filson | The Filson Journal

four people on snow machines in the early light of day driving across an ice sheet in Alaska

Filson in the Field: Searching for Muskox in the Alaskan Arctic

As a company founded on equipping folks headed into the frozen desolation of the Klondike goldfields in 1897, we knew that we needed to do something that was a bit off the beaten path. With this in mind, we decided to head to the western edge of Alaska, above the Arctic Circle to tell the tale of the remarkable rebirth of an animal that was hunted to extinction in North America over a century ago, the musk ox.

4 Min

an areal photo of a yellow and red forest service plane dropping water on a raging fire above the treelike

Field Notes

We Helped Restore a Forest Service Lookout Tower That Was Almost Consumed by Flames

A team of eager and passionate Filson employees, together with the National Forest Foundation, were wrapping up a restoration project at First Butte lookout tower, the fourth tower our team has volunteered to help restore. As we were putting the final touches on the tower, we received the news that a new wildfire had started near the site.

4 Min

Profiles

Filson x META: Extraordinarily Present

Thor Drake is the founder & owner of Portland, Oregon’s esteemed SEE SEE Motorcycles and the One Moto trade show. Widely-respected in the Pacific Northwest motorcycle community, Thor was an obvious choice when it came time to field-testing the 2021 Filson Alcan Moto Collection on the washington backcountry discovery route. below he shares a perspective from the trip and makes a strong case for venturing beyond your comfort zone.

5 Min

vintage and new ford broncos parked in a field

Field Notes

Ford Bronco x Filson Wildland Fire Rig

As far back as the 1940s, Filson Cruiser jackets were the official Class A attire of the U.S. Forest Service, and many still see the iconic green U.S. Forest Service-badged Broncos out in the wild. That rich history comes through to today’s Bronco + Filson Wildland Fire Rig Concept. Based on a 2021 Bronco four-door SUV, the concept vehicle blends advanced off-road capabilities with rugged design details, using Filson materials and a full firefighting skid built into the back.

5 Min

red ford bronco driving through deep water on a road spraying water out impressively on either side

Profiles

The Jackie Robinson of Car Design: McKinley Thompson Jr.

McKinley Thompson Jr., a Ford designer who helped pen the first-generation Bronco, was the first African American designer hired at Ford Motor Company after graduating from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California with a degree in transportation design in 1956. “McKinley was a man who followed his dreams and wound up making history. He not only broke through the color barrier in the world of automotive design, but he helped create some of the most iconic consumer products ever…designs that are not only timeless but have been studied by generations of designers.”

5 Min

Field Notes

Something Worth Saving: Fire Lookout Restored by Logging Town Community

As you climb up the tower steps, layers of jagged peaks within Washington’s Cascade Range emerge in every direction. Below, wild river valleys carve through the sea of forests around the small town of Darrington. The million-dollar view from the historic North Mountain Lookout was once used by the Forest Service to spot fires, but the structure fell into disrepair once technology and other fire detection methods took its place. Now a small group of dedicated locals are on a mission to restore the abandoned piece of history sitting on top of North Mountain.

5 Min

Field Notes

Filson Stands In Solidarity Against Racism

We stand in solidarity against racism. We don’t claim to have all the answers. We know there’s plenty of work to be done, and that’s something we’ve never shied away from. Silence is no longer an option. Standing together and lifting our voices against hate is just the first step of a long road to bring about change.

2 Min

Featured

Original Alaska Outfitter Since 1897 | The Filson Story

Since 1897 we’ve had the same mission: To create best-in-class products that outsmart the elements, outperform expectations, and outlast you. Our Founder, Clinton C. Filson put it best, “Your satisfaction is the sole purpose of our transaction.” Read about our legacy and history on the Filson Journal.

10 Min

man in gray sweatshirt and black shorts running down a rocky hill in a high desert conifer forest

Profiles

Trail running in uncertain times with Justin Helvik

Justin Helvick is an asst. high school principle, avid outdoorsman, mountaineer, and trail runner. We reached out to him to find out how his time outdoors makes him a better teacher, what he looks for in gear, and how getting outside can help folks deal with the COVID-19 virus.

5 Min

Profiles

Lael Johnson – Olympic Peninsula Fly Guide

Lael Johnson is a fly fisherman and guide on the Olympic Peninsula. His passion for the anadromous fish of Washington’s coastal rivers is contagious. He loves these fish, these rivers, and the people he is lucky enough to experience them with. Filson Contributor Ben Matthews spent a few days on the river with Lael to ask a few questions about guiding, steelhead, and life in general. If you’re interested in heading out on the river with Lael yourself, check out his website and book a trip. You won’t regret it.

