Arnold “Smoke” Elser is a legendary wilderness outfitter, educator, and conservationist whose life’s work is deeply rooted in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness. Since his first trip into the Bob in 1956, Elser has spent nearly seven decades guiding thousands of people—many of them first-time riders—through its rugged terrain, sharing not only the landscape but also his deep reverence for wild places.

After graduating from the University of Montana in 1968 with a degree in range management and secondary education, Elser and his wife Thelma founded Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters. They built their business on a philosophy of “interpreting the land,” helping guests connect with the wilderness through storytelling, horsemanship, and a commitment to conservation. Elser has led over 700 trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness and has spent more than 8,030 nights under its stars.

Elser’s influence extends beyond guiding. He has taught horse and mule packing at the University of Montana since 1964, training over 30,000 students, including military personnel and federal land managers. He co-authored the textbook Packin’ In on Mules and Horses and is a certified “Master of No Trace” instructor with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).

A passionate advocate for wilderness preservation, Elser played a key role in the creation of the Great Bear Wilderness in 1978 and testified in support of the 1964 Wilderness Act. His efforts have been recognized with numerous awards, including the University of Montana’s 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award and the Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award from The Conservation Roundtable.

Elser’s stories and experiences are captured in the memoir Hush of the Land: A Lifetime in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, co-authored with Eva-Maria Maggi. The book offers a vivid account of his adventures and his enduring commitment to protecting Montana’s wildlands.

Even in his 90s, Smoke Elser remains an active voice in wilderness education and conservation, embodying a lifetime dedicated to stewarding the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Show notes:

00:03:59 - Teaching Guests to Listen to Wilderness

00:06:14 - Wilderness Education for Youth Away from Screens

00:07:48 - Bringing Youth Back to the Wilderness

00:10:02 - Starting Wilderness Camps for Kids

00:11:43 - Montana Elders Teaching Youth Wilderness Skills

00:13:08 - Teaching Wilderness Skills to Young Adults

00:15:08 - Touring the Historic Barn and Saddle Collection

00:16:53 - Historic Saddles and Branding Iron Collection

00:19:44 - Caring for Retired Horses and Mules

00:22:17 - Camping at the Airfield with Horses

00:24:23 - Sleeping with Grizzlies in the Wilderness

00:26:38 - Protecting the Wilderness Through Innovation

00:29:16 - Gore-Tex Innovation and Leave No Trace Camping

00:33:46 - Lightweight Camping and Leave No Trace Practices

00:36:05 - Making Fire Pans and Horse Shoeing Tips

00:37:35 - Biodiversity: Why Every Species Matters

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Virginia (Ginny) Bond is an educator and public health researcher based in Zambia whose work focuses on HIV, stigma reduction, and community health. Trained as a social anthropologist, she collaborates with health programs and research organizations to better understand the social and cultural factors shaping HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Her work emphasizes community engagement, education, and participatory research methods that strengthen public health responses and empower people living with HIV. Through teaching, mentoring, and field research, she contributes to training the next generation of global health practitioners while helping develop strategies that address stigma and improve access to care. 

One scientific curiosity hides behind work like hers: viruses are biological, but epidemics are social phenomena. The virus spreads through bodies, yet stigma, poverty, gender inequality, and access to education often determine whether treatment actually reaches people. That is why community counselors and educators are as critical to the HIV response as laboratories and pharmaceuticals.

Show notes:

00:03:40 - Childhood Memories Across Africa

00:06:43 - From Minority Student to Anthropologist

00:09:34 - A Close Friendship Lost to AIDS

00:11:16 - HIV Origins and Early Community Counseling Work

00:14:38 - HIV Transmission Routes and Biological Factors

00:17:41 - HIV Immune System and Comorbidities in Africa

00:20:25 - Home-Based Care During the AIDS Crisis

00:23:43 - AIDS Stigma and Generational Trauma in Zambia

00:27:03 - HIV Stigma and the Power of Openness

00:30:34 - HIV Treatment Challenges and Social Stigma

00:32:28 - Tackling HIV Stigma in Health Facilities

00:37:41 - Northern Star Project: Global Stigma Reduction Initiative

00:40:37 - Modern HIV Treatment and Ending Stigma

00:42:40 - Protecting Backcountry Trails During Mud Season

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#inspiration

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#exploremore

#travelstories

#missoula

#missoulamontana

#montana

#hivawareness

#aidsawareness

#endthestigma

#globalhealth

#publichealth

#changetheworld

#humansofearth

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Lisa Bickell is an environmental educator and interpretive planner based in Missoula, Montana, and the current board chair of the Montana Natural History Center. She has been involved with the organization for more than 25 years and previously served as its Education Director, helping shape many of the programs that connect people of all ages to the natural world.

