[pct-l] Old Time Backpacking Stores

[bighummel at aol.com]

The North Face in Berkeley was a cool brick building with assembly tables and sewing tables in the back.

REI was a co-op run by hippies and backpackers with intimate knowledge of the local area.

My army surplus store was and is one of my favorite haunts for good deals, may they never die!

There was a backpacking store (can't remember the name) that had a small fire in 1976, smoke damaged all of their gear and they had a fire sale!  I bought a Snow Lion down jacket that already smelled like a campfire and a stove (what kind of damage does smoke do to a stove?) and other gear for my hike.

Eddie Bauer offered great gear through their catalogue with that great life time guarantee!  They still do, I hear and are trying thru association with some of the great climbers to get back to their roots.

The Great Pacific Iron Works in Ventura was and still is a great store.  Owned and started by Yvonne Choinard in the early '70's and then went on to become Patagonia.  Best name for a backpacking store ever!



Greg Hummel



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