Take a look behind the scenes and meet the talented women who work for Western Montana’s Glacier Country. Our team is immersed and knowledgeable in all things Western Montana, so we’re sharing some of our favorite things. Read on for insider tips and local knowhow, and find a few reasons why we’re so passionate about our home.
Racene Friede, President CEO
What’s your favorite time of year?
For me, the best season is autumn. Not only is Western Montana beautiful with the mixture of colorful fall foliage, but the weather is perfect—just the right temperature for a sweatshirt and jeans.
What’s your favorite indoor activity?
Visiting museums and galleries is one of the first things I do when I travel. Art galleries and museums provide windows into different cultures, histories and backgrounds. Exploring artworks from various regions and time periods expands my understanding of the community and world at large.
What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Bicycling is good for my soul. The combination of physical activity, fresh air and scenic views helps me live in the moment and breathe in this great place I call home.
What’s your favorite Western Montana food?
Although not specific to Western Montana, I love bread pudding, especially my mom’s. Whenever I see bread pudding on the menu at a restaurant, I always try it. And there are a handful of restaurants here with some fantastic options.
What’s your favorite new thing?
I love e-biking! Providing adjustable pedal assistance levels, e-bikes allow me to bike places like the Going-to-the-Sun Road during times when the road is closed to traffic, which is simply magical.
Debbie Picard, Director of Sales
What’s your favorite time of year?
My favorite time of year is early fall. Cool mornings and warms days are perfect for fly-fishing, hiking or even an evening stroll, not to mention the colorful fall foliage.
What’s your favorite indoor activity?
This is a hard question since most of my favorite activities are outdoors. I do love all the art galleries we have in Western Montana and a good stroll through the galleries of whichever town I am in is always enjoyable. It really is amazing how many artists call Western Montana home.
What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Since we moved to Montana for the great outdoors and fly fishing, that is my favorite. Getting out on one of the many rivers we have right outside our doors and floating in nature, hearing the birds, watching the wildlife, and catching that elusive brown trout and then releasing it back to be caught again next time, it’s addictive. Right behind that is hiking, biking and outdoor concerts.
What’s your favorite Western Montana food?
I don’t really have a favorite food in Montana, but what I do love is the abundant food truck scene. These food trucks offer delicious palate pleasers from all over the world, and I am constantly impressed with the quality of food they serve and most of the ingredients, when possible, are sourced locally—so they are fresh and delicious.
What’s your favorite new thing?
My kids were practically adults when we moved to Montana 11 years ago, and I recently became a grandma for the first time. I am so excited to see and experience Western Montana from a child’s perspective and find the best playgrounds, kid offerings and kid-friendly activities. There are so many, and I can’t wait.
Lucy Beighle, Director of Communications
What’s your favorite time of year?
I’m a trail runner, and there’s nothing better than running through beautiful fall colors in the cool mountain air.
What’s your favorite indoor activity?
If it’s fall, I’m a huge fan of hunkering in front of a fireplace with a good book. Or any time of year, I love all the art galleries and concerts we have in Western Montana.
What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
That’s a tough one, but one of my favorite things to do is take a kayak down the Clearwater Canoe Trail in the Seeley Lake area. The meandering water, the wildlife, it’s so beautiful and peaceful. And one of my all-time favorite things I’ve ever done is llama trekking. Llamas are basically big Labradors—they’re so friendly.
What’s your favorite Western Montana food?
I’m going to have to say huckleberry pie. There’s nothing better than freshly baked pie made with that coveted berry, and I know how long they take to pick, which makes it even better! I’m a fan of Flathead cherries, too.
What’s your favorite new thing?
This is a general answer, but I love all the new restaurant options we have in Glacier Country. You can get a fantastic meal here, every night of the week.
Aerionna Skrutvold, Marketing Project Manager
What’s your favorite time of year?
