Recent Stories
WINTER 22/23 – Land
Manifest Destiny
Manifest DestinySprawling subdivisions are not the Flathead Valley's inevitable future. FEATUREBY KEEGAN SIEBENALERWhen Tianna Thomas moved back to the Flathead Valley as a crisis counselor for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline in 2019, she couldn’t even...
A Hard Row to Hoe
A Hard Row to HoeAs houses replace hayfields, farming the Flathead’s remaining agricultural land becomes increasingly difficult. FEATURESTORY BY KATIE CANTRELLChris Fritz pulls his maroon pickup onto the rutted path next to the old barn. The October morning holds the...
Editor’s Note: This Land Was Made for You AND Me
Editor's NoteThis Land Was Made for You AND MeKATIE CANTRELL I“grew up on a dirt road in eastern Washington, Ritchey Road to be specific, named for my great-great-great-uncle, Isaac Ritchey. I don’t know anything about the land before he homesteaded there in the late...
Land Acknowledgment
Love LetterWe are on stolen land. Ever felt invisible? Overlooked, discounted, like your story doesn’t matter and no one wants to hear it? We’re willing to wager that everyone has, in some setting or phase of life. And it just plain sucks. A land acknowledgment is a...
Conservation Easements
HeadwatersConservation easements: Preserving Montana’s land, water, and way of life.STORY BY FLATHEAD LAND TRUSTOur Family's Story Ron de Yong "M y dad grew up on a piece of land right next to what would become our family farm, about a mile west of Fair-Mont-Egan...
Storage units!
SATIREStorage units! Finally, a development proposal everyone can agree on. Conveniently located adjacent to the top of the Hellroaring Chairlift, these units are perfect for keeping your options open for Big Mountain’s—ahem—variable terrain, like when you foolishly...
Preserving a Sense of Place
HeadwatersPreserving a Sense of Place How native plants help build community. Forestoration collaborated with the city of Whitefish to design and install a native landscape within the median located on Central Avenue in downtown Whitefish.BY MEGHAN VOSS B efore I’d...
Citizens Toolkit
HeadwatersCitizens' toolkitWe need to get more involved with local development and growth. But first, let’s understand the landscape. How does private property get developed, and how can we make sure it happens in the best way possible? The Flathead Valley has...
Free To Be
Field NotesFree to be There’s enough space for all of us. Illustration by Morgan Krieg BY ANDREW KROP "I ’m on the right track baby, I was born this way!” As local performers Eric Krop and Mynxx—the all-female glam band comprised of Halladay Quist, Erica...
Landless
Field NotesLandless But I’m still a Montanan.Illustration by Morgan Krieg BY HEIDI LAUMAN "S omehow in my search for ownership in this world, for land to plant roots, I tripped up and have lived the opposite of what I forever desired. As I write this, I sit in...
To Share or Not to Share
Field NotesTo Share or Not to Share The mountain adventure dilemma.Illustration by Morgan Krieg BY COLTON BORN I t was the summer of 2016 and I was helpless. I’d been living in the Flathead for a few months, didn’t have many friends, and was captivated by the...
The Trail Builder
Field NotesTHE TRAIL BUILDER A good day the woodsIllustration by Morgan Krieg BY REBECCA STORM GRANDE E yes blinking open to an early Montana dawn, the trail builder stretches awake and considers his weighty but simple mission of the day, to clear a path through...
Land Of Opportunity
Business Bonanza!Land Of Opportunity These three fantastic local businesses each fill a special niche, enriching life here in the Flathead. Meg Blakney from Dan D' LionMACKENZIE REISS Dan D’LION: A CUT ABOVE THE REST After successfully opening the doors to...
Good Medicine
Business HighlightGood medicine Haskill Creek Farms offers herbal remedies and quality cannabis. Inside the Haskill Creek store MACKENZIE REISS "Crossing the threshold at Haskill Creek Farms feels like stepping into a modern-day apothecary. Guests are greeted by...
Ghost Writer
CruxGhost WriTer A community reporter bears witness to one of the thorniest aspects of recreationalists’ relationship with land: tragic death in the mountains.Tristan Scott. By CLARE MENZEL Tristan Scott, managing editor of the Flathead Beacon, is an award-winning...
The Creek, A Poem
SPARKThe Creek A poem by Jessie MazurJESSIE MAZURIn a town where a roof could cost a third job by next monthand the grocery bill is too high for a familythe only home you can count on has a floor of rock and silt.Where your toes sink inand cold, cold water washes away...
