It is my pleasure to introduce you to Fernando :

Looking good, feeling good.

He won a sweet pair of Chaco Fuse flippy floppies.

Also, please check out our finalists.

Some like it hot

Ahhh, the water fountain. Inaliable symbol of summer. At least in those parts of the world that get cold winters

But then, you also end up dropping some mustard on it. Oh dear. I don't know of too many stains that make you look cool, but mustard certainly isn't one of them. That's when you come see me for help. The truth is that mustard stains are a little intense for little old me. Here are some general washing instructions :

1. Use Granger’s Downwash.
2. Use a front-loading washing machine (to avoid damaging the down baffles as well as the jacket).
3. Tumble-dry at low heat with 6 to 8 tennis balls in socks in order not to dirty the coat.

Tip: if you see that the water is no longer beading (making little water droplets) on the fabric, apply a spray-on water repellent to your washed jacket while it is still wet.

* Always be sure to check the manufacturer label for proper care instructions, as these may vary.

For the month of August, the theme is Altitude's Footloose! Everyone is invited to participate. Let your imagination run wild and send us your pictures before September 6th. You can reach me here magalie@altitude-sports.com.

Every picture will go through our top-secret selection process to determine the winner. They must respect the contest's theme and dates. We will accept one picture per participant.

Submitted pictures will become the property of Altitude-blog in that we can use for other purposes, such as putting them on our Flickr account.

Thank you for participating and good luck !

What? I haven't mentioned anything about the prize? That's because I was saving the best for last. The winner of Picked Pics : Photo Contest - August 2010 Altitude's Footloose! will score an Arc'teryx Axios 25! Woo!

The Share and Save Series is pleased to present

Jessica, Meru and her Singletrack.

I am the owner of Energy Outdoors, an outdoor fitness company in the Laurentians. We are sports training specialists. I am passionate about the outdoors, fitness and teaching.

I play outdoors all day long – all temperatures – all year long. To me, there is no bad weather… you just need to have the right clothes for all temperatures.

I was pleased to get the chance to critique some gear and apparel from Altitude-Sports.com.

The North Face Women’s Meru Paclite Jacket – Jacuzzi blue

Finally a raincoat that is perfect for me! I can now teach two rainy fitness classes in a row without having to change my base layer… because I stay dry! The coat is light, breathable and flashy. I love the chest vents; they are easy to use, especially while in action. The coat is also easy to store in a backpack and does not take up very much room.

The only downside to the jacket would be that there are no hand pockets, only a chest pocket. Due to the impermeable qualities of the jacket… you will sweat a lot on a hot rainy day!

But hey… it’s like a free sauna!

Altogether a great raincoat, I would highly recommend it.

Trail running shoes – The North Face Women’s Single-Track

I have been running with my North Face Single-Track shoes for over a month. It is a great trail running shoe. It is lightweight, breathable and provides good support.

The Snakeplate in the sole adds stability to the shoe, it provide excellent lateral support on uneven terrain. The shoe has a great energy; I have a lot of fun off trail and have confidence in its support. And for the girls who like everything to match… like me… it is a very attractive shoe.

I would recommend the single track shoe for intermediate to advanced runners who enjoy taking their running off the beaten track. Have fun!

Jessica Humphries
Energy Outdoors
Sports training specialists
819-425-0218

They POP even more in real life!

Other cool features include increased venting in the armpits thanks to what they call eyelet panels, and two small zippered-pockets, just the right size for a key, cell phone and money. The pocket on the right hand side surprised me at first, because it is not designed for you to slide in your hand, since it is angled towards the back. It turns out that it keeps your cell phone out of the way and holds it better if you are running or doing other activities.

The only feature that I can complain about are the Raglan sleeves. There is another opening higher up the wrist on top of the thumb catch. I assume it is so you can pull the sleeve down further along your hand to maximise warmth. Whatever its purpose, I know I won’t be using it, and think it adds bulk for nothing.

Finally, I love the fact that it is made of merino wool from the mountains of New Zealand. I can even find the farms where this soft, odourless wool came from thanks to the Icebreaker Baacode for my particular sweater. All in all, a great purchase that I am proud to wear. It will be perfect for colder summer and fall evenings, whether I am out in nature, or in the city. I can’t wait to show it off!

