FlatheadLiving 2016spring Final

BASKETBALL PHENOM J.R.
CAMEL FINDS ANSWERS INSIDE THE GYM
SPRING REVELATIONS
HIDDEN PITSTOPS
SEEKING SNOW
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Contents
Features
40 24 Lessons from the Hardwood
BY MYERS REECE
Two generations of Camel basketball
stars have found their answers inside the
gym, and they're helping other young
Native Americans find theirs, too
32 Mans Best Friend

BY MYERS REECE
Meet local dogs (and their handlers)
who comfort senior citizens; track down
fugitives; and navigate agility courses
40 Life and Times of Bill Johnson

BY KEITH LIGGETT
The first American to earn an Olympic
gold in downhill, whose comeback bid
48
in 2001 ended in a horrific crash on Big
Mountain, died earlier this year at 55
48 Hidden Pitstops
BY MYERS REECE
A brief manual for the off-the-beaten-path
seeker of roadside burgers and beer
32
24
National Association of Home Builders 20 Club Member (2004-2015), Certified Green Professional (2008-2015), and Safety Award for Excellence Single Family Builder Safety Program
of the Year (2006); Flathead Building Associations Builder of the Year (1998, 2004 and 2007); Flathead Building Associations Parade of Homes Judges Choice Award (2012), Best
of Class in Premier Home Award (2004), Best Master Suite in Premier Home Award (2004), Peoples Choice Award (2004), and Best High End Home Award (2003); Montana
Building Industry Associations Outstanding Safety and Participation Award (2004); and Montana Contractor Associations Concrete Excellence Award (2003)
Architecture by Rich Graves Photography by Longviews Studios, Heidi A. Long
P.O. Box 1898, Bigfork, MT 59911 Phone: (406) 837-3373 www.bigforkbuilders.com brad@bigforkbuilders.com
F L AT H E A D L I V I N G S S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 5
Contents
Departments
58
8 Editors Note Seasons of Discovery
12 48 North Life in Northwest Montana
HOME
58 Profile The Marriage of Art and Design

66 Feature A Labor of Love at the KM Building
72 Interiors Flower Power
LIFESTYLE
74 Feature The Joy of Childbirth
74
80 Style Renew Wool
80 84 Balancing Act To Fall or Fly

85 Staying Fit Fit Flathead Challenge
86 How We Age Digital to Dirt
FOOD&DRINK
88 Feature A Tea's Voyage from India to Polson

94 Tap Room Headwall Double IPA
96 Dish Pig & Olive's Thai Steak Sandwich
98 Recipe Rainbow Trout, Three Ways
OUTDOORS
96 58
100 Feature Spring Break: Back to Winter
106 Feature Primal Pursuit
108 Destinations Spring in the Swan
110 Events What Not to Miss This Spring
112 Interview Whitefish Review Talks to David Letterman
Editor's Note
Seasons of Discovery
W
e travel a lot here. We have
to. Everything is spread out
to make room for the open
space. As we move from one town to
another, one park to the next, its easy
to overlook hidden gems, to miss what
may be tucked around the bend.
Most of us have a favorite spot we
claim as our own somewhere off the
beaten path, somewhere we only share
with our closest family and friends. It
could be a fishing hole, a dusty trail, or
a dive bar no one has heard of.
If theres a theme since we began
publishing this magazine, its just that:
discover something new. The goods, it
turns out, are hidden everywhere. And
when you find them, your life is a little
richer for it.
Experiencing new things is healthy newness in a valley you may know well, their handlers) who have hidden talents,
for familiar and unexpected reasons. If or are just visiting for the first time. like the ability to comfort veterans with
you want time to last longer, do some- Myers Reece traveled the region PTSD or track down fugitives. Weve
thing different. Ive become slightly to find hidden pitstops you may have included a few stories about them, too.
obsessed with this idea that time is missed. His piece is filled with col- Several months before we send each
elastic, or at least our perception of it. orful stories about taverns just rough issue to print, we sit around a table and
We can, in fact, reverse the largely enough to stay true to the spirit of its bounce ideas off each other. Its a boring
agreed upon thesis that years appear to geography and clientele. Kay Bjork process, until a writer or photographer
pass faster as we age. As a child, every- shares a guide to finding fresh snow in pitches a story we havent read before.
thing is brand new, it takes longer to the high country long after the valley Thats when we perk up, because like
process information and consequently floor has dried. everyone else, were interested in the
you remember moments lasting longer. Of course, new things go beyond unfamiliar.
One way to extend your spring is to rep- places. They include the unique people With any luck, in the following pages
licate that. Discover something. who move between those places, from youll also discover something for the
In this issue of Flathead Living, we basketball phenoms to chai tea propri- first time. And perhaps this spring will
offer a variety of suggestions for finding etors. They also include canines (and last a little longer than the last.
Thanks for reading,

Kellyn Brown | editor in chief
editor@flatheadliving.com
Font is: Filosofia Grand Bold
EDITOR IN CHIEF Kellyn Brown
Stephen Isley Jewelry

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Myers Reece
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FLATHEAD LIVING
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Sunrise on Two
Medicine Lake in
Glacier National Park.
BY JASON SAVAGE
isleyjewelry.com
17
Map of the Flathead Valley
Glacier National Park
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123 Main St. Kalispell, MT 59901 | 406.756.8555 F L AT H E A D L I V I NG S SPRING 2016 11
48 North
Sunset along the Flathead
River near Bigfork.
GREG LINDSTROM
48 North
Uniquely
Ukrainian
DAKHABRAKHA IS A FOUR-PIECE BAND a sound unlike anything these kids
from Kiev, Ukraine. They perform have ever heard, will be compelling:
traditional folk melodies with an Theyre young themselves. They
explosive pop-punk twist. They have came into music by hearing these classic
excellent headwear. And while theyve Balkan folk songs. I mean the songs you
already performed at the John F. hear at weddings, the songs you hear
Kennedy Center for the Performing growing up. True folk songs. They are
Arts and the Bonnaroo Music Festival, putting this complete modern spin on
whats the next stop on the tour ticket? the voices and harmonies. Theres three
The OShaughnessy Center. Theres only women, and they often wear these
one public performance at 7:30 p.m. giant white wedding gowns, and they
on April 28, but the band will play for a all wear furry Marge Simpson hats. Just
special crowd earlier in the day: at-risk their look is a great thing. Ukraine is
Flathead youth. Jen Asebrook, the sort of a war-torn nation, and peoples
development director of the Whitefish views about it are all about war and
Theatre Co., explains why she thinks sadness and struggle. But their message
this band from across the world, with is joyous, youthful, and invigorating.
and Taylor Swift each sold more vinyl LP albums last year than
Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles. Almost half of these
sales took place at independent record stores and weve
got one such establishment here in the Flathead. Kilas own
Connor Crevier keeps the spirit alive at his shop, Old School
Records, which is right in downtown Kalispell. Here are some
assorted thoughts from the local champion of old school:
Vinyl teaches you patience. You have to flip it all the time.
People cant relax anymore. Records give you an
excuse to sit down and relax. I have customers who say
that they sit down with a record on for half an hour
Old School,
every evening, and thats the only time they relax.
With mp3s, you only get 17 percent of the musical data. With a
record, youre getting closer to 80-100 percent.
New School
TOP: COURTESY PHOTO; BOTTOM, GREG LINDSTROM
They have to compress the files for mp3s, so they

cut the highs and lows. Thats how you can fit thou-
sands and thousands of songs on an iPod.
VINYL RECORDS ARE NOT A RELIC OF THE PAST, A TOKEN OF As for Adele and Taylor Swift, I dont really order that stuff too
nostalgia, or a niche hipster trend. According to a recent often. The only way I carry it is if someone asks me to
Nielsen Music U.S. Report, 2015 marked the 10th straight year bring it in. The stuff that sells here is always way differ-
of growth in the market with nearly 12 million LPs sold. Most ent than in the bigger cities. Pink Floyd is my top-selling
existing LPs are rock, but the movement is modernizing. Adele item. The younger people all want Pink Floyd. FL
www.denmanconstruction.com
48 North
Chicken flies out from around Claude Boiteau

as he crashes dressed as a KFC bucket of
chicken during the pond skim event at Whitefish
Mountain Resort. LIDO VIZZUTTI
1 TRY TO FIND SOMETHING THAT IS

relevant, recognizable, or has to
do with Big Mountain culture. Thats
my jumping-off point. The judges are
ski patrol and mountain folks. It has
to be something theyd recognize.
2 SKIN TO WIN. THE MORE SKIN YOU

have showing, the better,
because it's freezing cold.
3 HAVE ADD-INS, ADDITIONAL
DONT TURN
flair. My buddy once built a dragon
costume, and he tied firecrackers to it
and launched them off when he skied.
AND OTHER ADVICE FROM 4 HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE THE

judges. When I wore my bucket
THE POND-SKIMMING KING of chicken, I had real chicken and beer.

With the Rainier beer costume, we
CLAUDE BOITEAU KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A GOOD COSTUME. THE 34-YEAR-OLD made the top of it so it would flip up.
petroleum engineer from Bigfork is a three-peat champion of the pond skim I packed snow and beer from the top,
costume contest at Whitefish Mountain Resort. His highlights include: so they were pulling Rainier beers
skiing bride, bucket of fried chicken, classic ski resort panty tree, and the out of the Rainier beer costume.
running Rainier beer. Its the last ski day of the year and everybody's cut-
ting loose, Boiteau said. Its a big celebration and its what makes Western
Montana, Western Montana. Youve been so serious for so long doing the
5 LEAVE AS MUCH IN THE POND AS
you can. As much of your
winter grind, and you feel like cutting loose with the goofy stuff. Here costume, whatever you can.
are a few tips on how to do the contest right, from the master himself: Chicken wings, panties FL
THE GREAT INDOORS

SO YOUVE DECIDED TO VISIT GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. GOOD ON YA. THING IS, ITS
hard to experience the full majesty of the park with a roof over your head. The sky
puts on a show to announce the end and beginning of each day, and through the
TOP : LIDO VIZZUTTI ; BOTTOM: COUR TESY PHOTO
night, the constellations and northern lights ripple across the original planetarium.
But its also hard to witness this raw beauty if youre unable to travel miles into the
woods or are unwilling to sacrifice your creature comforts. Enter the happy medium:
Glacier Under Canvas. Thanks to the folks who first brought glamping to Yellowstone
and Moab, you can now lay your head to rest inside a luxurious, furnished safari tent
or tipi just outside the park. The most ornately appointed tents feature wood-burning
stoves, flushing toilets, and freestanding bathtubs. Robert Marshall, the Bobs namesake
and founder of The Wilderness Society, might have been dismayed by how plush
rustic accommodations have become but probably, hed just be impressed. FL
Belly Botany
THE GLACIER INSTITUTE, A LOCAL LEADER IN WILDERNESS PUBLIC EDUCATION
since 1983, offers regular field camp outdoor education courses. One of this
seasons highlights is Spring Wildflowers, which Ellen Horowitz, an instructor
with the Institute for over 25 years, will lead on June 9. But youve seen wild-
flowers before. Why attend the course? Horowitz has a few answers.
B Most of us just want a name, but we B People really get down on their hands
dont even really know the face were and knees. I call that belly botany,
putting that name to. I dont worry because you really are down on your
about people remembering the belly sometimes looking at these things.
names. Thats not where you start.
B Once people begin to know what sorts
B What Im really trying to teach people is of details they should be looking
to learn to see flowers. Its about looking for, they get so excited, and all of a
closely, learning the flower, not just trying sudden theyre seeing a million plants
to memorize the name and the color ... in a place where they thought there
Its also about the shape, how the flowers was absolutely nothing growing. FL
are arranged, what the leaves look like,
how theyre arranged on the stem.
Wild Mile
EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS,
Bigfork has welcomed whitewater
kayakers, canoers, and rafters to town
for a springtime festival. And while some
events, like the slalom, will always be
mainstays, theres a new discipline this
year called the Down River. This race,
with hardly any structure other than the
directive to go fast, will be held on a
mile of continuous class IV whitewater
known as the Wild Mile and itll almost
certainly live up to the rapids namesake.
Were doing rafting head-to-head, so
theyll go down in heats, organizer Beth
Woods said. People are fighting for the
TOP AND BOTTOM: GREG LINDSTROM
same lines. It could be mass carnage. It

could be awesome. Weve got search and
rescue, and safety guides along the river,
so itll be safe. But I imagine therell be
some swimming. See the action for your-
self May 28-29 in downtown Bigfork. FL
48 North
Bartender,
Would You Pour Me Another?
THIS PAST YEAR, SPOTTED BEAR SPIRITS OPENED ITS DOORS IN WHITEFISH.
It offers daily specials as well as a menu of instant classics, like the Montana Mule,
which is made with muddled jalapeno and Glacier Ginger brew. It features their
signature Confluence Vodka, an elixir distilled in-house. The mule is a mainstay,
but one of owner and Architect of Alchemy Lauren Oscilowskis spring favorites is
the Thai Down, which incorporates their vodka with Thai basil, mint, coconut milk,
lime, chili syrup, and ginger brew. We use sugar beets [to make the vodka], which
gives us a clean flavor profile, Oscilowski says. It works well with the spicy ginger
brew because it doesnt fight the flavor, it melts with it. It lets the ginger shine. The
ginger, crafted by Whitefish-based Glacier Ginger Brew, is just one of Spotted Bears
local collaborations. Another popular libation is the Snow Ghost, which is made
with Montana Coffee Traders cold brew and Kalispell Kreamery half n half. If this
all sounds like a recipe for success, well, thats because it is. Just take Oscilowskis Thai Down
approachable clear spirits, stir in her regionally minded ethos and a splash of beau- cocktail.
tiful design, and theres a concoction thatll keep folks coming back for more. FL
Dirty Money
ALISSA LACHANCE AND RACHEL GERBER
love to talk dirt. They also love to talk Rachel Gerber,
left, and Alissa
microbes and fungi and bacteria. Last LaChance at Dirt
year, the self-proclaimed soil junkies Rich Composting
founded DIRT Rich, a Columbia Falls- in Columbia Falls.
based composting business that serves
the Flathead Valley. And this aint your
usual composting operation. LaChance,
who has an environmental studies degree
focused on sustainable agriculture,
gets knee deep in the science. Here
she skims the surface of the DIRT Rich
method, which requires a little extra TOP : COURTESY SPOTTED BEAR SPIRITS ; BOTTOM: GREG LINDSTROM
patience their first batch of compost

will finally be ready this spring.
Theres a lot of different kinds of
compost. What were trying to do is
encourage microbial, fungal, and bac-
terial growth. A lot of companies are
trying to process this food quickly and
get rid of the product. We do thermal space for those helpful soil organisms a garden, for example]. They take the
processing, meaning we inoculate the to reproduce and live. What theyll do is decomposing a step further than most,
pile, then let it sit. The fungus starts to break down nitrogens and phosphates and in doing so, make growth that much
grow throughout the whole pile and it and carbons three main nutrients easier for all the little budding plants and
becomes a reproductive ground, a fertile and make it bio-available [to plants in trees and greens across the valley. FL
48 North a BY DILLON TABISH & STEVE LARSON
A Century of Stewardship
in the National Park Service
W
hat a wild idea, protecting land from people. Its into the great outdoors and enjoy the nations protected
a uniquely American concept and ideal, dating parks, its sure to be a busy year everywhere, including Gla-
back to 1872 when Congress established Yellow- cier Park, which has already enjoyed its 100th birthday bash.
stone National Park in the territories of Montana and Wyo- As spring thaws to summer, nows a good time to cele-
ming as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit brate this countrys proud legacy of national parks.
and enjoyment of the people and placed it under exclusive On Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the
control of the Secretary of the Interior. From there, other act creating the NPS. The Organic Act states that the fun-
extraordinary places followed suit, including Glacier National damental purpose of the NPS is to conserve the scenery and
Park in 1910. Those forefathers and iconoclasts saw something the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and
special and unique worth preserving for us here today. to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and
The National Park Service will turn 100 on Aug. 25, by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoy-
marking a century of stewardship. As Americans venture ment of future generations.
Annual Visitors to National Parks

1. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK 10,712,674
2. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
5,520,736
4,155,916
307 million
Visitors to all National Park Service
4. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 4,150,217 sites in 2015, the most on record.
5. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 4,097,710
6. ZION NATIONAL PARK 3,648,846
7. OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK 3,263,761
8. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK 3,149,921
9. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
10. GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
2,811,184
2,366,056
247
Species of threatened or endangered
plants & animals protected in NPS sites.
409
Total NPS sites in the U.S., with 28 different designations:
128 historical parks; 78 national monuments; 59 national
parks; 25 battlefields; 19 preserves; 18 recreation areas; 10
seashores; four parkways; four lakeshores; two reserves.
"MOST POPULAR PARKS" SOURCE: NPS 2015 VISITATION FIGURES
18,000
Total miles of trails in NPS sites.
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Lessons
from the
Hardwood
Two generations of Camel basketball stars have found
their answers inside the gym, and they're helping other
young Native Americans find theirs, too
BY MYERS REECE PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIDO VIZZUTTI
L
ong before he became one of the greatest basketball players
in Montana history, J.R. Camel was a Native American at
an all-white school in Idaho, learning how to box instead
of ball. His dad gave him and his brother boxing gloves and
signed them up for a club. It was as much about sport as survival.
But after the family moved to the Flathead ambitions. So it was true that Camel no longer
Indian Reservation, when Camel was in sixth had to worry about opponents with a brutal left
grade, he traded in the ring for the gymnasium, hook, but now he had to contend with some-
the sounds of leather on flesh for leather on wood. thing meaner: the odds. And, perhaps even more
By the time people realized his potential, the vicious: stereotypes. He beat them both.
whispers had already started. Youll never make it None of which is to say that Camel never came
in college, if you make it there at all. Youll be back. back to the reservation. He just did so on his own
They always come back to the Rez. terms, when he was ready, with a tale to tell and
Theres a heart-rending list of Indian bas- lessons to impart, like his brother did before him
ketball legends whose stories were never fully and, two decades later, like his nephew plans to
written; drugs and alcohol controlled the nar- do now. The life of a Native American isnt any
rative and cut the words short. It seems that more predetermined than any other life, just as
entrenched poverty and systematic suppression the final score of a game isnt known until you
provide poor frameworks for post-secondary play it. But you have to play it the right way.
CAMEL
J.R. Camel, Zachary

