July 2024

MADISON VALLEY JULY “HAPPENINGS” → What’s happened in Ennis, the Basecamp of the Madison Valley? → Huge crowds enjoyed the annual July 4^th parade, rodeos & festivities.  → The Annual Gravelly Range Wildflower Tour was led by the Madison Ranger District. →  The Summer Music in the Park Series continued in Peter T’s Park. → The Ennis Chamber hosted a Golf Scramble at the Madison Meadows Golf course. → Virginia City held a Brewfest and Vigilante Car Show. → There was a Wildflower Stroll, An Evening at the Preserve,  a Summer Wonders Field Day and an Outdoor Skills Camp for kids, at the Jack Creek Preserve.  → The Ennis Arts Association held their annual Madison Valley Arts Festival.  → The Madison River Foundation held their Annual Fundraising Gala. → The Elling House in VC sponsored the Bozeman Symphonic Choir. → The Brewery Follies and the Virginia City Playhouse offered fabulous performances. →  The outdoor Cowboy Church started up.  →  There was live music at Willie’s Distillery & the Gravel Bar!   → The community lost an institution, with the passing of Johnny France, our famous, local sheriff, cowboy, rodeo champ and the hero in the book, “Incident at Big Sky.”  He will be missed and long remembered.  → Shop small; shop local; shop Ennis!

MADISON VALLEY AUGUST “HAPPENINGS” → Shedhorn Sports 27^th annual “Hunters’ Rendezvous” runs 2^nd– 4^th. → The Annual Noxious Weed Fund Raiser, sponsored by the MV Ranchlands Group Weed Committee, hosted by the Hollow Top Angus Ranch in Pony on the 3^rd. → The VC Preservation Alliance hosts the Linderman Cabin Series on the 4^th, and the Grand Victorian Ball on the 10^th. https://www.virginiacitypreservationalliance.com/events-2. → Wildlife Speaker Series on Big Horn Sheep at the Madison Theatre on the 7^th. → Attend a Trump Rally at MSU in Bozeman on the 9^th. → The MV Medical Center celebrates 75 years of health with The Madison Festival, at the Madison Double R Fishing Lodge on the 9^th. → The Madison County Fair takes place the 13^th – 18^th in Twin Bridges. →The MV History Assoc. is sponsoring a Field Trip tour of the Talc Mine on the 15th. Meet at the Senior Center at 10 am (bring lunch & chairs). → The 65^th anniversary celebration of the Hebgen Lake Earthquake at the Visitors Center, the 16-18^th. → The 11^th Annual Montana “Ride to Remember” will come through Ennis on the 17^th. https://mtridetoremember.org/. → The Ennis Arts Association Garden Tour will be held on the 17^th.   For  info: https://ennisarts.org. → Check out the Gold Rush 5K & Duck Race in VC on the 17^th. → Music at the Elling House in VC on the 17^th. → Fly Fishing & Outdoor Festival on the 24^th, 10AM – 6PM, in Peter T’s Park.  https://www.ennischamber.com/fly-fishing-and-outdoor-festival. → The Summer Music in the Park Series continues in Peter T’s Park, on Thursdays, 5-7 PM. → Register for a Woman’s Wilderness Retreat, the 31^st at the Jack Creek Preserve. https://www.jackcreekpreserve.org/events. → Join the Labor Day Horseback Poker Ride in VC on the 31^st. → Check the Madison Theatre schedule for movies & events at:  https://ennismovies.com/.  → The outdoor Cowboy Church will be held through Labor Day, at 10:00 AM, somewhere between Virginia City and Nevada City.  → And you can go fishing, floating, hiking, trail riding, play golf, go bowling, visit the library, do yoga, go to the gym, take exercise classes, have a facial and a massage, play Pickleball, Mahjongg, take in a movie, or eat, drink, stroll through Ennis, and go shopping!  Extend your visit and Just do it all!

FUTURE “HAPPENINGS” → Enter the raffle to win an Elk Hunt! RAFFLE – 2025 Archery Elk Hunt — Jack Creek Preserve Foundation  → The Hunters Feed will be held 3-5 PM (or ‘till food runs out!) on Oct.  25th.  →  The annual Ennis Christmas Stroll will be held on December 6th.  → A new Scottish-style golf course is being built near the Big Hole River, near Twin Bridges – opening June 2025!

