REI appeals these days to much younger members than I am. I no longer canoe, backpack or ski. However, I still love to travel and hike. I love walking pilgrimages, especially. SO, I'm wondering about Covid safe trips to take perhaps by next fall...any suggestions? ... View more

Just a heads up for an idea to share. I moved during Covid. Had over 30 years worth of REI backpacking, camping, hiking, canoeing gear....could have taken much of it to the "garage sale" with REI store. But decided to make another decision based on my values. I value the out of doors. I value nature. I value our landscapes. I want the next generation to love to be out of doors, but most of the twenty somethings I know don't have funds to purchase REI equipment. SO, I invited some I know to over to my home (masks on, socially distanced) and choose what they wanted according to  their interests. Some took the backpacking gear; others took the camping/hiking gear. Still others took the canoe gear....all in all, I was thrilled at their stories about longing to get out into the backwoods but not having proper equipment. After almost all the equipment was given away, I felt such a sense of excitement that these young people might perhaps begin their own love affair with nature like I have had for almost forty years....what a thrill! ... View more