The chief problem for the grasshopper, in terms of its status among fly fishers, is the mayfly. The mayfly — delicate, slender, standing quietly on a river, the soft peaks of its full wings angling high — is the insect that, to trout-stream fly fishers,...
Madison bluebirds and other miracles Listen to the river sing sweet songs, To rock my soul. — Grateful Dead The ranger at the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park had been adamant: “Do NOT engage in any recreational activities.” Thus advised, my friend Jerry and I set off toward...
In 1914, as the silent-movie wave swept the nation, Hollywood’s biggest character was Jim Stokes, the Two-Gun Man. In the film The Bargain, Jim wore a six-shooter on each thigh, rolled his cigarettes one-handed, and rode a brown-and-white pinto named Fritz. He was the good...
It’s midafternoon in October, and a bonfire is burning behind our house. With me is David James Duncan, revered Montana author, storied activist, and one of the deepest spiritual and ecological minds of our time. He’s just finished a forthcoming novel, Sun House, a sweeping...
Growing up in suburban New Jersey, Michael Cooperman didn’t have a lot of exposure to the outdoor world. Although he started fishing young, in ponds and the ocean, it didn’t become a passion until he was in his teens, reaching full fruition in his twenties....
My dad taught me to look under stones. He counseled me on the different bugs that cling to the rock’s surface, as well as those that dart from beneath the disrupted rock and drift in the stream’s cloudy current. He informed my observation, pointing out...
Photo book celebrates rhythms of the American cowboy Traveling solo with just her camera, New York City photographer Anouk Masson Krantz spent two years aiming her lens at Wagonhound Land & Livestock Co., a working ranch embedded in Wyoming’s rugged Rocky Mountains. The result: a stunning photographic collection...
Warren Miller Performing Arts Center announces 10th winter season This winter ushers in more than just a season of snow: In Big Sky, Montana, it brings a selection of diverse performances to the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC). Acts will include a stand-up comedian, taiko...
Mountains Rising Collection by Marina Kessler For those drawn to the Northern Rockies by the alpine landscape and recreational opportunities, a piece by Marina Kessler can serve as a symbol of that allure. The jewelry designer has created the Mountains Rising Collection for women who enjoy the...
The 30th annual Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale in Jackson Hole, Wyoming saw strong attendance and big sales in September. This four-day event brings together craftspeople, collectors, interior designers, architects, and fashion designers with a shared love of the West. In honor of their superb concepts...