Gossamer Gear Team

Trail Ambassadors

Cassie Burgess

has been hiking since she can remember. Starting with day hikes, sometimes hitching a ride on dad's shoulders and snoozing on his head, she progressed to car camping and finally backpacking. At the ripe age of 13, Cassie has climbed Mt. St. Helens, been stormed off Curtis Ridge on Mt. Rainier, completed Mt. Rainier's Wonderland Trail in 5 days, encountered bear and coyote up close, fallen asleep on her feet while hiking at 3 AM, and has experienced both the glorious weather the Pacific Northwest can serve up along with the sodden, windy, cold, mosquito bombing bonus days. Cassie has an appreciation for quality lightweight gear and learned the benefits of poles when years ago her dad offered one of his for her to use on a downhill section and never got it back. Cassie is no stranger to 20+ mile days, extreme elevation gains and losses, snow travel, cross country and night hiking since she grew up thinking this was normal.

Home: Bellevue, WA

Age: 13

Website:

Favorite Training Ground:
Tiger Mountain State Park, Mt. Rainier National Park

Current Plans:
Cassie is working with her dad on a mountain culture film. Her plans for this summer include hikes around Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, another Wonderland Trail hike, and anything else she can fit in before school starts.

Favorite Gossamer Gear Product:

Miniposa™
Ultralight Backpack

Cassie and her father, Steve, Burgess on Mt. St. Helens