One of the biggest complaints I hear about softshell is that it weighs too much. I’ve decided to gather some examples to determine whether or not that is true. Patagonia Speed Ascent versus R2 and a Patagonia hardshell The Patagonia Speed Ascent jacket is their high end softshell for cold conditions. It has R2 fabric […]
It has been well established that layering is a superior approach for dressing for outdoor pursuits. However, the traditional layering method of base, insulation, and shell often does not meet my needs. I have spent a lot of time in the cold working out this method for layering, that allows for changing weather conditions, and […]
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Choosing baselayers has become a tricky process with the increasing availability of high quality wool and an increasing range of synthetics. Both choices have pros and cons. Here is what I’ve found personally. Synthetic Synthetic baselayers are incredibly efficient at moisture transport. They don’t absorb the moisture which means they dry rapidly, although, they can […]
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Los Glaciares is the Argentine national park in Patagonia. If you are going to climb Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, or any of the other amazing peaks, this is the park. It is a fantastic place, and once you are there, you will never want to leave. Getting There When you arrive in Argentina, you’ll land at […]
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Softshell pants are, in my opinion, one of the single greatest clothing innovations to come along in quite a while, especially for climbing. I have tried the traditional 3 layer approach on my legs and it fails every time. Hard shell pants simply cannot breathe as fast as I need. The other problem with the […]
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Belay jackets are an essential piece of mountaineering gear. I picked up the idea from Mark Twight’s excellent book Extreme Alpinism: Climbing Light, Fast, and High. It works so well that I use it anytime I’m traveling in cold conditions. Climbing involves one of two states; climbing or belaying, or to put it another way, […]
Continue reading about Belay jacket – concept and use in the less than vertical world
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