Built For The Mountain Life

Orvis Travel Days - Denver, CO

Jessica Hoffmann, Dealer Services Rep, checks in from Colorado:

I spent a great Saturday with Mike Pletsche and his crew at the Denver Cherry Creek Orvis for their Travel Days event.  The weather was gorgeous, the band had a good vibe, and the barbecue was delicious.  Mike even let me give a shot at casting their amazing Helios rod, which is dreamy compared to the one other fly rod I tinkered with 15 years ago.  I think my brother would be a lot less disappointed to see my progress with this lightweight version!  The Cherry Creek Orvis has some incredibly inviting leather couches by a stone fireplace, complete with colorful artwork, a knowledgeable and friendly staff, all of which truly lure customers into spending some extra tima relaxing in the store.  We sold quite a few MKs, with the lightweight Lake Lodge Twill Collection getting a lot of attention thanks to the warm temps.  Thank you to the whole crew who made this a fun day and who knows, maybe I will learn to fish one of these days!

TIME Pro Cycling News and Updates

Follow TIME Pro Cycling at the American Eagle Outfitters Tour of Pennsylvania on VERSUS Network.

Tune in June 25th-28th @ 6PM ET and June 29th @ 5:30PM ET.

Two weeks ago, Eric Barlevav of TIME Pro Cycling won the Harlem Skyscraper Classic in dramatic and painful fashion.  Watch the video below.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=15OpLQOKQLk

First Trail Work Day a Huge Success

The following is a newsletter from Tim Adams, the Executive Director of Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP):

Date: June 17, 2008

Dear Members and Friends of Teton Valley Trails and Pathways,

On Saturday, June 14th, TVTAP and our Title Sponsor Grand Targhee Resort, in partnership with the Teton Basin Ranger District presented the first of 3 "Trail Work Days" of the summer.  I am happy to report it was a huge success!  We had over 70 people working on trails for a total of over 400 volunteer hours!  Everyone worked very hard to complete a variety of projects throughout the day.  Thank you to everyone that came out.

A special thanks to Habitat and Wildlife Brewing in Victor for feeding and filling our bellies with great food and beer for the after work party.

Another special thanks goes to Mountain Khakis for providing us with raffle prizes and gifts, including two free pairs of pants to raffle off each day.  They have donated more of the same for the next two work days, so do not miss out.

Finally, remember we have two more work days, July 26 and August 16.  All volunteers receive a raffle entry for each day they participate in the work days.  Grand prizes include free ski passes and more.

I look forward to seeing you out on the trails.

Tim

www.tvtap.org

MK Signs on with Colorado Relay 2008

The Colorado Relay is an epic and grueling 24-hour+ 170-mile team relay running race, and is considered to be Colorado's premier team race.  The 2008 Colorado Relay will be held on September 12-13 and will go from Georgetown to Carbondale, Colorado.  New for this year is the Colorado Relay Century, a 100-mile+ relay that goes from Frisco to Carbondale.  Mountain Khakis is excited to once again be on board as a sponsor for this event.  We'll be excited to get out and mingle with the world class runners and athletes who show up for the race, and we'll also outfit the the Safety Management Team (see picture below).

Both courses carry runners across mountain passes and through the beautiful Rocky Mountains.  Most teams have 10 runners who each run two or three segments.  If you're feeling up to the task, this is a prestigious event that is always executed to perfection.  We hope to see you in Colorado in September!!

Photos courtesy of Peter Mason and coloradorelay.com

MK to Outfit COPMOBA Trailbuilders

With the seasons changing and the weather beginning to warm up (slowly), all of us living in mountain communities must make the switch from winter activities to summer activities.  For many of us, that means stashing the skis away (although not quite yet) and getting the mountain bike tuned up and ready for the trail.  However, the trails might not be ready for us.

This is where local trailbuilding events are more important than ever.  On that note, Mountain Khakis has signed on with the Colorado Plateau Mountain Biking Association (COPMOBA) as their official trailbuilding  pant, and we'll be enticing folks to sign up and work the trails by offering discounted pants upon registration, and even a few comp pairs to the first few to sign up.  COPMOBA works on trails on the western slope of Colorado, where some of the country's best singletrack and long-distance trails are located.  We commend COPMOBA for all their hard work and noble efforts and are happy to be on board. 

