Task Force 98 | Big Sky, Montana

Task Force 98 is complete.

We ran an offset schedule for 98. Tuesday morning we had the privilege of picking up our Operators at the airport and heading to the office.  We said hello to everyone at HQ, grabbed some gear, and armed the guys with bear spray before swinging by Stone Glacier and heading up to Big Sky.     

Day two started with Trae making an early morning run to Bozeman to gather up horses after which we all met up with Ed at a familiar rally point, Canyon Adventures.  Ed, Trae, Roger and Josh spent significant time and resources prepping for the TF weeks in advance. Thanks to their hard work, we transloaded a few items and took off to the trail head with all the pieces in place. The guys had a good time unloading and saddling the horses while trying to stay out of the way of an upset mare or avoid getting kicked by a mule. None of them had much or any experience in the saddle but after loading the mules and getting a quick crash course from Trae we hit the trail.

The group rode 9 miles on horseback to a beautiful hunting camp which sits at 6800 ft, below Sage Peak. There aren’t words to describe the majesty of the place so I'll spare you the disservice of an attempt. What I will say is something magical happens when you combine a beautiful remote setting, the absence of any technology or reception, and the fellowship that comes from men of character gathering.

On day 3 we covered another 6 miles on horse and foot until we arrived at Sage Peak (10,600 ft.). The skies were clear and the only sign of human life as far as you could see in any direction was a little white dot that was our camp. When we reached the summit, everyone sat in silence and took in the remoteness and pristine beauty of the place.

Reaching the summit together and the nights around the campfire are experiences that you can’t place a value on. It was the epitome of decompression through recreation. The fact that there was also fellowship, sharing and relationship building, is a testament to this wonderful additive experience that the Big Sky Bravery team has fostered through the deliberate, thoughtful execution of these Task Forces.

We came out of the woods and had the opportunity to take part in the first Kathy Hake Memorial Poker Ride.  Everyone reading this knows what Kathy means to the organization…it was a really special event to be a part of.

We capped off the TF getting a few lines wet in the beautiful streams of the Taylor Fork.  Everyone pulled in a few fish and it was the perfect serene setting to cap off the trip.   

With sincere gratitude, thank you.

V/R

Mike Vint
TF90 Director

TF98 Volunteers

• Mike Vint, Task Force Director

• Ed Hake

• Shane Kaliher

• Trae McInroe

TF98 Patriots

• Canyon Adventures (horses and backcountry camping experience)

• Creag Foundation (flights)

• Roger Beslanowitch (baddest Camp Jack on the planet)

• Josh Abbot (Sage Peak Outfitters)

• Marci Gehring (From the Heart Foods)

“The organization is fantastic and could not ask for a better way to spend a week. I was able to enjoy myself without the constant pressure of work, kids, wife, or any other life issues that presented themselves. I opened up to a group of strangers (at the time) with concerns I’ve had about my home/work life and the volunteers had tips and tricks they shared with me to try and use. Heights has always been a fear of mine so climbing to the top of a mountain sounded terrifying. Thinking I was going to slip and fall down the mountainside or having the wind knock me over off the edge. Then once I reached the top with all the guys around me I felt like I was on top of the world realizing I just faced a huge fear of mine felt amazing. I really want to thank BSB for getting me out to Montana and giving me the opportunity to experience this adventure.

-J”

“BSB was an extremely unique and fulfilling experience. The amount of effort put in by volunteers was humbling and greatly appreciated. After participating in the program,  I feel professionally reinvigorated and more patient with my family. I cannot thank the organization enough.

-A”

“To everyone who makes Big Sky Bravery possible, I can’t say thank you enough for your support. After 19 years and over 10 combat deployments, I found myself living in a very small world with only the men and women to my right and left to get through many tough situations. It has taken a significant toll on my family and myself over the years. In the last 8 months, I have finally begun to deal with the impacts of many years of military service. Personal conversations with the BSB guides and other men of character around a campfire, at the top of Sage Peak, fly fishing, and throughout the week have made life-changing impacts on me and opened my awareness again to all the positive things this country has to offer. In the coming weeks and months, I am confident my family, friends, and team members will see the impacts of this trip. I wish you all well and thank you for what you are doing.

Very Respectfully,

-T”