The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is an incredible place to live, work, play, and explore. Our staff, dispersed across the region, know this firsthand and are excited to share some of their favorite things in this new blog series, GYC Staff Picks. Each month, we’ll be sharing Greater Yellowstone favorites from all of our staff—favorite trails, books, gear, artists, places, and much more—that help GYC staff members make the most of this remarkable place. This month, we’ll hear about a new read, a trusty piece of gear, a backcountry adventure, a local wildlife artist, and the opportunity to explore a buffalo jump!

Music: Officium by Hillard Ensemble Featuring Jan Garbarek

Imagine driving along the upper Madison River on an early May day when Yellowstone is just waking up after a long winter. Regal trumpeter swans ply the slack water, river otters dart out of view, herds of buffalo nudge along the bank looking for new shoots; yet the gray, inclement weather keeps you from opening your car windows, so the profound visual stimulus is only complimented by whatever is on the radio. On a day in 1999, nearing the end of a long day to get to the Old Faithful Inn where I would be staying that night, I was playing this favorite recording based on 12th to 16th-century liturgical works. Monastic chants are not likely what anyone else might pick when asked to find a road trip soundtrack, yet it has been remarked that Officium is what “John Coltrane hears in heaven.” Indeed, more than twenty years later when I hear this music today, I am transported back to inspiring scenes of wonder and life that are unique to Yellowstone.

—Joe Josephson, Senior Montana Conservation Associate | Bozeman, Montana

Place: Hyalite Canyon

Just outside Bozeman, Montana, Hyalite Reservoir is a close-to-town epicenter for outdoor activities. Summer offers camping, hiking, fishing, and water interests; winter offers skiing opportunities, ice climbing, and ice fishing; spring offers biking (before the road is open to cars), to name a few! It's a great place to paddleboard, kayak, or canoe. My family and I like to take advantage of camping close to home, so we camp at Hyalite’s designated campgrounds during weekdays and can still drive into Bozeman for work. From the campsites, you can take advantage of many hikes and water sports. One of my favorite hikes, Palisade Falls, is a short, paved walk all ages can use to access the fabulous falls at the end of the hike. Don't be fooled by its proximity to town, Hyalite is a heavily forested area at 6,700 feet in elevation! Good information and maps for this area can be found at the Friends of Hyalite website.

—Carol Walden, Executive Office Associate | Bozeman, Montana

Book: The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman with Beth Dooley

Within the pages of The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, Chef Sean Sherman shares Indigenous recipes that are both delicious and educational, providing the reader the opportunity to learn about the ancestral cuisines of Native American peoples. The cookbook is filled with stories about Sean’s experiences as a chef and his pursuit to reconnect to his culture’s cuisine, descriptions of various ingredients found naturally on the landscape, and easy-to-make recipes that encourage sustainable living by supporting local food systems and sourcing seasonal ingredients.

Sean Sherman is not only a talented chef, but he also started a non-profit called NĀTIFS (North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems) that focuses on promoting Indigenous foodways education and facilitates Indigenous food access. Sean is an inspiring individual making a big difference for the amplification of Indigenous food cultures in today’s world.

—Lindsey Benov, Senior Development Associate | Bozeman, Montana

App: Cornell Lab’s Merlin Bird ID

As probably the most amateur birder in Greater Yellowstone, I need help telling the difference between species to complete my Life List. Luckily, the Cornell Lab’s Merlin Bird ID app allows you to enter where and when you view the bird plus the size and coloring and it delivers the best possible options for identification. I love watching my Lift List grow as I explore Greater Yellowstone and encounter new bird species.

I’m also obsessed with their Sound ID feature. Just record the bird calls around you and the Sound ID will tell you what birds you hear in real-time with incredible accuracy (screenshot of the Sound ID to the left). There’s a very elusive sora near my home that I hear every day via the Merlin Bird ID app but have yet to see.

Whether you’re in Greater Yellowstone or not, it’s a must-have app for any birders.

—Emmy Reed, Senior Digital Communications Associate | Bozeman, MT

Trail: Explore the Teton Range and Wind River Range

There are so many incredible trails in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Lake Solitude to Littles Peak route in Grand Teton National Park offers the grandeur of the Tetons without the crowds.

I love pretty much anything in the Wind River Range, but a favorite trailhead is New Forks Lakes. The Winds are huge, granite castles with lakes filled with fish, weather that will test your nerves, and some of the best backcountry in the West.

—Kathy Rinaldi, Deputy Director of Conservation

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.