Woolrich Calls For Keystone Trail Care Volunteers

WOOLRICH, Pa., May 10, 2012 — As a leading sponsor of the Keystone Trails Association (KTA) Trail Care events, Woolrich, the Original Outdoor Clothing Company, is asking for volunteers to help them maintain the thousands of miles of hiking trails in Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania has one of the most diverse hiking trail systems in the country, including portions of the Great Eastern Trail and Appalachian Trail,” said Leah Dole, Woolrich corporate marketing representative. “We maintain a portion of the fabled Mid-State Trail that runs right through the middle of Woolrich and we hope that other hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will join us and the KTA in ensuring that the trails throughout our state can be enjoyed for generations.”

Throughout the year, KTA is conducting a number of Woolrich sponsored Trail Care events along the Pennsylvania sections of the Great Eastern Trail (GET). Each multi-day event focuses on a specific trail section and will include maintenance activities such as re-blazing, trail repair, water diversion, bridge repair and more.

Woolrich’s support of KTA is part of a larger initiative by the company to grow outdoor participation, and specifically hiking, nationally. Along with sponsoring the KTA, Woolrich has engaged in support of the Great Eastern Trail. The GET stretches for more than 2,000 miles from New York to Alabama through the linkage of a series of the East Coast’s most popular paths, including the Mid-State Trail. Currently, the Great Eastern Trail is seventy-five percent complete, and Woolrich is working with its industry partners and local associations, like KTA, to map, maintain, blaze and re-blaze the GET.

“We’re thrilled to have Woolrich joining us as an official sponsor of our trail maintenance events,” said Curt Ashenfelter, Keystone Trails Association Executive Director. “Building and maintaining our trails is important to the hiking community for today and the future,”

For each event the Keystone Trails Association provides a place to camp, meals, tools, work gloves, safety equipment, and instruction. Additionally, volunteers attending the Woolrich sponsored Trail Care events will receive a work preparation bag including a work t-shirt, water bottle and a pair of Woolrich hiking socks.

2012 Woolrich Keystone Trails Association Trail Care Dates:
June19 -24: Mid State Trail, Everett Region
Leader: Deb Dunkle: dhdunkle@embarqmail.com, 814-652-2227

June 26 - July 1: Standing Stone Trail
Leader: Mel Cooper, lunchtime1@verizon.net, 814-643-2641

July 13 - 15: Mid State Trail, Tioga Region
Leader: Pete Fleszar: tioga@hike-mst.org, 717-583-2093

August 10 - 12: Mid State Trail, Woolrich Region
Leader: Joe Healey: jnlhealey@aol.com, 570-655-4979

If interested in participating in one of these Trail Care events please contact the leader of the respective event.

For additional information on all KTA trail maintenance events and programs visit www.kta-hike.org.

About Woolrich
Since 1830, Woolrich has made clothing for Americans to do their jobs and follow their passions outdoors. Founded by John Rich on the simple idea of making the best quality woolens for area woodsmen and settlers, Woolrich is now recognized around the world as The Original Outdoor Clothing Company. Woolrich carries on the tradition of its founder by making purposeful products for people to enjoy and explore the outdoors. The mill at the company's headquarters in Woolrich, Pennsylvania continues to produce fine woolen fabrics and is the oldest continuously operating woolen mill in the United States. Learn more about Woolrich, its apparel, fabrics, accessories, home and outdoor products at www.woolrich.com.

About Keystone Trails Association
Keystone Trails Association, a volunteer-directed, public service organization is a federation of membership organizations and individuals dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania, and to representing and advocating the interests and concerns of the Pennsylvania hiking community. Find out more at http://www.kta-hike.org.

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Woolrich Champions the Completion of America’s Next Great Long Distance Hiking Trail

WOOLRICH, Pa., March 15, 2012 — Woolrich, the Original Outdoor Clothing Company®, is working with the Great Eastern Trail Association (GET), its trail affiliates, and industry partners to maintain and complete the braided walking trail that connects some of the most challenging and beautiful hiking trails stretching from Alabama to New York.

The 1,800 mile long GET is currently about seventy-five percent complete. The trail has several gaps where new trails need to be blazed to link the existing trails. Woolrich maintains a portion of the GET that runs through the middle of its hometown via the Mid State Trail.

“As hikers, too often we take for granted the trails we travel and don’t think about what it takes to maintain or build them,” said Brent Hollowell, Woolrich VP of Marketing. “Trails don’t blaze themselves, and we hope that we can help local clubs mobilize volunteers and make the Great Eastern Trail a reality.”

Late last fall Woolrich brought together leadership from the Great Eastern Trail Association, the Keystone Trail Association (KTA), Backpacker Magazine, and other GET associated clubs for a summit in Woolrich, PA. The attendees devised a strategic plan to help with trail maintenance and promote awareness of the trail.