I was on Terceira Island, which is made up of 4 major volcanoes that make up the rhythm of the landscape.

Bubbling magma created a series of caves and caverns inside the island that provide non-claustrophobic tourists with many magnificent stalactite and stalagmite viewing opportunities. Here I was heading down into one such cave. Although this picture reminds me of the movie The Descent, it wasn’t actually scary, and I did not run into any bloodthirsty creatures.

A walk around a geologically active area (there is a boardwalk as to not get burned). This is literally smoke coming out of the ground, scorching some of the vegetation as it comes out.

Terceira does not have very many sand beaches. On the plus side they have this kind of remarkable volcanic landscape which creates small pools of calm water. ‘Beaches’, like this one at Biscoitos (means cookies) often have areas with cement platforms between the rocks where I could spread out my towel. The idea took some getting used to, but sand does stick everywhere and jumping into these deep pools, surrounded by dark, hardened magma and teeming with fish and sea life (I made sure to bring my snorkel everywhere I went in the Azores) was spectacular.

Volcanic activity also results in fertile soil. Much of the island is a patchwork of small holding fields contoured with walls made of dark volcanic rocks that were tilled up from inside the field. These walls also serve to contain the cattle that inhabit many of these fields. I don’t think I had ever seen so many cows and bulls. The fields pictured here are actually in the crater of a volcano.

-Alexandra

The tent you bring along with you on a camping trip can either enhance or complicate your experience in the woods. It’s important to take your time in choosing the right tent for you and the expedition you're embarking upon.

In order to make an informed decision when purchasing a tent, it is important to ask yourself the following questions:

• What season/ weather conditions will this tent be used in?
• How many people will be using this tent? Do you want extra room of a 3 person tent to sleep 2 people in a comfortable space? Or you wish to save on weight and sleep in a smaller tent, closer to your “roommate”
• Is weight an issue? Will you be carrying this tent with you every day, by yourself, split the components among the campers or is it more of a base camping trip?
• What is my budget for this purchase?
• How frequently will I be using this tent? You can by a first price tent from a well known supplier for occasional camping, or invest in a technical tent to use every week!

Size

Selecting a tent that is the right size for your needs can be tricky. If you are using your tent only to sleep in, then the tent will hold the number of people that it is supposed to (a three person tent will hold three people). If you expect to spend time in the tent other than to sleep, you might consider a little more room (getting a four person tent for 2-3 people). Consider set-backs due to weather in this calculation. However, it is excessive to bring a tent that is too large for your use as it adds weight to your pack.

Conditions

There are three main categories of tents to choose from when making your selection:

1. Three Season Tents

• Three season tents are an effective choice for spring, summer and fall—not an effective choice for conditions of heavy snowfall and high winds
• Mesh bodies provide good ventilation and reduction of condensation
• Advantages include: versatility, lighter weight and more compact than four season tents
• Steep walls increase usable interior room, shed precipitation better and help drying the tent.
• Mesh windows and doors with zippered closures to choose the level of ventilation.
• Same length poles sections and color-coded poles to ease the set-up in less than ideal conditions.
• Tent body of light blue, yellow, white or beige to let the most light in.

2. Expedition Tents

• Four or five aluminum poles for extra stability and freestanding construction.
• Steep sidewalls to shed wind and snow.
• Two doors with vestibules for maximum storage and easy entrance.
• Vestibules have an additional pole for extra room and support.
• Sturdy guy-out points sewn to the fly for tying down in very bad weather.
• Protection in heavier weather (winter camping, windy conditions)
• Mostly used for winter camping and mountaineering.
• Heavier materials means greater weight and less compatibility
• Heavier fabric with thick waterproof coatings—less ventilated

3. Single Wall Tents

• Made of a single canopy-fly waterproof breathable fabrics which are most effective in dry, cool conditions (don't do well in humid, summer conditions)
• No inner body enables the tent to be lightweight and compactable

Weight

If you are always carrying your equipment, the weight of the tent might be an issue. Consider a lightweight model if you carry your tent all day, for every day of the trip. A heavier tent should be used for occasional camping, base-camping trip with occasional portages. Remember that the weight can be split among the campers to have each a light part of the tent to carry.

