NOLS Southwest at Summit Hut Outdoor Expo

NOLS Southwest staff recently spent a sunny Tucson weekend at the Summit Hut spring sale and Outdoor Expo. Summit Hut is a NOLS Preffered Retailer with friendly, skilled staff who love to help folks get outdoors.

NOLS Southwest has long had a fun and interactive relationship with
Summit Hut, often attending the annual used gear swap meet and now the
outdoor expo. Southwest Director Janeen Hutchins, Assistant Director
Scott Christy, and Special Projects Manager Ryan Hutchins-Cabibi spent
two days sharing information with a broad group of outdoor
recreationists and networking with other local non-profits.

“Summit Hut began its entry into the outdoor retail industry modestly in
1967 when two fifteen year-old friends, Jeff Conn and Summit Hut, Ltd.
President, David Baker, collaborated to offer a special order service
for Tucsonans who desired backpacking and mountaineering equipment. The
boys conducted business from their bedrooms and stored the inventory
under their beds. In 1968 David, a senior in high school, bought out
Jeff’s interest in the company and rented a 150 square foot room
attached to a small bicycle shop across the street from their high
school.

As an independent Tucson, Arizona based business, the Summit Hut
actively supports local, state and regional outdoor recreation related
causes and events to the best of our ability. We feel it is our
obligation, as an outdoor retailer, to do our part in maintaining the
very land that allows our business to exist.”

We were excited to watch Dave Baker, Summit Hut President present an excellent clinic on lightweight backpacking techniques, and to get upclose and personal with some raptors from the local animal rescue program.

With deals on gear, onsite coffee and tri-tip BBQ, afun and diverse group of local non-profits and of course your friendly Neighborhood NOLS Staff, this event was great fun!

A huge Thanks to all the Summit Hut employees for running a great Expo and inviting us to attend, We look forward to being a part of this great Tucson event in the future!