GLACIER, YELLOWSTONE & MOREMONTANA COUNTRY. page 120

THE BIG BUSINESS OFCRAFT BREWERIES. page 114

TOM BROKAW ON FLY FISHING ANDTHE STATE'S FUTURE. page 107

""~

What is Montana's future?Unlimite'd.lt has great natural resources, resourceful citizens and afrontier spirit of getting the job done-however difficult.

•

~U:."il1~':J:II1:(;WJBC News special correspondent;

boo~author and Montanaresident

insightfulness that's behind the $340 million inreserves the state enjoys today.

Montana's tax and regulatory environmentcontinues to attract businesses from all over theworld, and it ranks as the sixth most tax-friendlystate in the nation. "With many states, you haverip-and-run industrial types that want no regula­tion on one side and those that would rather notsee any development at all on the other," saysBarrett. "In Montana, we handle economic devel­opment from the political middle-we say yes todeveloping what will strengthen our economy,but in a way that is always congruent with ourquality of life."

But what makes Montana such a draw tocompanies is the Treasure State's third advan­tage-its global-minded leadership that startswith a governor who understands what the stateneeds to stay on top nationally and interna­tionally. "Montana isn't just competing againstColorado and Indiana-we're also competing

(Continued on page lIO)

What's your favorite place to visit?Tough to pick a favorite, but a day floating and fishing the YellowstoneRiver between Livingston and Big Timber is hard to beat. Eagles over­head, moose along the shore, fat rainbow trout rising to the fly and

the knowledge tha,t Clark [of Lewis and Clark] and Sacajawea madetheir way along this water makes it pretty special.

What makes Montana unique?No other state except Alaska has as much variety and as few

people-and Montana is a lot closer to everyone except polar bears.

What do you enjoy most about Montana?Wherever I go in the Big Sky State I am reminded that here naturerules. I am humbled by the vast range of wilderness, mountain ranges,free-flowing rivers, open prairie and the "just folks" attitude 0f thepeople, who have a special reverence for the wildlife.

By Myatt Murphy

'M ontana has a lot to be proud of. Being oneof only two states in the nation in theblack may be an impressive accomplish­

ment on its own. But when the u.s. Chamber ofCommerce and National Chamber Foundationalso rank it the No. I state for entrepreneurshipand overall business start-up activity, Montana isleft with little choice but to accept its place as aleader the rest ofthe nation should listen to andlearn from.

"For the last seven years, we've had one of thefastest-growing economies in the United States,"says Evan Batrett, chief business development of­ficer for the governor's office of economic devel­opment. According to Barrett, three distinctiveadvantages have allowed Montana to dominatewhile other states dwindle in today's harsh fiscaltimes, the first being its unshakable economythat's based in resource (mining), commodity(agriculture) and energy.

Montana ranks second in coal-productiongrowth-it's the No. I producer ofcertified organic wheat-and isthe second-fastest-growing oil­producing state in the nation.You might think that under­pinnings that extraordinarywould be enough to rely on,but that's where Montana'ssecond-most-valuable advan­tage-its tremendous fiscalmanagement-helps companiesfrom other emerging sectors (such asaerospace and biotech) benefit fromits bountiful economy.

"Because of the continuousgrowth we've had-particularly inenergy-we're able to draw a sub­stantial amount of tax dollars fromthat sector instead of our citizens orthe companies looking to make theirstart here," says Barrett. "The gover­nor has also been very prudent withthe state's money in both good timesand bad, insisting that we run thegovernment like a ranch. Meaning,when we have a little extra grain inthe bin one year, we keep it in therefor the bad year." It's that economic

dettaskymag.com January 2011 107

AN lJNCOMMO~~ WII~TERFrom Yellowstone to Glacier National Parks and all of the off-the-beaten­path places in between, Montana is a place where ski areas and scenictrails far outnumber freeways. And spirited small towns are still going strong.

MILLIONS OF ACRESOF UNTRACKED POWDERMontana offers a boundless range ofsnowy experiences to indulge nearlyevery wintry whim. Floating throughdeep snow at one of Montana's 16storied ski areas frequently comes tomind, But the options are as vast asthe Rocky Mountain landscape and thebig blue skies above. Strap on a pair ofsnowshoes, take off on cross-countryskis or get a cozy snowcoach tour ofmajestic wildlife. Soak in a natural hotsprings, mush a team of sled dogs or trysome off-season fly-fishing.

