Hyperlite Mountain Gear

HMG TEAM

HMG Team / HMG Philosophy

The Hyperlite Team is a group of passionate, dedicated, and experienced outdoorsmen. Their trials and tribulations while backpacking, climbing, hiking, motoring, skiing and other outdoor adventures brought them together to try and make these activities more enjoyable. Mike St. Pierre, founder and president of the company, believes that there are not so many uncomfortable conditions in nature as there are uncomfortable, inappropriate, or poorly designed pieces of equipment to deal with those conditions. Read more about these adventurous men and join them in their dedication and passion for improving your outdoor experience.

Mike St. Pierre - founder/president/coo:  Mike has been an outdoorsman from his earliest years and has section hiked the Appalachian, the Adirondack, and the Rocky mountains, the plains of Texas, the slot canyons of Utah, and the deserts of California. Along the way, he commercially fished in Maine, toured as a sound technician with the Eagles, and cooked under Thomas Keller at Per Se in New York City.  Mike has consistently strived to increase his efficiency, performance, and enjoyment in the outdoors and believes that there are not so many uncomfortable conditions in nature as there are uncomfortable or inappropriate equipment.  Mike went light four years ago and has been designing and making lightweight and ultralight gear ever since.     

Dan St. Pierre - finance/strategy/marketing:  Dan is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and has over ten years of experience in corporate finance and entrepreneurship.   He loves to travel and has spent the past few winters roaming through India, studying and writing spiritual philosophy.  He has trekked and motorcycled through the Himalayan mountains, swam the holy Ganga, and practices yoga and meditation.  Most importantly during his travels, Dan has met some of the most incredible people from all over the world.

Donald "Bama" Crook III - design/testing/promotion: Bama is a dedicated and passionate long-distance hiker with a complete map of the Appalachian Trail tattooed on the back of his left leg.  To date, he has completed the Pacific Crest Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Long Trail, the Florida Trail, the Mountains to Sea Trail and the AT three times.  Recently, Bama converted to the lightweight hiking philosophy and in May 2010 set out on the AT for the third time and completed it in an amazing 92 days.  In 2011 Bama will set out on the Continental Divide Trail and hopes to complete his Triple Crown in the ultralight style.  By the end of 2011, he will have  logged over 13,000 wilderness miles on foot. Bama believes in low-impact hiking and leave no trace ethics.  He also enjoys climbing and snowboarding.

Rich Page - lead product design: Rich has been playing around the Earth’s mountains for a long time.   A dad, a climber, a skier and an outdoor gear designer, he’s been in the business longer than Gore-Tex and Fleece.  He has worked as a mountain guide in Alaska, where he summited McKinley, and as a backcountry ski guide in Colorado.  He has hiked with grizzlies, kayaked with orcas and always plays well with others.  Rich is an expert pack maker and now plays a critical role in all of HMG’s product development.  And if you ever need to find him on a weekend, check Mt. Washington first.