Team Timberline Defends Title at US Rafting Nationals

Congratulations to Team Timberline, who can again be called the USA National Rafting Champions.  The USA Women's Champs, known as Team Timberline, successfully defended their title at the USRA National Rafting Championships in Idaho and will represent the USA in Bosnia in May of 2009 at the World Championships.

Team Timberline, sponsored in part by Mountain Khakis, won every event, as did their men's counterpart, Team Behind the 8 Ball.  A clean sweep for the two teams.  They've posted a summary on their blog here.  Congratulations ladies!!

2008 IMBA World Summit - Park City, UT

Mountain biking enthusiasts, trailbuilders, bicycle manufacturers, land managers, resort professionals, tourism officials and more will all be calling Park City home for a long weekend as the International Mountain Bicycling Association, or IMBA, holds the 2008 World Summit in Park City, UT, June 18-21.  The event brings all participants of the mountain biking industry together for a weekend of collaboration, planning and celebration. 

The 2008 World Summit is organized around three themes: building a mountain biking community, managing mountain biking, and mountain biking's value proposition.  Keynote speakers include John Burke, President of Trek Bicycles, Mary Bomar, National Park Service Director and more. 

There is sure to be plenty of riding going on as well, as Park City has some world class singletrack and skills parks.  MK is excited to be a sponsor for the weekend, and we hope the weather cooperates.  We hope to see many of you in Park City in a few weeks.

Team Kobold/Cannondale Off to Strong Start

Professional mountain biking team Kobold/Cannondale, based in the Southeast, has been tearing it up lately, with top finishes in several recent races.  Most recently, the team finished 1st and 2nd at the AMBC Spartansburg, SC "Stump Jump".  This race was the official state championship, and Travis Livermon and Alex Ryan, both of Kobold/Cannondale, finished 1st and 2nd, respectively.  The same weekend, two riders from the team competed in the 4-man pro class of the 12 Hours of Tsali and finished in 3rd place.  Very impressive.

We look forward to seeing more strong results from Kobold/Cannondale and wish them the best of luck.    Mountain Khakis is proud to again be on board as an apparel sponsor for the team.  Go get 'em fellas!

MK Ready to Throwdown with World Kayak

Mountain Khakis is excited to join Smith Optics, Red Bull and others as sponsors of the World Kayak Throwdown program.  MK will have a presence at all 37 remaining events throughout the summer, spanning the country from east coast to west. 

World Kayak began in the early 90s and acts as a marketing and communications support system for kayak communities in 13 principal regions.  Through an ambassador program, web portals, and a camp initiative, World Kayak has been able to centralize the community and effectively formulate a marketing and event program.  The Hometown Throwdowns, as they are called, are grassroots kayaking competitions that consist of a freestyle and down-river event.  The vibe is more friendly then competitive at these events and everyone has a good time, regardless of skill level.

We hope to see you at one of many Throwdowns remaining this season.  Check the World Kayak website for details.

Just Announced - Jackson Hole Music Festival

To many of us, summer would not be complete without attending at least one outdoor music festival.  As they say, summer is festival season, and now festival season has come to Jackson Hole in a new way.  Just announced, the first annual Jackson Hole Music Festival will take place August 16th and 17th at the base of the Bridger Gondola in Teton Village. 

Produced by The Festival Network, who also produces the Newport Jazz Festival and other jazz festivals around the country, the JH Music Festival includes big names such as Wilco, Medeski Martin & Wood, Kaki King, Black Crowes, Avett Brothers, and more.  Artists are still being added.  We'll keep you posted, so check back soon.