Camel and Zachary
Conko-Camel, left
to right, stand for
a portrait at Salish
Kootenai College.
Thats what J.R. and his older brother, J.R. Camel, center left, leads members of them that there was a lot worth fighting
the Bison basketball team in a workout
Zack, tell the young men they coach at before the start of a practice at Salish
for, but it had nothing to with fists or
Salish Kootenai College. But their bas- Kootenai College in Pablo. violence. She knew the real battle hap-
ketball-as-a-metaphor-for-life mono- pened in the classroom, in the home,
logues arent empty words. The coaches in between the ears. Being the only
believe in the pleas because theyve lived Going back to the reservation isnt a Indians at a white school is a microcosm
the messages. Protected from the ele- bad thing. If we can help make them for living on a reservation in America
ments outside, in the heat and sweat of better people for when they do go back, on an island, isolated, surrounded yet
sacrifice, the gym is a roiling incubator give them our knowledge, our systems of secluded.
of hope and self-determination. winning, our systems of respecting your We had to learn to fight, how to
Its a choice, says Zack Conko- parents, respecting your elders, being a stand up for our rights, how to be pre-
Camel, a burly gentle giant of a man brother for your teammates, thats what pared and how to better our future,
with a soft smile and firm handshake. we want. Zack says.
If you want to live the right way, you Millie is a tough lady, J.R. adds.
can do it. You can do it your whole life. J.R. WAS BORN HENRY CAMEL, JR., THE She was a mother and father to all of
You dont have to get caught up in drugs youngest of four kids, named after the us. She taught us leadership. She led us
and alcohol, in all the craziness. man who slid boxing gloves onto his down the right path.
You can get the life you want, the slender hands as a boy. Zack, six years After the kids moved with Millie to
life you deserve. older, is the eldest sibling, followed the Mission Valley, they were immedi-
The Camels have players from res- by Bill and Henrietta. A half-brother ately swept up in the basketball fervor
ervations all over the country. They from their fathers previous marriage is thats so prevalent on Montana reserva-
hope to take in boys and send back men, Marvin Camel, a two-time world cruis- tions. J.R. dunked for the first time as a
equipped with the wisdom and strength erweight boxing champion. 5-foot-11 eighth-grader, and he remem-
to finish their stories. But while it was their father who put bers listening to games on the radio fea-
Our goal is to help these guys grow them in the ring, it was their mother, turing Elvis Old Bull, one of the tow-
up to be respectful men, to go back and Millie Conko-Camel, who taught them ering figures in Montana basketball lore.
be leaders and role models, J.R. says. to fight. More to the point, she taught Old Bull led Lodge Grass High School
J.R. Camel, center, runs drills with members of the
Bison basketball team during practice at Salish
Kootenai College in Pablo.
to three straight Class B state champi-

onships in 1988-1990, winning MVP at
the tournament each time.
J.R. had a basketball hoop hanging
on a door inside his home on which he
had written, Elvis Who? Old Bull was
a hero, but J.R. wanted to be better. And
he wanted to do something Old Bull,
who died in a 2014 car crash, never did:
star in college. Old Bulls career ended
when the final buzzer sounded on his
senior year in high school.
J.R. went on to star at Class B St.
Ignatius before transferring to Class
AA Missoula Hellgate his senior season. is called one of its finest players. Camel, shortcomings. Old Bull. Jonathan Takes
He moved in with his brother, who was a 6-foot guard, averaged 23 points and Enemy and Joe Pretty Paint of Hardin.
attending the University of Montana. three dunks per game, many of them Max Spotted Bear and Tim Falls Down
In 1992-93, Camel led Hellgate to a per- electrifying. of Plenty Coups. Gary Cross Guns of
fect 23-0 record and the Class AA state Camel accepted an offer to play at Browning.
championship. The team is often cited University of Montana and immedi- Nearly any longtime fan of Montana
as one of Montanas best, just as Camel ately felt the weight of his predecessors high school basketball has a story about
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a great Indian player. Yet, too often, their
blazing stars burned out in the dark-
ness. Causes of death include a boozy
car wreck, cirrhosis, suicide, knife stab-
bing. Old Bull never made it off the res-
ervation, while Takes Enemy lasted six
games at Sheridan College, the school
he had chosen because of its proximity
to his Crow Reservation.
More than two decades after Don
Wetzel became the states first native to
play Division I ball, at UM from 1967-1971,
Camel jogged onto the court in his No.
22 Grizzly maroon jersey and flipped the
script.
It took a lot of mental preparation,
Camel says. I knew it was going to be
tough because I was one of the first
Native Americans to play Division I. A in Europe. Salish Kootenai College men's basketball coach
Zachary Conko-Camel talks with his team during a
lot of eyes were on me. Zach helped a lot, Camel played from 2001-2003 for the
scrimmage at a Bison practice in Pablo.
and so did Millie. I got a lot of positive Mabetex mens pro team in Prishtina,
reinforcement from them. Yugoslavia. The experience was life-
Camel was named conference changing, and he has instituted basket- the country. They have won nine Amer-
freshman of the year runnerup and ball philosophies and workouts at Salish ican Indian Higher Education Consor-
earned first team Big Sky all-conference Kootenai that he learned over there. But tium (AIHEC) titles since 2001 and
as a sophomore and junior. By the end of one thing hell never replicate is the were favored to win again this year.
his junior year, he held the schools all- atmosphere. The womens program has won six
time record for steals, later broken by It would get very rowdy, he says. championships.
Will Cherry. He majored in Native Amer- People would be throwing firecrackers Zack says J.R. brings more than ped-
ican Studies and business, following the and pop onto the floor, lighting flares. igree to the staff, though he has plenty
footsteps of Zack, who earned a business Theyd throw firecrackers while you of that, too: Anywhere you go in Mon-
degree and is today accounting manager were shooting free throws and the ref tana, they know who J.R. is. He also has
for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai would say, Just keep shooting. life experience that can be distilled into
Tribes. Camel returned to Ronan in 2004 and inspiration for the teams young men.
But after meeting his wife, Malia took a position as assistant coach for the We tell them its all about
Kipp-Camel, at the university, J.R. faced Salish Kootenai mens team under Zack, moments, Zack says. Moments in your
a decision with the birth of his daughter, the head coach. He took a one-year hiatus life. Moments to do something special.
Lee. He chose family, bypassing his to coach his nephew, Zacks son Zachary, J.R. always says, This is your moment.
senior season. at Arlee High School before returning to
Camel continued playing whenever the Salish Kootenai sidelines. ZACHARY CAMEL PICKED UP A BASKETBALL
and wherever he could, including at As much as J.R. loves coaching, he as a baby and grew up idolizing J.R., even
an annual New Years money tourna- hasnt given up playing. At 42, hes as fit though he was too young to watch his
ment in Scobey, where college players as a man half his age. He and Zachary uncle play in his prime. He wears the
on Christmas break square off against play on a 3-on-3 team that has won the same number 22 that J.R. wore at
some of the states other top players. The 6-foot-and-under elite championship UM, and next season, once his redshirt
competition is fierce. Some are pro bal- two straight years at Hoopfest in Spo- is over, hell get to add to the Camels
lers, including a former Carroll College kane, the biggest street 3-on-3 tourna- Grizzly legacy.
standout who was back from playing ment in the world, featuring over 7,000 If youre part of our family, you play
overseas when he squared off against teams and 225,000 spectators. J.R. was basketball, Zachary says. We dont ski
Camel. After Camel dropped 62 points named MVP. in the winter. We play basketball.
in the game, the Carroll alum put him in Under Zack, the Salish Kootenai After playing three years at Polson,
touch with an agent, leading to a tryout Bison are the most accomplished Native Zachary transferred to Arlee to play one
and roster spot on a professional team American mens basketball program in year under J.R. He was named Class C
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all-state after averaging 10.5 assists per acquaintance can hear his fathers voice The extended Camel family stands for a portrait
at Salish Kootenai College onFeb. 3. Front left to
game his senior year, which unofficially channeled through his own. When right: Lee Camel, Louetta Camel, Zachary Camel,
broke the all-time Montana High School friends, native and white alike, go out to Alicia Camel, Liz Camel and Bill Camel. Back left
Association single-season assists record. party, he stays behind. Its always been to right: J.R. Camel, Anthony Camel, Isaac Camel
and Zack Conko-Camel.
He also broke the state record for assists that way.
in a game with 24. I want to be a role model to my sib-
Following high school, Zachary lings and to other kids, he says. I dont basketballs deep into the night were
played for his father for two years at want to fall into the things that people Zacks daughter, Alicia, and son,
Salish Kootenai, leading the Bison to say natives do. Living on the reservation, Anthony, a junior and freshman, respec-
two national titles before transferring you see a lot. tively, at Ronan. They were accompanied
to UM. Its not lost on J.R. that Zachary Zachary traveled to Pablo from Mis- by Lee, the eldest daughter of J.R. and
is wearing his number for the Grizzlies. soula on a February evening to watch his a junior at Ronan, and Louetta, a niece
He has a lot of weight on his shoul- father and uncle prepare the Bison for and freshman at Ronan.
ders, J.R. says. That goes for the whole the stretch run of their season. Amid the Lee, Alicia and Louetta are a mighty
reservation and everywhere around squeaking shoes and coaches shouts, a 3-on-3 powerhouse in their own right,
Montana, because everyone knows him. trio of high schoolers emerged, followed annually winning their division at Pol-
We get congratulations everywhere we by two more, entering underneath a sons Flathead Lake 3-on-3 Basketball
go. Were all excited and proud. mounted bison head hanging above a Tournament, while all playing varsity
Zack is most proud of his son, who is door into the Joe McDonald Health and for Ronan. They recently helped the
going for his bachelors in business and Activities Center, where the Bison play Maidens win the Western B girls divi-
plans to get a masters degree, for his and practice. Zachary waved at the kids. sional tourney, while Anthony is getting
accomplishments off the court. They were all Camels. They had just fin- consistent minutes on the boys varsity
Hes leading his life the way he ished their respective high school basket- team. Its typical for a Camel to play var-
should be, Zack says. Hes alcohol and ball practices and had shown up to prac- sity as a freshman.
drug free. Hes doing it the right way. tice more while J.R. and Zack coached. Sometimes theyll have practices at
To hear Zachary speak, even a casual Among the Camels shooting 6 a.m. and then theyll still be here at 8 at
night, said Zacks wife, Liz, as she alter- CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
nated between watching her husband PARK DESIGN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
coach and her kids shoot. It seemed that LAKESHORE PERMITTING
Millie was the only Camel missing in the
gym that evening. She saves her energy 427 E Center Street Kalispell
406.270.8054
up to attend the games. www.terradesignworks.com
It never stops in this family, Liz info@terradesignworks.com
adds. I have a calendar thats color coor- Kurt Vomfell, PLA MT Lic . #9051
dinated for when all the kids have games.
J.R. also has two younger daugh-
ters, Jaida, 9, and Miquene, 8, who are
waiting for their opportunities to carry
on the Camel tradition of high school
excellence, but for now Lee is doing a
pretty good job by herself. A Class B
all-state selection and the defending
conference scoring champion, Lee was
named MVP runner-up at a Lady Griz
competition camp last summer out of
more than 300 high school players.
Our goal for her is to play for the
Lady Griz, J.R. says. Shes a heck of
a player.
ON FEB. 18, HIS 42ND BIRTHDAY, J.R. PILED

into a car filled with relatives, including
Millie, and headed down to Anaconda
to watch Lee lead Ronan to the dis-
trict championship. Anyone who has
ever attended a Montana high school
postseason basketball game featuring
a reservation team knows that Amer-
ican Indian fans travel through hell and
high water to watch their kids play. The
Camels can fill out a sizeable chunk of
bleachers by themselves.
We all travel together, J.R. says.
Being Native Americans, were a close
family.
Reflecting on his own path to stardom,
J.R. recalled meeting Elvis Old Bull, who
he called a great shooter and a great
person. He got the opportunity to play
against Old Bull in a tournament, both
men well past their high school glory days
two legends whose journeys started out
similar, then took divergent paths, only
to intersect at the one place that made
sense: on a basketball court.
I actually still have the little hoop
that says, Elvis Who? Camel says. Its
in my closet. I saw it the other day and
I was laughing about it. FL
Best Friend
Mans
Not a bad employee, either

By Myers Reece Photography by Mandy Mohler
YOU DONT HAVE TO TRAIN A DOG TO LOVE. THAT COMES NATURALLY. BUT WE
can teach our furry buddies to do so much more: retrieve ducks or balls; comfort
veterans with PTSD or senior citizens with dementia; track down fugitives or sniff
out illegal drugs; navigate agility courses or leap off docks. They work hard. They
aim to please. And when the workday is over, no matter how difficult or exhausting
it was, they love you just as much as they did in the morning.
CAMO
BREED:X Hollandse Herder (cross between
Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Malinois)
OCCUPATION: Police dog, competitive dock diver
HANDLER: Dale Brandeberry
THE X BEFORE HOLLANDSE HERDER dogs like that: sweet but workable. Shes Montana, including in Missoula, Lake
seems to hint at the mysterious, as if great around kids, really sweet, but when County, Powell County and elsewhere,
out of a spy novel, but in fact it merely we send her off to bite a bad guy, we want in addition to his work across the nation.
signifies that the dog is a cross between her doing it because shes commanded He has a DEA license that allows him
two breeds. Yet, Camo wouldnt be a bad to do it. to obtain drugs like heroin for training
partner for a spy. Camo, 15 months old, isnt yet purposes.
Under the tutelage of Dale Brande- working with a law enforcement agency, He says Dutch Shepherds, and their
berry, a longtime police dog trainer, although Brandeberry says she might in offshoots that are bred with Belgian
Camo will sniff out a bag of heroin or the future, or she might stay on as his Malinois, are genetically engineered for
attack a perpetrator on command. But if demo dog. Brandeberry formerly worked the rigors of law enforcement.
no laws are being broken, shes content for the U.S. Forest Service as national She would rather work than eat, he
playing with a ball or diving off docks. police canine coordinator, lead eval- says of Camo.
As with so many of us, she tries to strike uator and master trainer, traveling to This is the first time he has incorpo-
that ideal balance between work and play. over 20 states to train and evaluate the rated dock diving into training. Camos
If you happen to catch her on a break, training of police dogs. He retired six rippled hindquarters speak to her athlet-
and perhaps spend some time snuggling years ago but continues to run his own icism, although she hasnt entered any
with her, youd never guess what shes Kalispell-based company, K-9 Command formal competitions yet. But Brandeberry
capable of professionally. Services. expects good results when she does.
Shes so sweet, but shed bite you on Brandeberry has trained dogs for She can jump 25 feet pretty easily,
command, Brandeberry says. We like law enforcement agencies throughout he says. FL
THE DUTCH HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO BREED THE
PERFECT POLICE DOG.
THATS WHAT SHE IS.
WHATS FUN FOR ME
IS THE TEAMWORK
AND THE WORK
THAT GOES INTO
IT PAYING OFF.
RIVER
BREED:Belgian Tervuren
OCCUPATION: Agility and show dog
HANDLER: Caitlyn Franke
(with mother, Lori Franke)
CAITLYN FRANKE WAS 4 YEARS OLD you treat them. is judged on how well she presents River
when her family brought a new puppy into It gives kids a base for interacting using voice and body commands. During
the home. Shes now 15, which means shes with other living creatures, with people. agility competitions, Caitlyn helps River
spent nearly three-quarters of her life Caitlyn, a 4.0 freshman at Glacier navigate over, under, through or around
with River, and not passively like many High School, began working with River a series of obstacles, depending on the
children with their dogs. Shes actively when she was old enough, picking up type of course, trying to avoid faults and
trained River, bonded with her as both a where her elder sisters training left off. finish as fast as possible.
friend and teammate, and put the tight- River, now semi-retired at 13 years old, But, like any athlete, River cant com-
ness of their relationship on display in the has earned a boatload of titles and certif- pete with age, and though shes healthy,
heat of agility and show competitions. icates through the North American Dog shes not the competitor she once was.
Lori Franke, Caitlyns mother, says Agility Council (NADAC), and has won She visits the chiropractor and spends
the relationship has given back as much two sets of junior handler titles in the more of her leisure time lounging
as her daughter has put into it, which is United States Dog Agility Association around the house. She still enjoys a com-
the point. (USDAA). Both Caitlyn and her sister petition here and there, but shes just as
Kids learn so much from pets, qualified for the USDAA nationals. fond of a long nap in the sun.
Lori says. They learn responsibility Caitlyn has also guided River to Ultimately, shes a pet, and I want
making sure theyre fed, cleaning up three straight first-place junior dog her to live healthily in the house, Lori
the yard and they learn empathy. Dogs showmanship awards at the Northwest says. Shes picked her favorite couch.
really respond to what you do and how Montana Fair. In showmanship, Caitlyn Shes a happy old girl. FL
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HOUNDS PUT THEIR
NOSE TO THE GROUND
AND THEYRE GONE.
THEY GET SUCH
TUNNEL VISION,
NOTHING CAN
DISTRACT THEM. NOT
CARS, NOT PEOPLE,
NOT ANYTHING.
PENNY Redbone coonhound
BREED:
OCCUPATION: Search and rescue tracker
HANDLER: Julie Balch
SOMETIMES THE DIFFERENCE the highly sophisticated technological their jobs.

between life and death is a nose Pennys controls on its dashboard but from the Hounds follow the trail of micro-
nose, to be specific. Its a pretty cute nose. finely tuned biological functions of Pen- scopic skin rafts, made up of shed
Penny, a 3-year-old redbone coon- nys nose. skin cells. Balch either tethers Penny
hound, is a tracking dog for Flathead Its amazing to watch her work, says to the end of a 35-foot line, constantly
County Search and Rescue and North Julie Balch, a Flathead County Search keeping tension as they trek through all
Valley Rescue Association. When and Rescue volunteer and Pennys owner. types of terrain, or she attaches a GPS
someone goes missing, all she needs is a Balch was inspired to train a hound collar and lets the dog work her magic
scent from the person, perhaps an article for search and rescue after watching her solo. Through Pennys GPS coordi-
of clothing, and shell put her nose to son-in-law use redbones for mountain nates, search parties can begin piecing
the ground as if her life depends on it, lion hunting. She figured that a hounds together potential routes and locations.
though its not her life that shes saving. relentless zeal for locating a lion would Penny might not always find
She has a proven track record of transfer to tracking a human. the person herself, but she plays an
either leading crews to the missing Balch, who runs a truck driving com- important role for the rescuers, often
person or giving them enough infor- pany in Columbia Falls, travels regu- members of Two Bear Air.
mation to finish the mission. Even a larly to Billings to work with a North It doesnt matter who finds them;
state-of-the-art Two Bear Air rescue American Police Work Dog Association we just want a happy ending, Balch
helicopter might need a nudge in the trainer, constantly honing Pennys skills says. Were one tool in this great big
right direction, and it comes not from and earning certifications relevant to tool box. FL
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SOMETIMES ILL
FIND ONE OF THEM
IN THE BED WITH
A RESIDENT, AND
THEYLL BE IN A
FULL-BODY HUG.
BREED: Goldendoodles
ABBY AND EMMA

