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Cody Enterprise publication WINTER 2015 OUT STAY Enjoy all the winter fun available in Cody Country. Keep busy indoors with interesting activities. HEAD WARM

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Cody, Wyoming, Red Lodge, Montana, Winter Fun

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Page 1: Chill 2015

Cody Enterprise publication

WINTER 2015

outStay Enjoy all the

winter fun available inCody Country.

Keep busy indoors with

interesting activities.

Head w

arm

Page 2: Chill 2015

William Jarvis, MDOrthopedic Surgeon

777 Avenue H • Powell307.754.7257

Here are 4 reasons to choose Dr. Jarvis and PVHC Sports Medicine for your orthopedic and sports injury care:

• Dr. Jarvis is board certified in both Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine with over 20 years experience.

• Dr. Jarvis is an Arthroscopy & knee/shoulder reconstruction specialist

• Dr. Jarvis and his team offer a FREE sports injury clinic every Monday from 3-4 p.m.

• Dr. Jarvis competed as a collegiate alpine ski racer

Page 3: Chill 2015

Breakfast • 7 a.m.—11 a.m. • Lunch 11:30 a.m.—2 p.m.1800 8th Street • 587.2572

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Thanks for

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Page 4: Chill 2015

Winter Carnival

26

Red Lodge Mountain concludes its annual Winter Carnival with fireworks.

Page 5: Chill 2015

Special SectionS editor: Amber Peabody

neWS StaFF: Bruce McCormack, Buzzy Hassrick, Jeanette Johnson, Rhonda Schulte, Lew Freedman

deSiGn/production: Jeff Carter, Cassie Capellen, John Sides

advertiSinG: John Malmberg, Donna Merkel, Megan McCormick, Sarah Felsheim, Mike Voss

photoGraphy: Raymond Hillegas

3101 Big Horn Ave., Cody, WY • 587-2231codyenterprise.com

Special publication of thecody enterpriSe

Chill 2015 • 5

6-7

8-9

12-14

18-19

24-25

36-37

on the cover: MADDox GRowney, 11, enJoyS tHe winteR weAtHeR.

baCkCountrysnoWmobilingnordiC skiingiCe skatingiCe FishingmaCaroni & Cheese

Be aware of the dangers when outside during winter

Soak up great outdoors riding a snow machine

Break out your skates during public skate at Riley Arena

Buffalo Bill Reservoir offers great cold weather fishing

Change up this classic comfort food

Ski group offers clinics, fun food experience

sg ski Patrol

beading

bingo

blaCksmith30-33

20-21

28-29

34-35

Sandy Whalen talks to James Davisat Sleeping Giant.

Page 6: Chill 2015

Backcountry safety Make a good plan and be well-prepared beforeheading out for adventure.

It’s necessary to have some

training. Sometimes

nature can trick you. I don’t think you can be ready for it 100 percent

of the time.

Page 7: Chill 2015

Chill 2015 • 7

Make a good plan and be well-prepared beforeheading out for adventure.

By LEW FREEDMANStaff writer

Matt Walsh loves snow-boarding be-cause it offers the sensation

of flying.But after getting buried

under three feet of snow in an avalanche last winter he’s more skittish than ever about the backcountry.

Walsh, now an 18-year-old Powell High School senior, and his brother Michael, two years older, did not anticipate volatile conditions at Polecat Bench last February.

“I jumped off and the whole thing erupted,” Walsh said. “I was buried in the avalanche.”

Perhaps no more frighten-ing thing can occur in the wilderness in winter.

Rather than being com-pletely pinned, helplessly, Walsh was tossed into a position where he had an air pocket for his face and his hand was raised in front of his face, so he could dig frantically to aid himself as Michael dug from above.

Walsh believes he was only trapped for two or three minutes, but “it felt like 15 or 20.”

While Wyoming and the area around Cody is a winter playground for outdoor sports enthusiasts, it also can be deadly dangerous for snowboarders, snowmobil-ers, ice fishermen and skiers.

“I was just dumbfounded by the whole thing,” Walsh said.

Martin Knapp of Park County Search and Rescue said his group is called out for emergency assistance about six times a year for hunters and a few times a year for snowmobilers in trouble.

“In winter, it’s usually a snowmobile wreck where someone got hurt,” ” Knapp said.

In this technology driven age, he said calls for help usually come in via cell phone or satellite phone. Savvy backcountry travel-ers also are equipped with beacons that send a signal that converts to an alert.

“But we do get calls on people being overdue and, by the time we get going, they’ve come in,” Knapp said.

He recommends anyone heading out for backcountry adventure tell people where they are going, tell an estimated return time, and be well-equipped.

Travelers also should carry water, snack food and be prepared to start a fire.

“So they can get through the night,” he adds. “And you need to think twice about going if it’s zero degrees, mi-nus-10 or minus-20.

Knapp does not rec-ommend backcountry travel solo, but has one tip about the area.

“It sounds like I’m condescending, but it’s hard to get lost,” he said. “If you walk downhill you hit a road,

you hit the river, or you see lights of the city.”

Avalanches can be a serious problem, Knapp says, but on the average of less than one a year locally.

“But we do training every year,” he adds.One group quite safety-conscious is

the Cody Country Snowmobile Associa-tion. There’s an elaborate safety shelter in operation in a parking lot at about 9,000 feet in the Beartooth Range. It’s powered by a generator, is heated by a wood stove and there’s telephone service.

The shelter is for emergencies, club director Bert Miller says, and periodically riders get stranded or break equipment.

“Maybe they hit a rock,” he added. “Last year someone broke a runner. Sometimes a person ends up upside down in a creek and gets all wet. They can be wrapped in

blankets and warmed (at the shelter).”The snowmobile club is involved in a

month-long avalanche safety course in January. The first day is a classroom-like setting at Mountain Valley Motor Sports and the second day is at the Beartooth snow shelter.

Miller said he’s taken the course twice and Tom Phipps at Mountain Valley says they keep running it “because it’s really important.

“One of my friends just died in an ava-lanche in Cooke City. It’s necessary to have some training. Sometimes nature can trick you. I don’t think you can be ready for it 100 percent of the time.”

Al Langston, Game and Fish spokesman in Cheyenne, says anyone going ice fishing should be cautious and ensure the ice is thick enough, but also should be careful walking.

“I don’t think many people ice fish on rivers,” he said. But they might cross riv-ers rather than go up a little ways to the bridge.”

They should watch their step, Langston says.

Walsh said he thought he was careful be-fore the Polecat avalanche swallowed him. He has no plans to give up snowboarding, but this winter he expects to be buying more lift tickets at Sleeping Giant and Red Lodge instead of freelancing in the backcountry.

“I haven’t gone to the backcountry since. It definitely can be dangerous.”

Snowsports enthusiasts need to be cautious of avalanche danger in the backcountry.

