About Valiant Outfitters
One day, a few years ago, a little girl, our founder’s first granddaughter, was born. Her name is Lucy. It’s not short for Lucille or anything, it’s just Lucy. She is named after someone, though. She’s named after Lucy Pevensie from C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
In Narnia, the fantastical world portrayed in The Chronicles of Narnia, Lucy is known as Queen Lucy the Valiant. That’s where the Valiant part comes from.
The Outfitters part? That’s the why part of what we do. All of us at Valiant Outfitters are passionate about helping traditional families navigate everyday life and preparing for and thriving through worst-case scenarios. We are convinced that the best way to do this is unplugged and in the outdoors.
Using traditional principles of camping, hiking, bushcraft, and survival, we outfit individuals and families for self-reliance in the wilderness while also emphasizing “Leave No Trace” principles. Along the way, the fun, adventure, and satisfaction of learning new and challenging skills prepare you for everything life has to offer.
Whether you’re experiencing life’s daily adventures, overcoming worst-case scenarios, or navigating contemporary culture, we’ll celebrate every daring adventure with you.
Joe Bassett – Founder, Lead Guide & Occasional Instigator
- Trail-Tested Sage: 40+ years teaching people how not to become a cautionary tale… mostly from personal experience.
- Strategic Hermit: INTJ—knows how most bad decisions will play out, but open to new outcomes and mildly curious if any top his.
- Wilderness Philosopher: Convinced that it’s nearly impossible to have a bad day outside. Will prove it to you, whether you like it or not.
- Adventure Minimalist (In Theory): Firm believer that your pack should include “just one less thing”… repeated indefinitely until you’re naked and afraid.
- Directionally Gifted: Has never technically been lost—though the wilderness has, on rare occasions, misplaced him for a while.
- Reluctant Author: Co-wrote Emergency Communication 101 with Creek Stewart. Not the book he set out to write, but the one that insisted on being written anyway.
- White Mountain Regular: Voluntarily hikes into places where the weather has a personality disorder, and the margin for error is thin. Keeps going back, which raises questions of a personality flaw.
- Founder (Because Why Not?): Started Valiant Outfitters on the simple premise that families should be capable, confident, and harder to kill.
- Ham (The Radio Kind): Talks to people across the airwaves. Occasionally talks to himself. Reception varies.
- Old Guy Strength: Not fast, not flashy—but annoyingly durable and difficult to outlast.
Emma Rosset – Associate Guide & Other Stuff
- Trailblazing Matriarch: Leading her brood through the wilderness like a modern-day pioneer, herding cats, all while keeping them in line with the finesse of a seasoned mom of four.
- Wilderness Wizard: Guiding others through the great unknown with the skill of a seasoned trailblazer.
- Adventure Alchemist: Turning ordinary hikes into unforgettable journeys filled with laughter and accidental night hikes.
- Trail Mentor: Instilling a love for the outdoors in her followers, one muddy footprint at a time.
- Hiking Guru: Dispensing hiking wisdom like an encyclopedia with awkwardly long legs.
- Expedition Expert: Planning and leading epic adventures that make even seasoned adventurers jealousish.
- Outdoor Oracle: Predicting weather changes and animal behavior with uncanny accuracy.
- Backpacking Boss: Gear and equipment destroyer or a seasoned pro with the flair of a sweaty fashionista.
- Campfire Captain: Commanding attention with tales of adventure and survival that would make Bear Grylls embarrassed or ashamed.
- Nature Nurturer: Cultivating a deep respect and appreciation for the wilderness in all who follow her lead. Except she still dislikes spiders.
- Eternal Optimist: Seeing every challenge as an opportunity for growth and every misstep or broken knee as a lesson learned.