TWO NATIONAL PARKSWinter is when the adventuresome willbe rewarded with a unique national parkencounter and fewer crowds. Some folksreconnect with winter at YellowstoneNational Park watching world-famousgeysers and hot pots interplay with deepsnow while wild animals roam, Otherfolks enter into the solitude of GlacierNational Park to witness its ruggedpeaks sparkle, aptly earning it theesteemed name Crown of the Continent.Get there on snowshoes, skis or withthe assistance of a backcountry guide.

LIFTS WITHOUT LINESMontana's downhill powder pursuits arethe way skiing used to be. Unpretentious,not crowded and offering the amplechance to carve big, snow-whiteturns. Experience some of the nation'stop-rated, amenity-laden resorts orthe down-home, mom-and-pop skimountains. End your day at a local cafewith hot cocoa and warm berry cobbler.

MONTANAWINTERMT.COM

SIXTEENUNDISCOVEREDSKI AREAS

DAY AREAS WITH LIFT

TICKETS UNDER $37

1 Bear Paw Ski Bowl

2 Blacktail Mountain

3 Great Divide

4 Lost Trail Powder Mountain

5 Maverick Mountain

6 Teton Pass

7 Turner Mountain

HIDDEN GEMS FOR A

WEEKEND GETAWAY

8 Bridger Bowl

9 Discovery Basin

10 Lookout Pass

11 Montana Snowbowl

12 Showdown Montana

DESTINATION RESORTS

WITH NO LIFT LINES

13 Big Sky Resort

14 Moonlight Basin

15 Red Lodge Mountain

16 Whitefish Mountain

IN A SENSE IT WAS NEVER CONQUERE-D AT ALLWest of the 100th meridian the traveler came upon a land that required of him new skills to traverse itand different techniques to conquer it. Indeed, so formidable was this land that in a sense it was never

conquered at all. - K. Ross Toole, Montana, An Uncommon Land. M 0 NTA NAWINTERMT.COM

Whitefish Mountain Resort

What motivated you to become governor?SCHWEITZER: I didn't have any mentors who werein politics-in fact, I don't think my family even knewa lawyer. But as your children grow up and you beginasking the critical questions abiDut why things arebeing done a certain way, eventually someone says, "Ifyou're so passionate about it, why don't you run?"

What's the hardest part of your day?SCHWEITZ£R,: The bureaucracy-the constant stream of folks who say,"Should we print this in blue or black?" I tell them life's too short to worryabout the color of the paper or the measurement of the drapes-whatreally matters are the people.

in wind-power growth-soaring from a singlemegawatt to 386 megawatts-among states withat least 250 megawatts and increasing our windportfolio at the fastest rate in the country."

A big reason so many business opportunitiesexist in Montana is the ability of its leaders tothink forward. "We may be predominantly anenergy state because we have every form of itall in one place-from traditional to renewableenergy-but we recognize that those who owninnovation own the future," says Schweitzer.

One step toward securing its leadership rolein energy-and maintaining its tax-friendlybusiness platform for new and emerging sectorsto grow in-is a new proposal to use energyrevenue to invest in the Montana Institute ofTechnology and Energy (or MITE-pronounced"mighty"). "We still have 120 billion tons of coalhere in Montana, and over the next 30 to 40years, we'll probably mine 2 or 3 billion of thatamount-generating between $7 biUion and $10billion," says Schweitzer. "We're looking to take$2 billion of that tax money to divide betweenscholarships and to start the institute."

If implemented, "it will give Montana theopportunity to not only reinvest in the nextgeneration so that we have the right engineerswhen coal is no longer the energy source," saysSchweitzer, "but also help us attract the finest sci­entists and engineers from Montana and aroundthe world to develop the energy technologies oftomorrow." It's that type of tenacity that con­tinues to move Montana into the forefront ofeconomic activity in the nation-and ensures asteady, successful financial future for the state,as well as for the businesses that are based belowthe Big Sky.

'just because someone says to us, 'That's theway it's going to be,' doesn't mean a damn thinghere in Montana," says Schweitzer. "Every day,Montanans ask questions such as, 'How come?'and 'What if?' and 'Why not?' That's who weare-and that's why you'll always find things,places and people in Montana that you won't findanyvvhere else on Earth-we've got extraordi­nary landscapes, wonderful wildlife and a wholestate of 'what-if-ers.''' ~:'

~'l'J~:l(r'J:1:J:1r:.'~10111:j~'J:t,t4:t:1

(Peak continuedfrompage I07)with China and India," says Governor BrianSchweitzer.

That mindset has helped Montana look atwhat's possible in the state-and turn everyprobable into something potential. "In 2005,

Montana was practically in last place in electric­ity production from wind power~even thoughthe state has the best resources for wind devel­opment," says Schweitzer. "Today, we're No. I

Before taking office in Z005, theformer cattle-ranch kid transformed

himself Into one of the world's leadi"gauthorities in irrigation development.

