

Jan. 10 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball @ West 

yellowstone 

Jan. 12 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. omS Boys' Basketball @ gallatin 

gateway 

Jan. 14 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball @ Lima 

Jan. 16 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. omS Boys' Basketball @ heritage 

Christian School 

Jan.17 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball vs mt. ellis 

Jan. 19 4 p.m.– 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball vs. harrison, 

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. omS Boys' Basketball @ monforton 

School 

Jan. 21 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. LPhS Basketball vs ennis 

Jan. 26 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball @ Shields valley 

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. omS Boys' Basketball @ mt. ellis 

Jan. 27 omS 5th & 6th grade Boys' Basketball tournament 

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. LPhS Basketball vs. gardiner 

Jan. 28 omS 5th & 6th grade Boys' Basketball tournament 

Jan. 31 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. omS Boys' Basketball vs gvhS 


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end the bcs 

By Brandon niLeS 

It’s bowl season in college football, 

which means it’s time for my annual 

Bowl Championship Series rant. 

Every year there’s a controversy over 

which two teams are selected by the 

BCS to play in the National Championship 

game. Unlike virtually every 

other organized team sport (including 

FCS), the NCAA uses a complicated 

computer ranking system called the 

BCS to determine the two best football 

teams in the country. 

This year, it’s hard to argue that the 

undefeated LSU doesn’t deserve their 

spot, but many question the inclusion 

of Alabama, who already lost to LSU 

during the regular season. Both teams 

are in the Southeastern Conference, 

raising the usual questions of conference 

bias, and preference toward 

schools with large football programs. 

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has been 

strong all year, and likewise has only 

one loss. The team ranks No. 3 in the 

BCS. 

Stanford boasts arguably the best 

quarterback in the country, Andrew 

Luck, and it too has only one loss 

against an impressive Oregon team 

that played in the National Championship 

game last year. The BCS ranks 

Stanford No. 4. 

Are Oklahoma State and Stanford 

really not as deserving as Alabama for 

a shot at a national title this season? 

We’ll never know, because those two 

teams will be playing in the Tostitos 

Fiesta Bowl instead. 

Are Alabama and LSU the two best 

teams in the country? It’s certainly 

possible that they are, but we can’t say 

for certain. When a team in a lesser 

conference goes undefeated, such as 

the Boise State and TCU teams of recent 

years, are we certain that because 

their schedules aren’t perceived to 

be as difficult they don’t deserve a 

chance at a championship? 

Houston nearly went undefeated this 

year, but at no point did they ever 

have a legitimate chance at being selected 

for the title game. How can we 

tell the players for teams like Houston 

that the games they play in really 

matter? 

The solution is a playoff system. 

There are 11 conferences. Give every 

conference winner a playoff spot, 

and add five at large teams based on 

record, strength of schedule, and any 

other factors. With 16 playoff teams, 

that allows for a playoff system to run 

four consecutive weeks, similar to the 

FCS system. 

The bowl games can remain, but they 

would simply become playoff games. 

There’s no reason this wouldn’t work, 

and it would certainly mitigate the 

risk of leaving any of the best teams 

out of the hunt for the National 

Championship. 

Imagine if the NCAA decided to create 

a BCS system for other sports, like 

basketball. There would be no more 

upsets, no more March Madness, no 

more bracket games. Fans would be 

outraged. If the BCS applied to the 

NFL, the NBA, or the MLB, fans 

wouldn’t stand for it. 

This kind of system has never been 

considered for other sports because 

it’s ridiculous. Just as the BCS system 

is ridiculous for any other sport, it’s 

ridiculous for college football as well. 

The time has come to end the annual 

controversies. It’s time to install a 

playoff system in college football and 

end the BCS. 

Brandon Niles has done online freelance 

writing about the NFL since 

2007. His articles range from NFL 

news to team-specific commentary. A 

Communication Studies graduate student 

at the University of North Carolina 

Greensboro, Niles is also an avid 

Miami Dolphins fan, which has led to 

his becoming an avid Scotch whisky fan 

over the past decade. 

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new study reveals north america’s biggest dinosaur 

researchers from mSu and Pennsylvania publish work on alamosaurus 



Ellen-Thérèse Lamm thinly slices a dinosaur bone, 

then takes photographs of the fossils under a polarizedlight 

microscope. 

The images, which she 

describes as beautiful 

and intriguing, indicate 

different types of biological 

tissue, and show the 

orientation of fibers in 

the original bone. The 

thin-section slides and 

photomicrographs allow 

scientists to answer questions 

regarding dinosaur 

growth, physiology and 

even behavior. 

SCienCe 

New research has unveiled enormous 

bones from North America’s biggest 

dinosaur, Alamosaurus. 

In a paper published Dec. 6 in Acta 

Palaeontologica Polonica, MSU 

researcher Denver W. Fowler and 

coauthor Robert M. Sullivan from 

Harrisburg, Pa., describe two gigantic 

vertebrae and a femur that the team 

collected in New Mexico from 2003 

this serrated tyrannosaurus tooth was found with 

other alamosaurus bones, showing that these two 

dinosaur giants coexisted in the same ecosystem. 

image CourteSy of denver foWLer 

Polarized light passing 

through a thin-section of 

bone is split at different 

angles depending on the 

structure and organization of the crystal structures. It 

is then re-collected by an analyzer and delivered to the 

eye in a variety of colors and patterns. Manipulating 

light conditions allows analysis of the optical qualities 

of a sample, Lamm says, and also produces extraordinary 

images. 

to 2006. Carrying the vertebrae alone 

took most of a day because the paleontologists 

carried them 1.2 miles 

through 100-degree heat, Fowler 

said. 

Alamosaurus sanjuanensis is a longnecked 

plant eater related to Diplodocus. 

The Alamosaurus roamed what 

is now the southwestern U.S. and 

Mexico about 69 million years ago. 

Alamosaurus has been known for 

some time, 

Fowler says. Its 

remains were 

first described in 

1922 from the 

Naashoibito beds 

of New Mexico. 

Since then, more 

bones have been 

discovered in New 

Mexico, Utah, 

Texas and Mexico. 