MattWalsh

avalanche survivor

Page 8: Chill 2015

By LEW FREEDMANStaff writer

On winter weekends the snowy terri-tory about 60 miles from

Cody along the Beartooth Highway might as well be its own city.

Members of the Cody Country Snowmobile Association prefer to soak up the great outdoors, even if it’s cold and snowy, rather than lock themselves indoors for three months.

These are fun-for-all-ages outings for the 200 members of the club – dad, mom and the kids – exploring about 100 miles of groomed trails.

“It’s miles and miles of beautiful riding,” club director Bert Miller says. “It’s gorgeous. On a sunny day you can

climb up and just sit there.”“There” is 9,000 feet above sea level

and on a clear day the view is spectacu-lar enough to remind people why they live in Wyoming.

For the most part there is no such thing as being snowbound if you have a snowmobile and bring along good judg-ment and warm clothing.

“We have a tremendous number of regulars,” said Miller, 52, who has been snowmobiling since 1982 and never tires of it. “It gets in your blood.”

He believes the current membership count of 67 families is partly because of the “quite reasonable” $20 annual dues.

Newcomers are welcome and the trips are all about touring and not racing. Top speeds attained are 45-55 mph, he said, which does mean that if you have not done a good job of bundling up you can flirt with frigid extremities.

Miller can’t emphasize enough the need for warm gear, equipment that can cost $1,000. Required so there’s no exposed skin are helmet, bibs, jackets, gloves, pants and boots.

“But good gear will last you 10 years,” he adds.

A new model snowmobile might cost $15,000, but used ones are available in Cody. A newcomer to the sport is encouraged to give it a whirl on an older model to make sure they like the sport.

“We range from a lowest of $1,000 for a used snowmobile,” says Tom Phipps at Mountain Valley Motor Sports in west Cody. “And we go up to high figures for a new one. Most newcomers start with a used model, but the technol-ogy has changed greatly from what was in use 20 years ago.”

The trend in snowmobile clothing also has changed in recent years, Phipps

mobiling

Snow

Beartooths

8 • Chill 2015

Page 9: Chill 2015

Chill 2015 • 9

said, from heavier, bulkier protection to thinner layers that can be peeled off.

“You can add on or take off as the temperature changes,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 40 years and I wear the most current clothing available.”

Jenni Rosencranse at Roger’s Sports Center on Big Horn Avenue echoes Phipps on major points for newcomers to the sport and for smart shoppers.

“I would suggest a pre-owned snow-mobile, but one that’s fairly new,” she said. “People need to learn if they like it. They can get some nice machines for $6,000-$8,000. One of the most important things is to keep warm. It will cost you $1,000 to outfit yourself. If you don’t do it right, you’ll be miserable out there.”

Snowmobiling is more exercise than most people not involved in the sport might think, said Rosencranse, 38, who learned to snowmobile 18 years ago.

“Many people think you just sit down and ride,” she said. “They think it’s like riding a four-wheeler or motorcycle. But there’s more upper body strength needed.”

Mike Kelly, 55, is another veteran Cody club snowmobile rider, who said he has been out in temperatures as low as minus-40, but he also offers a comment that contradicts conventional wisdom.

“Many times it will be cold in Cody, below zero, but it will be 20-above in the Beartooths.”

Kelly, who has been riding “all my life,” refers to that area as terrific country “to play in,” which he, his wife, son and his wife and their two daughters, do regularly.

“It’s going out in the outdoors,” Kelly adds. “Seeing new country and enjoying the snow. A person can have great fun in the snow if they are dressed right.”

Kelly’s tips for new prospects are to join the club, check out equipment at local stores, find other people who are riders and go out with someone experi-enced.

Club president Levi Signor is a fairly new rider, with about four years of snow-mobiling experience. He started slowly in the sport and fell in love with it, upgrad-ing his snowmobile three times in one year.

“I just love being outdoors,” said Signor, 32, who actually rode a snow-mobile with his dad when he was 5, and then returned to the sport after more than 20 years. “It’s kind of nice of have others around who like to do the same thing. I was hooked. It’s a blast. I kept wanting to go more places. I try to go every weekend.

“The club is just a big family. Some of the little ones got their first rides in har-nesses on their dad’s chests.”

Members of the Cody Country Snowmobile Association enjoy riding in the Beartooth Mountains last year.

Page 10: Chill 2015

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12 • Chill 2015

I’ve had the honor to coach alongside former Olympic athletes and coaches and authors.

That’s been pretty awesome.

Nordic skier Meggin Becker devotes many hours coaching and fundraising for the sport she loves.

Page 13: Chill 2015

By BUZZY HASSRICKSpecial to the Enterprise

Meggin Becker pursues her passion, cross-country skiing, as a competitor, coach, instructor and board member of the Park

County Nordic Ski Association.“For me, I like the ability to go any-

where I want to,” she explains about her zeal for the sport.

Equally as important is the camarade-rie among contestants who to her create a “family atmosphere” before the start of the race. They smile, chat and goof off and then get serious about competing. After crossing the finish line, they relax again and congratulate each other.

“I love that part – the sense of commu-nity,” Becker said.

While often striving to improve her style, such as extending her glide,

Becker also plays. “I can push myself or just have fun dinking around,” she said. “I

like the versatility.”Becker, 38, credits her brother for leading her

and her parents, Rich-ard and Marge, into

the Nordic world.“My family is self-taught,”

she adds.

She started in high school, when there were some trails at Pahaska Tepee.

“(Owner) Bob Coe did a great job of grooming with the equipment he had at the time,” a half 55-gallon barrel and bedsprings, she recalled. “That was pretty cool he did that.”

birtH of tHenordic club

When the Becker family traveled around the region to races, they began to wonder why Cody couldn’t offer quality trails like those in Jackson and Casper.

That spurred Richard to join with others and create the PCNSA in 1994 and offer to groom and maintain the trails at Pahas-ka. Coe allows the group use the wran-gler/tack shed for a warming hut, pays the electric bill and lets the organization operate under his Forest Service permit.

“He’s a great supporter of outdoor ac-tivity,” Becker says in praise of the partner-ship. “It’s been a great marriage.”

The benefits to members are many. Anyone can use the almost 20 kilometers of trails, but PCNSA asks for donations and also asks all users, even sledders, to sign in so the group can document usage. The numbers help secure grants and show the Forest Service the area serves as a recreation hub.

“Members ski guilt-free,” Becker said.Because the trails wander Shoshone

Forest land and the USFS oversees the operation, “we can’t charge. That’s why we rely so much on members,” to help subsidize the costs.

Members receive emails about the weather at Pahaska and have access to a members-only report about trail condi-tions. The website, nordicskiclub.com, displays a list of upcoming events, includ-ing popular youth programs, for which members get a discount.

