Alright folks, it’s time to dig yourselves out of your winter hibernation, put on your sandals and get outside. That’s right: It’s springtime.
Despite winter being what I would call lackluster at best, and boring at worst, your Kaimin alternative sports guy is ready to get out in the warm weather. Whether you’re a seasoned Montanan with a love for the outdoors or a transplant who’s shivering their timbers at the thought of getting out with all those seasoned outdoors nuts, look no further.
I talked with a couple of folks who enjoy what I would consider classic University of Montana recreational activities, just to see what all the rage is about. They all seemed really cool and friendly and most of them didn’t bite!
Whitewater kayaking
Whenever I want to elevate my mother or girlfriend’s heart rates, I just tell them I’m going to take up whitewater kayaking. Seeing a a Subaru with a small plastic hull haphazardly strapped to the roof is a common sight in the warmer months in Missoula.
With ample access to the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot rivers, any kind of floating is quite easy. But the greater Missoula area also has some fantastic opportunities for more adrenaline-boosting trips.
Maggie Hauder, a senior studying forestry, was well acquainted with whitewater rafting before she got to college. She grew up rafting with her family and has worked for a rafting company out of Stanley, Idaho, for a couple summers.
Hauder first started whitewater kayaking two years ago and has gotten more and more into it ever since. While she doesn’t necessarily feel like a master of the art of hitting river rapids in small plastic shells, she still enjoys it. One of the benefits, in her opinion, is the community.
“Everyone is always excited to get people out onto the water, especially where I’m coming from,” Hauder said.
Interacting with the community is also a great way for people to get started. Hauder said people are often willing to lend out gear to newbies they know, just so they can experience the thrill of throwing yourself into thousands of gallons of rushing water.
For people not totally sure about buying gear, Hauder also recommended Love Boat Paddle Company for inexpensive rentals and shuttles in town.
Finding spots is often daunting, and for newbies, Hauder mentioned the Alberton Gorge west of town, with Class II and Class III rapids depending on flows.
And a quick safety tip: Make sure to thoroughly do research on what you plan on floating before you do. Wear a lifejacket, and please don’t bring any glass on the river. Have some respect.
Climbing
Okay, first off, please don’t think just because you read this you’re ready to be the next Alex Honnold. Free soloing is no joke.
However, outdoor climbing in Missoula is a fun way to get outside. While this might not be the crags of Moab, Missoula still has some great rock formations nearby to get your adrenaline flowing and your forearms sore.
Most people start sensibly with indoor climbing. That’s how Trey Schreder got his start. Schreder, 21, a management information systems major from Billings, started climbing at the University of Montana Recreation Center last year with a few friends, and his enjoyment grew from there.
The UM gym offers gear rentals and classes for relatively inexpensive sums, and a more controlled environment than any outdoor venue. Shoe and harness rentals go for $10, and hours are fairly flexible.
Real rock, however, is more daunting. For Schreder, one of the toughest parts of going from indoor to outdoor climbing is one’s own mental fortitude.
“I think the biggest barrier is being able to trust yourself,” Schreder said. “Going outside and having that aspect of falling, it really freaked me out.”
But Schreder has since pushed himself and is planning more and more trips for this spring and summer.
For many, finding a spot is definitely also challenging. Schreder recommended the Alberton Gorge for easy beginner routes, as well as Rattler Gulch.
And for those looking for gear, he got his first pair of shoes at Trailhead on resale. Missoula’s plethora of outdoor gear stores makes new and old gear pretty common. Just make sure your second-hand harness isn’t gonna rip in half on your first fall.
And, as with any of these, be safe. No one’s saying you have to be a pro climber, but know and practice your knots, be smart and don’t drink and climb.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking: the only sport on the list I haven’t tried, and the one I’m certainly most terrified of (that bike crash as a kid really scared me okay). Mountain biking is sort of a big deal in Missoula. I once heard it described as a “mecca” for the sport. While I don’t know if that’s PC, it seems pretty true to me.
It’s hard to walk through campus without finding a rugged looking straight handlebar bike haphazardly chained to a bike rack. Right off campus are plenty of trail options, according to Hattie Ransom.
Ransom has been on two wheels since she was about 6. Born in Utah, Ransom specifically looked for ease of access to bike trails when searching for colleges.
Now, she enjoys a wide array of trails right off campus.
“I think in terms of finding good trails that aren’t too intimidating, Missoula’s a good place,” Ransom said. Some of her beginner-friendly spots include the Rattlesnake and Pattee Canyon.
While access is prime for biking in Missoula, Ransom also acknowledged that the sport can be expensive.
“Bikes can be really expensive, but I also do think Missoula has some great infrastructure to help with that barrier,” Ransom said.
Ransom said the “Facebook Marketplace scene” was very active in regards to mountain bikes, and Free Cycles allows students to customize their two-wheeled chariots to their needs on a college budget.
Lastly, a word to the wise. Don’t steal someone else’s bike. That’s a real dick move, and I really don’t want to see any more bike thefts in the police blotter.
Fly Fishing
Alright, I’ll admit it, I’m a fly fisherman. But don’t worry, I swear on my little boy scout badge that I’m being impartial here.
Fly fishing brings a lot of people to Missoula. It sure got Kevin Dau, 22, from Sparta, New Jersey, here.
Dau had been fishing with a spin casting rod for most of his life, but wanted a bit more of a challenge. “The second I picked up a fly rod, I couldn’t put it down,” Dau said.
Now studying wildlife biology at UM, he gets the ease of river access and beautiful views of western Montana rather than driving for hours to a spot in New Jersey.
Dau is fond of the ease of river access in the Missoula area. Montana has very strong stream access laws, allowing for anyone to float, wade or be in any “navigable waterway” up to the high water mark, regardless of if it runs through private property.
But access isn’t necessarily the hardest part.
“There’s kind of this belief that fly fishing is this really hard top-tier activity to do and you need years of experience to get those magazine-cover fish,” Dau said.
But he thinks you really just need to know the basics of how to cast in order to have a good time. While it can be discouraging to not totally know how to fish, Dau said finding someone to go with to give you pointers is the biggest thing new folks need.
He suggested Rock Creek, just over 30 minutes away, for people’s first time fishing. Dau remembers his first time being filled with bent rods and lots of splashing of caught fish. But personally I’ve seen plenty of folks right out underneath the bridge next to campus catching, so try that, too.
And remember, buy your fishing license folks. The only thing that would be worse than more bike thefts is someone getting arrested for fishing without a license. How embarrassing. Really, you need a conservation license to recreate on any state land, which also includes floating the rivers. All you need is the last four digits of your social security and $8 or $10 for nonresidents. Most sporting goods stores sell them, but you can also buy one through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Parks website.
I know there’s a couple big ones I missed on this list, but everyone in this town backpacks and hikes, so those don’t get a full review.
And if you’re really stumped on what to do this spring and summer, do what every other Missoulian does. Get a tube, float the Clark Fork and drink your afternoon away.