New River Rendezvous - Recap

The 6th annual New River Rendezvous was a true success and MK was thrilled to be on board as a sponsor.  We started off Thursday night with some fierce and hysterical competition - The Pants Olympics!  Thanks to emcee Jay Young and some often pants-less competitors; it was a riot.  Friday brought some wet weather, with plenty of festival-goers and climbers.  Saturday featured gorgeous weather and great competition - from sport and trad to bouldering and top-roping.  The Gorge handled the traffic well, and climbing stories were shared well into the night.  The crowds rocked out to Odub, devoured Dessert-a-Palooza, smashed into Crash Pad sumo wrestlers, perused the sponsor tents and cheered on the Dyno competitors.  We had great traffic at the MK booth and loved seeing all of the faithful volunteers in their Alpine Shorts and Cargo Capris.

The No-Waste Initiative was a huge success and we must applaud bothe the organizers and the participants for drastically reducing waste produced by the festival.  I would have to say it was kind of chic to carry around your reusable utensils and plates and pack in as many carpoolers as possible.  Great job NRAC, Water Stone Outdoors, and all who participated.  We hope to see you there next year!

Grey Ghost Productions and MK Partner Up

Mountain Khakis is happy to announce a partnership with Grey Ghost Productions, a video production company searching to film and capture the essence of fly fishing.  Grey Ghost was founded in 2007 by Carter Davidson, a native of Maine, and has recently released "The One", which follows the dream team of Grey Ghost Production's first adventure as they travel through New England, Patagonia and British Columbia in search of The One.  View the trailer below and stay tuned for announcements on showings in your area. 

Day 1: Responsible Energy Development Symposium

Day 1 of the Responsible Energy Development Symposium started out with a nice opening speech from John Baughman, who will also act as the moderator throughout the conference.  John is the former Executive Director of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and former Director of Wyoming Fish & Game.  His speech was short but sweet and he set the tone for the day (and he wore his MKs). 

John Turner then took the mic.  John is the former President and CEO of The Conservation Fund, the Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and President of the Wyoming State Senate.  He lives in Wyoming and is very passionate about the issues surrounding oil and gas development and their effect on the land, animals and people who live there.  He questioned 6 general "steps" to responsible development and added his own special areas of concern: the Wyoming Range, Greater Sage Grouse habitat, air quality in oil and gas producing areas, and easement issues.  He also touched on 10 principles for responsible energy development, which included better processes, more and better science, stronger monitoring with defined thresholds, better leadership, and protection of wildness, to name a few.

Responsible Energy Development Symposium

Jackson Hole will play host to the Responsible Energy Development Symposium, May 21 - 24 at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park.  This conference will feature three days of panels, discussions and speakers hosted by Sportsmen for Responsible Energy, a non-profit represented by everyday anglers and hunters whose mission is to "reform the laws, regulations and policies that ensure balance and respect for the traditions of the West."

"The Symposium will bring together leading practitioners and researchers in wildlife sciences, resource planning and wildlife conservation to gather ideas and develop a road map for balancing wildlife conservation and energy development in the Rocky Mountain region."  This educational and impactful event will feature a Keynote Address by John Turner, the formerly the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environments and Scientific Affairs, President and CEO of The Conservation Fund, Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and President of Wyoming State Senate.  Friday will also feature a keynote speech from Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal.

Mountain Khakis will be in attendance to support these important issues and assist in the development of a road map to responsible energy development in the West.  We hope to see you all there.

Happy 100K to Jesse-Rae

Mountain Khakis would like to announce a special happy 100K and congratulations to Jesse-Rae, the beloved MK LR3 Land Rover.  Jesse-Rae has been a crucial member of the team, especially in the days of the Built Tour.   We drive her to events and to visit dealers.  Here is a link to her 60K celebration.  Next time you see her out on the road, make sure you wave and give her a thumbs up (thumb, not finger).

New River Rendezvous - New River Gorge, WV

One of the best and fastest growing rock climbing festivals in the country is fast approaching.  Get your gear together and sign up online for the New River Rendezvous in West Virginia, May 16-18.  Mountain Khakis and Mountain Sprouts are excited to be on board as sponsors for this 6th annual event.

Mountain Khakis will sponsor the Thursday Night First Leg with a pre-festival Pants Olympics.  Be ready to run and have some fun, with or without your pants.  Also, on Friday evening hit the coffee cart and let Mountain Khakis pick up the tab for 2 hours.  Make new friends and sip your cappucino at the Mountain Khakis coffee hour.

