Professional Services

The Ride of Rescue

Two Bear Air Rescue's chief pilot shares a behind-the-scenes look at the world-class aviation support of our region Article by Chelsea Agro | Photography by Porsche Jean Photography “It’s almost like you’re looking through binoculars and trying to drive a car,” says Chief Pilot of Two Bear Air Rescue James Heckman, as he references the risks and challenges of piloting a helicopter at night to complete a rescue. This particular flight was a call from Borah Peak, Idaho where a hiker was...

Life + Culture

Determination on a Dirt Trail

Diagnosis didn't stand a chance when it came to Jewel Basin Article and Photography by Julie Schnieders After moving to Montana, I didn’t expect to be diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. Always an outdoor enthusiast, I dreamed of hiking and skiing for the rest of my life. As I sat in the doctor’s office, I wondered “Would I be able to hike and ski again?” Grief filled my mind until a nurse came in. She told me I had two choices: give up or be even more active. I chose the latter.  ...

Life + Culture

Camaraderie in Community

Bigfork VFW Post 4042 has veterans and community at the heart of every effort Article by Susie Wall | Photography by Porsche Jean Photography Members of Bigfork VFW Post 4042 dedicate their lives to service of their country and to service in their community. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) is a nonprofit national service organization and one of the oldest veterans’ organizations in the country. Membership is made up of eligible veterans and military service members...

Local Services

A Brotherly Business

Roof Ops reunites three brothers and sets a new standard for roofs in our region Article by Sydney Ludden | Photography by Roof Ops Founded in 2022 by brothers David, Jeremiah, and Joshua Foote, Roof Ops has quickly built a reputation for exceptional work in breathtaking locations across the Flathead Valley. Based just behind the Glacier airport in Kalispell, the company has already completed more than 200 projects from Eureka to Lakeside, delivering roofs that are as practical as they are...

Life + Culture

The Cherry on Top

Going all organic was important and necessary for the Gleasons when it came to their cherry farm Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Porsche Jean Photography Whereas Montana winters can sometimes feel drawn out and drab, summer in Montana is a veritable Eden of natural abundance—think Dixon melons, wild huckleberries, and so much more. But nothing says “summertime” in Western Montana quite like Flathead cherries. And even though the bright season is behind us, we went behind the...

Food + Beverage

3, 2, 1, Rum!

Whitefish Crafted Spirits sets the bar high for craft beverages Article by Chelsea Agro | Photography by Porsche Jean Photography If you’ve ever been to a brewery, cidery, or distillery, you probably appreciate a craft beverage, but maybe you’ve never truly understood why until now, upon hearing Justin Meccia’s take on spirits and the community surrounding them. Justin is the owner, alongside his wife Zena, of Whitefish Crafted Spirits, even though their tasting room resides off Highway 2...

Life + Culture

Where Time Stands Still

Flathead Lake Lodge celebrates 80 years of being timeless Article by Chelsea Agro | Photography by Flathead Lake Lodge They say the only constant is change. While that's certainly true in regards to our treasure state as a whole, there are few places that time hasn’t quite touched. One being Flathead Lake Lodge. Guests are not of the one-and-done variety. They return, most often year after year, for the feeling the Lodge offers—the furniture in the Main Lodge dated to 1932, the log pool...

Food + Beverage

For the Foodie in Everyone

Herb & Omni offers a historic setting for herbivores and omnivores alike Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Porsche Jean Photography While Herb & Omni may be a new name in Whitefish, the building it’s housed within is anything but new. The two-story structure at 101 Central Avenue has gone through quite a few phases since its construction in 1905—saloon, bar, prohibition-era billiards hall—and in its current, beautifully restored incarnation houses Herb & Omni, the kind of remarkable...

Life + Culture

Home is Where the Horse Is

Kila resident Elisa Wilson gentles and trains wild mustangs at her home in the mountains Article by Chelsea Agro | Photography by Porsche Jean Photography “I’m a learning junkie,” says Elisa Wilson, local mustang trainer who resides on a 40-acre off-grid property in Kila. It sounds like a real positive until she and her husband found themselves in the empty-nester portion of life and Elisa decided to get into horses. “I’m doing horses,” she says, and quickly follows up with “My husband wasn’t...

Arts + Culture

Meet the Publisher Greig Fahnlander

Family Man and Mountain Life Article by Greig Fahnlander Family I met my wife Nicole 31 years ago while in college. We married in the fall of 1996, and we have two kids. Our first is Elise, born on Christmas Day in 2001, in college pursuing early education. Kent is our second and just graduated high school, pursuing a career in welding. I can't forget our dog Penny, an Australian Labradoodle, who's always in a good mood.   Outdoors Ever since I was a kid I always wanted to be in the...