Reversing the Streamline stereotype

by Felicia Hamilton

Sitting in the break room chatting with the new kid, I off-handedly mention my ride to work that morning. I get the typical reaction:  eyebrows raise, mouth quirks, and an incredulous query. “Really?” he asks. “How does that go?” It’s as if I told him I rode my bike in sub-zero temperatures,  hitchhiked, or rode a skateboard through the snow. But no, I just rode Bozeman’s fare-free bus, the Streamline. 

Photo by Ben Stolin

During the summer after graduation, I depended on the Streamline to get to and from my jobs on a daily basis. I’d occasionally used the bus in college, but always had a notion that the bus is for other people, and driving myself is somehow better.  After I used the Streamline regularly for a while, however, I realized two things: 1) most of my preconceptions about the Streamline were wrong, and 2) when I was proven wrong, I grew as a person.

One of my biggest misconceptions was about the people. I’d heard stories about public transportation involving unsavory characters—a common perception. Yes, some of them make me want to step away and avoid eye contact; but the majority of my fellow riders are just like you and I. We’re normal people who ride for different reasons, such as environmental responsibility, having no access to a vehicle, or to save money.

The Streamline’s bright interior

Another myth about public transit is that waiting around at a bus stop wastes precious time. I learned, though, that this dependence on the bus schedule—and being subject to its inconsistencies—actually improved my time-management skills. Not only did I become conscious of how long I spent on my daily tasks (if I didn’t, I might miss my ride), I also discovered that there is time to stop and smell the flowers along the way. I learned that if the bus were five minutes late, I could use that time to read a book, strike up a conversation with the person next to me, get a head-start on some work, or just enjoy a moment to myself outside.  I actually stopped rushing around, and learned to move at a slower, more consistent, pace. As they say, slow and steady wins the race.

How much of a hurry are you in?

After these and other similar experiences, I quickly realized that my assumptions about the bus had been mostly wrong. I also now understood that with a few adjustments to my routine and lifestyle, the Streamline had become an invaluable resource. By the end of the summer, I’d saved thousands of dollars by avoiding car payments, maintenance, fuel, insurance, registration, and parking permits. I reduced my carbon footprint and took an active step to help preserve the place that I love for future generations.

With all of the routes available—including the late-night service and routes to Belgrade and Livingston—it’s possible to get just about anywhere by riding the Streamline. A few minor inconveniences are overshadowed by everything it does for its passengers and for the community. At the end of the day, using the Streamline just makes sense—so I will happily continue to endure the raised eyebrows and questions. Because the Streamline is for everyone, not just other people.

For information about routes and schedules visit the Streamline’s website.

Explaining Bozeman’s playground

by Phil Knight

Why go all the way to Glacier Park for high, rugged mountains when you can get into serious high country less than an hour from your door? Just south of Bozeman lies one of the world’s greatest multisport mountain playgrounds. In Hyalite Canyon and the surrounding peaks, you can pretty much do it all.

This has long been the go-to place for locals seeking their mountain fix. But Hyalite has matured from a place to shoot old televisions, cut firewood, and get your truck stuck to a sophisticated adventure Mecca. Motorized recreation has been scaled back in favor of human-powered pursuits and wildlife conservation. Thanks to effective winter road plowing, what used to be a mess of stuck rigs and frozen ruts is now a fairly easy drive.

You want wildlife, Hyalite’s got it—even wolves and grizzly bears are making a comeback here in the north end of the Gallatin Range. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep skitter across ridge tops, golden eagles ride the thermals, moose lurk in the deep woods, and coyotes cruise for stray poodles.

Though Hyalite is close enough to Bozeman for great day tripping, you can also pitch your tent or park your camper at Langhor, Hood Creek, or Chisholm campgrounds. Or, if you prefer a fully equipped cabin, reserve the Window Rock or Maxey cabins—both accessible by car in the summer or easy approach on showshoe or ski in the winter.

Brim-full early in the summer, the reservoir is a paradise for boaters seeking still water. Stand-up paddleboarders look like lost surfers, families putt along in overloaded outboards bristling with fishing poles and dogs, and couples enjoying evening picnics paddle by canoe or kayak. Hardy scuba divers train in the chilly depths of the snowmelt-fed water and boaters jump ship to take a cool swim—just watch the sunken stumps. There’s great fishing year-round, and in winter, ice fishers set up shop on the frozen tabletop. More remote lakes beckon from the backcountry, offering awesome lakeside camping and fishing.

Palisade Falls

While quality rock is limited in Hyalite, a few crags offer some fine routes for rock jocks. Despite its diminutive size, Practice Rock has variety and challenge enough for days of climbing, and Crocodile Rock offers quieter but more awkward crack climbs. Come winter, the climbing opportunities expand to one of the world’s great ice and mixed-route destinations. From humble WI2 flows like Greensleeves to multi-pitch rock and ice epics like Winter Dance, you can find a lifetime of ice in Hyalite.

