Staff Bios: John "JT" Thompson

A Blue Ridge Mountains native, JT left home in 1983 and headed Raleigh where he earned a degree Natural Resources Recreation from NC State University. He took a seasonal job as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service, first here on the Blue Ridge Parkway then the legendary Denali National Park in Alaska. During the mid '90s, JT got a chance to explore Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe while managing to fit rafting the Zambezi and bungee-jumping over the world-renowned Victoria Falls into his schedule. Somewhere along the line, he wound up taking a job here at Black Dome and he's been with us for more than fifteen years now.

JT is the head buyer for all technical camping gear, such as our selection of high-end expedition packs, lightweight backpacking tents and sleeping bags, backcountry cookware, GPS/maps and outdoor literature, and all those little essentials you just can't hit the trail without. As if that's not enough work, he's also the guy who coordinates our shipping and receiving, returns and warranty, special orders, and of course, sales.

JT met Diane Ducharme, the love of his life, at Black Dome and in 1997 they became husband and wife in a mountainside wedding in the company of friends and family. Enjoying a mountain marriage, JT and Diane enjoy backpacking trips, climbing, and mountain biking. In the past few years, playtime took a different focus in 2003 with the birth of their daughter Emma Rae Thompson, who is now a very active five year-old. JT occasionally manages to find the time to pursue his love of motorcycle riding, at the very least revving up his bike for the ride to work.

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