Fellowship with the Founders in the Great Smoky Mountains

In our 30+ years of doing business, Rock/Creek has been through some pretty significant transitions: opening new stores, evolving our trail race series, keeping up with innovations in outdoor gear and even changes in ownership. Through it all, we’ve always strived to change for the better.

Over these three decades, the most important things about Rock/Creek have remained constant: our commitment to our customers and our shared wild spaces, our love of quality outdoor goods, and a deep reverence for our company’s own history.

At this point it’s practically a local legend. Rock/Creek was founded in 1987 by two educators who were on a mission to connect people to the outdoors, do business in an environmentally-conscious manner, and work with nonprofits to protect local lands. Those educators were Marvin Webb and Dawson Wheeler, and that mission is the foundation of Rock/Creek to this day.

If Rock/Creek is a many-branched tree, then those original ideas are the roots that keep us upright. We understand that remembering, honoring and frequently checking in on the parts of Rock/Creek that are beneath the surface is what keeps us alive and growing.

So though lots of things have changed since Rock/Creek first opened its doors on Hixson Pike, Marvin and Dawson remain cornerstones, and they help us keep that original Rock/Creek spirit alive within our staff, our practices and our work in the community.

Early this spring, we took a trip the Smokies with Marvin and Dawson, because we know that nothing sparks ideas, conversation and inspiration like a good old fashioned walk in the mountains. We call it Fellowship with the Founders, and it’s an opportunity to talk culture, community and, of course, gear with the guys who started it all.

Here are some photos from our trip up Mt. LeConte on the Alum Cave Trail with Rock/Creek’s founders.