Continental Divide Trail Alliance Honors W.L. Gore & Associates

(Outdoor Retailer Show, Salt Lake City) Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA) honors W.L. Gore & Assoc., creator of famous GORE-TEX® fabrics and the world’s leading manufacturer of fluoropolymer products, with its 2006 Corporate Award. The annual award recognizes a company that has committed significant time and resources to the completion and protection of the Continental Divide Trail, the country’s highest, longest, wildest trail, stretching 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico.

Gore has been a supporter of CDTA and the Trail from the beginning. In addition to providing substantial financial support and donations in kind, the company has helped CDTA develop relationships with key members of the outdoor industry.

Since 1995, Gore has been a sponsor of the initiative contributing monetary and outerwear donations to the Alliance. As the official outerwear sponsor, Gore is participating in 2006 by donating Mountain Hardwear Swift Jackets with GORE-TEX® Paclite and Tech vests with WINDSTOPPER® fabric to CDTA volunteers and dedicated supporters.

“We created the CDTA to preserve this great American landmark,” said Bruce Ward, CDTA Co-Executive Director. “Without the help of dedicated and committed sponsors like Gore, we would not be able to continue the ground-breaking work we have started and ultimately complete the project to preserve this land for future generations.”

Garments made with GORE® fabric were selected because of their ability to adapt in unpredictable and changing weather conditions. Weather conditions on the Continental Divide Trail can rapidly change from sunny and warm in the lower elevations to windy and snow covered at 14,000 feet.

“The Continental Divide Trail Alliance is performing critical work in protecting one of our most important national treasures,” said Steve Shuster, GORE-TEX® Brand Manager at W.L. Gore & Associates. “Without their commitment, future generations would not be able to enjoy these kinds of natural habitats. It has been our honor to partner with our customers in order to provide performance product to CDTA’s teams to keep them comfortable and protected while working in all kinds of conditions. We look forward to supporting their valuable efforts for the long term.”

Perhaps best known for its consumer products like GORE-TEX fabric and ELIXIR guitar strings, Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, industrial, fabrics and medical markets. The company is headquartered in Newark, Delaware, and employs approximately 7,500 associates in 45 facilities throughout the world. For more information about W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. and GORE products, call (800) 431-GORE or visit www.gore-tex.com.

The Continental Divide Trail was established by Congress as a National Scenic Trail in 1978. When complete, the “King of Trails” will be the most significant trail system in the world. Stretching 3,100 miles along the backbone of America from Canada to Mexico, it accesses some of the most wild and scenic places left in the world while conserving the environment and promoting personal well being.

Since 1995, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance has played a central role toward the completion, management and protection of the Trail and it is the voice for unity in the diverse story of the Trail.

For more information about the Continental Divide Trail, call (303) 838-3760 or toll-free 1-888-909-CDTA (2382). Or visit www.cdtrail.org.

GORE-TEX and WINDSTOPPER are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. ©2006 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

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