Learn to Kayak

Learn to kayak with the folks at The Barn. This class will get you ready to hit the water when the snow melts. This introductory-level class teaches you everything you'll need to know to get started:  kayaking safety, paddle technique, gear selection, rolling and more. We provide almost everything you'll need. There are a limited number of spots, so please call us if you're interested or if you would like more information.

Danielle will be leading the class again this year and she can be reached at 585-2090 or at ddesmond@northerlightstrading.com.

"The more you know when you start this course the further we'll take you, and the less you know, the fewer bad habits you'll have to break -- which means your learning curve will be faster. Either way there's no-one too advanced for lessons because we teach strokes and rescues from a practical point of view, and the class size is kept small so we can challenge each student to their individual level.
Build confidence and self-reliance by learning the boat handling and safety skills needed to deal with the weather, waves, currents, and capsizes that are part of kayaking. This kayak lesson is no superficial introductory class --on-the-water instruction including learning to roll, bracing, edging, steering, turning and even forward strokes."

You Belong Outside Spotlight: Local Swimming Holes

Emerald Lake (c) Kevin Dean 2011

August in Bozeman can be HOT! While Bozeman is known for its whitewater there are a few good areas where the water slows down and offers you somewhere to escape the heat. Here are some of the options for getting outside and cooling off around Southwest Montana.  This is just a few of the options, if you have others you want to add comment below!

Paddling at Bozeman Beach

Bozeman Beach

 Bozeman beach is the in-town area to cool down, located north of town off of 7th bring out your water wings and splash around.  Also a nice place to try out some paddle sports, people commonly head there to work on their kayak rolls or try stand up paddle boarding.  Not a bad spot to hang out on the beach or play some volleyball either.

Cameron Bridge on the Gallatin

There are several swimming holes on the Gallatin but Cameron bridge is easy to get to and doesn't see as much traffic as Axtell Bridge.  To get there head north from 4 Corners on Jackrabbit and turn left on Cameron Bridge Road.  Park at the fishing access upstream of the bridge and the swimming hole is easy to find.

Lava Lake

 

Lava Lake

 Lava lake is a short hike to a nice alpine lake.  About a three mile hike from the 35 mph bridge in Gallatin Canyon takes you to this high alpine lake with nice views and a rocky coastline.  The water can be a little cold but it is well worth it on a hot day.

 

 

 Green Bridge/Deer Creek Access

The Green Bridge that crosses the Gallatin at the Deer Creek trail head is a great spot to go and cool off.  A popular place for bridge jumping and quick swims.  The current makes it hard to sit and relax but a nice place to hang out none the less.

Ouesel Falls

 Ouesel Falls near Big Sky offers some great river  pools to cool off during the heat of the summer.  A short hike in with several different pools for swimming or just wading in and relaxing. The falls are about a mile down the trail and just below the falls is the largest pool.  Well worth the short hike but this water can be a little cooler than other areas on here.

Calm water of Ennis Lake

Ennis Lake

Ennis lake is a popular spot for fisherman and boaters alike but there are some great areas to jump in and take a swim. The north side of the lake has some deeper water for about a half mile up from the dam which offers a nice spot to jump in.

Madison River

The Madison river in August is best known for floating, The water is too shallow for swimming and too warm for fishing so grab a tube and head out that way.  While a large area around the river burned in a large wildfire earlier this year it is back open and while the water is pretty warm this time of year it is still a great option for an afternoon cool down.  The most common float is from Warm Springs to Blacks Ford and takes about 4.5-5 hours but shorter options are available. 

Hyalite Reservoir

Hyalite Reservoir just south of Bozeman is one of the most popular stretches of water for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and fly fishing. On a nice hot day grab a stand-up paddle board and head into Hyalite for some still water paddle boarding under the spectacular mountains of Hyalite.

Fairy Lake

Fairy Lake may be more of a pond than an actual lake it is home to a nice little rope swing.  Swing in and cool off under the summits of the North Bridgers. 

