Archive for the 'Share Your Story' Category

Good Life Photo for February

Congrats to Justin, February’s Good Life photo contest winner!  His photo submission, titled “Happy, Joyous and Free” received over 100 votes, and made him the lucky owner of a new Muir 24. That’s Justin, above, taking in the view with his Z30.

Justin was in New Zealand studying as well as working on a grant doing population and migration studies of indigenous birds. Here’s the story behind this particular photo from his trip:

“I spent two months this summer tramping all over New Zealand from Rotoroa (basically the northernmost point of the north island) to Steven’s Point (you guessed it, the southernmost point of the south island). This photo was taken near Arthur’s Pass, Cass, New Zealand (which has a population of literally1). I know this to be true because his name is George and he has a lovely pig/sheep/llama farm and he hosted me to a much needed refueling of delicious breakfast goodies as well as some local knowledge about what was edible and inedible throughout the area. This particular picture was a surprise to me. I had no idea my companion was shooting. It wasn’t great weather, but in my opinion, it captured the essence of New Zealand’s rugged Southern Alps. It was breathtaking, truly the most remarkable, challenging, invigorating, inspiring trek of my short life thus far.”

Have a great photo with a great story to go with it? Submit it to our Good Life page and you’ll have a chance to win some great Gregory gear.  Up for grabs this month is a messenger bag in our popular digi-camo print. Not familiar with this product or fabric? That’s because it’s another Japan only goodie, not available in the US, and uber-exclusive.

Good luck!

Published
by
Steph
 on March 8, 2010
 in Share Your Story
. 0 Comments

A great kickoff to the 2010 Good Life photo contest

Winning the Gregory Drift with 90 votes, Ayelet Niv’s photo, shot on the Israeli National Trail with her Gregory Electra, places first in January’s Good Life photo contest.

The winning snapshot resulted from a few too many minutes of shut-eye, one too many granola bars and, unfortunately, a hike down a crater in the dark. Ayelet Niv and her fellow backpackers ended up a little behind on their trek from the Red Sea to the Syrian/Lebanese border due to a extended lunch and nap break, which forced them to finish their long trek in the dark. Thankfully they completed the journey safely despite the minor setback and Ayelet was able to share this amazing photo with the Good Life community.

If you think you have the next Good Life photo winner, post it on our website for the chance to win a Muir 24 or Imlay daypacks shown below.

Published
by
Lauren
 on February 5, 2010
 in Adventure travel, Events, Gregory world and Share Your Story
. 0 Comments

Gregory Muir 24 aids Haiti earthquake relief efforts

Last October, one of our owners, Robert Schiller, volunteered in Tunisia with a friend named Sam Amiel who works with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Commitee (JDC), which has provided disaster relief and humanitarian assistance for 95 years. Rob provided everyone in the Tunisia volunteer group with a Gregory Muir 24, including Sam who is now aiding relief efforts in Haiti. The picture above was taken of Sam and his Muir 24 in a US Military Helicopter on its way to Haiti from the Dominican Republic.

The JDC  was able to quickly coordinate relief efforts in the area due to its past disaster response experience as well as its network of Israeli, American, and other local partners on the ground in Haiti. Some of their partners include Heart to Heart International, Partners in Health, EcoWorks International, International Rescue Committee, ProDev Foundation, and Medical Corps of the Israel Forces.

To read more about the JDC’s partners and how they are aiding Haiti relief efforts, click HERE. If you wish to donate, click HERE.

 

 

Published
by
Lauren
 on February 2, 2010
 in Adventure travel, Gregory world and Share Your Story
. 0 Comments

Returning home after 30 years of loyal service

Our customer service department recently received an inspiring email from Steve DeLellis requesting to retire his 30 year-old Gregory Cassin backpack at the Gregory headquarters in Sacramento.

After 30 years of companionship, Steve knew his pack had “one more ‘big-one’ left in her.” So, he packed his Cassin for a final trek up the Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain in the Americas. While he reported his “pack endured the hardships of the expedition without wavering,” he felt it was now time “to give her a fitting retirement among friends” at Gregory.

We are so honored to accept Steve’s loyal companion and will be happy to find her a home on our planned ‘history wall’ featuring other Gregory packs of the past.

