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Icelandic Stamp Contest


OK, so snail mail may be going the way of the dinosaur, but we still think there’s nothing better than getting a good old fashioned postcard from a friend traveling abroad. So, to celebrate this old school form of communication, we are having a stamp contest! Our friends over at 66North in Iceland were asked by the Icelandic post office to create some cool stamps using Icelandic design. 66North chose to feature the multiple award-winning Snaefell jacket which is made from Polartec® NeoShell®.

This contest is a bit out of the box, we know, but if you live in Iceland, are headed to Iceland or know of someone headed to Iceland, this contest is for you!

We will be sending a brand new 66 North Snaefell jacket to the first 25 people to send a postcard with the 66North stamp and your email address printed legibly to this address:

Polartec
attn: Marketing Dept.- Lindsey
46 Stafford St.
Lawrence, MA 01841

Here is a glimpse of the stamps, which are available now. Good luck, safe travels and to those in Iceland, Gangi þér vel!

Posted in Polartec® NeoShell®.

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By Sarah – May 17, 2012

Polartec Challenge Grant Winners Climb New Routes on Mt. Bradley

TWO NEW ROUTES ON MT. BRADLEY
The Sum Of Its Parts (Alaska Grade V, AI6, M7, A2, 4,000’)
Heavy Mettle (Alaska Grade V, WI5+R, M6, A0, 4600’)
Expedition Report First Release – May 1st, 2012
Story and Photos by Peter Doucette
www.mountainsenseguides.com
www.alpine-logic.com

Silas Rossi and I just returned from the Ruth Gorge where we established two new climbs on Mount Bradley 9,104’. The first, completed on April 17th, was a 49 hour (camp to camp) effort that resulted in “The Sum of Its Parts,” Alaska Grade V, AI6, M7, A2. The route climbs 4,000’ to the summit on Bradley’s southern aspect via an obvious large cleft just right of “The Gift” (Blitz-House-Twight, 1998). Our line begins on a steep ice and mixed ramp that leads into a beautiful mixed corner that is capped by a roof at ~800.’ Mixed climbing to M7, and some creative aid out the roof allowed us to gain the major chimney system that continues the full height of the wall. The climb meets the west ridge just 300 vertical feet below the summit. After leaving camp at 4:00 AM on April 15th, we topped out Bradley at 9:00 PM on the 16th with the sun low on the horizon and promptly began our descent via the Bradley/Wake Col. The descent lasted through the night and deposited us back as base camp at 5:00 AM on the 17th. A faulty stove added to the appeal of an immediate return to basecamp.

The quality of the climbing was exceptional and offered many varied challenges. Because of the nature of the cleft we followed, however, route finding was not one of these challenges. “The Sum Of Its Parts” was climbed in 28 pitches, to a brilliant ropestretching finish, we dubbed “The Mind Shaft” due to its straight-forward appearance but mentally jarring exit. One of the climb’s defining sections included climbing the left wall of a wild chimney for 500’ that went at AI6 (AI5+ R). These pitches involved pastvertical “snice,” nearly show stopping anchoring, and a fair number of exclamations by both of us on lead. It was one of the most amazing single features we encountered on the trip.

Ample rest, a fresh foot of snow, and casual ski touring days affirmed our intentions on an impossible-to-miss line of ice that we’d stared at from camp since our arrival. On April 25th, we clicked into our skis at 2:00 AM to approach the striking line with a sizeable rack and plans to beat the early morning sun on the lower portion of this independent line located on the north side of Bradley’s East Ridge. Our second route, “Heavy Mettle,” Alaska Grade V, WI5+R, M6, A0, 4600’ begins by ascending the major couloir through short bands of rock (M6), between the prominent East Ridge and
“Welcome to Alaska” (Charon-Faure-Moulin-Ponson, 2002).

