4th-Quarter Losses Widen for Wilderness Experience

Wilderness Experience, the financially troubled Chatsworth maker of outdoor camping equipment and clothing, said it lost $298,000, or 4 cents a share, in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, contrasted with a loss of $183,500 a year earlier. Sales fell 62%, to $234,200.

The company, which in June filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, also said its reorganization plan has been approved by a bankruptcy judge. The company said it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 proceedings at a hearing Monday.

The company, which once imported much of its products from manufacturers in the Far East, said it now makes its merchandise exclusively at its Chatsworth plant and sells it through four discount stores in the Los Angeles area and one store in Provo, Utah.

Wilderness Experience said that last year it eliminated its sales staff, stopped importing foreign products, closed its Chatsworth manufacturing operations for six months and sold its products at discounts of up to 50%.