This instant coffee balsamic reduction is a simple and easy-to-make sauce that adds a rich, tangy flavor to any vegetable dish! The recipe requires a few basic ingredients to prepare, and is ready in a matter of minutes!
The coffee adds a depth of flavor and a subtle bitterness that complements the sweetness of the balsamic vinegar, making it a perfect topping for roasted or grilled vegetables.
Ingredients
Instructions:
Recipe: Mary Beth
]]>Exciting news! Our coffee is now sold in all 7 Public Lands stores!
Public Lands is a new outdoor specialty retail brand by Dick's Sporting Goods, featuring top brands and the best gear in hiking, camping, biking, climbing and much more.
They’re doing an awesome job supporting local outdoor communities through conservation and access & equity-based initiatives - and we’re stoked to be a part of it.
If you live in / around these areas, be sure to stop by and check it out! And if you’re feeling crazy, grab a box or two of coffee while you’re at it!
For specific hours and locations, click here
]]>Looking to spice up your mornings? For a breakfast that's anything but boring, give Mary Beth's Dirty Chai Tea Oatmeal recipe a try!
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Enjoy!
]]>In honor of Earth Month, we’re taking a look at our sustainability efforts throughout the years.
Our Sustainability Story
At Alpine Start, we strongly believe that it’s our responsibility to protect the wild places we love from climate change. Not only does it threaten the pristine beauty of the mountains, but also the delicate balance of the high-altitude ecosystems where our coffee grows. It’s why we donate 1% of all sales to 1% for the Planet, are a Foundation Partner with Protect Our Winters (POW), and recently became Climate Neutral Certified.
In a continued effort to reduce our impact on the planet, we’ve worked to introduce more sustainable packaging solutions by using recycled materials and offering more bulk sized options. One solution we’ve developed so far is our reusable bulk bags, filled with 30 servings of our original blend instant coffee. Another solution is our 50-serving guide packs, which comes with 50 sticks of your favorite blend... minus the boxes!
We understand that we’re not a perfect company, but we’re committed to doing better and are working alongside some great companies to make change:
1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental solutions through annual membership and everyday actions. We’ve been members since 2018, and are proud to continue putting people and the planet over profit through this commitment.
Protect Our Winters
We’ve supported POW in many ways over the last few years, from donating product and money to sending founder, Matt Segal to DC to lobby on behalf of our community.
In 2019, we released a limited edition “coffee for the climate” original blend instant coffee box. $1 from each box went directly to POW to help them in their efforts of fighting climate change.
Climate Neutral
In 2022, we decided to pursue Climate Neutral Certification, and join hundreds of Climate Neutral Certified brands in taking meaningful action for the climate. To achieve this certification, we measured our 2021 emissions, offset them entirely, and are now working to reduce future emissions!
Fair Trade Certified
Leading up to the release of our first whole bean coffee this year, we knew we had another opportunity to make a positive impact on the planet. That’s why we used 100% Fair Trade Certified beans, ethically sourced from South America and Africa.
Fair Trade Certification requires and rewards environmentally sustainable farming practices that protect farmers' health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.
Moving Forward
All of this is a step in the right direction, but there’s always more work to be done. As we grow, we will always be looking for ways to reduce our impact.
Learn more about how you can get involved and support 1% for the Planet, Protect Our Winters, Climate Neutral and Fair Trade Certified.
]]>Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that leads and inspires the climbing community toward sustainable access and conservation of the climbing environment.
They work with land managers and local climbing advocates to protect and conserve all the beautiful places that make the climbing experience so special. It also means educating and inspiring the climbers who visit those landscapes to minimize their impacts.
Why: Any time humans are out on the land there will be environmental impact, and climbing is no exception. But Access Fund has the expertise to help local climbing communities manage these impacts so that climbing landscapes can thrive.
Access Fund’s Climber Stewards
Access Fund’s Climber Stewards are on-site at popular climbing areas to provide visitors with information and resources to help them minimize their environmental impacts. The chief goal is education, connecting with climbers in the field where outreach takes on a different dimension.