Materials

A tent's material affects the garments performance—it is important for you to pick the material that best suits your camping needs. Some materials are lighter; others are more durable or more compactable. The two main categories of tent materials are: nylon and polyester tents.

1. Nylons

• Lighter weight (can be a factor if you must carry your tent with you throughout the entire trip)
• More compactable
• More durable than other materials although can stretch if wet.
• New silicone coated nylons prevent from mildew, don’t stretch and are thinner for more compressibility than regular nylons.

2. Polyesters

• More resistant to UV rays, commonly used on family tent to stay in the sun for extended period of time.
• Heavier material than nylon, good for base camping trips with occasional portages and hikes.
• Less sensitive to humidity and condensation
• More solid and stable as a material than nylon, will not stretch.

Poles

There are two types of poles that are generally used in tents: fiber glass and aluminum. Higher end gear mostly use aluminum poles. They are lighter, resistant to cold, more stable than fiber glass poles. Aluminum poles are a bit more expensive, but they rigid and are designed to fold smaller and neatly when packing up a tent. In contrast, poles made of fiber glass are heavier, longer, and seize up in cold conditions. As well, they are too flexible for larger tents to maintain their form in strong winds. Advantages to fiber glass tent poles are that they are less expensive and good for all seasons except for winter.

Waterproofing

The waterproofing of a tent is measured in water column height; it evaluates the depth of water the fabric can hold back. If a tent has a 600mm coating, it will keep water out for one minute at a depth of 600mm of water. To camp comfortably, the minimum waterproofing for tent floors is around 1000mm, and around 500mm for tent flies. If you are concerned with waterproofing, some models have sealed seams and zippers for extra protection.

Floors

The shape of tent floors also affect function and waterproofing. Floors in a bathtub-like shape offer less stitching and seams on the bottom of the tent. Furthermore, the impermeability of the tent's base comes up higher around the tent for greater waterproof protection. Arc shaped floors share the floors tissue evenly throughout the base of the tent. Often a one-piece floor sheet. As well, floors can be easily changed if ripped and stitches all around, don't touch the ground if the tent is set up with proper tension.

Another important point: Add a footprint to your purchase. Perfect to fit your exact tent, it will take all the wear and tear, the dirt and grit abrasion instead of your harder-to-replace tent floor.

A tough hint to guess where I am

As much as I love sharing stories of the outdoors and travelling and other things that help make up an adventure, sometimes we need to live our own. So I'm off on vacation. The blog will be taking a nice little rest in the meantime. See you August 13th!

Don't forget to have fun!

Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Do you have a passion for technical clothing and equipment?

Take the first step towards an exciting future.

Altitude-sports.com, a leader in outdoor apparel and equipment, is looking for talented people to work at its Montreal-based head office.

Customer Service (Full time) As a customer service agents you are responsible for ensuring that clients’ orders are processed in a timely and efficient manner. You will also be helping educate the clients about product fit and function via the phone and/or email.

Shipping Associate (Full time) Reporting to the Director of Customer Service , the Shipping Associate is part of a team that is the core of the shipping department and whose main objective is to complete customer shipments for daily orders through a pick-pack-ship process.

Online Catalogue Creation Specialist - Data Entry (Full time) Reporting directly to the IT & Operations Manager, the Creation Specialist will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the product database and the integrity of the material uploaded to the website.

If you are dynamic, ambitious and interested in being a part of the Altitude Sports team or would like more information about the positions send your resume today to: laura@altitude-sports.com

We also have some in-store opportunities. We would love to have you share your expertise and knowledge with our customers. Please drop your resume off at one of our locations or email it to us

Sales Associate (Full/Part time) As a Sales Associate you will play a vital role in the successful delivery of customer service on the retail floor. You will effectively and efficiently educate customers on the features, benefits, usage, and care of products sold by Altitude Sports.

If you think you know someone for our team have them send us an email .