This is just a quick list of some of the great places near Bozeman to go cool off.  It is nowhere near a comprehensive list, with dozens of alpine lakes, rivers, ponds, and creeks around there are many more areas for you to explore.  For more info on local outdoor areas check out the Our Backyard section of our website.  Your comments and critiques are welcome as we spotlight areas of Southwest Montana we know and love.  Email Kevin with any thoughts, corrections, or suggestions.

Last Post: Skiing the Blaze

New Route Book

Calling all Southwest Montana climbers!

Have you put up any new routes lately?  Add them to the new route book located in the climbing gear section of Northern Lights.

 

One of the current entries.

New routes are going up every year and we would like to see the climbing community come together and showcase their collective hard work! Bear Canyon, Natural Bridge, Wolverine Basin, Gallatin Canyon, Frog Rock, and Morgan Cemetery are just a few of the places that have seen new routes put up.  If you put in the sweat, time, and money; stop in and write a short description, draw a picture, and describe whatever else you think is appropriate for people to know about your route.  

A new multi-pitch route on Frog Rock

A Continuum of the old Barrel Ice Book- "Dedicated to the Climbers past, present, and future and the spirit shared by all those who love the hills-to share your love for climbing is a gift-write down your events"  -Alex Lowe

Morgan Cemetery

In addition if you want to try some new routes, come in and check out the book.  New beta is being added all the time and this gives you a chance to explore new climbs and different crags. Hope to see you soon!
If you would like to contribute an entry but won't be able to stop by the shop feel free to send an email with your entry and we will get it into the book!

You Belong Outside Spotlight: Bear Canyon Sandstone Sport Climbing

Brit T climbing after work at Bear Canyon.

Bear Canyon is a great place to introduce someone to outdoor climbing.  It's close to town, has a short approach, shorter routes, and ranges from 5.8 to 5.13.  The routes are well documented in both guidebooks for the Bozeman area and this description is meant to be an introduction to the area. Due to the short approach Bear Canyon is popular with the after work crowd.  The moderate climbs on the north side of the crag get enough sunlight to climb till sunset so its a good idea to bring a headlamp for the walk out.

Getting There: From Bozeman there are two ways to get there depending on which part of town you live in.  From the south of town head East on Kagy Blvd. Bear Canyon Road is about 4 miles from the intersection with Highland Blvd.
From the North of town it may be easier to take I-90 to the Bear Canyon exit.  Take a right exiting the off-ramp and Bear Canyon road is less than 200 yards east of the exit. 
Turn onto Bear Canyon Road and continue to the Bear Canyon trailhead which is at the very end of the road.  There is very limited parking near the Bear Canyon trailhead so park at the New World Gulch trailhead and walk up the road to the Bear Canyon Trail. 

Bear Canyon Sandstone

The Approach:  It is one of the quickest approaches near Bozeman, head a short ways up the Bear Canyon trailhead, there is a collection of small boulders on the right side with a Cairn marking the climbers trail.  From here you should see an obvious trail with a large log crossing the stream.  If you don't see the log you probably have not gone far enough but if you reach the bridge you have gone too far.  From the bridge it is about 100 yards back up the trail to get to the climbers trail.

Once you are at the Crag there are three ways that you can head, to the left are some terrific moderate routes, straight ahead are two more excellent moderates, and around to the right are where the harder routes are set up.  

Batman and Robin from the trail.

Batman and Robin Slab: Batman and Robin are two classic routes in Bear Canyon located right next to each other on the large rock straight up the trail.  Both of these are slab climbs with lots of nice pockets. Start on Batman (the left one) and once you are warmed up give Robin a try.

Both of these routes can be top roped if you walk around to the right but the best practice would be to have someone climb it on lead and set up the top rope since there is risk of rockfall and some tricky exposure to get to the top of these routes from around the back.

Jeff Lee climbing Skin Diver.

Under the Sea Wall: The other moderate section is down the hill slightly and to the north.  There are 5 climbs and from right to left go 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.9, 5.10.  These climbs have more cracks and flakes than Batman and Robin, are slightly longer and offer a little different climbing feel. They are an option if another party is climbing on the Batman and Robin slab.

