Well, you’ve made it through another year of school. Through long nights of homework, endless lectures, and all of the crap that comes with seeking a higher education. Luckily for you, MSU is nestled smack-dab in the middle of one of the most diverse areas loaded with recreational opportunities.

This is, indeed, unique. You are a part of a dwindling demographic of people who have the ability, and the privilege to walk out the front door, and be in the mountains in 15 minutes. In the words of John Muir, “thousands of nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity.” This is highly applicable to students, especially in this digital age. When we become inundated with homework, with obligations, and with the resulting stress, the mountains are our sanctuary, and if they aren’t to you, then they should be. An afternoon climb up Gallatin Tower is the catharsis required to get you through a project. A paddle in your hands, and House Rock down the river mimics the grueling exams you took this week, but the payoff is immediate, and the reward is tangible.

Such is life around here. Whether you intended to or not, you’ve found yourself seeking a balance between school and the outdoors, striving always to get away from the hustle and bustle of campus in favor of a strong current, a new trail, or a favorite route. What’s more, you’ve made friends along the way. Friends who have come here seeking a similar dichotomy between school and the great outdoors, and through mutual adventurism have formed a unique bond. Because no matter how gnarly the route, how stunning the view, or how exhilarating these things can be, they are infinitely better in sharing them.   And now, it’s time to go. The semester ends today, and thousands of your peers will begin to stream out of Bozeman; some headed home, some headed for adventures across the world, and some… stay right here in Bozeman because against all odds, they have found a home in the rivers and streams, the stands of Douglas Fir, and the craggy snow capped monoliths that surround it. The only question is, what will you do?

The MSU Pocket Guide wishes you an excellent summer regardless of what you do. Wherever you are, be sure to get out and explore the world around you. We will be making some changes over the summer to the guide, potentially going so far as to change the name, so keep your eyes peeled. Be sure to check in over the summer on our Facebook page and website to see how things are going, and we look forward to seeing you in the fall.

by Connor Erickson

MSU’s Fly Fishing Club gives some tips for the spring season. 

Spring in Montana: the season where snow rears its ugly head every few days until June, and a time when the thought of getting out on the river tops all else. Spring fishing can be one of the most magical seasons ‘round these parts, and if you haven’t, you should probably get started. Here are some tips and tricks from the MSU Fly Fishing Club to get you going.

First, a few common terms to know:

Nymphing: Using subsurface imitations under a bobber.

Streamers: Patterns that imitate small fish or crayfish.

Redds: Areas of clean gravel where fish do the nasty.

Swing: In reference to the fly where it is cast across a current and allowed to catch the current and “swing” out.

Strip: Taking line in by hand.

Dead Drift: To ensure that flies are fished at the same speed as the. current.

Tungsten Putty: a malleable putty used to add weight to line.

Split Shot: Small fishing weights.

Next, lets talk about why you should stop making excuses and get out on the local water. The fish have had a long winter, and food has been scarce. As we get warmer days, the water temperature in the rivers will rise, triggering the emergence of insects as well as Rainbow spawn. Why is this important? Because, fish get more active and become easier to catch on the fly. It doesn’t take much. A good reason to start fishing is it provides a welcome break from the monotony of school, and gives you a great chance to enjoy the outdoors. Spring is a great time to fish as most people are still skiing or daydreaming about the prospect of coming here in the summer. If you want that honey hole all to yourself, now’s the time.

A different kind of spring rainbow

Now that you’re imagining open water and hungry fish, lets talk about what gear you’ll need. We’ll assume that you’ve got a fly rod setup and waders but if you don’t, head to Bozeman Family Fly and talk to Matt (the owner) who can hook you up with everything you need to get started. There is even a student discount.

Fishing Paradise Valley

For flies, it’s time of the year when it’s less daunting to get the selection right instead of looking at a box and wondering if trout even notice the difference. Pat’s Rubberlegs in black or olive fished 4-5’ below an indicator (also known as nymphing) with a midge trailer can be deadly. If that doesn’t work, try switching the midge out for the trusty ol’ San Juan Worm. Pro tip: if you’re not occasionally catching the bottom, you’re not deep enough. Don’t be afraid to add some tungsten putty or split shot. Wind too fierce? Take a Wooley Bugger and swing it across a fast current into slower water and slowly strip  it in. To keep your hands warm, use nitrile gloves as they’ll keep water out, and don’t be afraid to layer up as it’ll extend your day on the water.

