Misty Mountain Threadworks is a company in Banner Elk known nationwide in the rock climbing community for manufacturing high-end climbing harnesses. President Goose Kearse has a lifetime passion for climbing and wants to create harnesses that allow everyone to experience the thrill of the climb.

“Climbing can be really intense and we love it for that,” Kearse said. “It’s one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had outdoors. We manufacture harnesses that allow our customers to feel safe and comfortable so that they can get into the flow of the climb without feeling worried about their gear.”

Back in 1985, Kearse’s friend Woody Keen was making harnesses in his garage. Working at a NC Outward Bound school, Keen designed harnesses at home and gave birth to the new business named Misty Mountain. Kearse joined the business in 1989 bringing his manufacturing experience as well as knowledge of how different materials perform from his undergraduate studies in chemistry.

“Living in this mountainous terrain surrounded by the flurry of outdoor activity supports this passion,” he said. “Any climber generally gets excited and starts evaluating the cliff face and looking at the cracks when they see any vertical cliff, and I am no different.”

Kearse attributes the growth of his business to building relationships with his clients and the community. “It’s an organic process,” he said “I’m not a salesperson. I like to take people climbing. I listen to the clients’ problems and try to solve them. When everyone is happy with what we do, they come back.

“We’re also looking at new designs, new materials, and potential improvements that can be made. We’ve recently found a North Carolina-made composite created from recycled plastic bottles. The goal is to be as green as possible with these materials while maintaining durability. It’s fun to test out new products. We make a sample and go climbing.”  

Over the years, Misty Mountain has grown to manufacture more than recreational climbing harnesses. They produce a range of load-rated textiles including slings, chalk bags, and packs. Their market has also expanded to include businesses such as climbing gyms and adventure parks, military and tactical organizations like special forces, and SWAT teams in law enforcement. The harnesses themselves are increasingly varied, including fits for people of all sizes, adaptive harnesses for people of different levels of abilities, and harnesses designed for people in wheelchairs. Kearse said that they are developing pediatric neurotherapy harnesses to help disabled children practice learning how to walk. They are also talking with a hip amputee about building a custom harness for her.

Kearse said quality is a top priority for Misty Mountain. The materials are high-end and the harnesses include top-quality features. “Most of our webbing comes from four main suppliers. We use U.S.-based materials because of the ties we have with manufacturers in this community,” he said. “For the military side, the Berry Amendment compliance requires any textiles used by the government must be made in the U.S. from U.S.-sourced materials. It’s great to source locally, and I believe this adds to the top quality of our high-end products.”

The variety of clients leads to the production of around 10,000 harnesses each year. “We have lots of demand and lots of great clients,” Kearse said. “One part of the business slows down and another picks up. We’re able to maintain a level workforce throughout the entire year. Winter months are for catching up on overflow orders and getting ready for the jump in recreational activity in the spring. We’re never not busy.”

As far as expansion for the business, Kearse said that there are thousands of potential futures. “My son is my number one climbing partner,” he said. “He joined the business in June, allowing the potential future to become a true family business. Our main goal is to simply remain relevant and grow organically.”

The business is also an active part of the High Country community. “We’ve got a good crew of people here and we’re pretty well known. We like to engage with our community and get as many people out climbing as we can,” Kearse said. Misty Mountain sponsored the collegiate bouldering competition at Appalachian State University in April. They support the Mountain Alliance, a program that works primarily at Watauga High School for teens to have transformative experiences in outdoor activities. They support Catalyst Sports with donations and time to take vets and others with different ability levels out climbing. Misty Mountain also supports The Access Fund to help protect wilderness climbing.

“Climbing helps you to come out of your shell. It helps you to feel better, to strengthen positive attitudes,” Kearse said. “Climbing can humble you and remind you to pause, take a deep breath, and be present in the moment. The world would truly be a better place if everyone went climbing. That’s why we want to make harnesses for everyone.”

Goose Kearse is an avid rock climber and president of Misty Mountain Threadworks in Banner Elk. Learn more at MistyMountain.com.