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Traversing the Northern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Honoring Our Common Ground

May 30, 2017, 10:01 pm
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Zach Altman high in the Gallatin Range - Credit: Anthony Pavkovich

Traversing the Northern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Honoring Our Common Ground

By Anthony Pavkovich

Sitting on my front porch, my gaze is drawn to the snowy peaks jutting up just south of the Gallatin Valley.  As the crow flies, it’s forty miles to Yellowstone National Park.  However, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is not confined by the arbitrary boundaries of man. Just beyond the last Bozeman backyard lies Sourdough Canyon, a gateway to the GYE.

While Yellowstone National Park enjoys federal protection, much of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is under threat of development and resource extraction. Across the West, a movement has gained momentum to sell off our public lands that make up the vast majority of this region. Despite strong public opinion, many of Montana’s legislators and lobbyists are working with unprecedented eagerness to transfer public lands to private interests. Without engagement and action, our commons may disappear.

In the wake of the public lands movement, the message is clear: we each have a voice and a responsibility to use it. As a trailrunner and public land owner, I invite you to engage, speak up, and act.  
Using my voice, I joined over a thousand of my fellow Montanans at the Capitol in January to protest the proposed transfer of our federal public lands. This act was empowering and from this engagement, I was inspired.  
Credit: Anthony Pavkovich
Riding the momentum of this event, two friends and I decided to plan a trail running adventure to celebrate the beauty and importance of our area’s public lands. Living in Bozeman, our backyard encompasses the northern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Over the week of July 10th through 16th, we plan to traverse two hundred and fifty miles from Bozeman to Red Lodge.   
Our route across this landscape will take us from downtown Bozeman south along the Gallatin Crest to the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park.  We’ll cross the park’s northern range on our way to Cooke City and then up and over the Beaten Path in the Beartooths as we jog the last few miles into Red Lodge.
On our traverse, we’ll travel through two National Forests, one National Park, a congressionally designated Wilderness Area, and a Wilderness Study Area; a total of nearly four million acres of public land.  
Credit: Anthony Pavkovich
This is more than a run. This is a celebration of the public spaces we share as a local, regional and national community. This is an exploration of the place we call home.
Join us in the search for common ground.

And in the meantime, please visit commongroundmt.com and check back with Montana Trail Crew in late July to see how this adventure unfolded.

Common Ground Promo from Eli Abeles-Allison on Vimeo.

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Q & A with Island Challenge RD Carly Wheatley

June 16, 2017, 9:58 am
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Start of the half marathon - PC Montana Island Challenge












The Montana Island Challenge half marathon on July 8th is the second race in the Treasure State Trail Series. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Lewistown-based Combining 4 Kids, which benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lewistown, Central Montana Jaycees, and the Lewistown Ice Skating Association. The Montana Island Challenge includes a mountain bike race, a hiking division, and the half marathon all of which are held on the property of the Cottonwood Log Cabins in the foothills just west of Lewistown. Race Organizers Carly Wheatley and Abby Franks hope to share the beauty of central Montana with trail runners from around the state, all while raising money to help keep kids active and engaged in the local community. 


How did the Montana Island Challenge get started?

Central Montana is a landscape of beauty - truly where the mountains meet the prairies. To showcase this beauty, youth organizations gathered together to start an event that would capture this great beauty while also raising funds for the important youth they serve! Hence the MT Island Challenge was born.
Some of the gorgeous on course scenery - PC Montana Island Challenge
How many people participate in the event? 

The MT Island Challenge has grown steadily over the past few years - most recently having near 200 participants. Specifically in the Half Marathon we host 30 participants.


Tell us about Combining 4 Kids...

Combining 4 Kids is the collaborative effort of the Boys & Girls Club of Lewistown, Central Montana Jaycees, and Lewistown Ice Skating Association Youth Program, whose mission is to “supplement fundraising efforts of our individualized programs and services benefiting children 0-18 years of age.” Because “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Out on course - PC Montana Island Challenge
How can participants help Combining 4 Kids in other ways?

As you register for the event you have the ability to give a donation above and beyond your registration gift amount. That would be a great, easy and efficient way. Also look for our Montana Island Challenge store on our website where profits directly support the MT Island Challenge.

How did you settle on Montana Log Cabins as the race location?

Because the hostess, Al Lake is one of the nicest guys around!  He is super accommodating as far as being a host and is even building a pavilion to serve as race headquarters. In addition his land is 100% fantastic - mountains, prairie, trail running, running creek, wildlife, cabins to rent, land to camp on - truly a great place! We are excited for him to join us!

A look at Lewistown - PC Montana Island Challenge
What makes the Montana Island Challenge special?

Because Central Montana is that neat part of Montana where you get spectacular views, but are not closed off in viewing the "Big Sky" of Montana. You might ask - why "Montana Island" - because our mountains are unique in that they are "island ranges" not a part of a larger mountain range such as the Rocky Mountains. They host their own uniqueness that literally surrounds the Lewistown community. Lewistown is actually nicknamed "Snowhole" because of how the mountains sit in a circular shape around our community - we tend to be greener in the summer and whiter in the winter because of how these mountains contain the clouds holding weather.


Thank you Carly for your work in promoting an active lifestyle on the trails! There is still time to register for the Montana Island Challenge and get a leg up in the standings of the Treasure State Trail Series. Registration for the July 8th race can be found here. 

Thanks to Altra Running for being a supporting sponsor of the 2017 Treasure State Trail Series.


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Trail Shots: Stuart, Sheep trails melt in Rattlesnake

June 21, 2017, 5:18 pm
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The view from Stuart Peak this week. Photo credit: John Fiore



Driving rain, sun and heat, and a few more snow flurries - we've seen them all in recent weeks.

It even seems the snowpack at the Rattlesnake Wilderness boundary before reaching Stuart Peak hasn't melted back, with photo after photo showing it on the trail just beyond the sign.

Surely someone must have made it up to the top by now, we've all thought. And I've heard that maybe one or two had, but still now photos.

At last, here you have it - a photo from this week, from the top of Stuart, courtesy of John Fiore. The snow hasn't completely melted, though - there's still some at the Twin Lakes overlook.

Here are more of your Trail Shots:

Beargrass on the trail to Sheep Mountain. Photo credit: Ethan Richards

Speaking of the Rattlesnake, the beargrass is blooming there, and Ethan Richards found a nice patch this week on the way up to Sheep Mountain, in the national recreation area.



Forrest and Sarah Boughner recently made their way up Old Baldy, the high point of the Big Snowy Mountains south of Lewiston. Over on his blog, Forrest writes that there's still some debate about which is higher, Old Baldy or Greathouse Peak - so the did both on the same outing just to be safe. Read more here.

The Dry Fork in the Scapegoat Wilderness. Photo credit: Dan Stone
Jess Zephyrs and Dan Stone recently ran a long loop in the North Fork of the Blackfoot drainage in the Scapegoat Wilderness, finding numerous stream crossings and plenty of deadfall, but also some nice views. And grizzly tracks.

Have a Montana running photo you'd like to share with Trail Shots? Post it to the Montana Trail Crew Facebook page or find me on a variety of social media.

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Q & A with Thunderbolt Creek RD Brian Wieck

July 10, 2017, 7:58 am
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The Thunderbolt Creek 30k is the third race in the 2017 Treasure State Trail Series and is coming up quick! The gun goes off Saturday, July 15th at 8am. Starting near Boulder, MT it runs along the Continental Divide Trail and to the top of Thunderbolt Mountain. Brian puts on multiple trail races in the Helena area as well as in Arizona during the winter. 
Photo courtesy of Brian Wieck

How long has the race been going and how did it get started? 

The race is in its 7th year, I started it to add a fast 50k to the state but because of logistics I changed it to a 30k a few years back. 


Tell us about the course and what runner's can expect....

The course is breath taking! It climbs about 1000 ft in the first four miles up to a mountain lake and then from there you run to the top of the Continental Divide 500 more feet and then return to the  lake. From there you climb 1300 ft. to the top of Thunderbolt Mountain (360 views of the whole area). There are no sustained steep climbs - all gradual - and you finish with a 10k down hill back to the finish. It's the fastest 30k course in the state. You hit aid station #1- 3 times and aid station #2 twice. There is good beer and pizza at the finish.
Photo courtesy of Brian Wieck

The Thunderbolt Creek 30k is run on the Continental Divide Trail. Is there any connection between the race and the trail?