(cross between golden retriever and poodle)
Nursing
OCCUPATION:
home therapy dogs
HANDLER: Cheryl Lowe
WHEN CHERYL LOWE, ACTIVITIES cherished by long-term and short-term who often wont remember staffs names,
director at Kalispell Regional Healthcares residents alike. The temporary residents but they remember the dogs names,
Brendan House nursing home, shows up often have dogs at home that they miss, Lowe says. Thats a good example of
for work, residents immediately seek out and Lowes goldendoodles soften the the power of their therapeutic value.
her dogs, Abby and Emma. When she blow of separation. For long-term folks, Lowe previously had a cockapoo a
takes the day off, they still look for the the dogs essentially become their own. Cocker Spaniel and poodle mix who
dogs. If the pooches are nowhere to be Through daily visits, residents get died at the age of 17 . That dogs sister
found, a very mellow riot ensues. to know Abby and Emma intimately, was also a therapy dog. Lowe got Abby
They dont even ask for me, Lowe and they experience the kind of truly from a breeder in Toronto and Emma
says. They ask for Emma and Abby. The unconditional love that only dogs can from Spokane. She says the dogs ther-
residents really miss them if theyre not offer. Having both a small and big dog apeutic merit extends beyond residents.
there. works out perfectly, Lowe says, because We have an enclosed courtyard
So Lowe sends the pups to work even people have different preferences. Abby, where they play, Lowe says, and
if she stays home. Its a two-way street: 1 years old, is a full-grown mini gold- the window is always full with people
the dogs miss the residents, too. endoodle at 17 pounds. Emma, 6 months watching them: residents, visitors, staff.
Lowe, who has worked at Brendan old, is a 40-pound standard golden- If I had one underlying theme, she
House since its inception 30 years doodle who will top out at about 55. adds, it would be, This is good medi-
ago, says Abby and Emma are equally We have residents with dementia cine. FL
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The Life
and Times of
Bill Johnson
The first American to earn an Olympic
gold in downhill, whose comeback bid
in 2001 ended in a horrific crash on Big
Mountain, died earlier this year at 55
BY KEITH LIGGETT
PHOTOS COURTESY U.S. SKI TEAM | LORI ADAMSKI-PEEK
Bill Johnson was the first American
to win a World Cup Downhill.
Bill Johnson skiing for the
U.S. Ski Team.
M
ist hung loose in the Mountains. A thin river of green winding At 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2002,
tops of tall Douglas Firs through 200-year-old firs. Bill Johnson looked down from the
lining the fairways. A The other aspect is the precision top of Big Mountain in Whitefish, a
light rain started, then required to play the course. The fair- ski mountain he could not remember.
stopped. Then started again. The damp ways are narrow. Crooked, they rise or In the distance, the jagged, snow-cov-
air carried the thick smell of a North- drop following the terrain and rarely run ered mountains of Glacier National Park
west forest in spring. flat or straight. The greens are sculpted, pushed into a blue bird sky.
On the first tee, Bill Johnson pulled delineated from the fairways by the One year before, at the same time,
a driver from his bag on the back of short compact grass rather than indi- in almost the same place, Bill Johnson
the cart. Looking to John Creel, his vidual architecture. pushed out of the start house for his
ski coach during his comeback bid, he Wood duck pairs swim in the ponds. run at the 2001 Doug and Rollie Smith
asked, How long is it? Canadian geese waddle on the edges. Downhill Championship. In returning
330 with a dog leg right at about Osprey keen harshly as they soar over to his roots as a downhill racer, Johnson
200. the holes near the Columbia River. hoped to regain his past and reclaim the
Johnson set his ball on a tee, took The course is the mountains. The position he held about 18 years before as
two loose practice swings, stepped to mountains are the course. the premier downhill racer in the world.
the ball and drove it to the middle of Rain or no rain, Bill Johnson came Johnson ruled the high-speed twisting
the flat at the dogleg. A perfect shot. In out to Skamania Lodge to play golf. And icy courses of Europe for a wild year in
the rain. golf he played. On a course most players the early 80s the first American to
The Skamania Lodge Golf Course attempt not to lose balls, Johnson played win a World Cup Downhill and the first
is known for two singular aspects. The for par and a few bogeys. American to win an Olympic gold medal
first is the natural beauty surrounding Golf played a significant role in his in Downhill at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter
the course. Set on a slope overlooking life before his accident and became Games.
the Columbia River, the mountains on important again, a year after his acci- At age 40, Johnson was racing for a
the other side of the river rise some dent. As winter came to an end, golf second chance.
4,000 feet in a single sweep. Scottish replaced skiing. Two-thirds of the way down the
links-style courses place a course in course, in a series of fall-away turns
the natural setting of a coastal plain, MEMORY IS JOGGED by little events. A known as the Corkscrew, Johnson lost
the Brandon Dunes courses being the song brings back a memory of a person, a his balance. Splitting his skis, slamming
LORI ADAMSKI-PEEK
Northwest standard. In the same way, night and a place. A ski mountain brings headfirst into the snow, sliding uncon-
the Skamania Lodge course is placed back memories of victories and former scious, he ripped through two retaining
in the natural setting of the Cascade racing friends. fences before coming to a stop at the
edge of the trees. The crash played on HE WAS BECOMING Its really good to see you skiing.
the nightly news for most of the fol- HYPOXIC, NOT ENOUGH Its really good to be skiing.
lowing week, becoming indelibly etched OXYGEN IN HIS BLOOD. HIS
in the memory of the country. PULSE WAS DROPPING AND AT THE END of the day, the press
After over a month in a coma, the first HIS COLOR CHANGING. IT assembled in the large fireplace room
conscious moment Bill Johnson remem- WAS THEN WE INSERTED in the Kintla Lodge at the base of Big
bered is talking to his mother on May 4, A BREATHING TUBE. Mountain.
some six weeks after the fall. Doctors CHARLIE CHARMAN Behind a table, facing the media, Bill
remained cautious about his recovery. Johnson sat with Charlie Charman, the
He would have to re-learn how to speak, mass of swarming journalists from the first doctor to reach him after the crash.
how to walk, how to manage even the off-loading area of the chairlift. Brian Schott, with Big Mountain Resort,
simplest of tasks, like tying his shoes. The word was out. Bill Johnson was introduced the two men. Finishing with,
His memory remained spotty for sev- back. Big Mountain locals stopped and Its great to have Bill back and to have
eral months and then began to fill with greeted the familiar Johnson, Hey Billy, him back skiing on the mountain.
dates, people and events. He remem- its great to see you back. Schott opened the questions.
bered nothing of the 90s leading up to He waved and smiled at each one. Before anyone could ask a question,
his comeback bid. He did not remember Its great to be back. Bill Johnson smiled and looked over at
his fathers death. He did not remember After skiing down to the crash site, Charlie. I want to thank you. They
getting divorced. Johnson stood talking to the gathered shook hands.
He did not remember the fall. media. Youre welcome. I am glad I could
One year after the fall, he returned to No, he doesnt remember crashing. be there.
Big Mountain to thank the people who Doesnt remember the last 10 years. He Johnson looked back at the gathered
saved his life and to attempt to jog his feels very confident on skis. journalists. I came back to thank the
memory. His day started with a 5 a.m. As the questions and answers flow, people that helped me after my crash.
wakeup call for a 5:30 a.m. live feed with a single ski patrol in a telltale red jacket He paused. To meet all the doctors and
a national television network in New skis down and stops next to Bill Johnson. ski patrol that helped me. It is really
York City. They discussed his participa- Taking his glove off, he holds out his good to be back.
tion in the opening ceremonies of the hand. Bill, Im Chris Burke. The question was asked of Charman:
recent Salt Lake City Olympics. Johnson Bill shakes his hand. Were you one What were Johnsons injuries when
said Big Mountain seemed familiar, but of the patrol that helped me? he reached him? He listed off several
he believed it was familiar because it I was the first one down.
is similar to Crested Butte, Colorado, Johnson smiles, Thanks, thanks a Bill Johnson went into a coma following a crash at
where he served as the ski ambassador lot. a competition at Big Mountain.
in the late 80s. In a following interview,
he continued to focus on the similarity
with Crested Butte.
Riding the Big Mountain Express
chairlift, Johnson commented, I know
this mountain, but it was somewhere
else. I never raced in Montana. The
chair reached the top. He pointed to
the large bowl dropping off the summit,
The Downhill goes down there and it
used to go on that little road, but they
cut the trail below and took out the flat
part. He shook his head, But I never
raced here. It must be somewhere else.
As Johnson glided off the lift, camera
crews lay in wait anxious to document
the return. Four TV cameras, two sound
booms, assorted print media, several
still photographers. Big Mountain per-
sonnel attempted to guide the unruly
and finished with the fact that sometimes not. Now, he skied
Johnson had bit his tongue almost fast in the loose arcing manner
in half, blocking his airway with of a longtime racer. Easily,
dislodged tissue and blood. He cleanly, confidently carving, he
was becoming hypoxic, not swept down the mountain with
enough oxygen in his blood. His the press struggling to follow.
pulse was dropping and his color
changing. It was then we inserted AS BILL JOHNSON and John
a breathing tube. Creel made the turn back to the
As the press conference came Skamania Lodge Clubhouse,
to an end, a journalist who had Johnson talked about his future.
walked in only a few minutes ear- Theres a big brain injury
lier, missing the bulk of the ques- group that wants me to be the
tions and all the opening state- spokesman. Id play golf in their
ments by Schott, Johnson, and tournaments and talk about my
Charman, asked a last question. recovery. He smiled.
So Bill, why did you feel you Sounds pretty perfect.
needed to come back here one Yeah, it does, doesnt it?
year after your accident? Looking down at his card, he
The day had been long. Starting mentally replayed the hole and
at 5 a.m. Johnson had answered wrote down his score.
this question so many times and Creel shook his head. You
in so many ways throughout the picked up another stroke on me.
day. He hesitated, glanced at Dr. Johnson smiled and entered
Charman, and replied with a Creels score.
totally straight face. Revenue I can be a model. I can show
enhancement. He paused again. people.
I want more people to come He gazed intently down the
to Big Mountain and get hurt. narrow dropping fairway to a
Bill Johnson won gold at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games.
Charlie needs the business. Right green backed by water. A par 3,
now he has to attack people. the flag sits on the back third
Johnson pulled down the neck of his the start house. Thats where they have of the green. He picked an iron. After
T-shirt, exposing the quarter-sized the start. teeing the ball, he took two loose swings,
scar from his tracheotomy. Look what Do you remember the Doug Smith stepped to the ball and drove. It dropped
he did to me! or the Nationals last year? 10 feet short of the pin and stuck on the
Charman protested. They did that He shook his head. No, just winning wet green.
at the hospital. in 1982 and 1989. A chance for a birdie.
Johnson dismissed his comment Over the weekend, Johnson remem-
with a wave of his hand, smiling at the bered other small aspects of White- IN THE DAYS and months that followed
assembled journalists scribbling madly. fish and the mountain. A large group that round of golf, there appeared to be
Charlie needs more people to come ambled into Trubys for pizza. He hope. Bills life had been a success fol-
here to get hurt, so he doesnt have to didnt remember ever eating at Tru- lowed by crash time after time.
attack people on the mountain. bys. Coming back from the bathroom, As a youth he wandered in and out of
Charman laughed. Everyone in the he stood at the head of the table. Hey, the juvenile justice system until a judge
room was laughing. Bill Johnson, the I remember the bathroom. told him, choose A or B: ski academy or
jokester, was back. All through the week, people walked jail. Bill already skipped a couple grades.
up to him and recalled the time they had He wasnt dumb. He took A.
THE SECOND DAY skiing at Big Moun- shared. Hed laugh, Good. Shaking his At Mission Ridge Ski Academy, he rose
tain, on the ride up the Big Mountain head, not shy about his memory loss, I at 5 a.m. to train. He washed dishes to pay
Express, Johnson remarked, I did race dont remember, but that sounds good. his tuition and fees. He honed his skiing
here. He looked around at the sweep Just a month before at Snowbowl, skills. He prospered and in a couple years
of the downhill course. I won in 1982 Johnson skied in a wide track par- was named to the U.S. Ski Team.
and in 1989. He pointed to the spot for allel, sometimes planting his poles and His first year on the ski team was
notable more for what he didnt do. He it on the course. facility in Gresham at the base of Mount
didnt run. He didnt train with weights. His crash ended his comeback as a Hood, near his mothers home.
He didnt do well on the circuit. skier, but opened the door for him to
They dropped him. become a personal model, an inspira- BILL JOHNSON WAS a glider. He reveled
Johnson traveled to Europe on his tion to others recovering from trau- on smooth flat courses, able to carry his
own and raced in the Europa Cup. He matic brain injuries. He was skiing well. speed through the flats. If you looked at
became the first U.S. skier to win the Playing golf well. He was back. his back in a tuck, it was gently curved
Europa Cup Downhill title and the But that last recovery never and remained even moving down the
Europa Cup overall. materialized. course. His legs pumped independently,
The U.S. Ski Team asked him back. A major talent agency offered to absorbing and releasing through the
He had just qualified for the following represent Johnson. He would be a bumps. Downhills were not groomed
seasons World Cup Downhills. How spokesman. They sponsored pro-am tabletop smooth as today, but offered
could they not? golf tournaments. They placed speakers roils and bumps mimicking the slope
At the Lauberhorn downhill in in events around the world. After dis- under the snow.
Wengen, just before the 1984 Sarajevo agreements over earnings and fees, the He went out gliding, in the same
Olympics, Johnson won the first Amer- agency no longer pursued Bill. With that, manner he skied, carrying his speed
ican to ever win World Cup gold. He fol- the concept for a book and a movie died. across the flats, taking the bumps with
lowed with a Downhill gold at Sarajevo Johnson moved to Mount Hood and ease and humor.
and the overall World Cup Downhill skied in the winters. He was welcomed He skied big. He crashed big. He lived
title. Again, all firsts for an American. by the resorts there as a de facto ambas- big. Through it all, he maintained the
The years that followed were notable sador. A model for kids: You can make ability to glide.
again for what he didnt do. He finished it big, too. After suffering a number of Glide on, Billy.
in the top 10 several times, but never mini-strokes, often a long-term issue Bill Johnson died of traumatic brain
stood on the podium again. Socially he with brain injuries, he suffered a major injury complications on Jan. 21, 2016. He
lived in the fast lane, but never regained stroke and moved to an assisted care was 55. FL
HIDDEN
PITSTOPS A brief manual for the
off-the-beaten-path seeker of
roadside burgers and beer
BY MYERS REECE PHOTOS BY GREG LINDSTROM
I ts spring and were ready to get outside, go and the age of the children in your family,
perhaps you generally seek pitstops that
exploring, take a road trip. No matter where lack the rough edges of some of those
we end up, were going to get hungry and listed here. But reputations, even if well-
earned, can be deceiving. Ownership
thirsty, obviously. In Montana, the highways are changes, generational shifts take over,
long and the roadside stops are few. priorities evolve, and edges get smoothed.
That doesnt mean, however, that a
If you find yourself on a lonely stretch a burger and a beer. This yearning is a pitstop on a spring highway cant and
of highway in the Swan or Yaak, or in powerful force of nature that must be shouldnt be just rough enough to stay
the expanse of timber between Kalispell answered, and fortunately youll have true to the spirit of its geography and cli-
and Eureka, or maybe just in Badrock this handy little guide to show you the entele. The burgers still taste good, and
Canyon or somewhere south of Kalis- way to Destination Satiation. the beer is always cold. And if you smooth
pell, you may find yourself longing for Depending on your particular tastes, the edges too much, they just get dull.
1
timber for the Hungry Horse Dam and
SOUTHFORK subsequently for dam workers. Orig-

inally called the Hungry Horse Bar, it
SALOON
was the second of 13 taverns that lined
a single street in Martin City during the
1950s. The first, Deer Lick Saloon, is still
MARTIN CITY there, too.
Thirteen bars might sound like a lot
until you consider that there were 26
brothels, a tidy 2-to-1 ratio. The madam of
A SIGN AT THE entrance to Southfork hiding behind posters and sports mem- the brothels, described in lore under the
Saloon clearly states, Check Your Guns orabilia on the walls. euphemism of Sunday school teacher,
at the Bar. But 22 years ago, one man Those tales, however, belie the bars was a central figure in town, a generous,
didnt get the memo. current state. Though it can still get community-minded woman who is still
The patron in question was wrap- rowdy, the Southfork Saloon, under the discussed with reverence today.
ping up a hard days session with a bottle ownership of Monty and Nonie Pruett While the saloons busiest time of
of Black Velvet when he got into a dis- since 2004, is more salt-of-the-earth than year is Cabin Fever Days, it also draws
agreement with a fellow whiskey enthu- bullet hole-in-the-floor. But that doesnt a loyal local following year round, as
siast. One thing led to another and the mean the Pruetts are running from their well as a current of tourists through
man ended up firing his shotgun in the establishments history. Theyre proud of summer. It has a spacious outdoor beer
parking lot. When police arrived, more its evolution, a sentiment that could be garden, fenced with beautiful vistas of
shots echoed into the night. Fortunately, extended to the community as a whole. Glacier National Parks mountaintops,
the only casualty was the mans pickup, The Southfork Saloon is the epi- and it employs Pruett family members
which was riddled with bullet holes. center of the wildly popular Cabin Fever who are invested in maintaining a wel-
To this day, you can purchase a tee- Days, and is the originator of the offbeat coming, down-home atmosphere. Bar-
shirt that declares, I Survived the festivals famous Barstool Ski Races. In tenders know regulars like extended
Martin City Shoot Out 1994 (at the fact, Monty won his division last year. family. It would be hard to say whether
Southfork Saloon). A souvenir to pass The winning sled is hanging from the Nonie or Monty is friendlier, so well call
down to the grandkids, perhaps. ceiling. Theres also an abundance of it a tie. Monty can always fall back on his
Though its the most prominent signed dollar bills dangling from the barstool title.
example, the shootout isnt the lone roof. Recently, a patron called to request Stop in, but remember to follow the
gun incident in the bars history. A pre- that his dollar be removed or updated rules and etiquette suggestions, detailed
vious owner pressed the muzzle of a with his current girlfriends name. The on signs throughout the tavern: Come
shotgun to the floor, for reasons only bill couldnt be located. Back With a Warrant, Hippies Use
clear to him, and blew open a hole. Its The Southfork Saloon was built in Side Door, and, of course, Check Your
still there. There are similar battle scars 1946 to accommodate crews clearing Guns at the Bar. FL
John Runkle, owner
of the Dirty Shame
Saloon along Yaak
River Road.
2
with the diminished saloon crowds.
DIRTY SHAME Then in 2011, Belcher pleaded guilty