After working overseas for decades,Schweitzer brought his global-minded leadershipback home to help create more jobs at higher wages

and cut more taxes for more Montanans n. Nowhis attention is tUToed to endingthe nation's

addiction to foreign oil.

,~ Why did you study agriculture?SCHWEITZER. As the fourth of six kids all I knew is thatI wanted to see the world, so I got a bachelor's degree in

international agronomy from Colorado State University anda master's in soil sCience from Montana State University, be-

cause I knew that engineers who knew how to grow things wereneeded throughout the world.

How do you de-stress from your job?SCHWEITZER: This is going to sound kooky to highfalutin people, but thebest thing' can do is get in my pickup with my dogs and off we go to the

mountains. Maybe I'll catch a fish f,i, maybe Iwon't. It just gives me a chanceto think about the world so I'm refreshed, renewed and ready for life.

The business of The state'sbeer and tech top schools

PUBUSHEO BY

MSP Custom Contentand the editors ofSKY magazinemspcustomcontent.com

DIRECTOR Of ClTY ANDREGIONAL SECTIONS

Carsten MorganOIRECTOR, aUS1NESSDEVELDPMENl

Toby Childs

MARKETING MANAGER

Lauren Peyton

ARl DIRECTOR

Ted Rossiter

EDITOR

JenniferBlaiseKramer

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

KaraEliason

PROFILE:

MontanaBig Sky's six regionstoknow

120

118114

110 January 2011 deltilskymag,com

BRAGGING RIGHTS:GovernorSChweitzerwasthenation'sfirstgovernor lDendorse

the 25x25 lnitiative-anationwideeffort to passlederaJ leglsjabon requIr-

ing 25percentolU.s.energydemandlobl!

suppliedby renewableenergy by 2025

.'

While other states are busy mending theirfiscal wounds, Montana's economycontinues to climb-rising 65 percent in

the last decade alone. It's an achievement that'shelping the state nurture other emerging sec­tors-including health care, biotechnology andaerospace-that are beginning to look as promis­ing as other Montana mainstays such as tourism,the state's fastest-growing industry, currentlybringing $1.8 billion into the region annually.

But to grasp the global presence Montana willsoon become, you have to understand how influ­ential the state already is. With 60.8 million acresof farmland to work with, Montana's annual $2.9billion agriculture business doesn't simply fuelits economy; it feeds millions of people nation­ally and abroad. The state already ranks thirdin u.s. wheat and barley production and sitsamong the top six states when it comes to lentils,honey, durum wheat, wool, flaxseed, lamb anddry edible peas. Moving forward, Montana isfiguring out even more ways to turn itsmany crops into major capital by creat­ing new value-added products (suchas pasta and malt for brewing beer) todeveloping cleaner fuel alternatives(including ethanol and biodiesel).

Although it may have earned itsnickname, the Treasure State, duringits Gold Rush days, Montana maintainsit by being the top producer in theUnited States of talc and granite, thirdin the production of industrial gar­nets and one of the world's largest producers ofpolysilicon, a key component used in solar-panelconstruction.

Montana's riches are spread statewide, fromThe Washington Companies' copper mines inButte to Revert Minerals' Rock Creek project in

Sanders County (said to contain an estimated229 million ounces of silver). The state's largestmine employer is Stillwater Mining Company,one of only a handful of companies in the worldproducing platinum and palladium, two valu­able elements used not only in jewelry, but alsoin cars and jet engines to control emissions andpollutants.

"Both platinum and palladium are critical tothe world's future when it comes to clean air,"says the company's chairman and CEO, FrankMcAllister. "But this year, we're putting a fuel­cell demonstration plant in place to show thatpalladium can also be used for fuel cells, whichwill double the world's resources."

Plants and precious metals aren't the onlyvaluable things you'll find in Montana soil. Withthe most diverse mix of energy resources in the

country, Montana is already rated first in windenergy potential (Class 3 and above). It'salso one of only a handful of states thatincreased its oil production in recentyears (40 percent from 2004 to 2008),courtesy of sharing the Bakken oilplay-the fifth-largest known depositof oil in North America-with NorthDakota and southeastern Saskatchewan.The state also has more than 15 "hotspots" suitable for geothermal energydevelopment and houses the largest coalreserves in the United States.

"Montana has about 30 percent of the coal inthe United States and 10 percent of the world'ssupply," says Governor Brian Schweitzer. Tappingthose reserves is the job of several companies,including Boich Companies and Arch Coal (thesecond-largest coal company in America). But

liThe exceptionalquality oflife here willalways be ourmost attractivefeature-andsecret weapon."