Ice Climbing in Hyalite

Hyalite’s trail system is legendary and offers anything from an easy stroll to weeklong expeditions through the heart of a 500,000-acre roadless area. Throw in heaps of spectacular waterfalls, like Grotto, Palisade, and Horsetail, and it’s hard to find more classic hikes. Epic mountain biking also awaits, with favorite rides including History Rock trail into South Cottonwood Canyon, the East Fork trail to Emerald Lake, and the easier West Shore Trail along Hyalite Reservoir.

Skiing through Hyalite just keeps getting better

 Ski-trail grooming has expanded every winter lately, and now there are enough quality Nordic ski trails to keep you coming back every winter weekend. Call the posse and assemble some avalanche gear, and you can ski from a 10,000-foot peak almost any time of year. I’ve skied Blackmore in late June and snowboarded it by full moon in December.

 Grab some buddies and go for a late summer evening paddle. Load the bikes and grind up some steep switchbacks. Sharpen the tools and swing for all you’re worth on a giant popsicle. Clean the gun and don the camo and creep deep into the woods to fill the freezer with a year’s supply of elk. No matter what you’re after, you can probably find it in Hyalite.

Four decades of Shakespeare in the Parks

by Felicia Hamilton

The smell of green grass drifts to my nose as I place our blanket on the ground, still moist from recent rainfall. Families and friends chat and laugh and the rustle of the breeze in the trees make for a relaxing background to our picnic. As we eat, I wave to friends and acquaintances who share our excitement for the upcoming show. As showtime draws closer, everybody glances to the stage more frequently. Finally, an actor strides to the center of the stage to begin the performance. The bustle of the audience dissipates as he extends his arms in greeting and readies himself to introduce one of the most famous plays of all time, Romeo and Juliet. I nudge my friend in excitement–I’ve been waiting for this play all week.

The play begins

This is Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (MSIP), one of the state’s most anticipated summer events. The premier each season is in Bozeman and spreads to other towns across the state. This year the company has lived up to the expectations of passionate performances and audience engagement with their productions of As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet.

An uproarious comedy, As You Like It will have you laughing the entire time. You’ll hear familiar phrases like, “All the world’s a stage,” in their original context. Everybody knows the story of Romeo and Juliet and has seen some adaptation of it, but this is the original, complete with audience interaction. Don’t be surprised if a character suddenly delivers lines behind or directly to you.

Shakespeare in the Parks performs in Montana and the neighboring states of Idaho, North Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. The purpose of this MSU outreach program is to make “quality, live theatrical productions of Shakespeare and other classics accessible to communities… with an emphasis on underserved, rural areas who would not otherwise have this opportunity.”  In other words, MSIP offers country folk the privilege of quality live theater. The performances are professionally produced by a small permanent staff supplemented by seasonal employees of the College of Arts & Architecture.

The program has seen immense growth over its 42 years. Founded in 1973 by Dr. Bruce Jacobsen, Shakespeare in the Parks has performed over 2,250 times and was awarded the Montana Governor’s Award for the Arts—the highest honor for an arts organization in the state. The troupe has also been featured in the New York Times and on an NBC Nightly News special feature. Another interesting number: $700,000. That is the current annual budget for the program, nearly 50 times larger than the first annual budget, and donations are always accepted.

Shakespeare’s plays may be old, but they’re still accessible for today’s audience

But the parks are not the only place these thespians perform. The program Shakespeare in the Schools and Montana Shakes offer productions of Shakespeare plays with workshops in schools. These events introduce and increase appreciation for Shakespeare’s works in a way that is understandable and engaging to children. Shakespeare in the Schools tends to focus on engaging middle and high-school students while Montana Shakes focuses on appealing to elementary-school children.

I have always preferred Shakespeare’s comedies, and As You Like It typifies how true comedy can transcend time and place. MSIP set this year’s play in turn-of-the-century Butte; it’s the story of young love, confused identities, and family relations – with a generous helping of the Bard’s signature puns, jokes, and innuendos. The performers fully embrace their characters and in the process imbue them with life. The day that I went to see As You Like It was a perfect day as the threat of rain did not come to fruition. But be aware, this is outdoor theater and the weather will affect your experience.

As You Like It is set in 1917 Butte.

This became very clear during my endeavor to see the second production, Romeo and Juliet . We did get to see a portion of the play—up to the famous balcony scene (“Wherefore art thou, Romeo…”). But the roiling mass of unfriendliness that were the clouds overhead, lived up to their threats and the rain came down. There were many who had every intention of sticking it out and seeing the entire play from beneath umbrellas or tarps, but swordfight scenes are dangerous on wet stages so the performance was cancelled early. Those willing to stick it out – myself included – would have stayed despite the rain, because Shakespeare in the Parks is worth it. These performances make the old language accessible to today’s audiences through meticulous  reflection of the director and actors on the meaning of every line. The classic stories become not only tangible; they become engaging because of their universality and are not to be missed.

The Capulets and Montagues just don’t get along

This year’s productions of As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet are scheduled to be in Bozeman again during the Sweet Pea Festival on August 1 and 3. To see the group’s entire tour schedule, check out shakespeareintheparks.org/schedule. php.