After doing some great hikes around the world, it's a treat to put a race on including the CDT. It's a gem of Montana. The trail only brings value to the state because long distance hiking is really growing in popularity. Truth be told my race is only 1/2 on the CDT, but the feeder trails are super nice and you are running by a creek for a large part of the race. 

What makes the Thunderbolt Creek 30k unique?

My race is unique in many ways. It's the fastest 30k in the state, it runs by water for half of the race, it's on the CDT, and in two of our National Forests. In a growing sport my races still have a home town feel, with all the quality things you expect great volunteers, great food, great shirt, and great runners running great courses. As a racer myself I take pride in having courses where you can elevate your running experience by the beauty of the course on which you run.

Thanks Brian, we will see you on Saturday. Online registration closes Wednesday, July 12th! For more information and to register for the Thunderbolt Creek 30k check out bquickrunning.com. 

Remember that it takes five races to score in the Treasure State Trail Series, and the top five men and top five women in the series earn some great prizes from Altra Running. For current standings click on the Treasure State Trail Series tab above, or here.


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Q & A With Cross Cut 25k's Lauren Wolf

July 17, 2017, 8:36 am
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Lauren is the store manager at Bozeman Running Company and helps put on the Cross Cut 25k, which is directed by Casey Jermyn and Zach Altman. The Cross Cut 25k is the 4th race in the 2017 Treasure State Trail Series and is a mix of single track and dirt road (due to construction this year) in the Bridger Bowl Ski Area. The proceeds from the Cross Cut 25k will be donated to the Bridger Biathlon Club. 
Photo Courtesy of Bozeman Running Company

Tell us about Bozeman Running Company... The Bozeman Running Company is Bozeman's only run-specialty store: serving southwest Montana Since 2010. We host numerous events throughout the year, including monthly Brew Runs, a Tuesday night summer trail series, demo runs, fundraisers, and more. We also host a variety of both road and trail races, ranging from 5k to marathon, and sponsor additional races in town with their community partners.


How many people participate in Cross Cut? Last year, over 150 runners participated in Cross Cut, 15K and 25K combined. This will be the 3rd year for the race and we are expecting larger numbers as the event continues to grow each year.

BRC puts on quite a few events, what makes this one unique? Cross Cut is unique for a few reasons. The course runs through the heart of the Bridger Mountain range on the east side, right through Bridger Bowl Ski Area and Bohart Ranch. Runners have the opportunity to go on a run through the trails that they are normally used to skiing on, both XC and alpine. All in all, the race offers a different perspective of the landscape.

All proceeds from the Cross Cut are donated to the Bridger Biathlon Club, which is a nonprofit organization in Bozeman that promotes athletic achievement and values of healthy living for all ages and abilities through recreational and competitive biathlon.

Photo Courtesy of Bozeman Running Company
Why use a ski area for a trail race? Running at a ski area is a unique way to experience a landscape that is not heavily trafficked during the off-season months. The Bridger Bowl Ski Area trails are diverse - you can practice all different kinds of running: uphill, downhill, sharp turns, and rolling hills!

Bozeman is lucky having such great trail access close to town, how does this impact the running community and your ability to put on events? Bozeman’s trail system, Main Street to the Mountains, consists of over 80 miles of trail accessible from the heart of town. Our trail system encourages folks to spend more time outside without the hassle of thinking about “getting there.” It is nearly impossible to set out for a road run without hopping onto a connecting trail. This diversifies the running community here in Bozeman and brings runners from all types together. The diversity gives us the ability to hosts a variety of races that target all running and walking levels, from 5K to more technical trail races.

How would you like to see Cross Cut improve/develop the next few years?  We hope that Cross Cut continues to diversify, with runners ranging from beginner trail runners to elite. Who knows… maybe Cross Cut will grow to offer a 50K option as permit allows!

What are the trails like at Cross Cut? The Cross Cut trails vary in terrain, but can mostly be considered technical single track. You will experience a variety of uphill, downhill, and rolling single track.

Thanks Lauren, Zach, and Casey! We look forward to seeing you this weekend, July 22nd. Registration is still open and can be found at RaceMontana.com or here. Remember that the top five men and women in the Treasure State Trail Series earn prize packages from Altra Running!


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Common Ground: Celebrating our Public Lands by Anthony Pavkovich

July 24, 2017, 7:29 pm
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On July 10th I wandered out my front door, laced up my shoes, and began jogging away from town and toward the mountains.  At either side were two of my closest friends and traveling companions for the next week, Zach Altman and David Laufenberg.  Along the horizon rose the Gallatin Range sweeping south toward Yellowstone. Over the next seven days, we’d celebrate miles of singletrack, public lands, and friendship as we journeyed from Bozeman to Red Lodge.  





While much of this land is paradise, our public lands outside Yellowstone National Park are under the threat of development and resource extraction.  Without engagement and action, our commons will disappear.  This run was my call to action, a chance to speak out for these wild places that need protection.  By running across this ecosystem, I hope to bring awareness to the landscape’s fight for continued protection.


While linking these wild spaces by foot, I gained a greater appreciation for their scale and their vulnerability to fragmentation.  If our federal government begins to break apart our public lands, the Greater Yellowstone will lose its unique scale and diversity.  


The magnitude of this trip pushed beyond my perceived boundaries.  In seven days, we covered 236 miles of spectacular paths linking my front porch in Bozeman, to Mammoth, Cooke City, and Red Lodge:  an immense swath of the 20 million acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  In this short week, we journeyed past high alpine peaks, across vast sagebrush plains, and crossed countless free flowing rivers.  


With each passing mile, I kept realizing how lucky we are in this country.  In the west, we are surrounded by wild lands that are open to any who are willing to explore.  




These paths don’t just belong to us.  Throughout our trip, we linked historic migration routes, meandering bison trails, and glacial carved valleys.  If I can run across this landscape in a week,  what about a grizzly?  A linx?  A wolverine?  They need these open, undeveloped spaces even more than the recreational community.  As our backyard becomes more fragmented, they lose their potential to roam.


While wandering the trail for twelve plus hours a day, I found a lot of time to reflect.  Often, at the edge of exhaustion, moments of awe would sweep over me.  The light on a distant peak, the sound of moving water, and the dew on a huckleberry repeatedly brought up a distinct feeling of thankfulness for the spaces we have and the spaces we share.  


After completing our traverse, I no longer consider just the Gallatin Range my backyard but now have a greater respect for the entire connectivity of the ecosystem and a new determination and drive to protect it. In the coming months, our public lands will continue to come under threat.  I encourage the trail community to speak up, engage, and encourage accountability and action. Let's keep the Greater Yellowstone wild and public while continuing to protect our common ground.





While we edit our forthcoming film, enjoy our trailer at commongroundmt.com. -Anthony Pavkovich

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Q & A with Snowbowl 15K Race Director Forrest Boughner

July 31, 2017, 10:39 pm
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It's August and just like smokey skies, Forrest Boughner is everywhere: standing on podiums and mountain tops all over the Treasure State, providing content and organizing events for Montana Trail Crew, rallying local speedsters for group runs and workouts, coaching Run Wild Missoula trail running classes, and directing races and outfitting the community at Runners Edge. It's his gig as a Runners Edge race director that made us want to catch up with him for another Q & A (click here for a 2016 Trail Chat with Forrest) before their next race, the Snowbowl 15K. This challenging mountain run at Missoula venerable ski hill also comes midway through MTC's Treasure State Trail Series-- a series that Forrest also happens to organize.


MTC: Can you tell me a little bit about the event, what's its history, and what makes it unique?

Forrest: This is the third year for the Snowbowl 15k. We are glad that the Montana Snowbowl keeps asking Runner's Edge back to help put-on the event. Three years ago Mike Foote wanted to get a race going up at Snowbowl after the success of the short-lived race that Rhea from Momentum Athletic Training hosted. Snowbowl was on board and the 15k was born. It's great to have a venue with established parking, space to relax indoors, and a restaurant/bar that is still up in the mountains. It creates a relaxed atmosphere for runners and encourages participants to get out of their cars and mingle. This is one of the few races in the area that features a single, sustained climb and single long descent. It poses an interesting strategic question for racers: do you treat it as one continuous effort and take it easy on the climb and crush the descent, or hope that by hammering the climb you have enough left when you switch muscle groups to hang on for the downhill?

