Thursday, Sept 19 2024

Purple Rain: Where Thru-Hiking in Skirts is Both Business & Family Act – Garage Grown Gear

By A Mystery Man Writer

When Mandy ‘Purple Rain’ Bland set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2012, she packed rain gear that was compact, affordable, and extremely lightweight. She packed a trash bag. “But after getting snowed and rained on in the Smokies, I quickly realized it wasn’t cutting the mustard,” Mandy laughed. “A lot of people were making their own gear, and that just blew my mind! I didn’t even know that was an option!” Desperate for something more suitable and effective, she called her mom and asked her to create a proper rain skirt; in her favorite color, purple, of course. “It set the idea in place that you could be more comfortable and confident with the right hiking attire,” Mandy said. Soon after, Mandy’s trail name became Purple Rain. That’s just the prologue to the Purple Rain Adventure Skirts story.
When Mandy ‘Purple Rain’ Bland set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2012, she packed rain gear that was compact, affordable, and extremely lightweight.