In 1999, sitting in their grey cubicles slumped over their computers, the Noodleheads, Angel Hair and Rigatoni, decided to wake up from the American Dream.  They quit their careers, sold their home and most of their possessions and rode away on bicycles, crossing the US through small-town America.

Somewhere in Pennsylvania they saw a grizzly looking, but very happy, man stumble out of the woods with a backpack on.  They chatted, gave him a Clif Bar and in the process discovered the AT.  The seed of long-distance hiking was planted.  During the next decade, their newer, simpler lives allowed them to hike the AT, PCT, CDT and Camino de Santiago in Spain.

On their first AT hike in 2002 they began to discover light gear.  (Rigatoni had a 9lb Dana Design pack!)   Angel Hair says, ¨Lightweight gear has made hiking so delightful, we just can´t go heavy anymore.   Our GG packs and poles are a staple in our life, year around.¨ Rigatoni recounts his epiphany regarding lightening his load this way: ¨The light went off when I realized as you shed weight from your pack, more becomes available to get rid of.  It is a big snowball effect.  Example:  As the pack slips below 30 lbs., you realize you no longer need big boots and eventually you probably won´t need that knee brace either.  Or as your stove becomes smaller you´ll realize that foil works just fine as a windscreen.  Or as your gear´s mass becomes smaller, you can get rid of the rain cover for your pack and just use a trash compactor bag (works better, weighs less), and on and on.  It becomes a fun game and the reward is less body aches and more enjoyment while on trail.”

Home: The Noodleheads live in Gothic, Colorado

Training Grounds: Gary and Kiki care-take a backcountry hut during the winter.   They ski in and out carrying provisions (yes with their GG packs).  Summers are often devoted to some type of adventure, be it long-distance hiking or bike touring.

Current Plans:  This summer, 2012, they are planning a 10-year anniversary hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Favorite Gossamer Gear Products: Angel Hair: The GG lightweight poles.  Unbelievably light.  It took convincing to realize with such a light pole that a pole strap is really not needed, but it´s not!!

Rigatoni:  The Mariposa Plus backpack.  Mine has hiked the CDT and 1/2 of the PCT or 4,500 miles with me and is still going strong.  Amazing for only 18 oz.