About Zion Adventure Company

Zion Adventure Company was born in February of 1996, when  Rick Praetzel, an ex-high school math teacher, planned a climbing trip to Red Rocks, Nevada. On a rest day, he brought his companions to Zion to hike the Narrows, something he had done only once before. Although air temperatures were in the 60s, what he found at the end of the Riverside walk was a river that was too cold to hike in. They had to turn back. 15 years of outfitting experience on the rivers in Pennsylvania led Praetzel to remark, “You know, if we just had the right gear, we could go.”

Held off by the frigid water temperatures, the group drove back to Springdale, looking for equipment to rent. They found nothing. "It's too cold," everyone said, "Come back in summer."

On the plane ride home to Telford, Pennsylvania, Zion Adventure Company was born. Rick and his partner worked on a plan to provide gear that would make hiking the Zion Narrows more comfortable, safer, and accessible year-round; enabling more visitors to explore this mystical place.

They searched for drysuits during a time when locals were wearing wetsuits in the canyons. They couldn't find anything quite right. And so wIth that discovery, they designed the first drysuit made specifically for canyon hiking. Although Henderson Aquatics, in Millville, New Jersey, was a wetsuit manufacturer, they agreed to build a prototype and manufacture the drysuits. The innovation continued with Five Ten, formerly known as a rock climbing shoe manufacturer, on the final design of the Canyoneer - the first canyoneering shoe on the market. Thus, Zion Adventure Company brought the idea of the Narrows hiking package rental to Zion Canyon.

As a matter of fact, anything that could be designed and made by hand, was- the sign above the door, the Narrows orientation map painted on sliding dry erase boards, all of the store displays, benches - everything. We even introduced the idea of the Narrows orientation, outlining the risks and including tips for hiking up the river. The idea of Narrows rental equipment was such a radical idea, that it took some time to gain support from the community.

And then it wasn't long before we realized that we could do better; that our purpose was not just to provide equipment for the Narrows. During a late night meeting, Zion Adventure Company's true purpose was revealed when owner Michele Van Hise, also an ex-elementary and middle school teacher, remarked, "We need to just help everyone as though they are our friend." That simple comment brought a consciousness to everything we had already been doing. We ultimately just want to be a benefit to others; to help in any way we can.

Since those very first days, we have expanded our services, developed highly technical approaches to hiring and training, written a comprehensive guide training curriculum, donated our services and financial support to over three dozen charitable organizations, and continued to be the leaders in this industry.
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