Non-Profit Highlight: Blacktail Trails (FTBT)
Non-Profit FeatureGo Local donates 3% of each issue’s advertising revenue to a local nonprofit organization. This issue supports Foy's to Blacktail Trails. Foy's to blacktail trails (ftbt) Q&A with Gabe Dillon, FTBT program coordinatorWhat is your mission...
SUMMER 22 – The Bright Side
Editor’s Note: Stories Have Power
Editor's NoteStories Have PowerKatie Cantrell is our one- woman powerhouse of an editor. Without her, this magazine couldn’t happen.KATIE CANTRELL W“hen I was a kid and I’d start complaining — probably about how my life was so unfair compared to my friends’ lives, or...
Bright Side? What Genius Thought This Was Good News?
SATIREBright Side? What Genius Thought This Was Good News? Even on the bluest bluebird day, there’s always a troll looking for a stormcloud. Some people just aren’t happy unless they’re unhappy. Illustrated by Ben OblasBen OblasTAGS:Illustrations: Ben OblasRead...
Restoring Flathead lake
Restoring Flathead LakeThe Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ efforts to allow native fish populations to rebound in Flathead Lake. HeadwatersPhotos by Aaron Augosto | Introduction by Katie CantrellIntroduction by Katie Cantrell Flathead Lake is ideal habitat...
Love Letter
Love LetterFinding the Bright Side isn't always easy...but we think it’s worth it. We get it, the last couple of years have been a whirlwind of the unexpected, and it can feel really good to pick out a scapegoat. But we all get to choose how we react to change. We can...
Class Acts
Class Acts:The Teacher Feature.Let’s take a moment and reflect on how lucky we are to have all our schools filled with outstanding, dedicated educators. FEATUREBY KATIE CANTRELLAs Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Until...
Helping Hands
helping handsLand to Hand’s Gretchen Boyer works tirelessly to make healthy food available to everyone.FEATUREBY COLLEEN O'BRIENAfew days before spring break, veils of virga rim the valley. Intermittently, clouds open and ice pellets pour from the sky. Tight buds poke...
Everything is not fine (and that’s okay)
HeadwatersEverything is not fine (and that’s OK) Photo by Mandy MohlerBY STEPHANIE MALTARICH I n the year 2000 Sara Boilen opened up a map of the U.S., closed her eyes, and waved her finger in the air before plopping it down. She opened her eyes to find that she had...
Soul Sprinkles
Field NotesSoul sprinkles Sometimes the writing on the wall finds its way into your heart.Illustration by Morgan Krieg By Jessie Mazur O n the inside of the slimy walls of the horse-trough soaking tubs at Wild Horse Hot Springs, someone scratched “soul...
Let the Sun Shine
Field NotesLet the Sun Shine Two lifelong friends are harnessing solar power and can-do attitudes to make a life in their hometown. Illustration by Morgan Krieg By Thomas Clark W hen Curran Edland and I graduated from Whitefish High School in 2013 and went away...
The Little Things
Field NotesThe Little things Joy can be contagious if we just give it the chance. Illustration by Morgan Krieg By Ashley Peters I shopped at Costco a few days before Easter. And I know that’s not earth-shattering news. (Nor was it the best timing.) And, besides...
Drawing On Hope
SPARKDrawing on Hope Local author and artist Jonathan Fetter-Vorm shares the joys of his job.Where it all begins – Jonathan’s notebooks show how the author plans his next project.ANDREW KROP "E isner Award-nominated author and artist Jonathan Fetter-Vorm makes comics...
The Promise of Summer Fun
HeadwatersThe Promise of summer fun For over 30 years, Camp Promise has been providing a full summer camp experience for people with disabilities. Summer campers at Camp Promise STORY BY JESSICA SWANSON C hristian hops out of the car with a broad smile and thick...
Connected to Community
Business Bonanza!connected to community A local business knows its community inside and out. Meet several who recognize the value of these relationships. Gabe MarimanMACKENZIE REISS WARMING UP WINTER WITH BIAS BREWING What has the power to lure hundreds of...
Giving Is Power
SPARKGiving is Power Charitable efforts remain a driving principal at Flathead Electric.MACKENZIE REISS "When a collective of local farmers and ranchers founded Flathead Electric Cooperative 85 years ago, they wanted to do more than just keep the lights on for their...