Climber Stewards offer free morning coffee (Alpine Start Original Blend) at trailheads and visit crags throughout the day to connect with climbers as they recreate. The Climber Stewards program, which currently serves the New River Gorge region in West Virginia and Indian Creek, Utah, builds on the success of similar programs around the country.
“Climber Coffee” Events
During prime climbing season, the Climber Stewards will host regular “Climber Coffee” events to connect with climbers on the area’s natural and cultural values and share Leave No Trace strategies to protect cultural heritage and native vegetation, as well as raise awareness around raptor closures and discuss their restoration efforts.
Since our partnership with Access Fund began in 2022, the Climber Stewards have served 4,000+ cups of Alpine Start coffee to visitors! We can’t thank the Climber Stewards enough for all the amazing work they’re doing, and look forward to keeping them caffeinated!
]]>National Park Week is taking place from April 22 to April 30 this year, and there will be a series of events and activities throughout the week. Check the National Park Week website for an up-to-date schedule of this year’s plan.
To kick off the celebration and to encourage everyone to enjoy their national parks in person, entrance fees will be waived on April 22, 2023!
In addition to April 22, there’s three more entrance fee–free dates in 2023:
Good-to-know: camping and all other administrative fees will still be in effect.
Head to NPS.gov to find a park near you, and remember to recreate responsibly— our parks belong to all of us, and we must do our part to help preserve and protect them.
You can also join the fun on social media by sharing your national park photos and memories using #NationalParkWeek, and don't forget to share those morning coffee views with us! @alpinestartfoods
]]>We're proud to announce that we are officially Climate Neutral Certified!
For those unfamiliar with the Climate Neutral Certified program, it is an organization that works with companies to help them offset their carbon emissions and become carbon neutral. This is done through a combination of reducing emissions in-house, purchasing carbon credits, and investing in renewable energy projects.
At Alpine Start, we have always been committed to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact. However, we knew that there was still more work to be done. That's why we decided to pursue Climate Neutral Certification, and join hundreds of Climate Neutral Certified brands in taking meaningful action for the climate.
To achieve this certification, we first had to conduct a thorough analysis of our carbon emissions. This included everything from the energy used in our manufacturing processes to the transportation of our products. Once we had a clear understanding of our emissions, we worked with the Climate Neutral team to develop a plan to offset them.
This plan included reducing our emissions in-house through energy-efficient upgrades and switching to renewable energy sources. We also purchased carbon credits and invested in renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar farms, to offset the remainder of our emissions.
We are proud to say that Alpine Start is officially carbon neutral, but our work doesn't stop here! We will continue to look for ways to reduce our environmental impact and do our part to combat climate change. We encourage other companies to consider becoming Climate Neutral Certified and join us in this important effort.
To learn more about Climate Neutral and other brands committed to climate action, visit climate neutral.org
]]>What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade USA™ is a global movement that aims to support farmers and workers in developing countries by ensuring fair prices, adequate working conditions, access to education and healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
What does Fair Trade Certification mean?
Fair Trade certification guarantees that the coffee you're drinking meets rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards, which in turn creates more resilient supply chains!
Environmental Impact
Fair Trade Certification requires and rewards environmentally sustainable farming practices that protect farmers' health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.
To become Fair Trade Certified, farmers must increase soil and water quality, avoid chemicals, manage waste, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Economic Impact
Fair Trade Certification ensures fair prices for farmers, and a Fair Trade premium to invest in projects that support their community.
These farmers receive even higher premiums if the coffee is Fair Trade Certified and Organic like ours!
Social Impact
Fair Trade Certification also supports education and healthcare initiatives in farming communities, promoting social development and improving the quality of life for farmers and their families.
Supporting Fair Trade
Choosing Fair Trade products like our whole bean coffee is an easy way to make a positive impact on the lives of farmers, their communities, and the planet we all share. Together, we are creating a more just and sustainable world!