Last summer the PCNSA board surveyed members to determine their priorities, Becker said. First on the list is a bigger warming hut, followed by expand-ing the trails and maintaining their good quality.

Members also would like a permanent outhouse. Presently the group rents three portable toilets that are nestled behind the historic Pahaska Lodge.

The last item is continuing the pro-grams. Last year PCNSA hosted kids’ pro-

grams, the high school Nordic State Championships, Taste of Trails and moonlight skiing.

This year the local group will host the Wyoming Senior Olym-pics in February. Also in Febru-ary, on Valentine’s Day, will be Taste of Trails.

‘taSte of trailS’“It’s our biggest fundraiser,” said

Becker, who’s organizing the second-year event. “Last year we sold out tickets three times.”

The ticket number began at 50, which were “easily sold,” she said. They added 25 more, which also went quickly, “so we decided to go to 100. Within 24 hours we sold the remaining 25 tickets.”

The ticket count this year is 150. While the event is billed as offering a

“taste,” Becker noted, “They’re pretty hefty portions. If ‘Taste of Trails’ is anything like last year, we had an amazing amount of desserts.”

Despite bad road conditions, “we had 100 percent attendance” as big snow-flakes fell. “It was nice and quiet.”

The groomers will start in the dark and work until the event begins to ensure good trails, she added. A groomer for 20 years, Richard explains the best time to prepare the trails is when the temperature starts falling so the snow firms up.

“Two a.m. is the best time,” he adds. If he’s too tired to drive home, he grabs

a sleeping bag and dozes in the wrangler shed. And if there’s eight inches of snow, grooming can take 12 hours. Asked why he does it, Richard answered, simply, “so I can ski.”

The groomed trails will include an entree prepared, once again, by Sherrie Frame.

“We’re doing roast turkey and some-

Meggin Becker instructs young skiers during a Kids Nordic Ski Clinic last year.

Taste of Trails“Taste of Trails,” scheduled 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, will offer samples from a four-course menu.Adult tickets to this major annual fundraiser for the Park County Nordic Ski Association are $30, or $15 for ages 6-14.Participants ski or snowshoe to four stations on the three-mile course, selecting among two appetizers, two soups and one entree with a side dish and ending with assorted desserts. Gluten-free options for appetizers and soup also will be available.

continued on page 14

Page 14: Chill 2015

14 • Chill 2015

continued from page 13NORDIC SKIING

Nordic events• The Park County Nordic Ski Association will offer Saturday night moonlight skiing/snowshoeing at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 28.•Group also will host the Nordic races of the Wyoming Senior Olympic Winter Games for people 50 and older Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21.

thing orange,” to combine a safe item with something edgy, a new taste, Frame said. “It’ll be vitamin D, orange and wonderful.

“We learned last year the cooking has to be good, but what it boils down to is taking care of people.”

The participants, rosy-cheeked and ex-cited, would come down the trail, round the corner and find a food surprise, Frame recalled. They would visit and tarry and then move on.

“It was magic, in the middle of no-where,” she added.

The Irma Hotel again will donate

soup, Becker said, and her employer, Big Horn Basin Bone and Joint, has signed on as a sponsor.

balancing vocation, avocation

Becker works as the medical records custodian at the clinic. She earned a B.S. degree from Montana State University in health and human development and exercise science with an emphasis on pre-physical therapy.

Her Nordic coaching career began on

Meggin Becker helps groom trails during the high school state races.

Skiers enjoy last year’sTaste of Trails fundraising event.

a cross-country ski weekend for women in Colorado with her mother. When she overheard trainers using her as a model – “See what Meggin’s doing? Do what Meggin’s doing” – Becker figured she could coach.

In Bozeman she went to a local Nordic center, Bohart Ranch, and knocked on the door of the owner, who hired her. Becker spent eight years there leading private and group lessons. She also worked with Bozeman Public School chil-dren when a grade would spend a day at Bohart. In addition, she coached MSU students enrolled in credited classes, teaching them skating and classic tech-niques.

Several years ago Becker sent her re-sume to the West Yellowstone Ski Festival, which hosts an annual, fall Nordic clinic, and she was hired. The event attracted 4,000 participants in 2014.

“I’ve had the honor to coach along-side former Olympic athletes and coaches and authors,” Becker says. “That’s been pretty awesome.”

She learned about the event more than 20 years ago, when she competed in a 25K race in West Yellowstone and found in her packet a notice of the an-nual fall camp. She applied and got in, although it was billed as a master’s program for those older than 30. She survived arduous days, starting with a class, skiing for two hours, lunch, another class, another ski, dinner and a final ski.

“Now I get to coach with some of those instructors,” Becker adds with a grin.

Her winter plans include working with Red Lodge coaches and helping with PCNSA’s youth programs.

Becker says her advice to beginners is simple – “Just go and have fun.”

Page 15: Chill 2015

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Page 16: Chill 2015

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Page 17: Chill 2015
Page 18: Chill 2015

By JEANETTE JOHNSONStaff writer

From the outside it looks like a nor-mal community center building that’s easily big

enough to accommodate crowds.

Open the door and it’s like getting hit with a blast of enthusiasm. It’s cold, icy, loud and boisterous.

Young and not-so-young are rac-ing, literally and figuratively, to fill the cavernous ice rink with the sounds of excitement.

Welcome to public skating day at the Riley Arena.

Watch where you’re going because it’s a race to lace up skates and get on the icy oval. It doesn’t take long to acclimate to the temperature. Stocking caps and multiple layers take care of the chill fac-tor.

Just watching children enjoying a field trip, away from the confines of a class room, warms the cockles of even the most hardened naysayer.

Look out. The crowd of Meeteetse students and chaperones are circling the headcount area, chattering about the great time they’ve had. Even the adults can’t help but feel the pulse of the pounding music blaring in the back-ground, adding to the ambience.

It’s a once-a-year outing for the kids. Meeteetse Recretion Director John Fer-nandez, 54, brought the group to Cody.

It’s an affordable way to spend a couple of hours. The 19 kids love it.

And where can you find a better deal?“It’s $60 for 19 kids. Plus, a cup of

hot chocolate,” he says with a smile.As they line up to march back to the

bus, arena manager David Koch’s voice rises above the hubbub.

“Guys, you totally rock and I want you to come back,” he shouts. He’s reward-ed with screams of joy.

It’s time to make way for the next group of students escaping the confines of two buses from Thermopolis. The best way to describe the action is “organized chaos,” but no one seems to mind.

The doors open and 80 Thermopolis students push and shove their way to the counter to get skates so they won’t miss even a minute of their two-and-a-half

18 • Chill 2015

Riley Arena

ice Skating

Publ

ic

Page 19: Chill 2015

hour allotted time. They’re accompanied by 13 staff.

After School Coordinator Sarah Cox, 34, manages to maintain order. The group gets out of school early on the second Friday of every month for field trips.

