First Chair: Coffee For a Cause

Giving back has always been a staple of our company. Over the last 20 years, Bozeman has been exceptionally kind, and we feel a sincere obligation to give back to the community that has so generously supported us. So, in the coming months we will be releasing a series of seasonal community coffees in an effort to give back. The idea: to create a collection of new coffees that exhibit the spirit of the season in partnership with a local non-profit that shares similar values as Yellowstone Coffee Roasters.

Like many outdoorsy Bozemanites, our winter weekends are spent in the mountains surrounding the Gallatin Valley. We are exceptionally lucky to have made many memories in these nearby hills. The defining days of our youth were enriched by bootpacks along the Bridger Ridge and greasy fries at the Deer Park Chalet. These days our joints are a bit stiffer and we spend more afternoons alongside good company and cold refreshments in Jimmy B’s. It's fair to say our passions are evolving, but our appreciation and admiration for Bridger Bowl’s small town charm has never wavered.

This season we developed our winter blend with the mountain community in mind. We set out to create a well-balanced coffee for southwest Montana’s skiers, riders, and dedicated coffee drinkers. The finished product: a bold and smooth cup with deep chocolatey notes and a subtle, sweet aftertaste. It’s the perfect co-pilot for snowy mountain commutes and just what you need to get your day rolling when you indulge in one too many the night before. Naming the blend ‘First Chair’ only seemed appropriate. It's a name fitting for pre-dawn alarms and for those who tirelessly chase untracked pow!

Bozeman’s growing backcountry ski culture inspired us to partner with the Friends of the GNFAC, a Bozeman non-profit that supports the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. The GNFAC works tirelessly to help improve avalanche education and awareness in southwest Montana. They offer one of most comprehensive reports in the mountain west with daily avalanche forecasts, public observations, and an overflow of resources to help skiers and riders make better decisions in the backcountry. We believe the work done at the GNFAC is invaluable, so we are donating a portion from every bag sold to the Friends of the Avi Center in support of their mission. Few feelings compare to the simple joy of sipping coffee in trailhead parking lots before a big day. These moments are made even better when the coffee you are drinking is supporting a great cause. 

Backcountry skiing is inherently dangerous, but especially rewarding when you effectively mitigate and manage risk. Avalanche is a hazard often regarded as rare and inconceivable, but the fact of the matter remains that these destructive forces are very real. We’ve reached the midway point of this year’s ski season, and 15 lives have already been claimed by avalanches in the mountain west.

Avalanche is a mysterious and unforgiving disaster. Even those who have dedicated their lives to understanding snow science can make consequential mistakes in the hills. Luckily, organizations like the Friends of the Avi Center are doing us all a tremendous service by helping backcountry travelers make better decisions in the mountains. Despite an influx in the number backcountry skiers and riders in the last few decades, avalanche fatalities have remained fairly consistent since the early ‘90s due to improved education and awareness. We can thank the good folks at the GNFAC for these impressive stats. Their dedicated work helps us stay safe and allows us to fully appreciate the mountains that make this place remarkable. They deserve our company’s and community’s support.

The mountains surrounding Bozeman draw travelers from near and afar, but more than anything, it’s the good people of this valley who make this place. We cannot wait to continue sharing these coffees with you all.

Backcountry Essentials

• Beacon
• Shovel
• Probe
• First Aid Kit
• Headlamp
• For morning approaches and the afternoons when you just can't stop.
• Chapstick
• Because chapped lips can put a serious damper on the day.
• Duct Tape
• The ultimate multi-use tool.
• Topo Map
• Apps like GAIA work well too!
• Sunglasses
• Snow blindness is real and really miserable.
• Extra Snacks
• Peanut butter and dates hit the spot.
• Chocolate
• The best boost before the final approach.
• A Book
• We’ve been on a real backcountry poetry kick lately. 
• Beer
• Nothing beats cold beer waiting for you at the car. Bozeman Brewing Co. is brewing Bozeman’s best.
• Coffee!
• Absolutely essential! Don’t leave home without it.