If you haven't tried the Over Stoker yet, grab a bag!
]]>The best part? Making this perfect pick-me-up is easier than you think...
Ingredients:
Optional:
Instructions:
Crunched for time? Use our Instant Coffee instead!
]]>Here's our crews list of the best climbing gifts…
Please note: This list includes gear we already own and love. However, our crew may earn a commission on purchases through these links.
Repairs and moisturizes skin without leaving it too soft to climb.
Buy on Amazon ($19.99)
Files for your never ending skin emergencies:
Buy on Amazon ($12.95)
~Chunky~ chalk for sticky hands:
Buy on Amazon ($15-$25)
Need we say more...?
Buy on Amazon ($29.90)
For the boulderers sending next go for sure!
Buy on Amazon ($11.99)
"They're simply the best" -Matt Segal
Buy on Amazon ($188.95)
Guaranteed to keep ya warm while belaying!
Perfect for a rock climber that loves crimps!
Buy on Amazon ($39.99)
Pro Tip: For consistent benefits, add gnarly collagen to your daily coffee or matcha!
Buy on Amazon ($47.45)
A personal 7 quart cooler to keep your lunch fresh and drinks frosty while on-the-go or at the crag!
Buy on Amazon ($17.79)
For the eco friendly climber/snacker:
Buy on Amazon ($45.96)
Enhance any climbers outdoor decor with this sendy squirrel!
Buy on Amazon ($32.99)
It's great hot, cold... and over ice cream too 😋
This Matcha Float is exactly what it sounds like: the perfect summer treat!
TO MAKE:
1. Boil 8-10 oz of water
2. Add one scoop Matcha With Benefits to a mug & stir with water until fully mixed
3. While the Matcha cools, add a scoop vanilla ice cream to a glass
4. Pour Matcha over ice cream and ENJOY!
]]>
We got a lot of asks about the recipe, so we thought we'd share it with you all:
THE ALPINE START COFFEE MILKSHAKE
1 banana
8-10 oz of your milk of choice (we used oat)
1 tsp of Alpine Start Original Blend
A couple ice cubes
Not a banana fan?
Leave it out add a couple more ice cubes and 1/4 cup of a creamy milk like coconut or oat and a few drops of stevia
Wanna get more decadent??
Substitute half your milk for a 1/2 cup of ice cream!!
Need a lil protein boost?
Add a spoonful of nut butter
Fan of downers with your uppers?
Drop the banana
Use 1/2 cup of heavy cream
Add a shot of tequila
use 1 cup of ice cubes
Throw your combo in the blender and enjoy. Oh! And remember, everything (and we mean everything) is better with whip cream on top.
]]>
We have compiled a few articles for more info:
WHAT INCLUSION IN THE OUTDOORS LOOKS LIKE
FIVE WAYS TO MAKE THE OUTDOORS MORE INCLUSIVE
MINORITIES IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS
HOW TO BE AN ALLY IN THE OUTDOORS
Organizations that emphasize inclusivity in the outdoors:
Melanine Basecamp
@melaninbasecamp
Color Outside
@wecoloroutside
Sending in Color
@sendingincolor
Brothers of Climbing
Brown Girls Climb
@browngirlsclimb
The Black Outdoors
@theblackoutdoors
Color the Crag
@colorthecrag
]]>
I’m super excited to share some big news from Alpine Start!
We’re taking our commitment to sustainability to the next level.
]]>We’re taking our commitment to sustainability to the next level.
We’ve always believed in battling climate change and protecting the wild places we love. That’s why, over the years, we’ve supported 1% for the Planet and Protect Our Winters (POW) on a grassroots level. But now we’re making it official! We’ve joined the 1% family and have come on as a Foundation Partner with POW.