Getting There with a Smile
CruxGetting there with a smile Despite the twists in Jennifer Lichter’s road to professional running, she stays focused on the joy. Jennifer Lichter on the trail. Photo by Riley Connell. By Colton Born As a child, Jennifer Lichter had one dream: to play in...
Non-Profit Highlight: The Samaritan House
Non-Profit FeatureGo Local donates 3% of each issue’s advertising revenue to a local nonprofit organization. This issue supports the Samaritan House. The Samaritan House Q&A with Morgan Winchester, associate director of the Samaritan HouseWhat is the mission...
SUMMER 21 – Play Outside
Editor’s Note: Living Here Will Make You Crazy
Editor's NoteLiving Here Will Make You Crazy KATIE CANTRELL I“don’t think this is an unfamiliar pattern for many of us who have moved to the valley somewhere along our way: the outdoor adventures we used to think were for extreme crazy people are now just a regular...
River Wild?
RIVER WILD? The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has protected the North, Middle, and South Forks for almost half a century. As our population grows and more people look to these rivers for fun, questions arise about how best to preserve their unique values and wild...
“Either You Guys Have Vision or You’re Completely Nuts”
Love Letter"YOU GUYS EITHER HAVE VISIONOR YOU’RE COMPLETELY NUTS" – Pete Costain, our unfortunate cover model for Go Local Summer 2021Probably a little bit of both. The folks at Highline Design Co. reluctantly stepped into the publication business. We never intended...
An Illustrated Travel Guide to Flathead Valley Recreation
SATIREIllustrated travel guide to Flathead Valley recreation We present six options guaranteed to raise adrenaline (and maybe even your hairline), fit for the whole family. Written by David Steele. Illustrated by Collin Hamman DAVID STEELECOLLIN HAMMANA few errant...
Go With The Flow
Go with the flow Pete Costain combined his lifelong love of mountain biking with his eye for the perfect line into Terraflow Trails.FEATUREPhil Grove Y ou know a flow trail when you ride it: There’s an effortlessness to it, the ability to float along the corners at...
Wilder-cred
Field NotesWilder-Cred A good day outdoors is the one that brings joy.Leah Carlburg I love to get outside. I started to say that I love adventure. But really, I do not love adventure as I will describe in this essay. I love to smell the woods and feel the sun and...
Contemporary Nomad
HeadwatersContemporary Nomad Reflections of a seasonal worker.Illustration by Isaac Passwater BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY M ist fell on the river and wet our faces as Mike and I forded the North Fork of the Flathead, with January chunks of ice and slush bouncing off...
You Don’t Know Granola
HeadwatersYou don't know granola Camping isn’t what it used to be. And that’s okay.Backwoods Montana in the ’70s and ’80s. ANNETTE STREAN-CORNELIUS M any of the friends that I made in my two decades living away from Montana thought I was extremely outdoorsy. I...
More Than Moving Dirt
HeadwatersMore than moving dirt “The wilderness doesn’t discriminate, and neither do we.” The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation works to make the backcountry welcoming to all. STEPHANIE MALTARICH S ay the name “Bob Marshall” and most Montanans...
Rock Solid
CruxROCK SOLID Climbing all-stars Molly Bruce Higgins and Larry Bruce reflect on a lifetime of adventuring together. Molly Bruce Higgins & Larry Bruce | “The most delightful badass couple we could ever hope to chat with.” KATIE CANTRELL She was half of the...
Is It Worth It?
Field NotesIS IT WORTH IT? An outdoor addict weighs risk versus reward during an adventure gone wrong.Colton Born The sound of Charlie’s trekking poles rang in my ears, the electricity making them fizzle like a frying egg. The hair on the back of my neck, arms, and...
Maiden Voyage
Field NotesMaiden Voyage The long-overdue launch of the family fishing boat. (Cue downpour.) Meghan Hardt I t was just what we needed. Well, not exactly. I mean, Kirk wanted an aluminum fishing boat with a motor and what we got was a five-person inflatable boat with a...
The Flathead Lakers’ Bad Rock Canyon Conservation Project
Non-Profit FeatureGo Local donates 3% of each issue’s advertising revenue to a local nonprofit organization. This issue supports the flathead lakers’ bad rock canyon conservation project. THE FLATHEAD LAKERS’ BAD ROCK CANYON CONSERVATION PROJECT “[Bad Rock Canyon] is...
