Thumbnail Sketch of Trailhead’s History
May 2009
Wally Schaber

Standing on the corner of Scott & McRae Street is a unique post and beam building that looks like it would be as comfortable on the shore of the Nahanni River as it is in the trendy neighbourhood of Westboro in Ottawa. This same profile could be said of the owners and staff of the buildings principal tenant TRAILHEAD.

Trailhead began in 1976 with the merger of two five year old companies. In 1971 Wally Schaber created the guiding service; Black Feather Wilderness Adventures and Chris Harris started a separate outfitting business Harris Outfitters, in 1971. They knew of each other but it was not until a mutual friend Gary Schofield hired them both to teach his new Wilderness Outdoor Recreation course at Algonquin College in 1974 that they saw the potential in a merger. It was Gary who suggested the name Trailhead–-the starting point.

In 1976 the first Trailhead was opened in a 700 sq ft garage at 1358 Wellington Street. Our focus was rentals, programs and trips to the Northwest Territories. Our mentor and motivator was Bill Mason (see history of Mason/Trailhead) and the wave of enthusiasm for every new route we pioneered and product we tested and brought to market was incredible.

If the signs that identify our 27,000 sq ft Scott St. building seem a little eclectic, they actually tie us to our history. By the spring of 1978 we decided to get serious and signed the first of 3 five-year leases at a 4000sq ft store at 1341 Wellington Street. Bill Mason presented us with a 30`hand carved sign as an opening gift. This same sign is mounted on the north wall of our Scott St store. Over the course of those 15 years (1976-1990) Trailhead expanded to open stores with partner friends in Montreal, Toronto, Mississauga, Kingston and Ottawa’s Byward Market. Black Feather went on to run licensed trips on all the great rivers in the Mackenzie watershed as well as Baffin, Greenland and Ellesmere.

Many exciting stories and happy memories from this era are the ingredients of a book waiting to be written. We were on the cusp of a wave of enthusiasm by the public and a wave of creativity by users turned inventors to feed a desire for more and more comfortable and exciting wilderness adventures & gear. We tested early prototypes often with the inventor–-royalex canoes, Thermarests, Kevlar canoes, rotomolded kayaks, Gortex raingear, polypropylene and fleece garments, water sandals, self-standing tents, and countless other inventions that didn’t make it. We even invented a few ourselves like the blue barrel, the Chlorophylle tarp, the firebox and our prospector canoe series. The 1970`s and 80`s was a great time to play and grow.

In 1990 we got serious and bought a piece of property at the corner of Scott & McRae.
We put together our own plans and building crew and at the time build the biggest commercial post and beam building of its kind in the east. It takes a lot of money and friends to complete such a project. We decided to focus all our resources on the Scott St. Project and eventually sold or closed everything else. Long-time partners and friends bought key parts. Wendy Grater bought Black Feather and continues to guide it to new heights. Similarly James Malcolm bought Kingston Trailhead and runs it better than we ever did.

In December 1991 we moved into our new home Trailhead. Eighteen years later we continue to stay true to our roots, maintaining the largest rental fleet and retail canoe/kayak inventory in Ottawa along with a great selection of clothing, footwear and gear for outdoor travel. We maintain our rental fleet on our favourite river, the Dumoine and now Smiths Falls on the Rideau River a unique heritage site. We have also added a shuttle service to the headwaters of many local rivers. Traditional events such as the annual Been there and Back Again rental sale and the Alumni and Friends Christmas Party bring together 40 years of staff, clients and suppliers all of whom are friends.

Under the guidance of General Managers Charleen Glover and Karen Fitzgibbons the old traditions thrive and new ones are emerging. Trailhead continues to be the starting point for now a third generation of adventurers.
   
Please visit or revisit us soon at 1960 Scott St or www.trailhead.ca
W.S.

Press release from Trailhead Ottawa owner, Wally Schaber.

Chris Harris & Wally Schaber, founding partners of Trailhead Ottawa established in 1976, and Jason Yarrington, owner of Ottawa Paddle Shack, established 2001, are pleased to announce a merger. Both companies will continue to operate as separate identities until September then Jason will acquire the canoe, kayak, ski, outfitting, repair shop, rental division and rights to the name Trailhead. Ottawa Paddle Shack will move into the post and beam home of Trailhead at 1960 Scott St in September and lease all the space previously occupied by these divisions of Trailhead.

”We are very pleased to welcome Jason to Scott St and look forward to the new energy and retail strategy he brings to the 35 year tradition that is Trailhead boats, programs, outfitting, shuttles, rentals and winter trails gear“ Wally Schaber.

“Trailheads Post and Beam Building was built for an authentic outfitting store and we are happy Jason plans on continuing to evolve his business this way“ Chris Harris

“I’m convinced there is a bright future in authentic outfitting and specialty retailing with exceptional service. With new competition moving into Ottawa and other existing competition abandoning their boat departments or services, Ottawa Paddle Shack felt the timing was right for a major statement about who we are. We want to be Canada’s best canoe, kayak and ski store and 1960 Scott St is the place to do it” Jason Yarrington

Trailhead Ottawa will continue to lease 5000` in the front of 1960 Scott St. We plan to evolve into the best specialty adventure travel clothing and footwear store in Ottawa. We will sell clothing and footwear for adventure travel, be it water, snow, rock or paved trails.Tents, packs, sleeping bags and camping accessories will evolve to a limited edition of the best collection we can find.

Please give a warm welcome to Jason and his staff and to the new concept of merging these two great companies under one roof..............an exciting home for outdoor enthusiasts.