Microscopic images of dino bones have intrigue, scientific significance 

Some of Lamm’s favorite images 

are part of a 2012 fundraising 

calendar that she produced 

for the museum of the 

rockies. “dinosaurs under the 

microscope – Paleohistology” 

has images of dinosaur bone, 

modern animal specimens, as 

well as photos of mSu graduate 

students and horner doing 

paleontological research. 

available in the museum of 

the rockies gift shop, the mSu 

Bookstore, in downtown Bozeman 

at Country Bookshelf and 

at morhistologylab.org. 

The sheer size of 

the new bones 

caught the researchers 

by surprise, 

however. 

“We used to think 

that a fully grown 

Alamosaurus 

measured around 

60 feet long and 

weighed about 

30 tons,” Fowler 

said. “But a 2009 

study by another 

As manager of the Gabriel Lab 

for Cellular and Molecular 

Paleontology at the Museum 

of the Rockies, Lamm receives 

material from dinosaur researchers 

worldwide. 

She’s one of very 

few people who 

does paleohistology 

techniques, 

meaning she’s a 

“slicer and dicer of 

dinosaur bones.” 

MSU researcher, Dr. Holly Woodward, 

found that a femur thought to 

belong to an adult was still growing.” 

While this indicated that Alamosaurus 

got even bigger, they didn’t imagine 

that it could get quite this big. 

The enormity of the new bones puts 

Alamosaurus in the same size league 

as other giant sauropods from South 

America, including Argentinosaurus, 

which weighed about 70 tons and is 

considered to be the biggest dinosaur 

of all. 

“Over the past 20 years, Argentinean 

and Brazilian paleontologists have 

been unearthing bigger and bigger dinosaurs, 

putting the rest of the world 

in the shade,” Fowler said. 

Their new finds, however, show not 

only that Alamosaurus was likely the 

largest North American dinosaur, but 

also that it was on par with the South 

American species. 

Giant specimens of sauropods like 

Alamosaurus and Argentinosaurus are 

only known from very fragmentary 

remains, offering only a tantalizing 

glimpse of what a complete Alamosaurus 

might look like, Fowler said. 

But in order to dig up one of the 

world’s biggest dinosaurs, you need 

one of the world’s biggest dinosaur 

digging teams. 

Working with paleontology 

curator 

Jack Horner, Lamm 

co-authored a recent 

paper that described 

the unique tissue 

growth strategies 

that Triceratops used 

to ultimately grow 

such a massive expanded frill. The paper 

was published in April in a French journal of paleontology 

and evolutionary sciences. 

This research supported the MSU discovery that Triceratops 

and were actually the same type of dinosaur at 

different stages of growth, with Torosaurus being the 

The Pennsylvania State Museum 

field crew is typically just two or 

three people, which limits how many 

bones can be collected per season, 

Fowler said. Even so, many important 

specimens have been recovered over 

the past 10 to 15 years, including new 

species, and other members of the 

fauna including the iconic carnivore 

Tyrannosaurus. 

“We found a shed Tyrannosaurus 

tooth with another Alamosaurus 

neck bone that we were excavating,” 

Fowler said. “The Tyrannosaurus may 

have lost its tooth while feeding on 

an Alamosaurus carcass.” 

The Alamosaurus discovery has important 

implications for other dinosaurs, 

Fowler said. Recent discoveries 

by paleontologist Jack Horner’s paleo 

lab at the Museum of the Rockies 

have emphasized the importance of 

understanding growth and origins in 

interpreting dinosaur evolution. 

“Increasingly, we’re finding that 

very large or small individuals often 

look very different, and are often 

described as different species,” 

Fowler said. “Our findings show that 

Alamosaurus was originally described 

based on immature material, [which 

is] a problem as characteristics that 

define a species are typically only 

fully gained at adult size. This means 

that we might be misinterpreting the 

relationships of Alamosaurus and 

possibly other sauropod dinosaurs 

too.” 

this image of a tyrannosaurus rex foot bone shows bone tissue 

that has been remodeled by erosion and re-deposition. the variety 

in color depends on the arrangement of mineral crystals and 

fibers in the bone. Each small black dot used to house a single 

bone cell. Some circular and elongated spaces for blood supply 

are also visible. Photo By eLLen-thérèSe Lamm 

mature adult stage of Triceratops, Lamm said. MSU 

graduate student John Scannella and Horner published 

that finding in July 2010 in the Journal of Vertebrate 

Paleontology, upending a long-standing belief that Triceratops 

and Torosaurus were different dinosaurs. 

Adapted from an article originally written by Evelyn 

Boswell 


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Birders have a strong information network 

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national databases that record public bird 

sightings. The citizen scientists that participate 

in bird-watching projects are essential to 

bird conservation, according to birdsource. 

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The annual Christmas Bird Count—which 

lasts from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 and is now in 

its 112th year—has tens of thousands of 

participants. Armed with binoculars, bird 

guides and checklists, families, students, 

birders and scientists spot and report on bird 

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CertiFied teCh rei bozeman 

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These wasted efforts and minutes 

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The Eggbar-Vise’s strength is its 

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outdoorS 

view of hylaite Canyon 

Photo By Brian niLeS 

the 15th annual 

bozeman ice 

climbing festival 

46 december 16, 2011 




The 15th annual Bozeman Ice Festival 

was the biggest one yet. Big sponsors 

like Arc’teryx showed up; on-ice 

clinics filled right away; and almost 

600 people packed the Emerson theatre 

for Friday and Saturday night’s 

evening presentations. 

“I think this is one of the best grassroots 

community-based consumer ice 

Festivals that’s ever been put together,” 

said Jack Tackle, a Montana 

native and world-renowned alpinist. 

From beginners to experts in the 

sport, and everything in between, it 

addressed everyone’s needs, Tackle 

said, especially the community and 

the social aspects of climbing. 

This year’s event featured a historical 

retrospective of waterfall ice climb- 

A 7-year-old excels his first day ice climbing Photo By Brian niLeS Photo By Brian niLeS 



ing over 40 years, and drew a host 

of climbing’s greatest characters, including 

climbing pioneer Jeff Lowe. 