Each person who gets to come to the rink is doing something they don’t get to do every day, Koch says.

“We would like to host groups like this on a daily basis,” he adds. “If we did, it would add to the success of the Riley.”

Speaking of enthusiasm, Koch is like the cheerleader who amps up the frenzy as the doors open and the Hot Springs County students pour in.

At the top of his lungs, he yells, “Who wants to have fun?”

During the winter they offer the “most affordable family fun entertainment available,” Koch says.

It takes volunteers to help with arena programs. Robyn Beadles, 27, is involved with all aspects of volunteer-ing, from coaching the youth hockey to turning the inside into a Christmas display. It’s her way of being a positive role model.

She can be found four days a week skating with the kids. It won’t be long be-fore the disco balls will sparkle, getting ready for night time skating activities.

“It’s going to be like the oldtime rinks,” Beadles says.

Besides the open skating, the arena is home to youth hockey, the Absaroka figure skating group and Yellowstone Quake hockey team.

“We serve many diverse interest groups,” Koch says. “And the Quake games always are a blast.”

The Quake crowds are growing as the team continues its success.

Janet Douglass, 56, Beadles’ mother, comes to watch her grandkids skate and play hockey. She describes the venue as “fabulous.”

Beadles lets the cat out of the bag – her mother comes to watch all age groups skate.

While there’s nothing about the arena that reminds one of a library, many people bring books to read as the kids practice.

Future plans are to develop a skate school to promote more use of the facil-ity. The goal includes teaching others how to skate. There are plans for public and private ice skating lessons.

Also planned is Fitness on Ice, an exercise program with healthy activities for muscle toning and balance.

“I hope my excitement rubs off on people,” Koch says.

It’s obvious that happens often. “If you build it they will come,” he

says, borrowing the familiar movie phrase. “We built it. We would like to see groups here on a daily basis.”

Check outskating schedulePublic skating is offered multiple times per week. For a current schedule, visit rileyarena.com.

Aspen Leonhardt, 10, of Lovell (from left), and Josey Steed, 10, and Marty Welling, 10, both of Cowley, enjoy public skating at the Riley Arena.

Skye Keller, 10, (below, right) gets a push from his Big Brother mentor Tyson Bednarz.

Page 20: Chill 2015

SG ski patrol Sandy Whalen has spent nearly 35 years helping keep skiers safe.

Children who were

there when I started now are bringing their children

up. I plan to do this as long as I can strap skis

on my feet.

Page 21: Chill 2015

Chill 2015 • 21

By AMBER PEABODYSpecial sections editor

W hen Sleeping Giant opens for the season, the lifts can’t turn with the

dedicated members of the North Absaroka Ski Patrol.

One of those is Sandy Whalen, who is beginning her 35th season as part of the National Ski Patrol (NSP).

“It’s nice when the first flakes appear,” she says. “I always look forward to that time.”

Whalen didn’t grow up skiing. She lived in a rural agricultural area of Iowa where there was little opportunity to ski.

“My fun as a child was mostly ice skating and sledding in the winter and horseback riding in the summer,” she said.

She began Nordic skiing on frozen snow-covered Iowa creeks and rivers in the 1970s to relieve stress from the rigors of anesthe-sia graduate school.

Whalen later took some Alpine lessons in Colorado and in 1979 helped establish and joined the Sunset Ski Area Patrol, a member of the central division of the NSP, in Cherokee, Iowa, and became certified as both an Alpine and Nordic patroller.

Whalen, a certified registered nurse anesthetist and certi-fied Family Nurse Practitioner worked for six years in private practice in Iowa before accepting a contract in 1982 with Yel-lowstone Park Medical Services to provide anesthesia services at Lake Hospital in Yellowstone.

Whalen’s family had vacationed in Yellowstone several times in the 1960s and the rugged mountains of the Absarokas left an impression.

“To return to Wyoming was a dream come true,” she said.A year after she arrived Betty Woodruff, then owner and

operator of Sleeping Giant Ski Area, hired Whalen to work on the professional patrol when she was off work in the park.

“I would ride a snowmobile 70 miles round trip over Sylvan Pass from Lake to the east gate to work outside the park three times a week,” she said.

Her membership with the NSP was transferred to an affilia-tion with the North Absaroka Ski Patrol.

Years later, and now retired, she still enjoys making the trek up to the ski hill each winter.

“Children who were there when I started now are bring-ing their children up,” she adds. “I plan to do this as long as I can strap skis on my feet. It’s a good way to interface with the public and is great exercise.”

There currently are 20 North Absaroka patrollers who, like Whalen, spend countless hours in sometimes dismal weather conditions and on difficult terrain performing rescue missions, administering first aid, checking trails, weather and snow con-ditions and conducting avalanche awareness and control to

The National Ski Patrol was founded in 1938 in Stowe, Vt., when the then-president of the National Ski Association, Roger Langley, convinced the founder and leader of the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol, Charles Minot Dole, to form a national ski patrol. Dole was convinced of the need for a national ski rescue organization due to both the loss of a friend in a ski accident the year prior and an on-slope accident in which he himself was seriously injured.The Sleeping Giant Patrol was first organized in the late 1940s when the

Dahlem family and ski club began skiing at the Sleeping Giant area. Skiing began there on a run called Moose Gulch, which later became known as The Gulch just east of today’s Big Horn complex, according to patroller Sandy Whalen. Sleeping Giant Patrol changed its name to North Absaroka Ski Patrol in the 1980s. Sleeping Giant/North Absaroka Patrol was the first ski patrol to be registered in the Northern Division of the NSP and offer educational and training opportunities provided by the national organization, Whalen said.

National Ski Patrol began in 1938

Sandy Whalen and James Davis prepare a rescue toboggan at Sleeping Giant Ski Area.

continued on page 38

Page 22: Chill 2015

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• CHILDREN FIVE YEARS AND UNDER AND ADULTS 70 AND OLDER ski free all the time.

• Sleeping Giant offers a SKI & STAY PROMOTION in partnership with several area hotels and lodges. Upon check-in, guests should request a ski coupon for purchase of up to four daily lift tickets for $20 each.

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Page 23: Chill 2015

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Winter Schedule of Events 2015 JANUARY: 3 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 16 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 23 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 24 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 30 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 31 Missoula Children’s Theatre/Cody

FEBRUARY: 2 Community Concert/Powell 12 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 13 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 13-16 17th Annual Cody Ice Climbing Festival/Cody 14 Missoula Children’s Theatre/Powell 14-15 Ice Fishing Derby/Meeteetse 19-22 Wyoming Senior Olympics Winter Games/Cody 20 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 24 O Sole Trio/Cody 27 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody 28 Buffalo Bill Birthday Ball/Cody 28 Yellowstone Quake Hockey/Cody

MARCH: 14-15 Rails N Bails & Baby Buffalo Jump/Cody 19 Community Concert/Powell

APRIL: 10 Park County Arts Council 30th Anniversary Celebration/Cody 17 TEDx “Depicting the West”/Cody 24-26 Songs of the Cowboys/Cody 27 Community Concert/Cody

Buffalo Bill Center of the West Jan & Feb Hours: 10–5 Thursday–Sunday March & April Hours: 10–5 Daily

Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center January to April: 10–5 Wednesday–Saturday

Powell Homesteader Museum Mid-March & April Hours: 10–4 Tuesday–Friday

Meeteetse Museums Feb to April Hours: 10–4 Tuesday–Saturday

Page 24: Chill 2015

Some of the finest days I’ve had

were when we caught 50 or 60 cutthroat trout

or splake.

