Patrick Smith has designed virtually all the base platforms we sell and has been a pioneer in the outdoors industry since before most of our employees were born. In the early 1970s, Patrick Smith got started as a wilderness guide when he owned Colorado School of Outdoor Living. He taught many things as well as avalanche safety and snow caving with an emphasis on foot travel in the backcountry.

He was the first Keystone Resort cross-country ski instructor, as well as the director for the cross-country ski club and year-long wilderness travel club. While doing this, Patrick started designing his own gear to fill the voids in the then rudimentary gear that was available. We still use his sled design today!

1979

In 1979, Patrick got out of the service industry, and he started the company Mountainsmith. He developed designs for sleds, high quality packs, and in 1986, he was the first to create man-carriable heated shelters with the tipi and stove combination.

When faced with the problem of carrying a rifle in Alaska bear country, he came up with the gun bearer, which is the most innovative rifle carrying system ever built. The standard sling was too insecure, slow, uncomfortable and can leave you too vulnerable amid predators. Hunting was always in the back of his mind during the design process.