Known for making more than 1,000 

cutting edge first ascents in North 

America, the Alps and the Himalaya, 

“Lowe was the most influential ice 

climber of all time,” said festival 

organizer and accomplished climber 

Joe Josephson. 

In a powerful moment on Saturday 

night, Lowe, now in a wheelchair 

with Multiple Sclerosis, came on 

stage and talked about his experiences 

climbing, and about what he 

remembered most: the places he 

visited, and the people he spent time 

with. 

Lowe struck upon the theme of the 

fest overall. Old friends and new, all 

tied by the bonds of adventure.

outdoorS 

groups prepare to hit the ice Photo By emiLy StifLer 

breaking through 

on Hyalite ice 

By marCie hahn-knoff 

big sky weekly Contributor 

Tiny bits of ice explode from the surface 

with each kick. I glance at my picks as I 

remove them carefully from the ice and 

whack them into the frozen surface a 

tiny bit higher. Their jagged structure 

reminds me of a 21st century pterodactyl 

skull. Spikes bristle from my feet. I 

try not to concentrate on how tiny the 

points of steel are that hold my body 

weight against gravity. 

I have never been much of an ice climber. 

Skiing has defined my winter sporting 

life for decades. Despite moving to the 

ice climbing mecca of Montana and 

marrying a member of the ice climbing 

mafia, I’ve only spent a handful of days 

out each year. Intimidated at being a 

novice in such a demanding sport, I was 

anxious about ascending too slowly and 

looking like a hack. 

Lack of snow and less then stellar ski 

conditions this year tipped the scales, inspiring 

me to take a Bozeman Ice Festival 

women’s clinic. I hoped climbing with 

a group of skilled ladies might help my 

technique and give me a better grip on 

climbing in winter. 

Single digit morning temperatures seep 

through the multiple layers of insulation 

and down I’m wearing. I focus on a 

fringe of sunny illumination growing on 

the ridgeline across the canyon—it will 

be hours before the sun’s warmth makes 

it our way. High on a snowy bench in 

Hyalite Canyon, our training ground for 

the day is Mummy II, which is currently 

busy with more women climbers than I 

recall ever seeing in Hyalite at once. 

On my first climb, I peck at the icy surface 

with unsure blows. Slowly I ascend, 

trying to apply the numerous tips on 

form and efficiency discussed before I 

stepped off the ground. But right away 

I revert to previous ice climbing experiences, 

grappling with what my body 

should be doing while my mind does 

summersaults—this the beginning of an 

all too common negative self-dialogue. 

Voices drift from below, a mix of encouraging 

words and helpful reminders. My 

mind snaps back to a more positive focus. 

Match your feet, stand up, hips into the 

ice, aim and fire your axes. The movements 

become more methodical and a 

system for success begins to develop in 

my actions. I continue moving upward. 

My movement is becoming more exact, 

and the reassuring thunks of well-sunk 

axes resonate through the air. 

As the day progresses, ladies succeed on 

harder climbs. The women in the group 

flow seamlessly between belaying and 

climbing, sharing reassuring thoughts 

and honest critiques on technique and 

style, questioning one another on goals, 

strengths and weaknesses for each climb. 

Laughter comes easily, and it occurs to 

me that despite the cold and at times wet 

conditions, I’m having a blast. 

Our time runs low and we head for the 

car. I am plainly aware that a transformation 

has happened. After one day, I’m 

already becoming a more confident ice 

climber. I am amazed at what is possible 

when a group of women venture into 

the mountains together. I’m already 

plotting my next visit to the ice. 

Marcie Hahn-Knoff handcrafts bombproof 

and creative collapsible hula hoops 

in the Gallatin Valley of Montana. 

hooplahulahoops.com 



three women climb mummy ii Photo By emiLy StifLer 


HOOPLAHULAHOOPS 


48 december 16, 2011 

noun: wild or rough terrain 

adjacent to a developed area 

origin: shortened form of 

“back 40 acres” 

Msu graduate head of new 

White House initiative 

By anne CantreLL 


This December, President Obama 

named a Montana State University 

graduate head of the newly created 

White House Initiative on 

American Indian and Alaska Native 

Education. 

William Mendoza, who earned 

a master's degree in educational 

leadership from MSU in 2010, will 

head the initiative that is designed 

to help expand educational opportunities 

and improve educational 

outcomes for all American Indian 

and Alaska Native students. 

The initiative also aims to further 

opportunities for the students 

to learn their native languages, 

This is how Big Sky gets 

into hot water. 

cultures and histories and receive a 

complete and competitive education 

that prepares them for college and a 

career. It was established by an executive 

order that President Obama 

signed Dec. 2. 

In a release from the U.S. Department 

of Education, Mendoza said 

the initiative will work to identify 

pathways that enable those who 

have dropped out to re-enter the 

education training pipeline, acquire 

industry-recognized credentials and 

obtain sustainable jobs, and expand 

access to high-quality education 

programs leading to career advancement, 

especially in the STEM (science, 

technology, engineering and 

math) fields. 

Nordic Hot Tub 

We service what we sell! 

Spa sales to fit your budget 

Pool and spa care after the sale 

Custom maintenance plans 

Spa covers and custom lifts 

Lots of accessories for your spa 

Special orders available 

www.BigSkyHotTubs.com 

(406) 995-4892 • NordicHotTub@aol.com 

47520 Gallatin Rd. • Big Sky, MT 59716 




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. 

“We're working 

hard to reduce the 

American Indian 

and Alaska Native 

student dropout 

rate and making 

sure students who 

stay in high school 

are ready to start 

their career by the 

time they complete 

college,” Mendoza 

said. 

Previously, Mendoza 

was acting director 

of the White 

House Initiative 

on Tribal Colleges 

and Universities, 

or WHITCU. The 

office works to 

ensure that the 

nation's tribal colleges 

and universities 

are more fully 

recognized, better 

informed and given 

full access to federal 

programs. 

Mendoza, who is an enrolled Oglala 

Sioux and has deep Sicangu Sioux 

roots, grew up on the Pine Ridge 

and Rosebud Indian Reservations in 

South Dakota. 

