The Night of the Grizzlies
A scrawny, dark-colored grizzly leaned into the trash barrel pulling out a garbage feast, provided unintentionally by the summer residents at Kelly’s Camp. Reports from the camp, a tourist-cabin resort on the west shore of Lake McDonald, were that this bear was not normal.
Getting Carried Away
A hot air balloon ride is something I have always dreamed about, and when the opportunity finally came, everything lined up perfectly to share the experience with three of my four children.
Live Like Jace
On a cool fall morning, Jace VavRosky and his father, Darrell quietly stocked a big, bull elk. Dressed in camouflage, the two men blended into the Montana landscape. Jace had his eye on the prize bull and, when they spotted him, he made certain he was completely prepared before shooting his arrow.
Bearcreek Downs – Where Pigs Do Fly
The small rural town of Bearcreek, Montana comes alive in summer— humming with families, locals, and tourists bound for one of the most unique experiences in the West: the pig races at a ramshackle little saloon that serves as the heartbeat of the community.
Jean’s Cuisines - Fall Issue 2026
It’s finally fall and time to fill the house with the delicious aroma of soup simmering on the stove top. Treat your family to some scrumptious soups that are a few of our favorites.
Publisher’s Note - Fall Issue 2026
We can’t remember ever being as ready for the cool temperatures of fall as we are after this summer. The summer-long heat wave set records across our state, hitting a high of 111 degrees on July 12. Following a mild winter, the extreme heat left the countryside parched and everyone on edge whenever dark clouds passed, promising rain but delivering nothing but lightning.
Deep Running Roots
Along the Missouri River in central Montana, a couple of old apple trees mark the place where a family once lived. The house is gone, the garden is gone, and any remnants of the old homestead have faded, yet the tree remains.
A Simple Thank You
When the door of the cargo trailer opened, the line of waiting Veterans moved quickly. Filled with several thousand pounds of frozen meat, the trailer emptied rapidly as each person gratefully accepted a canvas bag filled with 15 pounds of frozen meat.