to molesting two young girls in Mary-
SALOON
land. The Dirty Shame went into fore-
closure, and Runkle purchased it in 2013
with his friend Ray Falzone, who hed
YAAK met 30 years earlier when they were
both paratroopers for the 509th Air-
borne Battalion combat team.
JOHN RUNKLE DOESNT shoot balls off does attract a certain adventure seeker After a brutal winter during which
the pool table with a .357 magnum like willing to make a trip to the remote temperatures plummeted to 31 degrees
a previous Dirty Shame Saloon owner northwest Montana community of below zero, Falzone decided he pre-
did, nor does he drink much. Someone Yaak. If youre not arriving to hunt or ferred the warm climates of Las Vegas
has to have a clear head when things visit family, youre likely there for the and sold his share to Runkle.
get rowdy. Not to mention, at his age, Dirty Shame. So now I own two-thirds of Yaaks
sobriety might be his best weapon if he Its the draw in the Yaak, Runkle businesses, Runkle says. Im a big fish
gets caught up in the mayhem. says. Its the famous bar. in a mud puddle.
Im a big guy, but Im 54, Runkle In 2006, a teetotaling Episcopalian His math isnt fully accurate, but
says. My only advantage over a priest named Don Belcher and his wife close enough. The only other business
25-year-old is that hes drunk and Im bought the Dirty Shame from Rick Car- in Yaak proper is the Yaak River Tavern
not. sello. Runkle said the Belchers made and Mercantile across the street. Runkle
Runkles bar bills itself as the World changes, such as a two-beer maximum and the Yaak River Taverns owner
Famous Dirty Shame Saloon. While limit, that drove people away. The occu- are engaged in a land dispute that has
it may not be the same kind of tourist pancy rate at Runkles nearby hunting reached the Montana Supreme Court.
draw as, say, Glacier National Park, it getaway, Yaak River Lodge, fell in step Were the only bars within 50 miles
and we dont speak, he says. Its actu-
ally getting a little better. Weve waved
at each other a couple times. It might get
to the point where we can talk to each
other again.
While the Dirty Shame attracts
bikers and other travelers, much of its
clientele consists of younger folks from
Spokane, Missoula, Troy and Libby.
The Dirty Shame has a reputation
that you can go there and misbehave,
he says. Which is partially true and
partially not. Its fine until you get one
jackass who thinks he can go in there
and start fights with everybody.
The bar serves solid burgers and
other bar fare, and Runkle has brought
back the popular summer crawdad fes-
tival. He has also remodeled the saloon,
although he was careful not to cover up
bullet holes in the walls for the sake of
posterity. the table, Runkle grows quiet, suddenly that I dont even think about it, he says.
After casually mentioning both the aware of the distance between the Dirty But to say it out loud, it does sound
bullet-hole-ridden dcor and the bars Shame and the civilized world. pretty weird that all of that really hap-
history of pool balls getting shot off Im just so used to all of that stuff pened. FL
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www.beardancemontana.com

assures people that shes much better
ROCKY MOUNTAIN behaved these days, was leisurely chat-

ting with a late-afternoon drinking
ROADHOUSE crowd on a recent February day. Every-

body seemed like an old friend, and one
patron followed up her description of
FERNDALE
the bar as rough around the edges by
saying, Thats putting it lightly. Hes
proud of his home tavern and wanted to
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN Roadhouse is as drank merrily as remnant water from make sure its hard-living, hard-drinking
tough as its clientele, and if you want the firefighters hoses dripped on their reputation didnt get sullied.
proof, just look to the flames. The bar heads. Dave Barton has owned the Road-
has endured at least three significant Sarah Emmert, the Roadhouses house for 16 years, with Emmert pre-
fires, maybe more, but whos counting? bookkeeper/bartender/manager, proudly siding over day-to-day operations the
One blaze regarded with particular points to a framed photo of the 1989 fire. last five years. In the past, and still in
fondness erupted from a wood stove in Despite its near-encounters with an ashy some circles today, the bar-restaurant
1989. Bar staff grabbed the cash reg- death, the Roadhouse hums along as if has been informally called The Junc-
ister as they fled outside, where they nothing happened. Emmert thinks its tion or The A-Frame. Located at the
joined patrons in watching firefighters just the natural order of things. Survival junction of Highways 83 and 209, at the
douse the flames. When the fire was out, was expected because it was necessary. turnoff to Ferndale, the Roadhouse also
staff returned inside with the cash reg- What else would we do around here has two other nicknames, according to
ister, followed by thirsty patrons, likely if this bar was gone? Emmert says. Emmert: The Packers Roost of Bigfork
parched from the smoke. Everybody Emmert, who rocks purple hair and and Redneck Cheers.
Were definitely a biker bar, she
Patrons shoot pool at
says. the Rocky Mountain
Locals keep the establishment afloat Roadhouse.
during the offseason, while tourists flow
in through the summer. In years past,
the bar has held live music at a band shell
out back, and it occasionally hosts music
inside. It serves hearty bar fare and is
most famous for a ribeye special every
Thursday, when they cook 16-ounce
bone-in ribeyes from Lower Valley Pro-
cessing on a charcoal barbecue in the
front parking lot off Highway 83. The
feast comes with a salad, baked potato
and toast.
But dont let the biker bar and rough-
around-the-edges references intimidate
you. Its a friendly, welcoming bar with
patrons who all know each other but are
eager to meet newcomers. Emmert will
fill you in on any notable occurrences in redneck, Emmert says. making calls, she says. Im like, Hey,
the lives of her regulars, such as one guy Whatever loyal patrons decide to call are you doing okay? I can pretty much
who cut his hair off and is now suffering themselves, they know not to show up set my watch to whos coming in at what
an identity crisis. late. Emmert will be worried. time. We definitely have a colorful cast
He doesnt know if hes a hippy or a If I dont see the regulars, I start of characters. FL
WHOLESALE PRICING
Pella Window & Door Showroom of Kalispell
4
While Caudill oversees the bar, Dels
DELS BAR
has separate managers for the casino
and kitchen. A fourth distinct area is
found outside behind the building in
a fenced area, with beautiful moun-
tain views in the distance. This well-
SOMERS
kempt beer garden includes a mini golf
course and its own bar, though the bar
isnt open all the time. Golfers can get
THREE GENERATIONS OF Bob Lincolns a steady stream of year-round patrons their drinks inside. But it does open for
have run Dels: Bob Sr., Bob and Bobby. from finding it, as well as an onslaught events, which are plentiful, with class
If you believe that consistency and sta- of lake-loving tourists in the summer. reunions, weddings and other groups
bility are important for a business, its Fishermen should especially feel renting out the garden band shell
hard to beat the reign of the Bobs. Lynn right at home here. There are posters included for parties.
Caudill, an employee since 1985, knows of different types of fish, alongside The nine-hole mini golf course is
this better than anybody. mounted trophy lake trout, tributes to considered adult to make clear that
Theyre really a good family to work both the bars location near Flathead its a tavern sporting event, for legal-age
for, says Caudill, who has been manager Lake and its former role as the host of adults, not families and kids. The sign
for 25 years. the Mac Attack fishing derby. above its entrance states, Clothing
Dels is tucked away in the heart of We still get a lot of fishermen, Cau- Optional Beyond this Point.
Somers, off Highway 93 on the north dill says. But we get all kinds of people With a smartly laid-out floor plan
end of Flathead Lake. Its not visible from all over, a lot of working men, con- combining booths and tables, along
from the highway, but that doesnt stop struction workers. with large televisions on the walls, Dels
is a nice place to watch a game. Caudill
described the atmosphere on Super Bowl
Sunday as crazy, which is saying a lot
for an establishment accustomed to hun-
dreds of diners and drinkers daily in the
summer. The bar has two pool tables,
pinball and darts, as well as the cheapest
gallons of liquor in the valley.
It serves good food at reasonable
prices: burgers, pizzas, sandwiches,
salads and more. Popular dishes include
Dels Famous Pork Chop Sandwich and
Shelbys Secret Chicken, broasted fresh
per order, meaning it takes up to 30 min-
utes but is worth your patience.
Its first come, first serve, Caudill
says. In the summer, we have up to
three hours waiting. People dont care.
They order pints and wait.
Del Graves built the bar in 1954.
Bob Lincoln Sr. bought it in 1970 and
ran it until his son took over. The Lin- away in 1996. been, patrons know who they have to
coln family, which also owns Joe Blogz Bobby mainly runs the business answer to if they get a little squirelly.
in Lakeside, added considerable square today, though his father still pitches in. Im kind of the mom around here,
footage through the 70s. Bob Sr. passed As good of owners as the Lincolns have Caudill says. FL
EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE
WHITEFISH KALISPELL
Mountain Mall Hwy 93 Hutton Ranch Plaza
862-3111 755-6484
Daily 9-8 Sun 10-5 Daily 9-9 Sun 10-6
WWW.SPORTSMANSKIHAUS.COM
5
along a flat at the waters edge below the
STILLWATER road, roughly halfway between Eureka

and Kalispell. If youre not slowing down
BAR and looking for it, by the time you see

the sign on top Stillwater Bar Food
OLNEY Gambling youve probably already
missed the turn.
But its worth slowing down. Get a
double bacon burger or an egg from the
FROM 1928 UNTIL its closure in 2000, the Val, initially ran it, but when the mill large tub of pickled eggs sitting behind
American Timber Company operated a closed in 2000, Corne suddenly found the bar, or just grab a drink and head out
sawmill on the shores of Lower Stillwater himself alternating between both sides of onto the wraparound deck, which over-
Lake near Olney. Ted Corne worked in the bar: the patron side, which he already looks the lake. Much of the shoreline is
the log yard for 25 of those years. After knew well, and the management side, state land, so youll see very little devel-
a hot day, like many employees, Corne which he was learning. Call it double duty. opment, and no mansions or condos. But
would enjoy a cold beer or six at the Still- I retired in 2000, but then I started youll likely see wildlife.
water Bar, located on the south end of with this place, Corne, 70, says. So I Weve had bears walk through
the lake from the sawmill. never really retired. here, moose, he says. We get otters,
Corne liked the beer so much, in fact, The Stillwater Bar is easy to miss ducks, geese. You can see most anything
that he bought the bar in 1998. His wife, on U.S. Highway 93, where its tucked around here.
Corne has a steady local clientele signs for Pointers and Setters. Corne
base, from Kalispell to Eureka, but thinks its self-explanatory, but hes had Ted Corne,
owner of
he also gets tourists in the summer, a few people ask which one they are. Stillwater Bar.
assuming they dont miss the turn. The Cornes plainspoken demeanor
lake attracts the usual crowd of swim- influences his management: Well ask
mers, boaters and fishermen, and Cana- around, try new things. If people like
dians stop by regularly, though not as something, well keep it. Or, regarding
often as before the exchange ratio his decision to keep everything in the
tipped out of their favor. bar intact from previous ownership:
Summer is great, bartender Holli We didnt see any reason to change it
Wilson says. This place gets insane. because people like it.
The bar has poker machines, a pool The common philosophical thread
table and a stage that on rare occasions weaving through those statements is the
hosts live music. Lunchtime is often customer. Corne wants his people to be
full of blue-collar workers, with whole happy. Thats why he throws an annual
construction crews sometimes coming customer appreciation day, scheduled
in from nearby projects. Dcor reflects this year for May 21. The bar will cook
the surrounding water culture: hanging up a whole pig and serve it for free.
above bottles of booze behind the bar Customers like to come here and
is a 26-pound, 8-ounce northern pike fish, or have a good time and enjoy a
caught out of Lower Stillwater Lake in beverage of their choice, he says. We
1980 by LeRoy Schwegel, Cornes buddy. want them to keep coming. We appre-
The bathrooms are marked with ciate them. FL
Home
THE MARRIAGE OF
Art and Design

Mindful Designs husband-and-wife team
combines aesthetics with functionality in
beautiful show home
BY COLTON MARTINI // PHOTOS BY GIBEON PHOTOGRAPHY
Much of the home was
built with reclaimed wood
and salvaged metal.
Home
The kitchen utilizes

counters poured in
place and adorned
with tractor gears .
ven though art and design the plunge and build a home for their been smoothed and weathered by live-
can be compared with one family, they created a space that beau- stock, are incorporated as newel posts.
another, it could also be tifully combines her artistic vision and Steel drilling rods act as horizontal bal-
argued that art and design his methodical and playful views on usters to continue a rustic, albeit indus-
are two completely separate concepts. design. The result is not only a one-of-a- trial, modern look. Having grown up in
Art tends to inspire, whereas design kind showplace (art if you will) but also rural settings, these details seemed nat-
tends to motivate. Incorporating too a functional space to call home. Every so ural to the Radattis. Another creative
much art without enough design, or often, art and design intersect. detail includes outhouse planks sal-
vice-versa, can result in something Any materials that had to be taken vaged from yesteryear and reworked as
looking incomplete or monotonous from the site to build the house were cabinets in the kitchenette.
without one ever understanding why. intentionally repurposed and incorpo- A designers job is to take something
The most successful designs are rated into the structure of the home. that has a particular purpose or func-
those that most effectively communicate Trees that the owners salvaged from the tion and communicate it in his or her
their message while still maximizing a property beautifully adorn the homes own way. When something new is gen-
homes sensibility. Art is created to share exterior as living edge siding. Mixed with erated, a designer tends to have a fixed
feelings, and to encourage the partici- reclaimed barn wood and salvaged metal, starting point, such as setting out to
pant to learn and relate, all of which can the homes somewhat contemporary create a chair, kitchen or entire house.
only be achieved from the experience. exterior evokes a very natural rustic vibe. The kitchen utilizes counters poured
When Dave Radatti of Mindful That feeling carries into the interior in place and adorned with tractor gears
Designs in Whitefish and his wife, Kelly, spaces. Corner fence posts from cattle set lovingly in the concrete. Dave Radat-
an accomplished artist, decided to take ranches in eastern Montana, which have tis grandfather was a former engineer
%
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Villas
A Ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Communities
40 CLAREMONT STREET | KALISPELL, MT 59901 | 8 88 -6 0 4 -5 37 5 | W WW.I LCO RP.O R G
Home
with John Deere, and this was a cre- opportunity to get together. The lower ABOVE: The Radattis wanted to build a home
that combines the wife's artistic vision with the
ative way to honor his memory. The con- level of the home was designed for com- husband's playful views on design.
cept continues with the use of retired pany, with a pool table and projector
saw blades to create a unique lighting screen bringing friends and family OPPOSITE: Exterior and master bathroom.
arrangement over the island. together. Other amenities include a

Dave Radatti describes their home
as somewhere in the middle between
wood-fired hot tub perfect for a silent
soak and some stargazing after an after-
A DESIGNERS
modern and rustic. Though it was built noon of cross-country skiing. JOB IS TO TAKE
as a showplace to exhibit the range of Like the hot tub, the home gener- SOMETHING THAT
styles and practices Mindful Designs
can do, Radatti goes on to explain that
ates most of its energy naturally. With
a ground-source heat pump, ICF Form HAS A PARTICULAR
the house is a reflection of ourselves. Concrete Panels, and other environ- PURPOSE OR
You really have to meet us, and you
will understand immediately, he says.
mentally conscious building practices,
the home maintains an even base tem- FUNCTION AND
Radatti and his wife use the house perature through all seasons. And with COMMUNICATE
for entertaining and welcoming guests.
Five nearby families enjoy each oth-
passive solar heat, even without air con-
ditioning it stays cool and comfortable
IT IN HIS OR HER
ers company in the area and take every in the summer. OWN WAY.
FOUR GENERATIONS
ON
FLATHEAD LAKE
Cly de Stewart
Flat head Lake c. 194 9
David Fetveit aims to keep the

Montana tradition alive, representing
his family as a fourth generation
Montanan, living on and around the
shores of Flathead Lake.
Like his great-grandfather Clyde,
David understands the value of this
special place, and works hard to
introduce the lake life to others,
by providing a superior real estate
experience.
DAV I D F E T V E I T | B R O K E R
PureWest Real Estate
C E L L 406.249.1764
E M A I L David@PureWestMT.com
W E B www.DavidFetveit.com
Home
Many of the design Finished primarily by Radatti and his artistic expression, the pair designed
touches on the wife, many of the design touches were most of the homes furniture as well. A
home were trial and
trial and error, created as art installa- custom sofa made to inspire conversa-
error, created as art
installations. tions. Tasked with a steep learning curve, tion, and perfect for an afternoon nap,
the couple learned to set tile in the midst also includes clever storage compart-
of building, and after years of long nights ments. The master shower was actually
and weekends, they developed a uniquely modeled after a skate ramp flipped on its
artistic style. Dave Radatti says that the side, an example of the innovative col-
main purpose was to have fun with it, laboration of artistic vision and func-
as they were specifically building it for tional design.
the long haul. Now with a 21-month-old daughter,
Leaving behind no opportunity for the Radattis plan to take their design
Gracious design details
with a distinctive
V ICTORIAN TOUCH.
An Employee Owned Company
Historic Downtown
LanDmark For saLe
80,000 total square feet, including basement, main floor, mezzanine and second floor.
The KM building has been the cornerstone of Kalispells commercial center since the
and artistic exploration even fur- formation of the city in the early 1890s. At the turn of the century, the KM Building was one
ther. Having already created a secret of the largest retail and wholesale operations between Seattle and Minneapolis. Restored
with extreme attention to detail, quality, and consistency with historic theme. Currently
passage to Narnia in their daughters has 29 commercial tenants in suites ranging from 150 to 5,700 square feet. Includes
room, they are collaborating with 2500sf luxury apartment and ample off-street parking.
another designer to create a climbing Price $3,480,000
rock wall for years of playful expres-
sion and fun.
Colton Martini, who studied architecture
at Montana State University, is a practic-
ing interior designer. He can can be reached David Stone, Broker Wendy Brown, Broker
406-250-7249 406 249-0266
at 406-480-2375, or 105A Wisconsin Ave., dstone@purewestmt.com wendy@chuckolson.com
Whitefish. FL
Home
a Labor
of Love
Nearly 20 years ago, Bill Goodman
fell in love with an old, dilapidated
building. Today his passion project has
revitalized one of the oldest and most
prominent landmarks in the Flathead
Valley, the KM Building
BY DILLON TABISH PHOTOS BY GREG LINDSTROM
PHOTO BY GREG LINDSTROM
Bill and Jana Goodman,

owners of the KM
Building in Kalispell.
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Randy Jones Construction INC.