From high in the couloir we traversed left into a large corner system just below half height on the wall. Our route follows this corner for 1800’ of “snice” and water ice spackled into the back of the corner to eventually meet the East Ridge at ~8300’, (800’ below Bradley’s summit). Upon meeting the east ridge we continued up and over the summit by what we felt was the path of least resistance. This included one rappel to cross a gap in the ridge and avoid large cornices.

We climbed “Heavy Mettle,” basecamp to basecamp (below Mt. Dickey) in 43.5 hours with a 3 hour “rest stop” between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 AM on the 26th. We summited at 1:00 PM and again descended the ridgeline, west, down through the Bradley/Wake Col, below the south face and eventually back up the Ruth Gorge to camp. We returned to camp at 9:30 pm. The final eight hours of post-holing reaffirmed our belief that skiing is a far superior method of travel no matter how rewarding the line of post holes looks over your shoulder.

“The Sum Of Its Parts” and “Heavy Mettle’’ are excellent and sustained in their quality. An incredible stretch of good weather and a deep desire to make the most of our first trip to the Ruth Gorge contributed to great outcomes. Silas and I are extremely grateful for the support of a 2012 Polartec Challenge Grant, and the sponsorship of Sterling Ropes, Outdoor Research, Brooks-Range Mountaineering, and Snap MyLife. We thank
everyone for the generous backing. Also, we’d like to thank friends in the climbing community for sharing their experience, photos, and other helpful information. This trip would not have been possible without everyone’s contributions.

Thank You,

Peter Doucette
Silas Rossi

Posted in Challenge Grant Winners, In the Field, NeoShell.

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By Sarah – May 14, 2012

OIA Sustainability Working Group Recognized by White House

Polartec is proud to be a member of the Outdoor Industry Association Sustainability Working Group and our Senior Product Development Engineer, Chuck Haryslak, serves on the OIA SWG Advisory Council. We just learned that this group has been officially selected as a Champion of Change by the White House. Read more below in today’s article from Sports One Source.
We are considering making tuxes out of NeoShell…what do you think?

SportsOneSource Media Posted: 4/12/2012

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Sustainability Working Group has been selected by the White House as a Champion of Change for Corporate Environmental Sustainability. The OIA Sustainability Working Group (OIA SWG) is a volunteer collaboration among more than 250 outdoor industry brands, retailers and suppliers working to identify and improve the environmental and social impacts of their shared global supply chains.

The White House Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, the program highlights a different sector and group of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, and recognizes them for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

“This recognition is a welcome validation of our industry’s commitment to promote socially, environmentally and ethically responsible business practices that reflect the underlying values of the outdoor industry and our customers,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of OIA. “While the OIA SWG is proud to accept the Champions of Change award, we recognize that our industry’s journey toward sustainability is just beginning. We don’t have all of the answers, but we are committed to collaboration and to finding realistic yet aspirational solutions.”

The OIA SWG grew from the efforts of leading outdoor industry companies that were independently exploring ways to identify and improve their environmental and social impacts. These companies recognized that in order to see meaningful reduction in impacts, they needed a consistent and global benchmarking and measurement tool.

In 2007, these companies began to develop the OIA Eco Index, a shared product sustainability indexing tool that provides a standardized framework and language to assess product-level sustainability. In 2011, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) — a broader coalition of brands representing 30 percent of the global apparel and footwear supply chain — announced that it would adopt the OIA Eco Index as the basis for its apparel and footwear indexes. The OIA SWG continues to work closely with the SAC to further develop the index, and the first version, focused on apparel, is set for broad release later this year.

The OIA SWG is recognized globally for its thought leadership and ability to take action to address supply-chain and product-level sustainability challenges, as well as for showing that it is possible for traditional industry competitors to work together toward meaningful change in their business operations.

On Thursday, April 12, Hugelmeyer is attending a White House Champions of Change recognition event on behalf of the OIA SWG, along with OIA SWG Advisory Council members Betsy Blaisdell, senior manager for environmental stewardship at Timberland; Sandra Cho, corporate responsibility manager for Columbia Sportswear; Jill Dumain, director of environmental strategy for Patagonia; and Kevin Myette, director of product integrity for REI.

