The approach into the Jackson Hole airport offers a nearly unrivaled dramatic arrival that sets expectations appropriately high, descending into the only commercial airport in America that operates entirely within a National Park, its tarmac among sagebrush flats with the Teton Range erupting to the west, where 13,770-foot peaks rise 7,000 feet above the valley floor without the foothills like we have here in along Colorado’s Front Range.
The drive from the airport to Gravity Haus, then onward to White Grass Dude Ranch, for the Fall Rendezvous welcome reception traversed the contemporary and historical paths of Jackson Hole’s evolution. White Grass, homesteaded in 1913 by Harold Hammond and George Tucker Bispham, converted to Jackson Hole’s third dude ranch in 1919 (a term coined as early as the 1880’s as eastern urbanites began to travel west to experience cowboy life), operated continuously until 1985, making it the valley’s longest-lived dude ranch. Now restored as the Western Center for Historic Preservation, the ranch’s 13 original log buildings on 30 acres provide the perfect backdrop for understanding how Jackson Hole transformed from a remote ranching valley to an outdoor industry epicenter, and the modern challenges that involves.
That evening the Wild Common whiskey flowed while temperatures dropped fast enough to send us searching for additional layers, and an all-star panel discussion featuring Chip Jenkins (Grand Teton National Park Superintendent), Bekee Hotze (Deputy Forest Supervisor, Bridger Teton National Forest), Crista Valentino (Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board), Pitt Grewe (AllTrails), and Keegan Young (ED of Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation) addressed the contemporary challenges of managing the valley’s transformation from seasonal refuge to year-round outdoor destination.
Yes, Jackson’s September shoulder season delivers the full spectrum of mountain conditions that make it an ideal testing ground for outdoor gear, and the valley’s 6,200-foot elevation combines with its unique geography (a 48-mile-long valley flanked by the Tetons to the west and Gros Ventre Range to the east, both of which I’ve been exploring for more than 20 years since I moved out west as a college student) to create microclimates that can vary dramatically within a stretch of miles…along with resident wildlife preparing for winter, bears in hyperphagia, elk beginning their rut, moose browsing willow bottoms…and geology ranging from riverside cobbles to exposed granite at 10,000 feet, and weather volatility that defines mountain environments.
The Fall Rendezvous would leverage all of these variables across four days, taking us from a frosty approach to Taggart Lake, through Tuesday’s Via Ferrata exposure on Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Casper Ridge, fly fishing the Snake River’s braided channels, to navigating Jackson’s increasingly sophisticated dining scene. Each activity would test different aspects of the gear brands had brought to demonstrate, creating a real-world, in-person hypersimulation that marketing just can’t replicate.
Alpaca’s Advantage
The morning’s presentation by Paka preceded the day’s Grand Teton traverse, where their alpaca base layers would face temperature variance and exertion that easily exposes inferior thermoregulation. The company’s vertically integrated Peruvian supply chain–employing 300+ Quechua weavers in a B Corp-certified operation where 90% of production happens locally– produces natural hollow-core fibers that manage moisture and temperature in unexpected ways, even after three decades of testing Merino across Colorado’s fourteeners.
The Paka LS hoody maintained thermal equilibrium throughout the elevation gain, protected my neck and ears from the sun, and aided the subsequent descent without the clammy transition that characterizes even some merino when moving between exertion levels. While the odor control is good, much like Merino, I can still make it stink under extended wear.
At $89 for the lightweight crew and $129 for the expedition-weight zip neck, Paka occupies the same price territory as established wool brands while delivering comparable (if not better) performance advantages, with the additional consideration that 1% of revenue returns to the Peruvian communities integral to their supply chain. And the short sleeve T is now my favorite travel piece. Stay tuned for more of this brand’s meteoric rise.
YETI’s Strategic Expansion
The Austin-based company’s morning presentation, delivered by brand representatives Hannah Kilbride and Emily Ann Martin, revealed ambitions that extend well beyond the rotomolded retention that built YETI’s unflappable reputation.
The new Roadie 48 wheeled cooler represents years of engineering focused on solving the fundamental transport problem that has relegated premium coolers to two-person carries or permanent truck bed residence.
The telescoping Periscope Handle extends and retracts with the kind of solid feel you want when dragging 50-plus pounds across a gravel parking lot. The NeverFlat Wheels—solid polyurethane that can’t go flat—rolled smoothly across every surface we encountered. Inside, the 15.7-inch height means wine bottles and two-liters stand upright, which came in handy transitioning between afternoon sessions and evening events. The cooler held ice from Sunday’s reception straight through to Wednesday’s early morning airport run, though that’s what you expect from YETI. At $400-450, it’s an investment, but if you’re tired of wrestling coolers into truck beds, this solves that problem permanently.
The expanded lineup they showed—including the Crossroads 27L backpack ($150) with dedicated bottle pockets, the Daytrip 6L Lunch Bag ($80), and the omnipresent Rambler drinkware—showed YETI understands brand loyalty extends beyond categories.
Via Ferrata Reality Check
The 8 a.m. gondola ride up Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, breakfast burritos in hand, delivered a beautiful chilly morning with paragliders dancing among the clouds over the valley. The Via Ferrata that followed would prove which products, and which journalists, could handle real exposure.
Smith’s Wildcat sunglasses earned their keep on the route as ChromaPop lenses made holds visible in flat light. The prescription program Smith offers addresses a real need—those of us with less-than-perfect vision shouldn’t have to choose between seeing clearly, style, and quality optics. I can’t wait to see what they are cooking up for Rx in ski goggles next.