347 W Idaho St, Kalispell, MT 59901 Office: 406-257-2196
Cell: 406-261-3272 randyjonesconstruction@yahoo.com F L AT H E A D L I V I N G S S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 67
Home
F
rom inside the grand hallways giant artifact is far from gathering dust.
of the KM Building, onlookers Throughout the 80,000-square-foot
can glimpse into the past and labyrinth, more than 25 businesses and
future of Kalispell. offices are bustling with activity, from
Black-and-white photos adorn the dentists to financial advisors. The same
high walls, showing the dusty streets rooms that once housed the original
and wooden sidewalks of an emergent offices and courtroom for the nascent
downtown in the early 1900s. The orig- Flathead County and the first Kalispell
inal birch floors are intact, as is the City Hall are now home to massage
classic brick infrastructure. therapists and more. The Split Rock Caf
Inside these walls lies history. A few serves breakfast and lunch in the same
years ago, workers discovered an Amer- space as the buildings original name-
COURTESY PHOTO; PHOTO BY GREG LINDSTROM
ican flag made of wool with 48 stars. The sake, the Kalispell Mercantile, where the
oldest active furnace in Montana bel- towns first residents gathered their vital
TOP The upstairs lows steam throughout the two-story supplies, from wagons to appliances and
apartment at the KM
Building. building. Other quirky relics are stashed groceries.
in the various nooks and crannies, har- Yet barely 20 years ago, this center-
BOTTOM Historical photo
of the KM Building. kening to a different era of architecture piece of Kalispell was very different, dim
and lifestyles. and dusty, a relatively forgotten piece of
Dont be mistaken, though this history.
COMMITTED TO
HELPING YOU FIND
YOUR DREAM IN THE
FLATHEAD VALLEY
PROVEN RESULTS
my 2015 sales put me
in the top 1%
of Realtors in the
Bill Goodman remembers. Flathead Valley!
When he moved to Montana in
1972, he developed a well-known BOARD MEMBER OF CLAYS FOR
acumen in the real estate business. KIDS SUPPORTING HOMELESS
AND HUNGRY CHILDREN OF THE
Then he moved to Kalispell 10 years FLATHEAD VALLEY
later and found love, twice over.
NSCA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR
First, it was a beautiful young SPORTING CLAYS
woman named Jana. A pack of musi-
TWO TIME MONTANA LADIES STATE
cians, including Marshall Noice and SPORTING CLAYS CHAMPION
other downtown artists, formed
a blues band named Tut and the
Uncommons and played regularly
JENNIFER SHELLEY, Realtor
at the Kalispell Bar on Main Street. mobile 406.249.8929
Bill and Jana met for a dance and it JenniferShelley@NPRMT.com
grew into a regular gathering. Then www.NationalParksRealty.com
it grew into love and marriage. National Parks Realty
710 Grand Dr
Second, it was a massive building Bigfork, MT 59911
in downtown, filling an entire city
block along First Avenue East. At the *Based on information from the Northwest Montana Association of REALTORS MLS, Inc. (alternatively, from the NMAR MLS)
for the period January 1, 2015 December 31, 2015. Jennifer Shelley is a Licensed Realtor in the State of Montana.
time, only two tenants occupied the
Home
space. Spiderwebs overran the hallways artifact, Katharine Thompson, commu- that had become empty storage space
and expanses. A dim coat of cement and nity development manager with the city over the last century. Fiber optic cables
silica a peculiar style popularized in of Kalispell, said. It is a rich part of the were spread throughout, as well as new
the 70s masked the brick exterior. fabric of Kalispells community. sprinkler systems. New walls were con-
The owners of the KM Building The KM building was constructed structed and other older ones were torn
wanted to sell it and brought in in the early 1890s, around the same down, creating a spacious atmosphere
Goodman as the prospective real time as the Central School now The that is both comfy and accommodating.
estate agent. As he toured the corridors, Museum at Central School and Car- Before Split Rock Caf, the Good-
Goodman detected that something spe- negie Library now the Hockaday. mans opened and operated Reds Wines
cial was hidden and overlooked. Together, these three structures form a and Blues, a bar and restaurant, and
As a kid growing up in Memphis, core that anchors the historic downtown Reds Roost, a sports bar. That endeavor
the son of a community leader who Kalispell district, Gil Jordan, executive proved too successful as it overwhelmed
championed new life for old buildings, director of the Northwest Montana His- the Goodmans and the building, and
Goodman had a particular taste for historical Society, says. they eventually shut it down, opening
toric flavor. Goodman completely renovated the the doors for the breakfast and lunch
I grew up with that in my blood, he KM Building over the last two decades, caf.
says. I fell in love with this building. gutting many of the upstairs rooms As their latest and last project, the
In 1997, with Janas blessing, Goodman
purchased the KM Building and embarked
on a labor of love that he never could have
predicted. It is only now reaching its con-
clusion, and what a conclusion it is.
It was a dying building back then,
he says.
The KM Building, one of the oldest
and most prominent existing landmarks
in the Flathead Valley, is now a vibrant
focal point in downtown Kalispell. Orig-
inally built from 1892 through 1903, the
structure is a source of commerce and
history to the greater community.
The careful restoration of the KM
Building into a viable space for busi-
ness today, while preserving its archi-
tectural integrity, speaks to the value
of the building as more than an historic
One Call!
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
The rooftop deck. We Can Give You...
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An old safe at the KM Building.
Our own team answering the phones
Black tar marks on the original 24 hours a day.
wood floors.
The Best Options available with all services working
The theater in the KM Building. together under one roof...
Celebrating 23 years of Serving the Valley in 2016
SALES
SERVICE
Goodmans redeveloped the upstairs INSTALLATION
loft apartment, a 2,500-square-foot
living space with a rooftop patio 406.756.6656
overlooking downtown. www.centralmt.com
I dont have to leave here for any-
thing. Its all here, Bill says.
Except the Goodmans are leaving.
After all this time and effort, RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL
Bill is ready for his next adventure.
At 69, he is ready to move on from
his passion project. He has listed the
KM Building with two local realtors,
David Stone with PureWest Real
Estate and Wendy Brown with Chuck
Olson Real Estate. Goodman listed
the property for $3.48 million.
Im hoping that the new owner
is somebody who appreciates what
theyre getting, appreciates the place
in history that the building has and the
community, and the quality that Ive
tried to put into it, Goodman says.
After years of 24/7 hard work,
Bill and Jana are ready to spend more
time relaxing in the Flathead Valley,
a place where they plan on spending
the rest of their days together. After
26 years of marriage, theyre ready to
get back to dancing.
Anyone can build new, he says.
Its hard to build old.
Its been exciting to see his vision
unfold. It unfolded the way he saw it.
That rarely happens, Jana says. When you combine your own personal style with the beauty of Belgard
pavers, the world outside your backdoor takes on an amazing new perspective.
This building has been as Start creating your kind of beautiful order your FREE Idea Book today at Belgard.com
exciting as my husband. FL
Home Interiors a BY MEREDITH COOPMAN
Flower Power
A
Harvard University study a positive carry-over impact on our or choose something in a contrasting
showed that having flowers mood at work, too. The study found that color. Choose smaller bouquets for con-
in the home decreases anx- people were more likely to feel happier versation spaces and pleasant bursts of
iety and provides bursts of energy that and have more enthusiasm and energy color in smaller rooms. For an easy go-to,
last well into the day like we needed at work when flowers were in their home a big bunch of bright whites, all yellows
another reason to love flowers. Flowers living environments. or shades of blue makes a confident state-
bring about positive emotional feel- Flowers are versatile. They come in ment and will go with any dcor. These
ings to those who enter a room, create so many shapes, colors and sizes that its simple touches are big on impact.
a sharing atmosphere and make people easy to add them to your home in a way Typically, arrangements are placed
feel welcomed. that matches personal style and dcor. in areas of the home that are open
The Home Ecology of Flowers Study at A beautiful thing about flowers is that to visitors, such as entryways, living
Harvard discovered three main findings: there is no right or wrong way to use rooms and dining rooms. Why not place
them. Mix and match colors, kinds and flowers in locations around the home
Flowers feed compassion. sizes, or keep them all the same. Floral for YOU? Put them in the bathroom, on
Study participants who lived with arrangements are a fun way to add color your nightstand, in the kitchen. There
fresh-cut flowers for less than a week to any space, room, or atmosphere. Keep are no rules.
felt an increase in feelings of compas- it casual, go with sophistication or make
sion and kindness toward others. an elegant bunch, or do whatever suits THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
your mood. Freshen it up every week, Flowers are present during the most
Flowers chase away anxieties, worries change with the seasons, splurge for a important occasions in our lives. We find
and the blues at home. special occasion, be daring, be bold, be them on birthdays, at funerals, gradua-
Overall, people in the study simply subtle the options are endless. tions, weddings, etc. Theyre symbolic
felt less negative after being around When it comes to picking flowers for of different meanings, depending on
flowers at home for just a few days. a room, there's no wrong choice. Adding the circumstances. No wonder there is
flowers is the perfect solution to give a an actual Language of Flowers called
Living with flowers can provide a boost room a visual break or make a statement. Floriography. You can even reference
of energy, happiness and enthusiasm Consider the size, function, and attitude a Floral Dictionary. In Victorian times,
FOTOLIA.COM
at work. of the room for the flowers. To create a certain flowers had specific meanings
Having flowers at home can have focal point, bring in a larger arrangement because the flower selection was limited
and people used more symbols and LILAC white lilac symbolizes humility STOCK lasting beauty and a happy life
gestures to communicate than words. and innocence; field lilac symbolizes SUNFLOWER pure thoughts it symbol-
Today, we are much more casual about charity; purple lilac symbolizes izes adoration and dedication
it, and there are essentially no rules. It's first love SWEET PEA indicates delicate pleasure
the sentiment that gives the meaning. LILY white lily symbolizes modesty and and bliss its symbolic of departure
The Society of American Florists has virginity; orange lily symbolizes pas- after having a good time
compiled a list. Some common flowers sion; yellow lily symbolizes gaiety; Lily TULIP a declaration of love it also sym-
and meanings are: of the Valley symbolizes sweetness and bolizes fame and perfect love
AMARYLLIS splendid beauty purity of heart; the Easter lily is the
ANTHURIUM hospitality symbol of the Virgin Mary Fresh-cut flowers are the perfect
ASTER patience ORCHID exotic beauty it symbol- everyday accessory for just about any
BIRD OF PARADISE joyfulness izes refinement, thoughtfulness and budget. They add color, fragrance and
CALLA LILY magnificence and beauty mature charm; it also symbolizes style. They create warm, comfortable
CARNATION a red carnation symbol- proud and glorious femininity environments and are a nice way to
izes love, pride and admiration; a PEONY bashfulness and compassion change your surroundings regularly
pink carnation symbolizes the love of QUEEN ANNE'S LACE haven or sanc- and brighten any room. Green or flow-
a woman or a mother; a purple car- tuary ering plants are a perfect option as well
nation symbolizes capriciousness; a RANUNCULUS radiant charm it con- because they last much, much longer
yellow carnation symbolizes disdain, veys a message that you are radiant (especially if you take care of them). Or
rejection or disappointment; a white with charm or you are attractive why not use all of the above!
carnation symbolizes innocence and ROSE love in its various forms based on Meredith Coopman of Meredith Coopman
pure love color, variety and number Design Studio has a background in architec-
CHRYSANTHEMUM fidelity, optimism, SNAPDRAGON graciousness and ture and interior design. You can reach her
joy and long life a red chrysan- strength at meredith@meredithcoopman.com. FL
themum conveys love; a white chry-
santhemum symbolizes truth and
loyal love; a yellow chrysanthemum
symbolizes slighted love
DAFFODIL regard and chivalry a
single daffodil foretells a misfortune,
while a bunch of daffodils indicates joy
and happiness
DAISY innocence and purity; a gerbera
daisy specifically conveys cheerfulness
DELPHINIUM big-heartedness, fun,
lightness and levity
FREESIA innocence and thoughtfulness
GARDENIA symbolizes purity and
sweetness they indicate secret love;
they convey joy; they tell the receiver
you are lovely
GLADIOLUS strength of character, faith-
fulness and honor
HYACINTH Blue hyacinth stands for
constancy; purple for sorrow; red or
pink for play; white for loveliness and
yellow for jealousy
HYDRANGEA heartfelt emotions
IRIS eloquence purple iris is symbolic
of wisdom and compliments; blue iris
symbolizes faith and hope; yellow iris
symbolizes passion; white iris symbol-
izes purity
Lifestyle
The Joy of
Childbirth
Expecting mothers find comfort
and empowerment at Fern Creek
Midwives Birth Haus
BY CLARE MENZEL T PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG LINDSTROM
Heather Holman, left,
and Carrie Corbett at
Fern Creek Midwives.
Lifestyle
O
n January 8, Sarah In the hospital, Johnson was given Heather Holman, left, meets with Erica Carrara
Johnson gave birth to her an epidural, which slowed down her during an appointment at Fern Creek Midwive.
second child, a 9.2-pound contractions. The doctor then chose to

son. She and her husband, break her water to nudge the process people say its all magic, but it was hard
Phil Mendoza, named him Noah and along. That caused an infection and later work. [The Birth Haus] is peaceful. The
held him in their arms, resting in the led to an unplanned Cesarean section. lights were on low, I sat in the birth tub
birthing suite at the Fern Creek Mid- It was a weird experience with the and powered through it.
wives Birth Haus in downtown Kalispell C-section, Johnson said. They put the Neither Johnson nor Rebekah Alcott,
while the midwives went on a pizza run. baby over the curtain, then went away. another Fern Creek mom who gave birth
Having a third party to grab pizza I laid there for 30 minutes while they to her first child in a hospital, initially
after childbirth might be incentive stitched me up. I was like, I know I have explored options for birth with a profes-
enough to hire a midwife, but Johnson, a baby, somewhere. My husband said sional other than a doctor. They chalk
like many mothers in the Flathead it felt so wrong walking out [with the that up in part to youth and inexperi-
Valley, chose midwifery over a hospital baby] and leaving me. ence, but also to convention. To them,
birth for a host of reasons. The second time around, Johnson at first, a hospital birth felt like the
It was awful, Johnson said of her elected to work with Carrie Corbett, assumed and automatic route a woman
first birth, which was at a hospital in a Certified Professional Midwife with should take when pregnant, even if it
May 2011. It was impersonal. Once I national credentials through the North might not be the best way to meet her
was in labor, there were a lot of med- American Registry of Midwives. The dif- spiritual and emotional needs.
ical interventions that werent what I ference, Johnson said, was amazing, I didnt even think of looking out-
wanted. It felt rushed. I was younger, essentially polar opposites. side the hospital setting, Alcott said.
and I didnt feel empowered enough to I really felt like I knew what I was When I found out I was pregnant
stand up against what the doctor was getting into; I felt confident, she said. I [again], I started trying to inform myself
recommending. This time I wanted to wanted the chance to do it naturally. It and [midwifery] was such a good fit
have a say. was important to give it my all I know that we joke that I have to have another
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Lifestyle
baby, just because I want to do another

birth with Carrie.
But Alcott readily acknowledges her
bias, emphasizing the fact that her expe-
rience with midwifery is subjective. If
you feel comfortable in a hospital, do
it, she urged. If you feel comfortable
at home, do it.
This is something that both the mid-
wives and the mothers draw attention to
repeatedly: There are advantages to birth
in both settings. Ultimately, its child-
birth, and theres no way to do it wrong.
Corbett and Heather Holman, Fern
Creeks other midwife, believe in their
care and its benefits, but theyre not birth. A healthy mother and a healthy Carrie Corbett checks a patient's blood pressure
zealots. Theyre not hawking an exclu- baby, thats always the goal. But its the during an appointment at Fern Creek Midwives.
sive, superior experience of childbirth. base of what we do. We shoot for the
Midwives only work with low-risk, stars, for mom and baby to leave the discount, and have bartered care for ser-
healthy mothers, and that doesnt mean birth intact emotionally, physically, and vices and goods.
that the women they turn down wont spiritually. It is so important to how we Corbett and Holman have been best
get wonderful care with health providers mother, and that gets missed a lot in a friends since they were 18 years old, when
in a hospital. All that the Fern Creek traditional birth. they were both pregnant and in high
midwives hope is that every woman, The midwives and moms text each school. They remember sitting together,
when she finds out shes expecting, takes other constantly, asking and answering holding their newborns at school one
a moment to stop and think about what questions. They meet regularly for long day when they decided to march down
kind of experience she wants when she appointments to do checkups and, as to the counselors office and ask how
meets her newborn. Corbett said, to just talk about birth and one becomes a midwife. They began
Corbett says that from her perspec- what the fears are, so we know her inti- training in 2007 and, five years later, after
tive, things are swinging from hospital mately. Hiring a midwife is like putting receiving degrees in Midwifery Science
births being just what you do, to taking a knowledgeable, sensitive pregnancy from the Midwives College of Utah and
a step back [to consider other options]. coach on retainer, accessible at any time. certificates in Neonatal Resuscitation and
The bottom line is: Where do you feel And, generally speaking, even though CPR for health care professionals, they
safest? Women birth babies best when there is so much more personal tailoring opened Fern Creek together.
they feel safest. and supplementary holistic care, child- In December 2015, they moved into
And while doctors offer safety in the birth with a Flathead midwife costs less. their current location on Main Street
form of medical expertise, midwives The cost of birth in a hospital depends in Kalispell, which is big enough for a
provide it by prioritizing empowerment. on how long you stay, and can increase private suite to accommodate fami-
In Old English, midwife meant with- with every medical intervention or extra lies who may not want to give birth at
woman, and the French variation can be measure of comfort. their home. The Birth Haus is just a
translated to sage woman. Both titles I think the lowest you could actually few minutes down the road from Kalis-
capture exactly whats special about get off with for an all-inclusive price [for a pell Regional Healthcare, just in case
midwiferyCorbett and Holman focus hospital birth] would be more like $7,000, there are any complications. There is
just as much on the expecting mother as and that's being generous, Corbett said. no inherent danger to delivering a baby
they do on the logistics of birth. Comparatively, a birth at Fern Creek, outside of a medical setting, and Cor-
Its about the relationship. That is which includes every measure of pre- bett and Holman would rush a client to
the difference, Corbett said. Doctors natal and postpartum care, costs a flat a hospital if she ever needed urgent care
dont have the time, and [the relation- $3,500, and the midwives can accom- from a doctor. They do greatly appre-
ship] enhances the positivity. Its not all modate families with any budgetthey ciate and utilize medical interventions,
rainbows and butterflies and blissed-out have a low income/financial hardship Corbett said, but it's their overuse that
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As Caitlin Danielson, who deliv-
ered three children at a hospital and
Flathead Living for
was preparing for her fourth birth with $25 $35
Corbett at the time of publication, put
1 YEAR 2 YEARS
it, at a hospital, you are treated like
you have a medical condition that
needs treating. A woman shouldnt feel
like they have something wrong.
Corbett and Holman also take
on far fewer patients than doctors,
another trademark of midwifery,
which means that they have the time
to patiently see every birth through
with the least amount of medical
intervention, no matter how long it
takes. Unless it becomes a matter of
medical necessity, they aim to coax
and coach a mother through even the
most laborious or slow vaginal birth.
At the hospital you get an IV, and Call 406.257.9220 or email
406.862.SHOW
thats harmless, Holman said. Then billing@flatheadbeacon.com
you get some medicine, and that slows
atpwhitefish.org
your contractions. So you get some-
thing to speed them up.
And then maybe the baby doesnt
like that, Corbett added. From there,
the process can domino until the
mother is suddenly getting wheeled COMFORT FOR LIFE
into an unplanned or unwanted
C-section 32.7 percent of births
in the United States are delivered
by Cesarean, though that number
hovers around 20 percent in Montana, A Pro Who Knows
according to the Centers for Disease Indoor Comfort!
Control and Prevention.
Your local Daikin brand dealer has all the tools needed to
I had hours of natural labor, then I find the best high-efficiency, energy-saving Daikin brand
was told I was getting a C-section and ductless heating and cooling system for you.
that was that, Alcott said. I felt like I
had no idea what happened. It felt like
a personal failure.
The idea is for mothers to walk
away from midwifery without regrets (Insert Dealer Info Here)
or disappointment. The mission is to

help the new mother triumph.
You get support, Corbett said of
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Lifestyle
Renew Wool
Spring is a period for growth and
renewal, a time to fabricate the tapestry
of ones identity. Weave together all
possibilities for new development.
Emerge from hibernation and reawaken
the fiber of your being.
BY CHELSEA MARTINI
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MANDY MOHLER
MODEL: CHAD WAITE
EARTHSTAR FARM OWNER
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5 Pendleton Tamiami Trail Blanket (multi-color blanket)