The current OIA SWG Advisory Council is comprised of representatives from Black Diamond, Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Nau, Nester Hosiery, Patagonia, Petzl, PMI, Polartec, REI and Timberland.

The OIA SWG is methodically examining product-level sustainability issues, seeking solutions in four key areas: 1) index development for apparel, footwear and equipment, 2) responsible chemicals management, 3) materials traceability in the supply chain, and 4) social responsibility and fair labor issues.

“Cutting waste, reducing energy use and operating more sustainably translates to less pollution and lower utility bills for businesses across the country,” said Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “The leaders we’ve selected as Champions of Change are proving that sustainable practices work for companies’ bottom lines, and work for the health of American communities.”

About the Champions of Change Event
Thursday, April 12, 2012 – 1:30-3:30 EDT
The White House
Live stream at whitehouse.gov/live

Posted in Uncategorized.

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By Sarah – April 12, 2012

Polartec Scufoneda Trip Report

We asked our most recent trip winner, Steve Deasy, to tell us how his trip to Moena, Italy went for the 2012 Scufoneda Festival. I think its up for interpretation, but we think he had a pretty good time.

Thanks to Polartec & Marmot for the prize of a trip to Scufoneda in the Dolomites of Italy. Our contacts from Polartec in Europe were fantastic – Alessandro Perseo, Eric Yung, and most especially Giorgia Vitali, who made everything seamless.

Wow, the Dolomites are bella! I’ve seen plenty of mountains, and these are top notch for scenery. Start plopping down handfuls of Tetons here and there, and you’ll get a mental picture. The gang we hooked up with often would mention that although they travel the world, the Dolomites are their favorite mountains.

The skiing looked good too, but it’s hard to evaluate in “the worst snow year in 35 years”. No matter, Sean & I had fun. Snowmaking covered many trails, and it had snowed in the week before we arrived. Not enough to run the big events for Scufoneda, though. There were a couple of events, and plenty of sun and wine, so why not have a good time, eh?

The first evening we joined the Polartec gang for a good time and an authentic meal at a Malga overlooking Moena, where we stayed. Everywhere we went the food was top notch – even the pizza slices we got on our last eve in town.

Day 1 we skied the Passo San Pellegrino / Falcade areas. Besides the groomers, our guide found us one run that still had near a foot of chopped soft snow. Woohoo! We skied that twice! We also skied from village to village, dropping 1300+ meters – at a smallish resort!

Day 2 Giorgia set us up with guide Alberto Marazzi and her car so we could go to Marmolada, the highest skiing in the area at 3250m at the top. (Bottom at 1446m – do the math for almost 6000 vertical feet of skiing!) Our guide explained that although skiing off-piste was technically illegal in Italy, “the police close an eye” to it. A week after the storm and we were getting freshies on the glacier. The view from the top was thrilling, with Sean puckered strong! He later loosened up and played his bagpipes at the top viewpoint: “The Green Hills of Tyrol” if I remember right. The Dolomites are in the Tyrol by the way, Sud Tyrol – South Tyrol. Although most folks speak Italian, another ancient tongue is spoken: Ladino, and some – particularly in certain villages – speak German. Most spoke English too, but I had to pull out my very rusty German for one shopkeeper. Sean & I skipped the evening party that night (and topless dancing) for massages at the Hotel Garden and a quiet evening walking the plazas before an earlier bedtime to recover from jet lag and days chock full of activities.