Lisa holds a degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and a Master of Education from Western Washington University. Her career has focused on environmental education, interpretive planning, and helping communities engage more deeply with the landscapes around them.

She is especially interested in Phenology, the study of seasonal changes in plants, animals, and ecosystems. Through field courses, community programs, and decades of observation, Lisa encourages people to slow down, pay attention, and notice how the rhythms of nature are shifting over time.

Show notes:

00:02:37 - Childhood Adventures in Florida Woods

00:04:46 - Childhood Nature Adventures Shape Career Path

00:08:35 - From Environmental Education to Youth Programs

00:10:32 - Visiting Naturalists School Year Program

00:12:27 - Connecting Children with Nature Through Education

00:15:33 - Montana Master Naturalist Program Overview

00:18:13 - Noticing Nature's Seasonal Changes

00:19:51 - Observing Fall Leaves Like a Naturalist

00:22:04 - Mouse Tunnels Under Melting Snow

00:24:03 - Montana's Mountain Valley at Sunset

00:26:21 - Exploring Nature Through Art and Classes

00:28:07 - Exploring Nature Through Art and Creativity

00:31:18 - Montana's Fossil History and Ecosystems

00:35:26 - Life Lessons: Leaving Well and Daily Walks

#travel #adventure #montana #missoula #montananaturalhistorycenter #ecology #naturescience #phenology #travelpodcast #sciencepodcast #adventurepodcast #thetraillesstraveled #traillesstraveled #missoulamt #missoulamontana

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Doug Proctor grew up just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, where his love for rivers was seeded early in life. As a boy he spent years canoeing with his family and through the Boy Scouts on class one rivers across southern Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. At the age of 12 he embarked on his first extended canoe trip—a two-week wilderness journey in Kentucky that helped shape his lifelong passion for river travel and backcountry adventure. 

In 1977 Proctor began his professional guiding career, leading whitewater rafting trips commercially on the New Riverand the Gauley River, two of the eastern United States’ premier whitewater destinations. Over the next 35 years he built extensive experience as an outfitter in West Virginia, guiding trips through challenging Class III and Class IV waters and cultivating deep skills in river stewardship, guest experience, and wilderness logistics. 

His love of rivers and adventure didn’t stop in Appalachia. His guiding has taken him to Grand Canyon, Alaska, Chile, Costa Rica, Idaho, and numerous rivers in both the eastern and western United States. These experiences helped refine his craft as a guide renowned for both technical competence and a commitment to sharing wild rivers with thoughtful guests. 

Today Proctor is co-owner of Selway River Adventures, a wilderness rafting outfitter based in Stanley, Idaho. With his partners he operates under one of the extremely limited commercial permits on the Selway River, a nationally designated Wild and Scenic river flowing through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Trips are typically five to six days long, weaving technical whitewater with solitude and natural beauty few river runners ever get to experience. 

Proctor now lives in Stanley with his wife Cathy and their dogs, drawn to Idaho by the remarkable concentration of great rivers in the region. Guiding river trips for over 40 years, he views sharing his experience with guests and friends as not just a profession but a deep passion—one rooted in the rhythms of wild water and the stories those rivers tell. 

Show notes:

