Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • FA L L 2 0 1 5 10 10 CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS Valerie Harms has edited this magazine since 2005 and says it is like throwing a party every season. A writer as well as editor, she is the author of 10 books and numerous articles. A graduate of Smith College, for seven years she was an editor at the National Audubon Society in New York City. She has taught writing and given workshops around the country, plus in Greece and Canada. In 1995 she moved to Montana to see wild animals in their habitats and explore the mountains and rivers. For more info see her Web site at www. valerieharms.com. Email queries to valerie@distinctlymontana.com. Robert Rath collects hyphens. Currently, he's an illustrator-designer-author-art director-dog walker living in Bozeman. He's illustrated many children's books, including the award-winning First Dog: Unleashed in the Montana Capitol, and Yellow- stone's Hot Legends and Cool Myths. His clients include Lucasfilm, The History Channel, Scholastic Books, Farcountry Press and many others. He isn't allergic to anything, can't remember birthdays, likes to cook, can wiggle his ears, and hates writing bios. AN OTTER RUNS THROUGH IT PAGE 12 CINDY GOEDELL is an award-winning professional photogra- pher and naturalist. Her passion lies in creating images that convey the story and spirit of wildlife while inspiring others to celebrate and protect the land we share. She is acclaimed for her Yellowstone workshops. Her Web site is www.goodellphotography.com. PAGE 14 CARL SAFINA is the author of seven books and founder- director of the nonprofit SafinaCenter.org; it blends science, art, and literature in order to inspire a deeper connection with nature, especially the sea. Recognized with MacArthur, Pew, and Guggenheim Fellowships, he also hosted the PBS 10-part series "Saving the Oceans with Carl Safina." THE MADISON BUFFALO JUMP PAGE 18 BILL GOOLD is a retired public servant, researcher, and writer who lives in Bozeman. He recently received his M.A. degree in Native American Studies from MSU. He is also the founder and president of the regional nonprofit volunteer organization — Friends of Madison Buffalo Jump. INTO THE BACK OF BEYOND: PAGE 22 Twenty-nine years living in Montana and a lifetime in northern climes have given PHIL KNIGHT a real appreciation for the power of landscape. A student of wild places and the people and creatures who inhabit them, he writes about his adven- tures and misadventures from his home in Bozeman. MONTANA WOMEN WRITERS PAGE 36 CAROLINE PATTERSON is a writer from Missoula, Montana, and the executive director of the Missoula Writing Collabora- tive. She is the editor for Montana Women Writers: A Geog- raphy of the Heart and has published numerous short stories in journals including Epoch, Southwest Review, and Seventeen. SWEETGRASS HILLS LEGENDS PAGE 40 Born and raised in Plentywood, Montana, J.B. CHANDLER has a passion for writing about Montana history and science fic- tion. J.B. taught math and history in Las Vegas before moving back to Montana to run a bowling alley in Shelby. FALLING FOR SQUASH PAGE 44 CHEF JIM GRAY is a Missoula-based culinary instructor and food writer. He also teaches for the kitchen store chain Sur La Table in Scottsdale, Arizona. PIE A LA ROAD PAGE 47 LISA BARIL is a wildlife biologist and freelance writer living and working in Yellowstone National Park. When she's not glassing a pair of golden eagles in Yellowstone's backcountry, looking furtively over her shoulder for a grizzly bear, or dodg- ing Yellowstone's most dangerous animal, the errant tourist, she can be found nestled in a comfy chair with a good book and a cup of coffee. Visit her Web site at www.lisabaril.com. BOW, BRIDGE AND IMPROV PAGE 54 ANGELA JAMISON is a Montana native and was raised in beautiful Bozeman where she currently lives with her husband and two daughters. When not enjoying the outdoors she works part-time in marketing and freelance writing. A HAUNTED HOUSE PAGE 58 ELLEN BAUMLER has been the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society in Helena since 1992. She is an award-winning author, a popular lecturer, and a 2011 recipi- ent of the Montana Governor's Award for the Humanities. Researching and sharing Montana's haunted history is her favorite pastime. FOR THE LOVE OF... CASA PAGE 68 JOYCE FUNDA is the Executive Director of CASA of Mon- tana, Inc. located in Helena, Montana. Ms. Funda's unique combination of knowledge and experience is derived from her extensive background in CASA, her work as a certified family law mediator, and over 25 years of experience as a trial and appellate lawyer in another state in all aspects of family law with an empha- sis on child custody related matters. WEDDING DREAMS FULFILLED PAGE 70 SUZANNE MILLER, a native of Butte, owns Dunrovin Research, a full-service guest ranch and equestrian club offering unique backcountry adventures on Tennessee Walking Horses. The in- stallation of a web camera led SuzAnne to establish the world's first cyber ranch. www.DaysAtDunrovin.com. WILD WEST WORDS PAGE 72 Raised on a farm in northeastern Montana, CHRYSTI M. SMITH now wrangles words for her daily radio series, "Chrysti the Wordsmith." Produced at KGLT-FM in Bozeman, it can be heard on public radio stations throughout Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and worldwide on Armed Forces Radio. www.wordsmithradio.org OUR ALEXIS PIKE YOUR INNER WOLF

• Cover