Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin run through some of the more notable headlines to come out of the outdoor industry and community over the past week.
The episode kicks off with a discussion about French brand Millet announcing their intention to enter the US outdoor marketplace and the challenges faced by the European brands have tried before them (05:33).
Then Justin takes a look (18:00) at the recent piece he wrote for National Parks Traveler about attempts to stop the erosion affecting Effigy Mounds National Monument. The pair also explore the bizarre tale of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own death to escape his family, revealing the lengths some may go to for a fresh start (28:00).
They wrap things up with their Parting Shots (36:40). For Justin it's praising Operation Bear Claw where people dressed up as a bear to commit insurance fraud while Colin finds optimism in a recent announcement by Dick's Sporting Goods.
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Episode Transcript
Colin True
00:00:00.320 - 00:00:41.475
Western North Carolina businesses need your financial support now more than ever.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene this month, Darby Communications, based in Asheville, North Carolina, is donating its ad space here on the Rock Fight to help other outdoor businesses in western North Carolina get back on their feet.
The outdoor industry is a major contributor to western North Carolina's economy, and Darby Communications is asking people to donate to the Outdoor Business Alliance Hurricane Helene Relief Fund, which supports outdoor industry businesses in their recovery and supports their staff as they rebuild in the wake of the storm's devastation. Now is the time to help the outdoor community to help build back what we lost in western North Carolina.
Head to outdoorbusinessalliance.org and click donate today to get started.
Chris DeMakes
00:00:42.615 - 00:00:50.275
Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock flight. Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight.
Colin True
00:00:51.095 - 00:01:04.707
Welcome to the Rock Fight, where we speak our truth, slay sacred cows, and sometimes agree to disagree. This is an outdoor podcast that aims for the head. I'm Colin True, and joining me today, he's the Elphaba to my Galinda. It's Justin Houseman.
Justin Housman
00:01:04.851 - 00:01:12.355
There you go again with your. With your what? Your obscure references that no one under the age of 90 is going to get. What? What did you just say?
Colin True
00:01:12.475 - 00:01:15.867
Now I'm turning the tables on you because that is a Wicked reference.
Justin Housman
00:01:15.931 - 00:01:16.499
Oh.
Colin True
00:01:16.627 - 00:01:21.723
Which is all the rage right now. And it was part of my plan to talk about Wicked on the podcast.
Justin Housman
00:01:21.819 - 00:01:25.581
My girls are too young. Or at least one of them. Both of them. Maybe there.
Colin True
00:01:25.613 - 00:01:53.741
You know, there's one. Well, there's two reasons why I wouldn't take them. There is one scene that, you know, you'd want to skip back. So they do.
You would care if I spoil it. Spoilers for Wicked. If you don't. You don't want to know. Fast forward like 10 seconds.
They do a thing where you see the monkeys that become the flying monkeys, like, getting their wings and they're agony when it happens. And it's a little. It's a little disturbing. The other reason I wouldn't take your kids to see Wicked.
It is officially the longest movie that's ever been made in my entire it. Dude, it was so long. I think it's still previous.
Justin Housman
00:01:53.813 - 00:01:54.905
Longest movie.
Colin True
00:01:55.655 - 00:01:57.071
Experientially not.
Justin Housman
00:01:57.143 - 00:02:03.759
I know. I know what you mean. But like, for like. Like, it's a great point that you made. Like the runtime. It doesn't really matter.
Some movies are longer than others.
Colin True
00:02:03.807 - 00:02:11.839
Oh, my God. My wife leaned over to me and she's like, this is so long. Because there's just these really dry sections in between like really good sections.
For me, it would probably be Killers of the Flower Moon.
Justin Housman
00:02:11.887 - 00:02:18.623
I haven't seen it yet. Yeah, I probably never will, to be honest. Here's three and a half hours of a movie where almost the entire time you're going to feel like shit.
Colin True
00:02:18.719 - 00:03:03.235
Well, today Justin and I are going to talk about some stories that come out of the outdoor industry and community.
But before we get to that, we got to tell you about some things that we need you, our listeners, to for us as we make this awesome free podcast for you to listen to. We need you to first follow and rate this show wherever you're listening.
We're having a pretty good follow month, guys, and we need it to be even better. Please follow and rate the show on any podcast app, your favorite podcast app. Leave us that five star rating.
And also if you subscribe to Rock Fight's newsletter that now comes out on Tuesdays. It came out today as we record this.
You know, if you like the top notch content you get here on the Rock Fight, you're going to love what we put in our newsletter. It's the stuff you won't get anywhere else. So head to Rockfight Code and click Join the mailing list.
And now Justin is going to tell you about how to reach out to the show and the show that he hosts. He's got some things for you as well.
Justin Housman
00:03:03.355 - 00:03:10.387
He's still including nudes in the newsletter. Now if it's, if it's on Tuesday, the nudes are still in Nudes. Listener, natives.
Colin True
00:03:10.411 - 00:03:10.547
Yeah.
Justin Housman
00:03:10.571 - 00:03:49.971
Not, not us. You send us your news. We put them on the newsletter. The newsletter. Oh, yeah, Colin, I'm hosting a podcast these days. It's, it's called Gear and Beer.
You should know it because you're on it too. You're on it with me every time. You are on it every time. So listen to and follow and rate like we just talked about the Rock Fight.
Do all that stuff with Gear and Beer. It's an entirely listener driven show. We can't do it without your input, your questions that you send in faithfully.
Speaking of that, speaking of that, we're going to be debuting a new segment pretty soon called Gear Abby. Now if you're, I mean, really, Gosh, what's the age cut off on Dear Abby, do you think?
Colin True
00:03:50.153 - 00:03:51.415
Like 92?
Justin Housman
00:03:51.535 - 00:03:59.015
Anyway, gear. Dear Abby. You know, Dear Abby, if you're listening to this, you're old enough. We don't have any, I don't think we have the, like the super young.
A lot of Gen Z listeners Anyway.
Colin True
00:03:59.095 - 00:04:00.407
A lot of 15 year olds are listening.
Justin Housman
00:04:00.511 - 00:04:26.711
Rock fight, you know, so, like Dear Abby was. Dear Abby is, you know, just sending your general questions about the outdoors, about Outdoor World gear. Abbie's in the name.
It doesn't have to be about gear. Maybe it's about who should you bring with you on your next backpacking trip. Maybe it's about how you.
How do I poop in the outdoors without it being a problem? Whatever. As an advice column for you outdoor goers. So. Yes. So please email us your questions so we can answer them.
Well, not live, but, you know, on gear. On the Gear Abby segment on gear and beer. So do that.
Colin True
00:04:26.743 - 00:04:28.295
Gear Abby is a person. It's not like us.
Justin Housman
00:04:28.335 - 00:04:43.087
No, we're not. Somebody else. Sorry. Somebody else. Yeah, I don't know. Maybe let's not. I don't really feel like revealing it right now. You know, you'll hear.
You'll hear about it. They have committed. They've signed on the. They've signed the contract, but they are. We're going to. Let's just leave that as a.
