Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6 8 T HE WOODSTOVE'S POPPING BEHIND ME LIKE IT'S GOT SOMETHING TO SAY, and outside the window the world's gone that particular shade of gray that means snow's coming whether the weatherman agrees or not. My tea's getting cold because I keep staring at the mountains, watching the light change the way it only does in winter—soft and blue and unhurried. Here we are again, hunkered down in the quiet season. The ski hills are open, the roads are getting interesting, and somewhere out there a rancher's checking on his cattle in weather that would make a lesser person stay in bed. Some things never change, thank God. This issue's packed with stories that reminded me why I love doing this—the kind of tales that don't fit in a tweet or a fifteen-second video. Real people, real places, the sort of thing you can read by the fire without your phone buzzing at you every thirty seconds demanding attention like a poorly trained puppy. Winter in Montana isn't for everyone. It's cold, it's long, and your diesel might gel up if you forget to plug it in. But there's something honest about a season that forces you to slow down, hunker in, and actually talk to the people you're stuck inside with. In a world that wants your attention sliced into a thousand tiny pieces, winter says sit down, be still, pay attention to what's right in front of you. To our advertisers—thank you for making this whole operation possible. To our read- ers—thank you for choosing something you can hold in your hands. Bundle up, stoke the fire, and settle in with us for a while. We're glad you're here. A N O T E F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R P U B L I S H E R CHRISTOPHER MUHLENFELD, PUBLISHER chris@distinctlymontana.com ©2002-2026. Distinctly Montana is owned and published by Thunderstruck Media LLC, a Montana company. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without our written permission is prohibited. Distinctly Montana welcomes freelance contributions—please contact us to inquire about submitting your work. DISTINCTLY MONTANA IS DESIGNED AND PRINTED IN THE USA. Published by Thunderstruck Media LLC • 280 West Kagy Blvd, STE D286 • Bozeman, Montana 59715 www.distinctlymontana.com • info@distinctlymontana.com • (406) 600-7660 WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS! The paper content of this publication has been certifiably reforested via PrintReleaf – the world's first platform to measure paper consumption and automate reforestation across a global network of reforestation projects. LEARN MORE AT PRINTRELEAF.COM photo: flickr.com/nicholas_t | CC BY PUBLISHERS Christopher & Pattra Muhlenfeld EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joseph Shelton ART DIRECTOR Robert Rath COPY AND PROOF EDITOR Shannon Page SALES EXECUTIVES Larry Sem and Jesi Donaldson PRODUCTION MANAGER Juliana Widman PRINT MANAGEMENT Pam Koehler, Koehler + Co. fb.com/distinctlymontana instagram.com/distinctlymontana twitter.com/distinctlymt S U B S C R I B E S U B S C R I B E T O D AY T O D AY W E D E L I V E R ! W E D E L I V E R ! SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DISTINCTLY MONTANA DISTINCTLY MONTANA MAGAZINE MAGAZINE DISTINCTLYMONTANA.COM/SUBSCRIBE SEND A CHECK FOR THE AMOUNT MATCHING THE SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD YOU'D LIKE: 1 YEAR - $39.95 2 YEARS - $69.95 3 YEARS - $99.95 MAIL CHECKS TO: DISTINCTLY MONTANA PO BOX 84, BOZEMAN MT 59771 TO SUBSCRIBE BY PHONE, CALL 406-600-7660 www.Dis t inc tlyMont ana.com $ 9.95 DISPL AY UN T IL SEP T. 15, 2023 AN EVENING AT BULL HEAD LODGE WITH CHARLIE RUSSELL TELLING "THE STORY OF BUTTE" DO SOME TOURISTS HAVE A DEATHWISH, OR WHAT? RECREATION IN THE PINTLERS S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $500! B E S T O F M O N TA N A B M D I S TI N C T L Y M O N T A N A ' S 2023 TM TM www.Dis t inc tlyMont ana.com $ 9.95 DISPL AY UN T IL JUNE 15, 2024 S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 TM THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE IN HELENA BUFFALO BILL'S LAST TOUR OF MONTANA ANACONDA, BEST LITTLE CITY IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA TREASURES OF THE WORLD MUSEUM OF MINING SCAN TO SUBSCRIBE

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