Sometime during my first year of adventure racing, me and two other women signed up for a 12 hour race at a state park west of of Nashville, Tennessee.
It was in the spring, the race started early in the morning and it started in cool but very sunny conditions.
Throughout the morning the sky began to get increasingly cloudy and by early afternoon it looked downright ominous.
We heard it first mid-afternoon and it did not take any of us by surprise - a very loud thunder boomer.
The sky had turned black.
We were not in the middle of the North Carolina or West Virginian mountains as we had been in other races but we were too far from civilization when the hard rain started.
The thunder began and then so did the lightning.
We were on mountain bikes at the time, on a trail surrounded by woods on both sides, and there was no shelter from the storm anywhere.
We did the only prudent thing we could do, which was to ditch our bikes, ditch our packs, move away from each other and make ourselves the smallest targets we could possibly make ourselves.
Squatting in a field with violent thunder and lightning all around us, was the scariest race experience I had had to that point.
As we were in the middle of it I looked across the small open field in one direction and then in another direction and saw the faces of my team-mates and knew that they were also feeling the same dread that I was feeling.
Thankfully the violent storm was short lived and thankfully we came through it none the worse for wear.
Once it had passed we retrieved all of our gear, nervously laughed off the experience, and continued on with our race................
Great pieces of gear that we have had in the store for a while, and stuff that we would LOVE to find a new home for!
Oxygen Element 580 snowboard (size 152) - without bindings, has a few scratches but no major dings, and graphics on both sides are still in great shape. There's still a ton more snowboarding left to do before the end of the season!
This super cute girls Rossignol snowboard/ski helmet is filled with all kinds of flowers, hearts and serious pinkness. It is in brand new condition.
Burton Ranger snowboard boots that are in very good shape and a pair of Vision youth snowboard boots that are in excellent (barely used) shape.
Sleeping bags in brand new (never used) condition, tent and camp chair both in great condition. We've also got a couple of camp stoves.
We've got winter hats, gloves, ear warmers, neck warmers and scarves - fleece sweaters - winter jackets with labels that include Columbia, Mountain Hard Ware, LL Bean, Cabelas, Winchester, Patagonia and more - climbing gear including shoes, harnesses, gloves.
To name only a few items in the increasing stock of used outdoor gear and clothing that OAR is happily beginning to accumulate.
What would we LOVE to see more of at this time of year?
Day packs (we sold a Salomon pack and a Go-lite pack within days of putting them out on the floor) and they can be used for just about EVERY outdoor activity.
Hiking boots. Trekking poles. Local topo maps. Gaiters. Wind resistant jackets. Wool and Smart Wool socks. Compasses. Head lamps. Fishing rods and reels.
Soon we would love to see mountain bikes and road bikes (please no BSO's - bicycle shaped objects!).