Ice fishermen Greg Mayton and Jim Kent always are ready to hike out on the iceto catch some cutthroat trout.

Page 25: Chill 2015

Chill 2015 • 25

By LEW FREEDMANStaff writer

Greg Mayton’s uncle had a well-equipped ice shack in Iowa that shielded them from the elements and also fea-tured lights, a heater, radio,

and leather furniture. While many summer anglers have no

interest in year-round fishing, Mayton shrugs off the potential effects of Wyoming winter.

“It’s never too cold,” he said with the assurance of a born sportsman. “It just gets windy.”

Mayton, 31, has his own homemade, portable shack he can drag around to various lakes. Rather than being too cold, Mayton and other devoted ice fishermen most often are disrupted in their pursuit of fishing through the ice because of the Cody area’s frequent warming trends.

His ice shack never will be confused with a Sheraton Hotel, but it’s pretty darned cozy if the weather does ambush him.

The most critical aspect of ice fishing is venturing out with confidence on ice that is so solid there’s no danger of falling through and cycles when winter takes a few days off with temperatures zooming into the 40s or 50s pretty much ruin the buildup of ice.

“You’ve got to know the lake,” Mayton said. “You have to watch the weather.”

Some people fear ice when it crackles, but Mayton said “you want that crackling. It’s making ice.”

Mayton is an aquatic invasive spe-

cies crew leader for Game and Fish in Cody, but ice fishing is more passion than profession for him. When there’s ice that can be relied on – usually after New Year’s – he tries to ice fish a couple of times a week.

Mayton lured his wife Heidi and her parents into ice fishing. Several convenient ice fishing locations are located close to Cody, he noted, including Sunshine Reser-voirs near Meeteetse.

“Some of the finest days I’ve had were there when we caught 50 or 60 cutthroat trout or splake,” Mayton said.

Beck Lake and Newton Lakes in Cody also can be hot spots for cold-weather fishing, Mayton said, but Buffalo Bill Reser-voir must be approached warily.

“It’s one of the most dangerous lakes in the state,” Mayton said.

Winds on Buffalo Bill often are the en-emy of the ice and may weaken it and fool the unsuspecting.

Mayton said the use of live bait is banned in Cody, but is allowed in the rest of the Big Horn Basin. Mealworms, night crawlers and shrimp are common bait in this area.

“These trout are swimming around, spending the majority of their days looking for food,” Mayton said.

In mid-December, G&F spokesman Al Langston of Cheyenne issued a list of ice fishing safety guidelines. Mostly, Langston said, staying safe while ice fishing is a matter of common sense.

One key warning is to not drive on ice that has yet to be proven solid.

“I don’t understand why anyone would want to ride on the ice if it’s a little bit thin,” Langston says. “Mostly people need to be aware of the conditions. Look at the ice. I advise people to never drive on the ice. You look at it and think you could probably drive a train on it, but there could be thin spots.”

Ice augurs are used to drill holes in the ice before people settle in for fishing, and careful drilling is one way to determine the depth of ice, Langston said.

“I don’t think jumping up and down on it is the answer,” he said.

Langston recommends being with a partner when ice fishing. It’s smart to have a rope that can be used to toss to someone who falls through the ice. But if someone breaks through and is having trouble climbing out because the edge of the ice keeps breaking, one remedy can be driving long nails or spikes into the ice the way mountain climbers use ice axes.

Mayton describes himself as an ice fishing gear junkie who likes to own the latest stuff, but said that’s not necessary. A minimal investment in an ice fishing rod may be all someone else needs.

“You can spend $30 and be set for the rest of your life,” Mayton said.

Jim Kent, another long-time devotee of ice fishing in Cody, began ice fishing when he was 9 and has 30-plus years in the sport.

Kent, who operates South Fork Jigs, and ties “thousands of flies” a year for ice fishermen to use instead of live bait, says spending big bucks is not necessary.

“Anyone can do this,” he adds. “You can do it with basic stuff. It can be a family thing.”

He, like Mayton, also shrugs off the chill of winter. “You can use a shed or you can use a fire.”

But Kent said if someone wants to it’s also possible to invest significantly in costlier electronic fish finders and other electronic gear that can help pinpoint the whereabouts of fish. Kent, who doesn’t ice fish as often as he previously did because he has young children and time invested in fly tying, said he’s enjoyed Yellowtail Lake where sauger, walleye and catfish may be caught. But, he added, “perch are prob-ably my favorite. They’re good eating.”

A thrill that an ice fisherman is more likely to have than a summer angler, Kent said, can occur when circumstances are right.

“If you’ve got nice clear water and it’s not deep, you can see the fish come right up and take the bait.”

And the hook.

Heidi and Greg Mayton displaytwo nice fish they caught.

Page 26: Chill 2015

If you want to know what makes Red Lodge Mountain tick, be there for Winter Carnival on Saturday,

March 7. The event on spring snow

with costumes, parades, live music, feats of daring and tons of duct tape, Winter Carnival is the party of the year, at least until July rolls around.The 2015 theme is “Camelot.” So start saving

cardboard and planning your sled.

Saturday, March 7moSt creativecraft Judging

Stop by the base area courtyard 9-11 a.m. to see all the cardboard crafts before they are destroyed in the upcom-

ing race.Speed is only one of the elements

for putting together a great Cardboard Racer.

The other is making sure it looks good and fits this year’s theme of “Camelot.” First and second place prizes will be awarded to the best looking crafts in all categories.

cardboard claSSic raceThe main event of the day is the popu-

lar Cardboard Classic Race.Spectators enjoy speed, crashes and

an overall spectacle as the racers try their luck racing down Show Off Alley.

The fun starts at 11:30 a.m. with the Parade of Racers, as they transport their crafts up to the starting line.

Races start at noon in this order:•12 and younger•Ages 13-18•Ages 19 and older•Unlimited (four racers required)Awards for first and second place will

be handed out as the winners exit the fin-ish area. Results will be announced to the public on the Bierstube Deck at 3 p.m.

carnivalcoStume conteSt

Come dressed to win. The 2015 Win-ter Carnival Costume Contest will be at 3 p.m. on the deck of the Bierstube. First and second place awards will be given to the best dressed guy and gal.

torcHligHt ParadeOrganizers close the Winter Carnival

with a bang.The torchlight parade starts at sun-

down, with a train of lights rolling off the top of the mountain and down Limited to the base area.

