HELENA, Mont. (AP) — An 81-year-old Montana man faces sentencing in federal court Monday in Great Falls for illegally using tissue and testicles from large sheep hunted in Central Asia and the U.S. to illegally create hybrid sheep for captive trophy hunting in Texas and Minnesota.

Prosecutors are not seeking prison time for Arthur “Jack” Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, according to court records. He is asking for a one-year probationary sentence for violating the federal wildlife trafficking laws. The maximum punishment for the two Lacey Act violations is five years in prison. The fine can be up to $250,000 or twice the defendant’s financial gain.

In his request for the probationary sentence, Schubarth’s attorney said cloning the giant Marco Polo sheep hunted in Kyrgyzstan has ruined his client’s “life, reputation and family.”

However, the sentencing memorandum also congratulates Schubarth for successfully cloning the endangered sheep, which he named Montana Mountain King. The animal has been confiscated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

“Jack did something no one else could, or has ever done,” the memo said. “On a ranch, in a barn in Montana, he created Montana Mountain King. MMK is an extraordinary animal, born of science, and from a man who, if he could re-write history, would have left the challenge of cloning a Marco Polo only to the imagination of Michael Crichton,” who is the author of the science fiction novel Jurassic Park.

Schubarth owns Sun River Enterprises LLC, a 215-acre (87-hectare) alternative livestock ranch, which buys, sells and breeds “alternative livestock” such as mountain sheep, mountain goats and ungulates, primarily for private hunting preserves, where people shoot captive trophy game animals for a fee, prosecutors said. He had been in the game farm business since 1987, Schubarth said.

Schubarth pleaded guilty in March to charges that he and five other people conspired to use tissue from a Marco Polo sheep illegally brought into the U.S. to clone that animal and then use the clone and its descendants to create a larger, hybrid species of sheep that would be more valuable for captive hunting operations.

Marco Polo sheep are the largest in the world, can weigh 300 pounds (136 kilograms) and have curled horns up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, court records said.

Schubarth sold semen from MMK along with hybrid sheep to three people in Texas, while a Minnesota resident brought 74 sheep to Schubarth’s ranch for them to be inseminated at various times during the conspiracy, court records said. Schubarth sold one direct offspring from MMK for $10,000 and other sheep with lesser MMK genetics for smaller amounts.

In October 2019, court records said, Schubarth paid a hunting guide $400 for the testicles of a trophy-sized Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep that had been harvested in Montana and then extracted and sold the semen, court records said.

Sheep breeds that are not allowed in Montana were brought into the state as part of the conspiracy, including 43 sheep from Texas, prosecutors said.

The five co-conspirators were not named in court records, but Schubarth’s plea agreement requires him to cooperate fully with prosecutors and testify if called to do so. The case is still being investigated, Montana wildlife officials said.

Schubarth, in a letter attached to the sentencing memo, said he becomes extremely passionate about any project he takes on, including his “sheep project,” and is ashamed of his actions.

“I got my normal mindset clouded by my enthusiasm and looked for any grey area in the law to make the best sheep I could for this sheep industry,” he wrote. “My family has never been broke, but we are now.”

During ski season, throngs of Dallasites flock to Rocky Mountain resorts—with good reason. They’re easy to get to, and the skiing in Colorado is great. But those seeking a more adventurous experience will want to give the Alps a try.

In planning planning a recent trip, I turned to Best of the Alps, an organization that represents 10 of the top Alpine resorts in Europe. We decided to fly in and out of Geneva and focus on three destinations: Crans-Montana in Switzerland, Chamonix in France, and Courmayeur in Italy.

The Alps and Rockies are similar in height, but villages in the Alps tend to sit at lower altitudes, which results in longer ski runs and more vertical drop.

The French village of Chamonix, for example, sits at about 3,300 feet above sea level—about a third of Breckenridge’s elevation of 9,600 feet—yet its highest ski elevation is 12,600 feet. The longest run in Chamonix tops 22 kilometers—or about 13.7 miles. That’s a lot of skiing.

