This year marks a new chapter in the story of Rivendell Mountain Works. This is a story that started in 1971 in the Seattle area but truly came to life in the 1970’s in Victor, Idaho, in the foothills of the Teton Mountains. A small group of climbers and mountaineers had new ideas for outdoor gear that led to the Jensen pack, an early frameless ultralight backpack, and the Bombshelter tent, designed to withstand the worst alpine weather. Years of innovation and development added an assortment of day packs, waist packs, and accessories.
For the past 40+ years, Rivendell Mountain Works was sustained by two people- Don Wittenberger, the owner, and Eric Hardee, the Wizard in Residence who crafted the packs one by one in his magical shop in the log cabin that he and his wife built by hand in the mountains east of Seattle. Eric and Don maintained Rivendell Mountain Works as a time capsule of the golden age of outdoor gear innovation in the U.S.
It’s time to awaken Rivendell Mountain Works from its slumber to begin a new era of its life, now based in the mountains of Logan, Utah. The challenges for this chapter of Rivendell Mountain Works are: reigniting the spark of innovation while remaining true to the vintage heritage of the brand, improving production while maintaining its local small-batch handmade character, and using the best possible materials and construction without modernizing the aesthetic of Rivendell Mountain Works. Thank you for being part of this journey and we look forward to sharing many more stories as we relaunch the brand in the weeks and months to come.
1 comment
I was a backpak and camping buyer in retail for nearly 30 years and am now retired and a collector of fine vintage packs and vintage tents. For almost 40 years I wanted a Rivendell pack. Thank you for bringing them back around. I did manage to get one this year I believe is a Mariposa In fine condition .