Do you love pounding up a near-vertical Baldy Peak in the cool morning air beneath the trees? Or tucking deep over skinny skis into a screaming descent down Sourdough Canyon in the Gallatin Range? How about grabbing a sandwich from Fink’s Deli on Peach Street 30 minutes after your ski? Then there’s no place on Earth quite like Bozeman for skiers. 

I’ve never been so miserable and excited in my life as when I went tent-backpacking for the first time. Tall trees propped up the canopy sky all around us as we drove through Gallatin Canyon. The breeze carried the approaching departure of Fall and the Gallatin River raced us around bends and corners, refusing to stop after we parked at the Lava Lake trailhead. Daniel, Thomas, and I hopped out, threw on our packs, took a picture, and started our ascent.  

Located in the Pipestone recreation area roughly 18 miles east of Butte, MT, Ringing Rocks is a natural phenomenon that has been attracting tourists for decades. The site is a large pile of tan rocks and boulders tucked in the middle of scenic mountains near the Continental Divide that make a ringing sound when struck with a hammer or other dense metals, such as pipes.

You might think Montana—a land-locked slice of high-alpine desert—is reserved solely for skiing or ranching. You might even avoid it if you enjoy water sports. But it’s in Montana that a whole new subset of folks carve their names into the annals of river surfing.   

Growing up in Wolf Creek, a small town along the Missouri River, I realized at a young age the importance of the resources this river provides. Although I was privileged to spend many days floating, fishing, swimming, cliff jumping, and doing almost everything possible, I have also grown to love the community and the people who live and flourish off the river. Simply put, many people visit the Missouri River, but only a few make a living all year-round from this natural beauty.