By Zach Thummel
Columbia Gorge News
CASCADE LOCKS — A local outdoor recreation business is making it easier for people in the Columbia River Gorge to get outside.
Trails Diverged, based in Cascade Locks, has launched an outdoor gear lending library stocked with kayaks and paddle boards, backpacks, tents, snowshoes, mountain bikes, coolers, and even smaller essentials like water jugs and stoves.
Owner Trisha Schales said the idea grew out of both experience and necessity. After working as a guide for REI Experiences and acquiring a large amount of gear when the program ended, she realized she had the equipment to build something that could serve the community.
“A lot of people in the Gorge are renting rooms in shared houses, small spaces, and we don’t have a lot of storage,” Schales said. “I’ve also worked a lot with folks who are prohibited from getting outside by finances and doing things because they can’t spend $1,000 to try backpacking and see if they like it. When you purchase all of those things individually, it really adds up.”
The lending library is meant to remove those barriers by offering low-cost rental options for people who want to explore on their own. Unlike many rental businesses, Trails Diverged also allows customers to keep gear for multiple days or more than 24 hours, giving them more flexibility to use it on a trip.
“All the gear is kept together, and I’m basically running out of my house right now and running things for people,” said Schales. “I’m based in Cascade Locks, so sometimes I get mountain bike rentals, and I run them down to the trail and drop them off for people and then pick them up when they’re done or meet them somewhere, whatever the case is.”
Schales said guided outings already include all necessary equipment, but the rental side is designed for self-guided adventures. She said the business is also exploring nonprofit status and hopes to eventually secure a commercial space where customers can browse the gear in person.
Ultimately, Schales said the goal is simple: to make outdoor access more affordable and more accessible for the Gorge community.
“We want to serve the community,” she said. “We want to open outdoor access and experiences and make it affordable and accessible.”
For people new to backpacking, kayaking, or other outdoor activities, Schales recommends starting with a class or guided outing to learn safety basics and leave-no-trace principles before heading out on their own. For more information on gear rentals or other services, visit www.trailsdiverged.com.
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