We thank all applicants for their interest, but we will only contact selected candidates.

A beautiful day indeed

It’s Friday June 18 and it’s a beautiful day, maybe a little late in the year for my first real hike but always better late than never. The goal for the day, Mount Mansfield, 4,393 feet, the highest peak in Vermont and a jewel in the crown of the New England “four thousand’ers.” In the past I’ve summited the peak from three of the four cardinal points. Today would see the fourth side tackled with my approach coming from Underhill State Park lying on the west flank of the mountain face. “Face” is the apt term since Mount Mansfield is said to resemble a lying down face in profile, however, I have always thought this a stretch. Nonetheless, the summit ridge is described using this image with the Chin being the high point, the Forehead at the South flank standing at 3,940’, the Nose at 4,062’, the Chin at 4,393’ and then the Adams Apple along the Northern decent at 4,060’.

From the Laura Cowles Trail looking North West

The drive to Underhill, as with most drives in Vermont, is quite picturesque. Passing through the “Notch” from Stowe to Smugglers Notch is always nice and on such a beautiful spring day there were plenty of people about, hiking to Sterling Pond, bouldering and just stretching their legs. The route shown on Google Maps goes through some very small back roads where you just hope no one is coming the other way. After about forty five minutes I pulled to the end of a dirt road and passed the sign for the State Park. My mutt dog, Spud, always seems to know when we have gotten where we are going and he immediately sat up in the back seat and began to whine, his expectant whine literally vibrating with anticipation for the hike ahead. To hike from this side of the mountain there is a three dollar trail and maintenance fee. Although this is the only summit hike that has a fee, due to being in a state park, I think it’s worth it especially if, like me, you have climbed the other trails already.

The Laura Cowles Trail, going up, looking down.

As always, before any hike I had looked over maps the night before to pick my route. My maps have helpful ratings and small reviews of several hikes and I often find them useful when assessing if a hike will be good for me and my four legged companion. I have no worries about Spud and a hike’s difficulty but he does get spooked sometimes, by other hikers or dogs and so hiking close to an exposed ledge or ridge is not something I like to do. Spud is amazingly able, however, always flying up the trail jumping up rock faces that are over my head, sometimes scrambling, almost climbing up the last few feet. I have had to help him down or up in some situations but when he is wearing his Ruff Wear Approach Pack II pack its haul loop makes that easy. On this day hike, though, he was going sans pack. He showed no signs of trouble, however, and as always I would find him waiting for me around a corner or on top of a ledge with his head cocked back looking for me and then hopping back up the trail.

Spud standing atop yet another rock ledge on the Laura Cowles Trail

After conferring with the park staff I decided to take the Laura Cowles Trail to the summit. It was rated difficult but it was in the woods, not exposed, and would get the heart pumping. The approach to the trail head was about 1.5 km on a fire road with a bit of a grade and easy footing. As with most of the trails on or surrounding the Long Trail the Laura Cowles was in great condition. The route was not exactly an easy hike but it was well marked, clear of debris and really a classic Vermont challenge.

From The Laura Cowles Trail looking South West

As with many trails on or surrounding the Long Trial there is a sign-in sheet at the trial head proper. Taking a few seconds to sign in and note your intentions for the day is always a good idea in case something goes wrong. The trail started out easy enough, a moderate grade lead to a series of bridges over some small creeks and streams. As it was a hot day, I, encouraged Spud to stop for a drink. I would point to the water with my hiking pole say “drink, drink” and let him leap into the stream take some big gulps, splash around a little and then charge back up the trail. It did not, however, take long for the trail to turn challenging. A good deal of the hike began to lead up through a series of small to medium size rock climbs. A few moves were all that was needed to top out but repeating the procedure a few dozen times takes it toll on the heart, lungs and legs. Thankfully, I had been staying busy over the snow-less winter and spring, running several times a week, so I was not totally unprepared for the effort. The view back down toward Lake Champlain and New York was spied through tree limbs but at a few points you did get some nice vantages. The Laura Cowles Trail is anywhere from 1.5 to 2.25 kilometres long depending on the map you reference. A good, doable effort maybe best suited for experienced hikers or people in fare shape. Nearing the peak, the trail disappeared and the going was on solid rock. White blazes mark the way but where they are faded Spuds nose always sniffs out the route and I follow.

