Kelty will be an official gear sponsor for Daren Wendell and his Earth Expedition walk around the world to raise awareness, generate funds, and call people to action regarding the international water crisis.

Starting on March 8, 2008 when Daren takes his first step from North Georgia College and University in Dahlonega, GA, the Earth Expedition will span the course of the next seven years and take Daren over 18,000 miles through 14 countries. Kelty will supply Daren with a Soar 5200 backpack, Corrie 2 tent, and Light Year Down 20º sleeping bag to start, with regular equipment upgrades to follow as seasons change and newer gear is released.

“Without a doubt, this is one of the most ambitious undertakings I’ve ever heard of and we’re excited to be a part of it,” said Christian Mason, marketing manager for Kelty. “I’m looking forward to receiving updates from Daren during his trip and his feedback on how our Kelty gear is performing.”

When it came to selecting gear sponsors, Daren knew exactly the sort of equipment he was after.

“I’m a minimalist,” said Daren of Earth Expedition. “I’m looking for high quality, lightweight gear to meet my under 40 lb pack limit. The Kelty Soar, Corrie, and Light Year will certainly help me attain that goal.”

With 5200 cubic inches of storage space, the Soar is the largest pack of Kelty’s Backcountry Light series of packs, tents, and sleeping bags. Weighing in at 4 lbs., 2 oz., the Soar represents the best blend of lightweight and large volume across all of Kelty’s backpack lines.

New for Spring 2008, the Corrie 2 is the lightest two-person tent currently offered in the Kelty line. Tipping the scales at a scant 3 lbs., 10 oz., the three-season Corrie is easy to carry, easy to pitch, and provides ample protection from the elements.

Also new for Spring 2008, Kelty’s Light Year Down 20º sleeping bag will accompany Daren until colder temps demand a warmer bag. Light, comfortable and compact, the mummy-style Light Year Down is a great choice for lightweight, three-season backpacking.

Starting with a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, Daren will ultimately cover over 18,000 miles during his seven-year trip with time spent walking through a variety of different countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Russia, and Canada.

Regular updates on Daren’s progress and the Kelty gear he is using can be found at www.kelty.com in the “How Do You Use Kelty” section as well as in Daren’s blog, located at www.theearthexpedition.com.

Check out the Huge Selection of Kelty from Backcountry.com, Where It’s On Sale Now for 10% Off!

CamelBak Products, LLC, announced today that it has converted its entire line of polycarbonate re-usable water bottles to a new material that is 100% free of bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates. CamelBak has teamed with an innovative U.S.-based supplier to produce a bottle made from an entirely new material, Eastman Tritan™ copolyester. This means that now the entire line of CamelBak bottles are BPA-Free, including the CamelBak Better Bottle, Podium Bottle and Performance™ Bottle. The Better Bottle with Classic Cap is now available at retailers like REI, and the Better Bottle with Bite Valve will be shipping to retailers from the company’s distribution center next week.

“Consumers have been asking for a BPA-free alternative with the durability, clarity and vibrant color of polycarbonate bottles,” said Sally McCoy, CamelBak CEO. “We’re very happy to be the first company to give consumers an entire line of BPA-Free bottles.”

In the face of environmental concerns, many people have switched to re-usable bottles, although many of these bottles contain BPA and Phthalates. While there is a great degree of conflicting information about the safety of BPA, the consumer demand was enough for CamelBak to develop an alternative. The company challenged its development team to improve its popular line of water bottles used by athletes, outdoorsmen, military personnel and millions of others.

The result is a CamelBak® Better Bottle™ that is BPA/Phthalate-free, allowing people to make an immediate positive impact on the environment while feeling confident that they’re using the best re-usable bottle in the marketplace.

The CamelBak Better Bottle™
Launched in 2006, the CamelBak Better Bottle represents a new standard of performance and convenience in re-usable water bottles. Available in fourteen colors in sizes of .5 liter, .75 liter and 1 liter, this innovative product is available with the self-sealing CamelBak Big Bite™ Valve, which offers easy, spill-proof sipping for active and on-the-go-consumers. The Better Bottle is also available with a Classic Cap.

The CamelBak Podium™ Bottle
Launched in 2008, the CamelBak Podium Bottle is designed specifically for cycling and features the high flow rate, self-sealing Jet Valve. Rather than opening and closing a traditional valve, the squeezable Podium Bottle allows immediate and no-look sipping or squirting, and the Jet Valve self-seals to ensure a splatter-free ride.

