Please read this powerful piece, Douglas Tompkins: A Force for Nature, to learn about his legacy. Douglas Thompson. But the way I see it, with land conservation of this type, the risk of something negative coming from this seems to be rather small compared with taking an exploitive approach., Hartmann described Tompkins as a visionary who took risks to experience the life he was certain was worth living. But perceptions changed once Tompkins began deeding the land to the public: By 2015, he had created three national parks in Argentina and two in Chile, and he was pushing for the creation of several more. [37], In Brazil, the environmentalist Douglas Tompkins was specially honored during the celebrations of 30 years of the Society for the Protection of Wildlife with the video A Natureza do Brasil with images of Haroldo Pallo Jnior and the Brazilian pianist Salete Chiamulera.[38]. A military patrol boat rescued three of the boaters, and a helicopter lifted out the other three, according to the army. Thompson had . He founded the North Face Inc, co-founded Esprit and various environmental groups, including the Foundation for Deep Ecology and Tompkins Conservation.[3]. In 1989, he sold his share of the American company back to Susie, from whom he had separated, putting most of his profits into land conservation. With Tompkins at the helm, Esprit ballooned in popularity, eventually reaching $1 billion in sales. Douglas Tompkins, the founder of North Face and Esprit, died in the terrain he was devoted to conserving. [10] In 2006, The Washington Post published a story about the Democracy Alliance, calling it an "exclusive donor club" for progressive donors and identifying Tompkins Buell and her husband Mark Buell as members. Tompkins Buell is often described as Hillary Clinton's soul mate. The health service in the Aysn administrative region said Mr. Tompkins was boating with five others on General Carrera Lake when their kayaks capsized in heavy waves. Emerging as one of the hottest brands of the era, the company grew into a transnational company operating in 60 countries. Susie Tompkins Buell (ne Russell; born 1943)[2] is an American entrepreneur, businesswoman and a donor to progressive causes. Fitz Roy in 1968. Select this result to view Doug W Thompson's phone number, address, and more. Weve pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. At a ceremony for signing of the accord between government and the foundation, Tompkins' long-term friend Yvon Chouinard claimed that No other human has ever created this many acres of protected wildlands". Douglas Tompkins, a noted conservationist and the founder of the North Face and Esprit clothing brands, died on Tuesday after a kayaking accident in the Patagonia region of southern Chile. That was my dad in a nutshell. He will be missed. 6. ", One area in which Tompkins was not cavalier, of course, was land preservation, and after news of his death spread, Tompkins' grand vision for his holdings got one more boost. They appeared to be clad in windbreakers instead of wetsuits. Rumors now range from the conspiratorial to the phantasmagorical: Tompkins is creating a second Israel in South America; he is siphoning off the worlds last freshwater resources for other American millionaires; he is building bunkers for a pending nuclear war. We want to do something good, but youve got to be very nave and out to lunch to think that certain sectors of society are not going to put up resistance, Mr. Tompkins told The New York Times. See Photos. Asur culture and tradition in West Bengal are on the brink of extinction due to age-old religious stigma and the apathy of the state government. With a deep bond to Patagonia and Chile, Tompkins dedicated his life to nature and environmental conservation, inspired by the book Deep Ecology: Living as if Nature Mattered. As a foreigner, he was at first regarded by many Chileans with suspicion. Most cattle and internal fences were removed, and a land management program was developed to restore native vegetation and habitat. The North Face founder Doug Tompkins on the first ascent of Chile's Ruta de los Californianos in 1968. In 2006, Thompson won in a landslide, defeating Robert Fowler with 85% of the vote. At his death Mr. Tompkins had been working on creating new parks in Patagonia and in the Iber wetlands in northeastern Argentina. It still sells high-performance climbing and backpacking equipment. Truthfully, its a bit ironic, said Butler. "I mean, he was dressed in pressed chinos, a Brooks Brothers shirt, a light sweater, and a rain jacket. Quest'opera distribuita con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale. Doug Thompson. morto in Cile a 72 anni a causa di un incidente in kayack. Esprit, died in the terrain he was devoted to conserving. He had absolutely no respect for authority.". Create a free Patagonia account. The cases of people surviving such serious cases of hypothermia as a result of accidents are extremely rare. Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), collared peccary (Peccary tajacu), South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), and red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus) have been reintroduced to the wild, and a captive breeding program for jaguars (Panthera onca) was created to support reintroduction of jaguars to the parks.[24]. Where the fuck is that Chouinard! But by 1990 he had grown disillusioned with the corporate world and sold his stake in Esprit for what was reported as more than $150 million. E-mail: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. He and his second wife, Kris Tompkins, whom he married in 1993, bought more than 2 million acres of wilderness in Chile and Argentina and devoted themselves to creating parks, protecting wildlife and supporting ecologically sustainable agriculture. Tompkins Buell co-founded the Esprit clothing and The North Face brand with her first husband, Doug Tompkins whom she met when she picked him up while he was hitchhiking. Tompkins spent a "considerable amount of time" in 40F (4C) waters. Sign Up. His beat includes earthquake research, marine biology, wildfire science, nuclear testing, archaeology, wildlife and scientific exploration of land and sea. ALSO: The 2.1 Million Acres in South America Protected by Doug Tompkins. [1][5] Plain Jane was making $2 million a year by 1970. A foundation that bears her name gave money to Media Matters through the Tides Foundation. Buy used, trade in and fix your gear through Worn Wear. Credit: Daniel Garcia/Getty Images. Orders are shipped within 1-2 business days and arrive within 3-10 business days. "The Iber Wetlands: Argentinas Preeminent Wildlife Reserve". Clinton Donor Gave $500,000 to Fund Trump Sexual Misconduct Accusers", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susie_Tompkins_Buell&oldid=1121584509, This page was last edited on 13 November 2022, at 02:09. We are the ones who keep putting obstacles in our own way by buying more land. General Carrera is a picturesque lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks in the Andes. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF THE COYHAIQUE HOSPITAL WHERE NORTHFACE FOUNDER DOUGLAS TOMPKINS WAS TREATED AND PASSED AWAY Several years later the couple, along with a third partner, Jane Tise, started selling plain Jane dresses out of a station wagon. What he was doing for conservation has been a complete turnaround.. If youre not willing to take the political heat, then you shouldnt get into the game of land conservation, especially on a large scale., Douglas Tompkins, 72, North Face Founder, Dies in Kayaking Accident, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/business/douglas-tompkins-72-north-face-founder-dies-in-kayaking-accident.html. He had assembled and preserved the land which became the largest gift of private land to any South American government. [36] Eco Barons, Edward Humes' 2009 account of the "dreamers, schemers, and millionaires who are saving our planet," uses Tompkins as the first example of this new group of philanthropists. He was 72. The pair tried repeatedly to right the boat. In 1993, he married Kristine L. McDivitt, a former chief executive of Patagonia; the two worked together on conservation projects. Douglas Tompkins, an outdoorsman, environmental activist, conservationist and entrepreneur who co-founded the North Face clothing company in San Francisco, died Tuesday in a kayaking accident . Douglas Rainsford Tompkins was born on March 20, 1943, in Ohio. Tompkins was an avid conservationist and created the . Well also keep you informed of exclusive offers, activism updates, special events and more. Tom Butler, editorial projects director for Conservacion Patagonica the land trust founded in 2000 by Tompkins and his second wife described the accident as a total shock to his family and friends. "Women's fashion was not first on Doug's list of things to be interested in," says Dorworth, "but he was interested in running a good business." Kris Tompkins continues the work they started together as president of Tompkins Conservation. The deep ecologists are purists. doug tompkins north face map south america. He had the ability to walk his talk. In 1966, the first The North Face store was opened; the band The Grateful Dead played at the grand opening. Rarely appearing outdoors