Eddie Bauer BC MicroTherm Down Jacket

BC Micro Therm Down Jacket with a Patagonia Knifeblade soft shell and R1under it @ -18C, Canada Rockies.



If you look at Eddie Bauer's advertising the First Ascent Hyalite Jacket gets some serious play as THE technical "climbing jacket" in their speciality line. On the other hand I couldn't wait to get rid of mine and exchange it for something I might actually use skiing and as a second thought climbing. No stretch that I could discern in the FA Hyalite compared to a Gamma MX for example and no warmer. I have any number of state of the art garments with synthetic and down insulation to chose from. Getting me into an unproven garment to ice climb in is difficult. Getting me into one made of down is even more difficult.



Adding a water proof and breathable shell to a light weight down insulated piece makes a lot of sense. Even more so if you value light weight warmth over the ability to get it dried out and usable again if you are going to be working hard in the same jacket.



I climbed some in Hyalite Canyon using a Patagonia Down full zip Hooded Sweater last winter and loved it right up till it really started snowing hard and I was breaking trail in 4 feet of snow. I stayed warm but the jacket got wet and lost a lot of its insulation. Lesson relearned for the umpteenth time.



I am not a sweat hog. I don't sweat any more or any less than the rest of my climbing partners generally. My adventures arebest equippedwith very breathable and really light weight upper body clothing forwalking into winter climbs. Being able to change out to at least a dry top and then layer up for the climbing in generally mandatory if I want to be comfortable. The last layer will seldom get worn but is generallysome sort of "belay jacket". It's warmth will depend on the temps and moisture involved.



Our last trip to Canada I reverted from my tried and true climbing garment combos and went backwards in some sense to the more durable "soft shell" uppers as an action suit topover and R1 or a Merinowool version of the same hoodyand the required "belay jacket" over all of itto keep me warm once I stopped.



The combo is really a little heavier than it needs to be. But it is a well proven combo and is only three layers.



This trip one of the jackets I use exclusively for belay duty and climbing whilecold was the BC Micro Therm. I even used it on a couple of short approaches just to see how wet I could get it and still dry it out why climbing. Much to my surprise I even liked climbing technical ground in the Micro Therm when I was pretty chilled.



The hood was one reason. Its pattern is intentionally cut prettybig and easily fits over my helmet choices. The other is the sleeve size/length and being able to pull the Velcro cuff tabs and pull the jacket sleeves up past my elbows.











Not something that I could ever do previous to the chemo diet. But the sleeves fit a lot better (bigger) now and allow one to vent some serious heat if you can pull up the sleeves in your size. The other feature I really like is both side pockets are vertical vents straight to the body's core. Unzip the pockets...from the top or the bottom and you can work pretty hard in this jacket and still not over heat. I really like the simple design features and how well they work. Make sure you aren't going to dump your pocket contents though!



As far as I can tell the shell material, which is water proof and breathable 2-LAYER SHELL called

WeatherEdge® Pro, 1.7 oz 12-denier fabric with StormRepel® DWR finish; rated to 20K/20K" really is water proof. And no question it breathes very well from my testing as I could always get the down dried out on the belays from my own body heat. The long sleeves, the hood and the pocket ventsare easy to notice in use. It is a very good mid weigh piece of insulation and physically lwt weight belay jacket. My XL weighs in at 1# 5 oz. May be even a better cold weather ski jacket on the lifts or side country compared to many others jackets available and easily the best of the EB ski specific jackets imo.



It also comes in a women's specific version which I hear gets high ranks on fit and warmth as well.

No question the women's colors options are better!



Here is more of theEB spiel:



WATERPROOF/BREATHABLE 2-LAYER SHELL



WeatherEdge® Pro, 1.7 oz 12-denier fabric with StormRepel® DWR finish; rated to 20K/20K



800 FILL PREMIUM EUROPEAN GOOSE DOWN

Down-packed micro-baffles keep you warm with minimal weight and bulk



DUAL-FUNCTION CHEST POCKETS

Provide storage and double as heat-dumping core vents



INTEGRATED HOOD

Fits easily over a ski or climbing helmet



WEATHER-SEALED ZIPPERS AND CORDED PULLS

Eliminate need for flaps; more durable, slide more smoothly and make it easier to grab with gloves on



ERGONOMIC POCKETS AND ARTICULATED ELBOWS

Harness and pack compatible; facilitate easy movement



LOW-PROFILE CUFFS AND 1 INCH LONGER

Adjust for snug fit; provides more coverage to keep you warmer



SIZED A BIT MORE GENEROUSLY

Looser fit provides more room for layering; works for a wider range of body types



CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Machine wash

100% nylon waterproof/breathable 20K/20K shell; 800-fill down insulation

Center back length: Reg. 29 1/2", Tall 31 1/2"

Weight: 1 lb., 3.54 oz. (1 lb., 5oz. or 595g and 2.5" of loft for my XL)








Louise Falls photo courtesy of http://www.rafalandronowski.com/




After all I have a closet full of "real" mid weight climbing specific jackets. This one is a good fine to add to that list. A decent price (on sale) for a water proof and lightly insulated down jacket. One that I have used a good bit now and will again.



