Lacey Middlestead is a Montana native and freelance writer currently living in Helena, Mont. She loves meeting new people and helping share their stories. When she’s not busy writing articles for newspapers like the Independent Record and Helena Vigilante, she can usually be found indulging in her second greatest passion–playing in the Montana wilderness. She loves skiing and snowmobiling in the winter and four wheeling, hiking, boating, and riding dirt bikes in the summer.

I’m not gunna lie, I was a little peeved at winter this year….or rather the lack thereof. I had all of these big plans in my head about all of the playing I was going to do in the snow this season. I wanted to go skiing at Discovery a bunch and try to complete one of their black diamond runs without cussing the whole way down. I was determined to master sidehilling on my snowmobile, even if it was only on a little baby practice hill. I wanted to go snowshoeing up in the mountains and take some gorgeous pictures of the snow dusted trees. I wanted to go play hockey out on a frozen lake with some friends. Truth be told, I did get to do most of these activities—just not to the extent that I had hoped.

Winter caught most of us off guard this year. And besides a few last minute flurries, it seems as though our coldest season truly has blown over to make way for the blooms of spring. But after a few shockingly gorgeous days in the end of February and the beginning of March I have finally started warming up to the idea that spring really is starting to descent on us. I guess I realized I could let go of winter if it meant I could get back on my bicycle for the first time this year.

Two weeks ago on a mild Tuesday evening, I aired up the tires of my Trek bike and hit the pavement. It was about 60 degrees out with just a whisper of wind. I headed out of town on my usual route up Birdseye Road. Even though I’ve taken spinning classes at the gym all winter, I still felt the strain of muscles in my legs that I hadn’t felt in months. But it was the good kind of pain. When I crested the first big hill and began coasting down, I tossed my face to the sky and smiled remembering how much I love biking.

I love the strain on every muscle in my legs as they push and pull the pedals around. I love feeling of the wind whipping against my face and up over my helmet. I love the sun beating down on my back. I love the scents of hay and cow manure drifting in and out as I ride along. When you bike all the thoughts and worries of your day just drift away with the breeze and all you can focus on is the pavement unraveling in front of you. You find an inner peace out on the road when you feel yourself becoming one with the bike. And that kind of peace is something I’ve been without for far too long.

Winter may have gone away a tad sooner than I would have liked, but the beautiful thing about Montana is that with each new season comes the opportunity to pick up with the activities you left off on the year prior. You get to remember those other loves and perhaps discover a few new ones.

Polic Reports from The Flathead:

2:16 a.m. A man was seen walking down Shady Lane with an axe over his shoulder.

8:14 a.m. A resident on Rhodes Draw reported that someone stole the “No Trespassing” signs off his property. Suspiciously, the footprints lead directly to his neighbor’s house.

9:20 a.m. A home intrusion alarm was set off when some overcooked eggs “exploded” on the stove top.

12:33 p.m. A resident on Rose Crossing called in with complaints regarding the neighbor’s dog. However, she was unable to recall what the dog looked like or where it lived.

3:02 p.m. Two teenage boys were seen creeping around the rooftop of an Evergreen School. Apparently, they lost their baseball. They were told to get down.

5:00 p.m. A woman on Shadow Loop reported that someone in a suspicious van was circling her neighborhood.

5:16 p.m. A man claimed that an excitable redhead in a BMW threatened him bodily harm and chased him down a dead end road in the Whitefish area

6:29 p.m. Four fugitive horses were seen running along Highway 2 East.

6:37 p.m. Reportedly, an woman who was parked in Martin City had been honking her horn for the past 30 minutes and sipping on a whiskey bottle

Perhaps anyone who takes a minute to stare at the mountains, forests or rivers understands the natural amenities Montanans enjoy have a value with no discernable price tag. While the intangible values may remain in the memories of family hunting camps or river floats, recent studies continue to show that our natural backdrop makes for a significant economic impact as well.

Natural resource managers recently released economic numbers for some of the Helena area’s most visible natural resources: the Helena and Lewis and Clark national forests and the Missouri River. While those amenities contribute beyond the scope of the studies, the reports show the public land and water driving nearly $120 million annually.

In 2014, preliminary numbers showed 11 million tourists visited Montana, spending nearly $4 billion. The vast majority of promotional materials showcase the state’s wild places, said Dan Iverson with the Montana office of tourism.