“Woolrich has stepped up as a leader in helping us realize the completion of the trail,” said Tom Johnson, President of Great Eastern Trail Association. “We appreciate the additional visibility their efforts have brought to the GET and we are sure the positive attention will lead to more volunteers assisting with the actual maintenance work and development of the trail system.”

Along with providing volunteer gift bags, including a trail work t-shirt, Woolrich hiking socks, and more, Woolrich is supporting its local trail organization, the Keystone Trail Association as the official sponsor of its Trail Care Days.

To further increase awareness of the trail Woolrich is collaborating with its long time partner Backpacker Magazine. Woolrich has developed a series of advertorials focusing on the GET that began appearing in the publication in February.

Backpacker is integrating content related to the Great Eastern Trail into the presentations of its popular national mobile tour, the Get Out More Tour, which stops at retail stores, events and festivals to educate consumers about the skills and equipment needed to enjoy the outdoors while inspiring healthy, active lifestyles.

The Great Eastern Trail was inspired by Benton MacKaye’s original vision for the Appalachian Trail as a network of braided trails running the length of the Appalachian Mountains. In 2000, Lloyd MacAskill of Potomac Appalachian Trail Club published an article in the Appalachian Trailway News calling attention to the existing trails to the west of the AT and saying, “Don’t look now, but parts are already in place."

To learn more about the trail, participating trail clubs, donate or volunteer for a trail maintenance day visit www.greateasterntrail.net.

About Woolrich
Woolrich Inc., the Original Outdoor Clothing Company, is an authentic American brand that embraces an outdoor lifestyle. Trusted since 1830 by generations of loyal customers, Woolrich continues its tradition of providing quality products for today’s outdoor enthusiast. A brand recognized worldwide, Woolrich product offerings include functional, comfortable and durable men’s and women’s sportswear and outerwear using innovative fabrications for the ultimate in performance capabilities, well-designed home and outdoor living products, and licensed accessory products. In 2010, Woolrich celebrated its 180th Anniversary. It is the original and longest continuously-operating outdoor apparel manufacturer and woolen mill in the United States. Find out more at www.woolrich.com.

About Great Eastern Trail
The Great Eastern Trail (GET) provides a premier hiking experience on a series of existing trails that are being linked to each other into a long-distance footpath in the Appalachian Mountains stretching from Alabama to the Finger Lakes Trail in New York. The trail system is a project of the Great Eastern Trail Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which works with the American Hiking Society, sponsors and local trail partners, to create America's newest long distance trail for hikers. Learn more or donate to the Great Eastern Trail Association at www.greateasterntrail.net.

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Woolrich original family members Brayton, Rich named President and VP International

WOOLRICH, PENNSYLVANIA, March 13, 2012 — Woolrich, the Original Outdoor Clothing Company®, named two descendants of John Rich, who founded the company in 1830, to lead the company as it moves toward completion of its second century in business.

Nicholas Brayton will take the helm of President, and Joshua W. Rich will serve as Vice President, International.

As the company transitions to family leadership, Woolrich’s Chairman John Ranelli will serve as Chief Executive Officer.

L-R: Nick Brayton, John Ranelli, Josh Rich

“At Woolrich, everything we do and everything we make reflects a deep commitment to core family values of tradition, integrity and quality. It’s in every stitch, every seam, and every wool thread,” said Ranelli. “With that spirit in mind, it’s clear that an opportunity to restore family leadership is both great for the business, and great for the brand.”

Nick Brayton

Brayton is a seventh generation descendant of the Woolrich founder, and is the first family member since his father Roswell Brayton Jr. led the company. Previously, Brayton served as director for the company’s domestic licensing business, a thriving business unit that cultivates and maintains brand partnerships. As president, Brayton will oversee the day-to-day operation of the company.

“Globally, the Woolrich brand is thriving. People are seeking out American heritage, quality and integrity – attributes that have historically been at the very core of Woolrich, as well as other successful family-owned businesses,” said Brayton. “It’s an exciting time to be here, as the opportunities are significant.”

Josh Rich

Rich is an eighth generation descendant of the founder. Previously, Rich was Business Development Analyst for Woolrich, reporting directly to the president of the company. His experience includes work with the brand’s European partner, W.P. Lavori, in which he supported the marketing and creative departments for Woolrich John Rich and Bros. and Woolrich Woolen Mills apparel collections. As international vice-president, Rich will be chief liaison with W.P. Lavori, and will be responsible for identification and development of global business initiatives.

