Meet the REI Co-op Members In Front of—and Behind—the Camera

Many issues have modified since Lloyd and Mary Anderson first started importing high-quality Austrian ice axes within the Thirties. Over the years, the co-op has grown from a small collective searching for high-quality out of doors gear to a co-op of 24 million adventurers enhancing their outside experiences with every little thing from climbing backpacks to chilly plunge requirements. 

Throughout all of it, members have remained the guts of the co-op, and their wealthy tales of life outdoors have inspired us to get on the market, too. Some of their adventures, like Cal Dobbs’ run throughout America, encourage us, whereas tales like Keva Niver’s dedication to serving to extra individuals discover solace in nature, problem us. Still others remind us that point outdoors is at all times price it, even when technically we’re presupposed to be someplace else (like work).  

This spring, we invited a number of members to inform their tales by a distinct lens–actually. 

Members took their cameras on their outside adventures, snapping pictures of their experiences that may grow to be the marketing campaign’s imagery. They returned with pictures and movies of sunsets over Grand Canyon National Park, California’s Catalina Island and extra—in addition to photographs of the journey to get to those vistas, the time spent snacking on the trailhead, resting post-run and even celebrating a birthday with a bowl of camp pasta (full with candles). The photographs present the breadth of what out of doors journey appear to be, and much more importantly, who an out of doors adventurer may be. As three member-photographers share under, there are numerous methods to discover life outdoors. 

Take me straight to the gear.

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Background: “I grew up in Washington State, which is known as an outdoorsy person’s paradise. But my younger brother Oscar and I were city kids who spent our weekends in malls, movie theaters and amusement parks,” Leow says. “I still love the movies, but when I was 27 years old, I went on my first backpacking trip in California’s eastern Sierra, and everything changed.” Now, because the founder and CEO of out of doors schooling firm Bewilder, Leow hopes to encourage extra households to expertise the psychological, emotional and bodily advantages of time spent in nature. (Bewilder acquired assist from REI’s Path Ahead Ventures initiative). 

The story behind the photographs: What higher approach to flip 36 than by tenting on an island crammed with greater than 165 miles of climbing trails? Leow couldn’t consider one, which is why she loaded up her REI Co-op Flash 55 Pack, charged up her telephone, and introduced alongside her finest four-legged good friend, June, for an in a single day journey. The pair caught the dawn over Little Harbor Beach and feasted on pink curry noodle soup (with candles, in fact), and the pet was very happy to rejoice together with her proprietor. “It was truly June’s journey to Catalina Island,” Leow says. “Every moment was magnificent as I saw her sprint up cactus-covered hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean, her tail nearly bursting with joy.” 

Favorite product: “Cooking delicious food and enjoying a warm meal by the campfire is one of my favorite pastimes,” Leow says, and her Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Camp Stove makes the expertise really feel simple and seamless. Plus, with twin burners that fold in on themselves–to not point out the built-in design of the pot, pan and range–the Genesis is compact to hold and retailer. “The entire system is thoughtfully designed so we don’t have to think too hard when we’re huddled around the camp kitchen making red curry noodle soup at dusk,” provides Leow. 

Why she’s an REI Co-op Member: Leow remembers gearing up for her first backpacking journey in 2017, which in fact required a cease at her native REI retailer in San Francisco. “I knew nothing about how to camp, let alone backpack, through the wilderness, but the REI staff members’ encouragement and excitement were infectious,” she says. “It’s always intimidating to take on a new hobby–especially when you didn’t grow up doing it–and REI’s reputation for having friendly, helpful staff and plenty of outdoor gear proved to be right.” 

Background: Mud pies with a grass garnish: Those have been Rodriguez’s specialty as a child. So too have been daisy necklaces, which she fortunately made for her mother. She additionally dabbled in geology, hoping to search out diamonds (or least crystals) with every geode she and her sister cracked open utilizing their dad’s previous hammers. “I’ve just always spent time outside,” she says. “It’s always brought me a lot of joy.” For Rodriguez, working with REI on the Member Moment marketing campaign has supplied a lens by which to replicate on her childhood outside and “inspire others to try camping and hiking for themselves,” a privilege she says she “hold[s] very dearly.”  

The story behind the photographs: Rodriguez strives to seize photographs which are pleasing aesthetically, however greater than that, will stand the check of time. “My goal is always to get a ‘your family is going to see this picture someday and remember how grand you lived’ picture,” she says. Given that, Rodriguez additionally acknowledges the significance of placing the digital camera down and embracing her environment—this time, the towering partitions of the Grand Canyon. “There was this moment during sunset at camp where my friends and I paused from the chaos of taking photos. We were just in total awe of the glowing layers of red rock and the fact that our bodies had brought us there.”  

Favorite product: “This is a tough question!” Rodriguez says, laughing. She loves her Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent as a result of it’s a breeze to arrange and pack down and “the space inside is incredible. Ten out of 10!” she says. Bonus: The Copper Spur can be tremendous photogenic. On the opposite hand, Rodriguez calls her REI Co-op XeroCloud 3L Rain Jacket “the perfect layer.” The jacket supplied an additional dose of heat when paired together with her Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown puffy but additionally labored properly as a solo layer in the course of the hotter hours of the day. 

Why she’s an REI Co-op Member: Rodriguez doesn’t maintain again when speaking concerning the impression of her REI membership. “Becoming an REI member changed my life,” she says, noting that since becoming a member of the co-op she’s hiked an energetic volcano, stood on prime of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and slept a number of nights within the backcountry. “My membership really gave me the confidence to pursue all of the outdoor adventures I’ve always dreamed of.” Her sole remorse about co-op membership: “I just wish I had been brave enough to join and get involved sooner.” 

Background: From his huge grin to the gathering of tattoos on his proper leg, together with a red-tailed hawk that connects him to his Salvadoran ancestors, Valiente oozes gratitude. He’s grateful for his mother and father who’re first-generation Latino immigrants, for his residence in what he calls the “City of Angels,” and for the liberty bestowed by being energetic outdoors, particularly with singer-songwriter Jason Joshua’s so-called “golden voice” in his ear. “Running and music and the outdoors fill my soul with happiness,” he says. “I cherish every chance I get to bask in that. That’s life right there!” 

The story behind the photographs: “I loved every minute!” Valiente says along with his attribute enthusiasm. Yet along with the enjoyment of feeling his physique in movement (“Running and being outdoors is my superpower!”), he additionally relished the minutes post-run. “You feel like you’re on top of the world and unstoppable. It proves you can achieve hard things if you just set your mind to it, embrace the journey and stay committed to your goals.” 

Favorite product: Valiente factors to the REI Co-op Swiftland Pack Running Anorak as his prime decide due to the jacket’s minimal weight, considerate design and “on-point” fashion. “On those cold morning runs here in LA, you can easily throw on the jacket while you warm up,” he says. “Once the sun comes out and you’re in your running flow, you can take it off and pack it into its own pocket. It’s so lightweight that you won’t even feel it during your run.” 

Why he’s an REI Co-op Member: Despite Valiente’s fondness for operating quick, he appreciates the best way his co-op membership conjures up him to decelerate. “I feel a strong connection to REI,” he says, “because they encourage people to explore nature and spend time outdoors.” Member perks are an enormous profit too, he provides, pointing to the member-only offers and the chance to do good on this planet by the REI Cooperative Action Fund and #OptOutside marketing campaign, “which emphasizes putting people before profits.” 

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