Read Steve and his Cassin’s story below.

31 January 2010

I was the smartest kid in the world…weren’t we all at 16 years old? I knew what I wanted, and did my research. I asked my parents for the cream-of-the-crop, custom built Gregory Mountain Products “Cassin” backpack for my 16th birthday. Though only 16, I had plenty of backpacking mileage under my belt…and lots of vertical “mileage” on the rocks. I learned to enjoy the outdoors at a very early age, and while growing up in Kentucky, took full advantage of everything the Red River Gorge and the Daniel Boone National Forest had to offer.

Though I had to agree to sell my not-so-old Kelty backpack and had to agree that the pack would be a combination birthday and Christmas gift, my parents reluctantly consented. I did my part…filling out the order forms that Gregory required, with all of the necessary information…height, weight, girth, age, etc….and put them in the mail. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when my pack arrived. It wasn’t long before it was on my back, heading down the trail, or being hauled up, or down, some rock face.

Over the years, she was there with me. She took care of me through a month in Yellowstone, during one of the worst forest-fires in the parks history (1989?), in the Rockies for the 3 summers I lived in Vail Colorado, hiking, backpacking or rock and Ice climbing. My Cassin never argued about what I asked her to carry, or where I asked her to carry it. She’s climbed too many of the continental United State’s 14,000-footers to count. She’s rafted whitewater, slept along the cliff-base in Estes Park, carried my ropes and ice-screws through Jackson Hole while taking a break from the Tetons…and who can even remember all the trips to the Red River Gorge.

While sleeping alongside Enloe Creek in the Smokies, she hung from the trees to keep my food safe from the bears. My Cassin never complained about the task at hand or the burden she bore. Occasionally, I would strap on an accessory pocket or water bottle, I could always find a place to hang crampons, ice axes or trekking poles and sometimes even more. On several trips overseas, my Cassin was converted from civilian play, to the more serious work of my military career. She’s been in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and the Philippines. She’s been to Honduras and Panama carrying the tools of my military trade instead of the toys I’d much rather be playing with.

On January 17, 2010 my 30-year old Cassin carried nearly 30kg of gear to the high-camp on Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina. In the early morning snow and sub-zero temperatures on the 18th, my Cassin “held down the fort” as my expedition mates and I headed out for the summit. Nine hours later six of us stood at 22,841 ft marveling at the extremes that the mountain had thrown at us. We were 20-strong only a few weeks before. The distance, altitude and climate had whittled us down to 13 climbers at high camp; of those 13 only 6 of us were strong enough to make the summit bid.

I slept well the night of January 18, 2010. Shortly after breakfast on the 19th I took several photos of my Cassin, loaded and ready to descend…looking like a sentinel on that mountain, happy to be fully loaded once again and ready to go wherever I asked her to go. She has been my faithful partner around the globe. She has served me better than I would have ever imagined. She had made you proud. Thanks so much for the opportunity to have shared so much with her!

Steve DeLellis
30-year Gregory Mountain Products Ambassador

Published
by
Lauren
 on February 1, 2010
 in Adventure travel, Gregory world, Packs and Share Your Story
. 0 Comments

Wearing Gregory Can Save Your Life (seriously)

We have been getting some amazing photo submissions in for our Good Life contest, but one in particular caught our attention - and not just because it came in a close second place to December’s winning entry.

Tim Finocchio submitted a dramatic photo titled  “Post Avi Loss of Consciousness” along with an even more remarkable description.  Since he had to explain the photo in only 500 characters or less, we were left hungry for more and so contacted Tim to get the full story.  It’s so good, we wanted to share it with you.

On April 11, 2009, Tim and his climbing partner, Daniel Zucker, headed out to New Hampshire’s Mount Washington to scale Tuckerman Ravine, a feat they had completed as many as 15 times before.  Both experienced mountaineers, they were climbing unroped, each with two technical ice axes and crampons.  That morning’s avalanche advisory had called for the snowpack to stay frozen for most of the day, and the duo afterwards reported that climbing surfaces were enjoyable throughout the day.  Nearing the top of the climb, the encountered an isolated pocket of relatively new slab that Daniel, the upper climber at this point, was unable to swing his axes into.  He began working himself towards the edge of this slab for easier climbing with the avalanche released.

