Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 10 STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDING PAGE 18 MAGGIE SLEPIAN is a full-time editor and writer living in Bozeman, Montana. When she's not in front of a computer, she's probably outside backpacking, climbing, shooting archery, wrecking her dirt bike, or attempting to skate ski. Writing and editorial projects can be found at maggieslepian.com. MONTANA'S BIRDING HOTSPOTS PAGE 22 SUSIE WALL is a freelance writer living in Missoula. Her writing and photography has appeared in many local and national publications. Endless curiosity has led her to write about a variety of topics from farming to travel to scat identification but her favorite subjects are centered on Montana. MONTANA MOUNTAIN RUNNING PAGE 26 Raised in Switzerland, DAVID SUMMERFIELD took mountain- eering courses at the National Outdoor Leadership School in Wyomng. Living in Bozeman since 1993, he worked as the race director of the Bridger Ridge Run. He's written numerous articles for the Winddrinker. See more at www.passagesandpathways.com. BACKPACKING INTO RETIREMENT PAGE 31 DOUG STEVENS is a freelance writer, photographer and college educator living near Polson. He has been an avid wilderness backpacker for nearly 50 years and also enjoys fly-fishing, bowhunting, and snowshoeing with his wife, Tania. Access his blog at graytrekker.wordpress.com. DOMINANCE DISPLAYS PAGE 34 CAROL POLICH is a well published freelance nature photographer/ writer who offers photography classes through Adult Com- munity Education during the school year. She also gives travel lectures and offers photo workshops. www.wildnaturetrails.com THE GOING TO THE SUN CLASSIC CAR RALLY PAGE 40 ASHLEY ARCEL is a writer living and working in her home- town of Whitefish, Montana. She is the founder of Proline Creative and a graduate of Montana State University – Bozeman. TOUGH TRIP THROUGH PARADISE PAGE 43 DIANE SMITH, PHD, has published four books, including the novels Letters from Yellowstone and Pictures from an Expedi- tion and, most recently a western/environmental history: Yel- lowstone and the Smithsonian: Centers of Wildlife Conservation. She recently completed an appointment as a fire research historian for the Forest Service, and has a biography of Andrew Garcia in the works. MONTANA'S FILM BUSINESS PAGE 50 JOSEPH SHELTON lives in Bozeman, Montana, where he received his Masters in English Literature. He loves film, hiking, reading, exploring, and above all, writing. WILD WEST WORDS PAGE 54 CHRYSTI M. SMITH was raised on a farm in northeastern Montana and 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 through- out Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and worldwide on Armed Forces Radio. www.wordsmithradio.org WHEN FIRE COMES CALLING PAGE 56 SUZANNE MILLER, a native of Butte, owns Dunrovin Ranch, a full-service guest ranch and equestrian club offering unique backcountry adventures on Tennessee Walking Horses. e installation of a web camera led SuzAnne to enable cyber viewing. www.DaysAtDunrovin.com. MONTANA'S TRIBAL CULTURE PAGE 66 GLENDA WALLACE is a freelance writer who lives near Missoula, Montana and has long admired Native American cultures. THE GEM OF MONTANA PAGE 71 AARON PARRETT is professor of English at the University of Providence in Great Falls and has published many books and articles on subjects ranging from the moon landings to letterpress printing. Hi latest book is a collection of short fiction called Maple & Lead. He lives in Helena with his wife and daughter. His work may be seen at territorialpress.com. CHARGED WITH PURPOSE PAGE 80 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 adventures and misadventures from his home in Bozeman. PASSIVE COOLING DESIGN PAGE 96 MARK PELLETIER AND EMILY VARMECKY are co-owners of Greenovision Home Design in Bozeman. At Greenovision, we design energy-efficient, passive solar custom homes that bring Montana's natural beauty and energy into your living spaces. For more information visit www.greenovision.com. 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 Yellowstone'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 the names of housing subdivisions, likes to cook, can wiggle his ears, and hates writing bios. OUR ALEXIS PIKE

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