Before enrolling in MSU's Indian 

Leadership Education and Development, 

or I LEAD, program, Mendoza 

received a bachelor's degree from Fort 

Lewis College in Durango, Colo. He 

also attended Haskell Indian National 

University in Lawrence, Kan. 

Then, he worked as a high school 

teacher in Pine Ridge, S.D. He said 

earlier this year in an interview with 

MSU that he appreciated that teachers 

have a tremendous ability to make 

a difference in students' lives, but he 

was also frustrated by the limits of 

what he could do as a teacher. 

"Every time I let my students go out 

of my classroom, I felt like I was 

letting them go into harm's way," 

Mendoza said. "So I decided, 'I need to 

do more.'" 

With a desire to be more involved 

in school reform, Mendoza considered 

becoming a principal, where 

William mendoza, who earned a master's degree in 

educational leadership from montana State university 

in 2010, has been named head of the newly created 

White house initiative on american indian and 

alaska native education. Photo CourteSy of WiLLiam 

mendoza. 

he thought he would have opportunities 

to make lasting impacts. 

That's when he discovered MSU's I 

LEAD program, which, since 2006, 

recruited, educated, certified and 

placed American Indian educators 

in administrative positions in 

schools with high populations of 

American Indian students. 

"I was excited to see a program 

that catered to American Indians," 

Mendoza said. "At the time, I knew 

a lot of representatives of American 

Indians in (principal and superintendent) 

positions were few and far 

between." 

Mendoza said he left the program 

with "tremendous knowledge" and 

has been able to apply that knowledge 

to his work. 

U.S. Education Secretary Arne 

Duncan, who announced Mendoza's 

appointment, said Mendoza's 

"exceptional leadership in reinvigorating 

collaboration between 

federal agencies, educators and 

tribal leaders will be invaluable as 

we move forward in addressing the 

challenges that face our American 

Indian and Alaska Native students."

seCtion 4: 

entertainment//eventS//Ski areaS 






Winter concert series features local, international performers 

By Brian hurLBut 

big sky arts CounCil 

This winter, the Arts Council of 

Big Sky will host the ninth annual 

Peggy Dicken Schwer Memorial 

Fund Concert Series. These intimate 

dinner concerts are a great 

way to see and hear regional and 

international musicians, with great 

food served by some of Big Sky’s 

best chefs. 

The muir string Quartet 

Wednesday, Jan. 11, Talus Room at 

Big Sky Resort 

In its 33rd season, the nationally 

known Muir String Quartet has 

distinguished itself among audiences 

and critics with its “exhilarating 

involvement” (Boston 

Globe),"impeccable voicing and intonation" 

(San Francisco Examiner) 

and "unbridled musicality" (American 

Record Guide). The Muir is 

committed to the great European 

tradition learned from mentors, 

the Budapest and Guarneri string 

quartets. 

Licensed by Montana Board of 

Out tters #5278 and the Gallatin 

National Forest 

The bozeman Intermountain opera 

Thursday, Feb. 9, Buck’s T-4 Lodge 

This local opera company has been 

around since 1979, and has continued 

to grow and attract operagoers, not 

only in Bozeman, but from other parts 

of Montana and neighboring states as 

well. They will present a short opera, 

“Sweet Betsy From Pike,” and a selection 

of well-known arias. 

Dos mayos, with special guests 

michael blessing and eddie T 

Sunday, Feb. 26, Talus Room at Big Sky 

Resort 

This Bozeman group plays unique 

arrangements and adaptations of Latin, 

jazz, blues and Americana. Its distinctive 

style, with tight instrumental 

and vocal blends, makes Dos Mayos a 

standout in the region. Tana Mayo, a 

gifted vocalist, flutist and percussionist, 

has influences including Natalie Cole, 

Herbie Mann, Alison Krauss and Diane 

Schuur. Rich Mayo is an exceptional 

guitarist, vocalist and harmonica player 

who spent years writing, arranging and 

recording music, playing on everything 

from radio and TV jingles to musical 

Big Sky, Montana 

406-995-3888 

CDs. Michael Blessing 

brings a blend of percussion 

and rhythm to 

the group. 

Pavel egorov 

Saturday, March 24, 

Talus Room at Big Sky 

Resort 

Don't miss this 

incredible opportunity 

to hear one of the 

world's most decorated 

pianists. A graduate 

of Moscow State 

Conservatory and the 

St. Petersburg State 

Conservatory, Egorov 

lives in St. Petersburg 

and has performed in 

Big Sky once before. His awards include 

First Prize and Golden Medal from the 

Schumann International Competition 

in Zwickau, Germany, and the International 

Schumann Prize; and the Order 

of Polish Republic Merit in Culture. 

Mr. Egorov is also a renowned music researcher 

and scientific editor, Honorary 

Member of the Philharmonic Society 

in St. Petersburg, and an active member 

Featuring... 

of the St. Petersburg Department of 

Education and Scientific Development 

of the Russian Academy of Natural 

Sciences. 

The Arts Council of Big Sky is a nonprofit 

organization founded in 1989. Check 

bigskyarts.org for a complete schedule, 

or call the ACBS office at (406) 995- 

2742. Tickets are by reservation only 

and must be made by calling the office. 

Sleigh Ride Dinners 

Day Sleigh Rides 

Heated Sleighs 

Winter Trail Rides 

Fly Fishing 

COWBOY COOKOUTS 

Fun for the entire family! 

december 16, 2011 49 

CaC 

Big Sky, M 

406-995

December Music 

Sat. 12/17 Jeff Belino 5-7 p.m. 

10 ft. Tall and 80 Proof 9 p.m. 

($5 Cover) 

Fri. 12/23 Bottom of the Barrel 9 p.m. 

Sat. 12/24 Tom Marino 5-7 p.m. 

Fri. 12/30 

OPEN DAILY AT 11:30 A.M. 

50 december 16, 2011 

NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 

APRÉS SKI 

LUNCH & DINNER 




HEADQUARTERS 

The Boozehounds 9 p.m. 

($5 Cover) 

Sat. 12/31 Eli Madden 5-7 p.m. 