MTC: I've heard the Snowbowl 15K as being described as a good conditioning run for The Rut. In other words, it must be tough. Can you tell us a little bit about the course and some of the challenges that runners will encounter?

Forrest: I would describe it as more of a check-in for last minute Rut training. I always like throwing in a race about a month out from my 'A' race to mix up the training and get the competitive juices flowing. The Snowbowl 15k is great as a rust-buster for the Rut since it still requires a significant amount of climbing and descending (about 2,100'), but without the consequences in terms of recovery time. It also gives just enough time to cram in a few hill workouts if a runner realizes more training is needed!

MTC: As anybody who’s run up at Snowbowl knows, the abundance of huckleberries is really the element that can throw a wrench in any plans to run a fast time there. In the middle of the descent those little buggers are strategically placed trail-side to tempt even the most focused athlete. What is your advice for those of us with little will power who still would like to run fast? Alternatively, any tips on where runners can stock up on hucks mid-race?

Forrest: Half the fun of trail racing is getting distracted by what's visible from the trail! Whether that's mountain views, lakes, or huckleberries, part of trail running is connecting with nature. What better way to connect than picking a few choice berries on the way down? Although I would advise waiting until after the race to do a majority of picking in the interest of time and runner safety, I have seen a few runners carry ziploc bags while racing. I am a fan of the 'huckleberry aid station' approach of simply nabbing berries on the fly. If you have a road background it's just like grabbing a cup of water at high speed. If you are looking to stock up the best spot is between two and three miles into the descent. You can't miss it!

MTC: Speaking of sustenance, Snowbowl’s Last Run Inn is famous for its pizza and bloody marys, Will they be available after the race and what can runners expect for post-race goodies?

Forrest: Post-race the Snowbowl will be providing a BBQ lunch for runners and Big Sky Brewery has generously donated beer for this event. Sapphire Physical Therapy and Costcare will also be on hand with post-race massages and a medical team to fix up any scrapes. For a stronger drink, or some of that pizza, the bar is open Thursday-Sunday including race day. If you want to make a day of it up on the mountain the zip-line will also be up and running, as well as the chair lift for post-race sight-seeing.

MTC: The Snowbowl 15K comes right in the middle of the Treasure State Trail Series, which you also happen to direct. Can you share a little bit about how you came up with the idea of a statewide trail running series? What are some of the series highlights so far?

Forrest: I think the first talk off a Treasure State Trail Series originated on a group run when we were lamenting about the lack of interest in sub-ultra races in favor of ultras. While I think any trail running is good running, we thought a statewide trail series would be a good way to keep some prestige on shorter races, and provide incentive for Montanans to explore the state. There are great trails all around the state of Montana and too often we get caught up in running what's familiar and easy. A statewide series provides an excuse for runners to branch out and run something new and exciting. For me the highlight of the TSTS so far is hearing more and more people getting excited about running. Each race I attend more people have heard of the series and are looking at the schedule for the next one. It's promising for the future of the series, and for small trail races in Montana.



MTC: The TSTS coming to Missoula means that many of the top runners in the state will be toeing the line. Can you give a preview of some of the top male and female talent you expect to show up on Saturday?

Forrest: This race is going to be hot! Nicole Murray is registered on the women's side and she's always a contender. But Leah Handelman is also signed up and just got bumped off the top spot in the TSTS series standings so will be trying to take home those valuable points. Jenna Lyons, Amy Friedman (2nd at Don't Fence Me In), Marlie Johnson (Sentinel Hill Climb winner), and Sara Boughner (currently leading the TSTS standings) will all be pushing the pace as well. On the men's side there are a handful of guys who will be chasing the course record. Jason Delaney will be looking to three-peat as champion, but will be hard pressed to hang on to the title this year. Nico Composto (Bitterroot Runoff champ), Henry Reich (Eleven Miles to Paradise Champ), Andy Drobeck (uphill runner extraordinaire), Jimmy Grant (2nd at Don't Fence Me In), Mark Handelman, Jesse Carnes, and Grady Anderson will all be vying for that top spot.

MTC: You’re in a pretty unique position right now. You direct the Snowbowl 15K, you direct the TSTS, and you also happen to be the current leader in the TSTS standings. Do you feel extra pressure to throw-down a strong performance on your home turf? What’s your strategy?

Forrest: The priority for me on race day is making sure runners have a wonderful experience up at Snowbowl and are taken care of. That being said, I am going to do everything I can to hang onto the series lead! Descending is typically my strength so I hope to make up some ground on the back half of the course, however, I do have a strong affinity for huckleberries. You may catch me with purple fingers before the race is done.

MTC: I’ve heard some rumblings that it might be possible for someone to crack the elusive 1 hour barrier at the Snowbowl 15K. You’ve obviously been running well lately, what would have to come together to produce such a fast time?

Forrest: The course record right now on the men's side is 1:05:50 so it will take something special to crack that 60 minute barrier. With the group of guys racing though I think it's possible to get close and on the right day have someone dip under. I think it would take a group of guys pushing hard together and taking a big risk on the climb. The problem with the Snowbowl descent, however, is that there are some sections that still require running, not just letting your legs go, so to get under an hour you still have to have some energy descending. Guys like Jason Delaney and Henry Reich who can climb very well, but have great leg turnover have a chance to break that time. For some extra incentive we are offering $100 to the first person under an hour! On the women's side we are pushing for a fast time as well. Cynthia Arnold holds the course record in 1:13:02 and we are offering $100 to the first woman under 1:10. It will be fun to see if with money on the line we get some men and women chasing times!

MTC: Any other words of wisdom for Snowbowl racers?

Forrest: Despite the competitive field this year, the Snowbowl 15k is ultimately a fun race. The majority of participants are there to challenge themselves on a great course as part of a great community. I would say don't forget what trail running is all about. As much as we like to race sometimes, ultimately we love spending time in the trees. Stop and pick some huckleberries. Give the volunteers a high five. Have some fun!

MTC: Thanks Forrest and thanks to the TSTS presenting sponsor:

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Q & A With Big Bear Stampede's John Nichols

August 26, 2017, 8:24 am
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The Big Bear Stampede 9k takes place September 9th in Gardiner and for 2017 it is the 6th race in the Treasure State Trail Series. John Nichols became involved with the event during the inaugural race in 2013 just after he moved to Gardiner, MT. He assumed more responsibility with race management and Big Bear Stampede organization as the race evolved. When he's not involved with race directing you can find him out enjoying the trails himself. He'll never turn down a fun, adventurous run in in the Beartooths, Yellowstone, or any of the other great nearby public lands.


How did the Big Bear Stampede get started? 

The race got started originally as a memorial race for a well known and loved, entrepreneurial Gardiner community member who lost his life to depression.  It quickly morphed into a community-wide mission to raise awareness of depression as something that can be addressed and treated.


The Big Bear Stampede Foundation looks like a great organization in Gardiner helping those battling depression. How does the race fit into the Foundation? Aside from participating in the race, what's the next step for runner's to help further the mission of the Foundation?  

The race is our primary annual event to raise awareness of depression and get the community engaged. It is through this open discussion and dialog that we are able to remove some of the stigma often associated with depression and seeking treatment. Our Foundation not only supports Gardiner, but all of Park County and even Gallatin County as some of our depression related resources are located in Bozeman.  



In recent years there have been multiple trail runners to speak out about their experiences battling depression in the past and how running helps them continue to stay balanced. What correlation have you seen with trail running help with depression? 

We are firm believers that exercise and physical activity are an excellent tools to help battle depression. Nikki Kimball, who has been very public about her own battle with depression, has been a speaker at our race the past two years...and will be again this year.  We are very honored to have Nikki as part pf our team helping to drive our mission. 

What is the course like for the Big Bear Stampede? What makes it unique?

The 5k and 9k courses offer up enough hills and technical terrain to be challenging for all runners, but not as demanding as more hardcore events (like the Bridger Ridge Run or The Rut), so even recreational runners can finish and have fun. The 9k offers up about 1k feet of climbing on a mixture of tight singletrack and FS roads, but is 100% runnable for fit runners.  Expansive views of several prominent Yellowstone peaks (Electric, Sepulcher, Bunsen, Everts, and more) occur throughout the entire course. The Big Bear Stampede could possibly be the most scenic course in the entire Treasure State Trail Series!


What does the post-race atmosphere look like? 

