HELENA — Two things that many Montanans love are our beautiful landscapes and our four-legged friends, and a campaign starting this week celebrates both of these things.

"That's one of the great things about our state - we have so much public land," said Rod Benson, who was hiking on Mount Helena on Monday.

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He is an avid outdoorsman.

"I think you forget about other things," Benson said about hiking. "You get the endorphins going and get in a rhythm, and it's just a pleasant experience."

He runs a blog called Big Sky Walker , where he shares his adventures around the Treasure State.

On Monday, he hit the Prairie Trail with his neighbor's dog, Oat.

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