Retail: $249
Western Outdoor
Kalispell
6 Vintage Swiss Army Blanket (grey and red blanket)

Retail: $150
Missoula Antique Mall
3 Missoula
6
Lifestyle 1
2
3
82 F L AT H E A D L I V I N G S S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 9
1 Vintage Hudson Bay Blanket 5 Turquoise and Antler Bolo Tie 9 G.I. Wool Glove Liners
(backdrop) Retail: $155 Retail: $5.99
Retail: $185 CMartini Jewelry Army Navy
Station 8 Whitefish Kalispell
Columbia Falls
6 Wool Blend Socks Heavy Duty Deluxe Suspenders
2 Vintage Leather Boots Retail: $10.99 Retail: $19.99
Retail: $3.75 Walmart Cabelas
Salvation Army Kalispell Kalispell
Kalispell
7 Clover Bamboo Single Point Woolrich Malone Pants
3 Levis Denim and Shearling Knitting Needles Retail: $19
Jacket Retail: $4.99 Circle Square Thrift
Retail: $10 Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Missoula
Soroptimist Kalispell
Whitefish
8 Natural Wool Yarn
4 SmartWool NTS 250 Retail: $12.99
Pattern Crew Camas Creek
Retail: $105 Kalispell
Sportsman & Ski Haus
Kalispell
WHEN YOURE STRONGER,

YOURE BETTER.
Find your strength at Competitive Edge.

summithealthcenter.com | 751.3096 |
at The Summit
Lifestyle Balancing Act a BY SAMMI JOHNSON
To Fall or Fly
A
s the last article went to print,
my daughter had a legitimate
breakthrough on skis. As in,
she just started skiing! Turning, stop-
ping, having fun and asking for more.
I had to pinch myself. Was I dreaming?
If you recall, my last column was
about my debate over how much we
should push our children into activities
they might despise, although as parents
we love! The example was skiing.
Turns out, our perseverance worked
out. She skis! This needs a little bit of
explanation.
Go back to the last article: I write it,
it goes to print, we go skiing. After our
token two runs, we head into the lodge
to partake in some sugary beverages, and
in our conversation about doing just that,
I casually say, You go have hot choco-
late with Dad. Im going to go give away
your skis if youre not going to use them.
We might as well give them to someone
who will love them, ski them, use them.
And that was it. A little white lie and it
turned my girl into a skier. She put on her
skis, got on the chair and did it. Turned.
Stopped. Smiled. Got back on the chair good until its our own, and then its the own self-inflicted barriers. Those arent
for more. Simple as that. best idea. good habits. As were raising small ver-
First off, I was ecstatic to witness I want her to know that I would never, sions of ourselves, striving to make them
my girl skiing. I had tears in my eyes! ever, introduce something like skiing, better, bigger and more empowered than
Second, she loved it. Third, it was clear swimming, or any other activity, trip or us is our goal. Self-limiting habits are
that she had this in her the entire time. experience in which I know she wont at ones Id like to help her avoid.
Wow. She is smart and stubborn, and she least find some joy or learn something As Im slowly peeling those layers
held the key to her own ability on two new. I just have to know that the tran- away and shedding the ridiculousness of
skis this whole time. sition period for her from loathing to my own bad habits, THIS is my lesson
Dont we all do that? We think we loving (this includes her little brother) and foundational quote response to her,
cant do something, are convinced we could be MONTHS-long for acceptance. when asked.
dont like it, and know our limitations Reflecting on my own adolescence, What if I fall?
until lo and behold we actually get the transitioning into young adulthood, Oh but, my darling, what if you fly?
job, land the client, run the marathon, entering careers and relationships, and Please trust yourself. You (and I) got
save the money, mend the relationships, other experiences, many were dimin- this.
make more, do more, thrive more and ished by a bit of the imposter syndrome, Sammi is a mother, wife, business owner
shatter our own expectations. Empow- low(er) self esteem and wasted brain and marketing director at the Flathead
ering stuff. cells on a million things that didnt Beacon in Kalispell. Contact her at sammi@
She worked us a bit, thats for sure. matter because of my own self-doubt, flatheadbeacon.com. FL
Also, as with most people, an idea isnt concerns of perceptions and basically my
Lifestyle Staying Fit a BY JENNA ANDERSON
RUSSIAN LUNGE W/ ROTATION: BAND SCAPULA PULLS BAND WALKS BAND CRUNCHES
Fit Flathead Challenge

think about getting down into a runners
set position, though not quite to the
floor. With the right leg forward, keep
S
pring is starting to show a little Plant your left hand on the floor close the tension on the band, your core tight,
more every day, and summer to your ankle (use a block or bench if body hinged just slightly forward, and
will be just around the corner. you need it). Remember, youre trying step the left leg forward without letting
Which means swimsuit season! And to keep your back straight and long. Use the band slip. Do 20 steps forward, and
with swimsuit season comes the mad your right hand on your knee and gently then try 20 steps back.
dash to fix your body in order to look rotate without letting the left hip col- BAND CRUNCHES: A great way to
great in the water and out of it. lapse to the floor, and hold for 10-20 sec- create some tension in your core and
Well, this year I want to set you up onds. Yes, its supposed to burn. Make it amp up your basic sit-up is by strapping
for success, and not just a summer pro- easier by dropping the knee to the floor. a band between a door or around some-
gram to help you out if youve wintered When youre done, switch. Repeat 3-4 thing firm and then lying on the floor
well. Instead, this spring, join me on times on each leg. far enough away that there is tension on
Facebook for a transformative event to BAND SCAPULA PULLS: These the band when you hold one end in each
help you move better, feel better, and insanely simple movements are going hand above your head. You dont want
improve your lifestyle in any way you to be harder than you think, and are so much tension that you cant move,
choose, along with follow-up workouts, designed to help create a connection but enough that youre working. Keep
tips, articles, recipes, and accountability. between your mind and the pulling mus- your chin off your chest and your hands
Youll get a chance to post your changes, cles in your back. Set a band up high, stable, and crunch up. When you come
ask for help, and surround yourself with about shoulder level, and step back until down, dont let your hands pop over
others wanting a positive you can do it the tension on the band pulls your arms your head, which releases the tension
attitude. To start your transformation, straight. Keep your arms straight and of the band. Instead, keep them tight.
youll want to find the Facebook event squeeze your shoulder blades down and Start with 10 crunches and work your
Fit Flathead Spring. You can search back. Watch your elbows theyre going way up to three sets of 20.
it, or find it on my Facebook page Inner to want to bend, but dont let them. Do Do each exercise 3-4 times. The hip
Power Training. Below youll find the 15-20 in four sets. Make it easier by strengthening, core, and back strength-
first workout in your transformation. having someone touch between your ening will help you as the weather begins
Itll work great by itself, or supplement shoulder blades, or help slide your to warm up and you find yourself begin-
an already active lifestyle. shoulder blades to start. ning to take on more and more outdoor
RUSSIAN LUNGE W/ ROTATION: BAND WALKS: These help strengthen activities, including running, walking,
Stretch out in a long lunge, right foot for- the outside of the hip, quad and ham- and even Nordic walking.
ward, knee over ankle, back leg straight strings, and teach the knees to track for- See you at the Facebook event! I cant
and strong. See if you can press forward ward as youre moving. Remember not wait to hear from everyone!
on the ball of your back foot, squeezing to stand up straight when you do this, Jenna is a trainer and competitive phy-
hard through the leg and glute of the but keep the knees bent and tracking sique athlete with a passion for yoga. She
back leg. Now, stay in a static lunge up forward, maintaining tension on the can usually be found at Flathead Health
and down, 12 times, on the front leg. band. Start with placing a band around and Fitness in Kalispell teaching classes.
After the 12th lunge, youre going to let your quads, just above the knee. Shift She also offers personal training. Contact
your hips drop and reach for the floor. your weight to the balls of your feet, and her at www.innerpowertraining.com. FL
Lifestyle How We Age a BY LIZ MARCHI
Digital to Dirt
I
am fortunate to have a life sustainably, that are antibiotic and hor-
partner who is my best friend mone free as a way to preserve ranch-
and companion. Jon is 70 I am lands and wildlife. His margins arent
62. We live on a ranch, 8 miles from a great but he is making it and at the same
small town, with no neighbors, on one time enabling a new generation of Mon-
of the longest, muddiest driveways in tanans to stay on the land. We sell beef,
Montana, and have several hundred buffalo, goat, rabbit, elk and chickens. I
cows and two corgis that need to be fed have come full circle.
everyday. Both of us are workaholics in I love technology and came to Mon-
our own special ways. In my journey to tana 16 years ago as an evangelist for
embrace and plan for aging, we couldnt the opportunity that tech businesses
have more divergent opinions or plans offered in Montana. I still believe that
about growing older. This could be a to my core and will remained engaged
problem. through Frontier Funds 1 & 2 and orga-
I lie awake at night thinking about nizations like the High Tech Alliance
the overwhelming work that always and Next Frontier Capital.
needs to be done at the ranch. Its never Ranching is so fundamentally a part
going to be all neat and tidy. I love this of Montanas DNA, a place I love. I made
place the solitude and landscape very and ceaseless analyzing of information a huge life change moving my family
much. I made a radical life change to to be relevant. here from the South 16 years ago. Now
move here. For whatever reason, I have I am reading, interviewing mentors I am seeing our ranch in a whole new
tried convincing myself that we need to and cruising the Internet for options on light not the burden of maintenance,
downsize and give up this tremendous figuring out this aging thing. The best but the opportunity to dig deeper into
responsibility. For years, I relished being answer has come from Jon: you dont Montanas ranching and agriculture
able to stay engaged with my work with have to make a major change all at once, heritage, to better see how it contrib-
Frontier Funds 1 & 2 and entrepreneurs and, guess what, you arent in control. I utes to the character of people. What
electronically, doing conference calls on dont want to work as fast and furiously joy there would be in finding markets
my deck and doing webinars from the as I did in the past, but you can still be that value our products and land in a
barn. Last year I drove 45,000 miles in relevant in work you love. way that makes them economically
Montana, mostly to Bozeman, to raise Life is always a balance between viable. I dont think it will be easy but I
money and meet with entrepreneurs head and heart. Some would view it as am excited to learn.
and companies. a struggle between head and heart. The I have started spring cleaning in the
My plan was to move to Bozeman older we are, the more lessons we barn, the first time in 35 years. I prob-
so that work could be done with a little have in our portfolio of experiences. We ably wont get it done this year, but I
less physical exertion on my part. I need must use our heads to know that life is know there will be something for me to
more time to exercise, plan my diet and changing, but our hearts are wise from do for however long I want to do it.
frankly just to be. My husband cant the living. The more we live, travel, learn Spring is coming, and I will be gar-
imagine why I would do that. I have to and experience, the greater our fulfill- dening and in the dirt. Let it be.
confess: it seems more like real work ment in living will be at any age. Liz is fascinated by the various approaches
than it once did. There are younger, My horizon is shorter. I have joined to aging from denial, to plastic surgery, to
smarter, more talented folks taking up the Board of the MontanaMeatCo.com. running marathons, to depression. Given our
this work, and I am good with it. I have Breaking all the rules I have learned over current demographics, Liz thinks there is a lot
come to grips with the fact that I must the years about business, I have fallen for to explore, celebrate and learn from those liv-
find different passions that dont require a fifth-generation Montana ranch kid ing and aging in the Flathead Valley. Contact
the constant study, continued adoption who is passionate about proteins, raised her at Liz@frontierangels.com. FL
Where Montana Gets Engaged
131 Central Ave - Whitefish, MT 59937 - 406.862.9199 - www.McGoughandCo.com
showcasing your
architectural vision
gibeonphotography.com
photo@gibeonphotography.com
406.270.2162
Food&Drink
Tipus Chai gains national following using a

recipe passed down through generations
BY CLARE MENZEL // PHOTOS BY LIDO VIZZUTTI
A glass of Tipu's Chai
Now prepared with
hot milk and water.
Food&Drink
Bipin Patel at his
home outside
of Ronan.
T
he Tipus chai recipe has been whole family every morning with spices take with you.
passed down generations. It imported from India. But as the country The family managed, though, and
has traveled across countries collapsed into civil war in the early Patel finished growing up happily. He
and continents and oceans, seen civil 1970s, when Patel was 10, his grandpar- eventually joined an English Buddhist
wars, world wars, and the rise and fall ents returned to India and his parents group called the Western Buddhist
of colonial rule. It contains cardamom, relocated to England. Their new home Order, and when he was 24, he trav-
cinnamon, allspice, and gingerwith didnt have a ready-made community eled to the United States to help open a
maybe a pinch of some other secret of Indian immigrants to join, and the retreat called Aryaloka in Newmarket,
spices. And since Bipin Patel began locals werent as receptive to different New Hampshire.
boxing and selling the masala mix in the traditions. There, he met his future wife, Varada
early 2000s, it has warmed hundreds of In England, they were very con- Veum, then a college student, who came
thousands of bellies. But before then, flicted about Asians being there, a bit to the retreat one day for meditation
chai was just a simple part of life, some- like whats going on now, Patel said. instruction. Patel had only planned on
thing that Patels grandmother, Kishi It was pretty hard. We found it incred-
Patel, made every day and nobody ever ibly difficult to be welcomed we had
thought twice about. to put up with not having good chai or
A gutsy young woman, Kishi moved spicy food. South London didnt have
from western India to Uganda with her any [Indian] grocery stores.
new husband, Ranchodbhai, an adven- Patels mother did what she could,
turer, in the 1920s. Uganda had fallen often ordering spices from India or
under British powers in the late 1800s, setting aside a day to travel to the few
and the Patels joined the large diaspora Indian stores in North London. The
of Indians who were traveling west bold, vigorous masala flavors kept their
to build infrastructure, develop the heritage alive in the dark, grimy London
country, and serve as colonial adminis- of the 20th century, where the drink of
tration. Ranchodbhai found work first choice was the stalwart but pale English
as a dockworker, then as a math teacher breakfast tea.
in a one-room schoolhouse, and later as Britain is a big tea drinking cul-
the owner of a provisions store. ture, but in Britain, you wouldnt mix
Ranchodbhai and Kishi had children, it with spices, Patel said. You may not
Containers of Tipu's Chai liquid concentrate
then their children had children, and all be able to be taught an Indian language on a storeroom shelf at the production
the while, Kishi made fresh chai for the in school, but food and flavors you can facility in Polson.
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94.3% $136 W W W. P U R E W E S T R E A L E S TAT E . C O M

HIGHER VOLUME MILLION* more in sales
WHITEFISH | KALISPELL | LAKESIDE | BIGFORK | POLSON | MISSOULA
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than our closest competitor
*Statistics compiled using PureWest Real Estate in-house sales tracking for company sales. Competitor closed sales volume as reported closed in NMAR MLS. Residential and land sales only.
Food&Drink
Boxes of Tipu's Chai
Now including the
three new spice mixes
espresso, cocoa mint
and chocolate.
working in New England for one year but friends advice and put Indian cuisine decided to move north, to idyllic Polson,
ended up staying for the better part of on the map, opening up a vegetarian where the business is currently based.
a decade to fully establish the retreat. restaurant named Tipus Tiger. Patel The small town hardly hindered the new
Over time, he and Veum grew closer. and Veum knew that Montanans liked companys growth. Cafs and coffee
Finally, in 1995, inspired by Buddhist their furry large carnivores, as Veum shops in 32 states, as well as three coun-
visitors from Montana, they decided to said, but we couldnt use grizzly bears tries, including Saudi Arabia, now serve
move west together to Missoula. [in the name] because they dont have Tipus. The Chai Now quick brew tea
And we said, Okay, where are the them in India. They decided to dub mix retails at establishments like Dean
Indian restaurants? Veum remem- their enterprise after the Indian tiger, & De Luca and Whole Foods, two holy
bers. At the retreat, he was always and they liked the alliteration of adding grails in the industry. The success of
cooking, always making Indian dishes, Tipu. The restaurant was warmly wel- Tipus rests on the product, but it didnt
and people were always saying he should comed, something Patel attributes to hurt that by the time Patel opened up
open a restaurant. American open-mindedness. shop, Oregon Chai, a popular company
Though Patel mastered odd jobs like There isnt a history of being stuck that sells a spiced tea bag, had already
carpentry and painting at the retreat, with a particular flavor, he said, com- broken into the American chai market.
he wanted to find a new livelihood in paring his experiences in the United What made chai popular in the
his new city. So he decided to take his States and England. Theres access to United States, or what made it more
multiple cultures. accessible, is Oregon Chai, Patel said.
Customers kept ordering They did us a favor. They introduced the
one menu item in partic- idea on a national level. Then we came in
ular, until, eventually, the saying, Actually, this is the chai I grew
popularity of the chai tea at up with, with a more robust flavor profile,
Tipus eclipsed interest in and spicier. Its not tepid or just sweet.
the restaurant itself. In 2007, A traveler who encountered chai on a
Patel sold the restaurant in trip to the Himalayas in the early 1990s
"Batch master" order to focus his efforts founded Oregon Chai and as can happen
Charlene
purely on a chai business when a Westerner discovers something
Burland seals a
packet of Sweet he called Tipus Authentic with Eastern roots, she returned to the
and SpicyChai. Indian Chai. United States and spent years tinkering
Patel and Veum also with her own interpretation to sell.
Our chai isnt as sweet as Amer-
ican chai, Veum said. But its for
people who like authentic chai, or Primary, Specialty & Urgent Care Clinics
have been to India, or have tried a
family recipe. It has a strong flavor. We in Flathead & Lincoln Counties to Serve You
dont use extracts; we use real ground
spices.
Tipus products come right from
the source. Theyre based on the
Welcoming...
very same black tea and spice mix-
ture that Patels grandmother used. Michael Edwards
And, carrying on the family tradi- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
tion of shipping the proper ingredi-
Licensed Addiction Counselor
ents overseas, Patels chai is made
with the best spices the world has
to offer. Tipus employees screen the
spices every three to four months by
ordering small amounts to smell and
test, which Patel admits can drive
some of our suppliers nuts. They
implemented the practice for good
www.nvbehavioralhealth.org
reason, though, after once ordering
a full 800 pounds of untested car-
damom that was a ground mixture of North Valley North Valley
the spicy seed inside the husk as well Professional Center Surgical Services
as the husk itself, which compromised 1675 Talbot Rd, Columbia Falls 2000 Hospital Way; Whitefish
the aromatic quality. 406-892-3208 406-862-5575
Patel is firm that Tipus reputation
starts here, with the littlest specks of North Valley North Valley
spices. This commitment, which he Embrace Health Physical Therapy
chalks up to a dedication to authenticity, 3004 Hospital Way; Whitefish 235 Nucleus Ave.; Columbia Falls
grounds a successful, growing business 406-862-4763 406-892-2777
model. The new addition to tradi-
tion line, which includes mint, choco- North Country Glacier Maternity
late, and espresso chai, has doubled the Medical Clinic and Womens Center
size of the quick brew tea mix. But even 1342 HWY 93 N.; Eureka Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Eureka
406-297-2438 406-752-8180
the newest products are tied to Patels
childhood. As Veum joked, Chocolate is
North Valley North Valley Urgent Care Clinic
Bipins favorite thing, other than chai,
Geriatric Specialty Services at the Base Lodge
and Patels mother loved a fresh sprig of
and Behavioral Health Whitefish Mountain Resort
mint in her daily tea. 2004 Hospital Way; Whitefish Open during ski season
The standard by which the quality 406-862-1030 406-862-1717
of every batch of each mix is measured
has never changed. The chai just has 406-863-3500 www.nvhosp.org
to produce a cup of milky, spicy tea
that Grandmother Kishi would be
proud of. FL
Food&Drink Tap Room a STORY & PHOTO BY LIDO VIZZUTTI
Headwall Double IPA