Montana’s Last Best Skies
HEADWATERSMontana's LAst Best Skies Since ancient times, humans have gazed upward at a sky sparkling with stars. Although over 80 percent of the world can no longer see the Milky Way or the Northern Lights due to light pollution, Montana still has many places to enjoy...
Turn, Turn, Turn
Business HighlightTurn, Turn, Turn For more than a century, Wheaton’s Cycle has kept the wheels spinning on Flathead Valley bikes.ANNA RICHARDE "W e’ve always been a family-oriented, full service bike shop,” says Hans Axelsen, owner of Wheaton’s...
Plein to See
SPARKPLEIN TO SEE Local artist Kenneth Yarus shares the process of painting in the great outdoors. ANDREW KROP "P lein air artist Kenneth Yarus combines his love of the outdoors with his artistic talent, painting his sweeping mountain landscapes...
The Sting
Field NotesThe Sting The last push up the Tally Lake bike trail hurts so good. Pete Thomas celebrating the sting of victory at the Tally Lake overlook. Pete Thomas A n overlook peers out over Tally Lake, Montana’s deepest jewel of water. The mountain bike trail...
The Business of Play
Business Bonanza!The Business of Play The outdoor recreation industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Meet a few of our local business owners with skin in the game. ANNA RICHARDE RIDING AND GLIDING AT GLACIER CYCLERY & NORDIC For Glacier Cyclery & Nordic,...
SUMMER 21 – Transformation
We Are Still Here
WE ARE STILL HERE The Flathead Valley has seen many transformations. This is the story of the biggest one.FEATURELarry Baer "G randpa! Grandpa! Come see our time machine!” My 10-year-old granddaughter Raven ran into the house, followed by her younger twin sisters,...
An Artist in Three Acts
FEATUREAN ARTIST IN THREE ACTS Marshall Noice’s career has transitioned from music to photography to painting, but his love of art and of Kalispell are unchanging. KATIE CANTRELLAct One "L ike a lot of kids my age, my world suddenly and instantly changed when I...
Growth in the Time of Corona
Business Bonanza!Growth in the Time of Corona In spite of/because of a global pandemic that has shaken the world, our valley is growing. But what does this mean for our scrappy local business owners? ANNA RICHARDELC STAFFING STATISTICS: 38% Increase in out-of-state...
Your Dream Home Awaits!
SATIRE YOUR DREAM HOME AWAITS! Whether you just showed up or have been staring into the dizzying depths of real estate in the Flathead long enough for your eyeballs to permanently pick up a perceptible spin, this was a summer to behold. Yet our two Flathead real...
The Agony of Feet
Field NotesThe Agony of The Feet (And Everything Else About Skiing that Makes My Kids Cry) Squats will not help you prepare for a ski season with kids. KATIE CANTRELL T he angst of ski season really begins in October, when I have to convince my kids to try on last...
This Is How We Grow Smart
HeadwatersThis is how we grow smart We can’t wish the growth away. But we do have the opportunity to shape it into something positive. RYAN HUNTER W e live in a wonderful place. Outdoor adventures abound within a short distance from our front doors, and we have...
Let’s Talk About Boobs
SPARKLET'S TALK ABOUT BOOBS Grammy-nominated musician Erica von Kleist bares all. ANDREW KROP "M ultitalented jazz musician Erica von Kleist’s projects include the one-woman show BOOBS, which debuted last year in Whitefish, and her upcoming “zoomical.” She’s also a...
Reimagining Montana Living
Business HighlightReimagining Montana Living Workaday Design reimagines the hallmarks of Montana homes — stunning natural materials, expansive-feeling interiors, a focus on natural surroundings — while incorporating local craft and a modern aesthetic.[metaslider...
Summer Lovin But Not for Long
HeadwatersSummer Lovin, But Not for Long New neighbors, brace yourself: It’s not all sunshine and beargrass. PHIL GROVE T o the Flathead Valley transplant class of 2020: Welcome! You have to be the biggest in a generation. Regardless of what some of us jaded locals...
Escape From L.A.
HeadwatersESCAPE FROM L.A. One of the Valley’s new faces traces the path that led him here. ANDREW KROP "T he mountains are calling and I must go.” Though John Muir was writing about Yosemite, the Flathead Valley exerts that same inexplicable gravitational pull. This...
Publisher’s Note – Winter 2020/2021
Publisher's NoteTalking about transformation in the Flathead Valley ELMA GIAVASIS Our valley is growing. This probably shouldn’t surprise us as much as it does. We live in one of the most beautiful corners of the country with wild open spaces, charming downtowns, and...
