The 1Climb Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by professional rock climber Kevin Jorgeson, is partnering with one of the largest operators of indoor climbing facilities in the U.S., El Cap, to bring climbing to kids across the country. Marking the beginning of the new partnership, El Cap and 1Climb opened a rock wall at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver on December 17.

 

The new wall, donated by El Cap, brings climbing and climbing related programs to 10,000 kids in the Denver area. The donation supports the clubs goals of helping kids achieve better academic success, healthy lifestyles and civic engagement through climbing. It also brings climbing to a community that might not otherwise have the opportunity. In addition to the Denver wall, El Cap and 1Climb have plans to open walls in Portland and San Francisco in 2020. Which is just the beginning, the two brands will continue to partner on walls around the country into the future.

 

El Cap, who owns Planet Granite, Earth Treks and Movement, is the largest nationwide network of indoor climbing gyms. Continuing to grow its network, El Cap not only donated the wall to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, but they committed to ongoing programming and instruction with their expert staff. The partnership ensures a positive experience for the kids and the walls continued success.

 

“This partnership allows us all to share our love of climbing with Boys & Girls Clubs and ensure aspiring climbers walk away feeling a bit more proud and inspired,” explains Robert Cohen, CEO of El Cap. “Our hope is that eventually they decide to join the kind-hearted and encouraging community that exists in climbing today.” 

 

1Climb was founded in 2017 by Kevin Jorgeson and Dan Chancellor, the founder and owner of SoiLL Climbing Holds. The foundation started with the goal of introducing 100,000 kids to climbing. Today, 1Climb has opened five walls, including the Denver wall, and has introduced more than 18,400 kids to climbing. 

 

For more information about 1Climb, or to donate to the organization, visit www.1climb.org.

 

For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and their climbing program, visit www.bgcmd.com.

 

About 1Climb

The 1Climb Foundation was founded in 2017 with the mission of introducing 100,000 kids to climbing. 1Climb funds the installation of climbing walls in Boys and Girls Clubs across the United States, and creates partnerships between the clubs and the local climbing community. For more information about 1Climb, visit www.1climb.org.

Save the Boundary Waters to Host Series of Screenings of New Mini- Documentary, “In Deep Water,” on Threat to the Wilderness from Risky Mining

Screenings will be followed by a panel discussion and question and answer period

ELY, MN–Today the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters announced a series of screenings on the threat to the wilderness from sulfide-ore copper mining, most significantly from Chilean mining conglomerate Antofagasta’s Twin Metals project. Each screening will include a presentation of the mini-documentary, “In Deep Water,” panel discussion, and question and answer period. 

A Star Tribune/MPR poll released yesterday showed that by nearly 3 to 1 Minnesotans do not want mining near the Boundary Waters Wilderness. This tracks with other polling that has consistently shown over the years that Minnesotans oppose threats to America’s most visited Wilderness. Significantly, opposition did not change greatly across regions of the state. 

The screenings and conversations will help inform the public on the threat sulfide-ore copper mining poses to the Boundary Waters Wilderness.

Schedule of screenings (all shows at 6PM)

Feb 27–Duluth
Zeitgeist Theater
222 East Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802

March 4–Minneapolis
Parkway Theatre
4818 Chicago Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55417

March 6–Ely
Vermillion Community College Theater 
1900 E. Camp St.
Ely, MN 55731

March 9-Grand Marais
Arrowhead Center for the Arts
51 W 5th St
Grand Marais, MN 55604

March 15–Madison, WI
Canoecopia
1919 Alliant Energy Way, 
Madison, WI 53713

March 16–Milwaukee, WI
Indeed Brewing
530 S 2nd St,
Milwaukee, WI 53204

March 17–Chicago, IL 
Revolution Brewing
2323 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647

For more information on the film and screening schedule please see: https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/film-screenings

 

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360 Adventure Collective (360 AC), the trusted member association that has hosted regional, focused events for sales reps and retailers for over 40 years, welcomes a new Executive Director, Stacey Gellert. The Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointment following a search process that started last September. Effective April 1, Gellert will move into the role following the retirement of former director Debbie Motz, who served 30 years with the non-profit.

“I’ve known and worked with Stacey for most of the 17 years she’s been with EORA and 360 AC,” notes Phil Flamand, 360 Adventure Collective’s Board President. “She has proven to be dedicated, diligent and a tremendous asset. Her experience will be critical in leading 360 AC in the right direction during the ever-shifting future of trade shows and the challenging times we are living in.”