As a little bit of a mystery until it happens. So.
Colin True
00:04:43.151 - 00:04:46.801
But we do need the questions topics. So, yeah, send them in, for the love of God.
Justin Housman
00:04:46.903 - 00:05:04.425
Uh, also email. Just generally general feedback right there@myrockfightmail.com and we will listen and, you know, maybe get back to you. I don't know. It depends.
Also, you know what, Colin? I have an announcement to make. The nominations are now open for California. What are we calling this? California Outdoors hall of Fame.
Colin True
00:05:05.165 - 00:05:05.981
Is this a real thing?
Justin Housman
00:05:06.013 - 00:05:28.227
This is a real thing. Oh, so I'm just. Just throwing it out there.
The nominations are open if you want to nominate someone who's lived in California their whole life for the California Outdoors hall of Fame. Your favorite California outdoors person, you know, whoever it might be. Justin Housman. Whoever it might be.
You know, your favorite Justin Housman writer or your favorite, you know, Justin Houseman podcast. Whatever. Justin House. Justin Houseman. Justin, you know, just can't wait to.
Colin True
00:05:28.251 - 00:05:30.531
Nominate Stephen Kaz pops up into your head.
Justin Housman
00:05:30.563 - 00:05:34.163
You know, just. That's. Yeah. Anyway.
Colin True
00:05:34.339 - 00:05:42.251
All right, well, let's get into our lead story, which today comes from a press release that came out last week about French brand Mie. That is planning. Did I say that correct? French guy.
Justin Housman
00:05:42.323 - 00:05:45.595
I mean, that's. Yeah, but I don't speak French.
Colin True
00:05:45.755 - 00:05:48.899
I thought you were. I didn't speak German. But you also speak a little French.
Justin Housman
00:05:49.027 - 00:05:54.419
I know. I mean, I lived in Paris for a while, but that doesn't really help. I mean, it's. Yeah, I. I know that's.
Colin True
00:05:54.467 - 00:05:55.307
I'm going with me.
Justin Housman
00:05:55.411 - 00:05:55.811
All right.
Colin True
00:05:55.883 - 00:06:00.507
So I don't know. Well, we'll get to Millet because that's.
Justin Housman
00:06:00.531 - 00:06:02.603
Actually a problem for them, I think. Millet. Yeah.
Colin True
00:06:02.779 - 00:08:10.995
So they're planning to enter the US marketplace during this season. Fall, winter 24, 25, as well as in spring, summer 25. Mie is a mountaineering focused brand.
They manufacture apparel packs and equipment and maybe footwear as well. They're also one of the oldest brands around. They were founded in 1921.
Apparently the focus for entering the US will be spent getting placement for the brand.
Ad specialty retailers are taking a wholesale approach and specifically they want to get placement in the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, with some marketing support being given to growing the brand through PR efforts, consumer focus events and athletes sponsorships. Now, I know a little bit about MIL from my time working at Polartech. I got to see some of their stuff when I would go to the trade shows in Europe.
Make really good products. I think they have really interesting brand history, how long they've been around.
But their offerings largely the same as kind of any other outdoor brand who serves people who climb mountains or go skiing or hike and trail run. So ultimately, this is only going to work for them if they're able to take existing market share from the brands that are from the dealers that.
From the brands that dealers are already carrying.
So I sent the story around to a handful, especially retailers, who pretty much all agree that the brand is very cool, but that this probably won't work unless they work to inform the company consumer who they are. But we just saw Jack Wolfskin depart the US to go back to Germany.
And the only two brands that a couple people mentioned that have seemed to get traction here has been Rab and Fjallraven in a meaningful way. You know, Nerona has been at it for years.
You know, you see these other brands that come in and they have to kind of nibble at, you know, the giant market share rock. Right? How do we make. How do we get in?
So, you know, the one thing I thought that was interesting that a retailer told me that selfishly they would carry way more European brands. They really like brands like mia, but just the consumer, the US consumer doesn't want to support those brands.
They know the brands they like, and it's kind of a bridge too far to kind of sell them on these other ones at only the resale at the retail level. So really kind of paints this picture that the only way this truly works is if MIA does more than PR and athlete sponsorships.
They need to advertise, they need to get more. They need to inform the US outdoor consumer who they are.
Now, the other thing I wanted, because I wanted to get your point of view in this, Justin, because you spend time pitching products as part of a PR team and that's clearly a path these guys are taking. So I mean, how challenging is that? I've never done that.
Justin Housman
00:08:11.035 - 00:08:11.187
Right.
Colin True
00:08:11.211 - 00:08:22.147
So, I mean, you know, when you send emails out, when you're trying to get, you know, someone to pay attention to a brand you're pitching or a product or even like a news story that you're pitching, I mean, how do, how many times do you get meaningful coverage of what it is that you're. You're pitching?
Justin Housman
00:08:22.211 - 00:08:47.500
Well, I would actually, I think it's, I think it's more, that's probably more relevant to flip that around and just be as the journalist receiving pitches in the sense that, like, it's kind of the same problem, right. Which is that, I mean, if I'm like, I, I'm. Okay, so if I'm getting.
I'm actually, I'm sure I will fairly soon once they actually start this, this process, right. Like, I'll get a pitch from Backbone, right? And I'll look at the backbone.
Colin True
00:08:47.532 - 00:08:48.388
Backbone has these guys.
Justin Housman
00:08:48.436 - 00:09:05.188
I have no idea. I'm just, whatever. I'll just grab them out of the, you know, and like, okay, so Milie or whatever. I'm going to look at it.
I'm going to go, it's a French brand. I'm going to look at their, I'm going to look at their picture like I just did.
I'm at their website, which I would honestly, without paying much attention, think it was the Helly Hansen website. Because the way that their M looks. M is shaped, looks like an H.
Colin True
00:09:05.356 - 00:09:06.348
That's actually really fair.
Justin Housman
00:09:06.396 - 00:09:18.081
And the style is actually pretty similar to Hansen. Yeah, sure. So it's like, I would, I would be like, okay, it's a French. Like, I, I don't see us. Like, I don't. Sure, I'll try it.
That, that, that would be my thought, right? I'll try it.
Colin True
00:09:18.113 - 00:09:18.281
Sure.
Justin Housman
00:09:18.313 - 00:09:48.527
Send me a jacket and like, if it blows me away, I'll talk. I, I guess it being new is enough of a differentiator to like, maybe get. I'm sure there'll be a gear junkie, right?
Like, hey, there's a new French brand if you would need a new jacket. I don't know, check it out. I Guess. Yep. So that, that you know as. But as like trying to get a journalist to cover it. I mean, good Lord God.
I mean that really all you have to sell it. Sell it. The only way you can sell it is like this is a new brand. I mean like the brands think that.
Brands tend to think that people give a shit about their history. I truthfully don't think. Do you? I don't think anybody cares. No, I don't think anybody.
Colin True
00:09:48.591 - 00:09:53.479
I mean, I think, I think you're playing the same boat. Like I'm kind of a nerd for this stuff. I'm totally.