Day 3 we skied closer to Moena at Alpe Lusia. There was a Scufoneda telemark gates course set for the few competitors who stuck it out. There were a couple of nice pitches at the top (off piste) that Sean & I cut up a few times, with one of the assigned photo journalists shooting the American Freeriders. Most everyone stuck to trails in Italy, and people looked at our fat skis like we were introducing a new sport. Speaking of new sport, before lunch I got Sean on Tele skis for the first time, and my first time in 4 years. Scarpa and Black Diamond set us up with gear and we were off for an hour of fun. My quick and dirty lesson for Sean: “50-50. Big Toe – Little Toe. Double 90s. And remember, you can always ski ‘em parallel!” We switched back to downhill and cruised to a different village, finding a park to goof off in along the way. We were able to close the day by skiing back to the Hotel Garden in Moena, and with slight guilt and trepidation we returned our scratched skis (d@mn off-piste Americans!) and found pizza in Italy for our last dinner.

One event we missed was Alessandro running the “surprise” contest in Neoshell for his ski across the pond. That’s committed product endorsement!

So, Grazie Mille & Ciao Ciao!

Steve Deasy

Posted in Uncategorized.

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By Sarah – March 30, 2012

Polartec Challenge Grant Winners Prep for Alaska

Polartec Challenge Grant Winners, Peter Doucette and Silas Rossi will attempt a new route on the southeast face of Mt. Bradley in Alaska. On their proposted route, the two- man team expects to find significant mixed climbing for the duration of the 4,500′ ascent.
We asked them to guest blog for us to let us know how the prep is going for this incredible climb.

I sit surrounded by piles of gear, some new, much of it worn from seasons of use, as I
jot down thoughts about my upcoming Alaska trip. The tiny living room in my studio
apartment is full of empty boxes, ice tools, skis, boots, tents, stoves and every other
piece of climbing equipment imaginable. The cheap plastic rack against the wall sags
from the weight of hardware and ropes. Sorting has begun. The “coming with” mound
of nylon, carbon fiber, and steel occupies one corner of the room. Rejected items litter
the couch and chairs. If my neighbors had any idea of the value of all this stuff I’d
probably need a deadbolt on the door. Since January, many of my days of ice and ski
guiding have been followed by evenings spent preparing for a three week climbing trip
to the Ruth Gorge this April.

Peter Doucette and I have been talking about returning to Alaska for another climbing
trip for a few years now. The past three Alaskan climbing seasons have seen us
committed to the completion of our respective IFMGA / AMGA International Mountain
Guide certifications. We are hungry for a trip that, as Peter has said, is “on our own
terms”. With the help of the Polartec Challenge grant we will attempt a new route on
either Mt Bradley or Mt Dickey. Both have a good deal of virgin terrain and tower
4-5000 feet above the floor of the Great Gorge. Read: “big”. Our exact line of ascent
will be dictated by what we find for conditions. Temperatures, and snow and ice
conditions have yet to be seen, and will steer us to specific aspects and weaknesses on
these impressive peaks.

The gear surrounding me represents a tangible piece of the planning process for Peter’s
and my climbing expedition. Our ultra light Sterling half ropes, prototype tents from
Brooks Range Mountaineering, and Neoshell jackets weren’t chosen by accident. But
my thoughts shift from the gear to the more ambiguous “behind the scenes” planning
required for this trip. These pieces of the equation are gritty and way less sexy than all
the new equipment.

For one, the twelve years of my life that I’ve devoted to climbing,
guiding, and training, slowly working my way towards being a well rounded
mountaineer. I’ve spent tens of thousands of hours in the mountains over the past
decade. In good weather and bad, on wet rock and rotten ice, crossing endless glaciers
and granite ridges, some days for fun and many for work, each one created a broader
base from which to launch future adventures. I’m not an exceptional athlete, nor am I
accused of being a genius. I have, however, put my time in. The foundation has been
set, so to speak, and I finally have the skill and confidence needed to tackle objectives
of this magnitude. Or at least I think so. Only time will really tell.