Mountain Sprouts is thrilled to sponsor the first ever Scavenger Hunt for kids on Saturday.  The kids will be busy as they run around trying to rack up points, solve riddles and complete challenges.  We hope to see you many of you at the New River Gorge in a few weeks.  Stop by our booth and say hi.

MK at Western Collegiate Stihl Challenge

The versatility and strength of Mountain Khakis' pants was put to the test two weeks ago at the Western Collegiate Challenge in Missoula, Montana.  This is a major timbersports competition in the west, and Adrian Flygt, a member of the Colorado State University Logging Sports Team, won the competition as a major underdog.  Adrian has only been competing for 2 years now, and he beat men from Idaho and Montana who have had a saw in their hands nearly their entire lives.  Adrian will travel to Columbus, Georgia for the World Collegiate Championships in June.

Adrian and the rest of the CSU Logging Team wear Mountain Khakis for practice and for competitions.  They love the pants for their comfort and durability, and several team members have noted that they can wear the pants straight from practice to dinner or to the library without looking like they just came out of the timber yard.  Glad we can help out y'all, keep up the good work.

ESPN wrote an article on Adrian's victory.

Local Snake River Brewing Brings Home the Gold(s)

Congratulations to our friends and local brewers over at Snake River Brewing.  They once again returned victorious from the 7th bi-annual World Beer Cup with four medals.  The WBC is the "Olympics of Beer" and is the largest international beer competition that recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the world today.  The fact that the fellas wear MK over at the brewery clearly had a positive effect on the quality of the beer.  Nice work everyone!

Snake River Pale Ale >> GOLD Medal; Zonker Stout >> GOLD Medal; Rock Chuck Rye >> GOLD Medal; On Belay IPA >> SILVER Medal

Getreeled.com - New Social Network for Fishing

Online social networks are all the rage these days, as we're all aware of Facebook and Myspace.  But with the popularity of these websites we're beginning to see more specific networks spring up.  Enter getreeled.com, North America's largest and newest social network for fishing.

Getreeled.com was started by Ben Kelly, a hobby fisherman and internet marketer from Toronto, Canada.  The site contains the standard profile for each person, as well as groups, forums, contests, photos, videos and more.  Topics range from general fly fishing to smallmouth bass to fishing jokes.  Getreeled.com has seen tremendous success in it's first month of existence, with over 30,000 visitors and 2300 members.  If you're looking for specific tips or fishing reports, getreeled.com is the perfect place to find them.

Fun in the Sun - Closing Day at Grand Targhee

Grand Targhee, a local Wyoming ski resort, celebrated closing day on Sunday April 13th with sunny skies, warm temps and lots of debauchery.  Saturday featured the Cardboard Box Derby, which saw over 40 vessels cruise down the slopes, with hundreds of people lined up to watch.  Perfect closing weekend to an amazing season.

Start off the day with lap out back

End of the day snowball fight

Lift-Service Skiing is Coming to an End

We've reached the final weekend of skiing at the Village here in Jackson, with the last day being Sunday April 6th.  That means that Saturday is the 33rd Annual Pole Pedal Paddle event, which includes a downhill ski, cross-country ski, bike ride and paddle down the Snake River.  This is a great event that benefits the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club.  Sunday, being the final day of the season, is a big party on and around the mountain, with locals celebrating the accomplishments of 600 inches of total snowfall. 

Climbing Wall Summit 2008 - Boulder, CO

The 2008 Climbing Wall Summit in Boulder, CO will provide the climbing community with an outstanding professional development experience by gathering influential leaders, manufacturers, climbing wall owners, managers and staff all in one common place.  The Summit will provide a forum for learning from expert faculty and climbing peers through classes, clinics and workshops.  This year the Summit will be held May 1st through May 4th.  Mountain Khakis is excited to be a sponsor for this event, which is put on by the Climbing Wall Association.  We hope to see many of you there.  Check the CWA website for information on registration. 

