Signing Off

Well this is it, the fat lady has sung (almost). With a couple more finals to go I am signing off for the year. Congratulations to all my friends who are packing up their belongings and graduating this Saturday, it’s been a heck of a run and a pleasure to share the memories here at MSU with you all. May your next adventures bring fortitude and excitement to your lives! One year from now I will be on that stage if everything goes to plan and I must say, it’s quite intimidating yet extremely exciting to think about. The future holds so much, and I know for one thing that my time spent here in Bozeman has been unforgettable. The friends, the mountains, the memories, and so many more intangibles I failed to list is what makes Montana State the great institution that it is. Thank you all so much for following me the last couple of years, I will leave you with a nice visual recap of my shenanigans this year. As for now, it’s back to the books. Kudos!

What a year to be a BOBCAT! I bleed blue and gold, do you??

Dead Week And Turkeys

The end of the semester is upon us, and so called “dead week” has begun. Dead week is a time for students to relax and begin studying for finals that take place next week. Some institutions have begun giving their students the entire week off to prep for exams, MSU professors and students on the other hand are still in full throttle mode. Students begin to fret, wide eyes get wider and red eyes become more blood shot due to the copious amounts of caffeine and lack of sleep. In the midst of projects, final assignments, quizzes, work, and studying for exams, dead week is here! Last week MSU students showed off their hard work at the annual research symposium in the Strand Union Building ballrooms. Students from an array of majors and departments were represented: cell biology and neuroscience, chemistry, biochemistry, photography, microbiology, physics, psychology, and math to name a few… Research is something special here at Montana State, no matter what direction a person chooses to take their education.

The Carnegie Foundation “has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education for the past four decades. Starting in 1970, the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed a classification of colleges and universities to support its program of research and policy analysis.” Basically, it is a prestigious ranking system in a variety of areas for institutions across the Nation. Out of 4,500 institutions, MSU lands in the top 108 for under graduate research, and in the top 53 for community involvement and engagement. But here is the kicker folks, just THREE universities in the entire NATION have both a top tier research ranking as well as the community involvement nod. Now that is impressive! Here a few pictures of my buddies presenting their findings.

Kevin Ferris making headway in the infectious disease world.

Jessie Ruzicka showing us what chemistry research is all about.

Die hard “golfers” from around town swarmed downtown this past Saturday for The 4th Annual Mini-Masters golf tournament in Bozeman. I grabbed myself a team member, a putter and a ball, and paid 20 dollars for a great cause and an even greater time. The proceeds went towards a local woman’s shelter. 11 businesses set up their own unique mini golf holes, and the goal was to go around to each business, play the hole with your partner, and record your scores. The low scoring pairing received a “green jacket” for their efforts. Food vendors were out and about, and bands were jamming all day and through the night to promote this charitable event. Here is one of the more intricate holes.

Yea, I aced it…

The foursome.

On a more extremely random note, today on the way home I had to stop dead in my tracks on my bike in order for a turkey to cross the road. Yes, a turkey, right in the middle of downtown. What has the world come to?!

Happy dead week!

Pond Skim Weekend

A beautiful sunset over Lone Peak!

https://www.youtube.com/user/bigskyresort?feature=watch

This past weekend at Big Sky Resort marked the end of a great season here in Montana. With Bridger Bowl closing last weekend, Big Sky and Moonlight followed suit in fun and unique fashion. Usually closing weekend is full of sunshine, shorts, and swimsuits, but this year mother nature had other plans. The temperature flirted with 30 degrees all weekend long, and snow fell as though it was still February. Needless to say, it wasn’t the ideal spring conditions riders dream about when April rolls around. But to no avail, the pond skim festivities went off without a hitch. Daring skiers and snowboarders mach down the hill with hopes of making it across the freezing cold pond, because if they don’t, it is DEFINITELY going to make for a soggy, cold, chilly afternoon! The youngest daredevil was six years of age, and I don’t think he had enough mass to garner the speed necessary to skim across the pond. On the other hand I am fairly certain he amassed the most cheers from the crowd that packed the hillside like sardines.

Spring time also marks the beginning of incredibly affordable season passes to Big Sky and Moonlight. Big Sky offers a season pass for college students at a cost of $599, and Moonlight has college passes on sale for $319! Moonlight also allows for students to pay in installments, half when you buy the pass now, and the other half in September when classes start up again. The deals are almost over, so act quick! Here are some of my pictures from the weekend, I didn’t get as many action shots towards the pond skim action as I would have liked to, but this is what I captured. Enjoy!