-EVAN BARRETT. CHIEFBUSINESS DEVELOPMENTOFFICER FOR THE GOVERNOR'SOFFICE OF ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT

deltaskymag.com January 2011 111

reno "Nationally, it should positively impact energysecurity, and statewide, it should boost economicdevelopment by creating quality jobs without neg­atively affecting the quality of life we have here."

Putting all of its projects through the samestringent test has allowed Montana to surge aheadin keeping unemployment down, paving the waytoward foreign-oil independence and creating agreener, more sustainable energy future. The stateis dedicated to green energy solutions such aswind power. "After we passed the renewable en­ergy portfolio standard [which mandated that ISpercent of Montana's energy come from renew­able resources], companies came from all parts ofthe world," says Schweitzer.

The renewable energy portfolio standardattracted leaders in the field such as NaturEnerand Ireland-based Gaelectric and catapultedMontana's production from a mere megawatt ofcommercial wind to the 386 megawatts gener­ated today-the fastest growth in the nation. Thestate continues to welcome new companies thatsee the potential that exists here, with more than50 planned projects that could possibly increaseproduction by another 4,000 MW. But what willalways keep them from leaving is the wonderfulnatural beauty they find when they arrive.

"We have all that comes with living in theWest, and that's really a driving force behindour economic grov.rth," insists Barrett. "Theexceptional quality of life here will always be ourmost attractive feature-and secret weapon, ifyou will-for helping companies decide withoutquestion that Montana is the best place to callhome."",: -M. M.

~

•

... ',.,1

. .

The official "First Dog" of Montana andsubject of FirstDOB: Unleashed in the

Montana Capitol(]

~~"rttcJ.i~:WJ:tit4:t:l

making sure it's processed perfectly is whereMontana really shines. "Some say coal is a four­letter word because of its carbon, but we think itspells cash, as long as it's handled in a responsiblemanner," says Evan Barrett of the governor's of­fice of economic development.

Whether it's devising clean coal solutions,harnessing hydroelectric power from its manydams or exploring new ways to use geothermalenergy to provide clean electricity, the state'simpressive filtering policy always looks for threeimportant things with every type of energydevelopment project it considers.

"Internationally, it needs to be consideratewhen it comes to global climate change," says Bar-

What makes Montana unique?Fresh air, open spaces, freedom to roam, abundant wildlife and outstand­ing squirrels. Montana is full of so many wide open spaces that no matterwhere my owner throws the Frisbee-I can run fast enough to catch it!

What do you enjoy most about Montana?That Montanans love dogs. We're companions, working partners,trusted friends and a part of the family. We are an indispens­able part of Montana life. Oh, and Montana smells good, too.

What's your favorite place to visit?Everywhere! Montana is a place where your imagination can

run wild, where the road less traveled leads to somewherespectacular, and every small town greets you with a smile.

~ I<liZ January 20U deJtaskymag.com

ENATIVE.

RightNow TechnOlogies(rightnow.com)

THE NEWCOME

Montana Brewers Association(manta nabrewers .org)

,lOCATION Bozeman OCATION: Helena

Montana isconsistentlyranked third inbarley production.In 2009, it grew41 million bushels,23 million ofwhich were soldfor use in maltproduction.

DID YOUKNOW?

WHY IT STAYS: While MBA seems obvi-ously based in the state because it representsMontana breweries, there's really no better statefor beer because of the grain grown here, "We'rea by-product of the great things happening towhat is one of the best value-added productsin Montana," says Herbert "In 1998, there wereonly 11 craft brewing facilities here, and nowwe've doubled that and continue to grow innear double-digit numbers in respect to barrelproduction each and every year."

HOW IT'S GROWN' "When we officially cametogether in 2008, there were only 14 registeredoperating breweries affiliated with the MBA,"says executive director Tony Herbert f,l. "In justtwo years, we've grown up to 22," Right now,Montana brewers manufacture and packagemore than 80,000 barrels of beer in cans,bottles and kegs each year [2,500,000 gal1lons]sold throughout 19 states. Just two of thebusinesses that make their beer using some ofMontana's malt include Coors and Anheuser­Busch.

WHAT T DOES; Montana Brewers Associationis a nonprofit organization that represents thecraft brewing industry-the small, independentbreweries-throughout the state of Montana,handling affairs ranging from tackling legislativeIssues to marketing.

