Page 58 - Flathead Beacon // 4.30.14

58 | APRIL 30, 2014
FLATHEADBEACON.COM

OUTDOORS

Shooting

the Crown

Whiteish photographer releases new

book on Crown of the Continent

BY TRISTAN SCOTT
Hiking in Glacier
National Park.
COURTESY STEVEN GNAM

BTy TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
er than the scenic wildlife portraiture of who see a bear are thinking, ‘How can world, I’d like to move people from being
a cofee-table book – it serves to remind we co-exist with bears? What challenges consumers of resources and beauty of
hrough the lens of his camera,
us why the Crown of the Continent is so are facing grizzlies in this region? How the natural work to becoming stewards
Steven Gnam has captured the special.
can we link up grizzly habitat?’ How of it.
kind of leeting, untamed mo- A launch party for “Crown of the many people are making money of the
Beacon:
ments that might otherwise
Continent: The Wildest Rockies” is presence of grizzlies, but aren’t doing Much of your work embodies a
elude the human eye, disappearing like scheduled for Friday, May 9, from 7 anything to ensure grizzlies have what conservation ethic or mission. With this
a puf of vapor in a sprawling chunk of p.m. to 9 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy they need to survive? This is where I book, rather than showcasing a gallery
country called the Crown of the Con- Center in Whiteish. For details, check hope “The Wildest Rockies” will foster of trophy photos, you seem to be telling
tinent – the ecologically diverse land- wildestrockies.org or call (206) 223- connections for people. I see my role as a story about a pristine place, a changing
scape spanning the U.S.-Canada border 6303. The Beacon caught up with Gnam bringing the voice of the landscape and place. What is it about the Crown of the
between Missoula and Banf, Alberta.
in advance of the book’s release.
wildlife to people in a way that spurs Continent that engages you so, and what
In his new book, “The Crown of the these conversations. The land and ani- kind of story are you telling through

Continent: The Wildest Rockies,” Gnam Flathead Beacon: You’ve captured im- mals have a powerful efect on us if we your work?
not only preserves the wild, ephemeral ages of napping grizzly bears, prowl- can just hear them.
Gnam: One of the major themes of the
beauty of those moments, but through ing mountain lions, colossal white bark There is a great history of conserva- book is to celebrate the Crown’s wild-
them attaches value to the region, de- pines and receding glaciers, often from tion in the Crown, which is why there is ness. The Crown stands out as a mix
fending its role and depicting why it’s obscure, hard-to-access vantage points so much beauty and wildlife intact here of a Serengeti-like animal community
critical to pay attention, lest we fritter that few people will experience except – from the formation of the Sun River placed atop some of the most beautiful
away the landscape that deines us.
through your lens. And yet, the very Game Preserve, to the irst tribally des- mountain topography in the country.

Meant to promote stewardship, “The presence of those people will have an ef- ignated wilderness in the Missions, to There are few places left in the world
Wildest Rockies” showcases images that fect on this place we call the “Crown of the Montana Legacy Project. We are where you have modern culture liv-
span the boundaries of Glacier-Water- the Continent.” As an outdoor adven- also surrounded by a history of exploita- ing alongside a vibrant community of
ton International Peace Park, tracking turer and a conservationist, how do you tion – like the vermiculite mine in Libby, wildlife and inspiring landscapes. The
along the spine of the Rocky Mountains hope to move your audience in such a the luoride contamination from the alu- Crown is a sanctuary. Humans need wil-
as the Whiteish native reanimates a way that reciprocates the landscape and minum plant in Columbia Falls and the derness – the wild, unaltered aspects of
landscape brimming with life.
wildlife you portray?
Superfund site on the Whiteish River. nature for clean water, solace and life.
The book shows of the region’s suite Steven Gnam: Most people who visit From the perspective of a conservation- That being said, this place is frag-

of critters and peak-studded panora- the Crown – and residents too – want to ist, considering humanity’s capacity to ile too. It wouldn’t take much to alter
mas, but Gnam’s perspective goes deep-
see a grizzly bear. But how many people
severely alter and destroy the natural
the region and degrade the quality we