Outdoors
Downhill tips for gutsy longboarders
Story by Jeff Osteen | April 29, 2009
Montana Kaimin
Surfing birthed skateboarding more than fifty years ago. Like surfing, shorter boards evolved primarily for tricks. But for the longboard, it’s more about style.
“A lot of people underestimate it,” said senior Dave Pickering, who has been downhill longboarding for five years.
Longboards have rolled onto campus in recent years as a way for people to get between classes or just cruise around for fun’s sake.
First wildland restoration graduates head out
Story by Amanda Eggert | April 29, 2009
In the 19th century, we devoted our best minds to exploring nature. In the 20th century, we devoted ourselves to controlling and harnessing it. In the 21st century, the best minds are working on how to restore nature, observed American historian Stephen E. Ambrose.
Two fine young minds belonging to Haley Wiggins and Zach Betz are continuing the mission as the first graduates of UM’s newly established wildland restoration program in the College of Forestry and Conservation.
Stevensville native breaks world kayak record
Story by Will Freihofer | April 29, 2009
Tyler Bradt says he never commits to running a waterfall until he’s standing at its lip with his kayak equipment on and his boat at his feet.
Last Tuesday found the 22 year old Stevensville native above a waterfall unlike any ever run before. Standing in his equipment over Eastern Washington’s Palouse Falls, Bradt surveyed the river’s horizon line as it dropped out of sight, carefully calculating the route and risk involved in pitching himself through the air below. Mind made up, Bradt gave the go-ahead signal to his safety team and climbed into his boat.
Woodsmen compete to discover the best Jacks and Jills
Story by Matt McLeod | April 29, 2009
Somewhere, Paul Bunyan was smiling.
The rough-and-tumble spirit of the mythological pioneer was alive and well Saturday as a sea of flannel shirts, knit caps, axes and saws flooded the wood field behind the Fort Missoula Historical Museum for the 13th annual Forestry Day.
Five bills allow more hunting opportunities
Story by Will Melton | April 23, 2009
Some University of Montana hunters will soon find it’s cheaper to bag an elk or deer than it used to be.
Senate Bill 185, sponsored by Sen. Joe Balyeat, R-Bozeman, will save hundreds of dollars for non-resident full-time students at Montana’s state universities who want to hunt deer and elk.
Last year, it cost these students $643 to buy a combination license, which allows hunters to hunt deer, elk and upland game birds and includes a fishing license. SB185, however, will reduce the cost to $70 for the same rights.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks didn’t officially endorse the bill, but they’re happy it exists as a “good way to get kids in the field,” according to Ron Aasheim of FWP.
Wildlife photos on sale Saturday
Story by Amanda Eggert | April 22, 2009
For wildlife photographer Robin Poole, getting that special photograph to come together is like going on a first date and finding an instant connection.
“It’s like hitting the jackpot,” he said. “It’s a real uplift because you take so many pictures that don’t turn out.”
Although Poole also does landscape photography, wildlife photography — encompassing everything from grizzly bears in Alaska to bighorn sheep right here in Montana — is Poole’s primary focus.
Mountain climbing on one wheel gains popularity
Story by Matt McLeod | April 22, 2009
Most people think of unicycling as something done in a circus or parade, but for a pair of campus riders, the sport is much more than a chance to clown around.
Freshman Forrest Rowell and sophomore David Hobbs both practice MUni or mountain unicycling, a discipline that evolved in the late 1980s. Since then, extreme riders have tackled the sport, also known as rough-terrain unicycling, all terrain unicycling or UMX.
Earth week will begin early with Saturday volunteering
Story by Matt McLeod | April 15, 2009
If all goes according to plan, Missoula should look greener — or at least a lot cleaner — by the time Earth Week rolls around.
The Clark Fork Coalition hosts its sixth annual river cleanup Saturday along a seven-mile stretch of the Clark Fork River, the largest event of many separate group efforts aiming to give back to the earth the day before environmental awareness week swings into gear.
‘Thunder Thighs’ to defend ski title in retro competition
Story by Will Freihofer | April 15, 2009
Besides fresh snow, the best way for a mountain to attract a crowd of young skiers has always been to give them an excuse to dress and act like idiots. Throw in the opportunity to win a briefcase full of cash, and a hit event is almost guaranteed.