Skin Diver is the first climb on the right and a good place to start.  At 5.8 it is the easiest of the 5 climbs but it is a fun one, the flakes give up some great side pulls and under cling moves and the bolts are close together for those who are new to leading.

South Sea is just to the left and another neat climb with a tricky transition in the middle.  Good foot holds make this a fun but very approachable 5.9. 

Further up are the last 3 moderates, from right to left Under the Sea 10b, Sea Bucket 5.9, and Coral Crimper 10a.  Each of these have something a little different and are fun routes.  Under the Sea has a small roof that is a little tricky but well protected, Sea Bucket is difficult for the first 3-4 bolts, and Coral Crimper has a tricky slab traverse mid way through the route.

The right side of the prow.

The Prow:  If you are looking for something a little more challenging there are some 11s and 12s on the other side of the Batman and Robin slab.  Kick the Bucket and Ignition are two of the best. Check out Southwest Montana Rock Climbs for more information on these routes.

In addition to the Sandstone there are some Limestone crags higher up the canyon that don't see as much use.  For more information on those climbs check out Bozeman Rock Climbs by Bill Dockins.  Climbing is a dangerous activity and having the right equipment and a partner are necessary for a safe outing.  Spire Climbing Center is a great place to start and there are also guided climbs available through Montana Alpine Guides.Your comments and critiques are welcome as we show off areas of Southwest Montana we know and love. Email Kevin with any thoughts, corrections, or suggestions.

Last Post: Gallatin River Kayaking

NBC Montana Talks to Mike Garcia

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Sporting goods stores say spring weather is bringing in customers.
"As soon as we get some nice days and some good weather, which obviously we've had a lot of that coming into this spring, but its the spring thing we call it and people are looking to do anything and everything: rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, spring skiing, hiking, mountain biking," said owner of Northern Lights Trading Company, Mike Garcia.And while the retailers say this winter's weather brought weak sales, they're predicting warmer weather will set up a busy summer.
"No, you can't make up for a bad season, it just doesn't work because we only have x number of people here and that's why we live here. We don't have two million people down the road to sell to. But we all get the great reward of recreating here in this wonderful valley and this incredible area that we live in," said Garcia.
 
Read the Full Text Here

Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival in Bozeman

Thursday, February 9th at 8pm at The Emerson
Montana Backcountry Alliance, along with Winter Wildlands Alliance and Northern Lights Trading Company present their annual Backcountry Film Festival.  An amazing list of specially selected films will dazzle your eyes and fill your ears with mountain inspiration. This festival promotes the work of grassroots filmmakers who tell compelling and entertaining stories of backcountry, non-motorized recreation and environmental preservation. 

To see a list of this year’s films go to: http://www.backcountryfilmfestival.com/bcff/index.php

Tickets:  $8 at the door
This includes 1 raffle ticket...additional raffle tix will be available for purchase.  Win some amazing gear from locally-owned companies that support human-powered recreation, like Northern Lights!

Northern Lights Donates $1,000 to American Prairie Foundation

Northern Lights is pleased to announce a grant in the amount of $1,000 to American Prairie Foundation for the month of February, 2012. Since 2001, American Prairie Foundation has been assembling habitat to build American Prairie Reserve in Montana, which currently spans more than 123,000 acres of public and private land. The Reserve will eventually be the largest wildlife reserve in the lower forty-eight states, consisting of about 500,000 private acres that glue together roughly three million acres of existing public land. American Prairie Foundation will continue to own and manage its private lands while working collaboratively with the various entities that oversee public land management and natural resources in the region: the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Montana Department of State Lands, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Conservation biologists have determined that a mixed-grass prairie would need to be approximately 5,000 square miles (roughly 3.2 million acres) in order to be a fully functioning ecosystem. A landscape of this size would be able to support the full complement of native prairie biodiversity, including seasonal migrations, and provide room to endure episodic localized natural phenomena like fire, disease and winter ice events. The Reserve is already a living laboratory for numerous long-term science studies that will help shape its management and habitat restoration efforts, including plains bison reintroduction. In 2012, there will be more than 200 bison roaming American Prairie Reserve.

