It’s better to spend the day outside than it is spend it packed into a store fighting over deals. That’s how REI feels and a lot of people agree. They had this idea in 2015 to encourage their co-op members to choose nature over consumerism on Black Friday. It was a big thing when they announced it. Many other stores and outdoor brands quickly followed … Continue reading #OptOutside
I forgot to have dinner the night I flew to Bozeman from Minneapolis. It was a mistake. With the exception of vending machines, there were no food options open late in the BZN airport. There was nothing open in Big Sky when we got into town at 11pm either. I inhaled two granola bars and two beers before bed. It’s also worth noting that you … Continue reading Madison River Fly Fishing
When you spend a full winter without a fish on the line, you can understand why I would question if bringing my fishing gear to Montana is worth it. My trip was meant for skiing and breweries. Adding waders, rods and reels, a net, boots and fish food to a compact car full of three people (including myself) and ski gear wasn’t on a list … Continue reading Winter on the Gallatin
The posting read “Cabin Available.” We scanned vacation rental sites for hours. State parks were booked. A few of the Lutsen ski condos were open, but we wanted something smaller, something rustic, something away from everything. Then we found it. A tiny cabin on the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais. It was three miles east of town, three miles further from Minneapolis. “Private … Continue reading Cabin Available
“How deep is the water we’re on right now?” I asked the dude driving the water taxi from the landing to the resort. “Oh, about 500 feet,” he answered. My interest was piqued. Ross Lake is a lake because of a dam. The Skagit River was dammed for hydroelectric power in 1949. With that, 24 miles of river valley was flooded, from Diablo to the … Continue reading Paddling Ross Lake
Birch & Flannel 