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It's the little things. Specifically, little stickers that remind me of how this shop was once just a dream of ours and how it's come so far because of our incredible customers who advocate on it's behalf.
When Chase and I first started planning the business that would become Durango Outdoor Exchange, we met with Tim Kapustka (of Studio &) to design a logo that would encompass all that we originally wanted the shop to be. What he came up with was perfect. There are many ways to interpret what you see with the center circle, the obvious green arrows pointing out and the more subtle while arrows pointing in. It leaves room for you to fill in your experience.
Right away, we put that logo everywhere we could and started getting our name out there. Stickers were high on the list of marketing tools and we ordered them immediately. A solid shout out to Sticker Mule for providing stickers that stand the test of time. Be it their laptop stickers or the one's meant for outside use, they hold up to the elements!
In the beginning, we knew every person who displayed a sticker (read, our moms). As the business grew, so did the visibility of our stickers around town. On cars and roof boxes, the cement blockers at Durango Joes, and I really felt like we'd made it when I saw one on the Natures Oasis light post.
Seven years later, I am still just as giddy and grateful when I see our sticker displayed. I imagine to some, it is really personal and a vote of support for a business they appreciate. To others, it might just be a sweet sticker. Either way, it still makes me smile and gives me comfort to know the shop has had an impact on someone in a positive way.
We've grown, no doubt. But, we hope that everyone who comes in feels a sense of belonging, appreciation for outdoor adventures and a sense of gratefulness from us which continues to drive our enthusiasm for this business that was once just a dream.
When spending one night (or many) in the backcountry, a warm dinner at night and hot beverage in the morning can make the difference. That invariably involves using a stove of some sort–but which one?
Stove technology has been around for decades, but new tech is making them lighter, more efficient, and more dependable than ever before. Here’s a rundown of the different kinds of backpacking stoves:
If you are camping in bear country, or in any place where food storage is a concern, you should strongly consider using a bear canister–a storage system that is built to keep bears out of your food. And in some places, particularly parks in California, Montana, Colorado, and Washington,backcountry campers are required to have and use bear canisters.
While you may get lucky by hanging your food in a sack from a tree, this is not permitted in many areas and virtually impractical in many alpine anddesert backpacking zones. Bear canisters are the preferred method for storing food and other smelly items, but there are many kinds to be aware of. Let’s look at them in more detail.
For many hikers, summiting one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks is a lifetime achievement. Others make it their entire personality, working for years and even decades to climb all of them. Some make a goal of climbing them all in a single season while others try to ski them all.
The problem with climbing 14ers for many people is that they are difficult–and we’re not just talking about the thin air. Of the 58 in Colorado, about one-third entrail considerable exposure and require skilled route-finding and ascent/descent skills. About half have either moderate or considerable challenges. Just eight are considered “easy.”
Hikers looking to summit a 14er near Durango will find four that rank generally as easy or the easy end of moderate. They are all in the same two canyons and can be climbed by someone with decent fitness, good shoes, and a penchant for waking up early. The roads to access all these peaks are part of the Alpine Loop and can be driven from Silverton in a four-wheel drive such as a Tacoma, but are generally not in all-wheel drives like Subarus.
Ready? Here goes!