Fun with just a little bit of seriousness.  We will have a large assortment of post-race cookies, muffins, fresh cut fruit, water, Gatorade, and beer for all runners and volunteers.  We get the excitement started with our kids race -- a short, super fun obstacle course that the kiddos love!  Then just before the awards ceremony, Nikki Kimball will lead a brief (10 min or so) discussion on depression...that is of course why we are there.  We then present awards and door prizes.  We've been know to have great door prizes in the past! 

There is some fun stuff to do in Gardiner, what would be your recommendation of top things to do post-race?  

You can't mention Gardiner without mentioning Yellowstone.  Go for a hike in the park, view wildlife (the elk rut will be starting up), bring your fly rod, soak in the Boiling River...there's no shortage of things to do in YNP.  It'll be a good time of year to eat lunch and have a drink at any number of Gardiner restaurants with great outdoor decks.  Book a raft trip down the Yellowstone River.  

Anything else you would like to add?

The Big Bear Stampede is super excited to be part of the Treasure State Trail Series.  We can't wait to see everyone September 9!

Thank you John! We can't wait to see the course and experience what Gardiner has to offer. Registration is still open here or at  http://www.bigbearstampede.org/. Current standings for the Treasure State Trail Series can be found here. Thank you to Altra Running for sponsoring the series and providing great prize packages to the top five men and women at the end of the series.



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Hardrock Visions

August 31, 2017, 12:31 pm
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Colton, Sawna, and Juniper (dog)

Hardrock Visions 

by Jeff Rome

Sunday, July 9th, evening
Near Silverton, CO


I pull up to the Ice Lakes trailhead and start to get things ready.  Running pack, poles, some bars, camera--the checklist of items has become a routine by now, just like brushing teeth.

Runners are collecting near the trail, and I recognize some faces from trail work earlier in the day (a service in exchange for better odds in the Hardrock 2018 lottery).  There is little need for introduction because we all know why we’re here.  Hardrock is happening, and we want to be a part of it, and make it part of us.  We’re hiking to Grant-Swamp Pass, to check out the course and the pass and Island Lake.  Soon, I learn that the group is largely made up of individuals who traveled here together, all to be part of Hardrock, and melded together.  I’m the only one of us who’s actually lucky enough to be running the thing.

It is sunny for a San Juan afternoon, and we chat as we hike, about running and Craigslist cars and phallic symbols.  Everyone is young, within a few years of me, and we dub ourselves the Hardrock Millenials, a small niche in a very niche event (the average Hardrocker this year is 46).  I’m very grateful to be hiking with a group, after spending several long weeks of running and hiking entirely alone.  And being with such a goofy and attractive group travelling at a leisurely but brisk pace I find myself in very good spirits.

At Grant-Swamp Pass I peer down the marked course to the other, steeper side.  The course is steep enough here that it disappears out of sight until you’re nearly at the edge of the pass, just an orange marker pointing the way to nothingness.  I can feel the weight of Hardrock upon me, and can only imagine how I’ll feel at this point, 85 miles in, but I look back to my new friends and try to forget about it.  This is my time to relax.

We leave the trail on the way back down to visit Island Lake, each letting speed overtake us on the steep grassy slope leading down.  This is it, this is why I came here.  At that point I don’t even care how my run turns out, or even if I finish.  I’m just happy to run down that grass slope with friends and then sit at the shore of a lake.  The island in the middle of the lake, the snow speckled couloirs, the evening light, the wildflowers … the San Juans might have given years of hardship to the miners of yesterday, but I sure don’t feel any hardship now.

Descending from Island Lake
 
Friends Colton and Tory nearing Grant-Swamp Pass from Island Lake side


Friday, July 14th
Dusk—Ouray


I am happy to walk.  This is the 15th hour into a living dream called Hardrock.  I’m walking up a dirt road with a friend/pacer, Erik, I just met 10 minutes ago, and we see no one else around, except the occasional jeep returning from a mountain sunset.  The road is gradual, with flat spots here and there, and will take us most of the way to a pass at 13,100’.  We’re at around 8,000’ and I’m warmest I’ve been all day.  We could run, I have the energy, but it feels good to just walk.  It’s easier to hold a conversation this way.

I had just left the mountain town of Ouray, where I’d been told a key piece of advice from iRunfar editor, Bryon Powell: “Remember to enjoy it”.  It’s getting a little hard to see the boundaries between stone and dirt with the fading light, and normally I’d turn on a headlamp.  But this is different.  The road has few rocks, there are no turnoffs coming up, and we have 11 miles of uphill now and many more to come later.  It makes sense to just walk in the dark.  I keep Bryon’s advice in mind, and look up at the stars.  We keep our headlamps off until Governor’s Basin, two hours later.


Midnight--Kroger’s Canteen


I am happy to drink.  It is just past midnight at Kroger’s Canteen, and Roch Horton hands me a small pot with a light dose of Mezcal in it.  Just enough for a taste.  I generally think drinking alcohol during a run is a bad idea, but this is different.  Everything at Hardrock is different.  The Mezcal warms me and it feels like a communion or a good blessing to drink it.  I drink to feel more connected to Hardrock.

The aid station crew all wear climbing helmets, and I enjoy watching them cheer on others behind us as I eat a pierogi.  Maybe it’s just the helmets, but all the crew have a grittiness to them, written by years in the mountains, and nights at Kroger’s.  Their smiles soften their faces just enough for you to know they’re genuinely happy.

The walls at the pass are snug enough and steep enough that a hammock could be strung between them.  And the slopes on either side of the pass are severe enough and close enough that a hammock in such a spot could be a fright to get out of.  A small band of us arrives (Darcy Piceu, Scott Jaime, Ted Mahon, pacers, myself), but we crowd the space.  For Scott’s 10th time running Hardrock, the crew gives him a $10 bill, signed by all.  It’s a festive environment, but I head off, leaving to head on as much as to free up space for the next runner at the pass.

The crew at Kroger's


Dawn--Grant-Swamp Pass

I am happy for light.  It is sunrise high in Swamp canyon.  And before us (now with my pacer Simon) lies a big pile of loose rock.  At various points along the course, one can see photographers, always above looking down.  And here, I see one at Grant Swamp Pass.  I try to measure my progress by seeing how much larger the person appears, but this is a mistake.  They stay tiny for a long time.

I begin to think of the photographers as sentinels, and wonder if they can ever see in full zoom the photographers at the next pass over.  I then imagine the scene in Lord of the Rings where fires are lit from mountain pass to mountain pass to send a signal.  And I think that, if something happens to me, maybe that’s what they’ll do.  It is the 25th hour and I’m beginning to think in weird tangents.  The lone figure stays atop the pass as Simon and I make our way from grass and wildflowers and streams to boulders and talus and snow.


Grant-Swamp pass.  The course ascends the light brown patch.

Noon--Silverton High School Gymnasium

Around me are those who helped me through the run.  Sarah, TJ, Simon, Ellen, my parents.  Erik’s working and I think Simon’s dad, Marc, is out somewhere else on the course.  I slowly sip a smoothie and feel unable to do much else.  I can’t eat the pancake in front of me.  My back and hips are sore. My feet are blistered.  It feels so good to just sit and sip strawberry banana.

Luke Nelson came in just after my finish, and said he didn’t know my name, but wanted to congratulate me.  I was too tired to properly respond, and I don’t think I told him my name. Everyone seems genuinely surprised and elated about my finish.  I feel so grateful, but all I can do is sit and sip, and mumble generic responses.  “Thanks, it was a great experience”.  It’s all just too much to put into words.

From left, pacers Ellen, Sarah, Simon, and myself in front.  Photo credit, Mom.

Addendum

Despite how good resting felt, I was kind of sad to have it end.  It was over, and I was beat, but I wanted to be back up in the high country, moving.  I’d etched a part of the San Juans into myself, out there on the course.  The San Juans were already sacred to me, and now having this memory to overlay on top of everything else, they’ve become part of what makes up who I am.  Hardrockers and the locals have a quality to them I admire, and I can see this same quality in the San Juans.  Certain places don’t allow one to stay there for long without making the landscape an intrinsic part of their personality.

There is a strange dynamic I have with the San Juans of feeling very connected to the land and people, but appreciating it so much that it doesn’t feel real.  It all feels like a dream now, and a dream that I’d love to experience again.  I can only hope that next year I can take part in Hardrock, as runner or volunteer, to be around this community and place that I love.