Justin Housman
00:09:53.567 - 00:11:31.743
But like I'm not going to make a purchasing decision based on that. I don't give a rat's ass. You could have started last week or 1,000 years ago. I don't care. Is it a nice looking jacket is a feel good. That's all I.
Ultimately that's what matters. And so to me, like my thing with. When I was. Well, I guess we still do with gear and beer.
But like when I was getting paid to like write articles about gear all the time, like my, my main thing was like, this has to be interesting for a. For one, there could be a million reasons. But like another, like a nice piece of outdoor equipment is not interesting in and of itself.
Like it needs to. Right?
It needs to either do something that no one's ever heard of, it needs to do it so much better than anything else you've ever seen in your life that you actually feel like telling other people about it, or it needs to be getting a bunch of buzz and you want to like weigh in. That's really the only reason I would even think about covering something like this.
Now your examples of Fjall Raven and Wolf skin are super interesting because Jack Wolfskin at least had one thing going for it, which is a fucking weird name, right? Like whenever, anytime I saw a Jack Wolf Wolfskin pitch, I was like, what is this? Like, this is a weird name.
Like I'm interested in this work because it's just. It's just in and of itself, it's a strange name. I don't know who Jack Wolfskin is. I never bothered to look into it. But it's like, you know, whatever.
Their stuff is awesome. Like my favorite rain jacket is Jack Wolfskin. And it's absolutely incredible.
I wear it way more than I wear any of the other rain jackets I have from the big US Brands. Rob has. And I'm wearing a Rob jacket right now. Rab. They have like a, like an elegant design thing going for them.
That's the only reason I think they even really get much market share. Right. Like, the logo is understated. The way the jackets look. They look a little bit more elevated, I guess. Right.
Like, and even, like, they're even like the mountain bike stuff that we've tried out, it's good. It's fine.
Colin True
00:11:31.919 - 00:11:32.351
Sure.
Justin Housman
00:11:32.423 - 00:11:49.317
But to me, and like, their sleeping bags and stuff are like this too. Like, they just look nice. It just looks like they present themselves as an upscale brand for people who are serious about doing this. And so.
Okay, you know, that's kind of enough. But I would think that that's probably. That's not an easy thing to pull off. Right.
Colin True
00:11:49.461 - 00:12:30.209
Well, it's probably all these brands. I mean, it goes back to you and I have talked about it a bunch about, like, the stuff all works. Everybody's making sure everything works good.
It's going to fit. And so what's your differentiation point?
And it's truly like, okay, well, you got to make people want your brand because, you know, the VA stuff's going to be like, as good as the Nerona or Rab stuff. I mean, I've had some Nerona stuff. Stuff that is just absolutely killer.
But I don't see it when you go into shops and I think like a little bit here and there. And that's the thing. Like, you know, whoever the agency they hired for this region, I'm sure they'll get a place.
Obviously it's a Northwest agency, so they're going to want to get it in rei all makes sense. But it's again, why, when you're going in, why is a buyer going to bring this brand in over something they're already carrying?
That is tried and true.
Justin Housman
00:12:30.257 - 00:12:30.601
Yeah.
Colin True
00:12:30.673 - 00:12:40.727
And. And when a consumer doesn't really know about it.
And if you're kind of point to build the brand awareness is through athlete sponsorship, press releases, you know, and just.
Justin Housman
00:12:40.791 - 00:12:42.263
That'S what everybody else is doing too.
Colin True
00:12:42.359 - 00:12:42.639
Yeah.
Justin Housman
00:12:42.687 - 00:13:15.035
And like, athlete. Athlete stuff has never moved the needle for me as a journalist. I just. I just don't care, you know, like, it's whatever. I couldn't tell you what.
I mean, I'm sure Alex Holland was still sponsored by like Black Diamond. I couldn't tell you what he wears or why. Fjall Raven, though, is interesting now. They have a few things going for them, which is they're unique.
Right. Like, their stuff is very unique. Like, it's. It's natural fibers. It's. It's Right.
You know, like, I got my first Fjallraven stuff was like a wax canvas jacket. And I maybe. And like, some. I don't think the pants are wax canvas, but some really interesting pants and like, just totally unique.
Colin True
00:13:16.335 - 00:13:19.879
You don't think of them as like a top of the mountain kind of brand, like a mountaineering brand.
Justin Housman
00:13:20.007 - 00:13:22.671
And like, for all I know, you could wear the stuff there. I don't know.
Colin True
00:13:22.703 - 00:13:23.999
They might have all that stuff. Right.
Justin Housman
00:13:24.047 - 00:13:29.713
But, like, that's, that's, that's in and of itself already more interesting than like, another down jacket would be.
Colin True
00:13:29.769 - 00:13:30.457
Yeah, right.
Justin Housman
00:13:30.561 - 00:14:44.603
Also, Fjallraven, I actually wrote a feature on the woman who. She runs Westerland now, which is like a mountain, sort of outdoor, like a very high end, outdoorsy curation brand in New York. And. But she's the.
She was. She's the reason that you and I know what Fjallraven is. Like. She. She was the first, like, importer or whatever you call.
I forget, licensee or whatever, something like that of Fjallraven in the States. And they tried, like, to get in the States before and couldn't make inroads.
And probably the same as any other of these European brands that have, you know, really, like, worked hard and not had the success they wanted until Madonna was.
It was either her or her daughter or something was spotted wearing one of those little tiny Kronken backpacks that everybody knows that, like, if you don't know the outdoors, you know Fjallraven from those tiny backpacks, like, she was wearing one in an airport. And like, people were like, what is that little backpack? It's so cute. And boom, that's what it took. All right. And so the outdoors.
Little basket or basket, little backpack that Madonna will wear. I mean, that. That's what did it. And all of a sudden, like, every, every store wanted those, those little backpacks.
And it was like once that got in, then all of a sudden they're like, oh, you make other cool shit. And they're just built and built and built and built and built and built and built. So. But that's a big. That's a. That's a differentiator, you know?
And so.
Colin True
00:14:44.659 - 00:14:45.227
Right, right.
Justin Housman
00:14:45.251 - 00:14:56.283
I don't know. Milie is going to have. I mean, look at their site. I'm sure it's all great. But, like, what, why, why, though? Also?
Why, like, what are you, like, are you doing? Are you not selling enough in France? Like, I don't know why I see it.
Colin True
00:14:56.299 - 00:15:47.313
I mean, it's just sitting there like another. God, if you can get. Because if it works and they can get a steal a piece of share, all of a sudden, oh man, revenue goes way up. I totally get it.
And it's a point. I'm certain I'm supportive of it. I think it's great.
Like, like it was interesting that retailer saying that they would carry way more European brands. They really like the brands and the products they make, but it's just, it doesn't sell as well as the other stuff.
And you know, when you go back to your point of even the kind of the original thing you say about, said about when you get pitched as a journalist, even if you take the pitch, even if you like it and you write for it, I mean, what is the reach of that article to the general public? The amount you would need people to read it to really make a meaningful difference in getting retailers to carry your stuff.