Spud now on his leash staying off the sensitive high alpine tundra on top of Mount Mansfield

When we finally top out at the intersection of the ridge trail leading to the Chin, I pull out Spud’s leash and hook him up. The summit of Mansfield is home to sensitive alpine tundra vegetation and both people and dogs are strongly encouraged to stay to the path or on the rocks and avoid trampling the plants and mosses. It is only a short hike to the Chin and the true summit. The views in every direction are expansive and it is surprisingly un-crowded on top leaving time and space to enjoy the scenery. There are many trails down from this position including continuing along the summit down the Long Trial or taking the steep spur path called Profanity. I continued along the ridge wanting to explore it a little and approach a series of steep rock descents that lead off of the Chin. I had never tried them before with my dog and I wanted to see how he handled them for future hikes which might take me along the Long Trail over the mountain from South to North or visa versa. As I should have expected he first scampered down and then, when turning back, quickly up the small cliffs and we headed back toward the trail down.

Spud waiting to begin the descent on the Sun Sunset Ridge Trial.

Approaching the trail signs, and bolstered by Spud’s prowess on the Chin, I decided to see what the Sunset Ridge Trial was like, prepared to turn back if the route was too exposed. This trail is a bit longer being 2 to 3 kilometres, again depending on the map, but well worth it as it is open, unobstructed by trees for much of the way, and a real spectacular route. It is not in any way hairy’ as I had feared’ with no steep drops or ledges to worry about. As with the route up, you do have to negotiate some rock faces which when descending can be slick and tricky. As always, good hiking shoes with sticky rubber soles are a real good idea on this hike but even with them I am yet to find a sole compound that can handle real slippery or wet rock. Inevitably, I did take one little slip but was none the worse for wear. On the way down I tried to take the short detour to Cantilever Rock but ended up losing the trail and, since it was getting late, I turned back toward the main trail leaving that particular sightseeing point to another time. As you near the trail terminus you descend back into the tree line and another series of streams and bridges. I encouraged Spud to drink again, hoping that he would clean off his now mud-encrusted belly but he only snuck some quick gulps and trotted back down the trail. It was not long until the Sunset Ridge Trail merged back into the Laura Cowles and the trail head was just around the corner. When reaching it I quickly ticked off the “out” box next to my sign-in, indicating I had left the trail. It was now just an easy walk back down the fire road to my car. I had cause here to try out the hiking pole carrying system on my Osprey Manta pack and it works, if not amazingly.

A view down from the summit of Mansfield

Reaching the car, I was quite pleased with the day’s effort. Spud, like always, seemed to have appreciated the chance to run and play in the woods and the route had offered a nice challenge and beautiful views. All and all, it was exactly what one is looking for in the first hike of the year: a tough and beautiful endeavour that gets you pumped for the year ahead. Back in the car driving toward Stowe, Spud’s characteristic enthusiasm was seemingly well sated as he had sunk, asleep, into the back seat maybe dreaming, like me, of another sunny day and another mountain peak to summit.

A view west

Michael Tauben and Spud the "Tiny Hiker"

Achtung! Mark is that blurry human shape in the midground, not the plants

NAME

Mark Smith, Mr Emo, Sasquatch

FAVOURITE SPOT IN MONT-TREMBLANT

My Neck

FAVOURITE THING FROM ALTITUDE-SPORTS.COM

My black and white Chugach 16 by The North Face.

YOU WOULD NEVER…

Play truth or dare.

Not on the left wing, but still comfortable

YOUR WORST MISTAKE

I deleted Marc Paris as a friend on Facebook.

WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE ALONE

I think of people to be with.

WHERE YOU FEEL THE BEST

In a tent when it is pouring rain.

YOUR MOST COMFORTABLE POSITION

Left wing.

THE BEST PLACE TO MAKE LOVE OUTDOORS

Anywhere I am involved.

