Before there were wool socks that weren’t itchy; before there were jackets that were both
waterproof and breathable; before there were tents that weighed a mere two pounds,
there was Mountain Chalet. For gear junkies, Mountain Chalet is irresistible, and locals and
tourists alike visit the store to gain insight into the staff’s encyclopedic knowledge of all

things outdoors.

Mountain Chalet, Colorado's oldest outdoor specialty retailer, was founded by Elias "Kent"
Kane in May 1968 at 226 N Tejon Street, Colorado Springs "that fit his love of cross-country
skiing and back-packing". A New Englander, a Dartmouth grad, and Navy officer, he worked
for Holubar equipment out of Boulder for many years before settling in Colorado Springs
and founding the Chalet.

It slowly became a small regional chain (partnered/associated with Backwoods), and in
the 1970s, became the go-to spot for waffle stompers and puffy down jackets. By the 1980s,
the chain was scaled back, and there was just one Mountain Chalet. Dan Foster and his
brother was thinking about buying an outdoor store in Granby, CO, and he went to Kent for
guidance. “One of the longtime employees had quit, and I started working there over the
holidays,” says Foster, who became manager in 1985 and purchased from Kent soon after.
Mountain Chalet was a 2,000-square foot store then and grew to 8,000 square feet under
Dan. Dan has lived in Colorado most of his life and his love of outdoor sports led him to his
career at Mountain Chalet. He would often explore the desert on solo hikes in Utah with his
dog. He’s a skilled backcountry skier and climber and has skied 18 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot
peaks. He traded his backcountry skis for alpine skis in 1995 when he lost a friend in a
backcountry accident, and today skis 35 days a year, mostly in Crested Butte, where he
and his wife own a home.

Following a dream for more than 25 years, Jim and Elaine Smith were seeking an outdoor
shop on the Front Range after their move to Colorado in 2013 from California. As skiers and
climbers, Jim and Elaine fell in love with the Chalet within their first few steps of the entering
shop in the fall of 2014. They reached out to Dan regarding a possible sale and officially
took the reins in March 2015. What attracted them - a true, outdoor gear shop, vintage gear,
authentic & organic feel, and the quirky/fun approach to customer service.

In 2018, Mountain Chalet celebrated its 50th anniversary, a difficult feat in the world of the
internet. But the Springs has a great community, especially the outdoor community. We
can fulfill our mission — live outdoors — because we live in a community that values the
outdoors — playing in it, understanding and honoring it, protecting it, creating a sustainable
lifestyle based on it. We believe in being a good member of our community; we believe in
being good stewards of our resources through collaboration with other organizations: we
believe we must earn the trust of our customers and provide education and information to
the best of our ability. And, of course, forever search out the best gear, apparel, footwear…
all that one may need to fulfill the adventurous spirit inside of us all.

In 2019, after many failed attempts to partner with our landlord at a location we had been
at since our inception, Mountain Chalet was forced to relocate. We love downtown and all
the amenities and benefits it has to offer. Following a lengthy search, we landed at 15 N
Nevada. A classic 1920s brick building that brought alive the spirit, culture, heritage, and
community of Mountain Chalet.

The retail landscape has forever changed for small shops like Mountain Chalet. To
compete, we have had to modify our business model - promote knowledge and education,
become a gathering spot, become an active member of the community, honor and
embrace the history and culture of our outdoor community and landscape. and this new

location is a key component. Let’s see what the next 50 years holds; you will have a chance
to write that history