TAMARACK BREWING COMPANY, LAKESIDE AND MISSOULA
L
et us not go quietly into this to Carlson, after your palate is initially
spring. shocked with that first wave, you can
Instead of easing into the really start to taste the subtleties.
season with a session, a fruity, a floral Its real intense, but in a way that
or a maibock, let us grab the hops by opens up the door that you want to have
the horn and wrestle right into the another sip. Then you can start to pick
big, robust, boozy beer we have been apart some of the complexities of all the
dreaming of all winter. hop character thats going on.
Tamarack Brewing Company touts Its crisp, dry, intricate, smooth
the first sips of Headwall Double IPA (or very smooth making this highly drink-
Imperial IPA) as a Chuck Norris round- able 9.7 percent brew dangerous and a
house kick to the face. favorite among the brew team and staff.
But to describe it this way is a mis- Were not trying to swing our mash
nomer. No one walks away from the paddle and see who can make the most
Chuck intact, and no one signs up for bitter beer. Were trying to make a nice,
seconds. However, for fans of high ABV, crisp, hoppy, not necessarily super bitter
hoppy not bitter and powerful IPAs, beer, Carlson said.
youll be asking for more. With a super clean malt bill to high-
Were trying to go overboard on light the hops, consumers get to expe-
hop flavor but restrain the bitterness, rience the special hop combination of
said head brewer Kyle Carlson. Its Chinook, Amarillo and especially the
not assaulting bitter. It has a really big Mosaic.
mouth feel, then tapers down and fin- We do need somewhat of a back-
ishes with a pinch of sweetness. And bone to handle that heavy hopping
then that dryness kicks in and kind of load, said Carlson. Because were over
washes over your palate a little bit. five pounds a barrel of hops, which is,
The opening aroma is of pine nee- you know, borderline ridiculous.
dles and tropical fruit. The initial sip Last year, Headwall won the
is staggering and large. Yet, according Brewing News National Imperial IPA
Dine in Carry Out Catering
227 1st St W
Kalispell
Montana
STYLE: Double IPA
IBU: 85 406-314-6095
ABV: 9.7%
Pale, ESB, Carapils and
MALTS:
Caramel 10
HOPS:Chinook, Amarillo,
Montana Made
Moaic, Citra, Simcoe MONTANA LOVED
YEAST: California Ale
APPEARANCE: Mahogany with
red highlights
APPEARANCE: Bright and golden
straw with the slightest hop
haze
DESCRIPTION: Mellow aroma of
pine needles. The initial taste is 412 MAIN STREET // KALISPELL, MT 59901 // 406-756-BREW (2739) // KALISPELLBREWING.COM
intense with hops and smooth-
ly fades through tropical fruits,
finishing rich without being
sweet.
DISTILLERY SMOKEHOUSE
WHERE TO GET IT: Headwall Dou- TAPAS CIGARS
ble IPA can be found on tap at
the Tamarack Brewing Com-
panys Lakeside location at 105
Blacktail Road and at their Mis-
soula pub house at 231 W. Front
St. Contact Tamarack Brew-
ing Company at (406) 844-
0244 or visit tamarackbrewing.
com for availability or more
information.
204 Wisconsin Ave. whitefishspirits.com Call 406.730.2282

Championship. The March-mad-
ness-bracket-style competition pitted
Imperial IPAs in a head-to-head blind
tasting competition, and when the
dust settled Tamarack was on top.
Headwall will be making another
appearance on the 2016 brackets and
Carlson hopes to have a repeat of last
year. Follow along at brewingnews.
com/nipac. FL
Food&Drink Dish a STORY BY JUSTIN FRANZ / PHOTOS BY GREG LINDSTROM
Pig & Olives

Thai Steak Sandwich
PATRICK AND MOLLY BURNS WEAVE TOGETHER INFLUENCES
FROM CUBA TO CLEVELAND AT STUMPTOWN MARKETPLACE
V THE DETAILS
ariety is the spice of life, and offers sandwiches that are conceived
thats especially true in the from a variety of influences and cultures,
food world. A few years ago, from Cuba to Cleveland. DESCRIPTION : A Thai steak sandwich
when Patrick and Molly Burns looked We wanted to do something fun with soy-marinated Montana beef, Thai
out across the Flathead Valleys culinary and different and offer flavors that are a peanut sauce, carrots, radishes, cucum-
landscape, they noticed something was little different, Molly says. We just love bers, greens and chili garlic sauce.
missing. While there are many places helping people step out of their comfort PRICE: $10
from Bigfork to Whitefish to grab a sand- zone when it comes to food and help LOCATION: Stumptown Marketplace,
wich, the Burnses say there were no sand- them try something new. 12 Spokane Ave., Whitefish
wich shops offering hoagies with a twist. Among the highlights are the Banh WEBSITE: pigandolive.com
To fill that void, the husband-and- Mi, which includes Vietnamese meat-
wife team opened Pig & Olive Sandwich balls, and the Taste of Cuba, made with
Shoppe at the Stumptown Marketplace pulled pork shoulder, swangy slaw,
in August 2014. Billing itself as not just mojo sauce, pineapple and fried banana.
another sandwich shop, Pig & Olive But Pig & Olives most popular fare is
the Thai Steak Sandwich that includes
soy-marinated Montana beef, Thai
peanut sauce, carrots, radishes, cucum-
bers, greens and chili garlic sauce. Pat-
+
rick says the combination of sweet and
savory is like an adult peanut butter and
jelly sandwich.
The Thai Steak Sandwich, which
includes locally raised meat, was one
of the original menu items Patrick and
Molly came up with a few years ago when
they fleshed out the resturants concept
on the back of a bar menu at the airport
after visiting friends back east. Molly
farmhouse
+
says she drew from her experiences
working in Greek, Middle Eastern and
Asian restaurants in Cleveland to help
build the menu.
Each sandwich at Pig & Olive comes
with a side, including fried cheese curds,
a sweet and tangy slaw or a salad. How-
ever, the owners recommend the fried
potato salad, and one bite into the dish,
which includes potatoes, carrots, celery
=
and a house dressing, will confirm why
its their favorite.
We wanted to make food that we
wanted to eat, and thats what weve
done, Molly says.
Part of that effort is using local ingre-
dients, including meats, vegetables and Lakesides best kept secrets for
breads. Patrick and Molly also make all
of their own sauces for the sandwiches. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner!
Both of those efforts take a little extra
time, but they say, in the end, its all
worth it.
We think you feel better when you
farmhouse
eat local, Molly says. FL
TAMARACK FARMHOUSE SEVEN
The fried potato
salad at Pig &
406.844.0244 406.844.0610 406.407.1455
Olive Sandwich 105 Blacktail Rd. 306 Stoner Loop 306 Stoner Loop
Shoppe. On Stoner Creek behind In the Lakeside In the Lakeside Town
Sliters Ace Hardware Town Center Center
Serving lunch, dinner Fresh and creative Seasonally & regionally
& craft brewed beer breakfast and lunch inspired dinner &
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Food&Drink Recipe a BY THREE FORKS GRILLE / PHOTOS BY GREG LINDSTROM
Rainbow Trout, Three Ways

R
ainbow trout is about as ubiquitous as bison on since the beginning and it has remained one of the most pop-
Montana menus, and Three Forks Grille's is no ular items we serve. Spring brings the fishing season and,
exception. We have featured trout on our menus with it, all across Montana anglers eagerly await their elusive
quarry. Here we give you three methods of cooking rainbow
trout. Happy fishing and enjoy!
Hot Smoked Trout Serves 2

INGREDIENTS
2 trout filets: cleaned and patted dry
Apple smoking chips
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon of canola oil
DIRECTIONS
DRESSING:
1 Smoker set-up
(if using an outdoor grill)
Preheat the grill
1. If gas (only light one burner)
2. If charcoal (wait until the coals are
burning white)
2 Once hot, create a small container with alu-
minum foil. Put about two cups of wood chips.
Place them on the inside of the foil container
and place directly on heating element or coals.
3 Once smoking, lay trout away from direct heat
and cover with the lid. You want to deliver as
much smoke as possible without cooking the
trout too quickly.
4 The whole smoking process should take about
20 minutes to complete.
5 The fish will be firm and opaque with a nice
smoky hue to it. Once cool, remove skin and
shred the meat.
At Three Forks Grille, we toss the trout with our
Caesar salad.
Three Forks Grille is located in downtown Columbia

Falls, just a short distance from the wild and scenic
three forks of the famed Flathead River. Head chef Chris
DiMaio takes pride in his original dishes and recipes by
using only the best local ingredients. He supports many
local growers, something that is important to his mission.
For more information, visit www.threeforksgrille.com.
Marinated and Grilled
Rainbow Trout Serves 2
INGREDIENTS
2 trout filets, cleaned and dried
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
1 tablespoon parsley
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and fresh black pepper
DIRECTIONS
1 Heat grill.
2 Season fish with salt and pepper.
3 Rub with the olive oil.
4 Sprinkle with thyme and parsley.
5 Marinate for 20 minutes.
6 Rub grill grates with an oil-saturated
paper towel.
7 Lay filets meat side down on grill.
8 Do not disturb fish for five minutes.
9 Flip files and cook skin-side down for
five minutes longer.
10 Serve immediately and enjoy!
Pan Fried Trout with Salsa 4 Saut for four minutes. 8 Add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of
Verde Serves 2 5 Flip fish over and increase heat a little black pepper.
INGREDIENTS to crisp the skin up. 9 Blend until everything is chopped,
2 cleaned and dried trout filets 6 Saut four minutes longer or until the then add olive oil while the machine is
Kosher salt and fresh black pepper fish is done. still running (slowly).
1 tablespoon butter 7 Place all salsa verde ingredients in a 10 Top fish with a little salsa and enjoy!
food processor, except olive oil.
INGREDIENTS FOR SALSA VERDE
1/2 cup basil
1 cup parsley
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
1/4 cup capers
3 anchovy filets
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves minced garlic
DIRECTIONS
1 Season fish with salt and pepper.
2 Heat saut pan and add butter.
3 Once butter is frothy and bubbly, add
filets, flesh side down.
Outdoors
SPRING BREAK
Back to Winter Tips for diehards to ski their way to summer

STORY & PHOTOS BY KAY BJORK
ALMY WEATHER PEELED THE for winter when the promise of summer
snow from the valley floor, finally arrives in the valley? Maybe it can
teasing us with green sprouts be viewed as an addiction, an obsession,
and thoughts of spring. Then the fresh or just a you cant get too much of a good
green carpet was blanketed with snow, thing kind of thing.
followed shortly afterward by sun and Spring is only valley deep. Thats
forecasts of warm weather. Mother one of the perks of living in mountain
Nature is such a flirt. country where snow lingers in the high
We were as ambivalent as the wishy- country well into summer and snow can
washy weather and had pulled the boats be not just feet but yards deep.
from storage and checked the tires on Marias Pass lies at 5,215 feet, one of
our bikes. But we left ski gear hanging the lowest routes over the Continental
at the door and skis leaned against the Divide, providing great access to late-
garage like patrons loitering outside a bar season snow and skiing on both sides of
waiting for the music to start. U.S. Highway 2. On the northwest side,
The forecast was for sunny and 60 in you will find another layer of Glacier
the valley, which to a lot of folks prob- National Park with several trail options.
ably sounded like a great day to hit the To the northeast lies the Pike Creek Road
lake, find a bare trail or head to the golf through an old burn, with open slopes
course. But winter diehards like us head providing easy access to the Divide.
to a place still locked in snow instead. Unseasonably warm February weather
Even some of the most devout of this year might end skiing earlier even in
Flathead Valley snow disciples tire of the high country. But if thats the case,
the weather and make a winter escape put this destination guide in your back
to warmer climates so why go looking pocket for next year.
A ski above Autumn Creek
offers a dramatic view of Elk
Mountain and great snow.
Outdoors
AUTUMN
CREEK
T HE AUTUMN CREEK TRAIL IS
located on the northwest side of
Highway 2 across from the rest area. You
have the option of a one-way ski along
Autumn Creek if you park a second car
at the pull-off at mile marker 193.8 along
Highway 2 or dont mind relying on the
benevolence (and sanity) of a passing
driver when you reach the southern
outlet of the trail. The ski from the pass
to mile marker 193.8 is usually preferred
because of the downhill aspect in this
direction. Another option is to simply ski
in and out. Three miles into the trail you
will reach a high point before the trail
starts to lose elevation, offering a good
destination through varied terrain. You Continue past Three Bears Lake to a A ski to Three Bear Lakes through
can also explore the Three Bear Lakes trail junction, where you take a left to willow and lodgepole offers field
and forest in the first leg of the
area .66 miles from the trailhead, which Autumn Creek Trail, or you can take the Autumn Creek trip.
offers a flatter ski with great views. trail heading toward Firebrand Pass. FL
Mellow slopes near

the Continental Divide
above Pike Creek Road
offer a great winter
playground for skiers.
snags, offering a great place to explore

and make turns on your way down. If
you go 3.5 miles to the end of the road,
you can continue up the ridge to reach
the divide and to Flattop Mountain at
6,549 feet. The final 200 vertical feet
to the top of Flattop are steep with
varying snow conditions, so use cau-
PIKE CREEK ROAD tion and discretion if you ski up to the
summit. This dramatic landscape with
A T THE TOP OF MARIAS PASS YOU

will find a rest area marked by an
right-of-way to reach the unplowed
Pike Creek Road, which offers a mod-
windswept snow, snowdrifts and cor-
nices is beautiful, but these features
obelisk and statue of John F. Stevens, erate grade and ends near the Conti- can also be red flags for potential ava-
the Great Northern Railway engineer nental Divide with dramatic views of lanches and unstable conditions. Only
who charted the pass. There is ample the surrounding mountains. experienced skiers with avalanche
parking bordered by a forested area. The Skyland Fire in 2007 left open knowledge and equipment should ven-
Ski through the trees to the pipeline slopes and great vistas amid silvery ture into this kind of terrain. FL
Outdoors
AVALANCHE
PRECAUTIONS
AND OTHER TIPS
Spring weather is normally warmer but can change quickly in the high
country with the possibility of blizzard conditions.
Old snow can change continuously throughout the day with big tempera-
ture shifts and sun exposure. Both new powder and bulletproof
snow in the morning can transform into mashed potato snow by
DIARY OF
afternoon on a sunny day. This makes tricky skiing with a whiplash
effect when you go from fast, icy snow to soggy, slow snow. A DIEHARD
This area is often windy, so check weather forecasts to get an idea of wind
conditions. If snow is loose and powdery, there is a risk of getting caught
in a whiteout in high winds, so stay in touch with weather conditions.
The gullies along Autumn Creek can be tricky, along with avalanche run-out W E HAVE CHOSEN OUR SKI DAY
carefully, since Marias Pass is a
areas at the bottom of the trail in several places. Trails two-hour drive from our home on Swan
can also be icy from melt-thaw cycles or have areas blown Lake. Forecasts call for a relatively calm
bare by high winds or melted from the sun. and sunny day in an area that is famous
Along the Continental Divide you will find some steeper aspects with for its hurricane-force winds.
unstable snow along cornices and wind-blown slopes. The parking lot is empty when we
Snowpack varies day to day and year to year and place to place. You can arrive. There is a fair chance we will
use the Pike Creek Snotel Station for an idea of how much snow there have the area to ourselves on a weekday.
is at this site, but snow is often much deeper on other nearby slopes. We climb the snow bank at the edge of
You can find hourly weather reports for East Glacier, which give you a the parking lot and slip into the forest
general idea of area conditions: www.weather.com. to reach Pike Road, which lies near the
For current snow conditions at the Pike Creek Snotel Station found at 5930 cleared path for the oil pipeline. The
feet: www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/snow/snowplot.cgi?PICM8. snow is eyeball deep in the gullies, but
For other tips, current avalanche conditions and an avalanche tutorial, visit the pipeline is nearly blown bare.
the website: www.flatheadavalanche.org. The spring sun pounds down warm
Tips available in a tutorial at www.avalanche.org. and strong, so it isnt long before we are
shedding layers and pausing to enjoy the
IDENTIFY AVALANCHE TERRAIN view to the west of Little Dog and Summit
SLOPE ANGLE mountains in Glacier National Park.
Avalanches are possible on any slope steeper than 30 degrees We slip into the timber along the
Safer routes are low-angle ridges and dense trees ridge instead of taking the road. The
TERRAIN TRAPS road noise and an occasional round-
Elements like cliffs, trees, rocks, gullies and flats increase the toned train horn fade as we move deeper
consequences of being caught in a slide into the ski. Wind gusts sound their
COMMON TRIGGER POINTS alarm in the trees with a high-pitched
Wind-deposited snow, breakover or mid-slope steepening, near rock howl. It is windier than forecast but
outcrops or shallow snowpack that's part of the gamble when you play
the weather game.
AVALANCHE RED FLAGS Our ski outing includes a lunch
Recent avalanches Heavy snowfall or rain in the past break near a big snowdrift, a seasonal
Signs of unstable snow 24 hours landmark near the Divide. If snow and
Cracking or collapsing snow Windblown snow wind conditions are favorable, we often
Whumping sounds Significant warming or rapid summit Flattop Mountain, but today
Hollow, drum-like sounds increase in temperatures we decide to wander below the ridge of
Persistent weak layers the Continental Divide. First we enjoy
HISTORIC TRUMAN CREEK 66 RANCH
$1,299,000 | 70+ ACRES Extraordinary Creek Frontage
and Mountain Views
JANAE DONOGHUE MOORE

