Style + Beauty

Cruising the Coast

The Ultimate Flathead Lake Road Trip Guide Article by Julie Schneiders | Photography by Virginia Hudson The bright Montana sunshine shone through the windshield as my husband and I set out on a road trip around Flathead Lake. 160 miles of shoreline, seven state parks, and one notorious lake monster. We started at West Shore State Park. It’s off of Highway 93 just a few miles south of downtown Lakeside. It has a public boat launch, campsites, a beach, and easy to moderate hiking trails. It’s...

Entertainment

As Above, So Below

The duality of equestrian culture in the Flathead Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Shannon Brinkman and Bigfork Rodeo Montanans certainly don’t have a monopoly on horse culture, but what probably feels like an outlier in most regions is widespread and vibrant here in the Treasure State. This July, the Flathead Valley plays host to a perfect duality of this heritage with two high-stakes equestrian events that, on the surface, are entirely different worlds, but underneath, share the...

Entertainment

The Sound of Summer, Montana Style

Under the Big Sky brings unforgettable sets and the unmistakable spirit of the West Article by Rachel Jackson and Summer Zalesky | Photography by Outriders The stage is set. Cowboy hats and turquoise beads are everywhere. A whoop rises up from the crowd as folksy-blues-country singer Sierra Ferrell prances up to her place in the spotlight. She’s prancing, of course, because she’s arriving on horseback, as any good country artist would. A song rises up to the breathable, uncluttered Montana...

Style + Beauty

Sapphires and Kings

Following the journey of a gem Article by Sydney Ludden | Photography by Nikity Nak Creatives There is something lovely about walking into a jewelry shop and realizing you are not just looking at pretty things in glass cases. You are looking at time, patience, and tiny hand-made decisions. It is craftsmanship that has lived in one family long enough to become a business… and a way of life. Whitefish Goldsmiths has been that place of craftsmanship since 1987, when Aric King and his wife, Kate...

Sports + Recreation

Fisherfolk

Lakestream: Where the passion of fishing meets the love of people Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Nick Haas Even when times are tight, we Montanans are wealthy, for we are rich in land and water. And it’s a richness that we can go right up to and touch. “The beautiful thing about Montana is this access,” says Justin Lawrence, owner of Lakestream Fly Shop in Whitefish. “We are leaps and bounds above other states. Anywhere water touches is public property. In a place where it’s...

Life + Culture

Guardians of the Flathead

A conversation with Lincoln Chute of Firesafe Flathead Article by Summer Zalesky In the rugged beauty of the Mountain West, fire is an inevitable neighbor. For those who have built legacies and luxury retreats among the pines, understanding the distinction between fighting a flame and preventing one is the first step in stewardship. We sat down with Lincoln Chute, Flathead County Fire Service Area Manager and a leading voice at FireSafe Flathead, to discuss why "resource management" is the...

Life + Culture

The Iron Warriors

The next generation of American-made manufacturing Article by Kate Heston | Photography by Kory Anderson At five days old, he attended his first steam engine show. At nine years old, he learned about the 150 Case steam tractor, the largest ever made in the early 20th century. In 2018, Kory Anderson created, by hand, a rendition of that 150 Case, a feat that earned him a place in the Guinness World Records.  But beyond steam engines Kory’s love for American history rings true in other forms...

Real Estate

From Homemaker to Realtor

Leanna Klaus expands family-driven realty in the valley Article by Kate Heston | Photography by Nikity Nak Creatives Leanna Klaus measures success by looking back at how far she’s come. Now a Flathead Valley realtor, Leanna has one word to describe the career she’s built: thankful.  Leanna is not only thankful for the life she’s built but also for the women who came before her, the women who will come after her and the women she gets to meet through work today. “Don’t let fear stop you,”...

Food + Beverage

Spirit of the Frontier

Savoring wildly local sips at Spotted Bear Spirits Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Forrest Mankins For the intrepid Montana adventurer, a trek to Spotted Bear Ranger District ought to be at the top of any list. Fifty miles of washboard will get you to this little haven tucked between the Swan and Lewis mountain ranges, where the South Fork of the Flathead River spills clear from the glaciated heights of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. “It’s one of my favorite little pockets,” says...

Arts + Culture

The Maiden's Mark

The art of sisterhood at Original Skin Tattoo Article by Sydney Ludden | Photography by Nikity Nak Creatives There's a moment, if you've ever walked into a tattoo studio and felt immediately out of place, where you quietly talk yourself out of it. Maybe the music is too loud. Maybe the energy is too sharp. Maybe you just didn't feel like you belonged there. Sammy Connell knows that moment well, because she lived it herself. "I found my style because I worked in very male-dominated spaces that...