Josh Haring may, or may not, have spent a night on top of Half Dome. It can be a bit chilly at 8,800 feet and in true Boy Scout fashion he didn’t hope for the best, he prepared for the unexpected.
Two years ago Haring found himself in another beautiful situation, right where he wanted to be. Now The Mountain Air co-owner spends his days working to enhance the brand and grow their already fervent fan base.
Celebrating its 40th year in business, the climbing, backpacking and winter sports supplier is still as spry as ever.
The Portland Ore., native and longtime SLO transplant recently took off the apron, attempted (unsuccessfully) to take something serious and talked about the benefits of independence, getting personal and the magnificence of Central Oregon.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
At one time I would have easily said patience. However, in watching and learning from Wayne (Patterson, long-time owner of The Mountain Air), I’ve learned that especially in our business, patience gives us greater clarity and leads to far better decision making. Hope, however can be vastly overrated. I see hope used too much in the outdoor industry as an excuse for not being prepared for the unexpected. We try to make it happen, not hope it happens.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
You’re looking at it.
Where would you rather be right now?
An unnamed spot on the Metolius River in Central Oregon with my family. As a kid, it’s the place I spent time with my family religiously every Summer. It’s where I fell in love with nature. It’s where my senses were first realized, and where they still seem to be more heightened than anywhere else. It’s the one place, above all, I visit the most in my mind when I’m not there.
What personal quality are you working on?
I need to do a better job of acknowledging all things good as well as bad.
As an independent shop, how have you had to adapt to continue success over four decades?
Wayne and I feel our independence and size are strengths. We are able to adjust on the fly, we’re nimble. Our competition comes mostly online in the form of impersonal, price-driven websites. These sites are the antithesis of who we are and we believe they sell the consumer short. We seek to change this through our partnership with Mojagear.com. Our goal is to revolutionize outdoor e-commerce by bringing the specialty in-store experience online.
The Mountain Air has fervent fans and staunch supporters that most brands would love to have, what are you guys selling over there?
We sell only the highest quality outdoor goods, exceptional service and a customer experience that doesn’t end when you leave the shop. We’re with you on the cables of Half Dome. We’re here when the forecast calls for fresh powder. We’re with you from Bishop Peak to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, sharing in your experience. It’s these personal and lasting experiences that make me believe specialty brick and mortar retail is never going to die.