When I moved to West Yellowstone two years ago I had a vague notion of who Kelli & Melissa were and what Freeheel & Wheel was all about. I was unsure of what I wanted out of life, but knew I was searching for… something… and BAM! through coincidence and mutual friends I decided to move to a town of 800 permanent residents in rural Montana town with a radius of 3 miles and to try and find some bearings. 

If you've ever spent any time in West Yellowstone, MT I know you can relate to it's mysterious ways of tugging on your heart strings. If you've had the pleasure of getting to know Kelli, Melissa, and the rest of The Girls (and boys) at Freeheel, I know you can relate to falling head over heels in love with the infectious passion for life that radiates from their beings.

I'll be hard pressed to forget the smell of brewing coffee blending curiously with the smells wafting from the wax iron at the beginning of the day; refilling the shop with the delicious and dependable smells of caffeine and preparation for adventure. I can almost hear the reggae mixing in the background- the phone ringing… it's either a tourist from another land calling to plan a ski lesson or wondering if they can schedule a time to see an elk, a bison, wolf, or bear… enough to make me giggle but answer sincerely. Or it's a friend calling to plan their seasonal vacation hoping for some quality skiing time with one of The Girls, or a family member calling to check in, say hello & I love you… & is it snowing!

Freeheel taught me that despite the to-do lists or the personal chaos in life, there's always time to socialize about the specific or vague ideas of life with EVERY passing local or stranger. The best stories and connections come from the instances that require the most patience- I think that applies across the board in life.  

Freeheel isn't normal. In fact, it was often thought that movie makers might make millions filming a reality TV show based on the lives that are Freeheel and the lives that walk in the door of Freeheel…! It's what makes planning the next visit before I've been gone a month so easy! I'll miss the simple things the most. Like the toddlers running through the racks of clothes playing hide and seek, trying on the "pretties", or fixing bikes and skis with the "heavy tools" in the back of the shop with Kelli and Melissa . I'll miss the cynical sarcasm of certain coffee bar frequenters, the locals with their static orders, the tourists with their dynamic personalities, and the essence of Kelli, Melissa, The Girls, their boys, my boys, & the adventures 2 minutes from the door!

Because I'm no longer submerged, Freeheel has become a state of mind. I intend to live with the same intensity and passion for life that Freeheel stands for… and hope you do, too!

I escaped unharmed and mostly dry, then started baking pumpkin cookies. The sky began crackling with bright flashes of lightening and cackling a witch's spooky laugh. Lots of cute costumes on those Freeheel kiddos!

Even as a tough native born Montanan I have to remind myself it's okay to go outside when you can see your breath. I LOVE Montana. And I moved to West Yellowstone because of the winter. 

Winter starts creeping at the end of September when the night turns the flowers crispy but are not frozen to their deaths, and when you can see you breath on your way to work in October but wear flip flops anyway. 

Winter is why you need a great selection of jackets. The long Patagonia Lydia for walking to the potluck in sideways wind and indecipherable precipitation. A Patagonia Nano pull over under a Rain Shadow Jacket for the hike through Yellowstone in less than desirable weather that actually turns out being one of the best trips the fall. The Northwall for back country ski trips, an Ultra Light Down Sweater for the everyday walks and rides to work, the Horny Toad Improv for the shop before admitting it is actually cold enough out side to turn the heat on... winter is why Smartwool makes cute socks every length imaginable- to peak through your Dansko Mary Janes, or knee highs to add hint of pattern just above the boot. Scarves are my favorite autumn-to-winter piece because there are so many wonderful colors and patterns that can be worn with t-shirts AND jackets!

So BUNDLE UP! There's no excuse. It's gorgeous out, and there is a layer made for any kind of weather.

FREEHEEL WILL BE CLOSED THIS FRIDAY FOR ~ A WEEK. WE'RE GETTING NEW FLOORS & NEW PAINT!

FOLLOW OUR PROGRESS HERE & ON FACEBOOK! 

WE'LL BE HAVING AN OPENING PARTY, TOO... SO KEEP IN TOUCH! 

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE, AND SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. 

My dad sent me a great poem a few years ago about the beauty in the death of the autumn season. I'm trying to find it again & you might be lucky enough for a poem post if I do. 

I drove the long way home from my last adventure on the Smith River & the end of the route took me through the Centennial Valley on the Red Rock Lakes Road. If you haven't been through either by bike along the CDT trail (accessible off hwy 87 near Raynolds Pass), or by some other mode of transport... (can you fly!?) I HIGHLY recommend it. 

The vibrant changing colors of autumn are part of the many reasons I am absolutely head over heels in love with Montana. The plant life are making their last efforts in utilizing the sunshine before it falls farther towards the horizon, holding on through near freezing nights. Mornings and evenings are crisp and dark, elk are bugling, birds are still chirping- but later in the mornings, flowers are cold and droopy in the morning but perky in the afternoon... it's wonderful. 

