February 3rd, 2014 – Asheville, NC – This year’s Winter Outdoor Retailer proved particularly rewarding for Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO), creators of hammocks and relaxation products for outdoor enthusiasts.  The brand hosted a friendly competition between America’s two most prestigious hiking trails and their conservation groups, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), and the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), in an effort to raise funds for trail preservation and management.  The event, dubbed “East vs. West: A Tale of Sister Trails,” marked the first time that ENO, the ATC, and the PCTA had collaborated on a fundraising event.

In honor of the event, ENO sold their special edition ATC DoubleNest Hammock and newly released PCTA DoubleNest Hammock with a set of Atlas Straps for a show special of $50.  ATC and PCTA representatives provided booth visitors with information about trail preservation, and booth displays featured important facts and statistics about the two trails.  One hundred percent of the sale proceeds were donated to the ATC and PCTA.  In total, ENO sold 106 hammocks, raising $5,300.

“We are so pleased with the outcome of this event,” said Lane Nakaji, ENO’s General Manager.  “It was such an honor to have the opportunity to work with these two amazing trail associations, and everyone was really happy with the outpouring of support and donations that we received.”

The fundraiser also provided a special incentive for OR attendees – anyone that purchased a hammock or made a separate donation was entered to win one of three grand trail package prizes.  The packages featured hiking, camping, and outdoor products from ENO, Vasque Footwear, Recover Brands, and more.  The grand prize winners were announced on Day 3, and fundraising totals were presented to each of the trail groups.

Additional buzz surrounded the ENO booth regarding their newly released Responsible Hammocking Initiative, “A Hammockers Guide To: Responsible Hammocking.”  The infographic, which was on display during the fundraiser, features tips and illustrations on how to properly set up and use your ENO hammock to best ensure your safety and protection of the natural areas around you.

“Between the success of the fundraiser and the awesome gear that we gave away, I think we really got people excited about getting out on the trails,” said Natalie DeRatt, Marketing and Media Manager for ENO.  “Plus, with the Responsible Hammocking Initiative, our hammock users can learn how to responsibly use their new gear to best support the conservation of the ATC and the PCT.”

Both special edition trail DoubleNest Hammocks and the Responsible Hammocking Initiative Infographic will be available at ENO authorized retailers in Spring, 2014.  For every ATC or PCTA hammock sold in-store, ENO will donate $10 to the respective trail organization.

About ENO

Eagles Nest Outfitters, founded by brothers Peter and Paul Pinholster, began operations in the summer of 1999. Growing steadily from a one-van, two-man operation to the leading provider of ingeniously crafted parachute hammocks and outdoor accessories, the company offers the highest quality relaxation products for adventure travelers and outdoors lovers everywhere. The company’s products are sold in over 1500 specialty outdoor and sporting goods retail stores nationwide and online at www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com.