Despite the years spent directly and indirectly working towards such a trip, Peter and I certainly don’t have all the answers needed to achieve “success” in Alaska. What we do have going for us, is that we know which questions to ask. And we know how to work. If you boil any expedition down to fundamentals you’ll find that they all share these two principals – recognizing what you don’t know, and doing the work. It’s really that simple.
Remembering this puts the yet unfinished tasks and errands in perspective. Ultimately
we have done our homework and are well prepared. I take a breath and refocus. With
less than two weeks before we fly to Alaska, the seemingly infinite number of small
tasks seems a bit more manageable. And, in the end, if something does fall through the
cracks we’ll chalk it up to being part of the adventure. Adventure, after all, is the reason
for going to Alaska.

Written by Silas Rossi- www.alpine-logic.com
Photography by Peter Doucette

Posted in Challenge Grant Winners, In the Field.

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By Sarah – March 22, 2012

Badass Award: Laurent Valette Crushes Tierra Viva

Polartec Advisory Board Member, Laurent Valette, takes this week’s Badass Award without question.

He and the French X-Bionic team including Sonia Furtado, Adrien Lhermet, and Benjamin Monier, just finished 2nd in the Tierra Viva, a 500km, 4-6 day adventure race in the Cordillera le los Andes in Argentinean Patagonia.

Here’s how it breaks down: the course is a clover shape with a Central Camp in the middle where teams stash provisions, first aid, food, and gear. Traveling together, in teams of four, the racers head out to each one of the courses that continually rotate between kayaking (approx. 100km total), mountain biking (250km), and trail running (150km) and come back to Central Camp in between or when needed. The course covers some of the most technical terrain in the world, and navigation is also borderline impossible, so strict checkpoints and photo checkpoints cover the race course, ensuring all participants stop at each required location.

“We had no idea where the other teams were, and in this race, due to the terrain, anything can happen, so we just pushed forward,” said Laurent.

Congratulations to Laurent and the french team in this incredible accomplishment. Check out photos of this breathtaking course below.

Posted in Athlete Advisory Board, In the Field.

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By Sarah – February 28, 2012

Polartec Stars in Act of Valor

This Friday, Act of Valor, a new film about modern day Navy SEALS, hits movie theaters. Another movie about covert ops, you say? You’ve seen them all? Well this one is different.

In 2007, Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh of Bandito Brothers Production filmed a video for the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen which led the Navy to allow them to use SEALs. After spending so much time working closely with the SEALs, McCoy and Waugh conceived the idea for a modern day action movie about this covert and elite fighting force. As Act of Valor developed with the SEALs on board as advisors, the film makers realized that no actor could realistically portray or physically fill the roles they’d written and the actual SEALs were drafted in to the film.

Pretty cool huh? Even cooler for us, Polartec proudly manufactures apparel fabrics for the Special Forces, and because of that, the Protective Combat Uniform Level 9 Combat Shirt gets to make a cameo in this film. I see a Best Supporting Apparel nomination in our future… The Level 9 is an incredible performance garment, designed specifically for the Special Forces Operator. It is not your average baselayer- check out why:

Made with Polartec® Power Dry® FR fabric, the SOF PCU Level 9 offers real flame resistance, excellent breathability and next-to-skin comfort, keeping your skin dry when you sweat. This temperate weather combat shirt is designed to work with the SOF-specific ballistics vest.

The upper arm pockets’ volume, placement, and angle were designed to SOF user specifications. A high collar provides neck protection and d3o high impact elbow protection through locking molecule technology accommodates rolling sleeves, while also having an elbow pad option.

” Polartec is extraordinarily proud of the development work we do on behalf of the Special Operations community to design and build the most advanced protective fabrics in the world” said Polartec’s Director of Government Business, David Costello. “ACT OF VALOR allows the world to see how Polartec products are used in combat and we are all very grateful for the enormous personal sacrifice made by Navy SEALs on behalf of our country”

We got a sneak peek at this film and are really excited about it- check out the trailer below and head to the movies!

Posted in Fabric Technology, In the Field, Interesting Read, News.

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By Sarah – February 21, 2012