THE BEST SHOW YOU’VE SEEN

Is he finding strength or weakness up there?

Ladies of the Canyon at the Green Room or The Black Keys in New York

YOUR FAVOURITE SONG TO MAKE LOVE TO

I always wear earplugs during intimate moments.

YOUR MASCULINE BEAUTY IDOL

James Dean.

THE NICEST THING SOMEONE’S SAID TO YOU

You are not as dumb as you look!

SOMETHING YOU’RE PROUD OF

Finding weaknesses.

YOUR WEAKNESS

Finding strengths.

THE BEST ADVICE SOMEONE GAVE YOU

If you have nothing funny to say, don’t say it at all

HOW YOU LET GO

I tell everyone to leave me alone.

YOUR IDEAL DAY

Truth is those socks look good enough to eat

Day off.

SOMETHING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Laughing.

YOUR BEST MOMENT OF 2009

The best breakfast of my life in a church in Chicoutimi with Vero and Magalie

YOUR NEXT DESTINATION

I just had a coffee so probably the toilet.

A PLACE TO VISIT

www.psychovertical.com, otherwise Devil’s Tower in Wyoming.

ONE QUESTION YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO ANSWER?

What nickname would you like for yourself: Laser

LE PROCHAIN PORTRAIT D’UN ALTITUDIEN

Gilles Bernard

My name is Rémi. I'm a French student that will soon be graduating from the École Polytechnique de Montréal. You're reading the first article in a long series...that will tell the story of my cycling adventure through North America. Yup, once I get that diploma, my career (anti-crisis) plan is to go ride a bike!

"What an absurd idea" you might be left thinking...well please note that I've been surrounded by bikes since my entire life : I wasn't a year old when I started playing with my parents' tire levers when we'd go on bike tours in Averyon. Today, I've grown a little and I have a deep thirst to see me some countryside. North America in particular! The North America where it rains, the North America where you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere...and not the North America of airports, nor the souvenir shops of Old Montreal...

The trip isn't well planned yet: my departure is dependent on my graduation, not to mention administrative formalities... speaking of bothersome things, I've already got a setback: my tourist visa request to the United States was rejected! Apparently, I haven't shown enough strong bonds with a country other than the US. I'm not giving up though and I'll be presenting a new request as soon as I have something to assuage US Immigration's fears that I might stay there (Although frankly, they don't know what they're missing!)

I haven't planned everything out yet, but luckily, I have a good idea about where I'll be heading and the places I'll see. The plan is to go down the East coast until Key West (at the end of Florida), then head West until California. Once there, go up to Vancouver, cut East through Alberta, then South to Yellowstone (we'll see what we can do about the Rockies!) Finally, I'll go check out Mount Rushmore and I'll come back along the Great Lakes. Basically, I'm just doing Montreal to Laval, but via Boston, Miami, San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago and Gatineau. Just a slight detour. You have the right to think I'm crazy.

The coming months, you'll be able to follow my preparations, my departure and trials tribulations adventures that will ensue. Write you later!

Rémi

Montreal as seen from the Jacques-Cartier Bridge

1. Ride the entire circumference of the Island of Montreal. In one shot.  Distance: about 160km.

This must be kilometre 153-ish

2. Ride Montreal-Orford, in one shot. Distance: also about 160km.

Thank you to http://www.aldb.ca/ for the picture

3. Hike up Mont-Chauve (Mount Baldy) with my Dad. Altitude : Not much and it doesn't matter.

4. At least one canoe-camping weeeknd. Distance : Whatever I can do.

These three projects will be all the more satistying in that for various reasons, I wasn't able to complete them last year. But as you know, finishing a project gives you a rare sense of satisfaction. The more effort and the more time it takes, the bigger the reward, eh?

And you dear readers, what are you outdoor plans? I invite you to get lost in the mid term. The short term is always there and the long term is patient enough to wait for you!

Welcome to Smithers B.C., where the grizzly bears and moose roam in your back yard and you are encompassed by the beauty of the Bulkley Valley with a wonderful ski hill and glaciers right outside your back window. What more could you ask for? Well a The North Face tent delivered by an Altitude-Sports.com staff of course!

