Molly's Summer Staff Picks

My Story:

I grew up in Minnesota and spent most of my 20s in Arizona. It was in the Southwest that I began my love of the outdoors and knew that I wanted to find a way to incorporate that into a job. I found myself working at a National Forest Visitor Center, then moved on to an outdoor retail store. This ultimately led me to a job at Gregory Mountain Products and a move to Northern California.

After Gregory relocated to SLC, I worked as a tech rep for a couple of great agencies, but ultimately felt more at home in retail. After a lot of planning and some luck, my husband, pup, and I arrived in Tahoe, and I hoped in time I would find my way to Alpenglow…a shop I had loved since the first time I walked in back in the summer of 2009.

I truly enjoy being part of a long-time, independent brick-and-mortar like AG and how much we tie into our local community. It feels pretty unreal to look out our shop’s front windows and see beautiful Lake Tahoe and the Sierra within my reach!

My gear philosophy:

My gear philosophy has always been a bit of a hodgepodge. I love lightweight gear, but that usually is so I can pack more! If you have the lightest weight trail chair…why not bring a second one for a friend, right? I can be wooed by new and flashy toys, but ultimately they do need to serve a purpose. I also will take an unsexy tried and true piece of durable gear over something so lightweight that I can see the warranty issues in my future. And last… I don’t believe in skimping on core gear and believe that the lightest weight pack can feel the heaviest if the suspension is lacking or it doesn't fit correctly. Ultimately, if you research and shop thoughtfully, you will get the right gear for you…anyone judging me for my once-a-year trip with my first backpack doesn’t realize the memories make it feel lighter, and it still fits like a glove 25 years later!

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