The CamelBak Performance™ Bottle
Launched in 2007, the CamelBak Performance Bottle represents a breakthrough hydration solution for athletes on the go. It features squeezable sides for an adjustable flow rate and the patented Big Bite™ Valve with positive shut-off technology for leak-proof transport. The Big Bite™ Valve also allows athletes to drink without lifting their eyes from the road or trail.

Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, introduced a new collection of youth backpacks this spring, the Sprint Series, and they are now available in retail stores in North America and worldwide.

The Sprint Series brings Osprey’s legacy of deluxe custom fit to kid backpacks, and was designed with the understanding that a child’s body dimensions, proportions, and biomechanical properties are markedly different than those of an adult. These packs provide the best carry of any youth packs on the market by combining ergonomically correct fit, technical features tailor-made for youth, and Osprey’s signature design, quality, customization and durability.

“We’ve already seen great demand for these packs from our customers. These are high quality packs with sharp pricing. They have a large range of adjustment, so they essentially grow with the child, providing years of value,” said Gareth Martins, director of Marketing for Osprey. “The Sprint Series brings custom fit and comfort to young hikers – an essential for making the outdoor experience enjoyable. We hope these packs will help parents share their love and reverence for the outdoors with their children.”

Osprey understands the importance of distinguishing the dimensional, proportional and biomechanical difference between children and adults, and engaged Spine Colorado as an independent contractor to design and test the Sprint Series packs. Based in Durango, Colo., Spine Colorado currently acts as a regional center of excellence for back and neck problems, and receives the most complex cases of back and neck pain from across the state of Colorado.

The Sprint Series is comprised of three pack sizes best suited for children between the ages of eight and 16. Each pack offers five inches of torso adjustability. Some key features of the Ace 48 (2900 cubic inches), the Jib 35 (2100 cubic inches) and the Imp 23 (1400 cubic inches) include: an aluminum frame with rigid foam framesheet, Osprey’s AirScape ventilated foam backpanel, perforated EVA harness with mesh outer, size adjustable foam hipbelt with spacer mesh outer, a built-in rain cover and hydration compatibility.

The Ace 48, Jib 35 and Imp 23 are available in the colors Blue Yonder and Cherry Shake and retail for $149, $129 and $99 respectively.

Big City Mountaineers, the nation’s leading volunteer organization devoted to mentoring urban teens during wilderness trips, launches the 2008 Change a Life Campaign designed to motivate fundraising among volunteers.

Volunteers for the summer BCM programs pay a $100 fee to help cover administrative costs. Through the Change a Life Campaign, volunteers have an opportunity to earn back their fee as well as raising more funds for the BCM program. To add incentive for extra fundraising, volunteers and donors can earn and win prizes from sponsors.

Volunteer Incentives:
• Raise $50: Receive a BCM keychain
• Raise $100: Receive a BCM performance t-shirt and be entered to win 1 of 5 Timbuk2 Messenger bags
• Raise $200: Receive $100 volunteer fee back and your choice of either 1) an original signed print by outdoor adventurer Andy Skurka or 2) an autographed copy of “The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder” by Skip Yowell.
• Raise $300: Receive a framed National Geographic map of your course area and a Camelbak water bottle
• Raise $400: Receive and a Primus stove and be entered to win a free alpine Summit for Someone climb spot for 2009
• Top Fundraiser wins a Mountain Hardwear Phantom bag and Mountain Hardwear UL Kiva. A $600 value
• Second through sixth place will receive a gift card for a free pair of KEEN footwear

Donor Incentives:
• Donors contributing $50 or more will be entered to win a Jansport luggage set. Value at $500+

Thanks to Keen, Primus, Jansport, Andy Skurka, National Geographic, Timbuktu, Camelbak and Howard Schwartz for making this campaign possible.

About Big City Mountaineers
Big City Mountaineers, Inc. is a 501c(3) tax exempt corporation based in Denver, Colo., with the mission of providing urban teenage youth in need of positive adult mentoring with challenging and safe wilderness experiences led by qualified adult volunteer guides. BCM is the largest non-profit in the country devoted to working exclusively with at-risk teens using the outdoors as a transformational element in their lives. Learn more at www.bigcitymountaineers.org.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear and clothing, announced its 2007 vendor partner awards at the winter Outdoor Retailer trade show. Osprey Packs, Inc., best known for it high-performance outdoor gear, received top honors as REI’s Vendor Partner-of-the-Year.