You know, so I, and I'm not saying that you should go get a Super bowl ad, but I do think like advertising and brand awareness. How do you raise consumer awareness and haven't some painful years in some deep pockets to make it happen? But that's probably the path.
Justin Housman
00:15:47.369 - 00:16:02.829
Have the Jaguar marketing marketing team do your. Do your stuff. Apparently they know how to get everybody talking about them. I mean, so I know. Good luck to you, Milie.
You know, I'm sure this stuff is cut really well. It probably looks way better than like most of great stuff. Yeah. But I don't know. I mean, good luck.
Colin True
00:16:02.877 - 00:16:15.405
They probably should spend. This is what I was at the beginning.
They probably should spend a little bit on some SEO strategies right now because I just searched me on Google the same thing. The first thing it comes back is millet. And it's like with the seed or grain or whatever millet is.
Justin Housman
00:16:15.445 - 00:16:31.961
I mean, I mean there's probably some really fun marketing stuff you could lean into. That's the thing. It's like these days you have more opportunities than ever because it seems like all bets are off. Right?
Like you can go the, you can go what sounds like they're going to do the very like, you know, not even. I wouldn't even say it's dependable because it only works if you're already a known brand.
Colin True
00:16:31.993 - 00:16:33.497
But like traditional, it's called traditional.
Justin Housman
00:16:33.561 - 00:17:03.885
Right, but like sort of just general. But like that's not gonna, it's just, that's not gonna move the needle for me.
And so as a consumer or as a person who potentially cover your product, but if you hit me with some weird ass like liquid death marketing, okay. I'm lynch. I'm on board. Or if your entire tagline is like, no, it's not made with millet or whatever the.
I don't know, like, I would, like, play around with it a little bit, you know, or have a. Have a little bag of millet in every. In every pocket. I don't know, like something. Something like that. And it's like, then great, you know.
Colin True
00:17:03.925 - 00:17:09.949
But so there's your two paths. Either expensive, you know, Google, Instagram videos, or Madonna.
Justin Housman
00:17:10.037 - 00:17:16.565
I will say that if you're listening, you know, I'm happy to, like, take on your marketing strategy for like, 100 grand a month, you know?
Colin True
00:17:16.725 - 00:17:17.861
Oh, that's it. Wow.
Justin Housman
00:17:17.893 - 00:17:21.397
You're fair. Is it gonna work or it's not, right? You may as well try it.
Colin True
00:17:21.541 - 00:17:35.437
Hey, if anybody at mia, especially over in France, wants to join us on the show to talk about it, we'd love to have you on.
I really, like, genuinely, it'd be interesting to kind of hear, like, what the strategy is, knowing that I'm sure they're aware that it has been challenging for other brands to get traction in the States. So, like, what are you going to do? We'd love to learn more about every.
Justin Housman
00:17:35.461 - 00:17:39.629
Milie jacket comes with a Ford F150. That might sell. That might move the needle.
Colin True
00:17:39.677 - 00:17:40.669
Okay, I'm in.
Justin Housman
00:17:40.837 - 00:17:52.041
Yeah. I mean, this is more a diamond on Americans than it is on your. On your brand or your product or any marketing strategy you may employ.
It's just that we do. We have. We're bombarded with chips complimentary of the brand.
Colin True
00:17:52.073 - 00:18:03.873
Like, that's what I said. The retailers are like, yeah, we love the European stuff. It's just really tough to sell it because people don't know what it is.
And they're like, I'll take Colombia. Thank you. You know, so anyway. All right, well, let's take a. Let's take a quick stop at Housman's house.
Justin Housman
00:18:04.049 - 00:18:05.209
Oh, wonderful. Yeah.
Colin True
00:18:05.257 - 00:18:09.025
And see what our favorite outdoor journalist, Justin Houseman, is up to. It's a new segment. Housman's House.
Justin Housman
00:18:09.065 - 00:18:11.205
I love Houseman's House. House of Housing.
Colin True
00:18:11.245 - 00:18:16.821
So you had an article last week on NationalParkstraveler.com about a proposed plan to mitigate erosion.
Justin Housman
00:18:16.893 - 00:18:17.261
Dot org.
Colin True
00:18:17.293 - 00:18:21.165
Excuse me. Excuse me dot org. My bad.
Justin Housman
00:18:21.205 - 00:18:21.905
Thank you.
Colin True
00:18:22.445 - 00:18:32.765
Anyway, but there's a plan to mitigate erosion that's impacting Effigy Mounds National Monument. I gotta admit, I didn't even know what Effigy Mounds National Monument was before reading your article. But what's going on in Iowa.
Tell us about what's happening over there.
Justin Housman
00:18:32.805 - 00:18:40.635
All right, first of all. First of all, how you even. Do you even know that there were, like, other, like, mounds, like, mound builders in America? Did you know about this?
Colin True
00:18:40.935 - 00:18:42.359
Not that all of it was news to me.
Justin Housman
00:18:42.407 - 00:18:43.767
Whoa, really?
Colin True
00:18:43.791 - 00:18:45.359
Yeah, really.
Justin Housman
00:18:45.487 - 00:18:49.079
Cahokia. You know what that is? Ever heard of that before until just right now?
Colin True
00:18:49.127 - 00:18:49.455
No.
Justin Housman
00:18:49.535 - 00:21:46.789
No way. Okay. Well, basically, there were. There's a whole culture of people called mound builders that were, you know, obviously prehistoric in North America.
And that doesn't necessarily tie them all together. Right. Like, they're not. Other than the fact that, like, these groups of people all over North America like to make earthen mounds. Okay, okay.
But that doesn't mean. Again, mound builders is a term that is very, very broad. But they weren't all, like, interconnected or whatever. They.
Obviously, a lot of these people wouldn't have known the other ones existed. But it was a pretty common thing throughout North America to make big, giant mounds for various reasons.
So Cahokia is by far the most famous, and it's outside of St. Louis, although it's in Illinois, technically. But it was basically like a city.
And people think now, there could have been, like, 10,000, maybe even more people that lived there at one point. And they built these huge, like, blocks of, like, dirt, and they. And then on top of those, they erected, like, wooden structures.
So the wooden structures are gone, but the mounds are still there. And so this would have, like, rivaled stuff you would have seen in Mesoamerica, except they were making theirs out of, like, stone and shit. Right?
Like, these are. These are just. This was just dirt with, like, wood on top.
Now, that's not what effigy mounds is, but that's just to give you an example of the kind of thing that was going on in North America. So when, like, the first Europeans, like, start, like, penetrating into the interior, there's a lot of stories about this with, like, holy shit. Like.
Like, there must have been kind of, like, super race that was here before, because no way the Native Americans could possibly have built this. Like, this is a pretty common. That you'll. That you'll read about.
But anyway, effigy mounds are in what's called the Driftless area, which is a, like, northern Midwest, like, Iowa, I think, like, part of Wisconsin is, like, southern Wisconsin is there, that zone. And it's. It's not like the rest. Well, I'm not a Midwest expert, but it's not what you think. It's not like, rolling planes and stuff. Like, that.