Quarantine Me Forever
Field NotesQuarantine Me Forever Mountain diehard Phil Grove reflects on a ski season that went on long after the lifts shut down. PHIL GROVE S kiing in Whitefish isn’t exactly known for its early season conditions. Sure, great days can happen, but most of the...
Taking the Long View
CruxTaking the Long View A talk with someone who’s been here a while and seen a thing or two. DAVID STEELE Change feels radical when you haven’t seen much of it, so listen to Bill Anderson for some perspective. A teacher and Columbia Falls school administrator for 25...
WINTER 20/21 – Art Matters
Does Art Matter
does artmatter? What is art?Just kidding, we’re not going to start there. That’s a never-ending art school debate. The question for our valley is perhaps not what is art, but is art important? And why? Let’s discuss. FEATUREMAGGIE NEAL DOHERTYWHY THERE'S AN OLD...
Local Art Looks Like this
LOCAL ART LOOKS LIKE THIS.ACCK SHOWCASE The natural splendor that surrounds us here in Northwest Montana has inspired artists for generations. While that inspiration can take many forms, here are five local artists whose work pushes the boundaries of tradition. The...
Love Letter from the Editor
Love Letter"Don’t you just love this magazine? I know I do." -Katie Cantrell, editorBY KATIE CANTRELLAs the editor, I might have the privilege of shepherding the words along, but make no mistake: the fine folks of Highline Design are the reason Go Local persists from...
An illustrated guide to the First Annual Flathead Winter Arts and Culture Festival
SATIREIllustrated travel guide to the First Annual Flathead Winter Arts and Culture Festival You might think the Flathead’s art scene is chasing the naturally occurring gobsmacking beauty that surrounds us, or that our culture is deeply rooted in the character and...
Where We Choose to Look
Headwaters"where we choose to look" Illustration by Morgan Krieg BY JONATHAN FETTER-VORM B efore she would start a painting, my mother used to take two corners of matte board, two white L-shapes, and hold them up to the landscape, making a sort of frame. She...
“I’m Not an Artist”
Headwaters"I AM NOT AN ARTIST" Illustration by Morgan Krieg BY JESSIE MAZUR I “never thought of myself as an artist,” my boyfriend said, adjusting the glasses he resents. He said this shortly after he spent an entire evening smashing light bulbs and plates on...
Creating Space for Art
Business Bonanza!Creating space for art Art abounds from one end of the Flathead Valley to the other, from wildlife paintings and intricate stained glass to the creations that come from the artist in each of us. MACKENZIE REISS FUN FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT STUMPTOWN...
Home
Field NotesHOME One artist’s take. BY RICHIE CARTER Papa went down to that old mining town.Mama sat down, she’s raising kids on her own.And neither one could dare to stand up in the mirrorAnd say I love you my dear, I couldn’t wipe away your fears, but now I know...
Kids Need Art
Field Noteskids need art Art education benefits everyone.JEMINA WATSTEIN There are two moments. The first is the moment an art teacher realizes that the room is completely silent. Not because no one is in the room, but because the students are completely engaged and...
Guided by the Details
SPARKGuided by the Details Mandy Mohler, of Field Guide Designs, creates stunning images by combining ordinary objects in unlikely ways.MACKENZIE REISS "A bottle of Jaeger.A small cast-iron skillet. A menagerie of cabin contents ranging from the...
Nonprofit Q&A: KALICO Art Center
Non-Profit FeatureGo Local donates 3% of each issue’s advertising revenue to a local nonprofit organization. This issue supports KALICO Art Center. kalico art center Q&A with Alisha Shilling, founder and board chair.“Krusty” Overman teaching a screen printing...
Editor’s Note: For Those of Us Who Struggle
Editor's NoteFor those of us who struggleKATIE CANTRELLKatie Cantrell is our one-woman powerhouse of an editor. Without her, this magazine couldn’t happen. A“rt is not my bag. I’ve tried to draw, but what comes out of the end of my pencil in no way resembles the...
Mom Interrupted
Field NotesMOM, INTERRUPTED Art was once her job. Now it’s Sharpie stains on the counter and too many pipe cleaners. BY ANGELA MILLER I ’m an artist. I’ve got a university diploma in a box somewhere, extensive work history as a graphic designer, and a portfolio of...