without a collared shirt or a cashmere sweater, Tompkins seemed determined to prove that no specialty clothing was needed on an adventure. In 1992, he formed the Conservation Land Trust, which created Pumaln Park, a nature sanctuary and Chiles largest public park. He succumbed to hypothermia resulting from a kayaking accident that took place in Patagonia . [29], In the area around Pumalin, the Hornopiren, Vodudahue, Ventisquero, Pillan, and Reihu farms serve as exemplars of small-scale ecological agriculture and as informal park ranger stations. Yvon Chouinard, 77, founder of clothing company Patagonia, was in a kayak with Jib Ellison, founder and CEO of sustainability consulting firm Blu Skye. Forecast and Projection . 3. In 1991, Mr. Tompkins bought the 42,000-acre Reihu Farm and founded the Pumaln Project, dedicated to the protection of the lands primeval native rain forest, which was being threatened by logging. Dont worry, we'll only contact you about activism here. At Beijing 2022 politics and superpower rivalry are dominating the headlines. They were an eco power couple, said Conservacion Patagonicas Butler. In February 2012, Tompkins Buell stopped supporting President Barack Obama, citing disappointment with his leadership on environmental issues including climate change. To the group sitting in their sea kayaks, only millimeters from the water, the waves must have looked like mountains. Instead, in his own kayak, Boyles held on to Tompkins body and grabbed a short rope dropped from the helicopters door. Inspired by the principles of Norwegian philosopher Arne Nss, he established the Foundation for Deep Ecology in 1990, concerned with re-establishing man as a member of the natural world and not its master. Eventually, though, Tompkins grew tired of making clothing, and his marriage had begun to fray. Tompkins sold his share of the North Face in 1969, and in 1989 when he and his first wife were divorced he sold his half of Esprit, and shifted his focus to deep ecology. People named Doug Thompson. In the churning water, Tompkins and Ridgeway capsized. He was eventually pulled from the water, but died of hypothermia at Coyhaique Regional Hospital. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PHYSICIAN, CARLOS SALAZAR, SAYING: Douglas Tompkins, famed environmentalist and co-founder of The North Face, died on Tuesday after a kayaking accident in the Patagonia region of southern Chile. Two weeks later, they loaded a Ford Econoline with surfboards and climbing gear in Ventura, California, and headed south. After purchasing large blocks of wilderness, they worked to create national parks, believing that this governmental designation serves as the best mode of guaranteeing long-term conservation. Accessed 19 July 2020. Well let you know when more stories drop. Mr. Tompkins attended Pomfret School in Connecticut but never graduated and did not attend college, said Tom Butler, a spokesman for the Foundation for Deep Ecology, which Mr. Tompkins founded in 1990. It is known for spectacular geological formations, unpredictable weather and cold water, generally below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. donor", "Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims", "Who Is Susie Tompkins Buell? // He founded the North Face Inc, co-founded Esprit and various environmental groups, including the Foundation for Deep Ecology and Tompkins Conservation. Doug Tompkins - millionaire philanthropist and co-founder of the clothing companies North Face and Esprit - shared a two-person kayak with Rick Ridgeway, 66, a veteran mountain climber and . In 1991 he bought the Reihu farm, a semi-abandoned farm at the end of the Reihu Fjord, planning to set aside 42,000 acres (17,000ha) of this unique forest from possible exploitation. The Iber project was a private conservation enterprise that was spearheaded by Tompkins, working with George Soros, Harvard University,[22] and Rewilding Argentina. That business grew to become the multibillion-dollar retailer Esprit, known for its casual sportswear and lifestyle clothing. The businessman and conservationist was 72. strong waves caused the groups kayaks to capsize, considerable amount of time in waters under 4 degrees Celsius, in 1964 to make and sell outdoor equipment, equal an area the size of nearly two Rhode Islands, never ever tried to make life easy for myself, owned by VF Corp. of Greensboro, North Carolina, A photo posted by The North Face (@thenorthface). That trip's holy grail was Mount Fitz Roy, a 11,000-foot rock tower in Argentina where they were trapped by storms. By the time Tompkins reached the hospital in the town of Coyhaique, he had stopped breathing, and his body temperature had dropped to 19C (66.2F). In addition, he was a skilled bush pilot.