CascadeClimber Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Went in today and there's a "We're closing, final sale" notice on the front door. I'm sad to see yet another of our once plentiful small, mountaineering shops go away, especially Marmot. They had a good selection and knowledgeable staff. Bummer. Quote
KaskadskyjKozak Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Ouch! That really sucks. I like that place, and did frequent it. I bought my AT setup there, boots, etc. Quote
Fairweather Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Wow, that is really sad. It's gotta be hard when your competitors are 1.) a monster sub-T co-op that is not taxed against the dividends it pays its "members", and 2.) internet suppliers that may or may not be subjected to state sales taxes. I can only guess they could no longer afford being the other guy's "display case." (?) RIP brick and mortar. Quote
jon Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Wow I was just thinking last night if they were still in business. I spent a lot of my teenage year lusting over gear. Very sad. I think their biggest problem was location. The traffic was tolerable 10 years ago. Now that is the busiest intersection on the Eastside. Quote
jon Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 The tally of great Eastside gear shops that have closed: High Mountain Rendezvous in Issaquah. Wilderness Outfitters(?) on Northup Way. Marmot on 148th. Any others? Quote
W Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 An institution. When I first started climbing in the early 90's I worked in an office a few blocks away. I spent a lot of my lunch breaks there, buying gear I had no idea how to use. Lara Bitenieks (Kellogg...RIP) worked there when we first met. Hey Jon it was Wilderness Sports on Northup, I used to know the guys who ran it. How long ago did they close? Quote
olyclimber Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 I remember the Swallows Nest being in Seattle. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19981202&slug=2786767 Quote
AlpineK Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 I remember the Swallows Nest being in Seattle. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19981202&slug=2786767 It was near Gas Works Park then on 6th Ave (north of downtown and south of Seattle Center). A Northup Way Swallows Nest? Maybe Quote
num1mc Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Four locations for the Swallows Nest: 1) Boat Street: Start to 1977 2) North Lake and Meridian: 1977 to 1991 3) Bellevue near Sears: Early 1980's 4) Seattle Clise triangle Quote
bidbird Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Rumors are true... Just called them up... Looks like they close in middle of March. Shame really ... I bet the bad ski season sent them over the edge... Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Four locations for the Swallows Nest: 1) Boat Street: Start to 1977 2) North Lake and Meridian: 1977 to 1991 3) Bellevue near Sears: Early 1980's 4) Seattle Clise triangle 5) Everett Quote
num1mc Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Plus Everett Yea, the one Jack worked at Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Jack and Connie ran the basic/intermediate courses when I was taking them Quote
num1mc Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Thanks You missed out taking the courses in Everett, I was an AJ Culver man myself Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) Everett was good times. 15 people in a smoked out snow cave for winter bivvy. The rules were somewhat...relaxed up there. And some of the instructors were actually good climbers - even if they weren't club members per se. Edited January 17, 2014 by tvashtarkatena Quote
num1mc Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Everett was good times. 15 people in a smoked out snow cave for winter bivvy. The rules were somewhat...relaxed up there. And some of the instructors were actually good climbers - even if they weren't club members per se. And their star graduate was CBS Quote
jon Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Hey Jon it was Wilderness Sports on Northup, I used to know the guys who ran it. How long ago did they close? I want to say it was around '95 they closed. Quote
num1mc Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Hey Jon it was Wilderness Sports on Northup, I used to know the guys who ran it. How long ago did they close? I want to say it was around '95 they closed. I was glad when those snots when out of business. Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) Everett was good times. 15 people in a smoked out snow cave for winter bivvy. The rules were somewhat...relaxed up there. And some of the instructors were actually good climbers - even if they weren't club members per se. And their star graduate was CBS Later vintage. Mine was early 80s. I got lucky. My roommates, co-oworkers, and fellow students were all into it. The mountains were neither crowded nor Cblocked by permit systems. It was a great time to explore the mountains. The organizations that got me into the mountains - first the Scouts, then the Mounties, have their issues, as most organizations do, but I have nothing but gratitude and love for them, personally. As always, YMMV. Back to the original topic - MMW - nothing against the store itself, but that location blew goats at 10 cents a herd. Edited January 17, 2014 by tvashtarkatena Quote
num1mc Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Later vintage. Mine was early 80s Newbie Mountaineers class of '75 here Quote
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