Both individuals were carried downhill and each found themselves airborne at more than one point.  Unable to self arrest, the avalanche carried both men over a small cliff and down into a tree filled slope below.  Tim, wearing his Gregory pack, believes that the 3D foam waistbelt helped protect him as he was being carried and bounced off of trees, taking the brunt of the impact and saving him from some major hip damage.  After being carried back down over 800 feet from where the avalanche began they slowed to a stop among the trees, but luckily, on top of the snow.

Both men were bleeding, but still breathing and mostly intact.  Tim was unconscious for a few moments (when the photo was snapped) and had a bruised pelvis (no broken hip bones, courtesy of his AFS waistbelt).  Daniel suffered from a broken pinky finger and a wrenched knee.  Both had some wicked cuts and bruises, but were remarkably OK.  Local ski patrol and forest rangers quickly caught up to the pair and escorted them down the mountain - Both Tim and Daniel were able to walk on their own.

We’re super glad they were both able to walk out of there OK and even more grateful for them sharing their story.  You can read the full avalanche report from the incident here.  Tim tells us he’s hiked all of New Hampshire’s 48 High Peaks and is currently working on the list for the second time around - he’s right now only 6 shy.  Way to get right back on the horse.

Published
by
Steph
 on January 14, 2010
 in Share Your Story
. 0 Comments

And the Winner Is…

December’s Good Life photo contest was a good one, competition and voting was fierce but in the end, Joe’s photo edged out the rest to win, securing over 100 votes.

It was taken this past September on a three night, four day trip covering about 25 miles.  After encountering rain, snow, sleet and hail, temperatures ranging from the 25 - 40 degrees, and wind gusts up to 25 mph, he and his wife made camp above tree line, falling asleep to the sounds of elk and snow falling on the tent.

This photo was snapped on the Continental Divide Trail between Knife Edge and Trout Lake.  That’s Joe’s wife, Erica, in the picture at an elevation of approximately 12,000 feet, rocking her Deva 60.  Luckily the weather broke long enough to get this great shot.  Congrats on winning December’s uber-exclusive prize, a Day and a Half pack from our Classic Series, currently available only in Japan.

Think you have a photo that’s a winner?  Lucky for you, January’s contest is on.  In honor of Winter, this month’s prize is a Gregory Drift (pictured to the right).

So head on over to the site, upload your pictures and start voting!  The photo with the most votes through January 31st wins.  Good Luck!

Published
by
Steph
 on January 7, 2010
 in Gregory world and Share Your Story
. 0 Comments

And We Have A Winner…

Last month we started a photo contest on the Good Life page of our site.  Each month, we promised to give away a pack to the person whose uploaded photo received the most ‘likes’ (in this case, thumbs ups).

Well we have our first winner - Congratulations to Stephen who’s picture, Eyes on the Prize – Mt. Rainier Summit captured the most votes in November.  This photo shows him wearing a Gregory Denali Pro and heading up to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier with perfect summit weather.  We’ll be sending him a Z 25 and featuring this winning photo for the entire month of December on our homepage – instant celebrity!

We’ve decided to make things a bit more interesting.  For December’s contest, the prize will be a Day and a Half pack from our Classic Series.  Not sure what this is?  Well that’s because it’s one of our products offered exclusively in Japan.  These packs use bomber materials, some of Wayne Gregory’s original patterning and designs and are favorites overseas.  Now’s your chance to own one and make all your friends jealous that they can’t easily get one (unless you’re friends live in Tokyo and can visit the Gregory store).

So head on over to the Good Life page and upload your photos today.

GOOD LUCK!

Published
by
Steph
 on December 9, 2009
 in Gregory world and Share Your Story
. 1 Comment

Gregory launches monthly photo contest on ‘The Good Life’ social media page

As you may have noticed, Gregory redesigned its web site recently. OK, wait, don’t click on through just yet … this isn’t a post about our new web site … entirely. Now, it’s time to engage the folks out there who love their Gregory packs (YOU), and in exchange, you’ll have a chance each month to win a new Gregory pack.

Got your attention now?