Gellert is an outdoor industry veteran with more than 17 years of experience in trade show management. Most recently, she has overseen 360 Adventure Collective’s Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. During her tenure, Gellert has helped the organization grow to over 675 members with 14 annual shows servicing 2,900+ retailers. She is a long-time resident of Asheville, NC, a hotbed of outdoor activities.

 

“I am thrilled to continue my partnership with 360 Adventure Collective,” notes Gellert. “My vision for the organization includes attracting younger demographics, improving show efficiency by implementing more technology, and expanding our retailer base to include a greater variety of channels.”

To learn more about 360 Adventure Collective, visit https://360adventurecollective.org/ or email Mandy Giles at mandy@darbycommunications.com.

About 360 Adventure Collective

EORA (Eastern Outdoor Reps Association) and NESR (New England Sports Reps) united in 2017 to create 360 Adventure Collective, a greater organization boasting a combined 40 years of success in connecting the most comprehensive offerings in outdoor and ski apparel, footwear, accessories and hard goods to the industry’s retailers who matter the most. By hosting smaller, more conveniently located expos and markets than the national alternatives, 360 Adventure Collective is the traveling sales rep’s most trusted support system for maximizing connections with retailers and vendors. 360 Adventure Collective has over 675 members with 14 annual shows, and services over 2,900 retailers. For more information or to become a member visit https://360adventurecollective.org/.

Rumpl, the Portland-based category leader in technical blankets, has collaborated with Portland’s renowned graphic designer Aaron Draplin to develop a limited, one-of-a-kind blanket collection that will launch in Portland on February 27, 2020. The event will offer participants an opportunity to meet Draplin and shop the collection before it becomes more widely available in March. Due to Draplin’s following and Rumpl’s growing popularity, the launch event quickly sold out, with attendees flying in from across the country for a chance to meet the artist in person. 

“We’ve been fans of Draplin and his work at Rumpl for years. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to collaborate with an artist of his caliber and to see his creative vision come to life in this way,” says Rumpl Founder and CEO Wylie Robinson. “The event will be a blast. With a full guest list and growing waitlist, we are thrilled to see such high energy and excitement for this collection.” 

Since its founding in 2013, Rumpl has established itself as the leading innovator in the technical blanket category, creating versatile blankets with premium technical materials, post-consumer recycled goods and fresh, colorful designs. Rumpl has a a mission to introduce the world to better blankets and is dedicated to expanding the category to produce blankets made for everywhere. The new collection with Aaron Draplin falls within Rumpl’s growing Artist Series, which includes unique designs developed closely with select artists. 

Aaron Draplin is a Portland-based designer and the founder of Draplin Design Co. (DDC), where he works on diverse design projects and collaborations with the mission of doing good work for good people. In addition to Rumpl, DDC has worked with brands such as Nike, Burton Snowboards and Field Notes.  

“My favorite projects are the things that you feel just shouldn’t exist. An adventure blanket? I don’t go into the woods. I don’t hike. I don’t even go outside,” says Aaron Draplin. “Rumpl handed me the keys and we made something for The Great Indoors! Netflix and below! And yet, could hold up in the back of my van that one time I go camping each year? These do the job. Come see them up close, friends!” 

The Rumpl x Draplin event will take place Thursday, February 27 at the Swift Agency in Portland, Oregon. For additional event details, please visit: https://bit.ly/2SNYnIm   

For more information about Rumpl or the event, please direct inquiries to Senior Account Manager Emily Banks at emily.banks@rygr.us.  

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About Rumpl: Based in Portland, Oregon, Rumpl makes Blankets for Everywhere. Utilizing material technologies commonly found in activewear and outdoor gear, Rumpl aims to modernize the everyday blanket. Rumpl’s high-quality, versatile blankets keep you comfortable no matter where you are. The materials have been tested and proven in harsh environments, yet specifically selected for comfort and durability. Rumpl believes the blanket you use every day deserves the same attention to detail as a sleeping bag you might use ten times a year. The end result is a premium and versatile blanket that can be used anywhere you go … or when you don’t go anywhere. https://www.rumpl.com. 