 

The three stooges.

 

Spanish Peaks lurking in the background.

Fantastic coverage for April!

Our view from the top, the pond can be seen a ways down.

Here is a spring recap at Big Sky, BSPN!

 

Spring Time Fun

Oh what a beautiful past couple of days it has been here in Bozeman, MT! Intramural softball is officially under way and I couldn’t be more excited. A group of men bearing the team name “Men of Grace” come together a couple times a week in hopes of a hard fought victory against a wily opponent. The B league is the perfect place for myself and others who hardly know how to swing a bat let alone catch a pop fly. O.K., the team deserves a bit more credit than that, but let’s just say that none of us are aspiring to be professional ball players… With finals approaching quickly, getting on the field twice a week helps melt the extra stress that latches on to every student in the latter part of the semester. Whether it is the crisp sound of a well hit ball under the setting sun, or the sting of a line drive entering a mit that leaves a lingering tingle in the palm of your hand, softball is a grand time! Students can also participate in the ultimate frisbee league if the diamond isn’t for them. Get outside and have some fun by participating in intramural activities, fun times and lasting memories is guaranteed!

Are those jean shorts? Why, yes they certainly are. I heard it gives a player extra speed around the bases, but it has not been scientifically proven in one of MSU’s highly acclaimed research labs… Yet!

Lucas Benz keeping his eye on the ball. What a backdrop!

(MSU photo by Kelly Gorham)

Rodeo in the state of Montana is as big as it gets anywhere in the country, and the MSU Rodeo Team is no exception. Since the beginning of the program shortly after WWII, MSU has wracked up eight national team titles, eight Big Sky Regional championships, and 33 individual national champions. I’m no statistician, but those numbers are pretty darn good. This years squad (men and women) is comprised of roughly 70% Montana natives. When a person grows up in small town Montana, rodeo is a way of life and a true showing of athleticism, toughness, perseverance, and drive. To these kids, lasting eight seconds on a bull is equivalent to tossing a game winning touchdown in football for the win. Recently the program has privately raised just over one MILLION dollars for the program which will go towards scholarships for future cowboys and cowgirls, and more importantly future Bobcats! MSU is the only institution in the nation whose rodeo program has raised a million dollars through private donations. I’d say the people of Montana are behind them, are you?!

I made it to one evening of this years event, and I was lucky enough to catch some barrel racing, break away roping, and bull riding. Here are some of my mediocre pictures from this years festivities.

The Brick Breeden Fieldhouse is transformed every spring from a basketball court to a full fledged rodeo playground.

A rider just out of the gate on his bull.

A cowboy trying not to get trampled after falling off of his bull.

Until next week! Cheers.

 

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has finally arrived, and it looks like it is here to say. I have been lucky enough to call Montana home for 21 years and this is one of the milder spring seasons I have experienced. No freak two foot snow storms over night, no golfing and skiing in the same day, no 30 degree temperature swings in a few hours, just lots of sunshine. Mountain bikes are hitting the trails around town; Bozemanites are scratching the itch that has been plaguing them all winter long just waiting patiently to start turning the rubber on their two-wheelers. Bridger Bowl is closing this weekend, and Big Sky Resort will follow suit on the weekend of the 14th. Pond skims and deck sitting will be my activity of choice at the hill this weekend! Easter has come and gone, and Bozeman is still spectacular. Here are a few things I have been up to lately…

Our house temporarily adopted a kitten named “Titan” that we later found out was owned by the sweetest elderly woman I have met. Being the kind hearted MSU students that we all have grown to be by attending this fine institution, we returned Titan to its rightful owner after some much needed play time. What better way to relieve stress than playing with a ferocious feline?

This is the brawl of the wild trophy hanging out in the Strand Union Building. The winner of the annul Cat-Griz football game gets to boast this beast of a trophy for the entire year. I must say, it’s much bigger in person than on TV!

A group of friends and I went to Full Circle Racing out in Belgrade, MT (8 miles from Bozeman) to race some go-karts and celebrate a birthday. The track offers a multitude of ominous winding turns where for ten minutes at a time a person can race like Jeff Gordon and compete against one another. It gets pretty heated out there on the track, because afterwards the winner is printed out on a piece of paper showing fastest lap time, who made the most laps, and how a person’s time compares to others throughout the day and even month. What a great affordable activity eh?