Good. Here’s the deal. As part of the new web site, we incorporated a social media page called The Good Life. It’s basically an interactive room on our web site where customers can share experiences they’re having using their Gregory packs. We’ve already had a bunch of folks upload photos to the Good Life page, with short descriptions of what they were doing, along with a mapped location of where in the world they were with their Gregory.

Then, other visitors to The Good Life page can vote on which images they like best by giving a thumbs up, much like you do on Facebook.

Starting with November (and we’re actually kicking off November a little early … right this very moment that this post hits the blog), the person whose photo gets the most thumbs up during the month wins either a men’s Z25 or women’s Jade 25 backpack … color and frame size of your choice. You also get personal fame and fortune on the Gregory web site – your photo will be one three main marquee images that rotate across the Gregory home page during the following month.

Then, in December, the contest starts all over again. And then again … And then again …

Of course, over time, we’ll rotate what kind of pack you can win.

What qualifies for a photo for The Good Life? Anything you can do with your Gregory pack, be it backpacking, trail running, adventure travel, biking, climbing, commuting to the office – you name it.

Sweet. Start uploading!

Published
by
Dave
 on October 30, 2009
 in Gregory world and Share Your Story
. 2 Comments

Got a photo of a Gregory pack in action? Flickr it and add it to the Gregory map

We love this social media stuff. It gives us great feedback about who’s using our packs, where they’re using them, and how they’re using them. Even when it doesn’t give us specific feedback, it’s great to see people who’ve bought Gregory packs out there doing what we designed them for.

In that vein, Gregory now has a Flickr page, same name as our blog: GregoryGoesThere.

If you’re already on Flickr to post and share your photos with friends, share ‘em with us too. Like this photo that GregoryGoesThere Flickr page member TilNextYear shared with us.

And be sure to do the coolest step (at least we think so): Tell us where in the world it was taken by putting it on the Gregory map. After you’ve added a photo to the group, hit the ‘add to map’ link under tags and drop it on in. We know Gregory packs are well traveled. You can help us understand just how well traveled.

Published
by
Dave
 on March 25, 2009
 in Adventure travel, Gregory Goes There and Share Your Story
. 0 Comments

Share Your Story: Gregory Goes to Philmont

At Gregory, we’ve been encouraging people - via the Share Your Story program on our web site - to share their tales of using our gear with us. We like to hear about the experiences people enjoy with our packs, and the adventures they enable people to have.

It’s been great over the years that people have shared a lot of these stories unsolicited with us, but to increase the feedback we get, we’ve formalized things. And, as an incentive, for people whose stories we use on the blog or anywhere else in Gregory land, we’ll send them a day pack - a Z25 or Jade 25.

Of course we like to hear about people who climb the tallest peaks, go to the remotest places and so on, but it’s more rewarding to hear how our stuff helps everyday folks (like us) get out there and experience the great outdoors. And anyway, not everyone’s game for a 10-day backpacking trip. In that vein, here’s a story from Bob McGrath, who’s making a difference by getting involved with his son’s scout troop.

I wish I could say I had a really great story about how I climbed Everest or Anapurna or some other majestic mountain that inspires the sense of adventure in all of us. But alas I don’t. I bought a Gregory Palisades pack in early 2007 and used it for a 10-day Philmont backpacking trek. Philmont is the National (US) High Adventure center of the Boy Scouts of America. I was a scout myself and I accompanied my son Jim through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

When our troop got a slot at Philmont in June of 2007, I volunteered to be the adult trek leader. In addition to starting a program of intensive physical training, logistical and mental preparation, I needed really good gear. I had always heard Colin Fletcher of (Complete Walker I,II,III, and IV fame) rave about Gregory packs so I tried several Gregory models (along with some of the competition) at my local REI store. I was very happy with my purchase which served me well on several training (preparation) hikes.

During the long Philmont trek, I felt supported (and at times almost held up) by my Palisades ‘guardian angel’. The pack was incredibly comfortable, functional and roomy. It helped this 51-year old man to keep up with 15-17 year olds. In the months since, I have missed my pack like an old friend. Several weeks ago, it was a joy to use it again on an overnighter hike.

Published
by
Dave
 on December 8, 2008
 in Share Your Story
. 0 Comments