Big Agnes and Honey Stinger Support Warrior Hike Founder, Nominated for CNN’s Hero of the Year

October 27, 2015

(STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.) – Leading Steamboat Springs-based outdoor companies, Honey Stinger and Big Agnes, are proud to support Sean Gobin of Warrior Hike’s “Walk off the War” program who has been nominated for CNN’s Hero of the Year.

Gobin, an ex-marine, founded Warrior Hike to assist veterans with the transition back to civilian life through long-distance backpacking trips.  After being named a CNN Hero in July, Gobin has now been nominated for CNN Hero of the Year. The CNN award recognizes every day people who are making a positive impact on their communities.You can vote for him until November 15, here.

“Decompressing from military service with the camaraderie of other veterans, interacting with trail town communities and just the peace of being out in nature, restores their faith in humanity,” Gobin said in a recent press release. “It’s just like a deployment, except instead of going to fight a war, your mission is to be a civilian again.”

In 2012, after returning from deployments in both Afghanistan and Iraq, Gobin hiked all 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Inspired by the therapeutic effects of the long-distance hike, Gobin founded the Walk off the War program designed to support combat veterans transitioning from their military service by thru-hiking America’s National Scenic Trails. Interaction with members of trail town veteran organizations and local communities facilitates veterans’ reintegration into society, restores their faith in humanity, and builds a network of life-long friendships and relationships. Since 2012, more than 70 veterans have benefited from the Walk off the War program.

Big Agnes and Honey Stinger are proud supporters of Warrior Hike, providing sponsorship dollars and necessary equipment and nutrition for veterans while they are on the trail. Participants get to keep all of the gear, allowing them to return to the trail any time they feel the need.

About Big Agnes: Named for a peak in the nearby Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, Big Agnes®, Inc. is located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and produces award-winning sleeping bags, pads, tents and insulated apparel. Big Agnes is the exclusive distributor of Helinox trekking poles and camp furniture in North and South America. For more information, visit www.bigagnes.com or call 1-877-554-8975.

About Honey Stinger: Located in Steamboat Springs, Colo., Honey Stinger makes convenient, nutritious and great tasting honey-based foods including energy bars, protein bars, organic energy gels, organic waffles, organic chews, and kids’ organic snacks. Fueling some of the country’s top cyclists, runners, triathletes and teams, Honey Stinger products may be found at specialty sporting goods retailers, natural food grocers and www.honeystinger.com.