“New Year’s Eve Bash” The Tom 

Cook Band and the Boozehounds 

9 p.m. ($10 Cover)* 

*Patron Snowboard Giveaway at Midnight 

Open Mic Every Tuesday Night (Starting Dec. 6) 

Now offering 

NACHOS & 

QUESADILLAS! 

49 CENT WINGS 

during all NFL & College 

football games 

through Dec. 19th 

HAPPY 

HOUR 

MONDAY-FRIDAY 

4:00-6:00 P.M. 

$1 off any beer, wine 

or mixed drink 

LOCATED IN THE BIG SKY 

TOWN CENTER 

big sky, montana 

406-995-3830

Beer 

This seasonal brew is made once a 

year and based on Lone Peak’s popular 

Hippy Highway Oatmeal Stout. It’s 

aged in 18 year Elijah Craig bourbon 

barrels (from the Heaven Hills Distillery 

in Kentucky) for 3.5 months. 

The brew has a heavy bourbon character 

with vanilla tones and an oaky 

essence captured from the barrels. 

Served in a snifter or balloon style 

glass to express its specific aroma, this 

stout is the most anticipated release 

of the year, said brewmaster Steve 

Nordahl. 

Bourbon stout pairs well with beef 

and pork, especially the smoked kind. 

Nordahl has even used the stout to 

make ice cream, barbeque sauce and 

a bourbon stout reduction to use as a 

heavy drizzle. 

The batch is twice as big as last year’s, 

and is the largest Lone Peak has made 

since starting brewing the stout three 

years ago. There will be about 24 kegs 

available starting the week of Dec. 19. 

Get it before it’s gone! 

BourbonLabel 1 

Bottled Conditioned 

_____________________________________________ 

Steve T. Nordahl, Brewmaster 

_____________________________________________ 

Andy Liedberg, Assistant Brewer 

Bottle Number: Bottling Date: 

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon 

General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during 

pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption 

of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or 

operate machinery, and may cause health problems. 



lone peak brewery’s bourbon barrel stout 

By aBBie digeL 

big sky weekly editor 

J U L I E B L A K E L E Y 

BIG SKY RIVER PROPERTY FIRELIGHT CHALET 87 

Sleeps up to 10 comfortably in this spacious 3 

bedroom, 5 bath, San Marino on the Gallatin, log 

cabin. $694,000. Call to view. 

CEDAR CREEK 27 HILL CONDO 1200 

Fantastic valued ski condo in Big Sky! This first floor 

Cedar Creek condo has 2 BR, 2 BA, perfect for a 

family ski condo. $140,000. Call to view. 

3 BR, 3 BA, open floor plan, attached garage, 

impeccably furnished close to Town Center. 

$199,900. Call to view. 

This top floor Hill Condo has an unbelievable price 

and is in great condition! Remodeled recently, 440 

SF, studio, 1 BA, walk to the ski lifts. $50,000. Call 

to view. 

SPANISH PEAKS NORTH 77 CHACE MONTANA 2G 

With 4.39 acres amid mature trees and great views of Remodeled from the studs in 2005, this condo even 

the Spanish Peaks, you must see this lot! $375,000. has it’s own hot water heater and breaker box. Ideal 

for residential and/or commercial usage. 1 BR, 1 BA. 

$87,900. Call to view. 

J u l i e B l a k e l e y 

B i g S k y S o t h e b y s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l t y 

j u l i e . b l a k e l e y @ s o t h e b y s r e a l t y . c o m | + 1 4 0 6 . 5 7 9 . 6 4 7 3 

1 9 M e a d o w V i l l a g e D r i v e | Bi 

g S k y , M o n t a n a 59 

7 1 6 

©M M X I S o t h e b y ’ s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l t y A f f i l i a t e s L L C . A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e d . V i l l a g e H o u s e s , u s e d w i t h p e r m i s s i o n . S o t h e b y ’ s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l t y ® i s a l i c e n s e d t r a d e m a r k t o S o t h e b y ’ s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l t y A f f i l i a t e s L L C . A n E q u a l O p p o r t u n i t y 

C o m p a n y . E q u a l H o u s i n g O p p o r t u n i t y . E a c h O f f i c e I s I n d e p e n d e n t l y O w n e d A n d O p e r a t e d . 

750 ml (1 pint 9.36 oz.) 

OPENING 

WINTER 

SEASON 

HOUSE SPECIALTIES 

Herb Crusted Fish & Chips 

Big Sky Shepherd’s Pie 

10 oz NY Steak 

Veal Schnitzel 

Oven Roasted Cornish Game Hen 

PLUS 

Small Plates 

Sandwiches 

Burgers 

& HOME 

OF THE 

20 OZ 

DRAFT 

Happy Hour: 4:00 - 5:00 pm 

Dinner: 6:00 - 10:00 pm 

Sunday Brunch: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm 

Located in the Meadow Village 

Big Sky, Montana 

Call 406-993-7111 for more information 


december 16, 2011 51 

T 

h 

Se 

Hippy H 

to impr 

brew in 

than th 

tributes 

acter to 

bottled 

the flav 

and evo 

balloon 

cific aro 

beer. En 

(well...p

Word from the reSortS 

big sky resort 


By greer SChott 


Big Sky Resort has been opening more terrain as the 

season progresses, and the slopes are skiing great. 

Even without a lot of fresh powder, the resort has 

opened over 700 acres and the snow has stayed 

soft—just take a few turns in the Bowl and you’ll see 

for yourself. 

Come check out what’s new in the Mountain Village. 

The Solace Spa and Salon, a new 3,000 square 

foot spa with seven treatment rooms, men’s and 

ladies locker rooms, and full salon services including 

hair and nails, will open this weekend. Two new 

shops are open in the Village Center—CR.eations 

yarn shop and the Willow women’s boutique. 

New digital on-mountain signs now make it easier 

to navigate the mountain, and as more terrain opens 

skiers can check out five new gladed runs on Andesite. 

Big Sky Resort has also opened a new winter 

laser tag course—sign up for a game in basecamp. 