MONTANA NEWS → The valley experienced a small 2.6 earthquake last week, 27 miles north of Ennis. Thirty-five quakes registering up to 3.3 have occurred in Madison County in the past 30 days. → There are currently 14 fires, over 100 acres in size, currently active in Montana, contributing to the smoky skies and the devastation left behind all while we plan to celebrate Smokey the Bear’s 80^th birthday!  https://smokeybear.com/en/smokeys-history?decade=1940. →  There are numerous controversies going on over Grizzly Bears.

https://dailymontanan.com/2024/07/31/fish-and-wildlife-service-plans-to-release-decisions-on-grizzly-protections-by-end-of-january/. → The secret is out; Montana IS the Last Best Place, and we have been discovered!  Migration inflows to MT has jumped 8% with an avalanche of wealth displacing workers in MT.  According to a 2023 article in The Madisonian, the cost of living in Ennis, Montana is almost 30% higher than the average U.S. city, especially for service employees. https://madisoniannews.com/news/how-much-does-it-cost-live-ennis#:~ .  SoFi also reports that the average cost of living in Montana in 2024 is $47,887 per year, which is higher than more than half of the country.

FISHING REPORT → August has arrived and with it, more heat and dryness.  It is like a tinder box out there right now.  So, please, if you’re going to recreate, take precautions.  Just having a warm car sitting on dry grass could start a blaze.  Until we get some rain, it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure our beautiful Montana stays that way.  July had many days over 90° and the trend looks to continue.  While we have good water in the river and the fish are still happy, happy, happy, the mountains need some love.

If you’re here to fish, it has been a darn good year.  The powers that be at the dam are keeping the Upper Madison with more water than expected. This is so they can keep Ennis Lake full and pulse the water flow each day, which will reduce temps.  The side benefit is that the Upper has more water.  Fish like water.  This is the first rule of being a guide.  Find the water.  Even this little extra amount of water has kept the fish happy.  Right now, we are in a transition zone.  Yes, there are still some nocturnal stone flies, caddis, and mayflies out there.  There are also hoppers, ants, and spruce moths.  The terrestrial season has descended on the Madison River.  Dry fly fishing has been consistent, and it looks like it may just stay that way.  We have been getting haze and smoke from wildfires.  While this may make views of the high country obscured, it provides some artificial cloud cover for the fish.  The trout dig the haze.  On bright sunny days they sulk down deep.  Remember the fish do not have Costa sunglasses and no eyelids to squint, so they go deep.  The haze has just enough diffusion of direct sunlight to keep the fish up and on the feed all day.

If you’re fishing now, think small hoppers and ants.  We like hoppers in the size 10-12 range and ants in the 14-16 range.  From midday on has been the best time.  Come by the store for a huge selection of hoppers in every shape and size, along with an entire ant colony to choose from.  If that does not get you bent, nymphing tiny and shiny will always work.   Tan rubber legs and a tiny shiny nymph in the $3 Dip family will be sure to hook up.  We expect the hopper fishing to continue to be excellent all month.  If you like throwing floating foamies, now is the time.  We like the pink and flesh colors.  Have you ever seen a pink hopper in the wild?  Me neither, but the fish like them.

This great fishing season is set to continue, with the ant and hopper bite.  Remember, ants and hoppers are like chicken soup.  Some days they are on the chicken, and some days, the rice.  Fish them both, and have the entire pot covered!  The annual Fly Fishing Festival will be happening later this month.   We will be having our annual sale during the festival.  Come by for some great savings on gear.  Montana summers are special, and every day should be treasured, so go out and fish.  Don’t waste it.  Remember, even though it’s 90+ degrees now, it will be 140 degrees colder in just 5 short months!  Isn’t Montana great? Good Fishing and God Bless, John Way.  http://www.thetackleshop.com)  Ennis, Montana, the CULTURAL EPICENTER OF TROUT.  (406) 682-4263, or cell: (406) 370-5206.

If people concentrated on the REALLY important things in life,  there would be a shortage of fishing poles!

Watch “The Rocky Mountain Fly Highway” on Amazon Prime

Check out other fishing reports at:

• Madison River Fishing Company at: https://www.mrfc.com/
• Dan Delekta at: https://www.beartoothflyfishing.com/
• The Madison Valley Ranch at: https://www.madisonvalleyranch.com/
• Joe Dilschneider’s Montana Trout Stalkers at http://www.montanatrout.com/
• Yellowstone Fly Fishing at http://www.yellowstoneflyfishing.com/madisonreport.htm.