IiY)T S rAY;:,' The quality of life here is ahuge advantage, but more importantly, says Gi­anforte, "there's a ranch saying around here thatgoes, 'When something needs to get done, wellthen, we're just gonna get 'er done.' In many en­vironments, they have to form a committee, pullin consultants and such to make things happen,but our clients appreciate that when somethingneeds to get done, we can easily make that hap­pen because of the work ethic here."

rr DOES~ The high-tech software firmprovides customer experience solutions fornearly 2,000 global businesses andorganizations. Whenever you havequestions about a company anddecide to call. e-mail or searchits website, odds are, RightNowTechnologies software is thereassisting you,

OW ITS GROWN: In 1997,RightNow Technologies started inthe spare bedroom of its founder and CEO GregGianforte [l Today, the company employs morethan 800 people around the world and earned$180 million in revenue in 2010 with a client Itstthat includes Black & Decker, Expedia.com, Over­stock.com, Avis, Kodak, the Social Security Admin­istration, the U.S. Army and the U.S, Air Force.

WI AT I r's LEARNED FROM PlF "EWCOMERS: Gianforte works closely with many WHAT IT'S ,lEARNED FROMof Montana's newest businesses-he began T 'iE NATIVES: "You just can'ta micro loan program for tre state (bootstrap move an industry forward andmontana.org) that offers loans of up to $20,000 do it alone-you have to havewith 0 percent interest to assist entrepreneurs, everyone around you pulling"What I admire most is their scrappiness," he ,onthose oars in the samesays. "When you're first getting started, not rr/ direction," says Herberthaving a lot of experience is almost an advan- "There's a community aspecttage, because you don't know what's impossible, here in Montana, and we'veWhen new entrepreneurs hit a brick wall, they seen the success that comes frompick themselves back up, dust themselves off working not just with each other, but also with

" and find a way to g.et around it" the people who live here." :::~

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RightNowTechnologiesserves about10 billion peopleayear throughthe companiesand institutionsit works with."Every person InNorth Americahas used oneof our solutionsabout 25 times,"says Glanforte.

114 January 20n deltaskyma!1l.com

MONTANA

~

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ences was ranked seventhnationally in biomedi-cal research fundingamong institutions ofpharmacy.

UNSPOKEN ADVANTAGE' Don'tsweat putting on the "freshman 15"when you're in one of the top adven­ture towns in America. Here, you'remore likely to shape up as you study.

COOL FACT' The ear­liest authorized editionof the Lewis and Clarkjournals is located in UM'sMaureen and Mike Mansfield Library.

FAMOUS ALUMNI: TVlegendCarroll O'Connor; Jim Messina(deputy chief of staff to PresidentObama); paleontologist Jack Horner;Jeannette Rankin (first womanelected to the U.S. Congress).

ACADEMIC ACCOLADES; UMgraduates have won eight PulitzerPrizes, and its College of HealthProfessions and Biomedical Sci-

By Myatt Murphy

HEADCOUNT: UM's success is nosecret-in 2010, for the first time inthe institution's history, enrollmentbreached 15,000 students (721more than the all-time record set theprevious year).

STUDENT SUCCESS Nearly 80percent of all UM pre-med studentsare admitted to medical schools­the national average is less than 45percent.

~~'~

EDUCATIONAL EDGE; UM ranks17th in the nation-and fifth amongpublic universities-in producingRhodes Scholars, the world's oldestand most prestigious internationalgraduate scholarship.

LO( ATION. The four-campusinstitution's home base is Missoula.

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

WHAT IT OFJ=l:RS: Founded in1893, the 156-acre institution offersassociate's, bachelor's, master's,first-professional and doctoral de­grees, plus technical certificates inarchaeology, economics, pharmacol­ogy and wildlife biology.

.~ MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

LOCATION: The four-campus MSUsystem's largest institution is basedin Bozeman.

WHAT IT OfFERS; Since 1893, thispremier land-grant university hasoffered baccalaureate, master's anddoctoral degrees in more than 120

fields, including agriculture, busi­ness, education, engineering

and nursing.

HEADCOUNT. Studentstip the scale at 13,559, butget plenty of attentionthanks to a 16-to-1 studentto faculty ratio.

EDUCATIONAL EDGl::MSU is one of 96 research

universities recognized as hav­ing "very high research activity"

by the Carnegie Foundation for theAdvancement ofTeaching.

STUDENT SUCCESS: More than90 percent of students who take theN-CLEX national licensing exam fornurses pass, as do 88.5 percent ofstudents who take the Fundamentalsof Engineering Exam.ln addition, 96percent of students who take theRegistered Dietetics Exam pass onthe first try.

ACADEMIC ACCOLADES MSU is14th in the nation for the number ofprestigious Goldwater Scholarshipsin math and science.

