Most of the 80’s, I spent the summers in Alaska and co-founded Crystal Creek Lodge. In 1989, I decided I had enough fun in Alaska and an opportunity to open a fly shop at Lees Ferry presented itself. Russell Sullivan, Wendy Hanvold and I decided to open Lees Ferry Anglers Guides and Fly Shop at Vermillion Cliffs Lodge. We leased a “sprawling” 300 square feet in an old gas station and proceeded to make a $15,000 opening order with Orvis (yes, we were originally an Orvis shop and Orvis endorsed outfitter). The day that the UPS truck arrived with our opening order the 3 of us were standing by with hand trucks to help unload the heavy boxes. The driver hopped out of the truck and carried 3 boxes which contained our entire opening order into the shop. We spread it out the best that we could over the 300 square feet and the shop still looked pretty empty.

Our first guide (besides Russell and myself) was Bill Shultz…Jeff English joined our staff a year later. We opened our business during the largest fishing down-turn in the history of Lees Ferry (experimental flows of 1989-1991) and despite the down-turn we survived and grew our business. During the 90’s the fishing got better and in the process we became one of the largest retailers of fly fishing equipment in the southwestern US. Our guide service became one of the largest guide services in the country employing 14 full time fishing guides. We expanded our fleet of guide and rental boats to more than 20 boats and Ted Welling invented the Bead Head Zebra Midge in our shop.

In 2000, Jeff English became a partner in our business. Jeff came from a real estate background and suggested that we needed to own our real estate. A short time later Cliff Dwellers Lodge came up for sale. The lodge was run down and in desperate need of way too much work. It took us a while but we decided that this was the best move that we could make for our business. We bought the lodge and went to work renovating it and moved our fly shop and all operations to Cliff Dwellers in June 2001. Our timing was great! The same year we moved in, the western US went into the worst drought in history and the Lees Ferry fishery began another decline that lasted for a few years. Once again we survived and our business has thrived, the fishing has experienced a dramatic improvement, we have done well in the lodging and restaurant business and our enterprise continues to grow.

Russell Sullivan retired from the business in 07 and is living the good life. Jeff English and I still guide full time. Wendy “Hanvold” Gunn, my wife of 13 years is general manager of Lees Ferry Anglers and Cliff Dwellers Lodge. What began as 300 sq. ft. has turned into 30 acres, with a fly shop, guide service, rental boats, rental equipment, gas station, convenience store, restaurant-bar and hotel. Our staff during our high season usually exceeds 40 people and we are proud to work with each and every one of them…it is because of them that we are where we are today. I have never had so much fun in my entire life as I have had watching this business grow and it has been a great ride. On behalf of all the staff of Lees Ferry Anglers and Cliff Dwellers Lodge we want to THANK YOU, OUR CUSTOMER, for making it possible for us to celebrate or 20 year anniversary.

Terry Gunn
Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop, Guides, & Rentals
Cliff Dwellers Lodge

http://www.terrygunn.com

http://www.leesferry.com

http://www.cliffdwellerslodge.com

800-962-9755
Fax 928-355-2271
Hm. 928-355-2220

Mark Bryden, SmartWool president, comments “We were looking for a PR firm who could offer us more than the standard approach to public relations.  We wanted a true strategic partner who also shared our passion for the active mountain lifestyle and the products that make it possible.  With an unparalleled reputation in the industry, Backbone is the ideal partner to continue our PR momentum to help drive sales and increase consumer awareness about merino wool.   We’re excited to utilize their fresh perspective and creative ideas in managing our media relations.”

Founded in Steamboat Springs, 15 years ago, SmartWool offers premium merino wool socks, apparel and accessory collections. SmartWool’s brand is defined by their dedication to utilizing sustainable resources without compromising performance, fit or comfort.

Supporting the continuing expansion of product offerings is the Spring/Summer 2009 introduction of cycling apparel. With a line-up that includes jerseys, socks, arm and leg warmers, and shorts, the collection remains rooted to the material from which the brand was created. Even the Italian-made chamois for the shorts is covered with 100% SmartWool® material.

Backbone Media’s partner Nate Simmons adds, “Having just won Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work Award, we are thrilled to join forces with such a strong brand and creative product line. SmartWool has fantastic broad based appeal with uncompromising technical performance. Their eco-conscious message and culture are a perfect fit for both Backbone and discriminating consumers. ”

SmartWool is committed to pushing the limits of functional design with wool. The apparel, socks and accessories now enjoy worldwide distribution, satisfying the needs of walkers, runners, skiers, cyclists, climbers and hikers.