This is the upper Mississippi River Valley, and there's all these, like, really big, intricate bluffs and, like, this really heavily forested. And the geography is different. The topography is different.
Like, it's just a different area than a lot of what you'll find in the rest of the Midwest. And it's beautiful. And basically there was a culture there that built mounds. These were. These, however, don't appear to have been structural.
They were just like ceremonial or burial. But there's a lot of them and, like, aerial views. They look like different plants and animals and things that were sacred to them. It's pretty.
Pretty freaking sweet. These, again, they're just dirt.
You know, they just, like, stacked them like 10ft high or so, and they make big, intricate patterns all along the floodplain of the Mississippi. And if you see photos of the area, you'll know pretty quick. Like, it's. That's why, like, I'd live there. Like, it's. It looks. It looks gorgeous.
It's obviously, like, you know, very lush, and there would have been plenty of food and all the sorts of. So these people live there for a really long time. They built these things for thousands of years.
Like, I think the oldest known One is, like, 3,000 years old. And then like, all the way up until, like, 500 years ago is when they think the last ones are built.
But anyway, so part of that is now part of Effigy Mound's monument, National monument. And. But as we've. As like everything else, we've really fucked up the way the Missouri flows. And so over the years, as the.
Colin True
00:21:46.797 - 00:21:47.381
Missouri or the Mississippi.
Justin Housman
00:21:47.413 - 00:23:19.489
I'm sorry, the Mississippi as the. As the. Like.
Over the years, engineers have built, like, locks and dam systems to, like, improve shipping, all that sort of stuff, which changes the flow of the. Of the river. And it's added a lot of water to some of the little byways that, like, float, like sloughs and stuff that kind of flow into the river.
And that's what's happening at Effigy Mounds. So it's connected to the Mississippi from. With the Johnson Slough, which. It looks like a bay. It's beautiful.
And there's just a lot more water in that than there used to be because of the lock and dam systems. Now, another. Another unfortunate part of climate change is that the storms are gnarlier, rain a lot heavier, and a lot more of it all at once.
And so there's a lot, oddly enough, like, it's funny because we think of, like, climate change, you think of, like, Drought and all those sorts of things. But the Mississippi is getting a lot more water flow than it used to because of climate change.
And so as that's happening, it's creating massive erosion channels that. In places where they weren't before. And now one of them is eating heavily into the Effigy Mounds monument. It's, like, eroding.
All these mounds are, like, thousands of years old. And so they've tried all this, like, you know, little. Little things to fix it.
But finally, finally, oddly enough, the Army Corps of Engineers were like, you know what?
We have a bunch of money that we, like, that we can use for, like, various projects, some of which involves, like, mitigating cultural resource damage. Do you guys want us to use it? And Effigy mounds is like, yes.
And so they're building this, like, massive, like, $12 million project, this, like, huge berm to protect it from erosion. To protect the mounds from erosion. And it, you know, will it work? I don't know. The river does what the river does.
What's interesting, though, is there's a lot of, you know, they. To do anything like this, you have to involve, like, tribes, right? Like, what do you. What do you guys say?
Colin True
00:23:19.577 - 00:23:20.337
Yeah, right.
Justin Housman
00:23:20.401 - 00:23:28.449
And there's a little bit of a back and forth from people that are like, you know, what it's. The river's gonna do, what the river's gonna do. Like, like, that's not.
Colin True
00:23:28.497 - 00:23:32.441
That's kind of my question. Like, what are we just delaying the inevitable? We're talking about dirt mounds, for sure.
Justin Housman
00:23:32.473 - 00:23:39.057
I mean, like, I don't think there's any. I don't think at any point the mankind has defeated water, right, for any of this sort of stuff, like.
Colin True
00:23:39.161 - 00:23:39.377
Right.
Justin Housman
00:23:39.401 - 00:23:55.601
Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, but I. I think it's actually really interesting that there's.
That there's a fairly vocal group of, like, tribal nations that are like, yeah, this. This area is really sacred to us, but at the same time, like, we aren't, like, as obsessed with the. You guys as.
As the rest of the west is with, like, perpetuity and, like, permanence of things. Right?
Colin True
00:23:55.633 - 00:23:57.793
Like, and the guilt putting itself.
Justin Housman
00:23:57.889 - 00:24:41.941
Putting everybody in this position and that. So. But ultimately, they've consulted with a ton of tribes, and the tribes are like, yeah, let's do it. That's fine. You know, so there.
There'll be a bunch of, like, tribal monitors there, which is pretty standard now, but just making sure that, like, they're not, you know, messing anything up. That.
That national monument got in trouble a few years back from A superintendent that was letting people build through the mounds, like, on, without. Without the proper permits and stuff like that. So there's already kind of a history of stuff being a little bit weird there. But it's.
It's a fascinating place. And, like, if you. I been there, I'd like to go.
I have friends that do a lot of fly fishing in Iowa, which, like, blew my mind when they told me about it. But, like, you know, it's like, we don't think about that. That part of the country as being interesting in terms of an outdoor draw.
But it looks spectacularly beautiful and very unique. So I would love to get up there at some point.
Colin True
00:24:42.093 - 00:25:05.929
Yeah, that's just what I was about to say. I think, like, not knowing about it, knowing that there is a level of impermanence here, right.
It's like, even if they help out themselves by creating this with what they're going to build, at some point it's going to go away because it's dirt mounds. So I feel a little urgency to go check out effigy mounds because before it goes away, because everything.
It's like, oh, before I'm, you know, Zion's not going anywhere before I die, for sure. It's kind of like.
Justin Housman
00:25:06.097 - 00:25:34.681
It's kind of gnarly that, like, we. I mean, I hadn't heard of Cahokia until I went there. So for. And, you know, I was an archaeologist. I don't think I was at the time. I wasn't yet.
But, like, that wouldn't have learned it. I didn't even learn about it then, like, in my anthropology classes. I don't think so much stuff. It's pretty weird that we don't. That. That's not.
And we learned about Native Americans, but, like, a giant city in the Midwest that, like, rivaled Mesoamerican cities. And there's evidence that suggests they were traded. They were on trade routes with, like, the Maya, and we don't learn about this.
Colin True
00:25:34.873 - 00:25:38.401
It's crazy. So you think they charged 25% in tariffs?
Justin Housman
00:25:38.433 - 00:25:50.161
Yeah, that's. That's actually. That's what happened to Cahokia. You know, they charged too much in tariffs. They couldn't afford to get their Mayan.
They couldn't afford to get their chia or whatever from the Mayans. And, you know, civilization broke down. It was doggy.
Colin True
00:25:50.193 - 00:25:54.241
Well, it's a warning right there, you know, great, again.
Justin Housman
00:25:54.273 - 00:25:58.613
And it just didn't work. Rock fighters.
Colin True
00:25:58.709 - 00:25:59.077
Yes.
Justin Housman
00:25:59.141 - 00:26:01.837
It's November, which is bad news if you're a turkey. Are you turkey?