Jo & I started our ride up to the k-nob this morning in full fingered gloves and jackets, peeling away our layers as soon as the sun touched our bodies. We made the haul to the k-nob and were greeted with a fresh fall perspective on the West Yellowstone Valley:

Naturally, the dogs were thirsy so Jo watered them:

Fall riding is awesome. & a camelbak will help you & your friends stay hydrated, and prepared with sizes for quick runs through the woods or all day treks through the forests. Call (406) 646-7744 or stop by to find the perfect style for your next great adventure!

The roads are clearing up into the Park & the scenery is vibrant in color & life. It's worth the trip & we'll love your re-cap. Come down, come on in, & get out & play!

PS. The roate button isn't working. I'm working on fixing that. Sorry for the head tilting inconvenience!

PSS. Today at the shop I learned:

See you later alligator, after awhile crocodile, not so soon you big baboon... has the following lines if you're privy: okeedokee artichokee, take care teddy bear, chop chop lolli-pop, & here's the rest... 

Once upon a time, before I had any idea my life would bring me to reside in West Yellowstone, my dad (The Montana Guru) and I (and probably dogs & a little brother, too?) were driving through the Madison River Valley. I imagine we were headed home to Helena, Montana, from a grand adventure whose memory is now tucked away in the catalogue of "really cool stuff I did before I could remember or thought it was as cool as I do now".

highest point of the sphinx

I asked my dad the names of the mountains to the east; The Sphinx & The Helmet, both up the Bear Creek drainage in the Madison Range. And of course, along with the nomenclature of our surroundings I received a monologue of his own history in the area. My dad knows and has done everything. The knows names of the peaks & has climbed them all, the names of mountain ranges and has been in them all, the common names of the wild flowers, trees, shrubs, plants, grasses, and their scientific names, too... & probably the personal history of each animal in the area to boot.

As far as I'm concerned, my dad has been in all the wildest places of Montana and knows them all with an admirable intimacy. There's a secret in that intimacy I'll always be searching for and that mystery will always be tugging at my heart strings.

Speaking of searching and Sphinxing... I hiked to the summit the magnificent Sphinx a few days ago and can't wait to show my dad my photos and recount my tale. Starting early from West, Shaggy and his affable lab-shepard mut joined me on my grand adventure. We arrived at the trailhead around 9a and hiked up the north east side trail which was lush enough to have me wishing I'd worn some sweet knee high socks or the more practical long pant instead of my sweet hiking skirt from The Freeheel (*plug). The trail cleared up as we gained elevation and it became more apparent that Shag & his too cute mut were owning my sorry ass on the trail... every once in a while I was lucky enough to get a smile & wave from a few switch backs up- I was glad to have some bear bait out in front :)

Who would have thought that we'd meet a gaggle of West Yellowstone ladies in the saddle!? It was great to see some local faces & of all places on the top of a gigantic mountain!

the helmet

The last haul up the Sphinx was a bit of a scramble, full of gorgeous vistas and alpine flowers. The last several hundred yards deserved a lot of photo taking stops... not just because my legs were burning and my lungs felt like exploding trying to keep pace with Shaggy & mut but because the beauty needed to be documented. We took the less traveled southern most route to the highest point, had lunch, dreamed about super powers and added to our lists of things to do be for the summer's over. With the Hilgards, Skyline Ridge, the Gallatin Valley, Absarokas, Buck Ridge, Lone Peak, the Spanish Peaks and so much more in our view our lists of things to do and places to go grew so long the days are booked solid for our lifetimes...

After soaking up as much sun where the atmosphere is the thinnest (just over 10,000ft I think) we turned around and descended on the faint scree trail we opted out of on the ascent. The Indian Paint brush was as red as I've seen anywhere this summer and the gorgeous purple Lupine (lupine, not lilac :) was everywhere. A grouse nearly gave me a heart attack but I'd take a surprise grouse over a surprise grizzly ANY day. Our hike down was on the more traveled south west (i think) trail and one of the highlights of the day was the rinse off in the cold cold creek and celebratory Crooked Smile Imperial Pale Ale. A grand note to cap the day.  

Don't forget to go play!

There's a lot to update ya'll on, but I'll begin with a very special photo. The girls & I grabbed a few drinks at The Madison Crossing (whoa- time for a drink!?). Nurse Ratched treated herself to a pedicure a few days ago- she's been running like a gazelle this summer (dropped 10 minutes off her 1/2 marathon!) and TOTALLY deserves pretty feet!

My flops came from the Outdoor Retailer show (and the polish, well... I found it buried on the shelf) I was lucky enough to attend over the past few days with my lovely bosses from Freeheel. It was my first time at the OR show, and I'm sure I was nothing less than a full on gaper (there are guide for that?!) walking around with my jaw dragging on the floor in awe!