WEATHER → July is historically the sunniest and dryest month, and it was.  The daytime high in July was 98° and the daytime low was 69°.  The nighttime high was 65°,  with a nighttime low of  39°.  The skies have been smoky and the mountains nearly invisible, for much of the month, due to the fires in Montana and from states all around us.  Fire restrictions are in place.  Remember Smokey the Bear!

REAL ESTATE TIPS → PROTECTION FROM WILDFIRES. Create a Defensible Space in and around your home. The Forest Service partners with the National Fire Protection Association and its Firewise Communities, a program that teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and act now to prevent losses. According to the association, the number of homes lost in wildfires per year has increased by 163% and wildfires now cost the U.S. an estimated $63 billion to $285 billion per year in losses. The association also notes that nearly 45 million homes abut or intermingle with wildlands and more than 72,000 U.S. communities are now at risk.  This means people living in communities near open spaces should take measures to heighten chances a wildfire will not consume their property. Firewise yards are protected through zones with grass, rock, or evergreen ground cover closure to the home, creating an area where high-intensity fires have little to burn.  This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire, and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home. These are key steps provided by the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise program:

• Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks. This prevents embers from igniting your home.
• Remove dead vegetation and other items from under your deck or porch, and within 10 feet of the house. Learn more about the basics of defensible spaceon the Firewise website.
• Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
• Remove flammable materials (firewood stacks, propane tanks) within 30 feet of your home’s foundation and outbuildings, including garages and sheds. If it can catch fire, don’t let it touch your house, deck or porch. Wildfire can spread to treetops. Prune trees so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground.
• Keep your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down to reduce fire intensity. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire.
• Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.
• Inspect shingles or roof tiles. Replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration.
• Cover exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to prevent sparks from entering the home.
• Enclose under-eave and soffit vents or screens with metal mesh to prevent ember entry.
• Learn more about how to protect your home and property at firewise.org.

HOME FOR YOUR SOUL. CALLING ALL GOLFERS, FISHERMEN, BIRDERS, HIKERS & THOSE LOOKING FOR EASY LIVING!

Townhouse next to the Madison Meadows Golf course & tennis courts, with 1,356 SF, 2BR/2BA, with fantastic views of the valley and mountains.  This beautiful townhouse is one of just 4 units in a very quiet neighborhood.  It is in excellent condition, with lots of upgrades and remodeling, beautiful landscaping, low maintenance, comes “mostly” furnished, in a great location, close to golf and tennis, and just minutes to downtown Ennis and fishing.  A great investment and an ideal home for full-time or part-time living.  4 A Snowcrest Court, Ennis, MT59729,$619,000, MLS # 394584. GoogleEarth Coord. Lat. 45.358074°, Lon. -111.748822°, Elevation  5,043’.  My Active Listings – Toni Bowen (erarealestate.com),  Home – Toni Bowen (erarealestate.com)

REAL ESTATE NEWS → WASHINGTON (July 31, 2024) – Pending home sales in June ascended 4.8%, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All four U.S. regions posted monthly gains in transactions. Year-over-year, the Northeast, Midwest and South registered declines, while the West increased. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – grew to 74.3 in June. Year over year, pending transactions were down 2.6%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001.  “The rise in housing inventory is beginning to lead to more contract signings,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Multiple offers are less intense, and buyers are in a more favorable position.”

Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown – The Northeast PHSI ascended 3.0% from last month to 65.5, a decline of 0.3% from June 2023. The Midwest index rose 4.7% to 73.7 in June, down 4.2% from one year ago.  The South PHSI increased 6.3% to 89.3 in June, dropping 3.9% from the prior year. The West index climbed 3.4% in June to 58.4, up 1.0% from June 2023. “Even more inventory is expected to come onto the housing market in the upcoming months ahead of the normal, seasonal declines in the winter,” added Yun. “The Northeast’s small gain in contract signings is due to the ongoing housing shortage situation in that region, leading to stronger home price gains. It is a good time to list.”

Existing-home Sales fell in June as the median sales price climbed to the highest price ever recorded for the second consecutive month. All four major U.S. regions posted sales declines. Year-over-year, sales waned in the Northeast, Midwest and South but were unchanged in the West. Total existing-home sales – completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – receded 5.4% from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.89 million in June. Year-over-year, sales also dropped 5.4% (down from 4.11 million in June 2023).