Bozeman was named one of the top ten best small towns in America by fodors.com (a prestigious travel site with many, many experts working behind the helm to provide the most accurate travel information on the world wide web). Bozeman is on the map people, and I couldn’t agree more with their decision! Here is a link to the article and a small synopsis of why Bozeman was included on the list.

http://www.fodors.com/news/best-small-towns-in-usa-6591.html

Also, check out this video about MSU. It is the same video the admissions office plays for visiting prospective students and is a great representation of our institution.

Easter weekend came and went in a flash. As of right now there is roughly four weeks of classes left and then finals week. It always goes by so fast, probably because time flies when you’re having fun! I’ve never heard that one before, I will coin that phrase as of right now… Anywho, I will wrap this post up with a few pictures. Here’s to another incredible week!

The best looking grandmothers west of the Mississippi!

Montana skies: feeling that “Rocky Mountain High” as John Denver used to say.

Also, the spring rodeo is about to commence. This annual event can’t be missed, especially if someone has never attended a rodeo before. The Brick Breeden Field House will be filled with dirt this week and cowboys and cowgirls from all across the western region will compete over the course of a few days. Don’t miss this event folks!

 

Spring Break Shenanigans

Spring break came and went in a blink of an eye. I love the break don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly nice to relax, reboot and prepare for the final six weeks of classes. But, it is also a tease. One week with little to no responsibilities or worries only comes around so often and with summer break peeking around the corner, getting the mind rolling again can be tough! Sunshine and warm temperatures in the 60′s (in Montana I consider that balmy for this time of year, apparently that is considered cold in other places…) means it almost time to bring out the bikes, shorts, t-shirts, and hammocks to celebrate.

But, before the break started I finished up an eight week program with the Eagle Mount Ski Program.Eagle Mount provides therapeutic recreation for all seasons through outdoor activities.  This was my second year with the ski program up at Bridger Bowl. This year I had the opportunity to control what is known as a “bi-ski” using tethers to manipulate speed and turning of the ski. Eagle Mount participants all have some type of “disability” that sometimes impairs their ability to ski on their own. With some participants, it is simply skiing with them one-on-one. In the case of a bi-ski, participants are usually without the use of their legs and sometimes arms as well. The participant will sit in the bucket strapped in ready to go. Next, a person on each side of the ski lifts it up onto the lift as well as off, and then the fun begins! Here is what a bi-ski looks like as well as someone tethering one.

 

I went to Bridger Bowl and tethered the bi-ski once a week on Tuesday afternoons for eight weeks, but some volunteers may ski a few times a week depending on availability. I can’t express how much fun skiing with these kids and adults is, the joy on their faces at the end of each run and at the end of the day makes it all worth it. For most of these wonderful individuals this is the only opportunity to go fast and get a huge adrenaline rush. For example, a young girl about my age was on vacation from Wisconsin with her family. She was involved in an auto accident a few years back and lost the use of her legs. This young lady had never went skiing before, and was quite nervous before the day started. On the lift I saw her flying down the mountain with the biggest smile on her face and laughter that could be heard from the town of Bozeman. It is truly a incredible experience that I will continue to take part of as long as I can! Eagle Mount also has volunteer programs during the summer and fall seasons as well: horse back riding, swimming, camping trips and so forth. Check it out!

While some of my friends were off in exotic places for break such as Vegas, Cabo, and Moab I decided to head to Missoula, MT and then my hometown Helena, MT for a few days before heading back to Bozeman. I put 750 miles on the ol’ girl (my car) and took in the beautiful scenery that our great state has to offer.

 

The Bridger Range in the background

On the road again

The Spanish Peaks lurking in the distance. Sometimes I have a hard time staying on the road gazing at these beauties. As John Steinbeck quotes from Travels with Charley “Montana has the kind of mountains I would create if mountains were put on my agenda” I could not agree with Mr. Steinbeck more!

On the way to Missoula

I think I was lost…

Views from Missoula to Helena off of McDonald Pass

My stud of a grandfather turned 75. He doesn’t look a day over 50 right?

Bridger the Yorkie, named after the Bridger Mountain Range

Yes folks it is MUSTACHE MARCH! Walk around campus and one can quickly pick up what month it is just in case it slips the mind.

Mykaylee and I saying bye bye to spring break!

So I didn’t go anywhere exotic and have a crazy time, but I saw some beautiful scenery and more importantly a lot of old friends. But for now it is back to real life. Registration for fall semester has already begun and I am nearing the end. By the end of next fall I will be all done with classes and begin student teaching the following spring. I must say it is pretty surreal, but the fruits of my labor are close to paying off! Cheers.

