Season Opener: Taking It to the Next Level

This issue of Outside Bozeman is something of a milestone. It was just over three years ago that a certain MSU graduate, a bit loose-lipped after several pints of Black Dog Ale, told his friendly bartender (also an MSU grad) about an idea that had been bouncing around in his brain for years.

Well it just so happened that the bartender had been pondering that exact idea. It was uncanny, he thought, how similar their ideas were, right down to many of the finer points. It was also uncanny that he, a part-time writer, would have his thoughts about starting an outdoor magazine echoed by a trained photographer.

Right then and there—with a clink of beer glasses and a handshake across the bar—a partnership was formed, and Outside Bozeman was born.

It’s been a long and rocky road since that fateful evening at Spanish Peaks, but three years later, we’re still going strong. Those of you who have been with us from the beginning probably noticed the same thing we did, that there’s more to publishing a magazine than just writing and photography. Thankfully, we’ve had the good fortune to meet some incredibly talented and generous people along the way: graphic designers, salespeople, various contributors, local business owners. With their help, Outside Bozeman has evolved from a well-intentioned local rag to a truly professional publication.

We've also managed to hold true to our founding principles. We wanted to explore and celebrate the outdoor world of the Gallatin Valley through good, local writing and photography. We wanted to evoke an awareness of the threats to our way of life, and a sense of our collective responsibility to ward them off. That's why you haven't seen, nor will you ever see, advertisements from companies that exist solely to exploit the landscapes and lifestyles we all treasure.

And now, after three years of struggling to make ends meet, it’s time to take things to the next level. Outside Bozeman will now come out four times per year—an issue for each season. We have a new logo, and it adorns a range of Outside Bozeman gear, including hats, t-shirts, coffee mugs, carabiners, and other items.

We also have a new Web site. If you haven’t logged on to www.outsidebozeman.com in a while, check it out. It’s got the same wealth of local outdoor information, but a new look, new features, and a host of interactive tools to make the site more useful and interesting. We welcome your comments, so if you think of anything we haven’t, let us know and we’ll do our best to incorporate your ideas into the site.

Remember, if you like Outside Bozeman and want it to continue, be sure to support our advertisers. They’re the ones who make this all possible, so please give them your business and tell them how much you appreciate their support.

And as always, don’t forget to get outside this winter, to engage the season and all it offers, and to enjoy this incredible playground we’re lucky enough to call home.