ABOUT SMARTWOOL: SmartWool® is a leading performance brand offering wool-based apparel, socks and accessories. Nothing can compare to SmartWool® products for the ultimate in performance, comfort and easy care. SmartWool® fiber is superior at vaporizing moisture, controlling temperature and odor and is guaranteed not to shrink. It’s also a renewable resource that illustrates the design genius of evolution. For information on the full range of SmartWool® products or to find a dealer near you, please log onto SmartWool’s award winning website: www.SmartWool.com. SmartWool Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Timberland Company.

UK jewelers Goldsmiths, Beaverbrooks, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland, Fifi Bijoux and April Doubleday took this step at the invitation of local Alaskans who seek to protect wild salmon, clean water and their traditional ways of life from the damaging effects of industrial metal mines.

“We at Beaverbrooks support the protection of Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed from large scale mining,” said Mark Adelstone, managing director of Beaverbrooks the Jewellers. “We need to be mindful and respectful of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery and the communities that depend on it. We feel that the precious metals that we sell need to be mined responsibly and in environmentally friendly ways and if this means looking to other places to source gold, then so be it.”

In pledging not to source gold mined at Pebble, the UK jewelers join eight U.S. retailers who endorsed the pledge last year, including Tiffany & Co. (which has seven stores in the UK), Helzberg Diamonds, and Ben Bridge Jeweler. The threat to the Bristol Bay fishery has generated an unusual and diverse array of allies, including Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, over 140 sportfishing businesses, the Alaska Intertribal Council (a consortium of 231 Alaska Tribes), and numerous conservation groups.

“The support demonstrated by these respected UK jewelers is greatly appreciated and will help us to protect the wild salmon fishery that has sustained our economy and people for generations,” said Thomas Tilden, board member of the Choggiung Native Corporation.

The proposed Pebble gold-copper mine is a project of UK-based Anglo American, one of the world’s largest mining companies, and Northern Dynasty Minerals of Canada. The mine is projected to generate an estimated 9 billion tons of waste, much of it containing acids and toxic metals to be stored on site in what is now pristine Alaska wilderness.

“Sustainable development is surely a necessary value which is core to any 21st century business,” said Vivien Johnston of Fifi Bijoux. “I am surprised that Anglo American would pursue a programme in Bristol Bay which is clearly not in the best interests of the long term sustainability of the local community or the conservation of important ecosystems. I would ask them to revise their strategy and review their CSR standards to ensure that any new mining site need not compromise their vision of environmental integrity and community consultation.”

Alaska Native communities’ way of life, and Alaska’s largest private sector employer – the fishing industry – are heavily dependent on the continued health of Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay’s commercial fishery generates $320 million a year and 12,500 jobs. Bristol Bay residents harvest and consume an average of 315 pounds (143 kilograms) of fish per person per year, making the salmon a primary source of food.  Unlike many of the world’s wild salmon populations, which are in serious decline, the pristine rivers and undeveloped landscape of the Bristol Bay watershed continue to support a sustainable world-class salmon fishery that supplies healthy seafood to consumers around the world. A third of the world’s commercial sockeye salmon are harvested there, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

These UK and U.S. retailers who have signed on to the Bristol Bay protection pledge have also endorsed the “Golden Rules” of the No Dirty Gold consumer campaign spearheaded by EARTHWORKS, which has called on mining companies to meet environmental and social standards. So far, some 55 retailers worldwide have endorsed the Golden Rules. A complete list can be found on the No Dirty Gold website. More than 100,000 consumers in over 100 countries have also signed the No Dirty Gold pledge, urging mining companies to provide alternatives to “dirty” gold.

“The Pebble mine would imperil one of the world’s most pristine and productive ecosystems,” said Bonnie Gestring of international mining reform group EARTHWORKS. “We applaud the jewelry retailers for signing on to the Bristol Bay protection pledge, and demonstrating their commitment to responsible sourcing.”

For fact sheets and more information on Bristol Bay, Alaska, proposed Pebble Mine, visual images updated daily from London and more, visit www.ak2uk.com. For photos, fact sheets and information about the No Dirty Gold campaign, visit www.nodirtygold.org

For more information:
Harlin Savage, Resource Media in London, (208) 133-8769 (US), 07529 737053 (UK)
Lynda Giguere, Resource Media, Anchorage, (907) 723-6910, lynda@resource-media.org
Bonnie Gestring, EARTHWORKS, (406) 546-8386 (US), 07552 536171 (UK)
Mark Adelstone, Beaverbrooks the Jewellers, 01253 721262 ext 5003 (UK)