“REI is honored to work with some of the most innovative companies in the retail industry today,” said Angela Owen, REI’s vice president of merchandising. “It is our pleasure to recognize some of our partners in the outdoor industry who are leading the way.”

The annual awards program, established in 1993, recognizes three key vendors and one overall vendor partner-of-the-year for efforts that have built a strategic and successful relationship with REI. The co-op’s three merchandising divisions – camp/travel, action sports and outdoorwear – nominate companies based on several measures, including financial performance, community and industry involvement and product quality, among others. In addition, REI retail employees vote from the slate of nominees to help determine the winners.

“We’re proud to recognize Osprey as our 2007 Vendor Partner-of-the-Year because of its technical and innovative products, strong sales performance, and company values, including a solid commitment to corporate and social responsibility,” said Owen. “This year REI and Osprey partnered in an exclusive early launch of its ReSource product line, made almost entirely from recycled materials. We have great confidence in Osprey as an excellent business partner, now and into the future.”

This year’s top award recipient, Osprey is based in Cortez, Colo. and has more than 32 years of pack-making experience. From its humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz, Calif. to its current recognition as an industry leader, its mission is to create innovative high-performance gear that reflects a love of adventure, and a devotion to the outdoors and the environment. For more information, visit ospreypacks.com.

The other 2007 vendor partner award winners are:

• Camp/Travel Division Winner: Big Agnes (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) – Named for a peak in the nearby Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, Big Agnes, Inc. produces award-winning sleeping bags, pads and tents. For more information, visit bigagnes.com.

• Action Sports Division Winner: Electra Bicycle Company, LLC (Vista, Calif.) – Since 1993, Electra has stayed true to its commitment to bring its customers the finest cruiser and comfort bikes in the world. Marrying great designs with the best technology available, Electra creates bicycles that are meant to be enjoyed, ridden and treasured, not just admired. For more information, visit electrabike.com.

• Outdoorwear Division Winner: Mountain Hardwear (Richmond, Calif.) – Established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans, Mountain Hardwear makes cutting-edge mountaineering and outdoor equipment, apparel and accessories for the most extreme conditions. The company distributes its products through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers in the U.S. and more than 40 countries worldwide. For more information, visit mountainhardwear.com.

Other vendor partner award nominees included Arc’Teryx, Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd., CamelBak Products, LLC, Clif Bar, Inc., Hydro-Photon, Inc., Outdoor Research, Patagonia, SmartWool, Thule, Todson and Vasque.

Past recipients of the REI Vendor Partner-of-the-Year Award include Yakima (1993), Black Diamond Equipment (1994, 2006), Vasque (1995, 1996), Bell Sports (1997), Columbia Sportswear (1998), Atlas Snowshoe (1999), Eagle Creek (2000), Cascade Designs (2001), Smith Sport Optics (2002), prAna (2003), Keen Footwear (2004) and Eagle Creek (2005).

Mountain Hardwear raised $5,140 for The Conservation Alliance at its Fall 2007 warehouse sale. The company gave a 10 percent discount and a t-shirt to any customer that made a $20 donation to The Conservation Alliance. The contribution will help the organization in its ongoing efforts to protect wild places where outdoor customers recreate.

The November event was the fourth time Mountain Hardwear has integrated a fundraising promotion into the sale. In total, the three events have raised more than $15,000 for The Conservation Alliance.

“Once again, Mountain Hardwear has found a creative way to support our efforts,” said John Sterling, Executive Director of the Alliance. “By including The Conservation Alliance in the company’s Factory Sale, Mountain Hardwear has not only raised much-needed funds, but also provided valuable visibility for our efforts to protect North America’s last wild places.”

James Bottoms, Mountain Hardwear’s Director of Operations, conceived the fundraising idea in 2006, and colleague Taylor Shoop developed the t-shirt concept.

“We are excited to support The Conservation Alliance through our Factory Sale,” said Bottoms. “It reminds us and our customers that there is more to our business than product.”

Mountain Hardwear is a long-time Conservation Alliance member with a strong commitment to conservation. The company supports the Alliance through its Gives Back program (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/GivesBack.aspx). In addition to contributing annual dues the Alliance’s grant fund, the company has helped promote environmental causes important to them. Mountain Hardwear regularly features information about conservation efforts in catalogs, and encourages employees to be active in these campaigns.