Nearing Putnam Basin, ~mile 92.  Photo credit, Ellen Silva

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Q & A with Nitty Gritty Race Director Kristen Hollum

September 13, 2017, 6:08 am
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The Nitty Gritty half marathon is part of a day of trail racing in Red Lodge. There is a marathon, marathon relay, the half marathon, and 4.37 mile 'hot lap'. While only the half marathon is part of the Treasure State Trail Series, all the races involve a serious amount of climbing. The race is based out of Red Lodge Mountain Resort and so has ample space for a festive post race atmosphere. Registration is still open for the September 16th Nitty Gritty and after catching up with Race Director Kristen Hollum it sounds like a great event to jump into for the weekend.

How did you become involved with Nitty Gritty?

I was really broke when I first moved to MT and would volunteer my way into races. After a couple years of that the company that put on a lot of races in town changed hands, had a transition year where I learned the ropes from Jennifer Drinkwalter (event organizing wizard with Cycle Greater Yellowstone), and this is my second year managing the races.  


What's the history of the Nitty Gritty? How did it get started and when?

The race was the brain child of Paul Otsu who ran the original event company Headwaters Events (he now owns a totally awesome screen printing shop Headwaters Studios). I think he just wanted to get more people up at Red Lodge Mountain appreciating the trails (they don't have any summer operations) in a unique way. Its been going on for 5-6 years so its still pretty new but has a cult like following among the participants. The course changes every year so veteran participants don't necessarily have an advantage. The elevation gain usually runs between 9k-12k for the marathon.

There are multiple events at the Nitty Gritty. While only the half marathon counts for points in the Treasure State Trail Series, what other options are there for people?

The primary race has always been the marathon relay. Six loops on the course make the marathon so you can do teams of 2-6 people. The smaller teams work based of strategy -who runs multiple laps, do they run it consecutively, etc. We also have a solo marathon for those that want to go big and a hot lap option for those who want a shorter, but still challenging race. This year we're also allowing well behaved dogs on the course and dogs that complete the half or full will be crowned TOP DOGS.


I see there are themed aid stations, what can runners expect out there on the course?

We're actually in the process of still recruiting volunteers for this aspect....turns out its really hard to get a commitment out of high school kids unless its the day before! Regardless, there will be an aid station halfway through the loop so participants will have access to water/snacks every couple miles along with cowbell and music!
Speaking of the course, what does the course profile look like? 

The course changes each year and this year we've got them headed to the Midway Lodge for their highest point. We scrapped a steep, bushwacking uphill for a longer, more mellow uphill grind (it'll give runners an appreciation for Green Circle ski trails). We don't have any fancy technology to get the elevation and perfect course map but you can get the picture looking at the maps. With a smaller race the looped course is great because runners don't ever feel like they're out in no mans land all alone. 


What is the post race scene like? 

Since the course is looped the finish is also the start is also the aid station so its a constant party of people eager to run, tired from running, or mid run. Its also a great spot for spectating. We try to stagger the starts of the races so people finish at relatively the same time but if everyone from a certain race is finished we'll do their awards. We'll have beer/cider from Red Lodge Ales, yummy snacks, and music. The post race really follows the vibe of the entire race -its low key and filled with great people. 

 

Red Lodge has a lot to offer, what would be your top recommendations for post-run activities if runners want to hang out a bit longer?

Red Lodge is such a gem -for a small town there is ALWAYS something good going on. We've got some great food (just got an awesome BBQ joint), Red Lodge Ales has awesome beer (and runners will find some at the race), and all our local businesses are great. If they stick around until night time chances are they'll find some good live music at a couple bars. Pending mother nature the Beartooth Pass should still be open so you can take the scenic route home if you're coming from the Bozeman area.

When we say 'low key, high elevation' we mean it. This isn't a race for someone who wants fancy amenities, chip timing, and big finisher medals. This is a race for people who love the community that is trail running, want to challenge themselves, and above all have a damn good time. 

Thanks Kristen!....If you would like to register for any of the races at the Nitty Gritty you can do that here.



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Q&A With John Colter Run Race Director Kurt Buchl

September 14, 2017, 7:00 am
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The John Colter Run is one of Montana's most iconic races due to its longevity and notorious (but fun!) mid-race river crossings. We are excited to have the John Colter run as part of the Treasure State Trail Series this year, and as part of the series we asked Race Director Kurt Buchl about the race.

How did you become involved in the John Colter Run?

The race had run consecutively for 35 years then 6 years ago when the race sponsor at that time was setting the course they ran into a Safety Engineer from Montana Rail Link. Once they found out the course crossed the tracks twice, first at a designated crossing but the second just over the regular tracks in the middle of nowhere (sketchy at best remembering 150 runners had to beat or wait for a train) they canceled the race due to safety issues.  As I loved this race and one of my favorite I started working on the course to determine if there was a safe route to take the race and found a railroad trestle going over a spring creek which we now go under. Several meetings later with Montana Rail Link, their safety engineers and a chance beer around the fire pit and the Colter is now back in business.


The John Colter Run has one of the greatest origin stories out there. Can you give a brief description of the original John Colter Run? 

In 1806, John Colter bid farewell to the Lewis and Clark Expedition to pursue a living trapping furs and guiding in the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains. During the fall of 1808, Colter and his partner, John Potts, were trapping along the Jefferson River when a group of hundreds of Blackfeet warriors appeared on the bank. They killed Potts and took Colter prisoner. The Blackfeet stripped Colter naked and gave him a 300 yard running head start. The entire war party gave chase across the cactus covered plain toward the Madison River. 

After a few miles, Colter had outdistanced all but one of the warriors who let fly with a shortspear. Colter dodge the lance, retrieved it, and killed the warrior. This bought Colter enough time to make it to the Madison River where he hid under a pile of driftwood while the Blackfeet warriors hunted up and down the river bank. Sometime after dark, Colter slipped down river and began his journey toward safety. Eleven days later, exhausted, cold, and naked, Colter limped into Fort Lisa on the Big Horn River, 250 miles away.



What can runners expect to find out there on the course? 

This is a closed course which is only opened up on race day so the runners will see and find the hills and course just as Lewis and Clark would have on their journey through the area and as John Colter would have on that eventful day in 1808.  We keep the course as pristine as possible using rock cairns to mark the way.  Of course the highlights of the course is the start which is done by an official “Mountain Man dressed in period gear starting the run with a flint lock rifle, chasing down our own John Colter, several “Burma shave” type fun signs on course that denote key cool areas, a 12 foot tepee with a live band for the aid station followed by 2 river crossings towards the end.   At the end we have another live Blue Grass band, full organic BBQ with all the fixings and all you can eat and drink which is free for everyone, spectators and runners alike.  There is so much more that you really have to run the course to drink it all in!

From John Colter to the Bridger Ridge Run the Big Sky Wind Drinkers put on some of the more iconic races in the state. What are the Wind Drinkers? 

The Big Sky Wind Drinkers is a local running club for all ages and abilities.  The club motto really says it all. "It is not important how fast one runs but that one runs." The club puts on a series of fun runs on Wednesday nights over the course of the summer which are free to all with snacks and fellowship at the end.

For additional information on the club check us out at winddrinkers.org


There have been some incredible athletes to run the John Colter Run. What does the field look like this year? Who should we keep an eye on? 

There is a power house of runners every year, but with the varied trail conditions from the 1st 1.5 miles of flat road transitioning into the rugged single track trail really levels the playing field for all. We will again host a full field of incredible athletes and recommend watching the whole pack as everyone will bring something to the race.

Thank you Kurt! For more information on the John Colter Run be sure to visit winddrinkers.org. The John Colter Run is this weekend, September 16th, but is currently full. If you are looking for another Treasure State Trail Series race for this weekend be sure to check out the Nitty Gritty 1/2 in Red Lodge.






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Q&A With Chasing Squirrels #3 RD Kristina Smith

September 20, 2017, 9:46 am
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Chasing Squirrels #3 (Squirrels in the Headlamp) is the third race in a four race running series in Great Falls, as well as part of the Treasure State Trail Series. Get out your headlamps because this 6k is a night race! We caught up with Kristina Smith to ask her a few questions about this unique event.

How did you become involved in the Chasing Squirrels Series?


I found that runners around Great Falls had no idea we had such awesome trails so I wanted a way to get them more exposure. Additionally, by people taking part in the trail events, it helps to raise funds for improving, adding additional and ensuring the future for Great Falls area trails for walkers, mountain bikers and runners.



