THURSDAY lonepeaklookout.com May 31, 2018 FREE Volume 1, Issue 26 BigBig Sky, Sky, LONELONE PEAKPEAK LOOKOUTLOOKOUT MontanaMontana When the wind is right, Big Sky Capital questions Wingingit Mountain Flyers dot skies Resort tax board and applicants to probe and explain requests for funds BY DAVID MADISON [email protected] t’s resort tax allocation time 2017-2018 funded 22 percent and the five-member Big of a request from the Jack Sky Resort Area District Creek Preserve and 89 percent IBoard is reading through a stack of applications from local groups, nonprofits and The Big Sky public officials looking to fund future projects and operations Community through the rest of the year and Housing Trust has beyond. requested $2.7 On June 4, applicants will appear in front of the board at million “to expand the Warren Miller Performing homeownership Arts Center during the annual Q&A session, when the for the Big Sky community’s priorities will workforce.” be articulated and parsed. The Q&A is a prelude to final decisions by the board about of the funds requested by Visit how to allocate $7.8 million Big Sky. Last year, the Wildlife in resort tax revenue. In all, Conservation Society (WCS) the board is reviewing 26 asked for $236,652 and the applications totaling $10.2 Beehive Basin HOA wanted million in requested funding. $10,000. Both received zero That means at least $2.4 million dollars. in requests will go unfunded. This year, the WCS is The board has the discretion back with a $75,000 ask “to to partially fund applications. test, evaluate and market a He’s only been flying for a couple of years, but local tile setter Todd Zimmerman appears right at home cutting through the morning mist as For instance, the resort tax certification program for bear- he scouts the LZ at Community Park. The grass on the soccer field is covered with morning dew, allowing him to slide in for a smooth landing. appropriations for fiscal year friendly stewardship in Big Check out more photos at lonepeaklookout.com. PHOTO BY DAVID MADISON Winging it | 15 Resort tax | 3 A fresh set of eyes Dorsey Addicks competes in LPGA Big Sky locals start Yellowstone National Park guide service BY JOLENE PALMER [email protected] Andrea Saari’s favorite Yellowstone hike is a trail f you ask Denise Wade what her favorite originating near the continental divide. It’s home place in Yellowstone National Park is, she’d to the headwaters of the Gallatin River. be hard pressed to tell you. “And it’s spectacular back there,” she said. I “If I told ya I’d have to kill ya,” she jokes, since “We’ve found grizzly tracks that are just as many know, favorite spots in the 2.2 million- ginormous, and wolf tracks. It’s such a beautiful acre park usually have the least people around. part of the river.” It’s also magical cross-country But Wade will happily discuss some of her ski terrain. fondest memories of the park, the first coming “There are so many places where you can to mind being a cross-country ski trip she was go and be the only person there,” Wade said guiding near Old Faithful in a thick stand of of Yellowstone in the winter. “I find that really pines. phenomenal and profound. It could be just me, “And out of nowhere came 40 bison, walking and whoever I’m with that day, and we’re the one behind the other, right on the trail we were only people of 7.5 billion in the world that are skiing on,” she recalled. The skiers had to jump out there.” off the trail into deep snow and hide behind Both Wade and Saari have been guiding trees, watching as calmly as possible while the trips in and around Yellowstone for years. whole herd trotted by. “Having those big, brown They’ve worked together with the Road Scholar eyes looking at you, as they walked by, was really organization, in which guides take groups into something.” the wild for week-long experiences. While leading trips with the Road Scholars, the two found their guiding styles are compatible, and decided to join forces to form Big Sky PHOTO BY RICH ADDICKS “There are so many places Adventures & Tours. The new guide service aims where you can go and be the to bring Big Sky visitors down to the park for an Daughter of CONTENTS informative, fun experience in a place that often only person there.” can be overwhelming to newcomers. The “crazy crayon lady” of Mountain Village ................................ 2 proud parents Vote! Don’t let democracy down .................................................... 4 —Denise Wade, offering hope “While guiding here over the years we found there really is a niche of guests coming to Big Sky Rich and Lori New cowork space in Westfork Meadows .................................... 