“We’re seeing a slow shift from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Homes are sitting on the market a bit longer, and sellers are receiving fewer offers. More buyers are insisting on home inspections and appraisals, and inventory is definitively rising on a national basis.”

Total housing inventory registered at the end of June was 1.32 million units, up 3.1% from May and 23.4% from one year ago (1.07 million). Unsold inventory sits at a 4.1-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 3.7 months in May and 3.1 months in June 2023. The last time unsold inventory posted a four-month supply was May 2020 (4.5 months).  The median existing-home price for all housing types in June was $426,900, an all-time high and an increase of 4.1% from one year ago ($410,100). All four U.S. regions registered price gains. “Even as the median home price reached a new record high, further large accelerations are unlikely,” Yun added. “Supply and demand dynamics are nearing a balanced market condition. The month’s supply of inventory reached its highest level in more than four years.”

The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.  The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. 

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS: New listings for residential properties continue to expand our inventory. But prices on older listings are still coming down.  It feels like we are in a lull, as buyers ponder the markets, (stock & real estate), interest rates, and the election.  Historically, there are more sales in the fall, when people return home, kids go back to school, and people who visited Montana in the summer start to get serious about wanting their piece of the Montana dream.  We shall see if this holds true. Big Sky Country Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley area (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Norris, Virginia City, Nevada City, Harrison, Pony), for the month of July were as follows:   

• HOMES: 77↑ homes listed ($250,000 to $7,995,000); 12↓ pending sales ($364,900 to $3,650,000); and 37 homes have sold in 2024 ($282,000 to $2,255,000), totaling $25,656,500, at 97%  of list price.
• MULTI-FAMILY: 7 listings ($575,000 to $2,800,000); 0 pending sales; 1 sold in 2024 ($830,000) at 98% of list price.
• LAND: 129↓ vacant lots listed ($25,000 to $1,089,000); 10↑ pending sales ($15,000 to $1,250,000); and 38 lots have sold in 2024 ($5,000 to $1,250,000), totaling $9,736,000 at 1% ↓ of list price.
• COMMERCIAL: 13↑ commercial properties listed ($215,000 to $2,995,000); 0 pending sales; and 1 commercial property has sold in 2024 ($553,300), at 6% of list price.
• RANCHES: 2 ranches listed ($7,950,000 to $13,750,000); 0↓ pending sales, and 1 ranch has sold in 2024 ($1,350,000) at 6% of list price.

“The best investment on Earth is Earth.” Louis J. Glickman, real estate mogul/philanthropist

Also, according to Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan, in their hit song, “Buy Dirt!” 

MONTANA TRIVIA…. Did you know that…. The Mann Gulch Fire, which spread northeast of Helena in August of 1949, was the deadliest in the history of the smokejumper program, and it had a lasting impact on how wildfires are fought? The incident taught the Forest Service that it needed to better understand fire behavior, and as a result, it opened a wildfire research facility in Missoula. An effort was also made to provide firefighters with better safety equipment, most notably, personal fire shelters introduced in 1959 and made mandatory in 1977.   A series of events were recently held in Helena to mark 75 years since the Mann Gulch Fire. The fire inspired Norman Maclean’s award-winning book, “Young Men and Fire,” but more importantly, it had a profound impact on how wildfires are managed and fought, leading to a set of rules that all wildland firefighters still carry with them three-quarters of a century later.  Read more about this tragedy at: https://montanafreepress.org/2024/07/30/75-years-after-fatal-mann-gulch-fire-families-to-gather-to-remember-fallen-smokejumpers/.

For more information:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current/?type=intro&group_key=basin_cd;  The Curse of the Black Pearl | Outside Bozeman; https://www.kbzk.com/community/this-week-in-fish-and-wildlife/this-week-in-fish-and-wildlife-river-safety-tips-from-montana-fwp; https://fwp.mt.gov/activities/boating/river-ethics; https://www.trailheadmontana.net/2015/3267/; https://guiderecommended.com/fly-fishing-dangerous/#:~:text=Fly%20fishing%20can%20be%20surprisingly%20dangerous%20if%20you,plants%2C%20snakes%2C%20and%20hooks%20that%20can%20impale%20you.  Yikes!

CHECK OUT THE NEW FILM, “Mending the Line,” on Netflix

A wise Old Timer from the area once told me,  

“Don’t try to change the Madison Valley… let the Valley change you!”