Spring and fall both hold a special place for me. Spring brings the excitement of warmer weather, blooming wildflowers and longer days prime for outdoor recreation. In Western Montana fall has a magical feeling—I can’t pinpoint if it’s the earthy autumn scent and vibrant colors that fall brings or the pumpkin patches, harvest festivals, bonfires and cozy flannels, but it fills me with a sense of togetherness.
What’s your favorite indoor activity?
I am a foodie and love a good meal! It’s so easy to find an amazing restaurant in Western Montana, and our craft beer and distillery scenes are on point, too. Going out for a meal is my go-to indoor activity with my family and friends.
What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Born and raised in Montana, I’m an outdoor enthusiast and take full advantage of every opportunity each season brings. In the winter I snowmobile, in the spring I bike and run, in the summer I boat and fish, and during the fall I hike and hunt.
What’s your favorite Western Montana food?
As I mentioned, I love food. I am lucky enough to be a hunter and harvest my own wild game to feed my family. I think it tastes delicious, and I appreciate how healthy it is (lean and organic).
What’s your favorite new thing?
This past spring, I went e-biking for the first time, and absolutely fell in love. It was so exhilarating to pedal fast up steep hills and conquer the mountain. This will be my next big purchase.
Kristi McNeal, Director of Operations & Accounting
What’s your favorite time of year?
I’d have to say fall. I love an early morning frost as it gives the stunning fall colors a sparkle in the morning.
What’s your favorite indoor activity?
I’m a film buff; you can usually find me watching movies and TV series. One of my favorite TV shows is Yellowstone, which was largely filmed here in Western Montana. I actually own property where I RV and it’s near “The Train Station” from the show.
What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Outside, I enjoy reading while listening to the breeze in the trees. My favorite local bookstore is The Book Exchange, in Missoula, where you can browse thousands of new and used books, grab a chai latte, find a nook and stay awhile.
What’s your favorite Western Montana food?
Huckleberry desserts top the list for me. I have my go-to huckleberry picking spots each year to forage for these tiny berries. My reward is Huckleberry Delight—a family recipe with huckleberries, marshmallows and cheesecake.
What’s your favorite new thing?
Recently I’ve begun practicing yin-yoga. I appreciate the calm it brings to me mentally while I stretch. It’s a passion I share with many locals, making it easy to find fitness and yoga studios throughout Western Montana.
Jenna Boltz, Director of Community Engagement and Destination Stewardship
What’s your favorite time of year?
Fall is my favorite time of year—there’s just something about how the air smells, the weather is great for hiking, and I love when the larch trees turn gold.
What’s your favorite indoor activity?
I take advantage of Western Montana’s music scene whenever possible. There are always live performances happening in unique, intimate settings as well as larger venues, and there is no shortage of talent here!
What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Do I have to pick one? I want to be outside all the time. In the winter, I take advantage of miles of cross-country ski trails, or when I really want some solitude, I take a pair of snowshoes to explore pristine, white forests. In the warmer months, I love hiking, mountain biking or paddling on a river.
What’s your favorite Western Montana food?
My family likes to “cook what we catch” when we’re camping, and I have had some of the most amazing trout dishes fireside as a result! A little lemon and some fresh herbs wrapped up and cooked over a fire—yum!
What’s your favorite new thing?
I love backpacking and have yet to have the same experience twice, even when I am backpacking somewhere I have been before. Every time I get out for an adventure with everything I need on my back, it is a new and exciting experience. The Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Bitterroot Valley are some of my favorite places to explore.
Please note: We ask that all our visitors and residents Recreate Responsibly by being mindful of the following: practice physical distancing; know before you go; plan ahead; play it safe; leave no trace; tread lightly; and help build an inclusive outdoors.
September 4, 2023
Related: About, Biking, Concerts/Music Festivals, Fall Fun, Fishing, Food, Glacier National Park, Hiking, Hunting, Indoor Fun, Montana, Museums, Outdoor Fun, Seeley Lake, Spring Fun, Wildlife
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