At last, I have finally arrived! For those of you who enjoy the great outdoors and have never had the chance to visit, I highly recommend the trip. The Bulkley Valley has everything to offer; rafting, kayaking, incredible river fishing, hiking, back country skiing, camping. You name it, they've got it.

I feel quite close to Mr. Coldwell's tent now that I've traveled across Canada with it, so I feel the obligation to show it around a little. I even introduced it to the slightly famous grizzly bear in the quaint Smithers airport. I couldn't part with it just yet, so I took the tent out for a drive through town and out in the country. It's when we've been gone a while that we really appreciate the beauty of the place we call home. It felt incredible to be back.

Okay, so maybe the drive is more for myself, but how could one resist? After an afternoon of sightseeing together, we are ready for the big delivery to Mr. Coldwell.

ROOOOOWAR!

Thank you Mr.Coldwell for giving me the opportunity to come back to my old stomping grounds. We appreciate your business and I am more than willing to come back and deliver to your doorstep again! Hope you enjoy your tent,

Cheers,

Amy

Other articles in this series:

Very Special Delivery: Mont-Tremblant

Very Special Delivery: Prince George

Friday May 14th 2010

15h00 – And we’re off. We just left Montreal and we’re on our way to our camping site on the Montagne d' Argent (Silver Mountain) in the Laurentians. Upon our departure, the sun was shining. This was getting us down, but we were still hopeful. Luckily, the forecast was suggesting rain, at which point we would be able to test our Outdoor Research jackets. I had my Helium Jacket at the ready.

18h30 – We’re getting supper ready. Still no clouds in sight (sigh)!

22h30 – I’m all snug in my sleeping bag when that magical sound I was waiting for arrives. The lapping of the raindrops on the tent eventually become a rainy 5th symphony. I’m hoping it lasts until tomorrow, for our ascent of the Pic-Johansen in the Mont Tremblant Park. I’ll finally get to try out my Helium!

Snug as a bug

Saturday May 15th 2010

8h00 – I wake up disapointed as the rain has ceased. We still get ready; who knows, the rain might still show up during the hike.

10h00 – We leave the parking lot and start the ascent of Pic-Johansen. It’s still not raining, the temperature is about 20C and the sky is only slightly cloudy.

11h15 – After a little break, just before getting back on the trail, out of nowhere, a storm erupts. Time to slip my Helium Jacket over my merino wool shirt. It’s really coming down now. I’m back on the trail sporting my jacket. With the rain, I could finally see how the Helium stands up. The trail was in the forest (no wind and more humid than on a mountain top). 45 minutes of these conditions later, I’m quite pleased with the breathability of this ultralight minimalist jacket (no pitzips); it holds its own against any other waterproof/breathable membrane.

17h35 – Back at the parking lot after a 14km hike with quite varied conditions and I’m very happy with my Helium Jacket. It weighs next to nothing and it takes less space than a dehydrated meal for two. The added bonus is that it protects you from the most enterprising mosquitoes without making you sweat.

Take care

Stephane

My friend and I left Montreal at around 3 p.m. hoping to get perfect weather, ie tons of rain so we could put my Outdoor Research Revel Jacket through its paces. According to the forecast, everything was in place. The plan was to sleep at the Montagne d’Argent (Silver Mountain) and the next morning hike Le toit des Laurentides trail in the Mont Tremblant Park. As planned, we got to the mountain at supper time. Once we’d set up our tents and eaten a nice meal, I decided to check out the surrounding area. We discovered lots of possibilities: foot paths, climbing walls, not to mention various services at a reasonable price.

Upon our return, we made it a short evening in front of a fire with a beer at hand. The next morning, we got up really early for breakfast and packing up. Next stop : Le toit des Laurentides.

At 9 a.m., give or take a few minutes, we got to the trailhead. Luckily, our friend the rain was waiting for us.