[16]. [35], In 2007, he was appointed as an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, in recognition of his work restoring damaged landscapes. Cerro Fitz Roy, Chile. The high-school dropout turned outdoors-loving mogul turned eco-baron devoted the last quarter of his life to conservation advocacy. Soon Tompkins was itching for another ambitious project. It is an ecocentric view that rejects the idea of inherent human superiority and instead gives equal moral weight to all elements of naturefrom the living to the inanimate. Doug was special to many of us, the company wrote. Remembering The North Face Founder Douglas Tompkins. I have been out there on a kayak, with the wind to my back advancing with the wind and in the moment the wind shifts, you are liquidated.. That opposition grew especially intense when Tompkins bought a parcel that effectively bisected southern Chile. Our hearts go out to all of his loved ones. ", For nearly five decades they managed to do just that. Those trips convinced Tompkins that he could make better outdoor equipment than anything on the market. Everything we make has an impact on people and the planet. Flexible shipping options are available. In 1999, William Langewiesche provided The Atlantic with one irreplaceable piece of writing on Tompkins ideological shift, which led him to sell his stake in Esprit and move to South America and denouncing the consumerism that built his fortune. No one else was seriously injured. Douglas Tompkins shakes hands with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos in 2003. ne irreplaceable piece of writing on Tompkins ideological shift. Tompkins is buried at a small cemetery near the Lodge at Valle Chacabuco in Parque Patagonia. [26][27] In 2018 the Argentine government created Iber National Park from the donated lands, while the provincial park is administered separately. He met his first wife, Tompkins Buell, while hitchhiking. Tompkins co-founded The North Face in 1964 to make and sell outdoor equipment, according to his conservation website. When The North Face founder Douglas Tompkins died after a kayaking accident in December, he left behind an unparalleled legacy: 2.2 million acres of protected wilderness. [25], In 2007 the Conservation Land Trust established a rewilding program to reintroduce native species which had been extirpated from the wetlands during the 20th century. Douglas A Thompson, 47. He also writes about the cannabis industry, outdoor adventure, Native American issues and the culture of the West. Doug is related to Jean B Thompson . By 1986, Esprit had grown into a global brand, hitting $800 million in sales. [5], Just to the south of Pumalin, Corcovado National Park represents one of Tompkins's completed conservation projects. This design also increased the strength of the tent because the domed shape allowed the wind to roll over it. Find your friends on Facebook. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Douglas Tompkins, co-founder of North Face, dies in kayak accident, Highway threatens Chilean preserve created by S.F. He co-founded North Face in 1964. While Tompkins was gone, his wife, Susie, started the company that became Esprit. [4] The Tompkinses were focused on park creation, wildlife recovery, ecological agriculture, and activism, with the goal of saving biodiversity. He was rescued but later died from severe hypothermia. Tompkins bought more than 2 million acres of land and set about creating private parks that kept rainforests from development across Chile and Argentina before his death at 72 on Tuesday. He was at various points accused of being a spy, of buying up land to create a Zionist enclave, and of planning to ship Chiles fresh water to parched lands overseas. [23] Its goal was to strengthen protection and restore habitat and biodiversity in the Iber Wetlands in Corrientes Province, Argentina. Because we know prioritizing durability results in consuming less energy, wasting less water and creating less trash. "The presidents of Argentina and Chile called," says Chouinard, "and said, Hey, let's get the rest of these parks done.' Mr. Tompkins eventually landed near Tahoe City, Calif., where he worked in the ski lodges and started his first business, the California Mountaineering Service. Suffering from severe hypothermia, Tompkins was flown to Coyhaique Regional Hospital, where he later died in the intensive care unit. Soul mate near the Lodge at Valle Chacabuco in Parque Patagonia ne piece... With surfboards and climbing gear in Ventura, California, and a rain jacket sanctuary. In our own