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Steve McGann

Steve McGann has lived in Bozeman since the 1970s. Now retired, he is trying to finally use his history degrees. Or he is in the hills.

Content By This Contributor:

Sidney Edgerton: Father of Montana?

Steve McGann

Look at a map of the western United States. Almost all of the borders are straight lines. Some of the states are nearly square; Wyoming and Colorado definitely, North and South Dakota nearly, New Mexico and Utah, close. Rivers form some boundaries:…

Who Wrote It?

Steve McGann

Consciousness is what makes us unique, human. Language is the method we use to express that consciousness. Writing and reading the words of language are the concrete tools of the process. Whales and elephants and ravens have language, but they have…

Ten Ways to Navigate Winter in Bozeman

Steve McGann

When I began a list for this article, some of my potential suggestions seemed familiar.I looked back to an article I had written for Mental Health Month last fall, my recommendations looked like some of the same ones with a hat and gloves. Still, it…

TEN Cross Country Ski Locations Around Bozeman

Steve McGann

Having deserted Montana winters about five years ago for warm and sunny Arizona, I have felt neither interest in nor expertise for writing about the season. This year, however, my wife and I will be in Bozeman for most of December and into January…

Is It Safe To Bike In Bozeman?

Steve McGann, photos by Mars Fagin

Recently, there have been two people killed while riding bicycles in Bozeman, both struck by motor vehicles. As our hearts ache for the families and friends of these two men, we are left to ask ourselves how, and why?I have been riding bicycles in…

Cheyenne Autumn

Steve McGann

Recently I read or reread some works of Montana history concentrating on the territorial and early statehood periods—books by classic historians Joseph Kinsey Howard, K Ross Toole, and Merrill Burlingame, as well as newer authors Ken Egan and…

Weather, Light, Seasons

Steve McGann

In the course of a day, it is possible to have multiple conversations with various people, from strangers to friends, and speak only of the weather. The subject is current, even immediate; historic, yet in the future; benign or raging, it’s all…

Top 10 Ways to Reduce Everyday Stress

Steve McGann

The best way to eliminate stress and ensure good mental health is to retire. This approach has worked for me for a number of years. To many of you that will sound smug, patronizing. Yet it does provide an insight into good practice. I remain busy…

Alternatives

Steve McGann

Bozeman is changing, growing before our eyes. The edge of town moves almost daily; you can see it, and also hear it in the sound of nail guns on the frames of countless new buildings. The whole place is vibrant, moving, exciting, and alive. Says me…

The Ten (Or So) Hiking Essentials

Steve McGann

“Be prepared. That is my belief and that is my motto. My practice, however, is a little different. I tend to go off in a more or less random direction myself, half-baked, half-assed, half-cocked, and half-ripped. Why? Well... all that bloody…

Yellowstone National Park: Year Round Wonderland

Steve McGann

I was excited when I heard that the theme of this month’s issue of Bozeman Magazine would be the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park. The first national park in the world—America’s best idea. Here was a topic I knew…

Spring Road Trip

Steve McGann

Every May I charge off somewhere too early for the season. I once loaded a large canoe on top of a small car and drove to Hyalite. The ice fisherman out on the reservoir got a good laugh from that misguided decision. I put my head down and drove the…

Mapping Out A List Of State Names

Steve McGann

As school children, we were required to memorize the names of the 50 states that make up the United States. We were also required to memorize the names of all state capital cities. That adds up to 100 names to memorize—no wonder I found grade…

Coming Back Into The Country

Steve McGann

The great essayist and non-fiction author John McPhee wrote a book about Alaska titled Coming Into The Country. When the idea for this essay came to me, I recalled his title and thought it very appropriate. So I borrowed it. The best part was that I…

End Camp

Steve McGann

Years ago, a friend called me saying that he wanted to take me out to dinner for my birthday. He told me to pick the place. After thinking for a day or two I called him back and said I wanted to camp at Hyalite and have him cook me a steak over the…

Montanans

Steve McGann

There was a theme in last month’s issue of this magazine. Articles by Angie Ripple, Michael Gillan, and Christopher Dyrland-Marquis explored cooperation, samaritanism, neighborliness. In short, they all seemed to say: This is Montana…

The Bridger Foothills Fire One Year Later

Steve McGann, photos by Angie Ripple

On the afternoon of September 4th, 2020 I was on a bike ride south of Bozeman. Turning north I gazed up at the Bridgers as always. There was a puff of smoke above the M. Intrigued, I rode to town keeping an eye on the smoke. Back home I checked the…

Elevation

Steve McGann

Maps are fascinating. They are factual and authoritative. Roads and trails, place names and locations are described and believed. Maps depict the relationship of one place to another and chart the distance between them for us. They are indispensible…

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