NSAJ

Recent full-time Big Sky resident Patricia VanGalen is vibrant and strong. She strolled into Roxy’s thoroughly energized before she took a sip of the coffee. The 65 year old mother of two had been exercising at Moving Mountains.

Being a single mother in a ski town presents challenges – Kristen Hovey knows. Now a decade in Big Sky, she has stayed because she loves the area, the community and her friend-family. Still, she prepares to leave at the end of every season.

That feeling – the one found when securing that stretch of fresh powder and sharing it with friends on a bluebird day in Big Sky – John Zirkle loves that feeling. Zen days like that are works of art etched into memories. He wants to extend that feeling of connection and joy.

It is often said that the mountains can be healing – and for artist and naturalist Georgia Baker, that could not be closer to the truth. 

Morgan Doud is the product of a beautiful love story. Before her parents were married, her father always had a feeling something was wrong with him. He went for testing, discovered he has Muscular Dystrophy and told his fiance to marry someone else, someone without his struggles. 

Hanna Powell was euphoric after performing, “Always Remember Us This Way,” by Lady Gaga at the Warren Miller Performing Arts (WMPAC) concert called “Her Gift Her Creation.” 

In many ways the last few years of Lewis’s life are a pretty good representation of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey.” The hero struggles, finds conflict in the ordinary world, has a “call to adventure.” He heads into the special world where he endures tests and along the way discovers allies and enemies.

Haley Van Heel seems to be in constant motion between playing for the Hillbilly Huckers in community softball, coaching Big Sky girls in summer volleyball, and working fulltime as Design and Photography Manager at the Yellowstone Club. A Montana native, she has become a familiar face in town after her three-year tenure at the club.