Great Stuff for Campers at Pie Town Gear
By Bobbi Zane

Pie Town Gear owner Randy Meyers displays a Keen sport sandal.

If you're looking for gold panning equipment, Julian's Pie Town Gear, where you'll find pans and screens, is the best place in town to start.

Recent rains have brought a lot of potential prospectors to town hoping to make a strike in a nearby creek or hillside, according to Randy Meyers, who owns the shop on Main Street with his wife Linda.

Longtime campers and hikers who used to set up their tents at Mount San Jacinto even in the snow, Randy and Linda know what their customers need and want. First and foremost is good information on local hiking trails.

Beyond gold panning equipment, their tiny shop is bulging with camping and hiking gear, ranging from tents to backpacks to footwear. There are hats and headgear, sunglasses, all kinds of totes, sleeping bags, maps, books, stoves, navigational devices, and often-forgotten necessities such as tent repair kits and bug spray.

There's plenty of stylish apparel for the well-dressed camper. Racks are stuffed with pants, shirts, shorts, and jackets, all designed for adventure campers. Among the most popular items are the Keen shoes, sandal-like footwear with good support that hikers like.

Not only do they run Pie Town Gear, Randy and Linda are also founding members of Julian Doves and Desperadoes, the historic reenactment group that has entertained visitors to Julian on weekends since 2003.

Pie Town Gear, located at the Stonewall Store at 2015 Main Street, is open daily. For more information, call 760-765-0612.