Overwhelming Majority of Minnesotans Oppose Mining Near the Boundary Waters

By nearly 3 to 1 Minnesotans do not want mining near the Wilderness

ELY, MN–Today the Star Tribune/MPR released a poll showing that by 60% to 22% Minnesotans do not want mining near the Boundary Waters. This tracks with other polling that has consistently shown over the years that Minnesotans oppose threats to America’s most visited Wilderness. Significantly, opposition did not change greatly across regions of the state. 

“The Boundary Waters is our state’s crown jewel, a special place to Minnesotans of all ages and backgrounds, and a natural wonder that we want protected now and for our kids, grandkids, and those coming after,” said Becky Rom, National Chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters.

“Those of us who live in the Boundary Waters region acutely recognize that a sulfide-ore copper mining district near the Boundary Waters would be devastating to the Wilderness and the wild characteristics that make it so special – clean water and air, abundant wildlife, healthy fishery, quietude, and dark skies. Our communities have built our way of life around the Wilderness. This poll makes clear that the majority of Minnesotans stand with us in protecting our nation’s greatest canoe country wilderness.” 

Consistent with independent academic research that shows that protecting the Wilderness from sulfide-ore copper mining is far better long-term for the local economy, voters said – by a 66% to 19% margin – that the environment was more important than jobs when it came to mining near the Boundary Waters. Notably, in Northern Minnesota where the mine would be located respondents agreed, saying environmental protection was more important than jobs by a 60% to 23% margin. 

In 2016 the US Forest Service (USFS) concluded that proposed copper mining near the Wilderness from Antofagasta’s Twin Metals project posed an “unacceptable risk of irreparable harm” to the Boundary Waters and the federal leases for the project were terminated. 

After Antofagasta’s owner bought a Washington DC mansion and rented it to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the Trump Administration revived the leases and short-circuited the federal environmental review of a 20-year mining ban in the watershed of the Boundary Waters. Since then, Antofagasta’s changes to the project have greatly increased the risk this proposed mine poses to the Boundary Waters. 

The Trump Administration has continued to fast track the project, killing a bipartisan budget provision compelling it to complete the cancelled mining ban study. It most recently blew off a congressionally ordered report to the Canadian government on potential impacts to Canadian waters by issuing a mere 8 paragraph document that was described as “a grade school-level book report.”

There is currently a bill in Congress to protect the Boundary Waters by banning sulfide-ore copper mining in the headwaters. 

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New Ultra-lightweight Seat the Perfect Accessory for Fulfilling Seating Needs Small and Large

Hillsound Equipment, the leading producer of winter traction equipment and gaiters for outdoor enthusiasts, is excited to introduce their award-winning BTR stool to the market. The BTR stool, which stands for “Better Than a Rock ” is available for purchase in select retailers and will be online starting March 1, 2020.

 

The BTR Stool is the ultimate lightweight seat for outdoor adventures and everyday life. The stool is the perfect accessory for backpacking, sightseeing and fishing adventures, or for just hanging out with friends around a campfire.

 

“We have received incredible feedback and reaction to the stool and are thrilled to be releasing it to the public this month.” Commented YooRa Kang, Hillsound Marketing Manager, “It’s truly going to be a game-changer for outdoor enthusiasts and the outdoor community as a whole.”

 

The BTR stool is available in two sizes, 14” and 17”, with the 14” version weighing an incredibly light 12.2 ounces and the 17” version coming in at 14 ounces. The seat is made from 100% nylon mesh and can be removed, while the poles are comprised of aluminum alloy. The BTR stool also features PhantomLock™ Technology that secures the legs of the stool when they are dispersed while also allowing the legs to retract when returned to a neutral position without the use of buttons or levers.

 

To purchase the BTR stool and for more information on other Hillsound products, news, athlete ambassadors and happenings visit www.hillsound.com, or connect with the brand on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

About Hillsound Equipment, Inc.

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Hillsound offers a range of highly-engineered traction devices for a variety of categories, from winter hiking to ice fishing. Hillsound also specializes in the design and manufacturing of durable and comfortable gaiters.

Kahtoola, creator of award-winning MICROspikes® and NANOspikes® footwear traction, is proud to announce that its 13^th annual GORE-TEX Kahtoola Uphill fundraising event raised $52,000 for local Flagstaff-based nonprofit, Friends of Camp Colton. All Uphill event profits directly benefit the camp’s youth environmental education programs including scholarships that allow low-income students to attend Camp Colton.