Danner’s N45 boots justified every penny of their $250 price tag on the exposed iron and rock traverses. The Vibram sole stuck to granite where others were slipping, and the SPE midsole delivered energy return on the hike out after three hours of climbing. These beauties are built to be resoled indefinitely, and I’m a longtime fan of this American-made boot brand. OtterBox’s Frē case took a beating while I tried to shoot video one-handed from sketchy positions. This legacy Fort Collins, Colorado-based company has figured out how to maintain bombproof protection while accommodating MagSafe and 5G, again, with plenty of style. And their charging station and other accessories are really at the top of the game right now, I highly recommend checking them out.
This via ferrata is an incredible summer resource for JHMR and it’s one of the most intricate and thrilling courses I’ve climbed.
Smith’s Bigger Picture
Smith’s presentation by my longtime friend Kate Gaeir traced the iconic brand’s path from Bob Smith’s 1965 first-ever sealed thermal lens goggle innovation to today’s comprehensive global vision and protection systems.
The Wildcat’s ChromaPop technology filters wavelengths at confusion points where colors overlap, which may sound like marketing until you’ve tried it. The prescription program accommodates most single-vision needs while maintaining that contrast enhancement, and I’m a convert. We also tested the Polarized line extensively while angling on the Snake River.
Smith’s mountain bike helmet line including the Forefront 2 ($280) and Mainline models are all about integration. The helmets accommodate Smith eyewear without pressure points. And innovative Koroyd impact material crushes progressively rather than all at once in the event of a crash. Add MIPS for rotational protection and you’ve got world-class head protection that integrates perfectly with their vision systems for every type of cycling.
Stay tuned for more on Smith wintersports!
App Intelligence Evolution
AllTrails has reimagined itself from a community-based trail finder and navigation app to include conservation efforts, a botany ID tool, and as a retailer of outdoor gear. With 80 million users generating real-time trail intelligence, they’re now helping land managers make informed decisions about closures and maintenance, and helping experienced people prevent small navigation errors and getting into trouble. We tested the new plant identification features along our hike and offline maps worked perfectly in dead zones. At $36 annually for a Plus membership, it’s essential gear.
Camp Chef’s Elevated Cooking Game
I’ve been working with Camp Chef on various outings and media events for a decade, and the Utah company has continued to evolve from camp stoves, grills, cookwear and accessories to sophisticated outdoor cooking systems, including WiFi-controlled pellet grills and high quality cutlery. Sunday’s elk steaks from the Woodwind Pro set the bar high. Tuesday’s post-Via Ferrata lunch, where the Cascade 2X brought water to boil at 7,000 feet in a snap, exceeded all expectations. The piezo ignition worked every time despite morning moisture and afternoon wind, and integrated windscreens created a stable flame in gusty conditions. At $279, you’re paying for reliability and BTU output that actually works at altitude.
Polartec’s Reckoning
Monday evening at Calico, Polartec addressed the microplastic elephant in the room. This ingredient brand actually invented modern fleece in 1981, and Time magazine called it one of the century’s most important innovations. Now, their new Power Air fabric reduces fiber shedding by up to 80% through encapsulated construction rather than brushed surfaces. The prototype I tested handled the week’s temperature fluctuations, with a different hand-feel than traditional fleece, but comparable warmth-to-weight, and you have to give credit to Polartec for addressing a problem they helped create but probably had no idea of the consequences at the time.
Bushnell’s Democratic Optics
The Bushnell Nitro 10×42 binoculars proved their worth during our session with Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School. We also spotted a black bear crossing the meadows near Taggart Lake, tracked moose through willows, and caught a bull elk on a distant ridge, made possible by quality optics from Bushnell. The EXO Barrier coating shed morning dew, the focus wheel operates smoothly with cold hands, and edge-to-edge clarity rivaled European glass at half the price of many competitors. From spotting avalanche activity in the backcountry to bird watching in the backyard, this is now recommended, if not required, gear.
Sea to Summit’s Physics Defiance
One of my absolute favorite camping brands, Sea to Summit’s three-decade obsession with packability yields products that work as well or better than anything on the market, for everyone from motorcyclists to kayakers. The Aeros pillow packs to tennis-ball size, inflates in three breaths, and actually provides neck support. At $39, the Aeros is the kind of marginal gain that experienced travelers recognize as disproportionately valuable. Fellow yoga instructor and brand maven Margaux Maertens demonstrated their complete sleep system that compresses smaller than most bags alone. I’ve been testing and using their products for years for backpacking, camping, and rafting, and can’t recommend them enough.
Jackson’s Culinary Evolution
Tuesday’s progressive dinner across Fine Dining Restaurant Group’s properties—The Bistro’s Parisian interpretation at the Cloudveil, The Kitchen’s Asian-influenced mountain cuisine, and Bin22’s European wine bar—showcased Jackson’s transformation from ski town to culinary destination. While the venues’ dress codes tested whether technical fabrics could transition from afternoon sweat to evening sophistication, they signal a demographic shift that’s been reshaping the Mountain West.
Gavin Fine’s foodie empire in Jackson proves you can maintain global quality and growth year-round in a remote, seasonal town.
Rendezvous illuminated where the outdoor industry is headed. Brands are addressing responsibilities beyond performance metrics (AllTrails helps manage trail impact, Paka supports Peruvian communities, OtterBox facilitates 148,000 volunteer hours annually, Polartec confronts microplastic pollution), and more. The invitation-only format provided real testing conditions against Wyoming’s demanding landscape with keystone brands that have earned credibility through consistent performance.
For consumers, much of this gear hits retail throughout 2026, with innovation across multiple vectors: performance, environmental responsibility, social impact, and durability, recognizing these aren’t competing priorities but interconnected requirements. Every product earning space in my permanent rotation, from Yeti packs to Danner boots, solved specific problems I’ve encountered across decades of testing, which for me is the ultimate endorsement.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAY NEL-McINTOSH