Rail Jam

Every March skiers and snowboarders alike from across the state and the Pacific Northwest travel to compete in the annual Chamberlin Productions Rail Jam. Big Sky resort has played host the last two years, but the rail jam has not always called Big Sky home. The annual event started back in 2007 when MSU student Tate Chamberlin started the production company as his senior thesis project, needless to say the event hasn’t looked back since. The streets of downtown Bozeman played host to the first ever rail jam where snow was brought from around town and the ice arena to cover the streets. Rails were brought down from Big Sky and a drop in ramp used to gain speed in order to slide the features by the skiers and snowboarders looked like an old rickety house with little foundation swaying back and forth. A few curious patrons would stroll by and watch these kids slide rails with their snow equipment, a little confused and not sure what to think of it all.

The event has gained momentum over the past five or so years to say the least. When the popularity of the event grew, so did the venue. From the streets of Bozeman, to the fairgrounds, to a large horse arena and now what seems to be the main stay at Big Sky. Skiers and snowboarders compete on Friday evening in the preliminary round, 15 lucky riders from each category are chosen to ride in the finals on Saturday evening. A rail jam is an interesting concept, let me try to shed some light on how it works… There are usually four or five “features” set up in a small area. Features are what the riders get judged on, in a rail jam most of the features are, you guessed it, rails! The riders spin on and off these pieces of steel and try to impress the judges as much as possible in one hours time. Bragging rights and $500 await for the winner. Criteria to consider when judging or spectating is the difficulty of the trick, consistency throughout the evening and style.

Popularity of the event has skyrocketed, leading to bigger musical talents playing for the people each night. For example, in years past the event has seen names such as RJD2, Atmosphere, Chiddy Bang, Bassnector, Skrillex and Schwayzee playing on the big stage both evenings. MSU’s marketing program advertises the event on campus and around town hanging Posters advertising the event which are designed by MSU graphic design students. This year the headliner was Shwayzee, you may be familiar with his breakout hit “Corona and Lime” which put him onto the mainstream. Other artists playing were Cris Webby, DJ BL3ND and Z-trip. Rail Jam will always be one of my favorite events put on in the Bozeman area, and with the popularity of the event growing each year, the event can only get bigger and better. Here’s to next year!

 

DJ BL3ND

Chris Webby

The man himself: Shwayzee

Going Green

It’s almost March folks, and that can only mean one thing: March Madness! I’m not talking about collegiate basketball’s national tournament and throwing my dismal bracket into the trash can year after year, but rather a madness for sustainability. MSU was chosen for the “Sustainable 16″ for the second annual Environmental March Madness Tournament. Out of 16 schools in the country being honored and recognized for their efforts towards sustainability, MSU should feel proud to be among some top schools with higher budgets like the University of Florida, Arizona State, Colorado State, UCSB, the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia. In order to advance into further rounds of this tournament, students and faculty alike are to send pictures, write essays and/or make a video explaining why THE Montana State is one of the best sustainable and environmentally friendly campuses in the country.
Help keep MT beautiful!

Recently MSU has garnered its own sustainability office with a full time director making progressive decisions with the students and faculty who are “green” minded. This office is no fad, in the past couple of years around campus recycling receptacles have increased exponentially, the coffee shops have switched to cardboard cups instead of Styrofoam during the “no-mo-styro” campaign and almost every drinking fountain has a water filling station which counts the number of plastic water bottles “saved.” Students in the club NECO (Network of Environmentally Conscious Organizations) are doing more and more everyday to increase awareness and to promote environmentally conscious decisions and activities around campus. Also, the program Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems offered at MSU has been named one of the top 10 college environmental programs in the entire country! Oh yea, and some schools by the name of Duke, Yale and Cornell are on the list too… The program offers four options which include sustainable food systems, sustainable livestock production, sustainable crop production and agroecology.

On a side note, Gov. Steve Bullock visited the MSU campus on Thursday to hang out with President Waded Cruzado and discuss some building renovations. If the legislature passes HB 14, Montana colleges would receive $100 million for improvements. MSU would receive $20 million from the state along with five million dollars from private donors to increase the pot. Not only would this bode well for Montana State, but for all of the other institutions around Montana as well. The money would be used to renovate Romney Gym which once provided the campus gym, a basketball court (where a national championship was won for the CATS) and a lap pool. 91 years later the building still sees heavy use, but mostly for clubs and research in the basement. The renovation would provide tutoring in various subjects, students would also be able to meet with a multitude of professors in order to succeed. Help pass this bill by calling your local legislator! Currently enrolled students and students of the future would deeply appreciate it.