A good ol’ brownie

Don’t know where to start looking? We love to fish the mouth of Gallatin Canyon if we only have an afternoon to fish. Look for slower currents and drop offs. For a place a little further out, the upper Madison can yield great results at any fishing access above the West Fork. Please watch out for redds and do NOT fish or tread on them.

Montana State Fly Fishing Club is on Facebook. Come to one of our meetings where we can outfit you and take you out on the water!

by John Ward

MSU’s new kayaking club brings a film festival to Bozeman. 

The Whitewater Kayak Club at MSU, with help from the Wave Train Kayak Team and the Gallatin Whitewater Festival, is bringing the Paddling Film Festival to the Rialto in downtown Bozeman.

This spring is the Whitewater Kayak Club’s first semester; it serves as a resource for students to participate in the whitewater community, whether they’re just joining the sport or are experienced and are looking for a good group to get out with.  So far, they’ve been attending roll sessions and have their first trip coming up at the beginning of April, where they’ll join the University of Montana Kayak Club on the Lochsa River in Idaho. Hosting the Paddling Film Fest in Bozeman is their way to make a splash, get involved in the community, and raise money for future whitewater trips.

The festival is an international adventure film tour which showcases the best paddlesports films of the year. From whitewater to paddleboarding to kayak fishing, the Paddling Film Festival has it all. It starts with submissions from filmmakers across the globe. This year there were over 190 submissions, and the Festival shows the best of the best.

Here’s a look at some of the films this year:

Doors open at 6pm on the evening of April 25th, and the show kicks off at 7. Tickets can be found online, and are also available at the Barn and Joe’s Parkway.

If you’re interested in joining the club, or just want to stay up to date, join their Facebook group: Whitewater Kayak Club at MSU. Or shoot an email over to [email protected].

by Taylor Burlage

A new brand of mountain racing in southwest Montana

Engineering students with an adrenaline addiction, your time has come. The 2^nd Annual Creek to Peak Soap Box Derby, a competition in which teams build their own soapbox cars and shoot them down a steep hill riddled with obstacles, is just around the corner.

Creek to Peak, an outerwear company from Bozeman, started the derby last year after some beer-induced brainstorming by founder Frank Gazella Jr. in an effort to not only promote their brand, but to create a truly Montana competition. “Ultimately, we wanted an excuse to have some fun,” says Frank, “and after doing it once, I can tell you it’s an adrenaline rush. This is the only event in the country that does this. It’s super unique and it’s a great team-building event. It’s not just a competition but it’s also kind of a party in the outdoors.”

“The race itself was an absolute blast,” says Shayne Forsythe, driver for last year’s winning team, the Cake Eaters. “Each cart was totally different so it was a lot of fun to talk about everyone’s design choices.”

Shayne graduated from MSU with a BS and an MS in civil engineering, and that is what really piqued his interest in the derby— and ultimately won his team the race. “This is exactly the type of fun engineering students (and others, of course) can have when given the right motivation. Our build process started with some very lofty ideas that slowly morphed into a more achievable design that we put to the test the day of the race, and we had a ton of fun doing it.”

Creek to Peak hopes to eventually turn the derby in to a team-building event for students, and is currently looking for more support on campus. “There are loads of incentives to enter the race, especially for college kids,” says Frank.  “You’ll get the most comfy t-shirt you’ll ever wear, a stainless steal bottle opener, and 500 bucks for the first-place team. Not only this, but once you have a car built, you can enter any race as the years go by, building a legacy in the Soapbox Derby community.”

Frank is hoping to get 15 to 20 teams in the race this year. The more people who enter, the more prize money Creek to Peak can give away. They are also partnering with local outdoor-oriented companies such as Outside Bozeman  that will be donating other gifts and prizes for racers.

The basic rules are this: you need to be at least 14 years old, have a maximum of five people per team, and two people per car on race-day. The registration deadline is March 1, so hop to it.

“That’s pretty much it,” says Frank.  “Get out of the rut of doing the same thing, do something different, come enjoy some scenery and be able to say ‘yeah, one time I bombed down a hill in a tiny little car I made myself.’”

Full rules and regulations for the Derby can be found on the Creek to Peak website. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to keep up on the countdown to race day, and have some fun at this daredevil-meets-engineering-nerd contest.

by Noah Bosworth, head route-setter, MSU Climbing Wall

 Climbers work together to create a bigger, better wall. 

Some of you may have heard that the MSU climbing wall is undergoing an expansion. Well, the rumors are true.