 

Each February, the Kahtoola Uphill event takes place on the snow-covered San Francisco Peaks at the Arizona Snowbowl, which overlooks Kahtoola’s Flagstaff headquarters. Designed with fun in mind, the Uphill challenges participants to conquer the mountain on foot using winter traction or skinning. The race features three routes varying in distance and elevation from 1.5 miles/650 ft for the Fun Climb to the more advanced Agassiz Climb totaling 3.5 miles/2,200 ft.

 

“The Kahtoola Uphill initially started in 2007 with a handful of friends and has snowballed into an annual event with hundreds of participants,” said Danny Giovale, Founder and Owner at Kahtoola. “2020 is our most successful fundraising race to-date, and we are beyond proud of everyone in our community who helped make this year’s event so impactful.”

 

Since the first event, Kahtoola Uphill has raised more than $400,000 to help kids get outside and immerse them in the power of nature. Kahtoola would like to thank GORE-TEX, Arizona Snowbowl, Lumberyard Brewing Co., Flagstaff Subaru, K2 Adventures and all Uphill event sponsors, volunteers and supporters for making this year’s race possible. For more information on Friends of Camp Colton, please contact Ari Wilder at ari@friendsofcampcolton.org or call 928-527-6142.

 

About Kahtoola:

Since 1999, Kahtoola has been creating reliable gear that makes the outdoors more accessible and rewarding. Kahtoola’s flexible footwear traction systems, including MICROspikes® and NANOspikes®, are built to improve safety and performance in wintry locales around the globe. Every product from hiking crampons to running gaiters are thoughtfully designed and vigorously tested at the brand’s Flagstaff, AZ headquarters high on the Colorado Plateau. Owned and operated by founder Danny Giovale, Kahtoola proudly grants 1% of annual sales to fund projects that support indigenous cultures and improve communities, healthcare, education, resources and the environment. For more information, please visit Kahtoola.com.

 

About Friends of Camp Colton:

Friends of Camp Colton champions exceptional outdoor learning experiences that instill the value of preserving our natural world and inspire growth and discovery. Camp Colton, Flagstaff Unified School District’s environmental education center, immerses students in nature. Working in partnership with FUSD, Friends makes Camp more accessible, develops innovative programs, and spearheads long-range planning. For more information, visit www.friendsofcampcolton.org.

Honey Stinger, the sports nutrition brand featuring honey, is proud to support more than 50 athletes as they chase down their Olympic dreams at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta this Saturday, Feb. 29. Thirteen men and 43 women from the brand’s extensive Hive ambassador program have qualified to start in the prestigious event.

Hive Platinum team member Jared Ward, of Provo, Utah, highlights the list of athletes, as one of the top contenders to make the men’s Olympic team. Ward enters the event with the fourth-fastest Olympic Trials qualifying time, at 2:09:25. Last November, Ward finished sixth place at the TCS New York City Marathon, and was the top American to cross the line. He also finished as the top American male at the Houston Half Marathon last month, where he clocked a personal best time of 1:01:36. Ward was a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, and finished sixth place in the marathon in Rio de Janeiro.

Other notable contenders representing Honey Stinger at the marathon trials event include Neely Spence Grace, Nell Rojas, Andy Wacker, Ryan Vail and Ashley Brasovan.

“We could not be more excited for the amazing group of athletes representing our Honey Stinger Hive programs at this year’s Olympic Marathon Trials event,” said Sarah Glassmeyer, athlete sponsorship coordinator for Honey Stinger. “We know just how much work all 56 of them have put in to be able to stand on that start line and compete for a spot at the Olympic Games, and we are very proud to help fuel them through their respective journeys.”

In addition to the marathon, several Hive Gold athletes have qualified to compete in other Olympic Trials events over the next few months. Highlights include Sage Donnelly in canoe slalom, Jenna Burkert in women’s wrestling, Kara Winger in javelin and Katie Nageotte in pole vault.

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About Honey Stinger

Founded in 2001 in Steamboat Springs, Colo. and still proudly based in the same location, Honey Stinger makes great tasting, convenient sports nutrition using honey and real, responsibly sourced ingredients. Fueling top elites and everyday enthusiasts alike, Honey Stinger is designed to elevate performance. The company’s diverse product offering includes waffles, gels, chews, energy and cracker bars, protein bars and more, providing natural, sustained energy for every endeavor. Honey Stinger products can be found at sporting goods retailers, grocers, convenience stores and online at www.honeystinger.com.

