Hi, I’m Brendan!
As Alpenglow’s second-ever owner, I feel a tremendous responsibility to give back to the local mountain community that has sustained the shop since 1979. I lead Alpenglow’s community-centric business model and everything we do is meant to honor this long-standing commitment.
I’m inspired by my co-workers that really exemplify the Tahoe adventure lifestyle. I could think of nothing better than to start a big dark-to-dark tour at 5am on the West Shore, break a deep trail with friends, and get home to loved ones safely.
As the men’s apparel and footwear buyer, I’m most helpful in those categories. I’m always stoked to talk ski touring too and love a nerdy deep dive into the intricacies of apparel fabrics, outsole compounds, and anything equipment related that makes your backcountry adventures more enjoyable. Come say hi!
My Story:
After graduating college in Virginia, and a stint pursuing professional soccer in the Netherlands, I moved west to chase dreams of untracked powder. I began working at Alpenglow in 2003 as a part-time employee and mostly full-time ski bum. During this time I was lucky enough to fall under the influence of legendary Alpenglow-ers Dave Nettle, Aaron Zanto and Mark Kircher. These veterans taught me the value of pre-work dawn patrol and a commitment to the alpine lifestyle. I eventually moved into full-time work at the shop and finally ownership in 2011, when I purchased the shop from Alpenglow’s original owner, Don Fyfe.
Way back in 2004 I also had the good fortune of meeting my fellow co-workers Jeff Dostie and Tracy Brostek. While we all began working together at roughly the same time, none of us knew then that we'd still be together nearly twenty years later. I consider myself extremely lucky to have these two stellar humans in my life - not only do we collaborate on a daily basis at Alpenglow, but I've enjoyed some of the coolest adventures of my life with them. Building something special with both Jeff and Tracy, plus all of our other amazing staff, will always remain one of the greatest honors of my life.
My life work revolves around cultivating community through a rich and connected retail experience. I am an experienced creator/founder of a litany of high-end, large-scale experiential events in North Lake Tahoe, California. These include the Alpenglow Mountain Festival, the Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series, the Broken Arrow Skyrace and Afterglow, A Mountain Storytelling Podcast.
I will always reminisce about skiing knee-deep powder off the summit of 20,320-foot Denali, the tallest peak in North America, in 2010, a near FKT, car-to-car alpine ascent of Mt. Rainier’s Liberty Ridge and regularly backcountry skiing 5,000+ feet… before getting to work at 10am. I am fascinated by the concept of building something bigger than myself in partnership with my co-workers, and I'm extremely honored by my role as the current steward of Alpenglow Sports. Established in 1979, Alpenglow Sports is now considered a legacy brand and a thought leader in the outdoor industry. I am inspired by my co-workers on a daily basis.
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