EB sez:



"Combining the microchannel construction of the MicroTherm™ Down Shirt into the lining of this fully waterproof and breathable shell rated to 20K/20K, we’ve built a warm, insulated jacket that is lighter than many non-insulated shells on the market. This jacket is built to be the minimalist, lightweight piece that our First Ascent guide team requires in the most challenging environments where every ounce counts. Highly packable. Two large cross-body vents double as pockets. Harness friendly design. Now one inch longer and sized a bit larger through the torso to provide more room for layering and fit more body types. Across the board, this piece was the alpine guides’ personal favorite, hands down."



http://www.skinet.com/skiing/photo-gallery/shell-games



http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=40146&oessoa=6046151&cm_mmc=CSE-_-Google%20Product%20Search-_-First%20Ascent%7CMen%27s%20First%20Ascent%20Jackets_and_Vests-_-1020706&CAWELAID=941026515





The video covers it all again:

3/16 Friday Pit Profile

La Sportiva? Back at ya, with the CUBE!

Just when I think there is a leap aheadfor alpine boots someone else jumps back in and does a flash burn.



Many have asked me when will La Sportiva update the aging Nepal Evo and Trango Series of boots. Like I'd have a clue. I hadn't heard a even whisper out of La Sportiva. And didn't expect anything new at the up coming summer OR show for Spring 2014 delivery.



Clueless again, guess I got that wrong!






New Trango Cube GTX




"the new state-of-the-art mountaineering boots - Nepal Cube GTX and Trango
Cube GTX - set new standards in lightweight and waterproof properties for
this sector. Trango Cube in particular has been made using the new and
exclusive Thermo Tech Injection method, a thermoplastic coating that
eliminates traditional stitching, making the boot even more water resistant than
ever before."



http://www.lasportiva.it/news_approfondimento.html?&L=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2398&cHash=d153fab90d5a36947a2e9e2d146f8253

Home Sweet Home

Home. I've been contemplating just what that means ever since fM announced the topic of "Celebrate Home" for the upcoming edition of Smile For The Camera. I lived in three different houses while growing up in the rural communities of North Webster and the Barbee Lakes. And while I consider that area to be my "hometown" because that is where I grew up, none of those houses hold any special meaning for me. However I do have fond memories of those locations and some of the events (birthday parties, holidays, family gatherings, etc) held there. And of the people who lived there, family and neighbors.

After graduation from high school, I bounced back and forth between living at "home" and living in apartments in Fort Wayne. I lost track of how many times I moved during that time. Then, after three years, it was off to join the Navy, with numerous duty stations during my 9+ years of service. And, in the nearly 30 years since my discharge from the Navy, I've only lived in six different places. Several hold a place in my heart, again, not so much for the buildings themselves but rather for the memories they recall. Two of the places I've especially enjoyed living in are shown below.

Eastbrique Tower on Fruitridge Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana. I lived here 1979-1982. I don't know when the house was built but it was quite old. The owner was remodeling it and turning it into apartments. I lived in a little efficiency apartment located in the left corner, first floor. I was devastated when I returned to Terre Haute in 1985 to discover the house had been torn down and the lot turned into a paved parking area for a neighboring restaurant. Inclusion of my shadow was on purpose; I wanted to be in the picture, but the house was really the subject. Copyright © 1982/.. by Rebeckah R. Wiseman.

Knapp Lake. Noble County, Indiana. The little house in the upper right is where my mother lived for fifteen years. I lived there with her for about two years. The front yard would flood in the spring or during heavy rains, but luckily the house itself didn't. Neighbors were in close proximity but it didn't matter, living on the waterfront was wonderful. It was a small lake, so no big powerboats were allowed, just fishing boats and pontoons. Infrared Photograph. Copyright © 1985/.. by Rebeckah R. Wiseman.