If that’s not enough of a light show, the parade takes place under a fireworks display, with great views from the base area.

carnival

win

ter

Red Lodge

26 • Chill 2015

Page 27: Chill 2015

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Page 28: Chill 2015

28 • Chill 2015

grouP

bead

ing

Winter crafts

By BUZZY HASSRICKSpecial to the Enterprise

Seven seemingly sensible women sat around a kitchen early this winter, engaged in an ac-

tivity they acknowledge has affected their health.

“It’s a disease,” Linda Burwick proclaimed.

“But a good one,” hostess Sharon Moss added.

“And an expensive one sometimes,” Sue Granger noted.

The “disease” is beading, which appeared on their pillows, purses and a blouse and also as hatbands and small bottles. The group, totaling about 10 women, formed about 15 years ago and meets once a month in someone’s

home. They don’t have a name, and the structure is loose.

“There are no rules and no dues, ex-cept to bring food,” Moss explains.

“We sit and eat and giggle,” said Bur-wick, gesturing at the array of treats. “And we were afraid we wouldn’t have enough food.”

To which Moss jokes, “When has that ever happened?”

That morning the food remained untouched as the beaders concentrated on their projects. While counting beads, they discuss their work and exchange tips about different techniques.

“We just share stuff,” Burwick said.Recently they shared approaches to

beading a vanity tissue box, as instructed by Lynda Covert, who wasn’t present. She’d exhibited some examples during Rendezvous Royale arts week and offered to teach the women, ordering wooden boxes for those interested.

Jennifer Woods-Duneman was punch-ing holes into the leather for a grid-design that would embellish her box. A relative newcomer to the group, she admitted, “I just pretend to bead.”

Burwick disagreed, pronouncing, “She’s really come along.”

Moss had already beaded the leather that would cover her box and was puzzled by how to attach it as her glue had solidi-fied. Granger suggested putting marbles in the container to raise the level of the liquid.

“Then you wouldn’t lose them because they’re all glued together,” Woods-Dun-eman quipped.

On a serious note, Woods-Duneman said she decided to investigate beading because she’d always had an interest in Native American beadwork and wanted to do it. Her entry into beading was particu-larly intimidating, she admitted, “because I didn’t even know how to sew.”

Lynn Parker (left) and Marian Fergerson work on their beading projects during a monthly gathering.

Page 29: Chill 2015

Most of the group’s output is inspired by Native American work, Lynn Parker said. For inspiration she goes to the Plains Indian Museum and also looks in maga-zines.

“Compared to the rest of these gals, I’m an amateur,” Parker said. “But I love it.” While the Native American design and technique provide ideas, she noted, “We add our own creativity to it. We learn from what’s been done. We’re not copying.”

Moss explained that she loosely fol-lowed a historic pattern for her leather pillow, using different colors and scale.

“But it kept getting bigger and bigger, like a recipe,” she said. “By the time I get done, it doesn’t resemble the original.”

One corner of her pillow has an ad-ditional leather layer with some beading, which turns out to be a method for cover-ing a flaw in the material.

“Hides are not perfect,” Burwick ex-plained.

Granger has produced 20 pillows, using high-quality upholstery leather, and estimated their cost at up to $3,000 per pillow, considering the price of materials and the 100 hours spent on each.

“I do all my stuff on leather,” she said. Granger draws a grid and punches holes for the thread, which “makes it easier to bead.”

A student of Covert’s, Granger has

made a couple of tissue boxes using the “lazy stitch,” six beads up and back in rows.

“It’s basic and easy,” she said of the technique, which is typical for Native American work. “It’s a fun thing to sit and while away the hours.”

Looming is another technique she employs, again directed by Covert who gave her the basics and then left, saying, “‘Figure it out,’” Granger said. Moss sug-gested a “little guidance is good.”

“I think looming is fun,” Granger adds. “It’s so smooth and symmetrical.”

Myrna Stadtfeld creates her hatbands on a loom, following patterns her hus-band creates. She uses “delicate beads,” which are uniform, tubular and flat on the top and bottom so they fit together.

“They make beautiful patterns because they’re so precise,” she said.

Stadtfeld mostly works with size 11 seed beads, noting some beads are so small they necessitate using a magnifying glass. Bigger beads, Burwick added, are better for bigger projects “because it takes less time.”

After selecting a project, beaders face more choices.

“Buying the beads is the fun part,” Parker said.

The choices seem endless – opaque or translucent, matte, and lined in silver, gold

and copper – along with a vast range of colors, sizes and shapes, Burwick said. Beaders also must calculate the quantity a project will require and buy enough in advance because dye lots can vary.

“The nice part about beading is you always can back out,” Statfeld added.

Or, Moss suggested, “Just rip them out and start over.”

“My other favorite pastime is ripping out,” Burwick added.

Another option with a mistake, with a bead that’s an anomaly, is to dub it with a special name, a “spirit bead,” Parker said. Moss noted Native Americans had spirit beads because if they ran out of one type, they’d continue with another.

Still another option is to shelve the project and label it a “UFO.”

“We all have UnFinished Objects,” Burwick says.

When she decided to tackle a project that supposedly couldn’t be done, it didn’t become a UFO. She’d seen a miniature glass vase with beading and decided to bead one freehand, with no form, learn-ing that the work assumed unexpected shapes.

“They take on a life of their own. I like doing itty bitty things,” Burwick adds. “I can sit and bead for hours. I have enough (beads) for 400 years.

“It’s therapy.”

Page 30: Chill 2015

Blacksmith artist N.J. Pawley’s fascinationwith the trade propelled himto begin a successful career.

Half of what I do is stuff I dreamed

about at night. I’ll get up in the morning

thinking about something and go

make it.

30 • Chill 2015

Page 31: Chill 2015

Chill 2015 • 31

By AMBER PEABODYSpecial sections editor

Driving up to N.J. Pawley’s place near the Will-wood Dam, you’ll likely hear him before you see him.

The blacksmith, 43, spends much of his time in the little shop by his house working on vari-

ous metal pieces. With his steaming cup of coffee and headphones blast-

ing classic rock, he’s as “happy as a little pig” and ready to create his latest work of art.

“It keeps me fit,” he says of blacksmithing. “I’m the hap-piest guy ever because when I’m angry I just smash some-thing and the anger and anxiety goes away.”

His interest in blacksmithing began at a young age. Dur-ing the former Frontier Days event in Cody blacksmith Jeff McManus used to set up his forge.

“I was about 10 and thought that was slick,” he said. “I sat around for two days watching him.”

A few years later Stan Floyd, the horseshoing instructor at Northwest College, hot-shod his parents horses and that was it.

