The video shows how Icebreaker merino pretty much fully biodegraded after nine months. In comparison, polyester knit fabrics did not degrade at all during the course of the nine-month trial period. If you're worried about your environmental footprint, and we all should be, this makes merino rather attractive, especially considering it is a natural fiber to begin with. Speaking of which, are you wondering how Icebreaker merino apparel is made? Just click here.

I can only question the utility of this test in that who in their right mind would throw out a merino shirt? As someone how is very good a losing things, I know that's besides the point, I just felt the need to share my love of merino : )

Woo! These flying-person videos always get me going. Well, I must say that it was first the backcountry skiing that revved me up. I've really got to get my backcountry on. What better way to have fun while getting fit as a fiddle? But I've got to get real comfortable with that before I try the second part. Wow, that would really be conquering my limits. I've jumped out of a plane and it was incredible. Although I must admit the moments before were terrifying. I figure the BASE jumping would be more of a rush since you're closer to the ground, for more effect.

Anyways, good on Icebreaker and its premium wool for sponsoring this.

What did you think of the video?

-Juan Altitude

When you're outdoors and being naked isn't cutting it, the core of any comfort will come from your base layers. I'm sure there's a pun in there, but I'll leave it up to you. Anyways, a base layer's primary function is to keep you dry. If you're dry, you'll stay comfortable. And if you're in a cold environment, staying dry is key to staying warm. Did you know that the body loses up to 23 times as much heat when wet than when dry? Almost sounds crazy, but when you think about it, that's how sweat works. Base layers allow you to avoid that effect. To find out more base layers, just play the video.

Arc'teryx Rho LTW Neck Gaitor - Raisin

Which is why I really like the Arc’teryx Rho LTW Neck Gaitor. I’ve always found a good neck gaitor to be an essential part of my winter arsenal and I really find the outdoor industry does not give it enough importance.

Arc'teryx Rho LTW Neck Gaitor - Coffee Bean

The Rho fits snuggly around your neck. Made with Arc’teryx’s take on merino, it is 95% merino and 5% Spandex, this makes it nice and stretchy and really breathable. It stays in place, covering your neck with sweet, sweet soft warmth.

That being said, I do find it needs to be used in conjunction with a second neck gaitor for harsh wintry conditions. Its snugness makes it unhandy to use to cover your face too. However, I don’t see that as a disadvantage. Using a double neck gaitor system gives you great comfort. You can use an outside layer to block to wind and a base layer to regulate the temperature. Not only that, twin layers mean they forgive better. If one is misplaced, you won’t get a bitting wind attacking your neck since there’s backup. And with the Rho staying in place so well, you’re always covered.

I wear every chance I get, which is often.

It is simply amazing for when you want to spend significant amounts of time outside when it’s cold. No silly, it’s not waterproof nor windproof and actually isn’t all that warm. But that doesn’t detract it from being an awesome baselayer. Quite the opposite in fact.

This man is looking good and feeling GREAT

First of all you’ve got the merino goodness. There’s no need for me to wax poetic about its breathability, softness, fast drying and awesome smell deterrence since I’ve already done so, with musical accompaniment at that.

Second, I really like the thickness of the Bodyfit 260. Between thin and thick, it’s a got an all-round versatility. You can wear it as a warm base layer or as a thin insulating layer over another base layer.

Third, what I find that really sets the Slalom apart is its extra-long neck. To me, it’s the pièce de résistance. It goes up all the way up here, ie just before the chin. I wish more shirts had collars like that. Protecting your neck in cold weather is essential. The Slalom is awesome in doing that. When you’re heading out and wind and cold will be factors, you’re set. A neck gaitor will protect you from the wind and the Slalom’s long neck will both cut out any drafts and insulate lightly.

What if you’re like my work buddy, Dave, and find such a long collar to be bothersome? Easy, just fold it and voilà, you’ve got a ¼ zip length. Sweet. Speaking of zip, that’s another element I appreciate. Given the choice between a turtleneck and a zip neck, I choose the zip neck, for versatility. Ok, so you have to trade a tiny bit of comfort against the neck and warmth to get the zip. However, that’s more than compensated by the fact that if it gets too hot, you can simply unzip the collar and dump some heat.