Big Sky is excited for the upcoming season with 

great holiday and winter events. Christmas and New 

Years will be action-packed with food, live entertainment, 

and special events like fireworks and skiing 

with Santa. Check out bigskyresort.com/events 

for complete details as well as January events like 

SnoBar, an on-mountain party with a bar and dance 

floor completely made of snow. 

lone Mountain ranch 


Lone Mountain Ranch’s nordic trails, outdoor 

shop, sleigh rides and dining room opened in mid- 

December. 

New this year is a lower priced day trail pass at 

$18. Also, the ranch will offer a day sleigh ride 

with a bonfire, hot chocolate and cookies. Nordic 

ski lessons and wildlife tours into Yellowstone will 

also be available. 

The ranch’s new executive chef and food and 

beverage director, Bill Baskin, has returned to 

Big Sky with his wife after a 10 year hiatus. The 

dining room and saloon are open Monday through 

Saturday for lunch and dinner, and will be open for 

guests only on Christmas eve. 

Join the ranch for their Grand Christmas Buffet on 

Christmas day, featuring ice and cheese sculptures, 

edible gingerbread villages, a large selection of 

roasted meats, a seafood bar, and pastries. On New 

Year’s Eve there will be two seatings in the dining 

room with four and five course menus, fireworks 

and live music. 

This year the saloon will serve food and feature 

live music three nights a week. It will also serve 

a different burger each month, daily small plate 

specials, and Montana beer and American spirits. 

They are part of Lone Peak Brewery’s communal 

beer program. 

Other special activities begin Jan. 1, including a 

Sunday brunch, Wednesday farm dinners with 

wine and brew pairings, and trail buffets on Fridays. 

Call the dining room for reservations (406) 

995–2782. a.D. 

52 december 16, 2011 


Moonlight basin 


Moonlight Basin opened on Dec. 10 to sunny skies 

and smiling faces. Conditions remain the same: packed 

powder. 

“We need more snow before the upper mountain 

opens, but we’ve got people coming and enjoying the 

lower terrain,” said ski patrol dispatch. The upper 

mountain will open when snow levels permit. 

It’s worth checking out Moonlight’s new amenities, 

including the North Slope Deli, Jack Creek Grille and 

Bar, and the new Moonlight Mercantile in the Lodge. 

Also new is the "Freestyle Forest," a tight terrain park 

with fun features and whoop de doo’s made of natural 

features, and new gladed runs. 

Join Moonlight during the holidays for Turkey for a 

Ticket on Dec. 16, a Christmas Eve Service, and ski 

with Santa on Christmas day. 

It’s not too late to join the Gold Club, where members 

can enjoy locker storage and pool, hot tub and workout 

facility access. Members can also benefit from discounts 

at Moonlight eateries, gear shops, boutiques 

and accommodations. a.D 

Maverick Mountain 

Polaris 

Maverick set a record in 2010/2011, for their highest 

number of skiers with 9,599 visits. That’s not a lot, 

which means more powder for everyone. 

Summer crews removed more than 3,000 beetle killed 

trees from trail edges and along the lift line. Working 

with the Forest Service, they are developing a Vegetation 

Management Plan to project the desired future 

condition of the mountain. The plan will be a proactive, 

science-based approach to forest management. 

Maverick will increase ticket prices and season pass 

rates this year to keep pace with operating costs. 

“These are difficult decisions to balance the cost of 

services and maintain affordable skiing in our community,” 

wrote general manager and owner Randy 

Shilling in the fall newsletter. 

Mav’s voicemail says there’s at least 8-15 inches on the 

hill, and they’re waiting for more snow to open. 

discovery ski area 

Philipsburg 

Disco has been open weekends only, and opens Monday, 

Dec. 19 seven days a week. 

“We got lucky and picked up about a foot of snow in 

early December,” said Ciche Pitcher, who is the ski 

area’s vice president and resort operations manager. 

“We’re in the same boat as everyone else right now. 

While we’ve got some snow, we haven’t had anything 

new in a while.” 

The front side is open, and the weekend of Dec. 10 was 

the busiest so far this season. Pitcher estimates they 

need another 12-18 inches to open the backside, hopefully 

by Christmas day. 

Disco’s big news for the year: A new triple chairlift has 

replaced the old blue Jubilee lift. The new lift is faster, 

because they moved the bottom terminal up. e.s> 



rendezvous ski trails 

West yellowstone 

After a big push during Thanksgiving week, Rendezvous 

nordic trails in West Yellowstone are cranking 

along at full swing. The early snow allowed 

Rendezvous to open all 35 kilometers of trails, including 

five kilometers of new trails and connectors 

that meander through the existing trail network. 

The Yellowstone Ski Festival over Thanksgiving had 

great turnout, said Dan Cantrell, the director of the 

Yellowstone Ski Festival and the West Yellowstone 

Ski Education Foundation. “In the past a good year 

has been about 3,000, and I think we met that or 

exceeded it this year.” 

This is going to be a busy year, with a lot of new 

stuff going on, Cantrell said. 

On the weekend of Dec. 10, they broke in a new 

biathalon course with a biathlon NORAM, bringing 

international athletes to town. 

The weekend of Dec. 17 hosts a SPAM cup with 

divisions for everyone, and a National Guard biathalon 

camp, and the brand new Kids n’ Snow program. 

Designed to promote active lifestyles, the program 

takes kids cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and 

ice skating. All are welcome. 

Head down to West with the skinny skis, because 

according to Cantrell, the trails are “skiing really, 

really well.” e.s. 

bridger bowl 

Bozeman 

By Jamie kuJaWa 

Bridger opened lower mountain terrain the weekend 

of Dec. 9, running its Snowflake and Powder Park 

lifts. With October storms the last two falls, Bozemanites 

have gotten accustomed to excellent early 

season conditions, but this year has been a slower 

start. 

This dry weather isn’t unusual, says Doug Wales, 

Bridger’s sales and marketing director. Wales started 

there in the early ‘80s, and he recalls the resort 

sometimes didn’t open until mid-January. 

Even so, Wales says, there were a “decent number of 

folks relative to what we have to offer [on opening 

weekend].” The vibe around the hill was optimistic: 

People smiled as they loaded the quad, passes were 

still being sold, and the reservations are up from last 

year at this time. 

