By Tyler Allen EBS Staff Writer
Douglas Hare was hired by Outlaw Partners in February to help with the distribution efforts of the Explore Big Sky newspaper and Mountain Outlaw magazine throughout southwest Montana. The EBS editorial staff has since tapped his academic background and love for skiing to cover freeride competitions in Big Sky and beyond.
After moving to Big Sky in August, Hare spent his first full season at Big Sky Resort this winter, but was familiar with the terrain after skiing Moonlight Basin the previous five seasons on holidays with his family and during winter breaks from graduate school.
Hare grew up in Richmond, Va., and earned his bachelor’s in religious studies from Princeton University in 2005. He went on to Harvard Divinity School where he received a master’s of theological studies in 2012, studying the philosophy of religion.
“I’m interested in cosmology and metaphysics, specifically the philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce,” Hare said. “He’s generally credited as the founder of pragmatism, America’s homegrown philosophy.”
Before his move to Big Sky, Hare lived in Boston working for the Harvard Innovation Lab – a startup incubator for Harvard-affiliated entrepreneurs – and then Charlestown, S.C., where he spent time writing and working for the hotel management company Lowcountry Hotels. Hare says he’s skied throughout the western U.S. but Big Sky offers a unique experience.
“I like that Big Sky has a small-town feel and big-mountain terrain – and Lotus Pad,” he said, referring to the local Asian restaurant.
Soon after his August arrival, Hare began working in outdoor services for Moonlight Basin at The Reserve golf club and then as a ski host based at the Moonlight Lodge. He helped people with their equipment and directions, and managed parking lot traffic. “People don’t like when you carry their skis,” he said. “I would literally get in tug of war [battles] with people.”
Hare will be working exclusively for Outlaw until The Reserve at Moonlight Basin opens in June, and he says he enjoys distributing the publications from Bozeman to Big Sky and south to West Yellowstone.
“I like getting to meet local business owners in Bozeman and Big Sky, I like how people are happy to get a fresh newspaper … [and] keeping abreast of what’s going on in southwest Montana,” he said.
Hare also played soccer at Princeton and is now coaching for FC Blitzz, Big Sky’s U12 team. In addition to a trip planned to Glacier National Park this spring, he’s excited for the activities his first full summer in Montana will afford.
“I grew up bass fishing on the James River with a rod and a reel, but I can’t wait to get out there and see if I can’t catch a few cutthroat on a dry fly,” he said. “Actually, walleye fishing is No. 1 on the list.”
And, he says, he’s still looking for a good game of chess in Montana.
Read Hare’s write-up of the Big Sky Freeride team’s success at the IFSA Junior Freeride North American Championships in Whistler, British Columbia, on page 23.
