I moved to Bozeman in 2019, right when the community really started to find its rhythm, and I’ve noticed a disturbing trend near the M trailhead. It seems that many newcomers—and a few people who should know better—believe the hike up to the iconic white letter requires a personal soundtrack.

Last Tuesday, I was trying to enjoy the silence of the pines when a gentleman with a high-end speaker blaring country music passed me. He seemed perfectly nice, wearing a vest that cost more than my first car, but his choice of volume turned a public trail into a private concert.

The mountains are meant to be a cathedral, not a shopping mall. If you truly feel the need to share your playlist with the local mule deer, please consider investing in headphones. Silence is the only thing left in this valley that is still free.