I can't guarantee you'll look this cool

And there you have it. Three reasons that explain why I love my Slalom. 1. Merino. 2. Versatile thickness. 3. Great neck.

We spend most of our time inside: metro, bus, car, work, school, cafés, restaurants, home, but once we step outside, it’s hell frozen over, just like the post-apocalyptic road from “The Road” leading to Vostok.

Montréal in the winter

Obviously, even if I’ve also suspected that the best set-up is to wear merino underwear and a down insulated Himalayan one-piece, it’s important to take a look at a plethora of other possibilities. Here’s one of them that I’ve choosen to wear for a typical Fall day. My friends, here’s where I reveal myself to you by sharing the secret of my set-up for the day.

The weather:

10 degrees Celsius. It rained yesterday. It’ll surely rain tomorrow. Today’s overcast, but nothing is certain these days.

Choosen kit:

• Head

A tuque isn’t entirely necessay at this point, so I rely on my coat’s hoody to protect me. I also figure I should exploit the last few bleaching sunrays before my normal head of hair returns, “Gunther” style.

I'm your tiger

• Soulders:

Icebreaker Tech-T short sleeve shirt

- Ultra comfortable 100% merino wool base layer. Perfect for an uneven season where temperature and humidity levels are unpredictable. The wool helps regulate the body’s temperature. The fibre dilates to store just enough of the warm air we produce. The shirt is close fitting which allows management of humidity, which becomes quite important when we’re constantly switching from a warm to cold environment (from the comfort of the office or metro to outside).

Icebreaker Tech T

Icebreaker Nikau long sleeve shirt

- A second 100% merino wool layer that’s just as comfortable. This long sleeve shirt supplies superior climate control around your body. Once outside, the combination of these layers on their own can be enough for many. The combo is also comfortable inside since it deals quite well with humidity and heat.

Icebreaker LS Nikau

Arc'teryx Fugitive Hoody

- My third layer is made with 100% polyester but the outside is reasonably wind-resistant et slightly water-resistant. The jacket isn’t waterproof and will not provide the same type of protection as a classic shell, but it does protect you well enough against drizzle. If it starts raining slightly, the jacket gives you enough time to seek shelter. Its brushed fleece lining adds some heat. Polyester dries quickly if ever you're caught under more rain than expected. Finally, the jacket is very light and compact so it stashes easily in a backpack if ever you don’t need to wear it.

Arcteryx Fugitive Hoody

• Legs:

For the time being, I’m fine wearing just jeans, but…

Icebreaker Relaxed Boxer Beast 150 boxer with fly

Managing heat and humidity is essential a every level and merino is definitely the most comfortable. For those who have strong thighs (whether euphemistically or not), take the boxer otherwise the boxer briefs ride up and will encourage a high-pitched voice pretty quickly. There are also other types of merino underwear, notable one much lighter: the Icebreaker Beast Brief 150.

Icebreaker Beast 150 Relaxed Boxer with fly

• Toes:

I haven’t taken my winter boots out yet and it’s not raining hard enough for a 100% waterproof shoes, so my current choice is:

Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra

Made to be a trail racing shoe, but it also is a great tough and comfortable shoe for any kind of terrain. Having easy access to the Mont-Royal and noticing the state of roads and sidewalks in Montreal, there is no doubt that these all-terrain capabilities are quite interesting. I’ve had these shoes for over a year now and they’re still just as comfortable. I took the non-waterproof (without Gore-Tex) version so that it airs out better. Next step is the proper selection of socks!

Salomon Men's XA Pro 3D Ultra

Icebreaker Lite Crew

To crown things off and insure comfort and breathability, break out the merino socks in the appropriate thickness. I’m focused more on staying dry than on heat, since I’m always moving from one temperature to another. If my socks are too warm, my heat will turn into sweat when I go inside; and once I return outside, my wet feet will get cold. I’d rather have cool feet while outside, but that are comfortable while inside.

Icebreaker Lite Crew

Epilogue:

There you go. Each item is versatile and comfortable. Together, they work in symbiosis to ensure a warm and dry Fall. Now, all I have to do is close my eyes and breathe in the change of seasons.

Nous ne faisons qu'un

*Please note that Janick’s article is currently in French. Translation coming soon.

