There is a particular kind of morning in the Rockies — the air still cold, light just catching the ridgeline, something moving at the edge of a meadow that you almost missed. That is the moment this site exists for.
Ponderosa Supply Co. is built around one idea: that spending time in wild places goes better when you know what you are doing and have gear that does not let you down. Not the most expensive gear. Not the flashiest. The right gear, chosen carefully, used well.
Who’s Behind This
I’m a photographer and outdoor adventurer based in Colorado. I’ve spent years moving through the Rockies with a camera — chasing light on high ridges, sitting still in aspen groves waiting for elk, camping out of the back of a truck on the edge of canyon country. The gear I write about is gear I’ve used, tested, and in some cases replaced after it failed me at the wrong moment.
The name comes from the ponderosa pine — one of the most recognizable trees in the American West, common across the elevations where I spend most of my time. It felt like the right name for something rooted in this landscape.
What We Cover
Ponderosa Supply Co. covers two things:
Gear — honest, practical guides to the equipment that makes backcountry travel and wildlife observation more effective and more comfortable. Binoculars, GPS devices, water filters, shelter systems, power solutions. We cover what works, what doesn’t, and what is actually worth the money.
Skills — how to move through terrain quietly, how to read a landscape for wildlife, how to set up a safe camp, how to navigate when cell service disappears. The practical knowledge that makes the difference between a good trip and a great one.
Everything here is written for people who actually go outside — hikers, backpackers, wildlife watchers, and outdoor photographers who want straightforward information they can act on.
How We Choose What to Recommend
We do not recommend gear because someone paid us to. Affiliate links on this site mean we may earn a small commission if you buy something through a link — at no extra cost to you — but that never influences what we suggest. If something is not worth buying, we say so.
The standard is simple: would we carry it, use it, and trust it in the field? If yes, it earns a recommendation. If not, it does not appear on the site.
A Note on the Places
Most of what you will read here is shaped by the Colorado Rockies — the San Juans, the Elk Range, the high desert country of the Western Slope. But the principles apply broadly. Good gear works everywhere. Moving quietly through terrain works everywhere. Understanding animal behavior works everywhere.
If you are spending time in the mountains, the backcountry, or anywhere wild animals live and move — this site is for you.
Questions, suggestions, or just want to talk gear? Reach out through the contact page.