Strong Finishes in Early Season for TIME Pro Cycling

Just got word from Erik Saunders of TIME Pro Cycling Team, sounds like Daniel Ramsey won the Food Lion City Park Criterium in Salisbury, NC last weekend, and team member Mike Stoop won a shortened Out Like A Lion Road Race in Albemarle, NC.  The team is thrilled to get off to a winning start, and will be heading to California for a month of racing.  This is the first season TIME Pro Cycling has attempted to field a team on the West Coast.  Mountain Khakis is thrilled to be involved with TIME Pro Cycling as their official apparel sponsor.  Keep it up boys!

Teton Composting Pilot Project

Last August, 1% For The Tetons awarded roughly $33,000 to help fund a local food composting pilot project.  The idea was that seven local restaurants and The Whole Grocer would isolate this waste.  It would then be collected by Terra Firma organics, which would compost it at a site at the county's trash transfer station.

A successful pilot program would form the basis of an eventual county-wide roll-out, ulitmately involving most valley restaurants, grocers and other producers of organic waste.

The pilot project rolled out in early February.  One month in, it's already a wonderful success, so much so that the amount of organic material they are collecting every day - well over 1/2 ton - is far more than they anticipated.  The owners, employees and Terra Firma have responded with positive feedback.

An article about this project can be found on the Biocycle Magazine website.

World Premiere: Here & Now from FIVEIGHTWO Productions

MK Ambassador Nick Troutman, badass kayaker from Team Jackson Kayaks, is ready for his World Premiere of Here & Now, his first kayak DVD from FIVEIGHTWO Productions and JK Films.  Mountain Khakis is a sponsor for this video, and we are thrilled to announce that the Premiere is tonight in Tennessee.  Check the Jackson Kayak website for more information, but get out there and watch this video, it's going to be epic.

Mountain Khakis joins Country Goes Huntin'

Mountain Khakis is excited to be an apparel sponsor for Country Goes Huntin' 2008, in Dothan, Alabama, April 6th-9th.  Never heard of this event?  Where you been the last several years?  CGH was designed to bring together two Southern passions - country music and hunting - to make a difference in peoples lives. 

Top Hunting professionals and Country singers from around the country come together to raise money for people less fortunate.  The professionals take the singers on a multi-day hunt and at the end of the last day, the country stars perform a huge benefit concert for the general public.  All the money from ticket sales, online auctions and proceeds from other items sold are put together and divided among the celebrities, who then donate to their charity of choice.  In 2007, approximately $130,000 was divided among several different charities, both local and national.

This years music stars include Rhett Akins, Daryl Singletary, Craig Morgan, Chad Brock, Jeff Bates and more.  Check out the website for more details.

Quaffing Photos

Below are a few photos from the Gelande Quaff Championship at Teton Village.  Thanks to Loren Moulton of Big Sky Brewing for providing these shots.

Dawkins goes for the grabMalman picks one by the handle

Mountain Khakis to Sponsor TIME Pro Cycling Team

TIME Professional Cycling Team and Mountain Khakis are thrilled to enter into a new sponsorship agreement.  The team, once known as the TIME Factory Development Team, has changed it's name slightly, in recognition of the evolution from a 6-rider elite amateur squad into a 12-rider UCI Continental team.  The fellas will be rocking their MKs pre and post race, as well as to many of the events and programs they support. 

The Pro Cycling Team will target the 2008 USA Crits Series, which is a national 10 race series in some of the biggest venues across the country.

TIME Pro Cycling is very active in the community promoting cycling and bike safety at the grassroots level through collaboration with Cyclesafe.org.  Each rider volunteers to assist with community, hospital and school events.  The team focuses a good deal of energy into introducing the sport to younger generations and promoting safety and awareness.  We are looking forward to a great partnership and strong race results in 2008.

World Championship Gelande Quaff - Highlights

At last, the highlight footage is out.  Team MK didn't fare too well, with an early elimination to the eventual champs from the Village Cafe.  What a great time we all had though, thanks to Cloudveil and JK for putting on such a fun event.  And of course thanks to Big Sky Brewing for the tasty beer.

Check out Greg Epstein's quality slide show here.

