What new adventures are you planning for the new year? One of the best parts of working at Good Wolf Gear was hearing about the exciting travel plans of our enthusiastic customers. I learned at least as much from them as they did from me when they shared their plans that ranged from Patagonia to Shenandoah, and Iceland to the Chesapeake Bay. They were living proof of something I learned long ago: adventure, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, we special-ordered a sleeping platform for a guy on a multi-day big wall climb in South America, but we also outfitted a disabled customer who took his e-bike along the W&OD and back roads for an overnight at Sky Meadows, and they both accomplished much in the face of adversity. The guy who bought wool baselayers to summit Mount Washington in February had better weather than I did when I was there in June, while the woman who bought a used tent for her very first camping trip to the beach was met with storms. Still, they both had unforgettable adventures, and they both came home with stories to tell.
So, what are you planning? Maybe you'll go on your first overnight with the kids, or maybe you'll attempt your first - or next - long-distance trail thru-hike. Maybe you'll try snowshoeing on a winter trip, or maybe you'll explore Riverbend Park to spot bald eagles. Maybe you'll make an overdue return to Shenandoah, or maybe you'll fly to Europe for village-to-village hiking. Maybe you'll give disc golf a try, check out a local course, become enchanted by the bird songs and suddenly find yourself an avid birder. And maybe this could be the year you finally head to one of your bucket-list destinations, like when I visited Mount St. Helens a few years ago and took the photo above. But - as I've said before - there's no adventure if you don't go, so make those plans, and have a fantastic year of adventure!
PS - We hope you still have some gear from our shop and that you think of us while you’re out using it on your adventures. And while we can’t share gear with you anymore, we’ll always want to share stories.