What is the Chasing Squirrels series and is there actual squirrel chasing?
The series originally developed with the thought that runners could gather points and be crowned at the end of the season as King and Queen of the series. In recent years the interest has declined, moving on to Spartan, mud runs, ultra marathons etc., thus we have changed to series to be more accommodating adding an obstacle race etc. Is there actually any squirrel chasing...depends on who your chasing. I have a sense of humor and in my observations around Great Falls we have tons of squirrels and geese (I'm not fond of geese).

It looks like each race offers something different. What makes this third one (Squirrels in the Headlamp) special?

The third race was special because it was the FIRST and ONLY trail race or any race ran in the dark here in Great Falls (that since has changed Save the Ta Ta's) is at night. Because it is several miles outside of the city limits it is very dark and makes for an exciting experience. Running at night with nothing but moon or starlight and a headlamp to guide you is cool in its own way

Great Falls often gets overlooked when people talk about trail towns in Montana, but I keep hearing, and you mentioned this spring, that the trail system and community is growing. What's happening in Great Falls?

Yes, the good news is it really has grown. I see more mountain bikers, runners and walkers than I have ever seen on the trails. These once newby trail runners are moving on to bigger adventures now like ultra running etc... I am glad we could be the platform to build that interest. In fact, when I was racing competitively I trained almost exclusively for sake of time on the North and South shore trails. These trails helped me win the State Qualifier race for Xterra Triathlon in Bozeman, which is at a much higher elevation. I also won races in other states in order to make it to the Worlds. We don't have the long grinds like you will find in Bozeman, Missoula and Helena, but what we do have is roller coaster like trails that keep your heart rate, agility, and strength up as you have to constantly adjust for turns, climbs, drops, and technical sections of trail.



Chasing Squirrels Number 3 is the shortest race in the 2017 Treasure State Trail Series. In a time when most people are looking to push the length of trail races, what does a 6k offer?

It takes people who are use to settling in for a long haul out of their comfort zone! Trust me, I would rather run a half marathon any day as apposed to a 5K length race. I hate having to work in that zone, even if it is for a short distance. Truth.... my fastest race times were based on shorter more effective training segments, not long drawn out races or runs that tear down my body down and require longer periods of recovery, which I know all of us will admit that we don't do! Fast and Furious Fun.
It should be a short, fast, and exciting race. Who should we watch out for?
It is in the dark, so I'd say watch out for the Wylie coyote, we generally have some of those hanging around in the coolies. Ok, I'm not trying to scare anyone, coyotes are more afraid of us.

Anything else you would like to add?
Race MT is a non profit and by coming out and supporting events like these it in turn goes back into our community in the way of our pools, trails and lighting projects.

Thanks Kristina! Registration is still open for Chasing Squirrels #3 at RaceMT.com.




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MTC's Trail Running News

September 22, 2017, 8:54 am
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Montana's weather put us to the test this season. With a fire season that forced the cancellation of several events, we've now had snow that has cancelled others. Despite that, there is still a ton happening and plenty to look forward to now that the fall racing season is in full swing:
Whitefish Trail Legacy Run, one of the next stops on the Treasure State Trail Series. Credit: Burket Kniveton



Treasure State Trail Series: Early season snow forced the cancellation of the Nitty Gritty, but the past couple of weeks have seen plenty of action with both the John Colter Run and Big Bear Stampede putting some Southwest Montana runners in the mix in the overall series rankings. With just three races to go the top five runners in the standings are Missoula's Sara Boughner, Amy Friedman, and Leah Handelman, and Bozeman's Ana Brown, Michelle Flenniken. For the men, Missoula's Nico Composto leads fellow Garden City runner Forrest Boughner, while Bozeman's Alan Adams and Chad Carr are currently just ahead of Missoula's Mark Handelman. Remember the series prize purse from Altra Footwear goes five deep and we've decided the waive the five race completion requirement. So if you think you've got what it takes to put down some fast times over the next month you might just find yourself in the thick of things. This weekend, the series visits Great Falls (check out our preview Q&A) and next week it'll be in Whitefish. The series finale takes place in Missoula at Run Wild's Mount Jumbo Elk Ramble.

Mountain Running Film Festival: Missoula will be the center of the universe for the trail running community on the weekend of November 4th. We're pleased to announce that for the fifth year in a row, The Wilma Theater will be the site of the Mountain Running Film Festival. This end of season party is a celebration of our community and the trails and open space we love. Check back with us in the coming weeks to find out more about some of the new features of the now classic event.




Here's what Run Wild Missoula has to say about the weekend:

Imagine Missoula without its conservation lands

No backdoor trails, no resident elk herd, no native wild flowers, and no Mount Jumbo Elk Ramble trail race...  Thankfully, the Missoula community had the foresight to preserve open spaces around Missoula with the passage of the Open Space Bond in 1997.  3,000+ acres around Missoula were preserved in areas like Mount Jumbo, Mount Sentinel, North Hills, Fort Missoula and Tower Street Conservation Area.  The City of Missoula continues to manage these lands for our benefit and enjoyment - find out more about these great lands by visiting the City's Open Space Website.

But, it all started with Mount Jumbo.  In 1996, Elk Ramble sponsor Five Valleys Land Trust was instrumental in securing funding and purchase agreements to acquire the original 1,500 acres of open space lands on Mount Jumbo.

And, Mount Jumbo represents one of the largest areas of open space protected to date.  The result is an incredible space providing recreation opportunities; protected views; wintering range for the local elk populations; and, habitat protection for a wide array of flora and fauna.  And, as a registered runner, you get the unique chance to traverse the area on foot and experience firsthand the grandeur of this great space.

Make It A Complete Day -
Race in the Morning, Film Festival & Treasure State Trail Series Awards in the Evening

Part of Montana Trail Crew's mission, with the support of their parent organization Run Wild Missoula, is to improve and expand trail running across the state of Montana.  To help meet that mission, they have organized a sub-ultra trail race series utilizing established races throughout Montana.

The Elk Ramble will be the last race of the series and series awards will be presented at the film fest the night of the race.  More information about the film festival coming soon.

National Public Lands Day:

On Saturday, September 30th, our friends at Five Valleys Land Trust​ will be partnering with REI​, the Montana Conservation Corps​, MTB Missoula​, and Missoula Parks and Recreation​ to conduct a National Public Lands Work Day!  We would love to see some the trail running community take advantage of this opportunity for trail building and sign installation on Mount Dean Stone.

As many of you know, some of the proceeds from our 3rd Mountain Running Film Festival went toward trail building on the South Hills Spur of Dean Stone (not to mention the considerable contributions made by our parent organization, Run Wild Missoula). This is a opportunity to take those contributions a step further and actually put some running shoes on the ground to help makes these trails ours. The new trails will provide an important link in Missoula trail system and the first in what we hope will be an extensive trail system on Mount Dean Stone.

The work day will take place from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on The South Hills Spur and will be followed by a BBQ lunch. This is a great chance to give back and do good!

For more information about the work day, follow this link: http://www.fvlt.org/blog/national-public-lands-day-on-mount-dean-stone
Nico CompostoMissoula MT41505050191
2Forrest BoughnerMissoula MT425042134
3Alan AdamsBozeman MT17373488
4Chad CarrBozeman MT464288
5Mark Handelman
Nico CompostoMissoula MT41505050191
2Forrest BoughnerMissoula MT425042134
3Alan AdamsBozeman MT17373488
4Chad CarrBozeman MT464288
5Mark Handelman

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Q&A With Whitefish Trail Legacy Run Race Director Margosia Jadkowski

September 26, 2017, 7:54 am
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The Whitefish Trail Legacy Run 1/2 Marathon is the 10th race in the 2017 Treasure State Trail Series. It is run on the beautiful single track of the Whitefish Trail on October 1st. You can find more information and register here. We caught up with race director Margosia Jadkowski for a quick interview before the race.

How did you become involved in the Whitefish Trail Legacy Run? 

I’m the Program Director for Whitefish Legacy Partners, so the run falls under my job duties.  Though I have to say it’s one of my favorite events that we put on—it’s a great time and is amazing to see so many people come explore the Whitefish Trail through a race environment.


The Whitefish Legacy Partners looks like a great organization. Can you tell us more about the organization? What projects do the Partners have on tap?

