Genesis of Bramas

Author: Rossy Oak + Longhot

“The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.”

That line was printed across my middle school Element backpack.. The one still buried in the back corner of my childhood closet, only dragged out when I need hunting or snowboarding gear. It's cliche and maybe even corny, but funny enough, that quote stuck. Maybe because I saw it so often it engraved itself into my head. Maybe because it was meant to drive me toward something new.. even when I don’t know the destination.. You just have to start.

Bramas is deep, driven desire. Growing up on a farm in southern Jersey, my life revolved around the seasons.  Spring and summer were for the farm. Early mornings and long days filled with hard work, endless stories, and both countless laughs and curse words. These seasons shaped who I am today, and I'm forever grateful for my upbringing.. but I couldn't wait to get to fall and winter.

Those are my seasons.

Colder weather and the changing of the leaves meant hunting, ski trips, and family traditions are on the way. Year after year, this became the time I looked forward to most.

But we can't avoid it. Times change. Responsibilities pile up. Finding time for yourself gets harder. We’ve all felt it.. the grind of the calendar filling up faster than we can breathe. But part of this journey is remembering who you are, what brings you joy, and carving out time for it with the people who matter most.

I still actively hunt, ski, and travel during these seasons, but I needed something more. Purpose and fulfillment in my everyday life was missing.  But as the years go by, the more I realize why I'm drawn to this.

Is it the disconnect from the world.. whether in the tree stand or on the lift? Absolutely. That solitude is medicine. Time to unwind, reflect, and just be in nature. And frankly, the world needs more of it.

Is it the satisfaction of hitting a goal after hundreds of fails (and falls)? Yes, that’s part of it too.  But the real reason? It's the common denominator of every great memory, of every adventure.  It’s the people. The bonds. The traditions.

It's getting up at the crack of dawn, meeting up with others on the same mission, breathing in fresh air, watching the sunrise paint the sky, taking in God’s creation.

But that’s just the appetizer. The real meal is the grind, the falls, the laughs, the ball-busting, the blunders. And then reconvening at home base, swapping stories over hot meals and drinks.  These small, unique moments of both solitude and interaction, begin to forge a bond between man and the outdoors.  And that bond hits like no other.

That desire brought me here today. To share my passion with the world. To create something of my own.. bringing people together and building something special.. and then some.

That’s what does it for me. That’s why we continue to do it. 

The deer camps.

The ski trips.

The hunts on holiday mornings.

The snowstorm that was so brutal that one year.

The duck count that somehow grows every time the story is told.

That first sip of beer at the base lodge.

The hunting dogs.. each one remembered, but one always the best. 

The cabin meals that somehow taste better than anywhere else. 

The cheers to another year in the books.

That's why Bramas was created.  To embody these emotions and memories. To plan the next adventure. To inspire a new tradition. If even one person takes one step, it will be a success.

Bramas is founded on the below values. All of these lead us toward being the best we can be. Toward living a life worth living. Toward leaving this place better than we found it.  It's through these in which we stay true on our journey:

• Quality: People, goods, and time spent make these moments what they are.

• Gratitude: Taking in every moment, treating it like it could be your last.

• Purpose: Owning your next step. Only you decide your path and enjoying it regardless of the outcome.

• Experience: Creating the times we’ll look back on. Trying something new, pushing yourself, always growing.

• Tradition: Passing on these experiences, giving them reason to continue.

All are welcome on this journey. Here's to your first step.

I just took mine.