Bryant Helgeland
Owner
I started camping with my parents before I can remember. The first time I slept in a tent I was six weeks old, so I guess you could say my passion for the outdoors started early. I attended a YMCA camp from age 8 until 14 when I was selected for their leadership training program. After three summers of training, I spent the next two summers leading backpacking, rock climbing and whitewater canoeing trips for the same YMCA camp. By this time, I was enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying geology and geophysics. While there, and to support my outdoor gear addiction, I began working part-time at a small outdoor specialty retail shop. While there, I was trained as a ski tech, in addition to all the other gear I couldn’t stop geeking out about. After graduating, I attended a semester course in Patagonia, Chile with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and moved to Ashland, Oregon, six months later to work at a specialty outdoor retailer as a buyer and sales associate. During my 14 years there I ultimately wore every hat (Sales Associate, Ski Tech, Shipping/Receiving, Hardgoods Buyer and Store Manager). When my attempted purchase of that business fell through, I started Mountain Provisions. My outdoor passions and pursuits include hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rafting, fly-fishing, mountain biking, road biking, rock climbing and backcountry skiing. My indoor passions and pursuits include: cooking, good beer, great tequila and awesome live music.
I have been an outdoor enthusiast my whole life. I grew up sailing on San Francisco Bay, riding skateboards on the hills of the city and competing on every sports team I could finagle my way onto – even playing Men’s Hockey at one point! After college, I moved to the Lake Tahoe area and lived there for 30 years! Snow skiing, water skiing, backpacking, hiking, biking, ice skating, rock climbing – you name it, I did it! I found that my happy place usually included having a backpack on, trekking up remote mountain passes, enjoying the exertion, the reward at the end and the journey along the way. I have extensive backpacking experience including the Pacific Crest Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail, the Arizona Trail, sections of the Continental Divide Trail, the Alta Via 1 Route across the Italian Dolomites, the Tour du Mont Blanc and more! I have competed in various marathons, ultra-marathons and other endurance events, including the Tough Mudder and Broken Arrow Sky Race. I also have participated in “Ride the Rockies”, a 545 mile endurance bicycling event that took me from Telluride to Colorado Springs, Colorado through some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere! I also went for a leisurely bike ride (Not!) from Seattle to the East side of Glacier National Park in Montana in 9 days! More recently, I have ventured abroad and completed three different and distinct Camino de Santiago routes across Europe including the traditional “Camino Frances”, the “Camino Portugues” and the “Camino del Norte”. My love for Spain and Europe has grown immensely in the last decade! I was asked by Bryant to join him in opening Mountain Provisions back in 2016! I gladly accepted. We have worked hard to make our store the best in the region, offering top-notch customer service and a foundation of knowledge that is unmatched anywhere in the Rogue Valley. We don’t just sell outdoor gear – we LIVE it! We have the actual, hands-on experience to help YOU find the right equipment for whatever adventure you want to tackle!
Nana Langton
Store Manager / Buyer
Ursa
Shop Dog
She’s cute but don’t let that fool you. She’s a little monster sometimes! She’s also a snuggle bug. She’s helping make sure not much gets done Monday through Friday because she’s an awesome distraction and needs a ton of attention. Stop by to say hi.
She’s a go everywhere, do everything adventure dog! She’s been with me 24/7 since she was 10 weeks old. Her favorite activities include backcountry skiing, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, as well as finding and hoarding tennis balls. She once found a tennis ball miles from any trailhead hiking up to a waterfall in the Trinity Alps. She enjoys long naps but is always ready to go on the next adventure. Winter is her favorite season by far and she’s gotten more ski days every year than I have! Sadly I lost her to cancer in April 2020. Rest in powder baby girl!
