Our sixth and final stop for season two of Hoka One One Top Trails is Bozeman, MT.  In this episode, Hoka runner, and Bozeman native, Nikki Kimball takes us for a run on the Bangtail Divide Trail at Brackett Creek before ultimately making her way up to Bridger Ridge and the top of Sacagawea Peak. Sacagawea Peak is the highest point in Montana’s Bridger Mountain Range, at 9,665 feet.  The trail provides dynamic terrain including pine forest, scree fields and alpine tundra. Nikki has been running ultras for seventeen years and has won the most competitive ultra-races around the world, including the Western States 100 (three-time champion) and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc on her first attempt.

Host Matt Barnhart sits down with Bozeman native ultra-runner Fran Zelenitz at her downtown bakery “Delicious Bakery” to talk about the local running culture and her former job as a dog-hiker.  Later, host Ian Terpin visits Bozeman Running Company to talk to owner, Casey Jermyn about the trails around town and the nationally ranked Bozeman High School Cross Country Team, which Casey also coaches. Finally, Nikki talks about Bozeman’s proximity to Yellowstone National Park and prepares dinner for Matt and Ian with game meat that she hunted herself.