“Mountain Hardwear’s added support comes at an important time for The Conservation Alliance,” added Sterling. “We have some great opportunities to protect our wildlands and rivers, and every extra donation enables us to better seize those opportunities.”

In a move more than a year in the making, Gregory Mountain Products, a three-decade market leader in backpacks for the full range of outdoor activities, will relocate to Sacramento, Calif., in early 2008. The move – and Gregory’s separation from its sister company of 24 years, Bianchi International – will allow it the freedom to operate as an independent brand, focus solely on its mission of building the best backpacks in the world, and be rooted in an area more suited to foster company values, culture and goals, said Gregory President John Simons.

“It’s been clear to us over the last year that as Gregory moves into its fourth decade, we really needed to be a completely autonomous brand moving forward to focus best on our mission. And as we began planning that transition, it also became clear that we needed to be located in an environment that makes the most sense for the brand and the team at Gregory,” Simons said. “After a year-long search, Sacramento was the obvious choice for us on number of levels.”

With access to outdoor activities, a vibrant city with cultural and arts offerings, good schools and two universities, Sacramento makes sense for Gregory as a place that more accurately reflects the values of the company and its employees. It also will help the company retain existing employees and attract new ones, as well as provide a home base that is more in line with employee lifestyles.

Sacramento is located near mountains, rivers and snowsports, which helps the design team more easily test packs and other new products in the environments for which they are created.

Sacramento is considered one of the most sustainable cities in the nation. It currently has 4.2 million square feet of LEED-certified construction. It is also in the process of finalizing a city-wide Sustainability Master Plan with goals for energy independence, reduced use of fossil fuels, improved energy efficiency, incentives for green construction, and better air quality, among others. As a city focused on sustainable initiatives, Sacramento welcomes businesses rooted in economies such as the outdoors. It also has a vibrant business community and provides more immediate access to a major airport for business travel.

Sustainability is an important company value for Gregory, so as part of its move to Sacramento, it is working with LEED-certified architects to design its new headquarters. It is currently assessing ways to employ design components such as reclaimed wood, recycled carpets, reclaimed and refurbished office furniture, and other structural elements, as well as following LEED design standards for things such as air quality, energy conservation and general construction materials.

Sacramento has excellent public transportation, and Gregory’s new headquarters is located near a light-rail system station, providing opportunities for employees to commute without cars. An extensive network of pathways also provides employees the opportunity to commute via bicycle.

A Sacramento headquarters ensures Gregory remains in its home state.

All Gregory employees at its current home base in Temecula, Calif., were offered the opportunity to move with the company. Roughly two-thirds of the staff, including all upper management, the entire design team, and all employees in sales and marketing, will make the move. Company founder Wayne Gregory will continue in his role on the design team. Gregory is actively recruiting for positions created as a result of the move.

Because of the timing of the move, which will commence in early 2008, Gregory will not attend the upcoming winter Outdoor Retailer show, but will return to Outdoor Retailer for the summer 2008 show. Due to missing Outdoor Retailer, the sales team will be placing more emphasis on being in the field visiting dealers and attending regional shows in January and February.

During that time, the sales team will be showing six new packs that are being introduced mid-summer 2008, expanding on the success of Gregory’s popular 2007 Z series packs – the Z55, Jade 50, Z30 and Z22 – which feature back-panel venting via the company’s Jet Stream suspension. These new packs, which all employ Jet Stream suspension, include a Z65, women’s specific Jade 60, Z35, women’s specific Jade 35, Z25 and women’s specific Jade 25.

For more information about Gregory packs, visit gregorypacks.com or call 877.477.4292.

About Gregory Packs

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2007, Gregory Packs has been the longtime leader in expedition, backpacking and day packs. Gregory is world-renowned for setting durability, comfort and performance standard in backpacks. In recent years, Gregory won awards for its pack designs from such diverse media outlets as Backpacker Magazine, Popular Science, National Geographic Adventure, Consumers Digest and Alpinist Magazine. Responsible for many industry firsts in backpacking fit and design, the Gregory research and design team, including company founder Wayne Gregory, continues to lead the way in innovative backpack technology and performance.

Mountain Hardwear Inc. is pleased to announce the 2008 recipients of the company’s Gives Back Grant program as well as a new youth-centered focus for the program going forward. Now in its third year, the Gives Back grant program continues to grow in both programs and funding and is administered by a board of Mountain Hardwear employees.