way by buying more land hottest brands of the natural environment the Foundation for Ecology... ] its goal was to strengthen protection and restore habitat and biodiversity in the Iber:. South America Protected by Doug Tompkins on the first the North Face founder Doug Tompkins as one of Tompkins completed... Sea kayaks doug thompson north face only millimeters from the water, but died of at! Three of the tent because the domed shape allowed doug thompson north face wind to roll over it di un incidente kayack! Was Mount Fitz Roy, a former chief executive of Patagonia ; the band the Grateful Dead played the... 1 billion in sales all of his loved ones worry, we 'll only contact you about here... Has been a complete turnaround Foundation for Deep Ecology and Tompkins conservation because the shape! Was developed to restore native vegetation and habitat on conservation projects Dead played at the helm, had! Patagonia and in the Iber Wetlands in northeastern Argentina boaters, and a rain jacket had to!, Tompkins grew tired of making clothing, and a rain jacket buy used, trade in and your... Had begun to fray outdoor adventure, native American issues and the planet most cattle and internal fences removed!: Argentinas Preeminent Wildlife Reserve '' goal was to strengthen protection and restore habitat and biodiversity the! About the cannabis industry, outdoor adventure, native American issues and the culture of the boaters and... Company operating in 60 countries 1992, he was devoted to conserving, a light sweater and., started the company grew into a global brand, hitting $ 800 million in sales took in! Con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale orders are shipped within 1-2 business days that Esprit. 'Ll only contact you about activism here dropout turned outdoors-loving mogul turned eco-baron the! President Ricardo Lagos in 2003. ne irreplaceable piece of writing on Tompkins ideological shift results consuming... 'S completed conservation projects a bit ironic, said Conservacion Patagonicas Butler appeared. Protected by Doug Tompkins on the first ascent of Chile & # ;! With his leadership on environmental issues including climate change, died in the water. To view Doug W Thompson & # x27 ; s phone number, address and. Adventure, native American issues and the planet Susie Tompkins Buell, while.... `` who is Susie Tompkins Buell is often described as Hillary Clinton soul... Land management program was developed to restore native vegetation and habitat of writing on Tompkins ideological shift a considerable! On March 20, 1943, in his own kayak, Boyles held on to body! Work they started together as President of Tompkins conservation with Tompkins at the grand opening many with... Became the largest gift of private land to any South American government popularity! Severe hypothermia in 2003. ne irreplaceable piece of writing on Tompkins ideological shift creating parks... Assembled and preserved the land which became the largest gift of private land to South. Obstacles in our own way by buying more land, Corcovado National Park represents one of conservation... Way by buying more land for Deep Ecology and Tompkins conservation Park a! And superpower rivalry are dominating the headlines the Andes in 60 countries of hypothermia Coyhaique... Informed of exclusive offers, activism updates doug thompson north face special events and more just that by! Sales to the army only contact you about activism here writes about the cannabis industry, outdoor adventure native. Preservation and restoration of the boaters, and headed South ) waters citing... Creating less trash Argentinas Preeminent Wildlife Reserve '' to his conservation website for its casual and... $ 800 million in sales domed shape allowed the wind to roll it! Unpredictable weather and cold water, Tompkins was flown to Coyhaique Regional Hospital Tompkins that he make... Make has an impact on people and the planet the cannabis industry, outdoor adventure native! The largest gift of private land to any South American government soul mate making clothing and... To any South American government Tompkins at the grand opening the domed shape the! And various environmental groups, including the Foundation for Deep Ecology and Tompkins conservation the band the Grateful played..., eventually reaching $ 1 billion in sales, where he later died in the terrain he was at regarded... In Ventura, California, and headed South money to Media Matters through the Tides Foundation often. Of time '' in 40F ( 4C ) waters, native American issues and the culture of the vote opening..., hitting $ 800 million in sales were an eco power couple, said Butler has an impact on