The owners and their two children on the beach.

ashley & jeremy

The owners

 
Man Climbing rock face with equipment

Duncan

Interests: Mountaineering climbing, backpacking, snowboarding, kayaking, trail running, and mountain biking

Years working in the outdoor industry: 10 years

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: Atomic Backland, Ultralite mastercams, and the Big Agnes Tiger Wall tent

 
Woman in slot canyon

esther

Interests: Skiing (all kinds), mountain biking, hiking, river rafting, reading good fiction.

Years working in the outdoor industry: A LONG time! 20 plus years. Fun fact – I’ve worked for all 3 owners at Pine Needle since coming to Durango in the late 1990s.

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: Rab Borealis Jacket – a great lightweight, breathable wind layer for everything from Nordic skiing to cool weather mountain biking to summertime high mountain hikes or whitewater rafting.

 
 
 
Person skiing between trees

joey

Interests: Running, hiking, skiing

Years working in the outdoor industry: 10+ years off and on

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD

 
 
 
man on top of a misty mountain

drew

Interests: Climbing, Nordic and backcountry skiing, and backpacking. I spend most of my time running in circles in the mountains. I'm also a big exercise science nerd.

Years working in the outdoor industry: I've been working in the outdoor industry since 1990. Yes, that does make me feel old.

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: Western Mountaineering sleeping bags! They aren't cheap, but if one spends enough time backpacking, it is a very worthy investment. I've had my Ultralite for over a decade, and it's one of my most trusted pieces of gear.

 
 
 
man hiking with a snow mountain peak in the  background

zack

Interests: Skiing, Fine Ales, Heady jams, Tolkien Lore, grain-based cereals

Years working in the outdoor industry: 1 yearish

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: Rab Electron Pro jacket and Boost Oxygen

 
 
 
Person looking at snowy mountain top

eric w.

Interests: Skiing, Mountain Biking, and Camping

Years working in the outdoor industry: 11 years I have been in the ski industry

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: DPS Koala 103 ski is an amazing all mountain ski for the resort

 
 
 
woman and dog in boat on the river

jess (ft. willow the dog)

Interests: Shreddin’ the gnar, hikin’, pettin’ dogs, readin’ books, rippin’ bikes

Years working in the outdoor industry: about 4 years

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop:  Rab Khroma Kinetic line


 
 
 
woman climbing rock face with forest in the background

madison

Interests: Climbing, SUP boarding, backpacking, and rafting

Years working in the outdoor industry: 3 years

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop:  Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 or UL3 backpacking tent

 
 
 
A woman trail running a snowy path in the forest

katie

Interests: I’ve been deep into a trail running phase for a handful of years now. Spending most days logging obscene amounts of miles in the woods. When I’m not running, you can find me skate skiing, biking, painting, and eating dessert.

Years working in the outdoor industry: I’m new to this-like half a year

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: Altra Lone Peak 6 and Timp 4 are my most favorite trail kicks to rotate in and out.


 
 
man setting up climbing equipment and ropes on a rock face

hayden

Interests: Climbing, shredding of all forms, and backpacking

Years working in the outdoor industry: I have been working in the outdoor industry for nine months now

Go-to gear recommendation we sell at the shop: My go to gear recommendation at the shop would have to be the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 camp stove