Words Jason Blevins
The legendary Mountain Gazette magazine started documenting the changing West in the mid-1960s. Twice, the influential artistic, literary and incisive magazine went dark — once for 20 years and again for the last eight.
Appreciation for the Mountain Gazette never died, even when it stopped publishing. Older issues can be found in curated collections in antique stores. Lovers of the magazine collect them like precious vinyl records.
And now the journal of culture and commentary is getting a second, second chance.
Mike Rogge, a 34-year-old skier and new dad from Lake Tahoe, is breathing new life into the idled magazine, hoping to revive the glory days when Mountain Gazette harbored the stories and characters that defined high-country culture.
Rogge bought the dormant Mountain Gazette and its website in January from Summit Publishing Co., which prints the popular, free Elevation Outdoors magazine seen on racks all over Colorado.
Rogge didn’t necessarily have a plan when he inked the deal. He knew the magazine, of course. Its writers — like Edward Abbey, George Sibley, Mary Sojourner, John Nichols, Dick Dorworth, Hunter S. Thompson, M. John Fayhee — had inspired his youthful exploration of the West. He got 50 boxes of old magazines shipped to his house as part of the deal. He spent hours poring over the issues. He’d post photos of his favorite covers on Instagram. People loved them.
So last month he started selling classic Mountain Gazette covers. He’s got clothing and drink glasses coming soon. Those sales will help fund a twice-a-year magazine. It’s going to be big — 11 inches by 17 inches — printed on good paper.
To continue reading the full story, please head over to Colorado Sun.