Such seems to be the formula for a unique skiing competition set to kick off at Colorado’s Copper Mountain this weekend. The Red Bull 1976 Games, now in its second year, will bring 20-some four-skier teams to the resort to compete in a variety of events for the coveted grand prize: a briefcase stuffed with $1,976 in single bills and four season passes to Copper Mountain.
Local gardeners to unleash green thumbs Saturday
Story by Jeff Osteen | April 8
It’s time to break out the hoes and get dirty.
Missoula’s community gardens open Saturday, where gardeners of all experience levels can lease plots of land to work on their green thumbs this summer.
“We’ve had a lot of interest this year,” said Joellen Shannon, community gardens director at Garden City Harvest. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to sell out.”
Shannon said Garden City Harvest, the umbrella organization for the community gardens, leases out about 240 plots. Each square plot measures 15 feet across and costs $25 for the season plus a $15 deposit, refundable after cleanup.
“It’s a way to make sure people are doing their part,” Shannon said.
Strongwater kayak shop hopes to ride success
Story by Amanda Eggert | April 8
Missoula’s newest kayak shop has a slightly different feel from other outdoor-sports stores in the area. Reggae music plays on the stereo and Jackson kayaks line the freshly-painted bright blue and orange walls.
“The whole premise of the shop is that we’re trying to create a surf shop for the mountains,” said K.B. Brown, owner of Strongwater.
Strongwater will be selling surfboards in addition to kayaks, dry tops, personal flotation devices, paddles and other whitewater gear.
Brown bought some of Strongwater’s inventory from Edge of the World, where he ran the kayaking department for years. Now Edge of the World, a skateboard and snowboarding shop two doors south of Strongwater, is bowing out of the kayaking scene and passing the torch to Brown.
Land care lecture at UM tonight
Story by Matt McLeod | April 8
When it comes to raising stock animals, understanding how to manage land can go a long way.
Tonight marks the Montana Department of Agriculture’s first installment in a six-part lecture series aimed at helping animal owners do just that. The opening presentation, which will focus on range and pasture control, runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Missoula Department of Weed Control’s headquarters at 2825 Santa Fe Court, off Great Northern Avenue near Mullan Road.
According to the MDA’s Sarah Holden, taking basic steps to maintain forage growth is vital to health of field animals. One problem facing what she called “people with little ‘ranchettes’” — anywhere from one to 20 acres of pasture — is that, unlike ranchers with larger plots or farmers who have either grown up in a farming family or studied agronomy in college, many owners have a limited understanding of land management.
UM riders practice and compete with different styles
Story by Matt McCleod | March 25, 2009
While many UM students will hit the road this weekend for a quick vacation over spring break, members of the university’s equestrian team won’t be horsing around come Saturday.
Six university riders will take to the course in McMinnville, Ore., for the Zone 8 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association equestrian competition.
The contest pits the squad against opponents from Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Washington and the rest of Montana in a variety of equestrian classes.
New whitewater park may be in the works
Story by Will Freihofer | March 25, 2009
Just west of Jacob’s Island, the Kim Williams Trail passes a somber string of flowers strung over the dammed stream that separates the island from the riverbank. Now stiff and tan from months of weathering, the clusters cling to a suspended line some 10 feet above the water’s surface.
The flowers were placed over the river last October on the anniversary of the death of local high school student Max Lentz. Of late, a group of Missoulians, including several UM students and faculty members, have begun an effort to create a more fitting and permanent tribute to the avid kayaker and outdoorsman in the shape of a second whitewater park in downtown Missoula.
Prescribed fires are allowed, but require permit
Story by Jeff Osteen | March 19, 2009
A smoky sky is an infamous symbol of the fires around Missoula in the summer. But as spring approaches, it’s okay to light one up — provided you have a permit.
According to the Missoula County Environmental Health Department, the outdoor burning season opened March 1.
“People have been pretty good about following the rules,” said Missoula Fire Marshal Bob Rajala.
Missoula’s ice rink juggles 50-plus teams
Story by Colter Nuanez | March 18, 2009
At the end of regulation, the scoreboard read 4–4. Five selected shooters from each team banged their sticks on the ice rhythmically as anticipation arose in the arena air.
Each goaltender, both doing his best Goldberg the Goalie impression, stonewalled the first four shots from the opposition. Then, on the last attempt of the shootout, the final shooter did his best Charlie Conway, nailing a knuckle puck into the top right-hand corner of the net for the game-winner.