There are other notable differences. Many of the runs in the Alps are above the tree line, creating expansive, open trails, all of which are groomed. The lower tree lines also reveal the jagged mountaintops, giving them an incredibly dramatic look.

In Europe, off-piste skiing (out of bounds of groomed, marked areas) is abundant and encouraged. For this reason, and to make the experience even more enjoyable, I highly recommend hiring a ski guide. The Europeans are serious about training; it can take years to become certified. Our guide in Crans-Montana was a former World Cup skier.

After an overnight flight, my boyfriend and I picked up a rental car in Geneva then made the two-hour trek to Crans-Montana, much of it around Lake Geneva. The last bit of our journey involved hairpin turns and steep climbs, which the locals seemed to handle with ease.

We stayed at the wonderfully quaint Faern Hotel. It offered cozy rooms, easy access to ski lifts and the village, and an expansive breakfast buffet that included my favorite, muesli. Sadly, low-hanging clouds detracted from both the typically stunning views and visibility, but the quality of the skiing itself was exceptional.

Afterward, we took some time to go shopping in the Rue du Prado (which feels like a cobblestone-street version of Highland Park Village) and walk around a beautiful lantern path between two lakes, stopping for a cup of the most delicious mulled wine I’ve ever tasted.

Note: Vail Resorts recently acquired the Crans-Montana ski resort, so it will be on the Epic pass starting this winter.

After two days in Switzerland, we drove about 90 minutes to France’s Chamonix, famous for offering some of the best—and most challenging—skiing in all of Europe. Home to the very first Winter Olympics in 1924, it’s made up of five ski areas. We skied at Le Tour (good for beginners and intermediates on-piste and experts off-piste) and Brévent-Flégère (good for intermediates).

The Chamonix-Mont Blanc region is iconic for extreme sports. After all, alpinism was invented here, when two climbers reached the summit of Mont Blanc in 1786. (Make time to visit the town’s spectacular Musée Alpin, or Alpine Museum, to learn more.)

While in Chamonix, you will no doubt see paragliders and a lot of off-piste skiers—of all ages—wearing backpacks with avalanche airbags. The region is home to one of the most famous off-piste runs in the world, the Vallee Blanche, a glacial run from the top of Aiguille du Midi (more on that in a bit) into town—a descent of nearly 9,000 feet.

After a day on the slopes, we were welcomed at the charming Chalet Hôtel Whymper with fresh macaroons, a bottle of champagne, and a lovely note written in rose petals.

Visitors to Chamonix will be delighted to find that they’ll be able to enjoy the haute cuisine for which France is famous in the small mountain town. During our stay, we dined at Le Matafan at the legendary, five-star Hotel Mont Blanc and Akashon in Hotel Heliopic.

On our final afternoon in France, we rode the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which holds the world record for the highest vertical ascent (more than 9,200 feet) and takes you the closest you can get to the Mont Blanc summit without climbing. As one would imagine, the views from the top—of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps and the village below—are stunning. The very brave (not me) will want to head to Terrace 3842 at the summit and enter a glass overhang box aptly named Step Into the Void.

The next morning, we traveled about 30 minutes through the famous Mont Blanc Tunnel to arrive in Italy and Courmayeur. In part due to the bluebird weather conditions and the expertise of our exceptional guide, Alessandra, the skiing in Courmayeur was phenomenal—the best of our trip.

Gliding through glistening powder in the shadow of one the world’s most famous peaks was almost surreal. Courmayeur also offered terrific on-mountain dining, with renowned pizza at Capitan des Alpes and gourmet specialties at La Chaumière.

Evening meals were exceptional, too. In town, we dined at Cadran Solaire, opened more than 50 years ago within the oldest tavern in Courmayeur. It features secret rooms, a 17th century stone vault, and a mashup of Alpine and Italian specialties.