Wales is also staying positive, and he encourages 

patience. Skiers could be unloading at the Bridger 

lift mid-station by next week, he says, as long as 

overnight temperatures remain low enough to blow 

snow. 

“Powder tends to erase bad memories,” Wales 

added, recounting how much things can change 

after one storm. But until it snows, early season 

conditions remain. Although hiking above the Powder 

Park lift is allowed while upper mountain lifts 

remain closed, it’s not recommended. Check with 

ski patrol for updates and advisories.

Word from the reSortS 

moonlight 

basin 

rail jam 

big sky town center 

dec. 2, 2011 

PhotoS By Brent day 

bridger bowl opening day 

pHotos by JaMie kuJaWa 




Jack creek grille takes the 

place of the former timbers 

new facilities owned and operated by 

moonlight Basin 

Moonlight Basin has 

three new dining options 

in the Moonlight 

Lodge, the North Slope 

Deli, Jack Creek Bar and 

the Jack Creek Grille. 

These facilities were 

formerly operated under 

the name Timbers. 

Now named after the iconic Jack 

Creek Road, a gated 10-mile dirt 

road that winds through a wilderness 

preserve and drainage west of 

Big Sky, the new restaurant will be 

genuine and friendly, with beautiful 

presentation and fine dining, according 

to Karen Lum, Moonlight’s 

marketing director. 

The new format allows a lower 

price point, said Greg Pack, General 

Manager at Moonlight. 

“We were trying to make sure that 

families could visit us a couple 

times during their stay and create 

an environment that locals would 

consider a regular spot,” Pack said. 

The menu is family friendly with 

as much local food as possible, said 

executive chef Eric Stenberg. 

“We’d like to call it American food. 

It’s grill style, with steaks, seafood, 

pasta, lasagna. It’s comfort food, in a 

sense.” 

The bartenders will strive to know 

your face and recognize you, if not 

know your name, Lum added. 

“They will know your favorite 

drink and mix special ones not 

found on the menu because... it’s 

fun and makes our guests feel 

special. You can count on value and 

high quality.” e.s. 




eventS planning an eVent? let us know! email abbie@theoutlawpartners.com and we’ll spread the word. 

big sky 

Military appreciation Weekend 


Dec. 17 – 18 

Jeff belino and 10 foot tall and 

80 proof liVe 

Choppers 

Dec. 17, 5 p.m 

season kick off party 


Dec. 17 

open Mic nigHt 

Choppers 

Every Tuesday 

buck's t-4 annual Holiday party 

Dec. 18, 6 p.m. 

bottoM of tHe barrel liVe 

Choppers 

Dec. 23, 9 p.m. 

cHristMas eVe actiVities 


Dec. 24 

toM Marino liVe 

Choppers 

Dec. 24, 5 – 7 p.m. 

cHristMas eVe serVice & 

celebration 


Moonlight Lodge 

Dec. 24, 5 p.m. 

ski WitH santa 


Dec. 25 

JaiMe pierre faMily fundraiser 

Buck’s T-4 

Dec 26, 7 p.m. 

Call Doug Timm 581-0142 

faMily nigHt WitH MoonligHt 

Madison Village Base Area 

Dec. 29, 5 – 8 p.m. 

neW years eVe actiVities 


Dec. 31 

Half Moon saloon 9tH annual 

neW year’s eVe celebration 

ft. the Codi Jordan Band 

Dec. 31, 9:30 p.m. 

neW years eVe basH 

Choppers 

Dec. 31, Starting at 5 p.m. 

bozeMan 

Holiday bazaar 

The Emerson 

Dec. 17, 10 a.m. 

bbbs gift Wrap bootH 

Gallatin Valley Mall 

M-S 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. 

Sun. 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 

Christmas Eve 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

nutcracker in a nutsHell 

The Emerson 

Dec. 16 – 17 

cHristMas bird count 

Perkins Restaurant 

Dec. 17, 7 a.m. 

cHristMas tea 

Gallatin Gateway Inn 

Dec. 18, 2 p.m. 

cHristMas cookie decorating 

Leaf & Bean 

Dec. 18, 2 p.m. 

irVing berlin’s WHite cHristMas 

The Ellen Theater 

Sunday Matinees 3 p.m. 

All other shows 7:30 p.m. 

Thru Dec. 23 

torcHligHt parade, fireWorks 

display & spagHetti dinner 

Bridger Bowl 

Dec. 30, 4 p.m. 

neW year’s eVe dance 

The Emerson 

Dec. 31, 8 p.m. 

West 

yelloWstone 

cHristMas for tHe critters 

Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center 

Dec. 15 – 31 

sled dog races 

Rodeo Run 2011 

Dec. 15 – 17 

kids and snoW eVent 

Dec. 15 – 17 

Kidsnsnow.org to register 

s’Mores and More 

West Yellowstone Ice Rink 

Dec. 17, 6 – 9 p.m. 

spaM cub #1 classic race 

Rendezvous Ski Trails 

Dec. 17 

cHristMas bird count 

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center 

Dec. 18, 8:30 a.m. 

Winter snoWsHoe prograM 

U.S. Forest Service Hebgen Lake Ranger 

Station 

Dec. 29, 1 p.m. 

paradise Valley 

united blood driVe 

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 

Call Bob 222-009 

splendid feast 

The Elling House 

Virginia City 

Dec. 16 - 17, 6:30 p.m. 

feliX naVi-Vaude, Holiday 

Variety act 

Crazy Mountain Productions 

Dec. 16 - 18 

Call for time 222-1420 

Honky tonk Heros 

Chico Hot Springs 

Dec. 16-17, 8 p.m. 

Holiday ligHts coMMittee preligHting 

party 

Civic Center 

Dec. 17, 6 p.m.\ 

MoonligHt lodge neW year’s eVe party 

Dec. 31, 2011—Ring in 2012 

with Moonlight! The Moonlight 

Lodge New Year's Eve Party features 

dinner from Jack Creek Grille, live 

music, party favors and champagne 

as the ball drops. 

