50 Years Later

2013-05-11T11:31:44-06:00

1963

2013

50 Years Later

YouTube Ends Video Contest (finally!)

2013-04-01T10:50:56-06:00

After many great years and ballooning entries, YouTube is finally ready to close the contest and select a winner. For what? The best video in the world, of course.

Published on Mar 31, 2013 (via YouTube)

Thanks for all your great entries.
YouTube finally has enough videos to begin selecting a winner.
What do you think is the #bestvideo on YouTube?

We've been thrilled with all of the diverse, creative entries we've seen so far, and we can't wait to begin the process of selecting the best video. We'll be announcing the winner in 10 years.

REI CEO Steps into Secretary of Interior Role

2013-02-06T15:10:40-07:00

Very exciting news for our nation's national parks, and federally managed outdoor recreation areas — President Obama has formally nominated REI CEO Sally Jewell to become our nation's next Secretary of Interior.

During a time when many of the last remaining parcels of pristine, untouched land are under threat of development, having someone manage our nation's greatest natural resources with a background in the outdoor economy seems critical. Snow-based recreation in the United States was estimated to contribute $67 billion annually to the US economy and support over 600,000 jobs. The Outdoor Industry Association estimates that 140 million Americans make outdoor recreation a priority in their daily lives. The outdoor recreation economy is valued at roughly 646 billion and supports over 6 million American jobs. Open spaces to enjoy and recreate are pre-requiste for the outdoor economy to exist. For those in our country who think that open space is wasted space, Sally will be a powerful voice to speak otherwise.

Congratulations Sally!

As reported by the Huffington Post

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated outdoor business executive Sally Jewell to lead the Interior Department.

Obama said Jewell, president and chief executive at REI, has earned national recognition for her support of outdoor recreation and habitat conservation. He also noted her experience as an engineer in oil fields and her record of achievement and environmental stewardship at REI, which sells clothing and gear for outdoor use.

"She knows the link between conservation and good jobs. She knows that there's no contradiction between being good stewards of the land and our economic progress – that, in fact, those two things need to go hand and hand," Obama said at a White House ceremony.

At REI, Jewell "has shown that a company with more than $1 billion in sales can do the right thing for our planet," Obama said. Last year, REI donated nearly $4 million to protect trails and parks, and 20 percent of the electricity used in the company's stores comes from renewable sources.

Jewell, the first woman Obama has nominated for his Cabinet in his second term, would replace current Interior Secretary Ken Salazar if confirmed by the Senate. Salazar has held the post throughout Obama's first term. He announced last month that he would step down in March.

Jewell, 56, emerged as a frontrunner for the Interior post in recent days, edging out better-known Democrats such as former Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter. The Interior job traditionally has gone to politicians from Western states. Salazar was a Colorado senator before taking over at Interior in 2009.

Jewell donated $5,000 to Obama's re-election effort and has supported other Democrats, campaign finance records show.

The White House faced criticism that the new Cabinet lacked diversity after Obama tapped a string of white men for top posts, but Obama promised more diverse nominees were in the queue for other jobs.

Jewell's confirmation also would put a prominent representative from the business community in the president's Cabinet. REI is a $2 billion-a-year company and has been named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 100 companies to work for.

Jewell was born in England, but moved to the Seattle area before age 4 and is a U.S. citizen.

In 2011, Jewell introduced Obama at a White House conference on the "America's Great Outdoors" initiative, noting that the $289 billion outdoor-recreation industry supports 6.5 million jobs. She also appeared at a 2009 White House event on health care.

Under Salazar, the Interior Department pushed renewable power such as solar and wind and oversaw a moratorium on offshore drilling after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The moratorium was lifted in October 2010, although offshore drilling operations did not begin for several more months.

The Interior Department manages more than 500 million acres in national parks and other public lands, and more than 1 billion acres offshore, overseeing energy, mining operations and recreation. The department also provides services to 566 federally recognized Indian tribes.

Jewell's nomination was hailed by conservation and business groups alike.

Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune called Jewell a champion in the effort to connect children with nature and said she has "a demonstrated commitment to preserving the higher purposes public lands hold for all Americans – recreation, adventure, and enjoyment.

The Western Energy Alliance, which represents the oil and natural gas industry in the West, also welcomed Jewell's nomination.

"Her experience as a petroleum engineer and business leader will bring a unique perspective to an office that is key to our nation's energy portfolio," said Tim Wigley, the group's president.

Wigley said his group hopes Jewell will work to develop oil and gas on non-park, non-wilderness public lands.

Jewell's appointment comes as Democrats and environmental groups are urging Obama to step up efforts to conserve public lands in his second term.

Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt said Tuesday that Obama should adopt a principle in which every acre of public land that is leased to the oil and gas industry is matched by an acre permanently protected for conservation or recreation.

Over the past four years, more than 6 million acres of public lands have been leased for oil and gas, compared with 2.6 million acres permanently protected, according to U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Jewell, who is married with two grown children, was paid more than $2 million as REI's CEO in 2011. She contributed $5,000 to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee set up by Obama and the Democratic Party, according to federal election records. She has contributed to Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and a political action committee that supports Democrats.

COLD

2013-01-15T12:47:10-07:00

It was -8 when we left the car.

Upon our return 5 hours later, it had warmed up to balmy 1 degree. My hair was encrusted in ice from the effort it took to skin to the top of Shadow Peak in Grand Teton National Park. But the day was gorgeous and the powder was waiting, so we tossed on extra layers and dove into 4-hour Coulior off the south side of Shadow Peak.

Marlon Collova, aka Frosty the Snowman, at the top of Shadow Peak.

About to dive into 4-Hour Couloir

Andrew Reynolds drops in.

Sniffing out the powder.

Back to the car for beer, nachos and a thorough de-frost at Dornans!

Waking up

2012-12-11T10:07:03-07:00

There's really no better way to wake than hiking up a 10,000ft mountain before work (in the dark) for a few fresh turns. Something about the quietness, cold crisp air, creaking of rime encrusted trees, sound of your heart thumping with effort, and witnessing the first morning light break across the snow, makes office jobs that much more tolerable.

Monday snowfall totals in the Tetons.

An Old Friend Helps Out.

2012-12-03T10:52:24-07:00

Oh PBR, we love you for so many reasons...

Leveraging Influence

2012-11-14T10:28:54-07:00

Sometimes I feel like telling the jerks giving me hell at 'X' company's warranty dept that I operate a PR agency...

White Noise

2012-11-12T17:48:43-07:00

No matter what kind of apparatus you prefer to slide downhill on, I think everyone can appreciate beautiful cinematography and graceful execution on insane big mountain lines. Euro snowboarder Xaiver De La Rue is clearly a leader amongst that elite circle of athletes who continue to push the boundaries of possibility in the mountains. Released last week, Xavier earns his turns on this recently released trailer for his upcoming film, White Noise.

Merino for all

2012-10-16T14:44:23-06:00

We'd like to offer a warm welcome to the oldest American sock manufacturing operation in the country to the Purple Orange client family.

Our feet couldn't be more thrilled.

Welcome FITS Sock Co.

Trials on a $16K Road Bike

2012-10-10T10:34:43-06:00

Watching trials riding is often crazy enough... insert a $16,020 carbon road bike and whoa!

Film by Robin Kitchin. Thanks Brian Goldstone for sharing.

ThoughtShaker

50 Years Later

1963

2013

YouTube Ends Video Contest (finally!)

After many great years and ballooning entries, YouTube is finally ready to close the contest and select a winner. For what? The best video in the world, of course.

REI CEO Steps into Secretary of Interior Role

Congratulations Sally!

COLD

It was -8 when we left the car.

Waking up

An Old Friend Helps Out.

Oh PBR, we love you for so many reasons...

Leveraging Influence

Sometimes I feel like telling the jerks giving me hell at 'X' company's warranty dept that I operate a PR agency...

White Noise

Merino for all

Welcome FITS Sock Co.

Trials on a $16K Road Bike

Watching trials riding is often crazy enough... insert a $16,020 carbon road bike and whoa!