Colin True
00:26:01.861 - 00:26:02.941
Colin, I'm not.
Justin Housman
00:26:02.973 - 00:26:14.933
That's good news for you. And if you're a retail buyer, it may be the best month of the year because you're laying your plans to crush it on your shop floor in 2025.
And, boy, do I have a hot tip for you. It's Royal Robbins. That's right, Royal.
Colin True
00:26:14.989 - 00:26:16.173
Pretty hot tip, Robins.
Justin Housman
00:26:16.229 - 00:26:19.165
If you're like, really? Yeah, yeah, really. I might be.
Colin True
00:26:19.285 - 00:26:21.687
I'm like, really? Are you wearing it?
Justin Housman
00:26:21.711 - 00:26:45.951
I don't know. Let me see. No. Which is unusual. I typically am. These days, Roy Robbins is gaining traction in a really interesting way.
They're one of the true OGs of outdoor brands. They're part of that early group of California climbers. Well, Roy Robbins was part of that.
The man himself was part of that early group of California climbers who kicked off the modern era of the outdoor industry right alongside Tompkins and Chouinard of North Face and Patagonia. A couple little brands you've probably heard of.
Colin True
00:26:46.063 - 00:26:47.335
You probably know about those guys.
Justin Housman
00:26:47.415 - 00:26:55.075
So if anyone can step up, they can. I spoke with Royals brand president Eric Burbank, and they're making. Well, yeah, I did, too.
Colin True
00:26:55.115 - 00:26:56.531
What you talked to Eric? Was that recently?
Justin Housman
00:26:56.603 - 00:26:58.987
I was right behind you the whole time. Yeah. Oh, my God.
Colin True
00:26:59.011 - 00:26:59.875
You're like a ninja.
Justin Housman
00:26:59.915 - 00:27:04.939
No, I was just manipulating your mouth like I always do. You know, just, you're my. My little puppet. They're making sure that's.
Colin True
00:27:04.947 - 00:27:07.835
The unknown thing about this podcast, is there's really only one person here.
Justin Housman
00:27:07.875 - 00:27:31.229
Yeah, Justin's really good at voices. Being a ventriloquist is way easier on a podcast. So they're focused on natural fibers type merchandising and arrange that knows what it stands for.
All stuff that Royal himself would be down with, too.
We're pretty sure Eric's actually going to be on the Rock fight next month, so we can dig more into Royals comeback story and tell you what I've been wearing Collins and wearing both been wearing their new wool hoodies. Feels pretty good. My wife loves it on me.
Colin True
00:27:31.357 - 00:27:35.181
Yeah. You sent me a text. You're like, this thing is awesome. And that's. That is not made up for the.
Justin Housman
00:27:35.293 - 00:27:36.265
That's really true.
Colin True
00:27:36.645 - 00:27:37.509
Totally legit.
Justin Housman
00:27:37.557 - 00:27:42.037
Yeah. You kind of feel like a modern day Obi Wan Kenobi in mind, you know, like that. Nice.
Colin True
00:27:42.101 - 00:27:42.669
I can see that.
Justin Housman
00:27:42.717 - 00:27:46.105
Like, like rugged wall, like. Yeah, it's great.
Colin True
00:27:46.565 - 00:27:50.989
Also, the Amplite hoodie. I want to shout out the Amplite hoodie. That thing is sick. That is a great sun hoodie.
Justin Housman
00:27:51.157 - 00:27:59.505
Sun sun shirts forever. So this November, don't be a turkey. Please check out Royal Robbins next November. You'll be thanking yourself. We promise.
Colin True
00:28:00.525 - 00:28:22.561
All right, next story.
So, according to multiple media outlets, most notably to listeners of the Rock flight, that would be paddlingmag.com a Wisconsin kayaker, Justin, you actually sent me this.
Thought to have gone missing and potentially died in August, has apparently faked his own death in order to flee his family and start a new life somewhere in Europe. Ryan Borgward. I assume I'm pronouncing that correctly. Bordward. I don't know if the T is silent or not.
Justin Housman
00:28:22.593 - 00:28:23.025
Good question.
Colin True
00:28:23.065 - 00:29:05.365
Borgward. Borgward left a trail of clues to lead authorities to believe that he had gone missing and presumably had died while out on Wisconsin's Green Lake.
Borgward has a family, including three children. And then he was then discovered to have used his passport to cross into Canada and make his way somewhere in Europe.
There were clues that were discovered after his disappearance, including a Google search results about moving funds to a foreign bank, a recently purchased three $370,000 life insurance policy, and a history of messages with a woman in Uzbekistan. Officials made contact with Borgward on November 11, confirming that he was not dead and also revealed the details of his plan. Justin, you want to.
You want to walk us through the details of what his plan was that he told the authorities once they made contact with him?
Justin Housman
00:29:05.445 - 00:29:17.405
So some of this is. So I did send this to you, Colin. Some of this is a little bit new to me. I didn't like.
So, okay, so he stashed his electric bike at the boat launch on the lake. That's interesting, because I thought I had read that they found his truck with a trailer in it at the lake.
Colin True
00:29:17.485 - 00:29:19.153
Well, that, too. That was there as well.
Justin Housman
00:29:19.289 - 00:29:20.841
He brought his electric bike, too.
Colin True
00:29:20.993 - 00:29:22.609
Yeah, but hold on. You'll see why in a second.
Justin Housman
00:29:22.657 - 00:29:25.809
So he paddles out into the lake with his. With the children's inflatable boat.
Colin True
00:29:25.977 - 00:29:26.329
Right.
Justin Housman
00:29:26.377 - 00:29:47.405
Oh, that's how he did it. Got it. Okay. Because I know he overturned the kayak in the lake, threw his phone in the lake.
The last thing he did was he texted his wife, like, I'm going to turn around and paddle back home and I'll be home for dinner or whatever. Then. Then I didn't know that. Yeah. From the lake.
So he chucks his phone in the lake, paddles back to short in the kids bike, rides the E bike to Wisconsin, to Madison, Wisconsin.
Colin True
00:29:47.945 - 00:29:48.937
80 miles.
Justin Housman
00:29:49.041 - 00:29:51.281
Fucking hell. So he obviously had a long cyclist.
Colin True
00:29:51.313 - 00:29:52.337
Or he's just dying.
Justin Housman
00:29:52.521 - 00:30:18.261
There isn't an E bike on the. On earth that will make 80 miles without a battery change. So that's interesting. Took a bus to Detroit into Canada. Yeah.
Okay, now, so I do know that that was when. So from what I understand, basically they.
He's reported missing by his wife and then the sheriff department, presumably park service people, whatever state parks or nearby, whatever it was, they started going out and like combing the lake. Right? Like they had like.
Colin True
00:30:18.333 - 00:30:21.477
Yeah, yeah, it was like a two plus week search back in August.
Justin Housman
00:30:21.541 - 00:30:22.069
It was a month.
Colin True
00:30:22.117 - 00:30:22.597
Oh yeah, sorry.
Justin Housman
00:30:22.621 - 00:30:38.861
No, you're right. Yeah, yeah, it was long and like they had like a cadaver dog or multiple.
