Yak Trax

Around here if you're not willing to brave the cold and get outside in the winter ... you'll most likely find yourself out of shape pretty quick (I have), unless you love going to the gym (I don't). For those times you can't strap on the snowshoes or head to the hill to ski/ride, Yak Trax are a great way to conquer the icy streets of Montana winters. There are two versions, Yak Trax Pro ($24.95) and Yak Trax Walkers ($17.95), we highly recommend the Pro models for higher levels of activity. They're pretty simple devices, you just strap them over your shoes for added traction. We've found Yak Trax to be very popular with winter runners, and those that just like to head up the local trails with the dog. There's Yak tracks all over Pete's Hill. We like things that help people get outside and breathe the good air, and these help out a bit.

The Tree Question

Lately I've been having an internal struggle. Not one that keeps me up at night, but something that has me thinking. If one choses to have a tree for their holiday celebration... what is the most responsible way to go about it? Abstinence is obviously an option, but we're starting with the premise that one has chosen to have a tree. So, I reckon there are 3 ways to go:

1. Buy a plastic tree and re-use it every year

2. Buy a tree from a commercial tree farm

3. Harvest your own

Here are my thoughts. The main elements involved in my thinking on the subject are environmental impact, aesthetics, and cost.


1. Buy a plastic tree and re-use it every year

Most plastic trees I've seen around Bozeman are cheap looking and cost $65 - $100. I didn't want to pay that much for a cruddy looking tree, especially when I don't have much room to store one. I definitely could find a spot in the garage if I really liked a plastic tree. I had one growing up, and it served it's purpose well.

2. Buy a tree from a commercial tree farm

I can't figure out whether it's responsible to support the local tree growers. I'd rather support them, but some of the "local" trees I looked at came from as far away as Kalispell. That's sorta weird, in my opinion. For a 7 ft. tree I was looking at anywhere from $25 - $70, depending on which type of tree. Not a bad price, I suppose, but since I've never owned a tree before, I need a stand as well... $20. They look good, but is that a healthy, sustainable practice those companies are employing? I honestly don't know the answer to that question.


3. Harvest your own

In Gallatin County, for $5.00 you can purchase a Personal Use Christmas Tree Permit from the Beareau of Land Management to go cut down a tree under 12 ft. on National Forest Land. They give you a map of where to do it, and some guidelines such as... stay at least 100 ft. from roads, don't harvest at campgrounds national monuments, cut as close to the ground as possible, etc.

After initially reprimanding my friends who wanted to harvest their own tree.. "Why on earth would you go cut down a live tree?!" I started to see the upside.

One thing I know is that in this situation I have control over how the tree is harvested. I have no idea what happens at tree farms. Plus, I could find a tree that appealed to my sensibilities, get some exercise, and only spend $25 (stand included). Zeus liked the idea, so we headed up to Hyalite to find one. After an hour or so of trying to find the perfect tree, I feel we did. After an anti-climactic 24 seconds of sawing, it was a done deal. I felt good about it. I don't know why, particularly, but probably just one of those inate caveman male pride things. "Uhgha...look what me did!".


More romantically speaking, it reminded me of Thoreau... "Every man looks at his woodpile with a kind of affection." Truer words have never been spoken.

Essentially, I'm wondering what other people think about this issue. Maybe nobody does think about this issue... and I should start spending my time knitting or whittling. One thing to be clear about, although that in my thirtieth year on earth I'm becoming more and more in tune with the condition of our environment and my personal impact to it, I'm by no means a "hard core" environmentalist. You can tell that from the photo of my gas guzzling truck above. But I feel that I'm like many of my peers... trying to make some positive changes as I go along.

Here's one interesting alternative I just found... rent a live tree, root ball and all!

Bus to Big Sky

In a county pretty much void of public transportation, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Big Sky Transportation Service is now offering year-round bus service between Bozeman and Big Sky. This is a very good thing for our area. First of all, Highway 189 has to be one of the most treacherous highways around. It's a two lane winding mountain highway, complete with anxious skiing and riding afficianados, construction workers late to their great paying jobs in the Yellowstone Club, tourists on the way to Yellowstone National Park, and commercial trucks making their way down through West Yellowstone to Idaho and Wyoming. Throw in nasty Montana winter weather and it's a recipe for disaster.

If this bus can get 25-50 cars off of that highway each day this winter, Highway 191 will be a safer, cleaner place. It could be a great way to meet people, or just sneak a nap, read the paper, and have a bagel and coffee on the way up to the hill. Best of all, you can toss on a buzz apres ski and ride down worry free. That sounds decent to me.

The bus to Big Sky will run every day, leaving the SUB at MSU at 5 am, 7:45 am, 9:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. It's free until December 15, then the fee will be $5 per one way trip. Monthly passes will also be available for $60 for unlimited rides.

Either way you slice it, the more public transportation we start to see around here, the better. $10 round trip makes sense for sleeping to the top, riding all day, having a few drinks, then relaxing on a safe ride home. Kudos to the Big Sky Transportation District for their efforts.