I can’t be more excited about this, as for the last 3 years I’ve been working closely with POW as a member of their Athlete Alliance. Together, we’ve travelled to DC to lobby on behalf of the outdoor community as well as speak with students through their and The North Face Hot Planet/Cool Athlete program. POW has personally helped me transform my love for climbing and coffee into climate advocacy.
And climate action starts at home! On the product front, we’ve heard your feedback about reducing packaging waste and providing an affordable bulk option for our coffee lovers. Well, we’ve done it! I’m thrilled to finally introduce our new reusable and recyclable bulk jar, filled with 30 servings of our original blend instant coffee.
These efforts are super important to me and everyone at Alpine Start—not only because climate change threatens the alpine environments we love and play in, but because coffee is threatened too. Can you imagine a world without glaciers and coffee? I sure can’t.
Learn more about how you can get involved and support 1% for the Planet and Protect Our Winters.
AND don’t forget to get your Original Blend Alpine Start coffee in our new 30 serving reusable bulk container!
Keep the Alpine, Alpine.
Matt Segal
Founder
Alpine Start
]]>You may follow me on instagram and see all the craziness I post. Or you may follow Alex Hanifin, Alpine Start's CEO and see her posting ridiculous moments of me when I’m in the office. The truth of the matter is I do work but I also like to keep things silly!
Life is supposed to be fun! I’ve also been plagued with concept of feeling I need to milk every last drop of every single day; so my days are usually crammed with training, climbing, work, food and lots of coffee! I mean lots of coffee!
A few months ago I spent the day with The Caveman Collective. They followed me around and filmed one of my action packed days. Check out this short video to get a taste of a day in my life.
]]>The problem with being a millennial and living in Seattle is that I need good coffee all the time, and this requirement holds true whether I’m grinding out work on my PhD or waking up at 8,000 feet on a glacier somewhere in the Cascades.
]]>By Guest Blogger & Alpine Start Ambassador
The problem with being a millennial and living in Seattle is that I need good coffee all the time, and this requirement holds true whether I’m grinding out work on my PhD or waking up at 8,000 feet on a glacier somewhere in the Cascades.
My early outdoor trips were casual enough to allow for a heavier pack (I used to think it worthwhile to carry a can of coconut milk for backcountry curries) but as my activities have become more technical and less forgiving with pack weight, I’ve paired down my load to the essentials. Obviously, coffee is an essential, so my caffeine preparations have evolved alongside my other gear. My first backcountry coffee setup was the GSI drip system that I originally thought was brilliant because it is super light, clips right to your cup, and doesn’t require you to remember to carry in and then pack out soggy paper filters and grounds. I’ve found it disappointing as the filter gets super messy with coffee grounds and cleaning it wastes water, plus it doesn’t attach to all cups and you still have to pre-grind and carry beans. Moreover, I prefer coffee with cream, so I’d pack in single-serve half-and-half containers, which get smashed, create unnecessary plastic waste, and are easy to forget. Overall it was more of a hassle than I wanted to deal with in the backcountry.
I then transitioned to a lightweight plastic pourover setup, but I still had to remember to pack in paper filters, beans, cream, and then carry out the grounds. After getting fed up with sorting through baggies via headlamp on alpine starts, I even went through a phase where I forewent coffee altogether and regressed to the mocha CLIF shot energy gels which contain 50mg of caffeine. I’m not proud, and cutting out the flavor and experience of the coffee itself exposes coffee for what it is: a drug. However, I climbed out of this trench via an unlikely savior- instant coffee- which many view as an even lower low than a CLIF caffeine shot to the bloodstream. But let me explain.
My personal instant coffee journey actually began back in 2010 when I discovered a supermarket brand of instant coffee while traveling in Peru. It didn’t taste remotely like real coffee but I liked it and drank it every day. This ephemeral relationship tragically ended when I became horribly ill and the smell of that coffee and my misery were so neurally intertwined that I left my tin behind in my sickbed hostel as a peace offering for holding up the single bathroom. I didn’t touch instant coffee again until this year.
