D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E
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W I N T E R 2 0 2 4 - 2 5
6
W inter
TA B L E O F
C O N T E N T S C O N T E N T S
TOM
RATH
2024
2025
ISSUE
8 A NOTE FROM OUR PUBLISHER
10 OUR CONTRIBUTORS
12 ISLE OF BOOKS PRESENTS: LAST BEST BOOKS
14 THE OLD BROKE RANCHER
TRIES TO FIGURE OUT A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR HIS WIFE
by Gary Shelton
18 LAKESHORE CABINS AND CAMPGROUND
WILL GIVE YOU THE "DON'T-WANNA-GO BLUES"
by Joseph Shelton
24 EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO MONTANA'S REPUTATION
FOR LEGENDARY WINTER WEATHER
by Douglas A. Schmittou
30 THE LAST RIDE OF LONG GEORGE FRANCIS
by Nick Mitchell, illustrated by Robert Rath
36 EVELYN CAMERON, FOREVER
by Russell Rowland
44 WILLOW CREEK:
A TOWN WITH A SLICE OF MONTANA HISTORY
by Suzanne Waring
48 THE HIPPIES ARE COMING,
THE HIPPIES ARE COMING!
MISSOULA IN THE STORMY SIXTIES
by Ross Peterson
53 STARRING JOHN WAYNE:
IDENTITY AND REINVENTION ON THE BIG TRAIL
by Sherman Cahill, illustrated by Robert Rath
60 THE BOOMTOWNS OF FORT PECK DAM
by Lindsay Tran
66 SNOWDEN BRIDGE:
SO DANGEROUS THAT IT'S SAFE
by Ednor Therriault
72 GET TO KNOW A COUNTY:
FLATHEAD COUNTY
article and photos by Bryan Spellman
78 MONTANA MUSINGS
crossword puzzle by Bill Muhlenfeld
79 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
80 DOWN THE TRAIL