It’s morning. It’s raining. It’s cold. Janick asks me with a worried look whether we’re still on for the hike. Fearing she’s having doubts, I answer: “Yeah!” Her response warms me up: “Sweet!”

The plan was to hike up Mont-Tremblant. I was looking forward to it. I also was hoping for a rigorous experience. You know, to kick up the intensity a notch or two. It started off well, what with the rain and the cold. As we started hiking, we realized that we were simply generating too much heat. The sweat was going to wet us more than the drizzle. So off went the shells. I was covered in merino wool, a little rain wasn’t going to faze me. I also decided to shed the bottom legs of my convertible pants. God bless convertible pants. With clothes set at breathable, I was more comfortable than a warm hug from someone you love.  Ok, I wasn’t that comfortable, but close enough.

Juan converting

The first part of the hike was quite nice. An easy yet demanding incline incited extra effort. Varying scenery just made things better. We noticed that we could not stop for long before getting cold. It wasn’t much of a problem since we were there to hike, not to meander. Yet, at one point, even moving quickly on steep parts wasn’t enough to keep us warm. The rain was coming down stronger, the wind had picked up. Our shells came back on. I believe this video sums up the weather. Although it is in French, I’m sure you’ll agree that weather needs no translation.

Things were getting intense. My smile was getting brighter. By the time we got to the top, a storm was upon us. Fierce wind and rain greeted us. It was feeling like an adventure. We were completely soaked. Luckily, we were well equipped with technical base and mid layers not to mention our sweet shells. The mountain was closed. Nothing was open. Finally, we took shelter by finding an unlocked area. Our haven was a room with a pile of garbage. At this point in time though, comfort was defined solely by protection from the elements.

Juan's a trashy guy

We added a layer for warmth. For energy, we proceeded to seriously savour some baguette and cheese. Rarely has cheese ever hit the spot like that. Hmmm, I’m salivating right now, thinking of it. The gooeyness, the saltyness, the flavour. For a cold meal, it was absolute perfection to counter the nastiness outside.

More cheese please!

Warmed up and energized, we headed back down. We were on fire, Janick especially. She took the lead and started running. And run down the mountain we did. It was awesome. My lungs were screaming and my legs were burning from the running and bouncing around while my brain was reeling from the split-second decision-making about where my next step was going to be. I was completely satisfied.

At one point, we got to a magical spot. The rain had stopped. The wind was blowing through the forest at a continuous pace, between soft and strong. I love the sound of wind blowing through leaves and here it was in surround sound. It was visually mesmerizing as well. The video does not give it justice, but with every leaf in the forest twisting to and fro, thus showing both its dark and light sides, it was like being in a anime.

All that to say that my desire for an intense hike was fulfilled. It was a mission accomplished. To top it off, our awesome hike was pleasantly completed by a nice dinner of quesadillas and fajitas at Mark Altitude’s place. Sore muscles and a tired body ensured a good night's sleep.

The happiness that follows

Planters after work

Most tree planters are very unconcerned with their appearance. People go days without showering. Brushing hair is a hysterical waste of time. Wearing the same clothes is a practical delight. They wear odd compilations of chewed, borrowed clothes and rare new articles replacing last year's long dead and weather ravaged ones. Finding styles that accentuate their hips and bust, or that slim out their legs, or that are the right colours, is NOT a priority. Clothes should serve their primordial purpose, which is to protect you. Because if everything else is soaking wet or moldy with sweat, and all you have is an over-sized purple and blue dress shirt that makes you look like an inflated rubber ball, you may as well wear it with pride; any other way and your entire chest will be blistering with sunburn. It’s function over form out there folks. And remember: it’s not what you’re wearing, it’s how you wear it.

What works out? What doesn’t? These questions can only be answered by a series of rigorous trial and error tests. My first season I knew nothing about protecting myself from the three main threats that hide among the trees: pouring precipitation, scalding heat and insanity-provoking bugs. Which one is worse and when exactly it’s going to hit is unpredictable; often all three will come knocking at the door over the course of the same day. If you are going to be a rookie tree-planter, or first-time explorer, I can only recommend that you try and be prepared for everything.

waking up to snow

What to do if it rains….or snows….