John Ranelli

“It’s the personal, family spirit of shared enterprise that has fueled the Woolrich brand for the last two centuries, and it’s what’s going to propel it to future success as well,” said Rich. “Those core values come through in every product we put our name on, and in every relationship we have.”

Ranelli joined the company’s Board of Directors last year. His experience in top positions includes President and Chief Executive Officer of Mikasa, Inc.; Chairman, CEO, and President of FGX International; and earlier executive positions at Decker’s Outdoor Corporation and the Timberland Company.

About Woolrich
Woolrich Inc., the Original Outdoor Clothing Company, is an authentic American brand that embraces an outdoor lifestyle. Trusted since 1830 by generations of loyal consumers, Woolrich continues its tradition of providing quality products for today’s outdoor enthusiast. A brand recognized worldwide, Woolrich product offerings include functional, comfortable and durable men’s and women’s sportswear and outerwear using innovative fabrications for the ultimate in performance capabilities, well-designed home and outdoor living products, and licensed accessory products. In 2010, Woolrich celebrated its 180th Anniversary. It is the original and longest continuously-operating outdoor apparel manufacturer and woolen mill in the United States. Find out more at www.woolrich.com.

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Woolrich Outfits World Renowned Raptor Sanctuary Hawk Mountain

WOOLRICH, Pa., March 6, 2012 — Woolrich, the Original Outdoor Clothing Company®, announced that it will be the official apparel outfitter of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association. Based in Kempton, PA, Hawk Mountain is the world’s oldest and largest, member-supported raptor conservation organization.

“We are proud to support Hawk Mountain and its mission in protecting and studying raptors worldwide,” said Brent Hollowell, Woolrich VP of Marketing. “Not only are they the foremost experts in raptor education, research and conservation, but they provide a facility where visitors can enjoy the outdoors in one of the largest, protected tracts of contiguous forest in our state.”

One of Hawk Mountain's

 International Conservation Science Interns

 monitors raptors from the North Lookout.

Founded in 1934 and incorporated as a non-profit in 1938, Hawk Mountain is comprised of 2,500 acres with 8-miles of hiking trails and is one of the most recognized hawk migration watchsites in the United States, with an average 20,000 raptors migrating through the area each autumn.  Hawk Mountain also maintains the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning, a biological field station and training facility where scientists and conservationists from around world come to work in collaboration with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary personnel.

“We’re excited to be teaming up with Woolrich,” said Jerry Regan, President of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association. “Our organizations have run similar paths as pioneers in the Pennsylvania outdoors, and together we’ll be able to protect and study raptors for generations to come.”

Woolrich will outfit Hawk Mountain’s staff of counters and researches with a selection of Woolrich’s technical sportswear and outwear. Additionally, Hawk Mountain and Woolrich plan to collaborate on a series of limited edition items to
raise funds for the association.

Dead hawks collected from one day of

shooting at Hawk Mountain in the 1930’s.

Hawk Mountain originally received its name from the hunters who visited the area to shoot migrating hawks for sport. In the early 1930’s, New York conservation activist Rosalie Edge learned about the massive killings and in 1934 leased 1,400 acres around the mountain and stopped the shooting. In 1938 she purchased the land and deeded it to the non-profit, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association.

Scientists use the Sanctuary’s long-term migration database to monitor changes in raptor populations.  Monitoring raptor populations is important because raptors are sensitive bioindicators at the tops of food chains, and changes in their numbers reflect changes in the health of the environment.  For example, the famed Pennsylvania biologist Rachel Carson used declining counts of immature bald eagles at Hawk Mountain in her landmark book Silent Spring as evidence of DDT’s harmful effects on the environment.

About Woolrich
Woolrich Inc., the Original Outdoor Clothing Company, is an authentic American brand that embraces an outdoor lifestyle. Trusted since 1830 by generations of loyal customers, Woolrich continues its tradition of providing quality products for today’s outdoor enthusiast. A brand recognized worldwide, Woolrich product offerings include functional, comfortable and durable men’s and women’s sportswear and outerwear using innovative fabrications for the ultimate in performance capabilities, well-designed home and outdoor living products, and licensed accessory products. In 2010, Woolrich celebrated its 180th Anniversary. It is the original and longest continuously-operating outdoor apparel manufacturer and woolen mill in the United States. Find out more at www.woolrich.com.

About Hawk Mountain
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, based in the Appalachian Mountains in central Pennsylvania, is the oldest and largest, member-supported raptor conservation organization in the world and operates a 2,500-acre sanctuary open to the public year-round. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association’s mission is to conserve birds of prey worldwide by providing leadership in raptor conservation science and education, and by maintaining Hawk Mountain Sanctuary as a model observation, research and education facility. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more or donate to Hawk Mountain at www.hawkmountain.org.

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