Sheila Lang-Bullard is not a Montana tour guide. She’s a Montana adventure guide, and there’s a big difference. Typically, tour guides offer a somewhat scripted talk that is well rehearsed. It’s a soundtrack to a beaten path. “Instead,” said Sheila, “I am leading participants in the activity, often keeping points of interest as conversation pieces. Part of the adventure for them is experiencing the unknown.” And when you’re making the rules up as you go, with the back of your hand as your roadmap, Sheila gets to take part in the same adventurous opportunity: seeing a new day from a new perspective.
Whenever someone close to us comes for a visit, there’s a stir we get in our hearts, kicking up those original but fleeting moments of infatuation with this beautiful region as we watch their eyes explode with amazement. And suddenly we become innocent in our surroundings once again, available to everything around us. Sheila is a witness to this magic, and she’s the owner and operator of Montana Adventure Shuttle, which she lovingly refers to as “Beluga”—the big white whale passenger van.
With a “see and do” mentality, MAS offers tailored half, full, and multi-day experiences for anyone ready to explore. Whatever your idea of adventure is, Sheila is not only ready to transport to and equip you for your activity, she’ll go along with you, whether it’s biking, paddle boarding, or skiing. Some of her favorite excursions combine the best backdrops with their own one-of-a-kind experience, like soaking in a hot spring, kayaking, or camping. A day of exploring the National Bison Range or quietly contemplating the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas can also be a powerful experience for those who want to get out without physical strain. The options are yours: a bicycle tour along the Milwaukee Trail to discover the growth and beauty of Missoula, a brewery tour for a sampling of local flavor, hiking or driving to breathless vantage points that offer the city in its entirety. “Your trip will be what you want it to be,” said Sheila.
Until 2019, when Sheila met her now husband and adventure buddy, she mostly traveled alone, which she knows can feel intimidating. She confessed, “I actually talked myself out of trips because I was too scared to go alone. I get that. So, I’ll go with you,” said Sheila. Her company and knowledge is not only perfect for small groups, but also for the visitor whose spouse might be tied up at a work conference for the day. Or perhaps, for the single woman who heard about Missoula and came to see if it was everything she heard it was—which is exactly how Sheila got here. Or, even for Missoulians who have the day off and simply don’t want to go into the unknown without a safety buddy.
Montana Adventure Shuttle’s website highlights the Guided Explorer Montana (GEM) option as the ideal “private guiding for solo adventurers." It’s designed to help individuals create that “go and see” type of day. Sheila wants her clients to know that GEM is for “when you are ready to challenge yourself, or unwind, or learn a new skill, but you don’t want to do it alone.” A pre-trip consultation will assess a guest’s goals, desires, fitness level, experience (or lack thereof) and gear needed to make their exploration successful.
Montana Adventure Shuttle knows that our community is special, and guests will see that right away. That’s why MAS strives to pour back into the community. It does that in three main ways. First, “Beluga” is truly sustainable transportation. It cuts down on the number of vehicles at a trailhead parking lot and on the highway. Second, eco-hikes not only educate visitors, but also allow MAS to contribute to Five Valleys Land Trust which helped establish some of Sheila’s favorite trails like Barmeyer in Missoula. Third, MAS supports multiple businesses when it comes to renting equipment, such as Spotted Dog Cycles for bikes, Love Boat Paddle Co. for kayaks and LB Snow for ski gear. Each of these endeavors is an investment in Montana’s future adventures.
Sheila doesn’t want you to limit Montana from a car window. She wants you to get out there, moving in the mountains and our pristine but cold lakes. According to her, “Adventure is breaking out from the norm to experience something new or different. It’s typically investment traveling and experiencing a place—wild lands or a new culture.” And if you’re unsure of what that looks like, don’t worry, she’s got plenty of ideas. Her inner adventurer is always at the ready, hand on the helm, dreaming up new trips or places to go. “I’m a pretty dedicated daydreamer.”