The next evening, a 20-minute drive took us to La Clotze, a beautifully decorated, family-run restaurant featuring recipes that have been passed down generation to generation. It was here where I discovered the magic of génépi, a European herbal liqueur that’s frequently enjoyed as a “digestif” after a large meal. We made sure to pack a bottle to bring back to the States.

We didn’t need to travel far for superior breakfasts. Our boutique hotel, Bouton d’Or, featured homemade pastries by proprietor Patrizia’s husband, Andrea. I’m still dreaming of his incredible crème puffs, strudel, and quiches.  

Walking the cobblestone, carless streets of Courmayeur at night is magical. I don’t own a dog, but I was obsessed with the luxury apparel and accessories at the Prince and Princess boutique. Top fashion brands are well represented, too—no surprise when you consider that Courmayeur is only a couple of hours away from Milan.

On your walkabout, I highly recommend stopping for an aperitivo at Goù. You won’t be disappointed in the wines, and the complimentary charcuterie board was outstanding. (The Italians serve charcuterie the way Mexican restaurants in the U.S. offer chips and salsa.)

Before completing our European loop with a 90-minute trip back to Geneva, we took one last look at the region with a ride on the three-station Skyway Monte Bianco, which offers an up-close look at the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Built in 2015 at a cost of about $119 million, it’s an engineering marvel.

Each car can carry about 80 people and does a full rotation during the journey, giving riders a 360-degree view. The top station, Punta Hellbronner/The Sky, includes an exhibit of crystals, for which the entire region is famous. There’s also a high-altitude wine-making cave. It was an incredible way to end a fantastic adventure.

As we were heading back to Dallas, I remarked to my boyfriend how happy everyone seemed to be in these Alpine regions. But I guess it’s no surprise when you’re surrounded by the finest chocolates, coffee, and wine—and some of the world’s best skiing. We can’t wait to go back.

Travel Tips

Why Switzerland Is Tops For This Global Adventurer

Dr. Kenneth Cooper has traveled to 82 countries; one of his favorites is Switzerland. He first visited there in 1962 with a trip to Interlaken and has returned many times—to Zurich, Geneva, Zermatt, St. Moritz, and more. One of his most memorable adventures was skiing the Fee Glacier during the summer at Saas-Fee, a resort near Zermatt and the Italian border. “You get to the valley by train, then through a tunnel and up a funicular,” Cooper says. Known globally as “the father of aerobics,” he has had a home in Beaver Creek for 40 years. Cooper says it’s the quality of the snow that attracts skiers to the Rockies and the Alps. “They both have that beautiful soft and light powder,” he says.

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(Big Sky Connection) A Montana conservation group is holding a photo contest, with a focus on dogs and social media to promote the state’s vast trove of public lands.

The Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund wants photos of people with their dogs enjoying Montana’s 30 million acres of public lands.

Kearstyn Cook, program director for the fund, said those lands are one-third of the state and featuring photos of dogs with their humans in the “Pups for Public Lands” photo contest is an effective way to encourage people to experience Montana’s crown jewels.

“With our best friends, our dogs,” Cook explained. “Because it seems like dogs are also a way of life here. Everyone has them. So, with this contest we are kind of hoping to inspire Montanans to get outside with their dogs in a responsible way that respects our public lands.”

People enter the contest on Instagram by following Montana Conservation Voters, tagging them and using the hashtag “pups for public lands” in their post. The contest winners will be featured on a calendar and the top dogs will get what’s described as a “prize pack of goodies.”

Kim West, professional pet photographer for Missoula-based Lint Roller Productions, is a contest judge who will potentially scroll through thousands of dog photos after the contest closes Monday.

“It’s a tough job looking at cute dog photos but I’m up to the task,” West joked. “One of the easiest ways that people can improve their pet photos is to get low when they’re taking that shot, and to photograph from the dog’s eye level. It really invites the viewer into the dog’s world.”

West added the best time to snap a photo is in what she called the “golden hour,” either early in the morning or just before dusk.