The Cyclist and the Roundabout

Though not nearly as widespread as in the UK, roundabouts - also known as rotaries and traffic circles - are fairly common back in New England, particularly in the sort of areas that brevets and similar rides tend to take us through.Personally, I don't know anyone in the US - be they cyclist or driver - who actually likes roundabouts, and I am no exception. Over the years my attitude toward them has transitioned from one of pure terror to one of a more manageable, subdued loathing. There are right of way rules to navigating them, but somehow the traffic flow ends up being chaotic despite those rules. Drivers don't always yield to other vehicles correctly, and bikes they sometimes outright ignore. As a cyclist, you can end up waiting your turn forever despite having the right of way. Or worse yet, a driver's failure to yield once you're already moving through the circle can result in a close call or collision.




Now cycling in Northern Ireland, my relationship with roundabouts has moved to an entirely new, downright intimate level. On the North Coast they are everywhere, often used in leu of traffic lights, and I go through at least one - but more typically anywhere between three and six - every day. There are large roundabouts the size of parks. There are smaller ones that might display a modern sculpture or two. And there are tiny ones that are just painted circles on tarmac, easy to miss. There are urban roundabouts through which cars move at a crawl. And there are rural ones, through which lorries fly at top speed.




Most impressive of all are the roundabouts situated along steep hills. One such stunner is just outside of Limavady town, approaching the village of Aghanloo. When I first saw this thing appear in front of me, my jaw dropped. When approached from one direction, this roundabout requires being ready to yield or stop while climbing a 10% grade, from another direction while descending the same. And to be clear, the hill does not start or end with the roundabout; the intersection is half way through the climb. For a cyclist this can be rather ...interesting, requiring precise control of one's bike and brakes.




But one thing I realised about the roundabouts in Northern Ireland over time, is that they are predictable: There is no chaos or confusion, as everyone actually follows the right of way rules. Traveling on the left side of the road, you yield to traffic approaching from the right, and in the same manner other traffic yields to you. Unlike in New England, drivers do actually yield when it is another vehicle's turn - even if that other vehicle is a bike! It took me some time to trust in this, but once I started to all the stress from navigating the roundabouts was removed. When it's my turn, I go and when it's not, I stop: easy, and, admittedly, more efficient than a traffic light. I like it!




What has been your experience with roundabouts as a cyclist in the area where you live?

Rail Fence

Where Do You Want to Go, Really?

I was telling a local cyclist about my dream bicycle tour, one I've imagined for years. It is still a matter of wishful thinking for now, but nonetheless I've mapped it all out: 650 miles of cycling up the coast, from the North Shore of Massachusetts to the easternmost tip of Downeast Maine. The coastline is jagged there and hugging it makes for a decidedly circuitous route. And my plan is to hug every curve - to not let the ocean out of my sight if I can help it. The cyclist I was talking to - an experienced bicycle tourist - said that the logistics of my plan sounded solid, but that it seemed like an awful lot of work for such a bleak destination. Do I realise how stark and desolate that area is? The picturesque Maine everyone envisions - with its seaside farms, historical houses and sandy beaches - is actually in the southern part of the state.There are some popular scenic New England routesthat I might want to consider instead.



In fact my choice of route is deliberate and I know exactly what that area is like. Still, I am taking the warning seriously. Often we imagine what we think is a dream destination, only to learn that it's not that great to actually cycle there. It can be a matter of traffic, of overly challenging terrain, of insufficient amenities, or even of scenery that, while beautiful, becomes unexpectedly monotonous at bicycling speed. Or maybe our memory of a place focuses on one specific spot that is stunning to visit, but glosses over the fact that the route to it is in itself unremarkable. I have had these experiences on local rides, so I can certainly imagine the disappointment on a long tour. After all, a tour is something we need to to plan for, take time off work - we want it to be special and worth it.



So how can we tell where we want to go, really? Reading others' ride reports of the route we are considering might be helpful. It's also worth paying attention to what we personally enjoy and don't enjoy about the cycling experience. I know that I prefer rough scenery to the more manicured postcard-pretty stuff.I like sparsely populated areas.I love to see bogs overgrown with green algae, dilapidated barns, ghostly forests. I don't mind badly maintained roads. I prefer as little car traffic as possible and am willing to pay for the backroads experience by climbing extra hills. I do not grow bored of looking at the ocean. But I also cannot ride for long in direct sunlight, and I know that coastal routes tend to have much less shade than inland routes. It's hard to say whether my hypothetical dream ride along the Maine coast will be enjoyable in practice. But it's nice to dream for now.



How have your dream bicycling destinations measured up against reality?