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Return to Damascus: Coffee, Community, and Planting Trees at Trail Day
- 24 May, 2026
- Jon Baatz
By Jon & Missy Baatz | 803 Outpost Coffee
Pulling into Damascus, Virginia, for Appalachian Trail Days always feels a bit like coming home. Last week, as we set up the 803 Outpost Coffee booth, the familiar energy of the trail community was buzzing all around us. The smell of campfires mixing with fresh-roasted coffee in the crisp mountain air, the sea of tents, and the endless swap of trail stories—it is a gathering unlike anything else on earth.
To understand why being a vendor at Trail Days means so much to us, you have to rewind a few years.
Back in 2019, our thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Before that first step in Georgia, we were caught up in the noise of everyday life—working corporate jobs, sitting in traffic, and chasing promotions while wondering if there was more to it all. The trail stripped away that noise. Walking those miles together replaced the fluorescent lights of the office with the endless canopy of the wilderness, and it sparked a fire in us for a life built around purposeful living.
That journey is the very heartbeat of 803 Outpost Coffee. The Appalachian Trail gave us the courage to step away from what we were "supposed" to do and build a mission-driven company that honors the wild places that changed our lives.
Serving coffee to this community last week felt like things were coming full circle. There is something truly special about handing a hot, freshly brewed cup to a hiker who just walked out of the woods, or talking gear and miles with past thru-hikers who know exactly what it feels like to climb those green tunnels. The conversations we had over the booth reminded us exactly why we started this roasting journey.
But the absolute best part of the entire week? The impact we were able to make together.
From day one, our core ethos has been about stewardship and giving back to Mother Nature. We made a promise that every sale would be tied to reforestation efforts. We are beyond humbled to share that because of the coffee poured by the cup and the bags of beans you all took home from Trail Days this year, we will be planting over 100 trees. To everyone who stopped by the tent, shared a trail story, and grabbed a cup of coffee to fuel your next adventure—thank you. You aren't just supporting a small, husband-and-wife roastery; you are actively helping us restore the very landscapes that inspire us all.
Damascus, you were amazing. We’ll see you down the trail.
– Jon & Missy
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