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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S U M M E R 2 0 2 5
6
Summer
TA B L E O F
C O N T E N T S C O N T E N T S
TOM
RATH
2025
ISSUE
8 A NOTE FROM OUR PUBLISHER
10 OUR CONTRIBUTORS
12 MONTANA HOSPITALITY
FALL INTO THE RHYTHM OF THE WEST AT RANCH ROCK CREEK
16 THE TREASURE STATE TABLE
MONTANA GOLD RUSH APRICOT-GLAZED PORK SANDWICH
20 THE OLD BROKE RANCHER EXERCISES
DOMINION OVER THE CATTLE
by Gary Shelton
24 ISLE OF BOOKS PRESENTS:
LAST BEST BOOKS
28 RED LODGE JULY 4TH BROUHAHA OF 1975
by Tom Vandel
32 CONQUERING THE MONTANA TRAIL:
1,700 MILES THROUGH BIG SKY COUNTRY
by Amy Grisak, photos courtesy Montana Trails Association
46 A TOUR OF MONTANA IN PORK CHOP SANDWICHES
by Sherman Cahill
50 ROSEBUD BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK:
"WHERE THE GIRL SAVED HER BROTHER"
by Douglas A. Schmittou
56 A LEGACY OF CONSERVATION:
TELLER WILDLIFE REFUGE PROTECTS A PIECE OF PARADISE
IN THE BITTERROOT VALLEY
by Susie Wall, photos by Heather Tellock
62 THE BAND BOYS OF BUTTE:
MONTANA'S BEST BRASS BAND AND THE TYCOON
WHO NEVER BOUGHT A MAN WHO WASN'T FOR SALE
by Ross Peterson
68 JAMES GRADY ON CONDOR, HIS HOME STATE
OF MONTANA, AND HIS NEW BOOK
by Russell Rowland
72 PERFECTION AND PARADISE AT QUINN'S HOT SPRINGS
by Sherman Cahill, photos by August Millard
78 WHO THE HELL WAS MONTANA FRANK?
A WILD WEST SHOW MYSTERY
by Joseph Shelton
88 GET TO KNOW A COUNTY:
JUDITH BASIN
article and photos by Bryan Spellman
94 MONTANA MUSINGS
crossword puzzle by Bill Muhlenfeld
95 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
96 DOWN THE TRAIL