The scene was awesome, and wonderfully overwhelming. I met some amazing people and saw a lot of what goes into the sweet industry of the outdoors. It was great to see the Spring 2012 lines, great product, great colors, but most of all: great people. The Representatives of the companies we carry in Freeheel are passionate about developing strong and honest relationships with their buyers (us). To be able to work within your passion for the outdoors is a big perk of the working world! 

The week prior I had the lovely opportunity to spend the week on the Oregon coast with my girlfriends from high school & their signigicant others. We stopped at Camp 18 (very cool old logging facility) on Hwy 26 towards the coast out of Portland where the cinnamon rolls were the size of a pie! We climbed Saddle Mountain, camped out together (I made a killer smore: dark chocolate melted inside the marshmallow in-between a ginger Newman-O... D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S!). We spent the next day hanging out on Cannon Beach (& maybe had a Bloody Mary breakfast drink...) playing ultimate, building sand castles & yes, I did swim! (the cold blooded from West Yellowstone are the only ones who can handle the cold temps :). We drank delicious beer from The Hub, Hopworks Brewery (very swanky, very cool), ate delicious food, and had a spectacular time together! There's something about being able to hangout for a week with your best girlfriends... it may be the best use of time in the world! 

 i'm on the left, tess is on the right

the board i started on was a very stable 11'6" long, the other more race oriented board was 12'6", fast, & very fun!

What I'm drinking: double espresso with soy foam- macchiato style... NOT to be confused with the doubled hyped sugar carmel vanilla LATTE thing that Starbucks refers to as the macchiato. 

What I'm eating: a spoonful of peanut butter with Ghirrardelli chocolate syrup on top... mmm!

Robin, Markie, Brandy, & I parked along hwy 87 & headed west up Raynolds Pass toward the Continental Divide Trail bumping in & out of MT & ID through some pretty fine country. The Tetons were hazy in the back ground to the southeast of our vista at the top of our first climb, then mules Ear flowers, sticky geranium, the white q-tip (coined by Robin) looking flower whose name I can't remember, and phlox littered the meadows along the CDT with lovely colors and perfume. Riding toward the Centennials at the south eastern most edge of the valley the view of Sawtelle Peak, Mt Jefferson, and MT Baldy were incredibly spectacular!

Just before dropping down Red Rock Pass, a vast view to the west included the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Lakeview, the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest & the southernmost edge of the Bitterroot Mountains, the Beaverhead Mountains, and the Lima Reservoir near Monida, MT. Hell Roaring Creek was flowing like mad (& did you know that if you were to trace the headwaters of the Missouri... and therefore the headwaters of the Mississippi, Hell Roaring in the Centennials is it!?), bugs were few, and the temperature hovered around a perfect 70! A fantasitc ride with fantastic friends! 

For the past few years I spend a few weeks on the Smith River (put in near White Sulphur Springs, MT- take out near Ulm & Great Falls, MT) working as a cook for a fly fishing outfitting company based out of Helena, MT called PRO Outfitters. We take groups of 8 on 4night, 5day all inclusive amazingly wonderful fly fishing trips.

High & muddy waters of this epic run off and rainy season make for some unbelievably difficult fishing, and unfortunately for all... trip cancellations. Our first 4 trips were canceled this year but FINALLY, the river dropped to a fishable level and I was lucky enough to spend last week freighting gear and cooking for a lovely group of clients with my lovely river co-working cohorts.

Floating &/or fishing the Smith River is a trip I'd reccommend to everyone. The river runs between the canyon created by the Big Belt and the Little Belt Mountains, and spills out into the praire farmlands of northwestern Montana. The cliff walls are decorated with historical native american indian pictographs, and jut above and around the river in bright rusty red and orange colored rock. Within the cliffs, crystal caves can be seen from the boat, and in all directions hiking is absolutely spectacular. Evening primrose flowers hide in the shade of the cliff walls, rose bushes snuggle in where the cliff meets the ground, and indian paint brush, shooting starts, and arrowleaf balsam root (just to name a few) decorate the meadows between. Peregrine falcons, golden and bald eagles, geese & their goslings, water ouzles, chickadees, and western tanagers sprinkle the sound scape, perch on the river rocks, and sail against the cliff faces as though playing were the day's only duty. 

As lovely as being on the Smith is... there's something magical about coming home. The dogs greet me like I've been gone for centuries, the shop is bustling with news and tales from wild adventures, I feel rejuvenated and alive, sun kissed, and spunky, and I've been handed a much needed fresh perspective on the wonderful subtleties of life. 

She weighed 8 pnds and measured 20 3/4 inches. She has 10 fingers and 10 toes and mom is doing great as well.