Whitefish Legacy Partners is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting conservation, recreation, and education on the lands surround Whitefish.  The Whitefish Trail is probably our best known project—with 42 miles of natural surface trail and 12 trailheads, the trail provides world class recreation just out our back doors.  Through this and other projects we’ve permanatly protected lands for conservation and secured the public’s right to recreate on them forever.  This fall we’re completing 6 new miles of trail and two new trailheads in Haskill Basin, including groomed Nordic trails.  Our goal is to close the loop around Whitefish Lake, with a 55+ mile loop trail and conserved lands—we’re about 2/3 of the way there!

Aside from putting on this trail race, how is Whitefish Legacy Partners involved in the community? 

A big part of our work is helping to connect the community the landscape around them, and last year alone kids spent over 2,800 hours unplugged on the trail, engaged in our education programs. We bring every 3rd, 6th, and 9th grader out to the Whitefish Trail to learn about everything from watershed protection to avalanche safety to healthy forest management, and also provide education programs for adults.  We believe that the best way to create advocates for the natural landscapes around is to connect the community to them, whether it’s through education or just exploring on the trail.  We had over 75,000 visits to the trail last year, which is a lot of people getting out, recreating on their public lands, and feeling connected to them.


How does a race like the Legacy Run benefit the Whitefish Legacy Partners? 

The race is a fundraiser for us, but maybe more importantly it’s an opportunity to introduce new people to the trail.  As the trail’s grown, we’ve been able to grow the race too.  It’s exciting to think about the possibility of putting on an ultramarathon once the trail is complete around the lake!

Aside from running the race, how can individuals help with Whitefish Legacy Partners' projects?

There’s lots of opportunities to get involved: the trail is maintained 100% by volunteers and funded 100% by grants and community support.  Folks can find out more about our programs, how to volunteer, or how to donate at www.whitefishlegacy.org


The Whitefish Legacy Trail is an incredible resource for the Whitefish area. What can runners expect to see out there on course? 

The course for the half marathon is super fun and pretty challenging—the single track trail is winding and includes a lot of rolling hills, and bike features like berm turns that are also awesome to run.  Along the course runners will pass three pristine undeveloped lakes, have the opportunity to see wildlife like nesting loons, and explore the 1,500 acres of permanently conserved lands in the Beaver Lake area.

There have been some great runners to participate in the Legacy run in the past. Can we expect another competitive field?

One of the cool things about living in a mountain town is how many incredible athletes there are.  You go to buy a tube for your bike or something and they guy’s off running Mont Blanc. Or you find out your mail man is also a pro skier.  We’ve got some great runners in Whitefish, and lots come from all over like Missoula, Helena, and Spokane for the race too, which can lead to a pretty competitive field.  At the same time though there’s folks out walking the 5k or Family Fun Run, having a great time too.

What is the post-race atmosphere like? 

The race starts and ends at the Whitefish Bike Retreat, which is an amazing trailside lodge, and provides a really unique post-race atmosphere.  We’ll have craft beer from Bonsai Brewing, a burrito bar, and lots of fun for racers, family, and friends.

Anything else you would like to add?

We’re so excited to be featured in the Treasure State Trail Series this year! We love the idea of being connected to all these other amazing trail networks throughout the state by the race series and hope participants get to come enjoy the Whitefish Trail as part of it.







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2017 Mountain Running Film Festival

October 17, 2017, 6:38 am
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The Wilma and Montana Trail Crew Present 

The 5th Annual Mountain Running Film Festival



Where: The Wilma, Missoula, Montana
When: November 4, 2017 @ 7:00 (Doors and Slideshow at 6:00)
Cost: $12 Advance/$15 Door
Tickets: Available at The Top Hat, The Wilma Box Office, and online.

Montana Trail Crew, part of the non-profit Run Wild Missoula, invites you to come down to The Wilma for our 5th annual end-of-season party celebrating the trails that connect the outdoor community to the wild lands and open spaces so abundant in Montana. Join us for an evening of spectacular trail running film capturing the lure and indescribable sensation of venturing deep into the wild. 

Come early to take in a Montana trail running slideshow before viewing this year's selection of the best trail and mountain running films found anywhere, including video shorts and feature films from Montana and beyond. Stick around for a chance to win products from one of our many generous sponsors and head home knowing that event proceeds are going toward improving the local trails we love. 

The 2017 Mountain Running Film Festival will also double as the awards ceremony for this year's Treasure State Treasure Series. In between films we will be presenting awards from Altra Running to the top five men and top five women. This eleven race series spanned from mid-May to the final race, the Elk Ramble, the morning of the Film Festival. 


Join us November 4th for a big screen celebration of another great year on the trails! 



The 2017 Mountain Running Film Festival is brought to you by Altra Footwear, Runners Edge, Good Food Store, Trail 103.3,  and Run Wild Missoula








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Reflections on Common Ground: Q&A with Anthony Pavkovich

April 21, 2018, 6:00 am
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Common Ground Teaser from Eli Abeles-Allison on Vimeo.

Ignited by a passion for public lands and wild places, a group of friends set out in the summer of 2017 from Bozeman on a run spanning over 200 miles through the Greater Yellowstone to Red Lodge. By running, filming, and writing, they spread their message and advocated for public lands through various news outlets: Trail Runner Magazine, Outside Bozeman, and right here and here at Montana Trail Crew. But their work didn't stop there. Read on to take in some details on their adventure and find out about the short film, Common Ground, premiering April 24th in Bozeman and May 18th in Missoula. The film documents both their journey and struggle on behalf of the special places they consider "home." In the following Q&A, Anthony Pavkovich recounts the experience:



MTC: First off, can you tell us a little bit about "Common Ground?" What is it and how did it come to be?

Anthony: This project, “Common Ground,” was a celebration of the public spaces that make up our backyards in SW Montana. It began as a response to Montana’s legislative attack on public lands and wild spaces and took shape on the steps of the Capitol during the Public Lands Rally in January 2017.

After spending the summer of 2016 focused on ultra-racing, I wanted to do a more personal journey starting from my front door and traversing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Last July, I convinced two of my best friends to embark on a week long, two hundred and forty mile run across our public lands from Bozeman to Red Lodge. The goal of this run was twofold: to empower our community to act in defense of our public lands and inspire adventure across the places we call home.

MTC: Stepping back a bit, can you share a little bit about your background? When did you start trail running? Where does your passion for public lands stem from? When were you first inspired by the Greater Yellowstone?

Anthony: I actually haven’t been a runner all that long, it was more of a fluke anyways. When I first moved to Bozeman, I was obsessed with climbing; running was simply a way to stay in shape for big objectives. After scaring myself taking a bad fall ice climbing, I needed a break from the steeps and got coerced to sign up for the Grand Canyon 50k. I shocked myself and the crowd by taking home the win in my first race since middle school.

Public lands have always been important to me and my family. I grew up in the Park Service and had the opportunity to live around some amazing pieces of public land. On the first day of moving out west, after college, I climbed to the top of Hyalite Peak south of Bozeman. Though I was still a few years away from moving to SW Montana permanently, I knew that the the Greater Yellowstone would one day be my home.
Credit: Seth Langbauer
MTC: Your Common Ground project is undoubtedly something that gets the wheels spinning in the minds of our readers. But I imagine that putting together something like this isn't easy. Can you share a blow by blow account of what a multi-day Wilderness run entails? How many daily miles/vert did you cover? What type of gear did you carry? Where did you sleep?

Anthony: A run like this wouldn’t be possible without a strong community. When I first came up with the idea, I knew I wouldn’t be able to complete it alone. Having partners on the trail kept me accountable and determined. We would travel anywhere from a marathon to nearly fifty trail miles a day. Each day would vary from gaining 5,000 to 10,000 feet across mountain ridges and along smooth singletrack in the valleys.

We were super lucky that we didn’t have to carry a ton of gear each day. With a wonderful support crew, we finished each night camping in the front country. Friends were kind enough to have food warmed, our tents set up, and piles of cookies waiting for us each evening. That way, on the trail we only had to carry the day’s food, a water filter, extra layers, and camera gear. Because of such tremendous support, we could move semi-fast and light across the ecosystem.
Credit: Seth Langbauer 
MTC: Is there something you left behind that you wish you would have brought? Is there something you brought that you wish you would have left behind? How would you do things differently?

Anthony: For the most part, we executed our plan fairly well. Occasionally I’d wish for one more sandwich or an extra pair of socks but our omissions didn’t really hinder us. The only thing I would do differently is pack more solid food for the days. Gu and ShotBlocks get pretty old by day two. Granny’s Doughnuts and chocolate chip cookies go down much better.
MTC: Can you tell me a bit about some of the low points of your run? What helped push you through? 