Total Madness
Headwaterstotal madness Milen hand-tooling an eagle design on a custom motorcycle seat.BY KIANNA GARDNER I t’s a sunny morning in September and the Krastevs are in high gear, working among the organized chaos that is their garage-turned-studio in Whitefish. There’s an...
The Music Scene
The music scene Local musicians share the gritty and beautiful world of the Flathead Valley music scene. The Mike Murray Duo performing at one of the many Flathead Valley drinking holes Photo by: Aaron Agosto FEATUREBY ANNETTE STREAN-CORNELIUSPART ONE:...
Krusty’s Stuff
krusty's stuff One of our favorite local artists shares a few deets and doodles.SPARKINTERVIEW BY KATIE CANTRELLFull name: Kristin French Overman Nickname: Krusty Source of Nickname: The amount of Aquanet on her punk hairdo in high school Born: Jersey Shore Home:...
Making It
HeadwatersMaking it Illustration by Morgan Krieg KIRK CORNELIUS O over the years, I have become comfortably confident in my ability to turn an idea into a thing. I have always given myself the license to pursue something interesting to see where it would lead,...
Moving Through
Field NotesMOVING THROUGH Getting to the other side of grief with creative healing. BY LISA POHLMAN Iwas already a professional art therapist, living here in the valley with a growing family, when my dad was diagnosed with ALS. Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease,...
SUMMER 20 – The Optimist
Spin Doctor
FEATURESPIN DOCTOR In downtown Whitefish, the feisty 25-year-old “entreprenista” who owns Sobba Cycle peddles her own brand of high-octane fitness bliss.Clare Menzel P errey Sobba cracks open a bottle of kale juice. Her acrylic nails are electric-blue and...
The Lemonade Chronicles
Business Bonanza!The Lemonade Chronicles. When the virus pelted the world with lemons, these scrappy local business owners made something oh, so, delightfully sweet.CLARE MENZEL BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH GLACIER LANES Like a pair of homing pigeons, Kristen and...
Holy Smokes, We Did It.
Love LetterHoly Smokes, we did it. Thanks to you.Elma Giavasis | Boss owner of Highline Design Co. & Go Local Flathead Valley GO LOCAL TEAM Back when it became evident that Corona was not just a beer you drink when you’re all out of the good (local) stuff, it...
Editor’s Note – Summer 2020
Editor's NoteA Crinkly Wiggle of a Stick A word from our Summer 2020 Editor-in-Chief, Clare Menzel.CLARE MENZEL Have you ever picked up a magical river stick I have. The first one I really remember was delicate and silky gray, with a spray of hairy frayed bark....
The Tomato People
Business HighlightThe tomato people Enchanting towers of vegetables comprise a family farm in Kalispell that’s locally famous for juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers. BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY T he Flathead Valley’s growing season is short. But one...
Unity
HeadwatersUnity In the Flathead Valley, two women find solace, support, and joy in shared experiences of oppression.CLARE MENZEL Curled up together on a porch in Whitefish, Sami Francine and Tanya Gersh have the giddy energy of newly-minted BFFs. The evening marks...
Donna The Destroyer
HeadwatersDonna the destroyer In Columbia Falls, a painter revels in spontaneity and experimentation, with a healthy dose of destruction. JONATHAN FETTER-VORM "G o east of the zebra.” This is how Donna Gans directs me to her painting studio, a...
A Far Cabin In The Dark Woods
HeadwatersA Far cabin in the dark woods On hitch in a remote corner of Glacier National Park, a nostalgic trail dog reflects on the ranger era of Kishenehn station. BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY I n the autumn of 2002, the wind trembled the lemon-colored...
All Ears
HeadwatersAll ears In a home recording studio, a Kalispell couple introduces listeners of their podcast to a wide range of Flathead Valley residents in hopes of sparking community connections.KATIE CANTRELL I n 2018, Justin and Julie Shobe, of Kalispell, were feeling...
Flathead Nonprofit highlight: The Flathead Food Bank
Non-Profit FeatureGo Local donates 3% of each issue’s advertising revenue to a local nonprofit organization. This issue supports The Flathead Food Bank. NONPROFIT HIGHLIGHT: The Flathead Food Bank Q&A with Jamie Quinn, director of the Flathead Food Bank JAMIE...