Dinner: 6 – 9 p.m. 

Music: 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. 

907 britt and ricHie reinHoldt 

(SiNgER/SoNgwRitER) 

Norris Hot Springs 

Dec. 17 

speakeasy sultry blues 

Pink Creek Café 

Dec. 17, 7 p.m. 

JoHn loWell (aMericana) 


Dec. 18 

solstice celebration 

Rainbow Ark 

Dec. 22, 5 – 8 p.m. 

tHe dirty sHaMe 


Dec. 23, 8 p.m. 

cost 

$120 per person includes party 

favors, champagne, music and 

dinner. $25 after 9 p.m. includes 

party favors, champagne and music. 

Reservations can be made with the 

Mountain Concierge. Max 150 

people. 

toM MurpHy (tHerMal grass) 


Dec. 23 

coMMunity cHristMas dinner 

Civic Center 

Dec. 25, 12 – 2 p.m. 

KENt JoHNSoN (SiNgER/ 

songWriter) 


Dec. 30 

neW years basH 

ft. Archer’s Mob 

Pine Creek Café 

Dec. 31, 7 p.m. 

siX strings doWn 

Classic Rock & Blues 


Dec. 30 - 31, 8 p.m. 

pierre family fundraiser set for dec. 26 

in the wake of Jamie Pierre’s untimely death, the Big Sky community 

is coming together to support his family. the Big Sky Chaplain’s 

association is working with the ski resorts and many individuals 

to host a fundraiser. 

“even though [the Pierres] are new to the community, i think 

Jamie had touched a bunch of people here,” said moonlight Basin’s 

general manager greg Pack. “our goal is to help out a local 

family in need.” 

Pack said everyone he’d spoken with was more than willing to be 

part of the fundraiser, asking how to help. 

amee (Jamie’s wife) wants to make sure the fundraiser is a celebration 

of Jamie’s life, Pack added. 

“She said Jamie would want it to be a lighthearted event. to 

celebrate the fun in life. he was fairly easy going, and would want 

people to celebrate that way.” 

Pack and professional skier Scot Schmidt will emcee the evening, 

which will include a "dine around" format with food from area 

restaurants. items will be auctioned off, and all proceeds will go to 

the Pierres. 

“the Big Sky Chaplains exist to communicate the good news of 

Jesus Christ and to help in tangible ways in critical times,” said 

doug timm, the Pierres’ pastor. “But we could not do it alone. the 

community has really helped.” 

Schmidt notes the mark Pierre left on the ski community as a 

whole, calling him a true inspiration: 

“although we moved in the same circles for many years, our 

paths only recently crossed,” he said. “getting to know Jamie was 

easy. his approach was bold, and his courage was infectious. his 

death has stirred our emotions, but it is his life that will inspire us 

forever.” e.s. 

details: 

dec. 26, 7 p.m. at Buck’s t-4 Lodge 

evening will include silent auction, food and cash bar. 

$10 donation 

to submit an auction item, contact doug timm at 581-0142, or 

drop items off at the Outlaw office in the Big Sky Meadow Village.

the cave 

Spirits & Gifts 

BIG SKY’S 

FULL SERVICE LIQUOR STORE 

UNIQUE MONTANA GIFTS 

Shirts 

Hats 

Books 

Jewelry 

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK • 406-995-4343 

Located in TOWN CENTER at the 

corner of HWY 64 and OUSEL FALLS ROAD 

MONTANA STATE 

LIQUOR STORE 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

Located in the Big Horn Center, north of signal light, at corner 

of Hwy 191 & Lone Mtn Trail, across from Bugaboo Café 

The only Consignment Store in Big Sky! 

Your local, best store for the resale 

of quality, lightly used: 

• Home Furnishings / kitchen items & appliances 

• Furniture for all rooms / lamps, etc. 

• Artwork, wall hangings, décor items 

• Clothing (winter): women’s, men’s & children’s 

• Sports gear & sports clothing 

• Electronics + CDs, Videos & DVDs 

• Christmas & holiday decorations 

• and much, much more... 

Open: Tues – Sat, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Sun, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Closed on Mondays 

Call: Janine & Dick @ 406-993-9333 

Tickets 

$15 

Saloon Doors open 9:30 p.m. 

Party favors, champagne toast, 

fire spinner and bonfire 

with opening band Junior Giant 

The CJB is an energetic and fun Reggae Rock outfit from Salt 

Lake City, Utah. If you are a fan of artists like Sublime, Slightly 

Stoopid and Passafire, the Codi Jordan Band will blow you away. 

CJB has played the Mandalay in Las Vegas and Sundance Film 

Festival. 

New Year’s Eve Dinner 6-9 p.m. 

available in the dining room with reservation 


Located on the banks of the 

Gallatin River on Hwy 191 

Shuttles at 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. 

More information & advance 

tickets 1-406-995-2928 or 

1-406-993-9666 


fun 

Letters to Santa 

from letters written by local children at the big sky christmas stroll 

Dear Santa, 

Hi my name is Kimderly. 

I am wondering about 

the reindeer. has eny 

presents? You need a 

break. 

Love, Kimderly 

56 december 16, 2011 


Dear Santa, 

I love you! I want 

you to travel safe 

with the reindeer. 

Merry Xmas 

Dear Santa, 

I have been pretty good 

this year I would love the 

etable good-tasting glow 

in the dark recipie but it 

is your choice 

Sincerely, Michael 

Dear Santa, 

Hi my name i Kimderly. 

I am wondering adout 

the reindeer? has enay 

presents? You need a 

brake. Love, Kimderly 

Dear Santa, 

May I have a real puppy 

from Madison 


Dear Santa, 

nerf gun, snowmobile, 

reindeer - I want it 

to be a surprise 


Dear Santa, 

Hi! may I please have 

some American Girl Doll 

clothes? I hope the 

reindeer are good. 

Love, Nehalem 

Dear Santa, 

I like presents. 

Cody 

I lovewuoy 

outlaws became elves at Big Sky's Christmas Stroll - Chris davis and 

taylor anderson with Santa

New Year's Eve Bash - Explore Big Sky

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