Indigo Equipment.

• Author: Peterson, Eric

After working together at Life-Link, a backcountry gear manufacturer in Jackson, Wyo., Steve Kropf and Jack Koehler went on their own and launched Indigo Equipment from Aspen in 2002. "My wife and I grew up in this area," said Kropf, "so it was an opportunity to come home." Indigo's stock and trade are bags and packs, ski poles and avalanche shovels. On its packs, the company's proprietary Lariat ski system has won accolades from hikers toting skis into the backcountry, and its shovels are finding a niche in the automotive market as well. Kropf attributed three years of...