The MSU climbing wall will indeed be fully renovated.

The current space will be redesigned and expanded with improved walls, upgraded flooring, and new holds, creating a modernized version of a space that already plays an important roll on campus.

Here’s a bit of history. The original MSU climbing wall took shape over a decade ago in a dark corner of Romney Gym. It wasn’t long before a growing population of student climbers required more space, so they pushed for expansion.

By the fall of 2008, MSU architecture students designed and constructed a climbing wall in a repurposed racquetball court in the Marga Hosaeus Fitness Center. This larger, more accessible location provided new services, such as instructional courses and events.

Anticipating future growth, students and faculty advisors recently continued the expansion effort. For years, the passion to improve the  current climbing wall passed from one class of climbers to the next. There were meetings and student polls, small victories and defeats, and more than a few ASMSU sessions interrupted by swarms of climbers. This persistence culminated in a student body referendum in the spring of 2017, which included an updated expansion plan. The referendum saw the highest-ever voter-turnout rate, and students voted overwhelmingly to approve the construction of a new 2,000-square-foot climbing wall.

The planning and design process for the new wall has been guided first and foremost by a desire to maintain the spirit of the current space, which is a central pillar for the MSU climbing community, as well as a place where students can expand their personal potential. The new wall will incorporate user education as a key functional component, allowing the expansion of instructional courses, the introduction of for-credit classes, and the development of hands-on safety-education resources.

Meanwhile, the larger size and updated terrain of the new facility will create a diverse and relaxed environment for students of all abilities and skill levels to build a community while staying active.

New construction focuses on joining the current space with the racquetball court next door. By expanding into the neighboring racquetball court, the design team was able to include a variety of low-angle and slab features, while integrating steeper terrain and  top-roping stations.  The addition of a designated training area creates a more functional climbing wall, one that can meet the needs of novices and experts alike.

The new and improved wall is expected to open by fall 2018. Keep an eye out for new classes and educational opportunities, or just come by with your friends to check out the new wall. Construction will take several months, meaning the current wall will be closing some time this spring.

Until then, the wall is fully operational and the annual Prince and Princess of Plastic event will be held February 24 as a celebration of the little racquetball court where so many friendships and memories have been made.

For more info, visit our Facebook page.

by Augie Schield - President, MSU Wild

Students fighting for public lands. 

Over the past few semesters, MSU students have been hard at work advocating for conservation. Not only did we rally for public lands in Helena last January, but we also held on-campus discussions to educate students on local conservation and environmental issues, hosted state senator JP Pomnichowski for a discussion on public-land transfer, and testified in front of legislative committees. Additionally, we attended forest-planning meetings, screened a documentary about the threats to the Badger-Two Medicine, and spent countless hours registering our peers to vote.

The MSU Wilderness Association (MSU Wild) is a perfect representation of this next generation of conservation advocates. MSU Wild members act as youth ambassadors for the statewide conservation nonprofit, the Montana Wilderness Association. We take action by communicating with and inspiring our peers to get outside and be active advocates for wild places.

Many freshmen take their first steps in Montana’s  wilderness areas on club-organized hikes.  By facilitating these experiences, we can solidify the values of quiet recreation and conservation. These wild places become essential parts of both the physical and mental health of many in our communities, and students are no different. Wilderness areas provide clear water and clean air to the Gallatin Valley, some of the most pristine wildlife habitat in the lower 48, and are a big part of Montana’s booming outdoor-recreation economy.

MSU  Wild groups have ventured into the Bob Marshall and Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness areas, headed south to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument for spring break, and spent countless hours exploring our incredible back yard, the Gallatin, Bridger, Crazy, and Madison ranges.

Photo by Taylor Burlage

In the coming months, MSU Wild has many opportunities for students to get involved in both public-lands advocacy and outdoor adventure. These events include a winter survival skills course, a civic engagement and advocacy training, a GPS educational field day, and loads of other fun activities like group hikes, film festivals, and potlucks.  We aim to create a community of students focused on having fun in Montana’s wildlands while making sure we can pass that outdoor way of life on to future generations of Montana State students. The club is open to any student, regardless of experience. All it takes is the desire to protect that which makes Montana so unique.

Photo by Fay Bohmer

Stay up-to-date with MSU Wild club events by joining our Facebook group MSU Wild (Wilderness Association) and following @msuwild on Instagram.  We can also be reached by email at [email protected].   Keep it Wild!