Bozeman II

In the end, I stayed a week in Bozeman. It’s a really cool place. I guess because the economy revolves around the university there’s no industrial feel like Billings and Missoula had. The local radio stations are more rock and NPR than country. The locals are so focused on the outdoors that they have a special beacon to alert them to fresh powder at the Bridger Bowl ski area; from Wikipedia:

Local skiers are alerted to the presence of fresh snow by a flashing blue beacon placed atop the Baxter Hotel in downtown Bozeman. First installed in 1988, it is activated every time Bridger Bowl accumulates two inches of fresh snow, and remains on for 24 hours. Local skiers depend upon the beacon because the ski area can have a great deal of fresh powder, dubbed "cold smoke," even when it is not snowing in Bozeman. For this reason, maintenance of the light is a priority and only once in 20 years was it out of operation for two days.

Talk about having your priorities in order!

I went for a hike from The M to Sypes Canyon with a group from meetup.com and I learned that the only time of year that people in Bozeman aren’t active outdoors is “mud season,” April, when the snow melts.

I also tried a trail at Hyalite on the East Fork Creek, toward the two alpine lakes, but was thwarted by too much snow. Boo.

I had a few more nice meals. Rice had some good Thai food, Ted’s Montana Grill had great prime rib and milkshakes. The Coop for lunch every day. Sitting around in Lindley Park practicing guitar, making a paracord bracelet and chopping away to make a walking stick.

I’m a fan!