My rookie year planting I brought a brilliant yellow rain suit. The first day it rained, I proudly adorned this rubber coated get-up over my cotton tank top and spiffy lightweight hiking pants, and marched out onto the piece of land I was working on. I was soaked within 10 minutes and not from rain. Because it wasn’t exactly cold outside, I was sweating so much inside the bulky plastic suit that my rain gear did nothing. I got so hot that I threw down my shovel, took off my tree bags, ripped off the yellow suit and just got wet. That’s been my approach ever since. Now, in my wiser older age, if she’s really coming down, I wear a rain jacket (yes still that lovely yellow thing!) to avoid heavy dripping clothes. But if it’s just a light rain, I usually wear a fleece with a tuque over top of my merino wool long-sleeve shirt (especially if it’s really cold, or snowing). But if I were to return, I’d buy a water-proof breathable jacket, like The North Face’s Venture jacket and pants. They breathe (some), are lightweight and not bulky, aren’t horrendously expensive and might last two seasons.

The North Face Women's Venture Jacket

The North Face Women's Venture Side Zip Pants

What to do if it’s hotter than hell….

A hot day can be just as uncomfortable as a wet, cold one. My second year planting we suffered through an incredible heat wave. We were planting burned land; it was horribly hot and dirty. I, trying desperately to keep up with the best planter on my crew, wore myself into the ground. I wasn’t drinking enough water, I didn’t wear my hat and pushed and pushed myself every single day. Consequently, I got a very nasty case of heat stroke, complete with diarrhea and vomiting, blind staggering and affected vision. Since then I’ve gone to rather extreme measures to make sure I have enough water with me (known to bring 8 liters of water to work); I put on waterproof SPF 45 in the morning and I always wear a hat.

Hot Day

What you wear can make a huge difference as well. Lighter clothes are always better than dark ones, as is covering yourself up and wearing a material that keeps you cool. For shirts, long-sleeve and short, merino wool is my favourite, but I have a couple synthetic shirts that I would be hard pressed to trade in. However, they’re stinky compared to our friend Ms. Merino Wool who never smells, keeps me warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. Bring with you two different weights: one superfine t-shirt for really hot days and a heavier one for the cold. I like this long sleeve because it has a mid-zipper and ventilation under the arms.

Icebreaker Women's GT 180 L/S Chase Zip

Icebreaker Women's S/S Dash Crewe

Whether it’s hot or cold I wear the same kind of pants. But I went THREE years wearing lightweight hiking pants with a bunched elastic waistband that dug into my hips where my hip belt was. And for THREE years I complained bitterly about the pain (my poor friends). Then I discovered loose spandex ¾ length pants, with no pesky elastic waist band. They breathe, they stretch, they don’t rip, and they’re way more comfortable. The only downside is that they don’t dry as fast, but really, buy two pairs, and you’ll always have an extra. I recommend the Arcteryx Escala Capri for Women, or if you want to stay in the pant camp and keep a bit warmer at the beginning of the season, try the OR pursuit pants for Women - a light soft-shell breathable material made for serious woodland activity.

Arcteryx Women's Escala Capri

OR Women's Pursuit Pants

What to do if the black flies are chewing every inch of exposed skin….

Now, lastly, the bugs. Whenever I talk to people about planting they go, "Oh! What about the bugs?" Sometimes I shrug and say, "bah, it’s not so bad", other times I shudder, or say I heard it’s worse in Ontario… It varies. How do you deal with it? At the end of June, beginning of July I’ve been known to scream (really loud), whack my shovel on a stump (which does nothing but dent the little bugger), scream again, start clawing at my face and stare in horror at the blood on my hands as I realize the black flies have chewed my entire forehead, ears and neck, leaving behind only little bloody scabs. They dart, flit, nip, chew and pester pester until you’re reduced to tears and an unproductive mess.

