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.