“I knew I had to take that course the minute I saw him do it,” he said.

He learned to weld in ag class at Powell High School and it was there he created his first metal wreath.

“That wreath is still hanging on the door at Susie Erick-son’s house,” he said.

He then went to farrier school at NWC in 1989 and shod horses for about 20 years, blacksmithing in the winter.

“I learned how to make horseshoes and basic tools and carried it from there,” he said.

He moved to Utah in 1998 and got married “for about five minutes,” he said. He spent 13 years there. He shod jumper and dressage horses, and later began focusing on his metal art. He eventually became artist-in-residence at Sundance Mountain Resort.

“One of my claims to fame in Utah was wine racks made from used horse-shoes,” he said.

Pawley also was able to learn from other artists there.

“Someday I want to work with silver jewelry,” he said. “It’s one of the

N.J. Pawley heats up a piece of metal in his workshop on the Willwood.

continued on page 32

Check out more N.J. Pawley’s work also can been seen on the Facebook page Runningiron Works.

Page 32: Chill 2015

continued from page 31BLACKSMITHthings I learned in Sundance and not something I’d have gotten to do here. There were many other artists around in other mediums.”

Pawley has been back in Wyoming fulltime for four years. “I came back in the spring to start colts for my dad,” he

said. “I’d be training horses in the spring and summer, and in the fall and winter I’d blacksmith.”

These days he spends less time training horses and more time creating. The last few summers he’s done blacksmith-ing out of the back of his truck near Sheridan Avenue.

“In the winter the days are so short I try to get in about six hours,” he said. “When it’s really cold I do jewelry in the house. I bend horseshoe nails into bracelets.”

He says he enjoys the creative process of making jewelry. “Half of what I do is stuff I dreamed about at night,” he

said. “I’ll get up in the morning thinking about something and go make it. It’s a great thing to put it into the fire and if you don’t like how it turns out you just put it back in.”

About 80 percent of Pawley’s work is forged blade knives. He makes his knives from used materials such as truck springs and horseshoes. The handles are wood or elk horn.

He also makes a variety of other pieces including steak turners, dinner triangles, fireplace tools and interior pieces such as towel racks, lamp stands and candle holders.

“I’m always challenging myself,” he adds. “The minute you think you’re good at it you go someplace and there’s a guy 10 times better than you.

“I’ll never be a master at it.”Many of his pieces are made from used materials. “Nothing goes to waste,” he said. “I throw little pieces

in a pile and make stuff with them. I also use some new material too. That material is easy to come by with the oil industry here.”

While much of his work has practical uses, he says he also enjoys making more artistic pieces.

“I’d like to do more art pieces because I enjoy making sculptures,” he said. “But it’s hard because you can’t make much money from it.”

At some point he plans to get a shop in town and offer some classes.

“I know many guys who want to learn how to make knives,” he said.

Many of Pawley’s creations can be seen at Grizzly Jim’s, 1236 Sheridan Ave.

“When I opened I wanted Western art and what’s more Western than a blacksmith,” Grizzly Jim’s owner Henry Jones said. “The yard stakes, horseshoe nail bracelets and knives all are popular.”

Page 33: Chill 2015

Chill 2015 • 33

N.J. Pawley strikes initials

into abelt buckle.

Page 34: Chill 2015

34 • Chill 2015

fun

bing

oGames

By RHONDA SCHULTEStaff writer

Bingo is thriving in Cody.

With four or-ganizations offer-ing the lotto-style

game, players can sit down nearly any day of the week to socialize while scanning

and marking bingo cards in hope of win-ning a prize, usually cash.

Cody’s senior center bingo is the only daytime game, played at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“We’re the most fun,” Jackie House, caller for the past two years, says with a laugh. Much of that is because of her seamless melding of number calling with player interaction.

Twenty some players – mostly women, a few men – are gathered in the dining

room, each with one or two cards on the table.

Edith Vehnekamp, a slender woman with a grayed boy-cut hairstyle, has played at the senior center for two years. She believes the jackpot of money that comes from the 50 cents-a-card pur-chases has improved the game.

“Before that, some people in the back weren’t paying,” she says.

Players can buy as many cards as they want for regular bingo, but use only one for the blackout. With this small group, chances are good for a jackpot win that typically pays $15-$23.

It’s time to start.House calls for players’ attention:

“Let’s see if I can hold onto my balls to-day,” she quips as she gets to work grab-bing the air-blown balls from a metal box. Players, chuckling at her humor, turn their attention to the cards.

Other than adeptness at managing

hordes of cards at the same time, there’s no skill to bingo – just luck.

The game goes back to 1530, to an Italian lottery still played in Italy. From Italy it went to France in the late 1770s where it was a game played by the wealthy.

When the game reached North Amer-ica in 1929 it became known as “bean,” first played as a country fair game in which a dealer would select numbered discs from a cigar box and players would mark their cards with beans. They yelled “beano” if they won.

While at a carnival near Atlanta, struggling New York toy salesman Edwin Lowe renamed it “bingo” after overhear-ing someone accidentally yell “bingo” instead of “beano.”

“It’s a good social activity for seniors,” says Maxine Riley, a three-year senior center bingo player. “It’s a time we can feel happy. I love it.”

Page 35: Chill 2015

Play Bingo in Cody •Elks Club, 1202 Beck, Monday, 6 p.m., 587-3296.•Senior center, 613 16th, Wednesday and Thursday, 12:30 p.m., 587-6221.•Bingo Supreme, VFW Hall, 808 12th St., 7-9 p.m.Wednesday through Saturday,578-6312.•Eagles Hall, 1001 13th St., Friday, 7-9:30 p.m., 527-7356.

She too is enticed by a chance to win the jackpot and points out the afford-ability.

And there’s the comradeship. “Some people have been (friends)

since they were kids,” Riley says, reciting the names of three ladies sitting at her table as examples.

N35, N38, B4, I19 …“Bingo.”All attention turns to a woman in black

pants and red quilted vest taking a card up front for House’s inspection.

“Yep, sure thing,” House says. As the woman turns her attention to

browsing the thrift store prizes displayed on a low stage, House continues calling. Soon there’s another bingo, and a third.

While checking more winning cards and calling numbers, House interjects comments:

“Pretty shirt.”“Just get your hair done? It’s pretty.”She continues pulling whirling balls

from the metal box. Soon a stream of players is passing by her and perusing

the prize knick knacks, picture frames, jewelry, books, Christmas decorations, pillows, hats, decks of cards and more.

A man chooses a package of small gold ornaments as his prize. His choice does not get past House.

“Going to decorate your tree?” she asks, grabbing another white ball. “G59.”

Everyone has declared a bingo. It’s time for the more serious blackout play and a chance to win today’s $18 jack-pot. House walks through tables, collects extra cards, then regains the group’s attention with a, “Hidee ho, ready or not, here we go.”