“As we mature as a company, Mountain Hardwear recognizes that we need to cultivate an environment where young people will continue to have the opportunity to develop a passion for the outdoors. We are making a commitment as a company to taking a lead in nurturing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts for the benefit of their health and our industry. With that goal in mind, we have made a few adjustments to the Mountain Hardwear Gives Back program,” said Mike Wallenfels, Mountain Hardwear President.

The program will still include four of the original arms: Environmental, Outdoor Community, Recreational, and Employee. “Our intention is to continue to support the organizations that have been our Gives Back partners over the years by encouraging them to develop youth-oriented projects that we can embrace. In addition, we will be looking for new partners who focus on getting youth into the outdoors,” Wallenfels continued.

The new program criteria and the O8 grant recipients are as follows:

Environmental Partners – Programs working to keep wild spaces wild, healthy, and accessible.
American Himalayan Foundation
Conservation Alliance
Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies
Leave No Trace
Rocky Mountain Field Institute
Save The Wild Up

Outdoor Community Partners – Programs that provide opportunities for people, especially young people, to experience the outdoors; also programs that support youth in the destination communities of these outdoor experiences.
Big City Mountaineers
CityWILD
HERA Foundation
Medicines Global
Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition
Women’s Wilderness Institute
Youth Enrichment Strategies (YES)

Recreation Partners – Programs that support a specific region or aspect of outdoor recreation or preserve a particular outdoor recreation culture. Programs with a youth emphasis will be given preference.
The Access Fund
American Alpine Club
American Hiking Society
American Mountain Guides Association
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Continental Divide Trail Alliance
Outdoor Industry Foundation
Pacific Crest Trail Association

Employee Partners – Mountain Hardwear employees may apply for grants to fund a project or for up to 40 hours of paid time off for volunteer work in a Gives Back program or a similar program that meets the above criteria.

In addition, Mountain Hardwear is granting three special one-time grants to honor the company’s athlete Babu Chiri Sherpa who was killed in an accident on Everest in 2001. The grants further education for children in Nepal.
Maya Foundation
Mountain Fund Himalaya House
Taksindu Social Welfare

More information about the Mountain Hardwear Gives Back program can be found at www.mountainhardwear.com/givesback

On October 3, Marilyn Cieszykowski, partner of Gareth Martins, director of marketing at Osprey Packs, was seriously injured during a bicycle crash in the highlands of Ecuador. Friends of Gareth and Marilyn are asking for support for a longtime industry member, and friend, in need.

A remarkable coordinated effort was made to medical air evacuate Cieszykowski to Denver University Hospital to receive emergency care within 48 hours. She sustained several serious injuries in the crash, including brain injuries and fractures to two vertebrae and the skull. While many aspects of her prognosis cannot be fully predicted at this time, the overall outlook is for a strong, full recovery over time. Her progress can be followed at www.marilync.blogspot.com

The exorbitant costs of medical air evacuation from a foreign country were not covered by health insurance. Fundraising efforts, organized by Osprey and the local community, have already raised more than a tenth of the incurred debt. An additional event to be held on Nov. 17 will bring further relief. But there is a long a way to go with over $50,000 of outstanding debt remaining.

Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible contribution can send a check to:

Greater Dolores Action
In the memo write “Marilyn Fund”
PO Box 14
Dolores, CO 81323

For more information, please contact Mary Buchmayr at Verde PR, mary@verdepr.com, or Sam Mix at Osprey, sam@ospreypacks.com.

Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, reports the completion of their headquarters expansion project.

Osprey is proud to have incorporated elements of LEED and sustainable building standards into the project. Sustainable choices included: Non-VOC paints, insulation comprised of recycled blue jeans, solar-tracking skylights that allow for a 75-percent reduction in electricity use, recycled carpet padding, recycled ceiling tiles, and waterless urinals. Additionally, cabinet backings were pre-finished to prevent off-gassing and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system was upgraded with improved air filters.

Expansion to the Osprey Worldwide headquarters in Cortez, Colo. was necessary to accommodate unparalleled recent growth and the required staffing increases to meet growing demand. The project converted an underutilized storage area into a 3,200-square-foot office space and conference room with views of the La Plata Mountains and Mesa Verde National Park.

The Cortez headquarters house Osprey’s U.S. Distribution Center and Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Customer Service, Warranty/Repairs and Operations.