Columbia Sportswear Sponsors The Men's Journal Adventure Team For Its Latest Expedition.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2001

Columbia Sportswear Company(R) (Nasdaq:COLM), maker of high quality outdoor apparel and footwear, will outfit the Men's Journal Adventure Team for its latest trek, a journey through the Alaskan wilderness.

Highlights from the expedition will air on the Outdoor Life Network, and will be shown in the November 2001 issue of Men's Journal magazine.

Beginning today, Men's Journal Adventure Team leader Gerry Moffatt will document former Olympic ski racing brothers and X-Game winners Zach and Reggie Crist and Olympian Pete Patterson as they travel to Alaska to retrace the steps of the legendary Dick Durance. Recognized as the pioneer of big mountain skiing and a member of the first U.S. Olympic Ski Team in 1940, Durance traveled the globe searching for the world's ultimate ski descents.

On the trek, the team will climb and ski nearby Mt. Markus Baker, the highest mountain in the Chugach range with the longest vertical descent of any peak yet skied in coastal Alaska. From the 13,176 ft. peak to the Pacific Ocean lies some of the most demanding ski terrain in the world, including vertical ice falls, crevasses and 60-degree slopes. The team will utilize a ski plane to scout and land on a nearby ice field at which point they will have two weeks to complete their objective and meet a pre-scheduled boat pickup. The journey itself will last eight weeks.

"This truly is a thrilling outdoor experience that encompasses the essence of what Columbia Sportswear is all about," said Chrisanthi Hatzantonis, Columbia's Promotion's Manager. "These athletes are pioneers in sports, and we are proud to be associated with them. We see this as a wonderful opportunity for Columbia to show off the durability and strength of its product line."

As the official gear and apparel sponsor, Columbia Sportswear outfitted the eight-member team from head to toe with its most technical Titanium(TM) and Titanium Alloy(TM) outerwear, specifically Ballistic Parkas(TM), Tri-Flex Pants(TM), Nine Mile Parkas(TM) and Icefield Parkas(TM). Fleece, vests, boots and accessories were also provided.

Men's Journal magazine is scheduled to highlight the Alaska expedition in its November 2001 issue. Additionally, the Outdoor Life Network will air the expedition later this year. Air dates to be determined. This is the second year in a row that Columbia has been the official apparel sponsor of the Men's Journal Adventure Team.

Founded in 1938 in Portland, Ore., Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear manufacturers in the world and the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the Company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance, functionality and value. To learn more about Columbia Sportswear, please visit the Company's Web site at www.columbia.com.