She climbs rock walls, she carefully casts her fly, she wooshes through the wintry wilds of Yellowstone, she is all of us and she can be YOU!

Put on your ski boots, put on your bike helmet, put on your best zumba shake, Mountain Belles do it all! Try new endeavors with experts, often free of cost, in a supportive environment.

Dedicated to forming community through shared pursuits, Mountain Belles is a Bozeman-based women’s recreational group that promotes a healthy, active, and adventurous lifestyle through hosting clinics, events and outings. Members are a supportive and diverse group of local women who enjoy and participate in just about everything active including running, biking, yoga, ice climbing, skiing, fishing, kayaking, the list goes on and on. Mountain Belles welcomes women of all ages and abilities to join. It is not a competition group constantly trying to outdo one another. Belles have a common bond of a desire to get out there, enjoy the healthy mountain lifestyle, try new things, and meet new friends with whom to share their many adventures.

Outings range from running the Bear Trap Canyon followed by a soak at Norris Hot Springs in late winter to wildflower identification hikes at the height of summer. That is not to mention the many run, bike, swim, ski partnerships that are created through the forum of the Mountain Belles. The biannual Fall and Spring Fling Social and Potlucks have had guest speakers on topics such as acupuncture, triathlon training, and the healthful benefits of beer.

Clinics held once a month are open to the public, but free or at a reduced cost for Mountain Belle members. Membership in Mountain Belles is $20/year. Clinics would not be possible without our fabulous sponsors who provide clinics free of charge, at a reduced cost or give money to help support the endeavors of Mountain Belles. A few of the annual clinic favorites include clay shooting with Rising Spirits Shooting School, fly fishing with the Greater Yellowstone Flyfishers, and rock climbing with Spire Climbing Gym. Says Doc Bradford of Rising Spirits Shooting School, “This swell bunch of women has much more fun than other groups…the ladies just like to learn and have fun.”

Mountain Belles, formerly Team WinS (Women in Sports) started as a way to sponsor competitive female athletes. Since its inception, it has morphed into a group of ladies of all ages and abilities, dedicated to supporting each other to live a healthy active lifestyle in a fun non-competitive environment. What remains the same is that it has always been an organization run by women for women ready to provide each other encouragement, assistance, and energy along the way.

Bozeman is fortunate to have many organizations dedicated to active pursuits. While many groups provide weekly training sessions for a single sport, the Mountain Belles focus on hosting unique clinics on a monthly basis giving women an opportunity to try activities they might not otherwise try. This is often given as one of the favorite things about being a Mountain Belles member. That having been said, connecting women to each other and forging community around shared pursuits is one of the main goals of the Mountain Belles. Sharon Dugger, current board member and owner of Girls Outdoor sees the group as a “welcoming body for women either new to the community, entering a new stage in their lives or women just trying to reconnect to the  introduction of  healthy activities in a warm embracing and non competitive environment.” New to town and looking for someone to go running with- check them out! Been here awhile and looking to expand your horizons look no further.

You don’t need to post-hole through hidden coulees to find the Mountain Belles (although there might be some of them up there), a trip to www.mountainbelles.com or to Facebook will give you all the information you need. The Mountain Belles Facebook page exists to connect a community of active women. It is a great place to post your activities and ask others to join you. Gather women for fun outings such as running and soaking, connect with ski partners, organize a day hike, form a Belles ultimate Frisbee team or just post your favorite photos, healthy recipes, or a joke. Go places, do things, share the gas, and make new friends!
Better yet, if you want to check out the Mountain Belles in person, come to an upcoming clinic. Clinics are open to everyone. Cost is $0 for current Mountain Belles (Team WinS) members and $20 for new Mountain Belles members. Pay $20 at the event and you’ll receive a year’s membership and free entry to most Mountain Belles events throughout the year.

Rock Climbing Clinic
Saturday, December 4th, 10am at Spire Climbing Gym. This clinic will be a great opportunity to meet new friends as we learn how to belay, rock climb, and boulder. For questions or to register please email becky.hochstein@gmail.com

Nordic Ski Clinic
Saturday, January 29th, 12pm at Lindley Park. All levels-skate and classic. Fine-tune your technique or clip into a pair of skis for the first time. This clinic is designed for all levels of Nordic skiers to work on their skills in a fun and supportive environment. Instruction will be provided for both skate and classic skiing. For questions or to register please email pranicflow@hotmail.com

For more information about the Mountain Belles, their clinics, or to become a member go to  www.mountainbelles.com or visit them on Facebook. Keep a look out for a new logo, new look, and new energy in the new year!

Mountain Belles (formerly Team WinS- Women in Sports) is a Bozeman-based non-profit organization run by women for women to promote a healthy, active, and adventurous lifestyle.