Arc’teryx Withdraws from Outdoor Retailer 2017 in Utah

Last week, the company Patagonia announced they would boycott the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City. And now Arc’teryx posted the following statement on their bird blog: Arc’teryx is a company that has long supported preservation of wild spaces, formally announces today its withdrawal from Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, Utah due to the state’s efforts to rescind protection of Bears Ears National Monument and other public lands. The company stands in support of Patagonia’s move to leave Outdoor Retailer in Utah and is following suit. Funds that would have been spent to attend Outdoor Retailer in 2017 will be reallocated to the Conservation Alliance’s new Public Lands Defense Fund.

This week, the Utah state legislature passed a bill that would rescind President Obama's designation of Bears Ears National Monument. Congressman Jason Chaffetz has asked President Trump to rescind the monument as well, based on its size and "tyrannical" nature by which Obama used the Antiquities Act. Ironically, the monument has very similar boundaries to the Public Lands Initiative put forth by UT Congressman Rob Bishop. So I don't get the argument about Bears Ears being "too big." Activities like hunting and fishing aren't restricted, but mining and mineral development are. The biggest thing Bears Ears does is protect the cultural heritage of 5 Native American tribes, making Bears Ears a national monument that acts in the true spirit of the Antiquities Act. @jasoninthehouse I #standwithbearsears, and the monument should not be rescinded. #monumentsforall #monumentsmatter #keepitpublic #publiclandowner #bearsears #bearsearsnationalmonument #dinebikeyah #utah #utahisrad #visitutah Art: @jercollins_com

A photo posted by Greg (@running_greg) on Feb 9, 2017 at 3:07pm PST

“The Outdoor Industry has an obligation to protect the wild places that are important to our consumers. Arc’teryx is a member of the outdoor industry’s Conservation Alliance. Since 2014, we’ve been part of the efforts to protect Bears Ears, supporting local grassroots organizations working on a legislated solution. More recently Arc’teryx has helped to fund Friends of Cedar Mesa and Utah Dine Bike Yah, as they work on a national monument designation. I was proud to join my peers in the outdoor industry in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to protect this landscape in Southern Utah, which is cherished by our community of climbers, hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. Protecting public lands for future generations is a critical part of our brand values and we will use our influence in a way that is consistent with those values.” – Jon Hoerauf, president of Arc’teryx

On March 6 Jon Hoerauf will head to Washington DC with the Conservation Alliance and 21 other outdoor industry leaders to meet with key Congressional offices and representatives of the new Administration. The goal of this trip is to encourage all elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, to take action to protect important lands and waterways – including Bears Ears National Monument.

Arc’teryx will also be increasing its funding commitment to the Conservation Alliance by $150,000 over the next three years to support the protection of Bears Ears and other public lands at risk.

Game face on. @bretteharrington eyes up her current project, Riders on the Storm on Torre Central wearing the Nuclei AR Jacket. ?:@drewsplan #arcteryx #climb

A photo posted by Arc'teryx (@arcteryx) on Jan 31, 2017 at 11:06am PST