Backcountry Outfitters

Dec. 6, 2006

If you love the outdoors and the call of the wild, then chances are you’re well aware of Backcountry Outfitters, which has been a Northern Michigan tradition for nearly 30 years in downtown Traverse City.
The store made its reputation by offering high-quality outdoor specialty gear for backpackers and paddlers. It was the first store in the region to seize on the kayaking craze and continues to offer several lines of river and sea kayaks along with high-end outdoor apparel by makers such as Patagonia.
Sandy and Susie Graham continued that tradition when they purchased the store in 2001. And to make a good thing even better, they opened a new store with twice as much floor space this summer on US 31 North in Traverse City, next to the Red Lobster restaurant.
The opportunity to expand presented itself when chain store giant Eastern Mountain Sports folded its tent in Traverse City last year. “We decided to make our move when EMS left town in order to fill a gap for our customers,” Sandy recalls. “People are of the mindset that they either like shopping at the mall or downtown, and the new store offers a lot more in the way of parking.”
Plus, the Grahams had a good manager in mind for the new store thanks to their acquaintance with Becky Roethlisberger. Prior to joining Backcountry Outfitters, Becky managed two stores and a climbing gym in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. She also brings a love of flyfishing, sea kayaking, backpacking, snowshoeing and dogs to her new position.

SOME BACKGROUND
Graham brings years of experience to Backcountry Outfitters, both in retail and outdoor recreation. He ran a retail store in the Detroit area for 15 years and was also a manufacturer’s rep for outdoor gear for 12 years prior to coming to Traverse City. “We always liked this area and wanted to get involved in our own store,” he says.
The couple are big fans of the outdoor life. Susie enjoys sea kayaking, skiing and snowshoes, while Sandy’s passion is kayaking.
While running a store can be demanding, the Grahams have been able to get away for sea kayaking trips to the Manitou Islands, Drummond Island, the Pictured Rocks, the Lake Superior shores of northern Ontario, and for whale watching on a rare fiord a couple of hours outside of Quebec.
Sandy also spends a couple of weeks each year at the helm of a whitewater kayak, plunging into some of the roughest Class 5 rapids in North America. Recently, he returned from the Moose River Festival in upstate New York, which is one big whirl of white water action.
“We’re very passionate about all of our outdoor activities, but I like kayaking the best,” he says. “And I’m a white water kayaker first and a sea kayaker second.”

EARLY DAYS
Class 5 whitewater involves a hair-raising sprint through violent rapids and waterfalls. It’s literally a sport where one’s skill is a matter of life and death and requires specialized “creek” and “rodeo” boats. Graham gets new boats every other year.
“Like anything else, you work your way up to your skill level,” Graham says. “I’ve been kayaking since 1978, which was a time when for the most part, people were making their own kayaks out of fiberglass.”
Needless to say, he’s got some wild stories. “I remember trips where we had to boil water in order to free our wetsuits free from the ice on the boat,” he says.
The Grahams and their staff are able to share their experiences with their gear freak customers, who tend to be committed to owning the best recreational tools and clothing.
“Our area of expertise is knowing where everything is from and all about it,” Graham says. “We have the kind of product knowledge that you can’t get elsewhere. We’re an outdoor specialty store selling big kids’ toys.”

WHAT’S NEW
Speaking of which, the new store offers 4,000 square feet of floor space, doubling that of the downtown location.
Clothing brands include Patagonia, North Face, Ex Officio and Arcterix, among others, including a line of Prana yoga wear. You’ll also find Atlas snowshoes, Snowpeak camping gear, Metolius climbing equipment and everything you could desire in backpacks, tents and sleeping bags for the most demanding conditions. You’ll also find a broad range of kayaks and canoes, with lines including Wilderness Systems, Liquid Logic, Heritage, Native, Hurricane and other brands. Got a dog on the go? Check out Ruffwear Vibram soled dog boots, canine life jackets and other gear for the well-prepared pooch.
Backcountry Outfitters is also experimenting with a series of outdoor adventures, including a guided winter alpine trip to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire in January and a kayak trip in June to the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. There are also classes in camping, backpacking and outdoor cookery, among others.

The new Backcountry Outfitters store is located at 2751N. US-31 S., Traverse City, next to Red Lobster. Call 231-941-1000 for info or see www.backcountrytc.com.