SIMPLY GRAY DESIGN

Back in the day, we frequented ‘mountain shops' as opposed to sporting goods stores. We liked the freedom vibe and all the cool new backpacking equipment and clothing. We would wander about, touching the sleeping bags, flipping through Rebuffat books and day dreaming of high alpine adventures. I was lucky enough to get hired as a clerk for one of the hybrid shops of the time; businesses that were both climbing shoe and boot cobblers and mountain gear merchants at the same time. One job led to another, as it so often does, and I ended up working in a couple of the classic mountain shops of the era while a student at The University of Colorado. (Don't laugh, I'm a botanist.) What followed was a long tour of duty in emerging the emerging specialty outdoor retail trade. I happily clerked, bought product and managed for several shops in both Colorado and Washington while leading the basic mountain athlete lifestyle in the Rockies and Cascades... I moved over to product when I was fortunate..