iPhoneYellowEnvelopeNews

Timeline: 1996 - 2011

Year

Landmark Events

Staff
1996 The concept of Narrows outfitting is born when Jonathan Zambella and Rick Praeztel visit Zion during a Red Rock climbing trip. Later the same year, Jonathan moves to Springdale and opens Zion Adventure Company, offering the first-ever equipment rentals and orientations for The Narrows hike. 2
1997 Michele Van Hise joins Jonathan and Rick as a partner. Keyhole Ground School, an entry-level canyoneering course, is born, helping beginners explore a true Zion slot canyon on their own. 2
1998 ZAC is first company to offer guided rock climbing and canyoneering in southern Utah. Southwest Spring Break adventures take college students on active week-long excusions through Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, and Lake Powell. 4
1999 One-Day Basic Canyoneering course premieres, broadening instruction for those wishing to descend more of Zion's canyons on their own. 3
2000 3- and 5-Day Basic Canyoneering courses premiere, offering an expansive canyon curriculum within an impressive array of canyon contexts. 4
2001 Canyon Adventure Day premieres, quickly becoming our most popular guided product. 6
2002 Our first on-line store launches. After years of working with Five-Ten to improve their amphibious Water Tennie, they release the Canyoneer, a much more sturdy and effective shoe. 8
2003 We begin offering canyoneering and rock climbing seven days/week. 8
2004 Smart Outfitter 1.0, our proprietary, in-house business management software, launches in our store. 12
2005 Highest water year in 80-year record of the Virgin River watershed! Narrows opens July 13th after three months of river closure. 13
2006 Virgin River tubing, Mountain Biking, and Road Biking trips premiere. 15
2007 High Adventure Day and Guided Narrows hikes premiere, as well as limited guided hiking in Zion National Park. This is the first year we are open year-round, 365 days, much to the delight of winter visitors. 18
2008 We open a brand-new flagship store at 36 Lion Boulevard, a drastic improvement from our cozy but humble Outfitting Shed. New trips include canyoneering in Birch Hollow and Monterrey, Mexico, as well as rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. 24
2009 Overland 4x4 tours on our Mercedes-Benz Unimog premiere, as well as our Extreme Adventure Canyon Day. 28
2010
 Lake Powell Ventures, Wilderness Ventures, and Locals Adventures premiere. 32
2011
 Upgrade shuttle vans to 2011 Mercedes Sprinters with zero carbon emissions. Add new unimog to the fleet, with custom fabrication in process. New Neon Canyon trips in Escalante National Monument. 27