Many of my outdoor partners have long relied on Starbucks Via packets for their alpine coffee needs, and although I don’t harbor the hipster hatred of corporate coffee companies, I just think that Starbucks brews their coffee with charred dirt instead of beans. I’d honestly rather have no coffee than Starbucks coffee so Via has always been a hard no from me, but I instead discovered Trader Joe’s 100% Colombian Instant Coffee. This originally caught my eye because of the price point: it costs $3 for 3.5 oz and I’m a grad student; however I found that it was actually quite good and started taking it to the mountains with me. With the TJ instant, transporting the freeze dried-looking “grounds” proved difficult as it comes in a glass jar, necessitating that I divvied up portions pre-trip. As I’m aiming to eliminate single-use plastics from my lifestyle I tried to carry it in questionable satchels that led to it getting wet and coating my bag in concentrated coffee paste. My relationship with Trader Joe’s instant was good, but not great, but I didn’t realize I was settling until I discovered the eponymous Alpine Start coffee line.
Alpine Start was started by pro climber Matt Segal and business woman/foodie Alex Hanifin, both Boulder, Colorado residents who understand the necessity and challenges of bringing coffee to the mountains, or in Matt’s case, portaledges. I got stoked on Alpine Start because it tastes like real coffee (it is real coffee), you can brew it with cold or hot water, and comes self contained in single-serve packets. It is available in three versions: Original, Dirty Chai, or Coconut Creamer Latte, the latter of which makes superfluous my plastic thimbles of half-and-half and feeds my obsession with all things coconut. Best of all, it isn’t sweet, as I’m in the camp that believes sugar ruins coffee. It’s really the best instant coffee I’ve ever had and has changed not only my mountain but car camping and work coffee game too, as sometimes I don’t have time to grind and brew coffee in the Aeropress. Never again will I stoop to Via or go caffeine-less in the mountains (or at school) again!
Read the rest of the blog post and see commentary from other adventurous souls about their backcountry coffee of choice on Brianna's blog: http://meanwhileinak.com/
]]>
USA Today did a profile on Adrian Ballinger, an ambassador and friend of Alpine Start about his recent Everest climb and what fueled his adventures.
Check out the story HERE!
]]>
BOULDER, CO, May 16, 2018 – Alpine Start Foods, leaders of premium instant coffee that actually tastes good, added two new flavors, Coconut Creamer Latte and Dirty Chai Latte, to its instant coffee line today. The new flavors join the brand’s “instant” favorite, Original Blend, which disrupted the instant coffee category with refined taste and on-the-go innovation just one year ago. To celebrate the additions, Alpine Start Foods will rebrand the entire line with a new logo and bright, colorful packaging reflecting the personalities of each flavor.
The Coconut Creamer Latte and Dirty Chai Latte offer a fresh spin on everyday favorites, making them convenient, affordable, and delicious. The Coconut Creamer Latte, 100% Colombian Arabica coffee blended with non-dairy coconut creamer, transforms into a rich, creamy latte with just hot water. The Dirty Chai Latte also features 100% Colombian Arabica coffee blended with traditional Chai spices, black tea and soy milk and can dissolve in hot or cold liquids.
All Alpine Start Foods products are designed for coffee-lovers on-the-go with a single-serve sachet that holds high quality, full-flavored, instant coffee made from 100% high-altitude, Colombian Arabica beans. Drinkers rip, pour, stir and sip - anytime, anyplace. Each flavor package design has its own personality; illustrated by Los Angeles based artist, Alvaro Ilizarbe, the flavors celebrate the vibrancy of diverse coffee drinkers everywhere. The three flavors are available at https://alpinestartfoods.com/ and select retailers, Amazon, REI, Whole Foods, and H-E-B at $8.99 MSRP.
“As a professional climber and adventure athlete, I am always traveling and exploring different culinary experiences,“ said Matt Segal, co-founder of Alpine Start Foods. “I was very inspired by exotic spices and seasonings, and decided to pair them with my cup of instant coffee. This allowed us to capture the spice of traveling in these new blends.”
