JOIN US FOR A MEETING IN THE MOUNTAINS
REVISIT A TRIP INTO THE WOODS WITH AMID TERRAIN, THE CAF AND HATCHET SUPPLY CO.
All photos courtesy of Naomi Burns (@nao.burns)
Over Memorial Day Weekend, a group of eager adventurers embarked on a transformative backpacking trip through Bear Mountain. Organized by Amid Terrain, The CAF and Hatchet Supply Co., the outdoor journey was an invitation to reconnect with the natural world, driven by a sense of purpose and community.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the trip, Gene Han, founder of Hatchet Supply shares, “Hatchet Supply’s mission has always been to make the outdoors more accessible, so when Josh from The CAF first told me about Amid Terrain and proposed we do a joint overnight hike, I was immediately in. I had been following Amid Terrain on Instagram, but didn’t know much beyond the surface. After digging in a bit, I saw how intentional their work was in building community through the outdoors. I was also really drawn to their visual style and the way they present their content — it grabbed my attention right away. “
“Given my background as a retailer in the outdoor industry and Hatchet Supply’s mission, I saw a clear opportunity to get involved and support in whatever way I could. We’ve done day hikes and outdoor events before, but never an overnight trip—something I’ve always wanted to do. With such an ambitious and meaningful goal, I knew my help could be of use.”
“Hatchet Supply’s mission has always been to make the outdoors more accessible – Gene han”
Our footwear for the treak was provided Altra Running. Models included were the Lone Peak 9, Olympus 6 Lows, and the Olympus 6 Mid.
While backpacking and hiking are often labelled as highbrow activities, the three day pilgrimage brought the hobby hikers closer to the woods as interacting with nature should be accessible to everyone. The trip brought together a diverse group of various experience levels, creating a sense of belonging and camaraderie for all. This wasn’t just a backpacking trip — it was a moment and an opportunity to reclaim space, build community and rediscover our place within the ecosystem.
Courtesy of Mountain Hardware, we were offered the Aspect™ 3 Tents and the Lamina™ 15F/-9C Sleeping bags.
The trip started out at Lion’s Head Trail and was initially meant to span across the three day weekend, but with spirits high, we made it to Bear Mountain ahead of schedule. Despite the constant downpour, we came prepared with the raincovers included with Osprey’s Ultralight backpacks, which kept us covered and we pushed through. To accommodate the speed walkers as well as those who enjoy taking the scenic route, we split into multiple groups, giving everyone a chance to choose their own adventure and go at their own pace. Our collective trek concluded with a celebratory dinner at The Iron Horse Pub in Simsbury, relishing in the euphoria that comes with pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
“It’s wild to see something like this come into fuition. We first talked about this project over a year ago and as much as we wanted to just launch, we know we need some help.
Thanks to Gene and the generosity of our sponsors, we truly made backpacking and available option for many who would not other wise have the opportunity” – Joshua Jenkins of The CAF
Meals for our trek were provide by Good To-Go with breakfast and dinner options.
For Tyrell Henderson, founder of Amid Terrain, the hike left a lasting impact as he expresses, “The journey was a refreshing experience that fostered a strong sense of community among participants. Shared experiences, skill development and outdoor exploration contributed to this sense of unity. The trip emphasized the importance of bringing together diverse individuals to support one another and create a network based on mutual respect and adventure. Participants formed friendships, shared stories and collaborated on trail tasks, demonstrating the potential to develop a supportive and inclusive community that promotes outdoor engagement.”
Drinkware company Cnoc provided us with 28mm Vesica® 1L Collapsible Bottles and 28mm Vecto Water Containers.
“The trip emphasized the importance of bringing together diverse individuals to support one another and create a network based on mutual respect and adventure.” – Tyrell from Amid Terrain
For those dealing with a bit of fomo, we hope to host more backpacking trips in the future as everyone deserves to experience the great outdoors. This trip was made possible thanks to the generosity and support of Cnoc Outdoors, Good To-Go Foods, Osprey and Altra Running. Find a visual recap of A Meeting in the Mountains below.