Courtesy: American Prairie Foundation

In addition to acquiring habitat for the Reserve and wildlife restoration, American Prairie Foundation is dedicated to public access and educational outreach. Open to the public for a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, horseback riding and hunting, APF is actively working to make the prairie a place that inspires and welcomes all types of visitors. This is a huge undertaking. But with support from individuals and organizations like Northern Lights, the dream of a protected American Prairie can become a reality, one piece at a time. With this donation, Northern Lights is helping to construct a trail system that will allow people to explore the Reserve by foot or by bike. For more information or to make a donation, please click here.

Big Sky Weekly Press

Northern Lights Community Fund featured in Big Sky Weekly

Check out this great article on how Northern Lights is donating $1,000 to non-profits every month!

Skiing Near Hyalite Peak

Check out our ski near Hyalite Peak this weekend! Shot with a GoPro 2 HD.

Hyalite Canyon Drive

Thanks to many different groups, including Northern Lights, BSF, Friends of Hyalite, Gallatin County and the USFS, Hyalite is more accessible than ever. The plowing seems to be going great and we look forward to many more years of safe access to Hyalite in the winter!

This is a tribute video to the plowing effort. If anyone hasn't been up the canyon and wonders what the roads are like, check this video out. 4WD is recommended, but we've seen front wheel drive vehicles make it all the way to Grotto Falls Trailhead. No matter your vehicle capabilities, check your speed and make sure to watch out for wildlife and sleds!

The North Face Speaker Series VIP Reception

Support Eagle Mount and meet Mark Synnott at our VIP Reception!  $20 gets you food and drinks before the show and a reserved seat so you'll be up front and center for the show.  Log on to The North Face for tickets.  Proceeds from the VIP reception will go to Eagle Mount Bozeman.  Eagle Mount provides recreational opportunities for people with disabilities at their facilities in Bozeman.  This is a great organization and worthy of your support.  Come out for a great night with Northern Lights and The North Face at the Speaker Series featuring "Life on the Vertical" with Mark Synnott.  Listen to Mark's tales of climbing around the globe in some of the most remote and beautiful landscapes.

Reel Rock Film Tour Bozeman

 Presented by Northern Lights

Saturday, September 24th @ 7pm
The Emerson Center for the Arts
Tickets at Northern Lights Trading Co.
$10 in advance or $12 at the door
Cash or check only!
Doors open at 6:30pm

Back for it's fifth year in Bozeman, the Reel Rock Film Tour 2011 is going to rock The Emerson Saturday, September 24th at 7pm. Sender Films and Big UP Productions are bringing the Bozeman audience a mind-blowing, palm-sweating pump-fest of climbing flicks for the 6th annual REEL ROCK Film Tour. We've gathered the wildest climbing stories from around the globe: The legendary race for The Nose speed record; A nine year old bouldering prodigy; Tommy Caldwell's efforts on the hardest big wall free climb; A crazed high-lining champion; The most insane ice climbing action ever and more. It's all part of the cinematic tour de force that is REEL ROCK VI.

This is THE climbing film event of the year. All your friends will be there. Don't miss it!

Devil's Backbone 50 & 25 Miler

Just got back from the Devil's Backbone race this weekend in the Gallatin Mountains. It was a gorgeous weekend with absolutely perfect weather. Warm at the trailhead and nice and cool up top.

Congrats to all the racers who endured this punishing race and thanks to race directors Tom and Liz for all the hard work pulling this year's race together! This is truly a grassroots event of monumental proportions (50 miles to be exact).

Northern Lights is proud to be a sponsor of this and other great events in Bozeman. Racers: if you were (un)lucky enough for me to capture you on film, please click over to our flikr page

and see a sampling of the photos I got from the race. If you would like a full-resolution photo, please email me at matt@northernlightstrading.com