00:03:51 - The Selway River: Permit System and Access

00:05:56 - From Boy Scouts to River Guide Entrepreneur

00:07:56 - Class 6 Rafting Company Origin Story

00:09:59 - Selway River: Protected Wilderness and Rafting History

00:12:24 - Early Spring Wildlife and River Adventure

00:15:41 - Protecting Rivers and Wilderness Areas

00:17:56 - Selway River Adventures Trip Overview

00:19:38 - First-Time River Trips Need Only Willingness

00:21:41 - Wildlife Abundance on the Selway River

00:24:23 - Salmon Extinction Crisis and Dam Removal Solutions

00:26:27 - Selway Lodge History and River Adventures

00:28:21 - Epic River Adventures in Alaska and Beyond

00:30:19 - Doug's Eighth Grade Singing Trauma

00:31:53 - Three Pieces of Life Advice and Conservation

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Sam and Elise Risho are the culinary heart and soul behind The Silk Road Catering & Spice in Missoula, Montana. Their story is rooted in decades of family food tradition and a passion for global flavors. Sam grew up in a restaurant family, learning the love of food and hospitality from his father and brother through years of working in local eateries and mastering fine-dining service and kitchen craft. In 2009 Sam and his brother, along with Elise, opened The Silk Road Restaurant to bring a tapas-style global tasting experience to the community. The restaurant’s success eventually blossomed into a thriving catering business and an artisanal spice line inspired by world cuisines. Elise plays a central role in running the business and shaping its creative vision as co-owner alongside Sam. Today they focus on crafting memorable menus for weddings and special events and sharing unique spice blends that reflect their commitment to exceptional hospitality and globally inspired cuisine.

Show notes:

00:03:49 - From Sheltered to Adventure: Building Community

00:06:05 - Growing Up in a House of Hospitality

00:07:53 - Adventures Before Kids Around the World

00:10:03 - Custom Tailoring in Shanghai's French District

00:12:13 - From Restaurant to Catering Adventures Across Montana

00:14:11 - The Silk Road Inspired Spice Blends

00:17:23 - From Spice Bags to Store Shelves

00:20:54 - Finding Your Favorite Spice Blend

00:23:04 - Adding Sour and Shopping Local

00:25:46 - Community Spirit in Missoula, Montana

00:28:30 - Hiking Adventures with Kids in Missoula

00:30:49 - Keeping Missoula Weird Through Diversity

00:32:56 - Embrace Slow Travel and Community Connection

00:35:06 - Parenting Advice: Encourage Kids to Try New Things

00:37:39 - Clark Fork River and The Wellerman Song

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Aimee McQuilkin is a Missoula entrepreneur and community builder, best known as the owner of Betty’s Divine and the Clark Fork Yacht Club. Through these beloved businesses, she has helped shape Missoula’s social and cultural fabric by creating welcoming spaces rooted in style, hospitality, and connection. Aimee’s work reflects a deep commitment to local economy, creativity, and gathering people together in meaningful ways.

Shane Clouse is a Missoula musician and songwriter whose work blends Americana, folk, and roots traditions with thoughtful storytelling. His music is shaped by Montana landscapes and lived experience, carrying a quiet honesty that resonates both on stage and in more intimate listening spaces. Shane is a steady presence in the local music community, known for craft, collaboration, and authenticity.

Dave Stromeyer is a Missoula County Commissioner focused on infrastructure, public service, and long term regional planning. He is currently working on a passenger railroad project aimed at improving transportation options and connectivity in western Montana. Dave’s work reflects a practical, forward looking approach to governance with an emphasis on public benefit, economic resilience, and sustainable mobility.​

Show notes:

00:03:44 - 1983 Rabbit and Missoula Roots

00:05:53 - Opening Betty's Divine While Pregnant

00:09:34 - Building Community Through Shared Experiences

00:11:56 - Community Heart and Entrepreneurial Joy

00:13:23 - Homeownership Enables Community Business Growth

00:15:39 - How Desmond the Mannequin Found Home

00:18:12 - The Governor of the Hip Strip

00:23:37 - Missoula's Deep History and Indigenous Stewardship

00:27:39 - Gateway to the Rocky Mountains and Home

00:32:15 - Stewardship and Restoring Passenger Rail

00:38:12 - Keeping Missoula Special Through Community Involvement

00:41:16 - Montana's State Song and Pink Grizzly Greenhouse

00:44:10 - From Farm to Pink Grizzly Business

00:46:39 - From Lumber Mills to Community Music

00:50:32 - Historic Irrigation Ditch Sustains Missoula Community

00:53:56 - Hunting and Fishing Fund Conservation

00:58:58 - Montana Matters: A Song of Unity

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Frank Szollosi is the Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation, the state’s oldest and largest wildlife conservation organization focused on protecting wildlife habitat, public lands access, and science-based natural resource policy in Montana. He took on this leadership role in June 2020 after a long career with the National Wildlife Federation, where he worked for over a decade on climate and water policy at the Great Lakes Regional Center and on national campaigns that defended public lands, advanced the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and connected people with wildlife.