Anthony: My lowest point of the run was our third evening after we came off back to back forty plus mile days. I was tired, cranky, and sleep deprived and had another forty mile day ahead in the morning. Simply going to sleep helped. 

However, the next day, it was our community that got us through. Friends shuffled us out of bed and back onto the trail. Some joined us for stretches through Yellowstone National Park and others had a big lunch waiting at our halfway point of the day. 

After seventeen hours on the move, we stumbled through the dark to the trailhead. Our crew’s excitement pushed our lowest points away and constantly picked us back up.

MTC: What are some of the highlights? Was there ever a moment along the way when you were just blown away by what you were experiencing?

Anthony: My most memorable highlight was running the Gallatin Crest into Yellowstone. Being on top of the landscape as the sun rose and looking south to the Tetons and east into the Absorakas blew me away. Overall, it was my reevaluation of home that amazed me. Zach Altman put it best, “I define home to be the places you can reach on foot from your front door.”

MTC: Generating awareness of the threats to our public lands is really the purpose of this project. Clearly, it has been a tumultuous year for those of us who care about Public Lands and wild places. From your perspective, what can we as trail runners do to lend our voice to the conversation?

Anthony: Trail runners have to speak up. We are the silent user group: state and federal officials rarely know where we go or what we do. As a community, we are often uncounted as users of our public lands. Therefore, we need to engage and communicate.

MTC: Are there local Montana organizations that you've found are particularly effective at articulating the message to the we need to safeguard public lands?

I’m a big supporter of the Montana Wilderness Association as a voice for quiet recreation. As a board member for our local chapter, we strive to listen to our community and look for balanced solutions on our public lands. One of these is the Gallatin Forest Partnership that was created to help structure long term planning in the Gallatin Range. This partnership has the support of the mountain bike community, local environmental groups, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers as we work to long term compromises in our community.

More than anything else, I want to encourage the trail running community to get involved in their backyards. Help with the decision making, volunteer with trailwork, and talk to your neighbors. 

After the trip, Zach summed up the value of our trip. “Virtually every mile we ran on that trip was public land,” he said. “And, I think, the run itself and the amount of people it took for that to succeed is a good metaphor for how we need to come together on public lands issues and see to it that these lands continue to exist.”

MTC: I'm sure most of our Bozeman audience is already planning to attend the upcoming screening of Common Ground. Can you tell us about the film, what you hope to do with it, and where we should look to find out about upcoming screenings throughout the Treasure State?

Anthony: Throughout this project, we have been working on putting together a short film highlighting the need to work together to protect our public lands while using the narrative of our run as the framework for the film. Tianse Abeles-Allison, of Done with It’ Productions put the film together, and our hope is that this film will encourage conversations in our recreation community about the importance of engaging and protecting our public lands.

In Missoula, we will be showing the film at Runners Edge May 18th. As we work out other tour dates, they can be found at www.commongroundmt.com. If you’d like to help put together a showing in your community, please reach out.

Really, I just want to say thank you. A huge thanks to everyone that helped with this project and kept us moving on and off the trail. We couldn’t have done it without all the support.

MTC: Thanks, Anthony. We look forward to coming out for the film!

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2018 Bitterroot Runoff Recap: Local runners, racing local

April 24, 2018, 10:37 am
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Under clear April skies, a spirited field of 600 runners descended on Lolo to kick off their 2018 trail running season with the Runner's Edge's Bitterroot Runoff. Like the green grass sprouting along the mountainside course, athletes in the competitive 10 miler showed the first signs of their spring fitness after a heavy Western Montana winter (the mountain snowpack in the region is currently sitting around 175% of normal). The event--part of the Runners Edge's Trail Series--attracted an extremely deep field with top regional runners shaking loose the cobwebs while obliterating course records.

The competition came by design. According to Forrest Boughner, Runner's Edge Race Director, "We're doing a better job of reaching out to some of the more competitive top local runners and trying to get local runners racing local." Boughner explained, "there's a bigger contingent up front, which gets everybody excited."



As it happened, the  race winners each took the same tactic to earn victory: lead from the gun. Missoula's Mark Messmer and Nicole Murray of Whitehall both set hard early paces on the initial 4-mile climb and held on to gap the field enough to raise the bar for what's possible on the course. In fact, the top four women and top five men all finished under the previous course record marks.

Boughner called the women's field "one of the deeper fields we've seen at a trail race in Missoula recently" with names that often appear on podiums at regional races going some 15 deep. Besides Murray, a past member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team, second place went to Lauren Arnold and third to Amy Friedman. Arnold's career highlights include being a USATF National Champion in the trail marathon and finishing runner-up at the always-competitive Pikes Peak Ascent. Friedman, meanwhile, has been a mainstay on the local trail scene since moving to Montana a few years ago.

One the Men's side, Messmer was unmatched. A dominant force in Montana road racing, Bitterroot Runoff served as the former UM Grizzly's trail racing debut. His 59:46 cracked the 1 hour barrier and put him nearly 2 minutes ahead of runner-up Patrick Murphy, who's in the midst of training for June's Bighorn 100. Nico Composto, the 2017 Treasure State Trail Series Champ, having recently overcome some injury setbacks raced conservatively, moving up through the pack throughout the race before finishing third.

Full Race Results can be found Here.

While Boughner expressed excitement with how the race played out, he considered the sunshine to be key to the event's success. After a long winter, most everyone seemed to agree.


Jesse Carnes is all smiles after his run in the sun. 
The next stop on the Runners Edge Trail Series comes on May 20th with 11 Miles to Paradise. Runners Edge has assembled an equally impressive field for that one. Check out the videos below to learn how the race played out and what some of the top competitors are doing to prepare themselves for the season:














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Pengelly Double Dip Digital Auction

April 26, 2018, 11:16 am
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The Double Dip filled in record time and you weren't able to register before the cap was reached.................... well, here's to second chances!!

Run Wild Missoula is excited to announce an upcoming digital auction for ONE entry to the 2018 Pengelly Double Dip!

All proceeds from the digital auction will be donated to Friends of the M Trail.
This group works to maintain the M Trail and other spaces within UM Natural Areas.

Pengelly Double Dip Digital Auction
Wednesday, May 2nd from 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM MDT
Opening bid will start at $40 (the cost of race entry)

Bids will be accepted via email only between 12:00 PM and 12:15 PM MDT on Wednesday, May 2nd

tonyb@runwildmissoula.org; subject line DOUBLE DIP BID

Any bids made in the comment section of the Facebook live stream or emailed outside of the above time will not be considered.

Tune in to Run Wild Missoula's Facebook Page for the Live Event!

Tony, Ashley, and a few surprise guests - who have run the Double Dip a time or two - will be talking about Pengelly, keeping viewers up to date on the incoming bids, and answering questions you might have about the event!
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Q&A with Copper City Trails 14k RD-Zach Altman

May 30, 2018, 8:19 am
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This weekend, June 3rd, the Treasure State Trail Series returns with the Copper City Trails 14k. This is the first year of the event for Bozeman Running Company on a brand new trail system near Three Forks. We spoke with Zach Altman, the race director for Copper City, to get more information.



The race begins at 8am on June 3rd and registration is still open here for the trail run.
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2018 Copper City Trails 14k Recap: A Great New Trail System

June 3, 2018, 7:19 pm
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The first annual Copper City Trails 14k took place this morning, June 3rd, under blue skies in Three Forks, Montana. This event, hosted by Bozeman Running Company, showed off the brand new trail system being put together by the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association. The unique flowy, desert-like feel of these trails was on full display as runners took off and headed for the hills. 

Bozeman High School runner, Renn Meuwissen and Alan Adams battled for the men's overall title while Clara Toronto and Katie Pederson claimed the top two spots on the women's side. Renn and Alan are also now topping the overall Treasure State Trail Series leader board after finishing near each other in Don't Fence Me In. Can you smell a rivalry?

After the race runners hung around enjoying a relaxed, festive meal provided by BRC while exchanging stories from trail. We are happy to welcome Copper City Trails 14k to the Treasure State Trail Series and look forward to an additional distance next year! Overall series results are updated here. Check below for interviews with Alan Adams, Renn Meuwissen, Clara Toronto, and Zach Altman.

Alan Adams - 2nd overall

Renn Meuwissin - 1st Overall


Clara Toronto - 1st Overall

Zach Altman - Race Director
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