Born on the trail

Born from conversations on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2006, YAMA is a company built around a workshop and a life on the trail.

Our Path

Conversations on the Pacific Crest Trail led me to found YAMA in 2006 (under the name Alpinlite). Since then, I’ve strived to get out on the trail as much as I can, and to design efficient, thoughtful, and beautiful gear inspired by my trail experiences. It’s important to me to make the most of by outdoor time, and I aim to help you find that balance that allows you to explore efficiently and comfortably.

As YAMA grows, I aim to be ultralight on the enviroment. It's a complex challenge, and while I don't have the answers, I'm seeking ways to minimize enviromental impacts while out enjoying our planet.

~Gen Shimizu

Our Home

I design and build YAMA gear out of a historic, former lumber mill on the banks of the Blackfoot River, just outside of Missoula, Montana. Here, I'm pretty much surrounded by national forest and wilderness lands, and on lucky days, I can see bighorn sheep on the mountainsides outside the workshop windows.

Visits by appointment.

Mailing address:
PO BOX 964
Bonner, MT 59823

Thanks to those who've helped us along the way.