It's a long road out there

Luckily, certain things can be done. Number one: find some way to be at peace with this situation. It’s uncomfortable, but you make it worse by flipping out. (This step is the hardest, so if you fail, or it seems highly unlikely you’ll succeed, focus on number two). Number two: use something with Deet in it. Now, I have serious issues with Deet. I’m convinced it causes infertility and cancer, among other things. But because I was often on the verge of losing all control, I would use it sparingly. This is a mistake; either use it, or don’t. Some people use no bug spray at all, but I really recommend to the average person that it’s a good idea to use some sort of bug offending product. (If you are also against genetically altering chemicals, number three is for you.) Number three: use a natural bug spray. You’ll have to literally bathe in this every two hours or so, but it will work. Other options besides chemical abstinence are: eat raw garlic every day (not personally tested), don’t use scented soap (this helps), wear LIGHT COLOURED long-sleeved shirts and as many bandanas as you can wrap around your head, oh yes, and plant FAST. Don’t bother with a bug net, you’ll never see your trees, or where you’re going. If all else fails, hope for wind. And regardless of what you do, your face will sometimes look like this:

At the end of the day, wear whatever feels good and whatever works. This will take some time to establish, or perhaps you will find yourself not as sensitive to the elements as some of us (all the more power to you!) and you’ll be set right from the start. But in the end, it’s up to you.

Because everyone's a superhero

--

Tree-planting and Preparing for the Unknown: Part I

Hiking boots: Click here to view our buyer's guide

Trail running shoes: Click here for our buyer's guide

Fitting guide: Click here to check out our guide to getting the proper fit from your hiking boots and shoes

Cette semaine, nous sommes allés à la rencontre de Josée Bérubé, représentante d'Icebreaker auprès d'Altitude Sports. Dans cette capsule, Josée nous explique les qualités techniques des vêtements de laines mérinos fabriqués par cette compagnie néo-zélandaise. Elle nous parle aussi des différentes lignes d'Icebreaker ainsi que du BAA code, son nouveau système de traçabilité permettant de connaître précisemment la provenance de la laine mérinos formant chaque vêtement. On y apprend aussi que la fine laine mérinos est une option fort intéressante pour les temps chauds et torrides parce que cette fibre respire parfaitement. Elle ne conserve pas les odeurs corporelles contrairement au coton et aux fibres synthétiques. Bref, c'est le parfait vêtement de voyage, croyez-moi.

Avant de vous laisser à l'écoute de ce vidéo, je tiens à souligner que les vêtements Icebreaker sont encore plus populaires que le chocolat auprès des employés d'Altitude. C'est en autre pour cette raison que nous avons décidé d'ouvrir une Boutique concept Icebreaker à Mont-Tremblant. Aussi, on s'habille de laine mérino en été comme en hiver parce que ça régule mieux la température du corps que toute autre fibre. Même ceux qui ont des intolérances à la laine régulière en portent sans avoir de démangeaisons. Bref, l'essayer, c'est l'adopter!

Vous pouvez accéder à la collection Icebreaker sur Altitude-sports.com en cliquant sur l'icône ci-dessous:

J'ai aussi inclus des vêtement "coup de coeur des employés" pour les collections Icebreaker Superfine, Beast et Nature dans la section "produits relatifs" ci-dessous.

N'hésitez pas à poser vos questions à Josée. Elle se fera un plaisir de vous répondre à même le blogue.

À bientôt,

Max

There are many reasons to track a sheep: keeping the herd together, testing if they faint as easily as some weird goats or protecting them from mulesing.

Fainting goats

Being crucial actors in the sheep industry, Australia and New Zealand have developed interesting techniques. Seeing as Australia has already had huge success with Crocodile Dundee and another certain animal, we decided to turn to the country with the highest sheep per capita: New Zealand.

Bloody oath! This article is interesting. Let's have a Captain Cook!

New Zealand is certainly an interesting country:

- It has been the host to the noteworthy “Bridge to Terabithia”

Max (our marketing guy) when he was younger.

- Their rugby team dances before playing

- Black : Ouh Ah. Let's play ball. - White : How frightening let's hold on to each other

- They also have a high "Sir" per capita ratio!

Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake are both from New Zealand and are prominent figures when it comes to extended trips. Sir Hillary was among the first ones to climb Mt. Everest, Sir Blake set the fastest time around the world sailing. And with all due respect: he even died at the hand of pirates. Talk about being adventurous. He left us with stories of his amazing trips, his strong environmental concern with global warming and pollution, and introduced a young company to the world: Icebreaker.

