by Adam Brown

It had only been a couple hours since I’d rolled into Bozeman. Hungry from traveling and unpacking my weighed-down Subaru Forester, I swung by the nearby Town & Country to stock up on groceries. While checking out, I spotted some local magazines that I hoped would give me a lay of the land. One of them was the Blue Light Guide. As I poked through it, I noticed some coupons in the back. Pizza sounded good. I ripped out the coupon to Cosmic and grabbed a pie on my way home.

There I sat, eating pizza on the floor of an unfurnished apartment, reading all about Bozeman’s outdoor offerings. I was infatuated—and a little bit intimidated—by the culture and adventures that awaited me. Gallatin Tower, the Mad Mile, the Bangtail Divide; I didn’t have a clue what any of these things were, but I knew I wanted to try them. I had a good place to start, thanks to the Blue Light, and I was able to save some extra cash with the coupons (more money to spend at gear shops; see page 82). Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far I’ve come—in just a few short years, I’ve climbed, paddled, and pedaled some of Bozeman’s most iconic locales, and there’s still so much more to explore.

Since you’ve gotten your hands on the Blue Light Guide as well, I can only assume it will help you as much as it helped me. And if you’re wondering about the name, ask around. Here’s a hint: Bozeman’s blue light an invitation to adventure, a call to the outdoors, and an integral element of the local ski scene—just like this guide is, in the wintertime and all year ’round.

So, good luck exploring, enjoying, and adapting to the Bozone. We’ll see you out there.