The true story of the founder of The North Face: the man who preferred nature to profit

It seems a tragic irony of fate. The man who had built an empire on love for outdoor life, the co-founder of The North Face, Douglas Tompkinsfound death between the forces of nature that had dedicated his second life to protect. On December 8, 2015, the icy waters of Lake General Carrera, in Chilean Patagonia, have rebelled and overturned his kayak, condemning him to a fatal hypothermia despite the desperate rescue attempts. But Tompkins’ biography does not end in that lake. In some ways, it starts right from there.

His is the story of a radical transformation: from successful entrepreneur and icon of consumerism to one of the most influential and visionary conservationists of our time. A parable that led him to deny the system that had made him a billionaire, coming to declare in an interview with Outside in 2012: “”.

From the idea in a garage to the crisis of consciousness

Born in Ohio in 1943, Tompkins was a rebel by nature. He abandoned the school to pursue his passions: skiing and climbing. In 1964, in San Francisco, together with his first wife Susie Buell, he founded a small shop of ski and mountain equipment. The North Face called it, a name that was a declaration of intent. “The southern wall is the most climbing one, the snow is softer and the sunlight makes it warmer,” he explained once. “I prefer the most difficult side. The hard and icy wall. The North Face is a more difficult challenge. I travel that way in life“.

The success was overwhelming, then replicated with the Esprit clothing brand. But while the profits grew, a deep sense of discomfort grew in Tompkins. He saw the business world as a destructive machine. The turning point took place in the late 1980s: he sold his shares, abandoned the company world and moved to South America. There, together with his friend Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia brandHe fell in love with the wild lands on the border between Chile and Argentina. And there he also fell in love with Kristine Mcdivittat the time of Patagonia’s delegated administrator. They married in 1993, combining not only their lives but also a common vision: allocating their wealth to safeguarding the planet.

The philosophy of profound ecology

Together, Doug and Kris have created one of the greatest private conservation projects in history. They purchased about 890,000 hectares of land in Chile and Argentina. Their goal was not to possess, but protect and return. As Kristine explained, they were deeply influenced by Norwegian philosopher Arne Naessfather of deep ecology (or Deep ecology). “At the center of each of our parks,” he said, “there is the belief that every form of life has an intrinsic value”.

Their method was revolutionary. They bought old cattle farms, such as immense Estancia Valle Chacabucoand started a rewilding process: they removed kilometers of fences, rescued invasive plant species and let nature be re -appropriates its spaces. This allowed the return of native species such as the guanacoThe pumaThe condor and theHuemulThe Cervo delle Ande. An immense work, which led to the creation and expansion of national parks, subsequently donated to the Chilean and Argentine states. Among the jewels of their inheritance are the Pumalín Douglas Tompkins and Patagonia National Park.

A legacy that continues to grow

The work of the Tompkins has not been without obstacles. Initially, they were looked at with suspicion. Local politicians and entrepreneurs accused them of being “lands’ pipeline” with fine seconds. But time and facts have dissipated doubts. The collaboration with governments, culminating in 2018 with a historical agreement signed by Kristine and the then Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, led to the creation of a network of national parks that protects millions of hectares.

After Doug’s death, Kristine Tompkins continued to lead their mission through the Tompkins Conservation Foundation and sister organizations, Rewilding Chile And Argentine rewilding. The work continues with ambitious projects: the reintroduction of the jaguar in the wetlands of Iberá after 70 years of absence, the liberation of Condor Andini, the protection of the latest algae forests of the Mitre peninsula.

Douglas Tompkins today rests in the cemetery of the Patagonian National Park, in that land that has loved and protected so much. At the exit, a sign recites a phrase that summarizes his philosophy: “There is no more perfect synonym of God than beauty”. His life, a constant countercurrent challenge, shows that another way is possible and that true patriotism, as he himself said, is not to exploit his country, but to protect it.