Adventures in motherhood with the Octagon bike trailer, a cage match on wheels
Field NotesAdventures in motherhood with the Octagon bike trailer, a cage match on wheels Think you’re a tough adventurer? Try two and a half miles with six kids under 3.KATIE CANTRELL W hen our two girls were barely 1 and not-quite-3, my husband Nick brought home a...
Fifty Classic Worst Climbs of North America: Mount Cleveland
Field NotesFifty Classic Worst Climbs of North America: Mount Cleveland Think a 35-mile, 10,000 vertical-foot day hike sounds rough? Here’s how to make it even worse.MIKE BESTWICK I n 1979, Steve Roper and Allen Steck published the inspiring book Fifty Classic Climbs...
Shake Your Leg
FEATUREShake Your Leg Channeling the gritty spirit of a Montana frontier legend, gravel-grinding cyclists tackle a herculean challenge during the annual Joe Cosley Ride.Pete Thomas I t’s almost 4 a.m. on a brisk August morning. I straddle my gravel bike in the dark in...
WINTER 19/20
Flathead Nonprofit highlight: DREAM Adaptive
Non-Profit FeatureGo Local donates 3% of each issue’s advertising revenue to a local nonprofit organization. This issue supports DREAM Adaptive Recreation FLATHEAD NONPROFIT HIGHLIGHT: DREAM Adaptive Q&A with Julie Tickle, Executive Director of DREAM Adaptive...
STUMPTOWN VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHY
Business spotlightStumptown Vintage Photography “Whether you’re 5 years old or 85, it’s fun to get dressed up and hold a gun.”Anna George Richarde W alking down into Stumptown Vintage Photography feels like stepping into a scene from Montana’s past. The old-time photo...
Remedies Lakeside
business highlightREMiedies LAKESIDE Ask anyone in Lakeside and they’ll likely tell you it’s a pretty perfect little spot with at least one of everything to meet life’s needs – you know, the basics, like a lake, a ski mountain, and a brewery. And yes, other essentials...
Q&A with Maranatha Cleaning
business Q&AQ&A with Maranatha Cleaning Commited to the deep clean. c atrina & Doug Davis, owners of Maranatha Cleaning, a local cleaning service based out of Bigfork. What does your business offer? Maranatha Cleaning offers what we and our customers...
Reclusive Moose Cabins
business highlightThe Reclusive Moose Cabins Cozy cabins away from the crowds. Allison Batch C hristy Dunn jumps out of her seat to point out an impressive buck through the window. We’re sitting inside Moose Cabin, one of the four cozy...
HUMANIZING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION
Nonprofit highlightHumanizing the digital revolution The digital age has challenged almost every industry to reimagine their service models. It’s not an easy adjustment. One local institution that’s consistently stayed at the forefront of innovation might surprise you...
Old Traditions – New Ambitions
business featureOld Traditions - new ambitions Snowline Acres, formerly Snowline Tree Company, forges new seasonal rhythms under new ownership. Clare Menzel E very autumn for half a century, Clinton DeLong has watched morning sunbeams stream through rows upon rows of...
Flathead Nonprofit highlight: The Abbie Shelter
Non-Profit FeatureGo Local donates 3% of each issue’s advertising revenue to a local nonprofit organization. This issue supports The Abbie Shelter. FLATHEAD NONPROFIT HIGHLIGHT: The Abbie Shelter Q&A with Hilary Shaw, director of the Abbie Shelter Hilary ShawWhat...
Shop Sisters
business featureSHOP SISTERS Patricia and Lorien Johnson, the sisters and business duo behind Mountain Valley Foods, on their family tradition of feeding the Flathead Valley. Shea Swenson T he smiling faces of regular customers can be found throughout the aisles,...
WILD WINTER
outside adventureWinter Wild Exploring the stillness of winter in Glacier National Park. David Powder Steele Make a chill inside yourself and imagine a wind that does not heed seasons. A wind churning across the landscape, a wind as feral as any animal treading the...
The Perfect Cut
business featureTHE PERFECT CUT Old-school butchering is alive and well in the Flathead Valley at Perfect Cuts in Columbia Falls. Shea Swenson It only takes a minute of watching Karla Hansen with a razor-sharp knife and a slab of meat to realize...
S T U M P – TOWN ART STUDIO
business featureSTUMPTOWN ART STUDIO Accessible art for all – young and old. Katie Cantrell T he studio is quiet on this rainy morning. It’s a Wednesday, kids are in school, the tourists have gone home from their summer vacations or haven’t yet arrived to ski....