At MWF, Szollosi collaborates with state agencies including Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, tribal governments, landowners, businesses, and conservation partners to advance policies that sustain healthy wildlife populations and accessible wild places. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan, and he brings extensive experience in government, including work as both a staffer and local elected official. Outside of his professional work, Szollosi is an avid outdoorsperson who has spent more than 25 years fly fishing and participates enthusiastically in annual hunts with friends and colleagues. He lives in Montana with his wife and four children and enjoys kayaking, downhill skiing, and backpacking. 

JOIN THE MONTANA WILDLIFE FEDERATION FOR ONLY $40/YEAR --> www.MontanaWildlife.org

Show notes:

00:02:54 - Growing Up in Toledo, Ohio

00:05:29 - Leading Montana Wildlife Federation

00:08:26 - Finding Balance in Wildlife Conservation

00:10:14 - Montana Wildlife Federation's Origins and Conservation History

00:15:45 - Hunter-Funded Conservation: Montana's Legacy

00:19:53 - Climate Change and Wildlife Conservation in Montana

00:24:09 - Defending Public Lands Through Community Action

00:26:17 - Montana Wildlife Federation's Advocacy Tools

00:29:05 - Protecting Public Lands from Corporate Development

00:31:30 - Montana Wildlife Federation Membership Benefits

00:33:55 - Understanding Differences and Conservation Leadership

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John Wood is an Alaska musher from Chugiak who started chasing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in the late nineteen seventies and went on to finish the thousand mile route to Nome four times in 1978, 1979, 1982 and 1986. Known for his dry humor and honesty about the grind of the trail, he once joked that after three runs he had “an unparalleled record of mediocrity” and zero prize money, yet if you asked whether he planned to run again his answer was “hell yes,” because the race embodied adventure, excitement, competition and camaraderie that felt uniquely Alaskan. John served as a musher representative on the Iditarod board and offered straight talking advice to rookies about staying upbeat, caring for their dog teams and setting realistic goals in a race where two weeks of little sleep and deep cold are the norm. The event he helped shape as a veteran competitor and mentor is itself legendary an annual March run from Anchorage to Nome of roughly one thousand miles across mountains, frozen rivers and Bering Sea coast, first completed in 1973 and often called the Last Great Race on Earth for its blend of brutal weather, wilderness travel and the deep historical ties between sled dogs and Alaska communities.

Show Notes:

00:02:37 - Growing Up in Alaska's Homestead

00:06:29 - Mountain Life and Mining Adventures in Alaska

00:09:32 - Getting into Dog Mushing with Trap Lines

00:12:43 - Recording the Grand Canyon with John Wood

00:16:32 - From Finishing to Competing in Iditarod

00:18:59 - Iditarod Southern Route and Racing Strategy

00:22:53 - Alaskan Huskies: Sled Dogs and Racing

00:27:47 - Iditarod Dog Care and Rest Cycles

00:30:52 - Sleep Strategy for Iditarod Success

00:33:43 - Three Life Lessons from Iditarod Racing

00:35:42 - Grand Canyon Evening and Iditarod Song

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Kelly Dix was raised in Lyndonville, NY, where time spent outside sparked her curiosity and awe of the natural world. She holds degrees in Mathematics, Environmental Sciences & Engineering, and Toxicology. Throughout her career in biomedical research she spent her spare time backpacking and exploring the mountain west with her husband. Kelly found her true passion in retirement, sharing her enthusiasm for science and nature with others. She’s been a substitute teacher and a volunteer with several environmental education non-profit organizations. After moving to Montana with her husband in 2016 Kelly found her home at MNHC and she has been involved with the VNS, Montana Master Naturalist, WOW, and other programs ever since. When she’s not volunteering at MNHC, you can find her at the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium, hiking almost anywhere, or taking way too many photos of just about anything in the natural world.

Show notes:

00:03:39 - Childhood Outdoor Play

00:07:18 - Teamwork and Listening

00:10:52 - Listening to Nature's Hidden Voices

00:14:58 - From Math to Toxicology

00:17:09 - Pharmacokinetics and Environmental Toxicology

00:19:48 - Toxicology's Multidisciplinary Nature

00:22:16 - Importance of Public Lands

00:26:55 - Kelly Dix, Montana Naturalist

00:31:02 - Visiting Naturalist in Schools

00:34:26 - Hands-On Nature Education

00:37:26 - Montana Master Naturalist Program

00:42:23 - Montana Master Naturalists

00:44:32 - Montana Natural History Center Info

00:49:21 - Visiting Naturalist in Schools

Please help us keep the podcast version of the show advertisement free while also supporting our educational outreach efforts by donating $3/month on Patreon. To donate, visit Patreon.com/TrailLessTraveled