“We have a brand platform that’s about spectacular unspoiled nature, which we have more of than any other area in the lower 48,” he said. “It’s one of the advantages we have, and advertising is absolutely driven through landscape photographs and in the paid media it’s mostly about nature.”

 MORE>>>Billings Gazette

Angela Jamison is a native Montanan and she grew up in beautiful Bozeman. I'm the mother of two girls and write a blog about our life here and taking in the simple pleasures of family and food.  

As the weather warms to unseasonable temperatures, so does everyone’s desire to get out and enjoy it. This was evident as my family approached the popular M trailhead this past Sunday and found cars overflowing from the parking lot onto the highway. I have become accustomed to having the trail to myself during my mid-week runs up the M so I thought for sure there was something going on to cause this many people. I soon found it was nothing other than the promise of a bluebird, near 60-degree day that brought the crowds. At the trailhead was a small table set up with a young man and a big sign reading “Trail Ambassador”. Interesting. But, I didn’t think too much of it. We made our way up the trail with what seemed like everyone else in Bozeman and had a nice time. The next day I was reading the newspaper and saw an article about this new Trail Ambassador program. It talked about the Gallatin Valley Land Trusts plan to educate people on the most popular hikes in the Gallatin Valley about trail etiquette, provide conditions and maps, and manage potential conflicts. That’s what got me…potential conflicts? Hiking for me has always been a peaceful, friendly experience. I was shocked to hear that is not always the case. It’s another sign of the ever growing population in Bozeman. More people means more personalities and potential for conflict. Everyone has their personal reasons for getting out in the mountains, the more of us there are the better our manners on the trail need to be. This led me to thinking about my own ideas of proper trail etiquette. I decided my Montana native status and the amount of hiking I do gives me enough expertise to write on the subject. That and the fact I’m a mom and teaching common courtesy is an everyday occurrence.

GREET YOUR FELLOW HIKERS

A simple smile or “good mornin” go a long way. I like the solitude of a hike and there’s nothing more I love than getting a trail all to myself. This is when I feel the most away from it all. Unfortunately as this beautiful town grows so do the amount of people in the mountains. If we are going to be on the same trail then at least acknowledge the person you are hiking by. I get that you might be on a hard core run, while the person you are passing is on a leisurely hike so stopping to chat isn’t what you are looking for. Just give a wave, a smile and keep on going. Or maybe you ventured out to sort out something difficult going on in your life, I always say hiking is my therapy. Still try to give a small smile, sometimes an interaction with a stranger can shift your perspective. Consider it bonus therapy.

PASS WITH CARE

We all hike at a different pace. Some race up the mountain, others have to stop often for water breaks. Some are elderly and take great care to not slip and some have kiddos with them who are barreling down the mountain as fast as their little legs can take them. If you are approaching someone and you know you are going to overcome them, make sure to pass swiftly while saying excuse me and don’t forget to say thank you if they move over for you. If you are the one getting passed…step to the side. It’s not a race up and if someone is approaching you, simply move over and let them go on by. Add a friendly “hello” and “enjoy your day”. It’s good hiking karma.

FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS

It’s Bozeman, so odds are every other person you meet on the trail is going to have a dog or three. I think dog etiquette is simple, yet it raises plenty of controversy around here. My take…if your pup isn’t always friendly keep them on a leash. If your dog is well behaved and takes voice commands let them run free, it makes them so happy. BUT, don’t assume everyone you meet loves dogs and wants your Fido to run up with a big sloppy kiss. Fear of dogs is very real to some, so keep them close to you as you encounter others. Once you pass they can run on their merry way again. As for picking up after your pet…if it’s on or near the trail do the right thing and pick up after your dog.

STAY ON THE TRAIL AND KEEP IT CLEAN

There’s a reason they ask you to stay on the trail. To stop erosion which can kill vegetation and ruin the trails that many work hard to develop. And, please, don’t litter. Nothing ruins the beauty of our mountains like trash on the trail. You know the saying…pack it in, pack it out. If you notice trash, help out and pick it up. We want these trails to be around for many generations to enjoy, we must handle them with care.

Almost all experiences I have had on the trail have been friendly. I hope this continues as we grow and the need for these trail ambassadors will be more to provide trail conditions and less to resolve conflicts. I believe the Gallatin Valley Land Trust is smart to initiate the program and their motto for it is something I say on a daily basis to my children…we’re all in this together. It works when there is an argument about whose turn it is to feed the dog as well as with hitting the trail. Be nice to each other and remember we truly are all in this together.