"Seattle has grown to become the metropolitan heart of the PacificNorthwest, thanks to the vision of a long line of modern day pioneers,"said Tim Boyle, president and chief executive officer, Columbia SportswearCompany. "Whether in aerospace, music, computer software, architecture,medical science, or e-commerce, Seattle retains a pioneering spirit to thisday and is home to millions of outdoor enthusiasts. Columbia Sportswear isvery excited about becoming a new member of Seattle's vibrant retail andoutdoor communities."

"With Mount Rainier towering above and mountaineering and outdoor lifestyleso much a part of the area's culture, Mountain Hardwear is thrilled tobecome part of it all," said Mike Wallenfels, president of MountainHardwear and Montrail. "The new store is designed to be a resource and anetworking center for climbers, mountaineers, backpackers, trail runnersand all the other core mountain sport enthusiasts in the area."

Together, the two stores total 18,850 square feet. The Columbia store willfeature Columbia apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, as well asSorel brand footwear. The Mountain Hardwear store will feature MountainHardwear apparel, accessories and equipment, as well as Montrailtrail-running and hiking footwear.

Renowned as a beautiful city with surrounding natural areas, Seattle wasrecently recognized on Forbes Magazine's list of 'America's Best Cities forthe Outdoors' as well as on Travel + Leisure Magazine's list of 'America'sFavorite Cities in 2008' for athletic and active people.

As part of opening week events, both Columbia Sportswear and MountainHardwear will donate a percentage of each store's first week's sales tolocal non-profit organizations that share Columbia's passion for theGreater Outdoors. Columbia Sportswear's donation will benefit ConservationAlliance and Cascade Land Conservancy, two groups that work to protectnatural wilderness and habitat throughout the Northwest. MountainHardwear's donation will benefit HARK, an outreach program that organizesguided excursions that enable at-risk kids across the Pacific Northwest toexperience wilderness areas.

Both stores will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. andon Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

About Columbia Sportswear Company

Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, Columbia Sportswear Company is aglobal leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of activeoutdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear manufacturersin the world and a leading seller of skiwear in the United States, thecompany has developed an international reputation for quality, performance,functionality and value. The company manages a portfolio of outdoor brandsincluding Columbia Sportswear, Montrail, Mountain Hardwear, Pacific Trail,and Sorel. To learn more about Columbia, please visit the company's websiteat http://www.columbia.com/.

About Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear makes cutting-edge mountaineering and outdoor equipment,apparel and accessories for the most extreme conditions. Mountain Hardwearwas established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans and isbased in Richmond, Calif. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary ofColumbia Sportswear Company, distributes its products through specialtyoutdoor and sporting goods retailers in the United States and more than 40countries worldwide. Mountain Hardwear has won numerous product andcustomer service awards since its inception, reflecting the company'scommitment to innovation and passion for the outdoors. For more informationabout Mountain Hardwear, visit www.mountainhardwear.com.

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CONTACTS:John FreadColumbia Sportswear PR(503) 985.4287Email ContactErin BrosterhousMountain Hardwear PR(970) 871-1308 officeEmail ContactRon ParhamColumbia Sportswear Investor Relations& Corporate Communications(503) 985.4584Email Contact