Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 12
Greg Thomsen
THE REAL DEAL
There's nothing as important
in the outdoor industry as
authenticity. For over 40 years,
Greg Thomsen has defined
that term-and had fun doing it.
Written By Nancy Prichard Bouchard
G
reg Thomsen began climbing in
1967, at the age of 14. He started bouldering at Stoney Point,
California, after school and practiced roped climbing on the weekends. Chuck
Tucker (a.k.a. "Chongo"), a friend from the
gymnastics team was also a new climber, and
the two young men began to plan trips together
and hitchhiked to local crags with packs full of
pitons, carabiners, slings, hammers, and 120
feet of nylon "Goldline" rope.
"We also had our secret weapons, Kronhoffer
leather boots that you wore two sizes too small
for edging on thin holds," says Thomsen.
The first serious climb the two did together
was Patio Pinnacle (5.9) on Glacier Point in
Yosemite-with thin friction moves, long run
outs, and not much protection.
"Our gear was super basic, pots and pans
from our mom's kitchen, giant flannel sleeping bags, Camp Trails mass market frame
packs and a canvas pup tent with wooden
tent poles! It was very simple, and when it
rained, we got wet. When the temperature
dropped, we got cold. We loved it."
When Thomsen was about 15, his brother,
Jim, got a job at Kelty Pack in Glendale and
everything changed. "We quickly upgraded
to Kelty Frame packs, Holubar down sleeping bags, Sierra Designs 60/40 parkas and
Pivetta hiking boots," says Thomsen. The two
brothers discovered the magic of good gear.
Those early experiences in the wilderness
gave Thomsen an enduring love for wild
spaces and an understanding of the joy of living an adventure-filled life. It also gave him a
passion for product design and performance,
and the enthusiasm to share his love of
12 OUTDOOR RETAILER
/ 35th Anniversary 2017
the outdoors with others.
Over the years since, Thomsen has become
one of the most successful and well-respected
leaders in the outdoor industry. He also has been
dedicated to passing along his passion for the
outdoors and recipe for success to the next generation. He's become a true mentor to countless
young climbers, adventurers, designers, and
young business leaders, guiding them so that
they can forge their own paths.
THOMSEN GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL
in 1970 with a burning desire to climb in the
higher ranges of the Alps and the Himalaya. "I
also was very worried about being drafted into
the Vietnam War," he adds wryly. About that
time he hooked up with a friend from the UCLA
Mountaineering Club. They knocked off routes
in Yosemite and took on some big caving adventures. One evening, they hatched a big plan.
"We would hitchhike to New Jersey, take a
photograph by ANDREW KORNYLAK
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Outdoor Retailer - July 2017
OUTDOOR RETAILER - JULY 2017
CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTORS
FIRST WORDS
THE TRIBE
GREG THOMSEN
YVON CHOUINARD AND GERRY LOPEZ
STEVE BARKER
THE SCENE
JEFF LOWE
PETER AND PATTY DUKE
BEAVER THEODOSAKIS
CARSON STANWOOD
CHAD GALLWITZ
JOHN MEAD
THE TORNADO
THE SCENE
SALLY MCCOY
JOHN STERLING
CASEY SHEAHAN
THE SCENE
MUSIC AND MEMORIES
PETER METCALF
SALLY JEWELL
CONRAD ANKER
JEN TAYLOR
DAN NORDSTROM
JEREMY COLLINS
JOANNA HOSHIMOTO
THE FUTURE
THE BACKSTORY
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - OUTDOOR RETAILER - JULY 2017
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - Cover2
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 1
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - CONTENTS
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 3
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - CONTRIBUTORS
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 5
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - FIRST WORDS
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 7
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - THE TRIBE
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 9
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 10
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 11
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - GREG THOMSEN
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 13
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 14
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 15
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - YVON CHOUINARD AND GERRY LOPEZ
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 17
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 18
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 19
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - STEVE BARKER
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 21
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 22
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 23
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - THE SCENE
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 25
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 26
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 27
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - JEFF LOWE
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 29
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - PETER AND PATTY DUKE
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 31
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - BEAVER THEODOSAKIS
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 33
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - CARSON STANWOOD
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 35
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - CHAD GALLWITZ
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 37
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - JOHN MEAD
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 39
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - THE TORNADO
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 41
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 42
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - THE SCENE
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 44
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 45
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 46
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 47
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - SALLY MCCOY
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 49
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 50
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 51
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - JOHN STERLING
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 53
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - CASEY SHEAHAN
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 55
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - THE SCENE
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 57
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 58
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 59
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - MUSIC AND MEMORIES
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 61
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 62
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 63
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 64
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 65
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - PETER METCALF
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 67
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 68
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - SALLY JEWELL
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - CONRAD ANKER
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 71
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - JEN TAYLOR
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - DAN NORDSTROM
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - JEREMY COLLINS
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - JOANNA HOSHIMOTO
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - THE FUTURE
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 77
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 78
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - 79
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - THE BACKSTORY
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - Cover3
Outdoor Retailer - July 2017 - Cover4
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