“The growing instant coffee category is redefining how folks are experiencing coffee–instant isn’t a bad word anymore, “ said Alex Hanifin, CEO and co-founder of Alpine Start Foods. “With these new flavors, we turn instant coffee into an instant coffee shop - no machine, no long lines, no extra products. There’s now something for every type of coffee drinker with Alpine Start.” ]]>April 22nd 2018 is Earth Day!
There are a number of things you can do daily to help reduce your impact on the planet long after the Earth Day celebrations have completed. Check out the post for a list of suggestions on ways you can reduce your impact.
]]>This marks the day celebrated internationally that aims to bring millions of people together to participate in activities focused on making a significant change for our planet.
While these activities and gatherings are great, there are many other things you can do daily to help reduce your impact on the planet long after the Earth Day celebrations have completed. Below is a list of several to help get you on the path to doing your part!
Earth Day Tips
Hopefully you are already doing some/all of these in your home. Help spread the word and together we all can work to combat climate change one action at a time.
]]>Read the full article here.
]]>
The gym was crowded with the Tuesday morning “pre-work” crowd, which was irritating. I woke up at 6 am hoping to avoid people, I guess I couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed going to the gym to top rope on 5.7’s. Climbing has been such a huge part of my identity for the last 20 years and my ego was horrified with the thought of starting over.
The noise of the crowded gym faded away the moment I pulled onto the wall, and as I climbed the first few moves, all my fears and doubts began to slip away. It’s funny the things you don’t forget, I moved as I did thousands of times before, slowly and methodically.
Ten weeks before this moment I was in a terrible paragliding accident where I suffered numerous injuries. I broke a dozen bones, the most severe being fully fracturing both arms and slightly fracturing vertebra in my neck and back. Needless to say it was a miracle I was standing - let alone beginning to climb again less than three months after my crash.
Matt holding the Hydro Flask that was in his bag when he crashed and probably saved his spine. Photo: Keith Ladzinski
For the last 15 years I’ve scheduled my life around climbing, spending summers in Canada and winters in Spain. Unfortunately my accident didn’t allow me to make my annual pilgrimage north to Canada - but I didn’t want it to stop me from taking my yearly trip to Spain. I also needed something to look forward to and something to train for. I set my recovery goals on a fun trip to Chuilla, a classic limestone destination just outside of Valencia, Spain.
My good friend Jesse Huey was psyched to join me on this little escape. Jesse saw me through my recovery, and in fact was there that first day back with me in the gym. Normally on these trips I have a specific objective in mind, a route I’d like to accomplish by the time the trip is over. But this wasn’t a normal trip. I wasn’t sure how rock climbing was going to feel since I’d mostly spent the last months climbing in the gym and doing tons of physical therapy. I knew my fitness wasn’t back to normal and I wanted to make this trip less about objectives and more about having fun and enjoying climbing outside again.
Spain is truly one of my favorite places in the world; the people, the food and the rock are like nowhere else. There’s something about the Spanish lifestyle that is so relaxed. It’s like people are just there to have a good time regardless of their performance. It was exactly what I needed.
Jesse and I had two weeks to climb as much as we could. After the first few days it was clear to me that I was going to have a few challenges getting back into the swing of things of climbing full time. The biggest hurdle was warming up. When climbing in the gym there’s always tons of mellow options to get the blood flowing on easy fun routes. When climbing outside you kind of just get what you get which was a difficult and painful process. Each day I still felt the lingering injuries on the first few routes, like I wasn’t myself and my body wasn’t performing how it used to or how I wanted it to. It seemed like I started every day in pain. Jesse was an all-star partner constantly reminding me “chill out” and “remember, it only gets better.”
Every day after the first few warm ups I’d begin to feel “normal” and Jesse and I would take turns trying as hard as we could on the 40 meter endurance routes. We’d give it our all until complete failure. I managed to climb a few 5.13’s I was really excited about; each took an insane amount of effort finishing the climbs with absolutely no energy left.