A few minutes pass as players con-centrate on moving tabs on the cards. House, looking at a petite lady with black rim glasses, says, “You don’t have any (marked) yet Jane?”

As Jane puts a finger to her mouth motioning shhh, House jokingly advises, “I think I’d trade in that card.”

Calling continues. The I’s are all cov-ered, now the N’s.

Jane Hughes wins the blackout, and sashays sideways in her white sneakers up front to verify the win.

“It’s a good bingo,” House declares, holding the card high. “That’s good for not having anything at first.”

Game over, the group quietly dis-bands.

Bingo has taken less than 30 minutes, but there’s the next evening or next week to look forward to – and another chance to win that coveted jackpot.

Jane Hughes celebrates after winning blackout bingo at the senior center.

Chill 2015 • 35

Page 36: Chill 2015

36 • Chill 201 4

Macaroni & Cheese Ditch the box and stir up everyone’s favorite comfort food – creamy, homemade macaroni and cheese.

Page 37: Chill 2015

favorite mac and cHeeSeIngredIents

1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp

Cheddar cheese1 (12 ounce) container small curd

cottage cheese1 (8 ounce) container sour cream1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheeseSalt and pepper to taste1 cup dry bread crumbs1/4 cup butter, melted

InstructIons1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bring

large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook until done; drain.

2. In 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together macaroni, shredded Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. In small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture.

3. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until top is golden.

kicked uP mac and cHeeSeIngredIents

1 1/2 cups rotelle pasta4 tablespoons butter, divided1/4 cup all-purpose flour3 cups whole milk1 teaspoon dry mustard3/4 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper3 teaspoons hot pepper sauce1 cup shredded pepperjack cheese1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar

cheese1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese1/3 cup dry bread crumbs2 teaspoons chili powder

InstructIons1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.2. Bring large pot of lightly salted

water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 8-10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

3. In large saucepan over medium heat, melt two tablespoons butter. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, one minute. A little at a time, whisk in milk, mustard, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Bring to gentle boil, stirring constantly. Boil one minute, then remove from heat and whisk in pepperjack, Cheddar and Parmesan until smooth. Stir in cooked pasta and pour into shallow two-quart baking dish.

4. Melt remaining two tablespoons butter. Stir in bread crumbs and chili powder. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.

5. Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

fried mac and cHeeSe ballSInstructIons

1 (7.25 ounce) package macaroni and cheese mix

2 tablespoons butter1/4 cup milk1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese3/4 cup pimento cheese spread1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs1/2 teaspoon paprika1/2 teaspoon chili powder1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper1/2 teaspoon white sugar1/4 teaspoon salt1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste4 eggs3 tablespoons milk4 cups peanut oil for frying, or as

needed

InstructIons1. Fill a pot with lightly salted water

and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the macaroni is cooked through but still firm to the bite, about seven minutes. Drain. Stir in two tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup milk, and cheese packet from the package.

2. While the macaroni is still hot, stir in the Cheddar cheese, pimento cheese spread, and Italian cheese blend, and continue to stir until melted. Place the macaroni and cheese mixture in a container and refrigerate until firm, about four hours.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the macaroni mixture from the refrigerator, and, using a cookie scoop, scoop into balls. Place mac balls on the prepared baking sheet and freeze for at least two hours.

4. Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F.

5. Whisk the bread crumbs with the paprika, chili powder, black pepper, sugar, and cayenne in a shallow dish; set aside. Beat the eggs with the three tablespoons milk in a small bowl. Remove the mac balls from the freezer, coat in the egg wash and then dredge in breading.

6. Fry the mac balls in small batches until golden brown, three to five minutes. Drain briefly on a paper towel-lined plate; serve hot.

four cHeeSe macaroniIngredIents

1 tablespoon vegetable oil1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni9 tablespoons butter1/2 cup shredded Muenster cheese

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese1/2 cup shredded Sharp Cheddar

cheese

InstructIons1. Bring large pot of lightly salted water

to a boil. Add the oil and the pasta and cook 8-10 minutes or until al dente; drain well and return to cooking pot.

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt eight tablespoons butter; stir into macaroni.

3. In a large bowl, combine Muenster cheese, mild and sharp Cheddar cheeses, and Monterey Jack cheese; mix well.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.5. Add half and half, 1 1/2 cups

of cheese mixture, cubed processed cheese food, and eggs to macaroni; mix together and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly greased deep 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese mixture and 1 tablespoon of butter.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes or until hot and bubbling around the edges; serve.

Smoky mac ‘n cHeeSeIngredIents

3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni1 1/2 cups whipping cream1 teaspoon Dijon mustard1/2 teaspoon coarse salt (kosher or sea

salt)1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

(cayenne)8 ounces smoked Cheddar cheese,

shredded2 (14.5 ounce) cans fire roasted diced

tomatoes, well drained1/4 cup sliced green onions1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese1/3 cup plain dry bread crumbs2 teaspoons olive oil

InstructIons1. Cook and drain macaroni as

directed on box. Return to saucepan; keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 13x9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. In two-quart saucepan, heat cream, mustard, salt and red pepper to boiling. Reduce heat; stir in Cheddar cheese with wire whisk until smooth. Pour sauce over macaroni. Stir in tomatoes and onions. Pour into baking dish. In small bowl, stir together Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs; stir in oil. Sprinkle over top of macaroni mixture.

3. Bake 20-25 minutes or until edges are bubbly and top is golden brown.

for more taSty reciPeS,viSit allrecipes.com.

Page 38: Chill 2015

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ensure the safety of those who recreate at Sleeping Giant.

“The main goal of the North Absaroka Ski Pa-trol is to provide other outdoor enthusiasts a safety net so they can feel free to enjoy the recreation ac-tivities of the mountain,” Whalen said. “Most of the patrolers are outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy being outside and interacting with the public.”

Patrollers dedicate many hours to training and becoming proficient in skills such as skiing, han-dling rescue toboggans, outdoor emergency care, CPR, awareness and control and lift evacuation, among others.

“We’re the first responders on the scene and have made a difference in people’s lives,” she said.

Patrollers also enjoy the early morning “fresh tracks” and the camaraderie that comes from being a member of a world-renowned rescue organization, Whalen said.

Volunteers are requested to patrol 14 days each season, but many do more than that.

Each day the mountain is running, head patrol-ler Kenny Gasch is there, as well as two paid patrollers and four volunteers.

“Sandy has been on the patrol the longest,” Gasch says. “She has a good knowledge of the history of the patrol and Sleeping Giant.”

Anyone interested in being on the patrol should contact any patrol member at the ski area.

continued from page 21SG SKI PATROL

Skiers get on the chairlift at Sleeping Giant in December.

Page 39: Chill 2015

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Page 40: Chill 2015

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