And like they kept doing like sonar scans of the lake and there was like no bodies, there's nothing. And finally, which, which is pretty cool that they work well enough to where finally the sheriff was like, he's going on here.
Like, there's no body here.
Colin True
00:30:38.973 - 00:30:44.333
There was some expert that's like, I'm really good at finding people. I don't understand what's going on here. Yeah, I mean like, it was like.
Justin Housman
00:30:44.349 - 00:31:04.641
A weird thing and that's. And that, and that led them to. I think they probably, they must have just done some sort of general like check on his name.
And that's when they, that's what spit out that he, his passport had been like scanned in Canada, like the day after he was reported missing. And so then they raid his. That's. So they, they get like a warrant and go to his house and like find his computer. And he like tried to purge it.
He like wiped his hard drive. He did a bunch of stuff in his computer.
Colin True
00:31:04.673 - 00:31:07.505
And here's the tip for you folks. Yeah, everything's safe.
Justin Housman
00:31:07.545 - 00:31:13.153
You don't know what you're doing. Like, you don't know enough. You can't just go on incognito and everything's fine.
Colin True
00:31:13.289 - 00:31:21.445
I'm just picturing like, I know this is a. Kind of a serious story, but it's really hard not to make light of it in some regard. It's like just.
You're like, okay, how do I move my funds to Europe?
Justin Housman
00:31:21.525 - 00:31:42.045
I mean, it's not, it's not a funny story at all. It's really, I mean, it's really sad, but it's, it's also kind of interesting or. It's definitely interesting. It's hard to laugh. I don't know.
Like, I've been using it definitely as a butt of jokes about like not wanting to have to deal with stuff, you know, and a lot of tech treads. I Have like, oh, it's a kid's birthday party. Then like send that, send, send the link to that story around. Like, well, here's a way out.
Colin True
00:31:42.085 - 00:31:45.813
I'm trying to get you on the podcast. Why are you in Uzbekistan? What's going on?
Justin Housman
00:31:45.989 - 00:32:18.917
Yeah, being in Uzbekistan is going to be. Going to be code for not wanting to do something for a really long time. But I, as far as I also am aware.
So the authorities were able to basically just put out like a general statement like, hey, dude, we, we know you. We. It's not that we're not judging you, we're judging you, but also like, it's not about that.
Like you have a family that wants to know that you're okay. Like, we understand, like happens. We don't know the like Ramb. We don't really know what's going on when your relationship. We don't care, frankly.
But you do have kids. And so he sent a video like pretty quickly after that went out. Just saying, look, I'm alive, I'm in Europe and I can tell you where.
And I don't believe he's had planning on coming back back.
Colin True
00:32:19.061 - 00:32:36.741
No, it's gone cold. Apparently not cold, but like, there's been no update beyond that. That was kind of like the last thing they heard.
And yeah, I thought the same thing, that there was a very Midwestern looking sheriff or a police officer in charge of the investigation with the mustache and everything, who's like. But he was like, hey man, we get it, it's hard. Things get hard, you know, but please, you, you have family depending on you, all that kind of stuff.
Justin Housman
00:32:36.813 - 00:33:02.713
So, yeah, he took out a life insurance policy, which, which here's the thing, right?
Like you, if you take out a life insurance policy and you find out that you're not dead, like, well, one that's fraud if trying to fake your own death. I was surprised to learn death is not a crime in and of itself. But should we try it seems like dude seems like so much work and like that, that part.
Here's what I. I'd like to interview this guy because I want to know.
Colin True
00:33:02.769 - 00:33:03.361
I would love.
Justin Housman
00:33:03.433 - 00:33:10.729
I have to know what it felt like to send that text message, throw the phone in the lake. I have to know. I feel like that that must have.
Colin True
00:33:10.737 - 00:33:14.001
Been months of planning at that point, right? Like now, no going back now.
Justin Housman
00:33:14.033 - 00:33:24.059
Is he excited? Is he terrified? Is he guilty already? Like, yeah, like what. What's going through your mind? And that, that ride, that bike ride.
I need to be on that bike ride. I Need to know. Like that. That must.
Colin True
00:33:24.107 - 00:33:39.931
That's honestly the craziest thing. Not crazy, but it's just like the most interesting thing about this. Yeah. That 80 mile. At no point during that you're riding your bike.
I mean, maybe he's a huge cyclist and it's not a big deal, but I don't get the impression that he was. And it's just sort of like on your e bike, 80 miles to. That's just like core part of your plan.
Justin Housman
00:33:40.003 - 00:33:59.405
All anything that you've. That you thought was comfortable is gone. Right. Like nobody likes. Like you are dying, you're dead. Like you can't call a friend or whatever.
I mean like that's. Fuck. That must have been the most. Like now everything his family's going through is a million times worse and he's an asshole.
But like that must have been the most lonely feeling on the fucking planet at that point.
Colin True
00:33:59.565 - 00:34:10.965
But how do you, at that point that you have that long. I mean, so an 80 mile bike ride, that's minimum of two hours even if you're going fast, but three hours. Sorry. Like if you're going fast. Right.
Even if you're on like a road bike, you're a good cyclist.
Justin Housman
00:34:11.005 - 00:34:12.785
Dude that's on all day. He rode all day there.
Colin True
00:34:12.865 - 00:34:16.033
There's no one. You know that one moment where you're thinking of your kids?
Justin Housman
00:34:16.089 - 00:34:16.497
Yeah.
Colin True
00:34:16.601 - 00:34:19.241
One moment where you're just like, what am I doing? What am I doing?
Justin Housman
00:34:19.273 - 00:34:24.725
Then it wasn't really too late. Like, it wasn't too late until. I wonder when. Oh, interesting. When is the too late moment?
Colin True
00:34:25.505 - 00:34:32.345
Probably when you take out the insurance policy. Because at some point you. I guess. Or you just say, hey, I have this insurance policy. Because he said it was for his family. Apparently that's.
He took it out for his family.
Justin Housman
00:34:32.385 - 00:34:40.657
Of course. Yeah. The idea was that he would die and they would get that 370 grand. By the way, not that much. Like, insurance policies are not that expensive.
Like my I. I paid a ton.
Colin True
00:34:40.681 - 00:34:41.857
For couldn't go for the million dollar one.
Justin Housman
00:34:41.881 - 00:34:43.425
Right. Like, especially if, you know, like who.
Colin True
00:34:43.465 - 00:34:46.613
Like you doing reaching his family. I guess he didn't care that much.
Justin Housman
00:34:46.709 - 00:34:52.381
I just. Yeah, it's. It's that all of that's insane. I just, I just need to know how. How lonely that must have felt. Hopefully.
Colin True
00:34:52.413 - 00:34:55.285
I mean, this is an example of the. Of outdoor adventure being used for evil.
Justin Housman
00:34:55.325 - 00:34:55.501
That's.
Colin True
00:34:55.533 - 00:35:03.305
I mean, obviously we wouldn't probably be talking about a story like this except for the outdoor adventure components of it, but if you were going to try and disappear, how would you do it?