This time it was almost more gratifying than normal because I’d start everyday feeling like climbing was impossible. It reminded me why I really love climbing, because of the partnerships you create. Jesse was a hero on this trip. Everyday when I was super bummed and negative he’d always encourage me to be patient and remind me how rad it was that I was even climbing that soon after my accident. It reminded me it’s not about the time climbing or the accomplishments, but the time in between - hanging out, drinking coffee, laughing and just enjoying being outside.
We left Spain, happy, more confident in my ability to continue my recovery and more motivated to train for harder routes that I’m used to. It also reinvigorated my psyche, spending time outdoors and it reminded me it’s not all about names and grades but the camaraderie that climbing brings. Looking forward to more adventures with Jesse and other climbing partners.
]]>In an intimate blog for La Sportiva I recently wrote:
“It was as if I was cheating on my one true love with a sneaky snowy mistress. I felt weak in the arms and was only enjoying the kiss of the sun from my skis. I maintained a mediocre relationship with climbing only by a few gym days or hang board sessions a week. It felt stale; my 20-year love affair with climbing had become monotonous.”
Needless to say, I was really excited to ski! Since this season has already been so light on snow, and powder days have been few and far between, I decided to take advantage of the little early season snow we had and further my avalanche safety learning. I traveled to Lake Tahoe, California to take my AIARE Level 1 course at Squaw Valley with Alpenglow Expeditions. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it was time to begin acquiring more skills for safe travel in the mountains. I had the itch for skiing and needed to do something about it.
In recent years I’ve lost one too many friends to completely avoidable accidents in the mountains. Skiing is similar to climbing, it’s really safe until it’s not. It’s up to the participant to have “good” judgment and weigh his or her own risk to reward. The only way to do this is to constantly be learning and stay current with all the latest training.
The first day of the course focused on snow science… and this Florida kid felt in way over his head. There’s so much to learn - from reading terrain, to different kinds of avalanches, to the anatomy of a snowflake. There’s a lifetime of science out there and it’s easy to feel to overwhelmed. The course just scratched the surface of all there is to learn.
Learning about snow science was fascinating. I felt the most valuable aspect of the course was learning the importance of teamwork and communication. At the end of the day you can know all there is to know about the science, but it’s us humans that make the decisions. Choosing the right partners and not being scared to communicate is what’s ultimately going to keep you safe in the mountains.
I was warned most people walk out of their AIARE 1 courses simply horrified. It is a scary thought, there are so many things that can go wrong in the mountains and it is purely up to you to assess the situation and stack all the odds in your favor. Some ask why even bother? Why participate in an activity that has the potential to be dangerous? I don’t have a great answer to this question - besides I simply can’t imagine a life not spent in the mountains.
So be safe out there! Take the time to do your research, head out with a good crew and always remember - at the end of the day it’s supposed to be fun. Below are a few links dive more into avalanche safety.
The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education
Colorado Avalanche Information Center
]]>
With an article appropriately titled "The $9 Instant Coffee Inspired by Waking Up Suspended 1,000 Feet Over a Cliff", Food & Wine Magazine digs deep into the moment when Alpine Start Instant Coffee was conceived and how we got where we are today.
Mix up a cup of Alpine Start and take a read.
http://www.foodandwine.com/coffee/alpine-start-coffee-good
]]>Mix up a cup of Alpine Start and take a read.
http://www.foodandwine.com/coffee/alpine-start-coffee-good
]]>
Paste Magazine put Alpine Start head to head against Starbucks Via in a battle of taste and convenience.
Spoiler alert...
"Both cups of coffee are similar in their taste profile, but the newcomer, Alpine Start has a slight edge just by being a bit more interesting. Oh, and truly lazy coffee drinkers take note: Alpine Start works as a cold brew too, so you don’t even have to heat water to get your caffeine. Just stir and drink."
