Getaways
FLY FISHING NORTHEAST OREGON'S RIVERS
First Steelhead on a Fly
Last year, I caught a steelhead and it gave me Steelhead Fever. So bad was the infliction that I immediately advanced to Phase 2 of the disease, the need to catch one of these silvery torpedoes on a fly.
I'm just back from fly fishing three incredible steelhead rivers in northeast Oregon, and I actually did it, caught my first steelhead on a fly. This hardly makes me an expert on fly fishing for steelhead, but if you have the fever and want to try it, this article might save you a little time.
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A COMING PANDEMIC WITH NO CURE
Steelhead Fever
Any angler who has had a steelhead on knows about this disease, but only a small minority has had this misfortune. Worse, those who have it probably aren't aware of their ailment or realize that it's extremely contagious--and has no cure or vaccine to prevent it from spreading.
Blissfully, the carriers are out there, the steelheaders, along with an army of outdoor writers like yours truly, spreading Steelhead Fever. If they keep this up, we'll have a regular pandemic on our hands.
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INTRODUCING MICROBREW MONTANA
Montana Brewers, Taprooms Prosper in Local Markets, Drawing Tourists
Editor's Note: A couple months ago, in a moment of weakness, I decided to take on a new challenge, a year-long tour of Montana's microbreweries and write an article on each one. Today, I'm launching that new series on NewWest.Net with this overview of the industry and how microbreweries fit into the economic and tourism pictures in Montana. I'm also posting the first of long series of features on individual breweries starting with the Lewis & Clark Brewing in Helena. You will also be able to see the articles on the Travel Montana website, visitmt.com. Throughout the year, I'll be visiting most microbreweries in the state and posting profiles on them and their owners. After I finish this series, my byline might be a little scarce for a few months while I'm in recovery.-- Bill Schneider
Click more below for the first installment and check in with www.newwest.net/microbrew to tag along with Bill.
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MICROBREW MONTANA
Lewis & Clark Brewing: Home of the Hoppiest Beer in MontanaLewis & Clark Brewing in Helena, Montana, used to be a Sleeping Giant. And perhaps it still is.
In March, 2002, Max Pigman bought the struggling Sleeping Giant Brewing. Ever since, his business has been anything but sleepy.
"We kept the Sleeping Giant name for about two years," Pigman explains, but then decided to re-name it. "Outside of Helena, the term 'sleeping giant' (a recognizable mountain north of town) wasn't well known, and we started marking our beer outside Helena. Also, we decided the words 'sleeping' and 'beer' didn't really go together."
Or do they?
Editor"s Note: For a complete list of Microbrew Montana articles to date, click here.
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DON'T MISS THE SECOND ANNUAL MONTANA BEER FESTIVAL
For Beer and Music Lovers OnlyIf you like good beer, and a lot of Montanans do, they're holding a festival just for you. It's the second annual Montana Beer Festival, April 11 in Bozeman.
Sam Porter of Porterhouse Productions, the primary promoter of the event, told NewWest.Net that he has 35 breweries lined up to serve 85 different "craft" beers.
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winter in the rockies
The Snowtography Contest Ends Today!
The West's winter wonders and the adventures they inspire make for great photography -- we call it snowtography. And so NewWest.Net and its Snowblog present the Snowtography Contest. Whether it's skiing or snowboarding, wildlife or snowscapes or snowball fights -- whatever -- venture outside and capture winter in the Rockies for a shot at cool prizes.
The online contest is sponsored by the Missoula-area businesses Edge of the World and The Dark Room and open to pro and amateur photographers alike, shooting in the Rocky Mountain region.
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TOURISM INDUSTRY GROUP PREDICTS BILL'S DEMISE
Two Key Western Senators Sign up as Sponsors of Baucus-Crapo BillThe Baucus-Crapo Bill, S.2438, the Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act, recently received a big boost when two more key western senators signed on to the grassroots effort to bring sanity to recreational fee policy on federal lands.
Meanwhile, a tourism industry group discounted the bill as "not a serious threat" to the expanding recreational fee program on federal lands.
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A FEW BEST READ TWICE, AT LEAST
Comments Worth Repeating, 2008
As I'm sure many of you have noticed, NewWest.net has engaged readers who take the time to make excellent comments that frequently add value to stories. And they keep coming in. The hardest part was narrowing down the list to a manageable size. Even though there are obviously many more comments worth repeating, here are some of my favorites. For more comments, check out the Comments Worth Repeating Chronology. Enjoy. [more]
Big Sky Nordic Skiing
Lone Mountain Ranch Sold to Everlands Resort Network
Lone Mountain Ranch, the historic and premiere Nordic ski resort in Big Sky, recently sold to Everlands and will soon become a part of the worldwide luxury resort network, available only on a member-basis.
Since 1977, Bob and Vivian Schaap have operated Lone Mountain Ranch as a guest ranch offering fly-fishing and horseback riding in the summer and 80km of cross country ski trails in the winter. Due to the ski trail’s integral part of the Big Sky community, the Schaap’s have made strict agreements with the future owners to continue public access and maintenance on all Nordic ski trails.
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Red Light, Green Light
Sylvan Pass: Sometimes an Entrance to Yellowstone National Park
Avalanche-prone Sylvan Pass, which connects Cody, Wyoming to the interior of Yellowstone National Park, is currently open for oversnow travel. Wait, no, it's closed. Nope, open. Closed. Wait, it's definitely open. For now.
Between December 29, 2007 and New Year's Day, Park Service officials have closed the pass twice due to avalanche conditions. Using howitzers and helicopters for avalanche mitigation, the Park Service reopened the pass on the same days of closures, but the troubled recreation travel corridor continues to claim the time of Park Service staff and precious, limited federal dollars.
"It is a challenging place for us to work," Yellowstone National Park Spokesman Al Nash admits. "It's a challenging job that we've been doing for a long time."
Since 1973, to be precise, and despite a draft Environmental Impact Statement by the Yellowstone National Park Service in 2006 with a preferred alternative of closing the pass in the winter, Park Service employees continue to open the dangerous pass to the tune of roughly $200,000 each winter.
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