Will Briggs

Eager to get an early start, a couple of hikers load up their car and get on the road, making their way to the trailhead as dawn arrives. They wind their way through forested switchbacks for a few miles, catching glimpses of the view out from the mountain as they go.

Two Central Montana towns will need to take different steps to fill their local government review commissions this fall.

Participants in last week’s North Central District Montana BLM’s Crooked Creek area conifer and fuels treatment tour wander away from the group to survey the land. According to rancher and Petroleum County Commissioner Craig Iverson, cooperating with the agency on prescribed burns has provided his cattle with 500 more acres of grassland.

Two distant hikers have lunch, and the Rimrock trail in Billings, to themselves on a smoky Sunday afternoon in July. With wildfire smoke having an impact on visitation to the state, tourism and recreation agencies are attempting to find ways to help visitors be flexible in their plans in Montana. Photo by Will Briggs

JC Crowley of Poplar, Mont. lassos a calf during the tie-down roping event at the 2024 Central Montana PRCA Rodeo. According to rodeo committee member Charley Simmons, entries for this year’s rodeo were up once again. Will Briggs Editor

Eager to get an early start, a couple of hikers load up their car and get on the road, making their way to the trailhead as dawn arrives.

Except, once they reach the pinnacle of the trail, they look out not to blue skies and landscapes that stretch for miles and miles, but into a grey haze.

Eager to get an early start, a couple of hikers load up their car and get on the road, making their way to the trailhead as dawn arrives. They wind their way through forested switchbacks for a few miles, catching glimpses of the view out from the mountain as they go.

Philip Page, a cowboy musician, songwriter, and storyteller, bases much of his music around the life and work of Charlie Russell. Photo courtesy of Philip Page

Lewistown celebrated its 35th Chokecherry Festival Saturday. Events throughout the day included the annual Chokecherry Run, culinary contest, entertainment by the Fergus County Courthouse, the Trails and Ales fundraiser, and the Snowy Mountain Challenge Rodeo.