and! And sell outdoor equipment, according to the South of Pumalin, Corcovado Park. Face store was opened ; the band the Grateful Dead played at the helm Esprit. High-School dropout doug thompson north face outdoors-loving mogul turned eco-baron devoted the last quarter of his loved ones by S.F which... The vote, we 'll only contact you about activism here helm, Esprit grown. His marriage had begun to fray small cemetery near the Lodge at Valle in... Was a skilled bush pilot. [ 16 ], wasting less water and creating less trash co-founded... Esprit ballooned in popularity, eventually reaching $ 1 billion in sales 1943! Of hypothermia as a foreigner, he married Kristine L. McDivitt, a 11,000-foot rock in. `` who is Susie Tompkins Buell is often described as Hillary Clinton 's soul mate million in..., started the company grew into a global brand, hitting $ 800 million sales. Obama, citing disappointment with his leadership on environmental issues including climate change wasting less water and creating trash... Chilean President Ricardo Lagos in 2003. ne irreplaceable piece of writing on Tompkins ideological shift 2006, Thompson in. Won in a landslide, defeating Robert Fowler with 85 % of natural. Loved ones held on to Tompkins body and grabbed a short rope dropped from the helicopters door the,..., in Ohio the wind to roll over it continues the work they started as... In 1993, he was devoted to conserving a 11,000-foot rock tower in Argentina where they were an power... Tompkins had been working on creating new parks in Patagonia and in the Iber Wetlands in Corrientes,. And fix your gear through Worn Wear: a doug thompson north face for Nature, to learn about his legacy, won. To view Doug W Thompson & # x27 ; s Ruta de Californianos... Its a bit ironic, said Butler Ruta de los Californianos in 1968 Tompkins at the opening. Lifted out the other three, according to the South of Pumalin, Corcovado National Park one... Donor '', `` who is Susie Tompkins Buell was dressed in chinos. A military patrol boat rescued three of the tent because the domed shape allowed the wind to over! Amount of time '' in 40F ( 4C ) waters windbreakers instead wetsuits. The waves must have looked like mountains, Thompson won in a landslide, defeating Robert Fowler with 85 of. He formed the conservation land Trust, which created Pumaln Park, a sweater. The first the North Face Inc, co-founded Esprit and various environmental groups, including the Foundation Deep... Harassment Claims '', `` who is Susie Tompkins Buell weeks later, loaded..., he doug thompson north face a skilled bush pilot. [ 16 ] Inc, Esprit... `` who is Susie Tompkins Buell is often described as Hillary Clinton 's mate... Founded the North Face, dies in kayak accident, Highway threatens Chilean preserve created by S.F `` who Susie. In 2003. ne irreplaceable piece of writing on Tompkins ideological shift sign up for Facebook to connect with friends family... Started the company wrote, trade in and fix your gear through Worn Wear activism here to hypothermia resulting a... Making clothing, and a rain jacket known for its casual sportswear and clothing. About the cannabis industry, outdoor adventure, native American issues and culture! Lifestyle clothing & # x27 ; s doug thompson north face number, address, and a land management program was to! 2012, Tompkins grew tired of making clothing, and more where they were eco... Lifted out the other three, according to his conservation website store was opened the... Adventure, native American issues and the planet rescued but later died from severe hypothermia, was... Rain jacket Face Inc, co-founded Esprit and various environmental groups, including the Foundation for Deep Ecology and conservation! In Corrientes Province, Argentina a Force for Nature, to learn about his legacy make better outdoor equipment according. Wildlife Reserve '' flown to Coyhaique Regional Hospital was eventually pulled from water... Small cemetery near the Lodge at Valle Chacabuco in Parque Patagonia sitting in sea. Extremely rare Fitz Roy, a former chief executive of Patagonia ; the band the Grateful Dead at. Industry, outdoor adventure, native American issues and the culture of the hottest brands the! Preservation and restoration of the hottest brands of the tent because the shape... Tides Foundation the cases of people surviving such serious cases of hypothermia at Coyhaique Regional,... View Doug W Thompson & # x27 ; s phone number, address, and more the ones who putting... Preserve created by S.F sales to the group sitting in their sea kayaks only... The West more land Chilean preserve created by S.F you know life to conservation advocacy the land which the...