Justin Housman
00:35:04.925 - 00:35:10.799
Probably very similar to that. I mean, I have, I have two things going for me. I'm a surfer and I'm. Well, surfer is the easiest.
Colin True
00:35:10.997 - 00:35:12.707
Yeah, I'm in Mexico and I never came back.
Justin Housman
00:35:12.811 - 00:35:18.971
You just toss a board in the ocean by like, lord knows what happened. Like, you're not going to comb the fucking bottom of the ocean.
Colin True
00:35:19.003 - 00:35:24.323
Yeah, there's, yeah, there's problems in Mexico. We got sharks down here like this. Whatever. We don't know what happened to it.
Justin Housman
00:35:24.379 - 00:35:29.495
I mean, that happens all the goddamn time. So it's like that's, I guess that's it. I mean, there's no reason to even think about another one.
Colin True
00:35:32.435 - 00:36:56.535
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I feel like I on first a bunch.
Justin Housman
00:36:56.875 - 00:37:15.011
So Colin, I don't know exactly when this happened, although I'm looking at a video right now. It says 13 days ago, so I'm guessing it was two weeks ago. Couple, three or four dudes up in Tahoe. Ish, I want to say. Is that right? Do you know?
Doesn't really matter in California. I was in California, it's in la. So maybe it was like lake hunting.
Colin True
00:37:15.083 - 00:37:17.619
Lake like that makes this Worse by the Tahoe would have been better.
Justin Housman
00:37:17.667 - 00:37:44.691
Yeah, maybe it's like Lake Arrowhead zone, somewhere up in the mountains. They went ahead and committed some light insurance fraud in the funniest way possible.
By dressing up in a bear costume and like crawling into these like three like pretty nice cars and like that they owned and just going to town, but in the lamest way in them they had these like claws that I don't know what they're for. And they almost look like ice things you would grab with ice. I don't know, maybe.
Colin True
00:37:44.763 - 00:37:46.627
Yeah, something from your kitchen. Maybe they're real.
Justin Housman
00:37:46.691 - 00:38:36.743
Like it's not like a toy. And like they like donned a bear suit and like climbing into their car with view in view of their security cameras. But not like super great view.
Very well thought out there. And then just like tried to scratch the out of their car with these, with these like claws to like recoup some insurance benefit. Hilarious.
I hate insurance. So I'm all for insurance fraud. Go ahead. Like insurance, insurance is a scam. I hate everything about it. So like I, I, I don't feel.
Go ahead, just do a better job. Like if you're gonna go, if you're gonna get this involved.
Like, like for the love of God, like they don't even look like they're trying to look like a bear. And like the pretty weak scratches, like have you ever seen a bear actually attack a car?
I mean they take the seats out, like there's stuffing of the seats. These are like little poked holes and like tiny little scratches on my, my toddler makes in my RAV4. She does a better job. Just do better.
Colin True
00:38:36.799 - 00:38:38.311
32 pound Australian Shepherd.
Justin Housman
00:38:38.343 - 00:38:38.623
Goodbye.
Colin True
00:38:38.639 - 00:38:41.407
Do do does does more damage the interior of my car.
Justin Housman
00:38:41.471 - 00:38:55.545
You're talking about a goddamn bear here, dudes. And so they also didn't throw it away like the sheriff came or like are you committing insurance fraud in there? And they're like, no, no, no, no, no.
And they just found a bear suit and the claws in the house. So they couldn't even throw that in the water somewhere anyway. Just do a better job.
Colin True
00:38:56.045 - 00:39:07.545
That's a good one. I watched the video, I'll link the video in the show notes. It's worth the whatever three minutes of your time to see it.
Because once you definitely know what's happening, you'd raise your eyebrow if you saw this, you'd be like, is that actually a bear?
Justin Housman
00:39:08.365 - 00:39:10.989
It's like this cloth. This bear weighs 150 pounds. That's weird.
Colin True
00:39:11.037 - 00:39:17.169
Yeah. And then the door just opens on one of them. It's not like he's climbing through a wind like that. It is so funny.
Justin Housman
00:39:17.217 - 00:39:20.073
Yeah, yeah. These guys are so high when they came up with this idea.
Colin True
00:39:20.209 - 00:40:38.481
All right, my parting shot. So this came out just before we started recording today. It was in the Daily, the Dick Sporting Goods.
It's going to be expanding its concept shop House of Sports to upwards of 100 locations by 2027.
Now, I've already taken a victory lap on my prediction that Dicks would leave Public Lands in the dust in favor of House of Sport, but I'm happy to take another one. I mean, so firstly, the concept of House of Sport matches Dick's better than a. Than a full on outdoor store like Public Lands.
And part of this story was the inclusion of what Dix is calling their field house, which is then our name for a smaller footprint of House of Sport now noted by the Daily was that the representatives for Dix who spoke on the topic did not mention anything about Public Lands.
And combine that with REI's recent announcement that they are increasing their open to buy, as you heard Owen Comerford talk about on Monday's episode of the Rock Flight. And my guess is that any remaining public lands will also either convert to field the to field house, or simply be shuttered.
And just lastly on this, I've been in contact with Dick's PR team about getting Public Lands president Todd Spoleto on the show. Hopefully that happens either by the end of the year or perhaps early January. So I'm staying on them. Hopefully we can hear from Todd.
But it's these interesting moves by Dix.
If Fieldhouse and House of Sport find traction and REI is on the up and up, I think it's a sign that we're coming into maybe a period of optimism for the industry. So, you know, my parting shot, I guess, is that not all parting shots are bad. You know, go outdoor industry.
Justin Housman
00:40:38.663 - 00:40:42.381
Big box. Big, big box. Big box. Outdoor industry, though. Wow.
Colin True
00:40:42.413 - 00:40:47.265
But you need that lead to a healthy. I'm not saying I'm going to shop there. I want to go right.
Justin Housman
00:40:47.645 - 00:40:48.141
All right, man.
Colin True
00:40:48.173 - 00:40:50.061
Anything else for you? You good? You want to wrap it up?
Justin Housman
00:40:50.253 - 00:40:53.825
Yeah, let's wrap her up. It's almost Thanksgiving. We got stuff to do.
Colin True
00:40:54.485 - 00:41:07.243
Well, the Rock Fight's a production of Rock Fight llc for my guy, Justin Houseman. I'm Colin True. Thank you for listening. And he's here. He's back to take us out. Chris DeMaikes. He's going to sing the Rock Fight Fight song with.
See you next time Rock fighters.
Chris DeMakes
00:41:07.299 - 00:42:07.335
Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight.
Welcome to the Rock fight Where we speak our truth, Slay sacred cows and sometimes agree to disagree.
We talk about human powered outdoor activities and pic bites about topics that we find in interesting like pop culture music, the latest movie reviews, ideas that aim for the head. This is where we speak our truth. This is where we speak our truth. Rock Fight. Rock fight. Rock Fight. Welcome to the rock slide Rock fight. Rock fight.
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