Read the full comparison from @PasteMagazine here:
]]>Paste Magazine put Alpine Start head to head against Starbucks Via in a battle of taste and convenience.
Spoiler alert...
"Both cups of coffee are similar in their taste profile, but the newcomer, Alpine Start has a slight edge just by being a bit more interesting. Oh, and truly lazy coffee drinkers take note: Alpine Start works as a cold brew too, so you don’t even have to heat water to get your caffeine. Just stir and drink."
Read the full comparison from @PasteMagazine here:
]]>Check out what Delicious Living had to say about Alpine Start!
"Alpine Start will shatter any presumptions you have that instant coffee isn’t tasty."
Read the full review from @deliciouslivingmag here!
]]>Check out what Delicious Living had to say about Alpine Start!
"Alpine Start will shatter any presumptions you have that instant coffee isn’t tasty."
Read the full review from @deliciouslivingmag here!
]]>
Participating companies included Subaru, Keen, Deuter, Nite Ize, Sea to Summit, The North Face, Alpine Start Foods, Mountain Hardwear, Orvis, ArcTeryx, Patagonia Denver, Royal Robbins, Denver Beer Co., Runners Roost, Crazy Mountain, Joyride Brewing Co., Jagged Mountain, Mountainsmith, Kelty, Sierra Designs, Green Guru, Down River, Rep Your Water and Outlier Productions.
With a total of over 75 volunteers, we covered over 12 miles and were able to collect 2,250 gallons of trash along the river. By participating in the event, these brands raised a total of $9,000.
All funds raised will go to support the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Hot Spot Program. Hot Spots are all public lands — city parks, forests, open space land, national parks — across the country that have sustained damaged from overuse. In its sixth year, the Leave No Trace Hot Spot program has helped dozens of damaged public lands regain their health and long-term sustainability through weeklong, onsite education and events, engaging the local community in training, service and outreach.
Photo Credit to Mahting Productions:http://www.mahting.com/
I have tried every instant coffee on the market, and let’s be honest, it doesn’t have the best rap. However, there wasn’t much of a choice. So, for the past year, that was my challenge. Creating an instant coffee people would be psyched on, and didn’t have to sacrifice bad coffee for time.
The idea first came to me when I was on a climbing expedition in the Bugaboos of British Columbia. After drinking so much shitty instant coffee, I realized there just wasn’t a quality premium instant coffee on the market. At the time I didn’t know much about starting a business or even much about coffee. All I knew was I had a good idea and I was willing to put in the time and effort to figure it out. I also had the idea of the name, Alpine Start. It was my life for the past 15 years. It felt like everything was coming together, but I had one problem… How the heck do you make an instant coffee taste good?!
After coming home from the Bugaboos I partnered with Boulder’s local food star Alex Hanifin, and enlisted Amy Burke as our designer. The ball was rolling and it only took us a few months to learn everything we could about instant coffee. It involved a lot of taste testing, lots of meetings and at the end of the day being shut down for the first few months.
But with this team, it would take a lot to get us to stop. We were on a mission and with the dedication and passion, we finally created an instant coffee we all loved. And from there on, the momentum continued. We shared it with our family and friends, and before we knew it, we had our business and a product we loved.
It didn’t take long until we had to grow our team. So we brought on another business star, Michael Crouch, into the family as our Chief of Operations.
It’s amazing what such a small team has done. It’s been almost two years since the idea came to me and just about a year since I touched the first box of “Alpine Start”- my own premium instant coffee.
I can’t tell you how crazy of year it’s been, lots of ups and lots of downs but I’m super excited to announce we’re in almost 500 doors including a regional launch with Whole Foods and national launch with REI.
When I was living in my tent in the Bugaboos two years ago I never imagined the day my dream would come to a reality. We’re still young and have lots of kinks to figure out but, I can’t be happier or more proud of my team for bringing us this far.
So thanks to all of you, we couldn’t have done it without your support.
- Matt Segal; Founder and Visionary of Alpine Start
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