Claudia Reyes loves the great outdoors. Backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, camping - that's where she's in her element.
Indeed, the native of Mexico met her future husband while backpacking near his hometown of Osoyoos in 2003, then moved to Canada and the Okanagan not long after.
So when the chance came along last year to open her own shop specializing in outdoor and mountain gear, she jumped at it.
The timing couldn't have been better. Reyes had previously spent a year and a half as manager of Riverside Plaza's True Outdoors before it closed in early 2019.
Today, Reyes is the proud proprietor of Front Street's newest addition, Eskala Mountain Sports, a "boutique" repository of way cool outdoor equipment and paraphernalia in Penticton's downtown.
Though not a particularly large space, Eskala is friendly and inviting and absolutely crammed with handpicked product that'll please any hardcore adventuring nerd.
From snowshoes to headlamps, camp stoves, apparel, tents, water filters, propane tanks, gloves, hydration packs, sleeping bags and air mattresses, dry sacks, tents, portable showers, backcountry shovels, bear spray, hammocks, climbing rope, quick draw carabiners, and much, much more, Eskala's got you covered.
Even better, Reyes uses every resource, including personal testing, to ensure she carries only high-grade gear.
"We don't sell anything that will disappoint you halfway through your hike or climb," she says. "Only items from respected companies and with good warranties, where they'll really help you if something doesn't work for you."
And she favours responsible, ethical manufacturers. Like Canadian-based Tentree, which works with sustainable materials and sticks ten trees in the ground for each item sold. They've planted more than 35 million trees to date.
Or Osprey Packs, which recently adopted the tough but forward-thinking "bluesign" standards for environmental health and safety in manufacturing across its entire product line. That every Osprey pack is also guaranteed for life is an obvious bonus.
PentictonNow had a great time at Eskala. We tried the mini climbing wall where customers audition new mountaineering shoes before buying. We marveled at the craftsmanship in an ultra-portable campsite espresso maker. We tried out a sleek hiking pole that seemingly weighed no more than a couple of cell phones.
But we were most impressed with Reyes herself. She's enthusiastic and talkative, and she has a wealth of information and advice she'll happily dispense to anyone.
That she'll soon begin serving coffee at the front of the shop, with all proceeds going to the Skaha Bluffs Watch Society in its fight against crime at the busy but secluded Skaha Bluffs parking lot, only cemented our opinion of her.
Situated at 136 Front Street in downtown Penticton, Eskala Mountain Sports is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day of the week except Sunday. Call 236-422-3733 or hike over to the Eskala website for more information.