COOL FACT: More than 199active technology licenses and 106patents have been issued aroundMSU research-the majority withMontana-based companies such asLigocyte Pharmaceuticals, a biotechfirm that's currently researchingvaccines to fight influenza.

FAMOUS ALUMNI Best-sellingauthor Sarah Vowell; talk show

host Craig, Kilborn; Arizona StateUniversity head football coachDennis Erickson; Maurice Hilleman(microbiologist who developedvaccines for chickenpox, meningitisand hepatitis A and B).

UNSPOKEN ADVANTAGE: MSUis called "The University of theYellowstone" because it offers one­of-a-kind research opportunities innearby Yellowstone National Park.

118 January 2011 deJtaskyma~,com

What do you enjoy most about Montana?Its friendly people and the Museum of the Rockies.

fJ

What's your favorite placeto visit?There are bigger mountains and lotsof glaciers elsewhere, but my favorite

place on Earth is Glacier National ParkIi There, you really get to see what themountains look like after the glaciers have eroded them. Most of the ice is gone, so

they're brand new, fresh and absolutely magnificent.

Why is Montana vital to your job?Montana is vital to my job, because it has

more access to places where we canfind the right age rocks for dinosaurs.

"IfIif:.til:':(IJ:1n:1:7World-renowned paleontologist; cO-discoverer of the dinosaur

maiasaura (the first clear evidence that .some dinosaurs caF~dfor their young); technical a~viserfor everyJurassic Parkofilin

and author of How to 8uild a Dinosaur.

What makes Montana unique?I was born and raised here-and I've dug up most of it-but it'sdefinitely its size and geographic variability. You have everythinghere from farmland to forestland and capping the whole thing offis the big sky.BRAGGING RIGHTS:

.. ,"lana is called the'best dinosaur graveyard in the world" forgood reason. It was

al Egg Mountain nearCholeau that dinosaureggs were discovered,supporting Ihe theorythat some dinosau~

wele more like mam­mals and birds ratherthan the previously

accepted 110lion thatthey were morp like

reptiles.

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Make sure you scoot overto the historic and hip townof Whitefish. With a thriving,boardwalk-covered downtownand one of Montana's largest,most reputed world-class skiresorts, Whitefish MountainResort, the locale is alsopacked with one-of-a-kindboutiques, restaurants andnightlife.TIPS:

o Immerse yourself in theever-rotating exhibitsof Missoula's MontanaMuseum of Art &Culture.

o Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road that weaves through the heart of Glacier

National Park-it's consideredone of the most scenic drives inAmerica.

Whitefishlake

MONTANA

GlacierNationalPar:<

120 January 2011 deltaskyrnag,com

By Myatt Murphy

GLACIER COUNTRYLocated In the northwest corner of Montana is GlacierCountry, ayear-round tourist destination known for itsabundant mountain chalets and ski resorts, blue-ribbon

fishing, historic inns-and, not-to-be-missed, GlacierNational Park. Spanning more than 1million acresof wilderness-ranging from surging foothills andwild meadows to stunning glacier-carved peaksand valleys-the park has more than 700 milesof trails to explore and endless lakes and rivers toraft, canoe and fish.

Swing through Missoula, considered one ofthe state's cultural capitals, Outdoor enthusiasts

swear by this walkable town, saying you won't findthe same array of activities anywhere in America.

Just a partial list of things to do includes hiking, mountainbiking, climbing and wildlife-watching along with nearlyevery winter and water sport possible­you can even paddleboard surf in the

'" summer on the Clark Fork River.

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)

Inset; A down­town sculpture.Above; GreatFalls FarmersMarket. Left; Acattle drive nearAugusta,

RUSSELL COUNTRYRussell Country is a majestic mix of mountains, prairiesand the mighty Missouri River that divides the region inhalf-offering visitors a multitude of recreation opportu­nities, from canoeing and camping to fishing and hunting.

Great Falls, Montana's third-largest city, IS the perfectstarting point to follow the Lewis &Clark Trail and north­ern sites along the Dinosaur Trail, but it's also steepedin significant culture. Visitors come from all dver toexperience the C.M. Russell Museum, a city-block-sizedcomplex showcas-ing more than 2.000works of art andartifacts from the fa­mous Western artist.There's also the lewisand Clark InterpretiveCenter, which revealsthe struggle that thetwo explorers facedwhen traversing theregion.TIPS;

e Raise a glass atthe Sip-N·Dip,a unique lounge in Great Falls where you'll seemermaids swim in front of you behind a glass wall.

e Step back in time with Havre Beneath The Streets,a guided tour of the century-old undergroundmarket below the city-highlights include a saloon,

barbershop, bordello and even an opiumden (one of only three that existed in the

United States at that time).

