Transplanted to Montana? Here’s a Starter Kit for Surviving Big Sky Country

Montana’s population graph has looked like a ski jump ramp for several years now: straight up. At this point, it’s not a question of if your new neighbor is from somewhere else… It’s which flavor of out-of-stater you’re getting.

Texas? Washington? Florida? Or the one that sparks the most spirited comment-section battles: California. Yes, the dreaded Californians are still flocking to Montana, too.

Sure, we can joke about “closing the borders” now that we’ve already found our slice of Big Sky heaven. But that won't happen, and people keep coming. Instead of grumbling, we can do something very Montana: hand out practical advice, hot drinks, and a little hazing in the form of humor.

Read More: Over Half of Montana Drivers Can’t Replace Wipers

What would you include in a Montana Survival Starter Pack?

A while back, someone on a Montana Facebook group asked for help building a “Montana Survival Starter Kit” for a friend moving up from Louisiana. The suggestions were gold. Some practical. Some hilarious. Some… deeply concerning.

A few crowd favorites:

• Red long johns with the button flap. Fashion meets function meets “don’t ask questions.”
• Block heater and sub-zero socks. Because if your toes freeze off, they don’t grow back.
• Cat litter for traction. Also doubles as a way to confuse newcomers when they ask why everyone owns cat litter but no cats.
• Huckleberry everything. Candy, syrup, lip balm, hand lotion, you name it.
• A deck of cards. If you get stuck in a snowbank, deal yourself a game of solitaire. Someone will appear out of nowhere, kindly explain you’re doing it wrong, and pull you out with a tow strap.
• A lighter to heat frozen car keys and needle-nose pliers to retrieve the broken ones.

We could add some other essentials to a Montana Survival Starter Pack:

• A windshield crack budget. It's not "if", it's "when" you'll get a cracked windshield in Montana. Some of us just live with the cracks.
• Gloves that actually match. You’ll lose them eventually, but it’s cute to pretend.
• A snow brush longer than your wingspan. Ever try reaching the top of your SUV windshield with one of those tiny little scrapers? Not fun.
• A good sense of weather humor. When they predict a dusting of snow overnight and we wake up to 8 inches, you just have to laugh.
• Lots of cash. Montana is not cheap, and wages are garbage. Bring a suitcase full of money.

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And honestly? Throw in a friendly wave, a shovel, and an invitation to float the Yellowstone next summer. If they fall in love with Montana, they’ll be just fine.

What would YOU add to the Montana Survival Starter Kit? Drop your suggestions, practical or ridiculous. The comments will be the best part.