Rudy sitting down beside a campfire
Position: General Manager.
Specialties: Hiking, climbing, backpacking, traveling, fly fishing, skiing, biking. A little bit of everything depending on the season and who is involved!
Location: Charlotte.
When did you start at GOPC? 04/05/1999.
Rudy camping with his dad as a kid
Younger Rudy at Shining Rock Wilderness
What (or who!) first introduced you to the outdoors lifestyle?
My father. He was the scout master of our boy scout troop.
What's been your most memorable trip/outdoors experience?
I graduated from college and worked for the local outfitter in Harrisonburg, Va. I ran into an acquaintance and I asked what he was doing after college. He said he was riding his bike across the country. "How 'bout you?" he asked.
I said "I'm not sure."
He said, "You want to go?"
I said "Absolutely!"
2 weeks later we rode our bikes across the entire United States (self-supported!) with 3 people who hardly knew each other. It was the most freeing experience of my life and I was affirmed by the magnificence of our nation, its people, and its scenery. We hardly knew where we would lay our heads each night but were always in the flow state the universe provided. Several years later I decided to do a west coast tour. It's an amazing way to travel.
What first brought you to GOPC and what do you love about working there?
My love for the outdoors and desire to be in community with people, adventuring together! I needed an outlet from my initial bank job.
Rudy posing for a photo at Bryce Canyon
What has been your most special customer moment?
Oh gosh, so, so many. I've become friends with so many customers and gone on so many trips with them. My most memorable was a customer who invited for me to go on a fishing trip to Montana. My wife was 8 weeks pregnant with our first child but I just couldn't pass it up. She said, "go for it!".
A successful fishing day with Rudy (and his brown trout)
Rudy backpacking in Idaho
