our roots
Based in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior shoreline, Lichen and Ice works where it plays. It is desolate here. Our town of 20,000 is the biggest city for three hours or more in any direction. Rugged boreal forest surrounds us with staggering trail systems and nearly instantaneous outdoor access. If the lake looks inviting, it’s only a mile from our door to the beach. Extraordinary hiking, biking, and skiing are minutes away. That kind of outdoor access means that we’re outside, every day, through every kind of weather mother nature can conjure. It’s a perfect proving grounds for our designs… and a demanding source of inspiration.
A life-long enthusiast of outdoor sport, Brad started toting backpacks down trails and sleeping in the woods more than three decades ago, and has re-imagined ways to make things just about as long. He has worked as a professional outfitter and buyer in the specialty outdoor market for over a decade, leading community backpacking seminars and publishing a range of articles. He designs and builds much of his own outdoor equipment and apparel. In addition to working in fire/EMS, Brad has been a SAR team member and ski patroller. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Conservation and a M.A. in Writing, both from Northern Michigan University.