At first, the path went along some nice falls that has a few spots to bathe; the terrain was rather varied, rooty and rocky with a decent incline. The climb up was quite nice with changing conditions: torrentiel rain, fine mist and even a bit of sunshine. These were perfect conditions to test my sweet jacket. It really protected me from the rain and I appreciated its breathability, especially the pit-zips. By opening it at waist-length on each side, I could put my hip bag underneath and thus keep it protected from the rain. The hood was very well ajusted and the storage pocket was easy to use. The ascent took two-and-a-half hours and when we got to the top, we had a welcoming committee of gray jays who came to eat in our hands.

We lunched with the jays and took a half-hour break to recuperate a bit.

The descent was quick and lasted an hour-and-a-half. We ran down the path and I treated myself to two memorable tumbles in the mud. Although the path was quite wet, I managed to keep my feet dry. I can’t say the same for my cotton pants. We ended the day on a nice little beach as we ate our dinner.

Happy trails!

Rock

Hello, my name is Gabrielle and I've been an avid outdoor enthusiast for several years now! I do activities such as hiking, canoeing, camping and climbing. For almost a year now, I've been a specialist at Altitude Sports on St-Denis in Montreal.

I recently had the pleasure of trying out an Outdoor Research waterproof/breathable jacket: the women’s Reflexa. Actually, it’s the first piece of OR clothing I’ve ever owned. I tested it mostly on my bike this spring and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. Firstly, the jacket is made in a very interesting way, especially the zippers on either side. The zipper that extends from the underarm to the bottom of the jacket allows you to comfortably wear a backpack with a waist belt. You can do like me in the photo and adjust it so that the jacket doesn’t constantly ride up your back.

This large openning is also a very effective way of making the jacket more breathable, so it is comfortable to wear during more exacting sports. Moreover, it is pretty compressible. It does not take up too much space when stored it in your bag.

Also, the flexibility of the fabric makes the jacket feel quite pleasant. This is particularly nice when on a bike because the sleeves remain in place once the Velcro strips have been adjusted. What’s more, I was pretty surprised with the strength of the fabric. I recently fell off my bike and the jacket came out unscathed; unlike my left shoulder which has ended up with a nice bruise.

I sort of fell like that, except in Montreal and I was wearing my Reflexa.

The cut is made pretty straight which is ideal for layering but that makes it look a little less feminine. The design is also rather short. Therefore, for someone my size (5'4''), it’s perfect. However, it may feel a little short for a tall woman.

In terms of being waterproof, it works very well. It’s actualy the feature that worries me the least. Outdoor Research guarantees waterproof jackets with a Pertex breathable membrane. For now, I am very satisfied with the Reflexa’s protection. It’s a versatile jacket, lightweight, comfortable and convenient. I recommend it to any active woman into outdoor sports or even to those seeking a convenient jacket to take on a trip!

Enjoy your summer and make the best of the upcoming nice weather!

Gabrielle

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jérôme and I am a specialist at Altitude Sports St-Denis and a shipper for the Altitude-sports.com website. Being a lover of outdoor activity, I definitely needed a soft shell.

A softshell has the advantage of being much more breathable than a waterproof breathable jacket and does a good job protecting from small showers with its resistance to water and wind. In short, it is great for most situations.

Lately, I’ve been wearing my Ferrosi a lot. I have had the opportunity test it on several short hikes and while biking. I am very satisfied with this product so far.

The Ferrosi is light and breathes well. Bolting down slopes at high speed, I found the jacket to have good wind resistance. Moreover, I find it does a good job at keeping me dry. I wouldn’t necessarily wear it in the pouring rain, but it has good enough water resistance to keep you dry in light rain. Because it doesn’t have an insulating layer, the Ferrosi isn’t very hot, but it is great for getting around or on a cool day in either spring, winter or summer. For colder days, you would just need a small fleece or a merino wool shirt to keep the heat closer to the body.

I love the cut and flexibility of this jacket. Despite it being quite fitted, there is plenty of room to wear it over a fleece. The fabric is very stretchy, which freedom of movement without any resistance. Moreover, the Cordura fabric is designed to be highly resistant to abrasion. It is a very versatile jacket that is perfect for hiking in the mountains, scrambling, climbing, biking etc..

Talk to you next product review!

Jérôme

More articles will be published along the way. Good luck!

Max