GOLD WEST COUNTRYHere is where you'll find Helena, Montana'sstate capital, a vibrant cultural center cradled

in the foothills of the MontanaRockies that's revered for itsornate 19th-century man-sions, ample art galleries andmuseums-along with easymountain access to the bike trailsthat exist there.

Take a tour of the State Capitol, adramatic neoclassical-style marvelthat's been restored to its original1902 appearance. Or overwhelm yoursenses at the Tizer Botanic Gardens &Arboretum-seven acres of perennials,annuals, roses and wildflowers.

Gold West is where you'll find thecity of Butte, hometown of legendarydaredevil Evel Knievel. Whether youspend the day hiking the hills or huntingfor antiques, plan a stay at the CooperKing Mansion, a 34-room Elizabethan­style home turned B &B with frescoedceilings and hand-carved woodwork.

What do you enjoy most about Montana?It's the prettiest country in the world, and I love beingable to ski, fish (J and take advantage of the outdoors.I don't think there's any place like it anywhere else inthe world.

What's your favorite place to visit?I always love getting back home to Butte fA The people there are amaz­

ing and unlike anyone else I've ever met.

How's the snow?I've skied all over the world. but the mountains in Montana

are gems that really haven't been discovered yet. It's nevercrowded-you can get up there and never run into too many

people-plus the terrain ranks right up there with the best in the nation.

~IfJl ­:J:l,{I1~IW/~f'J~1

American h'eestyle skier: bronzemedalist inm:,e'n's moguls;Jt

the 2010 Vancouver Olympicsand first skier to'perform a cork

1080-abackfiip with three rotations'::'incompetition.

What makes Montana unique?All of the open space-and that it only takes you five or 10 minutes at the

most to get out of town and go play in the mountains.

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TIPS;e Saddle up, settle down or even enjoy an evening

sleigh ride at one of the many working cattle, dudeor resort ranches. The newest addition to the townis The Ranch at Rock Creek-it's an upscale urbandelight!

e Cast a line and bag a walleye, bass or trout alongsome of the nation's finest fly-fishing rivers (theMadison, Big, Hole and Beaverhead) and lakes (Can­yon Ferry, Hauser and Georgetown)."'-..----------------------------'Z

IZZ January 2011 deltaskymag.com

The first luge runin North Americais built at Lolo HotSprings.

. I J ,Lomaearns the worl~

record fOJ the greatestrecorded temperaturech,ange in 24 hours (from-54 to 103 degreesFahrenheit, thanks to theChinookwinds).

Robert Red­ford's film ARiver RunsThrqughltsp'arks anincrease in tourism andimmigratipn to the state..

,Governor Brian Schweitzer'signs abill creatingtherenewable energy portfoliostandard for Montana.

Montana:s ca,l:fit~I,

l'ie!en¥!, qffici~l!y .hasmore millionairesperc~pita thanany other ~ity inthe world.

Montana ranksfirst in the nationfor entrepreneurs,

according tq theU.S. Cha mber ofCommerce.

o WEST YELLOWSTONE

MISSOURI RIVER COUNTRYWhether you're passionate about hunting prey, prehistor­ic bones or the perfect picture, the rolling plains of Mis­souri River Country is teeming with game-from walleyeand whitetail deer to pheasant and pronghorn antelope­making it a sportsman's and shutterbug's dream.

For a real taste of Montana's first inhabitants, head toWolf Point, the 'largest community on the Fort Peck IndianReservation-the population is roughly 50-50 tribal andnontribal residents,just as it was in the early 1900s. Planyour stay in July and you'll also catch Montana's oldest prorodeo, the Wild Horse Stampede. Next, find your way to­ward Glasgow to see the nearby Fort Peck Dam, one of thelargest hydraulically filled earth dams in the world. Again,com.e in July and you can try your luck in the MontanaGovernor's Cup Walleye Tournament-a premier nationalfishing event held every year. (Continued on page r26)

MISSOULA•

~,• MILES CITY

GLASGOW 0 0 WOLF POlffTo

FORT PECK

oBIWNGS

• LEWISTOWN

o HAVRE

• GREAT FALLS

o HELENA

WH~FISH.

