It was 1991 and @DennisMadsen stopped by the REI store in Denver for a chat with store employees. Store manager @BobVoltz asked him to meet with me to talk trails. As the store's outreach coordinator I was committed to volunteerism and also served as a board member of the American Hiking Society (AHS) We discussed the need for a national focus on trails. I pitched a National Trails Day and Dennis arranged for me to work out of the REI store and be paid as an "Executive on loan" to AHS. We signed up corporate supporters like Backpacker Magazine, Vasque, Jansport and many others and a trails movement was formed. Thanks REI it's been a great ride. ... View more

After 7 years and 50 countries as an adventure travel guide I came home to Boston and REI was opening the first east coast store in Reading, Mass. Seemed like the best place to work while I dealt with culture shock and adjusting to threal world." Soon after REI started REI Adventures and held a contest for two employees to take the first trips. The question, Why should we pick you? I replied, You shouldn't pick me and won the trip t Macchu Picchu and spent a month in Peru, thanks to REI. Why shouldn't REi pick me? Well that's another story...Bob Voltz, Dennis Madsen, Mary Bune, Kevin House, Wally Smith, Sally Jewell, John Sheppard   ... View more