Meet Gracey Cockram: General Manager at Moosejaw on the Plaza

I took a risk and left my previous job of 6 years back in January because I wasn’t happy anymore. I wanted to find a place where going to work was exciting, not a chore, and I could surround myself with like-minded people. As fate had it, when I was leaving my precious job, Paul was planning the move to Boulder and life just fell into place for me. Moosejaw has been an absolute dream come true personally, and professionally. I look forward to every day with my team and our amazing customers who share their adventures and stories with us!

HCRB:  Is Moosejaw on the Plaza a place for beginners to start shopping for quality, performance equipment?  And don’t give some politically correct answer.  What can you get away with buying at Wal-mart?  And when MUST you spend the money and buy quality (at Moosejaw)?

Gracey:  Yes! We are a great place for beginners AND the experienced! We are great for beginners because we will always be honest with you and do our best to educate. We want every customer to be safe and comfortable but, we also understand that mountaineering is quite the expensive hobby. We’re not interested in dumping your pockets into our till.

A lot of our customers come in with “the list” that they’re given from their tour guides. We’re always happy to look it over, keep safety and comfort as a priority, but also trim out the unnecessary money grabbers on that list.

Things you can get at Wal-mart:

• A she-wee. It’s a thing and it’s miraculous
• Tarp
• Collapsible dishes
• Many of your mess kit needs

Things to NOT skimp on:

• Footwear (shoes AND socks)
• Rain gear
• Footwear – just for good measure, I’ll repeat it
• Sleeping pad (trust me)
• A pack that fits your body

HCRB:  So what’s new at Moosejaw since Paul P. left for Boulder and you took over as GM?

Gracey:  Besides the massive amounts of dancing to 90s Pop-punk? Yoga!!!! Moosejaw has always been a part of the yoga community but, that presence wasn’t huge in the KC store. We’ve brought in more mats, more gear, more clothing, and we’ve started to make great relationships in the yoga community! This year we sponsored Yoga Rocks the Park KC where we joined hundreds of yogis for classes at the Liberty memorial! We are continuing to build this business with a few more partners and should have some fun events in the near future!

As always, we are continuing our relationship with KCCC! We’re also building relationships with current and future climbing gyms in KC.

HCRB:  How well do you feel that Moosejaw works with the community?

Gracey:  Is amazespectacular a word? Community is what we thrive on at Moosejaw. We aren’t a giant, big box store with a fat guy in a suit funding our store front. We love our community and we love to spend our days talking adventure, climbing, yoga, or even great beer with KC. Without the amazing climbing/ hiking/ yoga/ outdoor love of KC, Moosejaw wouldn’t be here. We’re all in this together!

HCRB:  What’s this yoga thing you do?

Gracey:  Well, it’s rad because I get to wear leggings as pants. Beyond that, I’ve practiced yoga for almost a decade in studios from Indianapolis, Detroit, and all across metro KC. Recently I’ve had the pleasure of meeting teachers who are prioritizing making yoga available to EVERYONE, without financial obligations! So yes, I’ll give them a plug here (because they’re WONDERFUL!!!):

Lauren Leduc has begun pop-up yoga: different places on different days, all donation based (you can find pop-up yoga KC info on facebook) She is now building Karma Yoga tribe which will be a completely donation based studio open to KC!

Jenny Anderson has started POWERLIFE yoga which is also a Pop-up, free class, all over the city!!!

And of course, Brad Elpers who started the Yogi Beer Project! Donation based classes (all donations go to a cause) followed by free beer. What’s not to love?!

The KC yoga community is incredible and is becoming more accessible to everyone which is so rad! I’m so happy to have made such great relationships here.

HCRB:  What is your favorite things to do outside?

Gracey: 

Run.

That’s kind of a lie. I hate running but, I run A LOT because I have a ton of energy outside of running the shop and chasing a little one.  Yoga on my deck or in the park! I love to get our Canoe on the water as often as possible. Sometimes that’s just a day at Longview, others it’s a 4-day weekend on the Buffalo River. I also have a beautiful vegetable garden (compliments on my green-thumbed boyfriend) that I’m constantly harvesting in these summer months! In the winter months I make my best attempt at snowboarding in Colorado but, it normally ends with whiskey and bruises.

HCRB:  Where is your favorite place to do those outside things?Gracey:  Oh man…. I love any place we can go between our busy schedules. My favorite place ever, to this day, is Belle Isle in Detroit. There’s a beach, plenty of canoe paddling, fields for yoga, trails for running, and a beautiful conservatory with the best gardens! The 3-4 times a year I get the be there are the best!

Locally, we spend a lot of time at the James A Reed Wildlife area. Great fishing, trail running, and the pup can run wild!

HCRB:  What destination are you saving up money and vacation time?

Gracey:  We’re right now hoping to make a long road trip to Alaska and spend a fair amount of time on the water there, as well as throughout our drive (in the canoe…. Not a car in the water… That’s nonsense). I literally dream of the northern lights and I get happy tears when I think of seeing them vividly for the first time in person!

HCRB:  Do you embrace any specific diet or training philosophy?  Why?

Gracey:  I embrace clean eating. I don’t preach diets but, I love real food! I just made a venison chili last week: the deer was brought home by a friend and all of the veggies were grown from my garden. If it comes in a box or a can, it won’t be found in my kitchen.

HCRB:  What are 3 things you take on every outdoor trip?

Gracey:  1.  Rain gear  2.  Chapstick  3.  Shoes?  I also bring pants but… 3 things was all you said…..

HCRB:  Give a beginner (new at climbing, hiking, camping) 3 tips for enjoying a first outside adventure:

Gracey: 

1.  You must bring:  A great attitude and an open mind

2.  You must remember to:  Slow down, watch the sites, take it all in! It’s about the journey!

3.  You should never:  Take a selfie with a bear. Or an elk.

HCRB:  What is your favorite website for outdoor stuff?

Gracey:  Moosejaw.com…. Duhhhh!