Ted Danson-Nietzche-like New Zealand hero said: "Icebreaker is superior in every way to anything I've ever worn. I wore it for 40 days and 40 nights and it didn't itch or get whiffy"

Icebreaker is a company you will probably hear a lot about on the Altitude-blog so I won’t go too much into details. Basically, the company found success by turning New Zealand’s famous merino wool into a “piece-of-art clothing".

A few months ago, they have launched the BAA Code (BaaAaaAa sheep voice), an innovative way to track where their product comes from. Every single Icebreaker garment comes with a unique code. Once you input this number on their website, you will be provided with various information regarding the sheep station where your garment comes from. You will learn about the station, the family in charge, the fibre, the yarn, Icebreaker's views on environmental ethics, manufacturing ethics, animal welfare and alike. Few companies in the outdoor industry go this far.

See for yourself. Even if you don't have any Icebreaker clothing, here's a demo code so you can test the system: 213C3F390. Go ahead and try it!

http://www.icebreaker.com/site/baacode/index.html

Il y a plusieurs raisons de retracer un mouton : garder le sheptel ensemble, tester s’ils tombent sans connaissance aussi aisément que ces chèvres un peu bizarres et même pour s’assurer qu’ils sont protégés contre le « mulesing ».

Chèvres qui tombent sans connaissance

Tous deux acteurs majeurs dans l’industrie du mouton, l’Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande ont développé des techniques intéressantes pour retracer les moutons. L’Australie ayant déjà eu ses moments de gloire avec Crocodile Dundee et Skippy, nous avons décidé de plutôt nous tourner vers le pays avec le plus haut taux de mouton par capita : la Nouvelle-Zélande

Bloody oath! Cet article est intéressant. Continuons ce tiki tour littéraire!

La Nouvelle-Zélande est certainement un pays intéressant. Digne de mention :

- Ce pays a été l’hôte du fameux film « Bridge to Terabithia »

Max (notre gars de marketing) lorsqu'il était plus jeune.

- Noir: Ouh! Ah! Nous allons jouer à la balle. - Blanc : Comme nous sommes effrayés! Cherchons du réconfort en nous serrant les uns contre les autres.

- ils ont aussi un haut taux de chevalier(« Sir »)!

Sir Edmund Hillary, l’un des premiers à grimper l’Everest, et Sir Peter Blake, celui qui a fait le tour du monde en voilier le plus rapidement, sont deux professionnels de l’aventure originaire de la Nouvelle-Zélande. Sir Blake est même décédé aux mains des pirates, parlez-moi d’aventure...

Ce dernier nous a laissé ses histoires mémorables, son inquiétude face aux changements climatiques et il a aussi aidé à l’émergence d’une géniale petite compagnie de Nouvelle-Zélande : Icebreaker.

Heureux mélange de Ted Danson et de Nietzche, le héro néozélandais s'est exclamé: "Icebreaker est supérieur en tout point à tout ce que j'ai porté jusqu'à maintenant. Je l'ai porté durant 40 jours et 40 nuits et le tissu ne m'a jamais piqué et est resté confortable à porter."

Icebreaker est une compagnie dont vous entendrez souvent parler sur Altitude-blogue (parce qu’on l’aime tous) alors je ne m’étendrai pas trop sur la compagnie. En gros, Icebreaker a fait son succès en transformant la fine laine mérino de Nouvelle-Zélande en un vêtement ultraconfortable et durable.

Il y a quelques mois, la compagnie a lancé une nouvelle initiative : le BAA Code (à dire avec l’accent moutonesque). Le principe est simple mais n’est pas si facile à intégrer dans le processus d’une entreprise. Chaque vêtement qu’Icebreaker conçoit est identifié d’un numéro unique. Ce numéro peut être utilisé sur leur site web pour obtenir de l’information sur la provenance du produit. Vous découvrirez alors la ferme d'où provient le mouton et la famille qui la gère. Vous trouverez aussi des détails concernant la fibre, le processus de tissage et surtout, le point d'Icebreaker concernant l'éthique de travail des employés, les conditions des animaux et autres sujets du genre.

Jugez-en par vous-même! Même si vous n'avez pas acheté de vêtement Icebreaker, voici un code démo pour que vous puissiez le tester: 213C3F390. Allez-y!

http://www.icebreaker.com/site/baacode/index.html

(PS: Malheureusement, leur site web n'est pas encore bilingue mais vous vous y retrouverez surement)