Janae@PureWestMT.com | 406-261-3721
A magnificent cloud show

adds to a glorious day near the
Continental Divide at Marias Pass.
a leisurely lunch in the trees in lee of

the wind. I prop up my skis in the snow
to provide a makeshift backrest. Intox-
i u m c ig
pfor the discerning aficiaonardos
r e m
icated by spring sunshine, I lean back
and close my eyes. The snow smells like
fresh laundry: wet, cool and clean.
The sun seems to recharge my bat-
tery for the return traversing and criss-
crossing the slopes above the road. I
side-hill to a relatively flat bench below
a cornice that looks like a big fat lip
hanging over the ridge. My husband
appears a little uphill of me and I watch
a large chunk of the cornice break loose
above him. It tumbles down the nearly
vertical slope, cracking and popping
and bursting into pieces when it lands
on the flat bench below. We are well out
of danger, but the suddenness and loud-
ness of the event in the frozen, silent
landscape is both startling and exhila-
rating. I study the aftermath of multiple
slides in the area and marinate in the
sobering thought of the destructiveness
of a big snow event like an avalanche.
Its a reminder that a perfect day can
turn deadly in a flash. I linger briefly to
study the snowy landscape, altered only
moments ago.
We weave through the old burn and
take a water break as we near the end
of another great ski. I happily speed
through the silver and black spires left 175 HUTTON RANCH RD, STE. 110,
behind by fire, with the wind at my back KALISPELL 406-257-7518
and the sun on my face, to return home
and back to spring. FL
PRIMAL
Outdoors
PURSUIT
Bigfork physical therapist
Kaci Monroe aims to triumph
over the notorious Spartan
endurance race
ST ORY B Y || CL A R E M EN Z EL
P HO T O S B Y || GR E G L I N D ST ROM
K
aci Monroe has her own set of
monkey bars in her garage in
Bigfork. Her father, Tim Cal-
loway, a building contractor, made them
for her after the October 2014 Spartan
World Championships at Squaw Valley,
California, where she leapt for the spin-
ning monkey bars obstacle and landed
on her back in the mud. The fumble cost
her time and energy she had to do 30
burpees as a penalty and it snuffed
out her chances of finishing among the
top elite female athletes at the grueling
obstacle race, the Spartan worlds ulti-
mate test of strength and endurance.
So she added monkey bars practice
to her workout. Monroe is determined
that the same thing wont happen again,
especially not this year. This is her year Kaci Monroe competes in the Montana Spartan Sprint in 2014.
to win. A doctor of physical therapy with
her own practice, shes not aiming for holistic conditioning, including a nutri- "Spartan has definitely
gold at the World Championships, where tion plan. Shes always taken Spartan
impacted my limits,
shell compete against professional ath- races seriously, but this is the year
letes. But she is resolved to see the view that shes jumped in knee-deep with
knowing my limits and
from the top of a Spartan elite podium multi-faceted training that she hopes knowing that they arent
this season. will take her to the top. the absolute end."
Monroe has flirted with Spartan suc- Ive been chasing the elusive podium K A CI E MON ROE
cess for four years, after she entered her for a while now, she said. This year,
first competition on a dare and won the thats what I want, to be consistently on
open division without any event-specific the podium Im training better and body to remember these basic tasks, sur-
training, also beating the more competi- smarter. vival strengths, is empowering.
tive elite women. Though shes nabbed a Still, the competition grows stiffer Spartan has definitely impacted my
handful of top-ten results since the first every year. When Monroe first started limits, knowing my limits and knowing
race in Bigfork in May 2013, she hasnt racing, the Spartan was an obscure that they arent the absolute end,
repeated her victory. sport. Its a survivalist race, a punishing Monroe said. I didnt think I could
In the intervening years, she also mental and physical challenge that can open my own practice. Thats daunting.
opened River Bend Physical Therapy and include barbed wire, fire jumps, and I went to it saying, If I dont try Ill never
Prevention Care, a clinic in Bigfork that 10-foot walls for competitors to haul know. If you dont know if you can make
now employs four people. She bought a themselves over. Now its functional fit- it to the top of a mountain, you have to
house. And she married Hasset Monroe, ness is growing more popular the num- try. I didnt know if I could open a busi-
a power lineman she met while com- bers of participants is increasing, as is ness and be successful. But were here.
pleting bachelors and doctorate degrees the number of people who compete pro- And just as Monroe has overcome the
at the University of Montana School of fessionally across the globe. obstacles that running an upstart small
Physical Therapy, which she attended on People who have never felt that new business in rural Montana entails,
a running scholarship. extreme athlete pain, they realize its she plans to finally overcome the obsta-
Monroes race results show how uncomfortable, but its rewarding, cles standing between her and the elite
driven she is, Hasset said. Its not like Monroe said. We dont get pushed in podium.
shes had any time to focus on [Spartan, society anymore; everyone takes the She has a lot of drive, shes very
yet] she does amazing. This year shell easy way out. Spartan is something competitive and shes very good at
be even better. different. what she does, said Theresa Berner,
In addition to practicing monkey It demands skills that most people co-owner of CrossFit Libertas in Kalis-
bars, Monroe has ramped up her overall havent used since gym class, like the pell, with whom Monroe trains. She has
routine, adding in CrossFit training and ability to climb a rope. Training the the drive and inner motive to win. FL
Outdoors Destinations a STORY & PHOTO BY GREG LINDSTROM
Spring in the Swan

FLOAT, FISH AND FIND ADVENTURE ALONG THE SWAN RIVER
A
s the spring sun wakes up life Service roads offer fishing and camping GETTING THERE: From Kalispell, head
throughout the Swan Valley, access to the Swan or its many tribu- south on U.S. 93 and turn left after eight
water from the Swan River taries. Log jams along this upper sec- miles onto Montana Highway 82. Turn
feeds a frenzy of outdoor activities. tion make floating more challenging, right onto Highway 35 near the town of
From fishing to floating, camping to but the obstacles offer plenty of habitat Bigfork, and then take an immediate left
wildlife viewing, the many profiles of for native cutthroat trout. onto Highway 83. Highway 83 roughly
the valley offer adventure of every type At the outlet of the 10-mile long parallels the river for 55 miles to Lind-
for the spring traveler. Swan Lake, the river picks up speed bergh Lake Road. FL
The Swan River flows 95 miles from as it flows toward Flathead Lake. This
Gray Wolf Lake in the Mission Moun- is a popular stretch for inner tubes in
tains before emptying into Bigfork Bay the warm summer months, but in the
along Flathead Lake. spring kayakers can have fun navigating
From its headwaters at Gray Wolf the higher flows.
Lake, which sits at 6,650 feet in the Below the Bigfork Dam the river
Missions, the Swan River cascades becomes a cacophony of whitewater in
down to the valley floor where it begins the spring as snowmelt rushes toward
a long meander toward Swan Lake. the calm waters of Flathead Lake. This
Montana Highway 83 roughly parallels Wild Mile is home to the Bigfork
this stretch of river, and several Forest Whitewater Festival on May 28-29.
Sunrise over the Swan River.
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EVENTS
Racers charge up a
hill through a smoke
cloud at the start of the
second annual Montana
Spartan Sprint.
WHITEFISH The Monty Huntington Memorial Glacier Symphony and Chorale

Telluride Mountain Film Festival Adult Hockey Tournament Presents Master Cellist & Ravel
OShaughnessy Center | March 10 Stumptown Ice Den Flathead High School Performance Hall
This festival travels worldwide with a selection April 16-19 April 30 | 7:30 p.m.
of current and best-loved films from The Monty is simply ridiculous. Twelve teams May 1 | 3 p.m.
the annual festival in Telluride. compete with these rules: each team The seasons final concert features two
WWW.WHITEFISHTHEATRECO.ORG must have women and players over 50; American cello concertos.
any team with a lead has to play with a Tickets: Adults $15 - $34, seniors $12 - $30,
Alpine Theatre Project Presents
stick-less goalie; and each team receives college students $10 - $15
Sweeney Todd in Concert
three pink pucks worth two goals. WWW.GSCMUSIC.ORG
Whitefish Performing Arts Center
WWW.WHITEFISHHOCKEY.ORG Whitefish Theatre Co. Presents Red
March 11-12 | 7:30 p.m.
March 13 | 3 p.m. Whitefish Theatre Co. Presents Tribes Herring (Cabaret Theatre)
Benjamin Barker, the Demon Barber of Fleet OShaughnessy Center OShaughnessy Center
Street, sets up a dubious and murder- April 14-17, 21-23 | 7:30 p.m. May 26-28, June 2-4 | 7:30 p.m.
ous arrangement with Mrs. Lovett, April 17 | 4 p.m. Murder, mayhem, and marriage. This is a spoof
who makes delicious potpies. This play looks on the languages and beliefs of of film noir detective movies and
Tickets: $25-$39 the deaf community through the lens of a has five nefarious plotlines.
WWW.ATPWHITEFISH.ORG comically dysfunctional Jewish British family. Tickets: Adult $20, preview (May 25) $10
Three grown children live at home, and the WWW.WHITEFISHTHEATRECO.ORG
Dummy Derby & Brewfest
youngest, Billy, is deaf. He was raised to read
Whitefish Mountain Resort
lips and speak, but does not know sign lan- KALISPELL
Upper Village Area
guage. The story revolves around his meeting Flathead Valley Home and
April 2 | 11 a.m. 5 p.m.
Sylvia, a hearing woman now going deaf. Garden Showcase
Build a dummy, drink a few beers from craft
Tickets: Adults $18, seniors $16, students $8, Flathead County Fairgrounds
breweries around the region, and then
preview (April 14) $10 March 12-13
send the dummy off a jump. Or watch the
WWW.WHITEFISHTHEATRECO.ORG Two days of exhibits and seminars covering
funthis event is spectator-friendly.
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $5 for DakhaBrakha home building, remodeling,
under 21 and designated drivers OShaughnessy Center and home dcor topics.
WWW.SKIWHITEFISH.COM April 28 | 7:30 p.m. Presale tickets: Per person $5, family $10
This award-winning, world music quartet is At the door: Per person $6, family $12
Pond Skim
from Kiev, Ukraine. They perform folk WWW.BUILDINGFLATHEAD.COM/HOME-
Whitefish Mountain Resort near Chair 1
melodies that are both traditional and AND-GARDEN
Base Area
modern, even incorporating punk pop. PRCA Rodeo
April 9 | 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $28, students $14 Majestic Valley Arena
Ski or snowboard over a custom-built pond in
GREG LINDSTROM
WWW.WHITEFISHTHEATRECO.ORG March 18-19 | 7-10 p.m.

a crazy costume.
WWW.SKIWHITEFISH.COM The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
(PRCA) is the highest-paying American
rodeo organization in the world. Enjoy a showcase of brews from the
WWW.MAJESTICVALLEYARENA.COM Blacksmith Brewing Company, Flathead
Loud at the Library Lake Brewing, the Great Northern Brewing
ImagineIf Library Company, and Tamarack Brewing Company.
March 24 | 5:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Tickets: Advance $20, door $25, designated
The seventh annual Loud at the Library is a drivers free
lively event that raises money WWW.BIGFORKCENTER.ORG
to support local libraries. Bigfork Playhouse Childrens Theatre
WWW.IMAGINEIFLIBRARIES.ORG Presents Seussical the Musical
50th Annual Creston Auction Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts
Creston Fire Department March 18, 19, 25, 26 | 7:30 p.m.
Kelly West
April 2-3 | 12 p.m. March 20 | 2 p.m.

There will be special celebratory events, This show brings your favorite Dr. Seuss
including a commemorative rifle raffle. characters to life, including Horton the
This event draws thousands from across Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie
Northwest Montana and Canada. and all of the Whos of Whoville.
WWW.CRESTONFIRE.ORG Tickets: Adults $12, seniors $10, students $9,
children 10 and under $8
Country Showdown
WWW.BIGFORKCENTER.ORG
Majestic Valley Arena Pete Stecher &
April 6-7 | 7 p.m. Bigfork Community Players Presents Danny Kraus
This annual talent contest seeks to find Dearly Departed Join us for Whitefish Gallery Nights on the First
undiscovered country music singers across Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts Thursday of each month, May thru October
the United States. The Showdown is struc- April 8-9 | 7:30 p.m.
tured as a four-round, single-elimination tour- April 9-10 | 2 p.m. 305 Baker Ave.
nament. This event is the opening local round. When the patriarch of the Turpin family keels Whitefish,
over dead in the first scene, the struggle
WWW.MAJESTICVALLEYARENA.COM
to bury him gets complicated, especially
Montana
Festival of Flavors
when his widow says she wants the
Flathead Valley Community College
tombstone to read Mean and Surly.
863-ARTS
April 7 | 6-9 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $15, Bigfork Community Players www.thewalkingmanframeshop.com
Enjoy an unforgettable evening of tastes
members $10, students $10, seniors
imported from the Big Apple. Selected wine
$10, children under 12 $5
pairings will accompany the courses, which
WWW.BIGFORKCENTER.ORG
feature cuisine from the streets of New York
City to Manhattans finest dining rooms. Taste of Bigfork Accredited Excellence...
Tickets: $175 Downtown Bigfork proudly serving the Flathead
WWW.FVCC.EDU/EVENT April 24 | 2-5 p.m. Valley for over 30 years
Walk from venue to venue in downtown
Flathead Valley Job Fair
Bigfork enjoying wine, music, and food, all as
Flathead Valley Community College
a benefit for Flathead Habitat for Humanity.
April 21 | 3-6 p.m.
Tickets: $40
This event, organized by Flathead Job Service
WWW.BIGFORK.ORG
and the community college, will connect
employers and full-time, part-time, and Montana Beast and
temporary employees. Last years event Sprint Spartan Race
attracted over 600 job seekers. Flathead Lake Lodge
WWW.FVCC.EDU/EVENT May 7-8
The course is pristine and the trails are
Death by Chocolate Murder Mystery
rugged. The arduous terrain, covering over
Conrad Mansion Museum
12 miles in the Beast course, and punishing
April 24-25 | 7-10 p.m.
obstacles will leave you breathless at the finish
Theres been a murder, and the culprit is a
line. There will also be a Spartan Kids race.
1970s sitcom character. Find clues
WWW.SPARTAN.COM
through the mansion to determine the
murderer, and enjoy wine, hors doeu- Bigfork Whitewater Festival 2016
vres, chocolate desserts, and music. Wild Mile on the Swan River
Tickets: Single $55, two $100 May 28-29
WWW.CONRADMANSION.COM/DEATHBY- Participants come around the world for the JANAE DONOGHUE MOORE
CHOCOLATE events, which include slalom, giant sla- Janae@PureWestMT.com
lom, and down-river racing. Spectators 406-261-3721
BIGFORK can watch from downtown Bigfork and
enjoy a host of food tents and music.
Bigfork Brew Fest
WWW.BIGFORKWHITEWATERFESTIVAL.COM
Downtown Bigfork
March 5 | 3-7 p.m.
Interview a BY BRIAN SCHOTT
Local Lit Journal Lands Letterman Interview

I
n December, Whitefish Review something about the land, about the ani-
landed a rare interview with mals, about the plants, about the trees,
David Letterman, the beloved about the fires, about the wind, about
king of comedy and part-time Montana the weather. Its a never-ending edu-
resident, to talk about growing up and cation and its been so gratifying and
getting older for its 18th issue. Review so enriching for my wife and myself
founding editor Brian Schott spoke with shes from Ohio, Im from Indiana
Letterman about retirement, raising his and my son, its in him now. Whereas
son, his love of Montana, his own child- Tom Brokaw had to talk me into going
hood, and growing a wildman beard. you get response to the days endeavor to Montana, my son, he wont have that
The interview went viral online, with immediately. Either from the audience problem. Hes there
more than 120 media outlets refer- or the ratings, but you know as early as I was thinking how unpleasant it
encing the interview. Visit www.white- the next day how you did. would have been if Harry didnt like
fishreview.org or purchase a copy at a And because of this introspection, being in Montana. Leave him back here
local bookstore to support this nonprofit you believe that what you are doing is of with a sitter? (laughing) But its part of
venture. Issue #19, Change, will be great importance and that it is affecting his life. If its just a fraction for his life
released on June 4. mankind wall-to-wall. And then when of what it has been for our life, he will be
DAVID LETTERMAN: First of all, let you get out of it you realize, oh, well, that a rich man forever. Did you notice that
me tell you this, particular to nothing. wasnt true at all. (laughter) It was just experience? That it never stops?
Yesterday I was walking around a small silliness. And when that occurred to me, BS: The mountains out here really
town in Connecticut and the commer- I felt so much better and I realized, geez, grabbed me and got into my heart. I
cial grid of this small town reminded I dont think I care that much about tele- never really expected to stay, but it really
me of the commercial grid of what I vision anymore. I feel foolish for having got inside me.
remember of Whitefish. Except its not been misguided by my own ego for so DL: The last time we were out there
surrounded by lakes, rivers, or moun- many years. at Big MountainI guess they call
tains. And I just said to myself then and BS: Can you talk a little bit more it Whitefish Mountain nowyoure
thereIm moving to Whitefish. I told about your relationship to the space out looking into the Canadian Rockies,
my wife last night and she thinks Im here? Does the land have a real calming then youre looking back at Glacier, then
kidding. But why wouldnt you move to effect on you? youre looking south to the ranges that
Whitefish? DL: Yes. Tom Brokaw is the reason run forever in that direction. One of my
BRIAN SCHOTT: Thats a good ques- we ended up in Montana. For years and early ski instructors said to me that the
tion. We could make you an intern here years, Tom said [in Brokaw accent] ,You first lesson in skiing is that when you
at Whitefish Review. ought to go to Montana. And I said, get off the chairlift, take in the view.
DL: Ill do it. Ive got nothing but Okay, sure, Tom. Sure. And I would Wed been half way up the chairlift and
time. (laughing) look at Montana and I would think, Good it was like an IMAX movie. Its beyond
BS: So apparently, along this theme of Lordwho wantswhyI mean, look an IMAX movieits all there. Its crazy.
growing older, weve heard that youve at that!its too wide, for one thing You dont see stuff like that.
retired. (laughter) And so we stumbled on the Rocky BS: So we saw a pretty good-looking
DL: Yes, I have retired. I am no longer Mountain Front, where no one lives, lumberjack beard photo of you recently.
in show business. because of the 200-mile an hour winds, We were just curious about your plans
BS: So how has that change in your but it was thrilling to be there. for your facial hair?
life affected you? The first thing that this experience DL: You know what? I used to say,
DL: We did this television showmy brought to us is that you just cant stop every day, I am so sick and tired of
CBS PHOTO BY JOHN PAUL FILO
friends and Ifor a very long time. Its seeing once youre out there. The big shaving. I had to shave every day, every
probably like anyone elses professional sky and alland for heavens sake, its day, for 33 years. And even before that
pursuit. When you are doing it for so truebut also the endless horizon. And when I was working on local TV. And
long, and for each dayI have always lik- we still havent gotten over the land I just thought, the first thing I will do
ened it to running a restaurantbecause Every time we go out there we learn when I am not on TV is stop shaving. FL
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BASKETBALL PHENOM J.R.

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