In 2020, Mountaineers Books celebrates 60 years of nonprofit publishing and award-winning books. In that time, Mountaineers Books has grown from a handful of volunteers committed to sharing their climbing expertise to the nation’s leading independent publisher of outdoor recreation, sustainable lifestyle, and conservation books. Mountaineers Books, together with imprints Skipstone and Braided River, provide the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to get people outdoors and build a community of advocates for wild places.

In March of 1960, five thousand copies of the first edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, written by volunteer members, arrived at a clubhouse in Seattle and with it the first stirrings of a new independent press. Now, more than 750,000 copies, nine editions, eight translations, and 60 years later, Freedom (as it is affectionately known) has seen Mountaineers Books become the respected outdoor authority that it is today. With more than 700 titles currently in print, ranging from National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Heather Anderson’s memoir Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home to three editions of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by former director of the Utah Avalanche Center Bruce Tremper to the groundbreaking equity work of James Edward Mills in The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors, Mountaineers Books presents a diverse list that inspires and empowers the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists.

Concurrently, Helen Cherullo, who has served as publisher of Mountaineers Books for the past 20 years, will be stepping away from the role to focus on the company’s conservation imprint, Braided River. Cherullo, who has simultaneously been acting as the imprint’s executive director, cites her passion for and commitment to the environment as one of the reasons for transitioning to this position full-time. Cherullo says she’s “honored to continue to play a role at Mountaineers Books focusing on conservation and philanthropy.”

The Braided River imprint, with its first title published in 2003, launched a unique nonprofit model that merged philanthropy and mission impact with a book as the centerpiece of a conservation campaign. By partnering with grassroots organizations and foundations focused on advocacy efforts in western North America, Braided River has succeeded in supporting ambitious conservation work unlike any other publisher in the country is doing. As an example of its success combining education and action, David Moskowitz’s book, Caribou Rainforest: From Heartbreak to Hope, activated communities in Canada and the western United States to fight the extinction of the last caribou living in the lower 48. The book was honored with the 2018 Silver Nautilus Book Award in Animals & Nature, the 2018 Silver Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in Ecology & Environment, and the 2019 Banff Mountain Book Competition Special Jury Mention. 

Cherullo’s transition to focus on development and philanthropy full-time as Executive Director of Conservation and Advancement would not be possible without Tom Helleberg. Helleberg has served as Director of Finance and Operations for Mountaineers Books since 2018, and has agreed to take on the role of Publisher. “It is a great honor to be stepping into a leadership role on the sixtieth anniversary of the house, to set the course into the next era and continue to inspire our readers,” Helleberg says. Cherullo cites Helleberg’s commitment to partnership and extensive knowledge of the publishing industry as key components of the future success of the press. “We are going to be a good partner to authors, to booksellers, and to our distribution clients such as Green Trails Maps and Colorado Mountain Club,” Helleberg says. He is a publishing veteran with twenty years of experience at nonprofit and scholarly houses. Helleberg holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an MBA in corporate finance and strategy from the Stern School of Business at NYU.

In another step to amplify Mountaineers Books’ influence as a leading nonprofit publisher, longtime sales director Darryl Booker will be assuming the role of Director of Sales and Marketing. “Booker’s energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm will provide a strong base for continued growth of book sales,” Cherullo says of the promotion. Over the course of his fourteen year tenure at Mountaineers Books, Booker has sustained or increased sales revenue on an annual basis, and he has developed numerous new wholesale and distribution partnerships. 

“Working with Mountaineers Books has always fulfilled a lifelong passion of mine bringing together the great outdoors and books,” Booker says. Rounding out the management team is Kate Rogers, Editor in Chief and a long-time book professional who has been with the company for fourteen years.

Mountaineers Books is pleased to announce these exciting changes on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. Since 1960, the catalog of Mountaineers titles has provided the expertise needed for the safe enjoyment of outdoor pursuits as well as the conservation and stewardship of wild places. With Cherullo’s expanded capacity for philanthropic development and conservation, Helleberg’s strong leadership skills, Booker’s sales and marketing acumen, and Rogers’ acquisitions talent, the press is well positioned to grow the impact of its authors and partners in service to its mission. These changes will take effect by March 1, 2020.