And David Gonzales from The Snaz made an epic video of the final round, featuring the clinching boot quaff.

MK to Sponsor Asheville Mountain Sports Festival

Where will you be the weekend of May 30 - June 1st?  We know where we'll be...in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina.  Mountain Khakis will be sponsoring the Mountain Sports Festival this year as a Corporate Partner and Mountain Sprouts will also be involved as Friend of the Festival.  We are to excited to be a part of such a successful and fast-growing event.  Asheville is the perfect setting for a Southeast mountain festival, as there are rivers, mountains, rocks and everything needed for 3 days of great events and competitions.  For more information visit their website at www.mountainsportsfestival.com.  We hope to see you there.

Scared Yet? Gelande Quaffing Getting Serious...

This photo is of the Mountain Khakis championship Gelande Quaffing Team from the Outdoor Retailer trade show.  It is meant to scare and intimidate anyone and everyone who will be competing tomorrow in the World Championships at Teton Village.  See you there.

(L to R): Jordan "The Dawg" Hauser, Joey "How you like me now?" Norman, Doug "E. Fresh" Ellis, Bill "The Chill" Mueller

MK to Sponsor Sawtooth Mountain Film Festival

Mountain Khakis and Mountain Sprouts are excited to be a sponsor for the 9th annual Sawtooth Mountain Film Festival in Boise, Idaho.  The festival is organized by the Boise State University Outdoor Program and will be held on March 7th and 8th. 

The selected films, both national and international, will highlight the spirit of adventure that is driving the cutting edge of adventure sports.  Films will be shown in the evenings, and the for the first time, a daytime rail jam event will be held to compliment the films and bring out more participants.  The event will require 5 semi-trucks to transport snow to the city, and the rails, jumps and party atmosphere are expected to bring out around 2,000 spectators.

We are thrilled to be a part of such a great event, with the net proceeds from the event used to provide quarterly expedition-based leadership training opportunities to 25 students per year.  If you are in the Boise area the weekend of March 7-8, be sure to check out the film festival and rail jam.

Recap: UNCC Climbing Competition

Our friends over at UNC-Charlotte's Venture Outdoor Recreation Department recently hosted the Taming of the Wall Climbing Competition.  Mountain Khakis, along with local MK dealers Jesse Brown's Outdoors and Great Outdoor Provision Company were on hand to sponsor this first annual competition.  Turnout was great for the event and the excitement level was high.  Congratulations to Thomas and the folks at Venture for organizing a fine event.      

                      

Get Stoked - Here & Now coming soon

Kayakers and action sports fanatics will dig the new film from Nick Troutman and FIVEIGHTWO Films, Here & Now.  Nick is an MK Ambassador and a key member of Team Jackson Kayaks.  The film will be released in March, and Mountain Khakis is very excited to be a sponsor. 

Nick is a stud in the kayak world, and already has several accomplishments to speak of.  Now, with the release of his first movie, things are really looking up.  We'll post more information as we get it, but keep your eyes and ears open for this sick new film from FIVEEIGHTWO Films.

Check out the movie trailer here.

Gelande Quaffing footage

Check out the video below to view highlights of the Gelande Quaffing event at Winter OR between teams from Cloudveil, Smith Optics, Horny Toad, and Mountain Khakis.  The competition featured MK versus Smith Optics in the final round, and MK came out on top.  Great video !

Video: David Gonzales, www.thesnaz.com

MK Enters into Relationship with Headwaters Institute

Mountain Khakis is thrilled to announce that we will be a co-sponsor of several Headwaters Institute (HWI) watershed education seminars across the country in 2008, including Jackson's very own "Summit on the Snake".  HWI is a non-profit organization that seeks to "provide education that inspires individuals and communities to care for and connect with their local watershed."  The seminars provide natural history, conservation and interpretative trainings for professional guides.  These sessions also stress the importance of healthy rivers and watershed ecosystems from ridgeline to coastline.

Lindsay Green, sponsorship manager for HWI, recently checked in with some photos of her "testing" her new MKs in the field.  Thanks Lindsay!