5 Min

Profiles

Shmulik Avital & Spiegel – The Hub of NYC’s Moto Community

Shmulik Avital seems to know everyone who rides a motorcycle in New York City. His restaurant, Spiegel, has become the hub of the city’s adventure motorcycling community.

5 Min

black and white image of people in antiquated clothes and hats standing behind a large stack of bound wooden boxes reading

Field Notes

You Take What You Can Get: Or Suffer the Consequences

The stampede for gold into the Klondike of the Yukon territory reached a peak in 1898. In that same year, 1,200 other miners set out for other regions of the far north, including to the Koyukuk and Chandalar river drainages in the remote Alaska Territory interior, in a desperate search for similar riches. This region is situated in the northwestern part of Alaska, with the Koyukuk River flowing through it from the borders of the Arctic Ocean to where it enters the Yukon at Nulato.

3 Min

Grainy black and white image of man in white helmet and black coat looking out at large snow capped Mt. Rainier

Profiles

Filson Moto Collection

Whenever you set out into the wild, be it the icy hell of Alaska or the rocky forests of the Pacific Northwest, you can’t do better than to have a Filson Garment on your back. That’s the way it’s been for over 120 years.

Profiles

The Filson Restoration Department & Workshop

We’ve taken pride in the quality of our craftsmanship for over a century, and in keeping with that tradition, the Filson Restoration Department and Filson Workshop were formed. We caught up with Jeremy Bennett, Jon Duce, and Marissa Barnard from the workshop team to find out what goes into restoring a Filson original and creating a one-of-a-kind piece from salvaged resources.

5 Min

a top down view of a dark wood table with various tools and materials to make a shoe, including a hammer, scissors, wax and thread

Signature Materials

Keeping Handmade Traditions Alive in the Northeast: Filson & Quoddy

Jack and Anne Spiegel originally started Quoddy in Maine in 1947. Their unique footwear was all made with moccasin construction to be flexible, durable, and repairable. At one point, Quoddy had a fleet of stores, many along the well-traveled Route 1 where summer visitors stocked up on other home-grown Maine brands like Hathaway, GH Bass, and LL Bean.

6 Min

Field Notes

Filson Adventure Comic

Filson Adventures, an original comic series based in Alaska circa 1933.

28 Min

American Bison standing in rolling hills

Field Notes

The Need for Wild Places

Founded in 2004, BHA is a nonpartisan group of sportsmen and -women who “seek to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands and waters.”

4 Min

Field Notes

Plant a Tree, Grow a Forest

Greg Peters is the Communications Director for the National Forest Foundation. This year they have launched an initiative to replant 50 million trees in areas that have been burned or affected by insect infestations, disease or other natural causes. Here, he shares a story of a recent trip into the hills and a first-hand encounter

chelsea grinding metal at workshop grinding station

Profiles

PNW Workers: Force/Collide

Located in Seattle WA, Force/Collide is driven by owner Chelsea Gaddy’s distinct style that blends geometry, minimalism, and the raw characteristics of metals into high-end furniture and architecture. “The creative process behind fabrication is the most meaningful part of my work – it’s what forms the personality of the piece. And metal is my favorite

portrait of laura in white hat with blue plaid shirt

Profiles

PNW Workers: Laura Burkhart

Laura Burkhart drew inspiration from the Pacific Northwest’s mountains, lakes, and trees – and used it to develop a refreshing, unique style of artwork. “Woodwork is such a physically demanding medium, forcing me to fully immerse myself in the process. This particular style came to fruition a few years ago when I was asked to

Profiles

PNW Workers: Meridian Forge

It’s not an easy process. “You have to beat it into submission…you have to tell it what to do,” he says, speaking of the metal being shaped by his hands. He grimaces and sweats as he brings the hammer down again and again on the hot steel against the anvil. Both the process and the end result are his art. Darryl’s signature pieces are animal heads: a bald eagle with piercing eyes and razor-sharp beak, a ram leaping forward in challenge. His skill in forging these creations is made possible through tools that are all handmade, including the hammer wielded with purpose to shape hundreds of animals. Such was the case when he hand-forged a tomahawk that sports the head of a wolf.