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Lynx Vilden is a renowned author, wilderness guide, and ancestral skills teacher known for her immersive “Stone Age Projects,” where participants live off the land using only primitive tools and techniques. With over three decades of experience in earth-based living, Lynx has dedicated her life to reconnecting people with the rhythms of the natural world through traditional lifeways. Her teachings blend deep ecological awareness with hands-on instruction in skills such as hide tanning, fire-making, and shelter-building, inspiring a global movement toward rewilding and self-sufficiency. Her work has been featured in documentaries, books, and international media, and she continues to guide others on the path of ancestral remembrance and ecological belonging. In her stunning memoir Lynx Vilden chronicles her journey to reconnect with the earth, offering a model for how we all can nurture the wild around and inside ourselves.

Show notes:

00:03:33 - Connection to Nature and Ancestral Skills

00:07:06 - Finding My Path in Community

00:10:12 - Importance of Community in Wilderness Skills

00:13:54 - Exploring Stones by the River

00:15:32 - Exploring Natural Elements for Survival

00:17:19 - Exploring Earth, Water, and Fire

00:20:12 - Indigenous Survival Skills and Practices

00:24:33 - Learning Wilderness Skills with Lynx

00:27:07 - Exploring Nature's Grandeur

00:29:17 - Journeying Through the Wilderness

00:33:48 - Understanding Our Safety Plan

00:36:52 - Journey of Writing and Discovery

00:39:34 - Exploring Non-Conventional Publishing Paths

00:45:46 - Connecting with Nature and Moon Phases

Please help us keep the podcast version of the show advertisement free while also supporting our educational outreach efforts by donating $3/month on Patreon. To donate, visit Patreon.com/TrailLessTraveled

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Dana Anderson, better known as Wild Mountain Man Dan, is a celebrated bushcraft instructor based in Matlock, Washington. Now 68, he has spent over six decades honing wilderness skills and teaching them to others. Dana has lived completely off the grid in a hand‑built cabin by a creek for more than three decades, cultivating a rich life subsisting on foraging, hunting, fishing, and primitive craftsmanship.

A master of stone‑tool crafting, arrowhead chipping, primitive cooking, and stone‑age technologies, Dana has taught countless students in wilderness gatherings across the western U.S. He’s best known for leading shelter‑building and raft‑building challenges at the PNW Survival Games, emphasizing resourcefulness, survival principles, and hands‑on learning. With over 33 years off‑grid experience and ongoing instructor roles in events like PNW Survival Games, Dana shares not just skills but also deep respect for wild landscapes.

Ean Anderson, Dana’s son, has followed in his father’s footsteps in a rugged way. As a veteran bear hunter and certified survival skills instructor, Ean blends traditional wilderness mastery with modern safety and technique. He specializes in teaching advanced tracking, big-game fieldcraft, and hands‑on wilderness preparedness.

With a strong focus on black and brown bear hunting, Ean has earned a reputation for combining ethical hunting practices with deep survival know‑how. Drawing on his father's traditions and his own professional experience, Ean teaches both individual learners and groups how to thrive safely in bear‑inhabited wilderness—from crafting emergency shelters and gear improvisation to honing decision-making under pressure.

Show notes:

00:04:26 - Childhood Adventures and Life Lessons

00:08:03 - Growing Up in a Remote Town

00:10:08 - Lessons from Childhood Hardship

00:12:11 - Growing Up in Nature

00:14:45 - Childhood Adventures in the Woods

00:17:33 - Ancient Skills and Modern Gatherings

00:19:59 - Traditional Survival Skills Overview

00:24:05 - Traditional Hunting and Food Connection

00:26:06 - Honoring Animals Through Sustainable Hunting

00:28:09 - Respecting Nature Through Hunting

00:30:56 - The Significance of Names

00:33:41 - Finding Identity Through Names

00:36:01 - Passion for Bear Hunting

00:37:08 - Passion for Bear Hunting

00:39:00 - Connection Between Hunting and Conservation

00:41:48 - Understanding Nature's Clues

Please help us keep the podcast version of the show advertisement free while also supporting our educational outreach efforts by donating $3/month on Patreon. To donate, visit Patreon.com/TrailLessTraveled

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