4 to those who find Yellowstone who are really wanting to learn about the whole Dry cleaning drop-off opens .......................................................... 5 National Park hopelessly Yellowstone-Big Sky ecosystem,” Wade said. “And Addicks goes How to check in about the substation .......................................... 5 so we are really trying to put an emphasis on Reasoning behind open space bond ............................................ 5 overcrowded Scouts clear way for wildlife .......................................................... 6 t h at .” pro Big Sky Adventures & Tours will focus on the Where to spot owls in YNP............................................................. 7 west side of the park, but will branch out to meet How to deal with a vole outbreak .................................................. 7 Season wrap-ups for tennis, golf and javelin ................................ 10 Crossword ....................................................................................... 12 Yellowstone guides | 3 Addicks | 15 Big Sky Living: How to fight mine waste ....................................... 16 287 WINDY PASS TRAIL $1,650,000 4 BED, 6 BATHROOMS 5819 SQ FT / 3.33 ACRES LTDRealEstate liveTHEDREAM. LTDRealEstate.com | 406.995.2800 PC: RYAN TURNER LONE PEAK LOOKOUT 2 May 31, 2018 Crayons—they’re not just for kids Blow dryer in hand, local artist creates vibrant works with sticks of wax There are challenges when making art with a hairdryer. Marin Palmer’s old model used to spark when she used it for too long, and her boyfriend comes home wondering why the apartment feels like a sauna. But it’s all worthwhile—the melted crayons form a unique The Wild Unknown Part 2 look that’s difficult to duplicate with other methods. PHOTO BY JOLENE PALMER BY JOLENE PALMER Palmer, who works in mountain operations aunts are professional artists, and she recalls [email protected] at Big Sky Resort, came to Big Sky from Michigan growing up with art as a pastime. “Yeah, I buy a lot of crayons. I’m where she worked for Boyne Country Sports. In “It was like, ‘Oh, you’re bored? Make rayons, a heat gun and a hairdryer might a crazy crayon lady.” 2013, her boss invited her to tag along on a trip to something,” she said, harking back to her youth. not scream “art!” but it turns out this Big Sky, which she eagerly accepted. “So, it’s always been a thing.” —Big Sky artist Marin Palmer, combination, paired with an artistically “I was like, ‘Yeah, that would be awesome. Yes, Before delving into the world of Crayola- Cinclined operator, are the tools it takes to create laughing about her wax obsession I do want to do that,’” she recalled. “And when creations, Palmer said she worked a lot in vibrant canvases with themes like starry skies, hot I came out, I had a really awesome time. The acrylics. She used them to make the paintings of springs and sunsets. mountain blew my mind.” Lone Peak-esque mountains that now grace her You can find Marin Palmer doing just that She progressed to a method she found to work That summer she secured a job at Big Sky living room wall. in her apartment in the Mountain Village—the better—shaving “little vegetable peels” of the Resort at the newly opened Lone Peak Logo shop. “These were from my first summer here, when hum of the gun and drier emanating from the crayons onto a canvas, melting them with an Five years later, she’s still working there, living I was just in awe of the peak, which is right out doorway. She started making art this way two or industrial “high heat, no wind” gun, and finally— near the mountain and creating art in her cozy there. So, I’d just go out and paint it,” she said. so years ago, the colorful creations progressing in the fun part—using a hairdryer to push the colors apartment, which she shares with her boyfriend Then came the crayons. Early on she started theme and style as she continues to hone in her around. and two cats, Milligan and Daugherty. by drawing a picture with them, followed by unique skill. “It’s really neat how it ends up blending An affinity for art is in Palmer’s blood—her using a blow dryer to smooth out the lines. together,” said Palmer as she demonstrated the process, slowly moving the heat gun across the canvas, the slivers of crayons turning to colorful little puddles. “I can’t really get that with brushes.” Finished, the image becomes the northern lights reflecting off of water. To add some sparkle and shine to her art, Palmer uses glitter and shimmer crayons, as Big Sky, well as copper dust she got from a friend. She Montana also adds stars that glow in the dark as well as LONELONE PEAK PEAK LOOKOUT LOOKOUT shadowy silhouettes that have become a sort of niche for her.