Holubars put Boulder on the map for outdoor gear
By Carol Taylor
Imagine a time when outdoor recreation equipment was difficult to find in
Boulder. That changed in the 1940s, thanks to Roy and Alice Holubar.
The couple made significant contributions to the outdoor gear industry
and their success encouraged a legacy of Boulder outdoor entrepreneurs.
LeRoy Holubar met his future wife and business partner Alice
Freudenberg at the State Preparatory School, now Boulder High. LeRoy,
known as Roy, grew up in the mountains of Boulder. Alice was from a
German immigrant family. Both took full advantage of their education
and graduated at the top of their class. They earned scholarships to the
University of Colorado. After college graduation, Roy accepted a job
teaching mathematics at CU and the couple married in 1937.
They became passionate about mountain climbing early in their marriage.
Both were active in the Colorado Mountain Club, though at the time there
were few technical climbers in the group. Roy was involved with starting
the first climbing school in Boulder as well as the Rocky Mountain
Rescue Group, formed in 1947.
Finding suitable gear for their adventures was difficult for the Holubars
and their mountain climbing friends. So they tapped into a network of
Alice’s relatives in the Alps for recommendations. Soon the Holubars
were importing the best hiking boots, ski boots, ice axes, tents and other
gear from Europe to Boulder….