WWA Backcountry Film Festival Movie Trailer

Mountain Khakis is a sponsor of the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, which is currently touring around the country.  The festival is showing several different ski flicks, while promoting backcountry awareness, safety and conservation.  Check out the website for more details, and watch this trailer.

"Here & Now", produced by FIVEIGHTWO Films

Kayakers and action sports fanatics will dig the new film from Nick Troutman and FIVEIGHTWO Films, Here & Now.  Nick is an MK Ambassador and a key member of Team Jackson Kayaks.  The film will be released in March, and Mountain Khakis is very excited to be a sponsor. 

Nick is a stud in the kayak world, and already has several accomplishments to speak of.  Now, with the release of his first movie, things are really looking up.  We'll post more information as we get it, but keep your eyes and ears open for this sick new film from FIVEEIGHTWO Films.

Avalaunch Festival at Outdoor Retailer

Mountain Khakis is excited to be a sponsor for the Avalaunch Festival at OR.  Avalaunch is a new grassroots movement to combine music and movies with environmental education - they are basically building a big party platform through which to deliver targeted messages in mountain town communities.

Avalaunch is premiering this festival concept at OR in two ways.  They will partner with 1% for the Planet, Winter Wildlands Alliance and Native Energy in a new space on the show floor, the Backcountry Village.  With Mountain Khakis' environmental messages at this show it's a great way to further align ourselves with non-profit green leaders in the industry, and reinforce our committment to the environment.

Avalaunch is also putting on the Michael Franti/Spearhead show in Salt Lake City on both Friday and Saturday night.  The entire Avalaunch team has been outfitted in MKs, as well as Michael Franti and the members of Spearhead.

Come show your support for Avalaunch and all its sponsors, and get your groove on to some quality reggae tunes.  We hope to see you there!

Swift Silent Deep

Download ssd_postcard.pdf

Come out and support the MK team as they go up against teams from Clouveil and Smith Optics in an all-out-war for Gelande Quaffing supremacy.  We've assembled a group of our best and brighest beer drinkers... come watch us whip the pants off of the competition!

This event kicks off Cloudveil's support for Swift Silent Deep, a new documentary film about the Jackson Hole Air Force.  Download the event invitation linked above.... we'll see you there!

When: Thursday, January 24th @5:30pm
Where: Cloudveil booth #13041

Climbing For Kids

Join Climbing For Kids and climb one of the greatest peaks in North America to help give under-privileged youth the opportunity to experience the wilderness firsthand.  In 2008, climbers will have the experience of a lifetime when they acsend one of the six most sought-after peaks in the U.S. and Mexico: Mounts Rainier, Whitney, Shasta, or Hood, the Grand Teton, or Pico de Orizaba.  On top of that, each climber will also receive $1,500 worh of FREE, brand-new mountaineering gear.  In return, climbers agree to fundraise on behalf of the Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT).  This six-mountain benefit climbing program is BAWT's biggest fundraising event of the year and will raise more than $600,000.

North Dakota Snowkiters to Raise Awareness for Wind Energy

"To Cross the Moon (2XtM) is an eco-friendly snowkiting expedition across North Dakota to raise awareness for wind energy and climate change. From the U.S.-Canadian border in the north, to the state line in the south, extreme endurance athletes Sam Salwei, Jason Magness and Paul Cassedy will snowkite 390 miles across the frigid winter moonscape of North Dakota. Carrying everything they need on their backs for the three-week expedition, the trio will make the journey propelled solely by the wind's energy. Driven not only by their quest for adventure and extreme challenges, but also by their their passion for inspiring society to see the importance of wind energy in the fight against climate change. While the fearless adventurers brave the elements, the 2XtM crew travels to communities across the state giving educational presentations and free snowkiting clinics."

Photo and article courtesy of www.2xtm.com

32% of the United States energy needs could be met by wind power in North Dakota alone 

MK Photography Search Continues

Mountain Khakis is on a search for quality photography depicting your adventures in MKs.  We're officially inviting you to submit any and all lifestyle images for consideration by us.  We are always looking for images that help define our tagline, "Built For The Mountain Life" both in and outside of the traditional mountain town environments.  All submissions shou