Dear REI: Letters about Opting Outside


A collection of letters REI and photos showing various camping scenes, like s'mores ingredients.

Whether or not it’s a childhood tenting journey, studying mountain climbing as an grownup or lastly planning that intimidating multiday backpacking journey that’s been on the bucket listing for years, a lifetime of out of doors journey is stuffed with firsts. And people reminiscences can final: Many co-op members nonetheless bear in mind the model of their first pair of mountaineering boots or the place their buddy took them on their first mountain bike trip.

How do we all know? As a result of they write in and inform us.

Over time, REI Co-op Members and clients have despatched in heartfelt handwritten notes (and emails, too) sharing how the co-op and wider REI group have touched their lives. You is likely to be shocked to listen to that fairly just a few letters arrive each month—they’re postmarked from all around the nation, despatched by all forms of out of doors adventurers, from champion campers to budding backpackers and the whole lot in between. REI admin Jessica Schmidt rigorously reads, data after which arranges to retailer handwritten playing cards and letters within the Co-op Residing Archive, a set of traditionally and culturally vital items of co-op historical past. (The archive contains greater than 35,000 digitized pictures, 410 reels of movie and hundreds of paperwork, together with European journey logs written by REI co-founders Lloyd and Mary Anderson within the Sixties, after they had been sourcing gear for the shop.)

For the second installment of the Dear REI collection, we chosen some favourite latest letters Schmidt and REI Residing Archive program supervisor Will Dunn have processed from the REI group. This month, we hear from letter-writers wanting ahead to thrilling new adventures, whereas reminiscing about getting within the outside—typically with a brand new companion, or with the assistance of a particular piece of substances.

Illustration by Emily Irelan

A latest grad builds a life outside

A handwritten note on a small square notecard with rounded edges
“REI, I’m writing to precise my love on your retailer. I lately graduated from college and moved to Washington state. I’ve been spending way more time outdoors within the nice outside whereas mountaineering, biking, and working! In school I studied wildlife biology and likewise spent a number of time outdoors. Each then and now I’ve all the time been in a position ot rely on REI to have the gear I would like. Thanks for supporting this school grad!”

I sneakers you

A handwritten note on personalized letterhead that reads "Ariel & Ashwin"
“Expensive REI, we’re Ariel and Ashwin and we’re getting married on Dec. 2nd of this 12 months! Enclosed is an honorary invite to our wedding ceremony. Whereas we realized that the entire firm can’t attend our wedding ceremony, we wished to ship you an honorary invite due to what your organization means to us!

I (Ariel) grew up in a really outside family. I’ve been a member at REI for most likely a decade. REI is a model that has been a relentless in my life. One of many issues I’ve had the pleasure of doing since assembly Ashwin is introducing him to the outside life-style. For his birthday two years in the past, I took him to REI to get his first pair of mountaineering boots. Since then, he’s logged over 100 miles on the boots whereas strolling with me.

In reality, he proposed in these boots on a hike within the Blue Mountains in Australia final December. Now that I consider it, I used to be additionally in my boots from REI.

That is all to say that REI has been such a loving and vibrant spot in our relationship as we embark on marriage. We wished to acknowledge simply how a lot you imply to us! Thanks.” – Ariel and Ashwin


New adventures on the horizon

A small note written on a rectangular piece of paper

“I am keen on mountaineering and mountain biking in your stuff with my dad and my mates and I hope to choose up mountain climbing once I go to MA for college—all the time empowered by your superior gear” –  Sox


Opting outdoors with delight

Another hand-written note in black pen on white paper
“Expensive REI, we’re going to be married on 10/07/23. We wished to jot down to say how useful it’s to have REI for our out of doors gear wants. It’s the place we purchased our first pairs of mountaineering sneakers as a pair, and the place we proceed to look to for gear. We love the rainbow delight merch that will get put out annually. It’s actually essential to see LGBTQIA+ people be represented in outside and journey areas. We see ourselves in REI’s clientele and it feels good to belong. Thanks REI ♡” – Danielle and Skylar

Birthday surprises and glad trails

A hand-written note on a notecard with a floral design and the header "Things To Do Before I Do."

“REI, thanks for being such a giant a part of my relationship. I grew up tenting with my Dad, and I knew it was one thing I wished to proceed as an grownup. When my fiancé, who had by no means camped earlier than, turned 30 I received him all new tenting gear from REI. I coordinated with our households to have all of his presents be tenting associated and shocked him with a visit to Shenandoah. He beloved it after all, and we’ve gone tenting at the least every year ever since. REI is all the time our go-to spot to arrange for a visit, and after we determined to do a tenting themed engagement shoot we knew it could mainly be REI themed as effectively. So I wished to share a number of the pictures and simply say thanks for making it really easy for these which are new to tenting to leap proper in and be part of the enjoyable. We’re certain to drop by once more quickly!” – Rebecca


{Couples} who hike collectively…

A small piece of lined notebook paper with a hand-written note on it

“Expensive REI, considered one of my many cherished reminiscences is me and my companion’s first hike ever. We hiked Ship Harbor Path at Acadia Nationwide Park. Since then we now have hiked lots of if not hundreds of miles collectively, even getting engaged at Hawkbill Summit in Shenandoah Nationwide Park. Via all of it, we now have spent numerous hours in REI changing gear, getting recommendation or simply searching for presents for one another. We’d love to incorporate you in our big day. Please see the included save-the-date for particulars.” – Charlotte and Rose


Studying new issues collectively

A piece of stationery with a golden left margin and a line of small pink circles.

“Good day REI! We want to lengthen to you an invite to our wedding ceremony. Jonathan has had a love on your merchandise and shops courting again to childhood. Since we started courting he has helped me discover a love for out of doors actions and nature. Our relationship grew sturdy as a result of dates of mountaineering and snowshoeing. I’ve additionally discovered to snowboard via your merchandise, workers, and Jonathan’s persistence.”

Wish to write to REI Co-op?

We love listening to from you. Whether or not you could have a joke from a tenting journey, a thanks for a retailer worker or a love letter a few favourite piece of substances, drop us a line.

Handle mail to REI Co-op at 1700 forty fifth Avenue E, Suite 101, Sumner, WA 98390. Or e mail your story to stories@rei.com.

The put up Dear REI: Letters about Opting Outside appeared first on Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication.



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