3 Min

carpentry worker rips board in shortsleeve plaid shirt and hardhat

Profiles

PNW Workers: Dovetail General Contractors

Located in Seattle, WA, Dovetail General Contractors specializes in bringing clients’ visions to life by immersing themselves in every aspect of a project – from Japanese joinery to large-scale foundation work. Carpenter Lucas Trautman embodies this as much as anyone. “The residence we just finished on Whidbey Island is a sanctuary, personally and professionally. I

1 Min

dog hanging out of rear window of a truck

Profiles

Secret of the Sandhills: The Niobrara National Scenic River

Growing up in Nebraska, I quickly became privy to the longstanding joke that my home state offered nothing more than cornfields and pivots. Like clockwork, anytime I ventured outside the state line I was met with a tongue-in-cheek comment about Nebraska’s landscape or lack thereof. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I began to buy

6 Min

fisherman holding large fish kneeling in river wearing red and white flannel and green trucker hat

Field Notes

Brown Trout of New Zealand

Jack Kos is a self-described Kiwi trout bum. What began as a passion for fishing soon developed into a desire to know more about the fish he sought. That pursuit led Jack to dive deep into the rivers and the history books as he wrote his dissertation and earned a PhD in history on the

Garrett sitting on the fence ready to ride a bull

Profiles

Come by It Honestly: Born into Bull Riding

Rodeo culture is often synonymous with small-town America: Everyone knows everyone, a strong work ethic is the norm, and more often than not, children pursue the same profession as their parents. The more time spent around the bucking chutes, the more apparent it becomes that bull riding is as vital to a family’s lineage as

man in a canoe on the Yukon river, a large mountain in the distance

Profiles

Wilderness, a River, and My Old Man

Peter Hall and his father set out on a Yukon Moose hunt, by way of canoe, into the remote reaches of the Alaskan wilderness. The time they shared on the river reminded them both that the glory of adventure is found far beyond the kill. At one in the morning the aurora fills the sky.

portrait of Larry Ford, owner of Blue Heron Lodge

Profiles

Blue Heron Lodge: Forks, WA

“I love teaching folks how to appreciate the water; the ruggedness and beauty of the river are something special. I like to share with people a means by which they can experience these places. A drift boat and a fly rod are just my preferred means. Passing on some of my knowledge to my clients,

two men are loading elk antlers into a truck

Profiles

A Fool’s Errand

At times, shed hunting can seem a fool’s errand. It can make you wonder why in the hell you’d ever thought it was a reasonable idea. Other times it is quite the opposite; miles hiked and time spent behind glass equate handsomely to fresh brown elk antlers. This trip would lean harshly to the fool’s-errand

man in woods looks through binoculars wearing backpack and red flannel

How-To's

Shed Hunting: Tips and Tactics

Last week we shared a beginner’s perspective on springtime shed hunting and what you might encounter when heading into the hills for your first time in search of antlers. This week, we hear from Sam Averett, a seasoned western hunter, who shares a few more detailed tips and tactics on the search for spring sheds.

andrew miller steelhead man in river with rocky riverbed

Field Notes

Solitude and Steelhead

Many a man has felt the pace and stress of life wash from his soul while standing mid-river, fly rod in hand. Solitude is perhaps the thing most often sought by the seasoned fly-fishermen; the thrill of landing a fish is a welcome addition to an already fine experience. Read along as we follow once

Filson in the Field: Searching for Muskox in the Alaskan Arctic

We Helped Restore a Forest Service Lookout Tower That Was Almost Consumed by Flames

Filson x META: Extraordinarily Present

Ford Bronco x Filson Wildland Fire Rig

The Jackie Robinson of Car Design: McKinley Thompson Jr.

Something Worth Saving: Fire Lookout Restored by Logging Town Community

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Filson Stands In Solidarity Against Racism

Original Alaska Outfitter Since 1897 | The Filson Story

Trail running in uncertain times with Justin Helvik

Lael Johnson – Olympic Peninsula Fly Guide

Shmulik Avital & Spiegel – The Hub of NYC’s Moto Community

You Take What You Can Get: Or Suffer the Consequences

Filson Moto Collection

The Filson Restoration Department & Workshop

Keeping Handmade Traditions Alive in the Northeast: Filson & Quoddy

Filson Adventure Comic

The Need for Wild Places

Plant a Tree, Grow a Forest

PNW Workers: Force/Collide

PNW Workers: Laura Burkhart

PNW Workers: Meridian Forge

PNW Workers: Dovetail General Contractors

Secret of the Sandhills: The Niobrara National Scenic River

Brown Trout of New Zealand

Come by It Honestly: Born into Bull Riding

Wilderness, a River, and My Old Man

Blue Heron Lodge: Forks, WA

A Fool’s Errand

Shed Hunting: Tips and Tactics

Solitude and Steelhead