KAlISPEU. •• BIGFORK

YELLOWSTONE COUNTRYThis region is home to Yellowstone National Park, the

world's first national park, spanning 2.2 million acres,- with natural geysers (300-plus, including Old Faith-

ful), towering waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes.Along the 950 miles of hiking trails, find some

of America's best wildlife-viewing.Venture to the laid-back town of Bozeman,

packed with plenty of arts and entertain­ment-from galleries and exhibits to trendyrestaurants and coffee shops to world-classmuseums (including the Museum of the Rock-

ies, which houses one of the most impressiveNorth American paleontology collections in

the world).If you're an angler. there's livingston, known for its

unmatched fly-fishing-it's where scenes from the iconicmovie ARiver Runs Through It werefilmed. Finally, head southwest to BigSky, one of the best-kept unspoiledsecrets for world-class, year-roundrecreation in North America.TIPS:

C) Drive along the 90-mile scenicGallatin Corridor from Bozemanto West Yellowstone and comebumper-to-antler with a bull elkor moose.

C) Soak your weary bones at theChico Hot Springs Resort andDay Spa in the town of Pray.

Big Sky

lZ4 January ZOll deJtaskymag.com

Billings also is thetrailhead that takesyou into the quaintmining town of Redlodge. but don't for­get to see Miles City.an authentic Westerntown that every Mayhosts its world­famous Bucking Horse'Sale for rodeo stockbuyers and breeders.The event showcasessome of the premierbucking stock in theStates-so prepareto see some unluckycowboys fly!

~ riPs;o Retrace the path of Lewis and Clark with a visit to

Pompeys Pillar. one of the most famous sandstonebuttes in America.

e Learn about the famous Battle of the Little Bighornat the Custer Battlefield Museum, or see wherethe famous battle took place at the Little Bighorn

Battlefield National Monument. *

(Continuedfrom page 124)

TIPS:o Head to the Charles M.Russell National Wildlife Ref­uge. the second largest of itskind in the lower 48 (bighornsheep, red fox, coyotes andhundreds of different birdsare just a fraction of the spe­cies that call it home).o Venture over to Scobey

to see Daniels County Museum & Pioneer Town. arecreation of an early 1900s homestead town­and one of the best living history museums in theWest.

CUSTER COUNTRYHere, you'll find Billings-thelargest city in Montana-andthe region's top place tofind plenty of shopping,top-notch cuisine, artsand culture and countlessrecreationalopportuni­ties. Just try to time yourvisit in August to catch theMontanaFair in Billings­nearly a quarter-millionattendees come out tothis nine-day agriculturalcelebration of concerts, rodeos andcompetition.

Top: Charles M. Rus­sell National WildlifeRefuge. Bottom:Daniels CountyMuseum & PioneerTown.

"..,..,;n", ",," -.~U~,,, " ,.. II11:-'I.}.,:1:1:';1:111(1/If1:(1/:Id~"CrQw tdbal historian and oldest living member of the Crow

Tribe. a t age 98; 2009 Pt~sidentialMedal of'freedom fecipient;;aOOB F~e..u::h Legion d'hoQ~eurrecipient; World War II veteran;

grandson of General Custer stout White Man RUns Him and CusterBattl.efield Museum board member

What do you enjoy most about Montana?I can't come up with enough adjectives to describe and glorify this part ofthe U.s.A. I amJust proud to be a native son and Native American to this great state of Montana.

IJ..-~

~

~

What's your favorite place to visit?In the Crow country, I enjoy seeing Little Bighorn Battlefieid 0 [site of Custer's Last Stand],

the huge Yellowtail Dam on the Bighorn River and the Annual Crow Fair and Rodeo f.land taking part in theCuster and Sitting Bull Fight reenactment outdoor drama. Come out and join me; I'll take you around!

What is Montana's future?Montana was a young state but has grown fast s.ince Lewis and Clark [who arrived in 1804].First the mountain men came looking for adventure; the trappers came taking beaver pelts;the traders came buying the furs; the military came to fight Indians; the gold miners came say­

ing, "There's gold in them thar hills"; the cattlemen came; farmers and manyothers came for reasons of their own. Montana is huge and large enough to accommodateprofessions for all.

What makes Montana unique?Under the Big Sky Country are landscapes of snow-peaked mountains,.sloping foothills,rolling prairies and unusual sites such as old volcanoes and caves. A Crow chief once said,"The first maker put it in exactly the right place."

'; -

BRAGGING RIGHTS:Montanans are one

with natUre. No otherstate in the nation

has as milny differentspedes oCmam­

mals. Just alew omsaccolades Include lhelargest grimy bear

population-as well asbreeding populationof trumpeter swans­in the lower 4Bstates,

plus tile largestmigratory elk herd In

the nation

>DISCOVER STRONG ACADEMICS, REAL WORLD RESEARCH

AND CREATIVE PROJECTS, AND THE ENERGY OF AN

ACTIVE ROCKY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY. <

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CREATE EXPLORE DISCOVER

M MONTANASTATE UNIVERSITY

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