Today I took a trip to Ted’s Montana Grill with my lovely parents. Ted’s specializes in Bison burgers, and I wasn’t about to shy away from this Montana style meal. Take a look at these to keep your stomach in touch with the delicious offerings downtown Bozeman has to offer!

 

 

 

SNOW FEVER

This week saw significant changes in the weather, Montana style. 40 degrees and sunny one day, and then 23 inches of snow at Bridger Bowl the next. Over the course of three days Bridger received around 41 inches for a storm total, and needless to say, people had the itch. You know, the itch to call in “sick” to work kind of excited. Now, being a responsible student as many of the MSU students are, I had to go to class and work on both Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday I finally had the opportunity to go up to the hill. After volunteering for the Eagle Mount Adaptive Skiing Program, I hustled onto the lift to sneak in some laps before heading back to campus that evening. Here is a couple of runs from that afternoon!

Also, here is the daily video from Tuesday, 1/29/2013. Maybe this will help visualize how much snow fell.

Yep, I had some snow on my face!

Now that’s what I call a tight squeeze.

Wired Magazine’s #1 Ski and Snowboard App, SNOCRU, brings its users this update on the Top 5 ski resorts with the most powder in the world. Yes folks, the WORLD. Follow this link to see a screenshot, you may be surprised at which local ski area was chosen as the number one place to ski this weekend!

http://unofficialnetworks.com/top-5-ski-resorts-skiing-snocru-116604/

This igloo was built by a group of freshman Honors students living in the QUADS. Creative minds here at MSU.

Every morning on my commute to school I pass this house with impressive metal working in the front yard. I’ve been wanting to snap some pictures of this person’s work for a while now, I finally hopped off of my bike on the way home one day and took these. Bozeman has plenty of local art represented in front of the public library and various businesses that hold art shows. Also, students who are in the art program represent their hard work on the second floor. The student art gallery is a great place to look at some incredible art. Especially because my art skills are equivalent to those of a five year old.

I was lucky enough to receive a free day ticket up to Big Sky this Saturday. Orientation Leaders, Advocats (campus tour guides), and ASMS (Associated Students of Montana State University) were given a ski ticket thanks to the gracious full time staff in the Admissions Office. It is only a myriad of ways these great people thank these organizations on campus for helping them out and working hard. Getting involved never felt so good!

The Yellowstone Club off in the distance from Lone Peak.

Spanish Peaks lurking in the background from the top of the tram.

A few Advocats and orientation leaders on top of the world.

Caroline’s first time on top of Lone Peak, needless to say, she was excited!

A fuzzy picture of Lone Peak, it really was a gorgeous day.

I have a couple of tests this week, and i couldn’t have thought of a better way to relax and have a great mindset heading into the week. Cheers!

Roughin’ It

Porcupine cabin is a majestic, quaint little cottage located roughly an hour from Bozeman at the base of the Crazy mountains. This cabin that lies off the beaten path is no five star hotel with perks such as continental breakfast, king size beds, big screen TV’s, and a stocked mini fridge, but rather a rustic cabin built for simplicity that would have made Henry David Thoreau proud. Take this quote from Thoreau from his book Walden: Or, Life in the Woods, and take it for what it’s worth.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”

The simplicity of the ol’ cabin built in 1915 took me by surprise. A wood stove for heat, hand crafted furniture, and bunk beds that would make any dorm room seem like luxury housing. Necessities took on a different definition for one fine evening, and I was perfectly OK with that. For 45 bucks a night, and a two and half mile trek off the county road, Porcupine cabin can only be accessed with a certain will that only few possess. Eight lucky people made the adventure to the Forest Service cabin, and here is what ensued!

These next few pictures were taken from the road on the way up to the cabin. Enjoy.

The Bridger range lurking in the background.

The road less traveled.

Lucas is excited.

\

Colin making the trek.

Lucas and Colin enjoying life and all of its offerings!

I went a little overboard with the sunset pictures, but what can I say, it was beautiful!

The oven, a.k.a. the fire!

Lumberjack Lucas, doing his thing.

The crew stopped in Wilsall, Montana on the way back and had some breakfast before rolling back to Bozeman. According to an older fellow in the cafe, the population is around 250, and I must say, he was spot on. Wikipedia states that Wilsall, Montana had a booming population of 235 at the 2,000 census. Way to go ol’ fellow! Here is a time lapse Lucas made of the evening, enjoy!