Karl Harrelson

Sports: Hiking, backpacking, biking, photography, sailing, geocaching

Favorite packs:  Aether 85, Kestrel 48

Richmond, VA

You might find Karl on an obscure mountain peak with camera in hand. You might find him on an isolated beach on the Outer Banks, or even sailing across the Chesapeake Bay one warm summer night. Wherever you find him, you’ll find his Osprey gear close at hand.

After high school Karl completed his first century bike ride. The next few years found him in the saddle more often than not. Bike touring his way around Virginia was an every- weekend event. About this time the outdoors became an integral part of his world. Richmond offered a good base camp for day trips to the mountains, the beach and the Chesapeake Bay. Purchasing a sailboat, he spent weekends plying around the Bay and it’s tributaries. His love of the water led him to volunteer for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. After a tour of duty in the Florida Keys, search and rescue became a big interest. Backpacking and hiking soon supplied another outlet for his energy. The Blue Ridge Mountains offered endless vistas and enchanting forests with plenty of rocks to scramble over.

Karl’s career in graphic design fueled his interest in the visual arts. Photography became  his cold-weather hobby. Although Central Virginia offered a bounty of subject matter, he wanted something more. That led to several visits to Iceland, photographing the land of fire and ice. Scotland and Wales were next on his agenda. Who knows where the next journey will land him. For such an active person, good, sturdy gear is paramount. He requires good equipment he can rely on to keep his cameras safe and dry – that’s where Osprey comes in.

2009 Adventure plans:

• Climbing Old Rag Mountain.
• Backpacking trip into the Geo. Washington National Forest
• Bike touring around Virginia