Baffin, Canada’s largest winter boot brand, is pleased to announce that Paul Hubner, CEO, will be putting his brand to the ultimate test this March. Paul and his three sons, Mark, Brent and Ryan, will be outfitted head to toe in Baffin – polar proven footwear and apparel, testing their products against some of the world’s harshest conditions. The group will travel from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtun from March 12 to the 25, 2012.

In an extreme Research and Development undertaking, Paul trusts that his brand will not only stand up against the extreme cold temperatures and howling winds of Baffin Island but that it will also keep his three sons warm and safe as they cross the Arctic Circle. Mark, 24, Brent, 21, and Ryan, 16, will be spending their March break in a most unconventional way, compared to many young men their age. Matty Mcnair, National Geographicʼs Adventurer of the Year, will be guiding Paul and his sons on their trek.

Paul’s previous expeditions include trekking to the geographic North (2006, 2008) and South (2008) Poles and Baffin Island (2009), as well as Everest Base Camp (2011) in Nepal. Being known for it’s extreme footwear, Baffin has only recently ventured into extreme clothing.  For the first time ever this March, the Hubner’s will be outfitted entirely in Baffin – head to toe. Featuring Baffin’s unique apparel layering system of base, mid, shell and an outer down layer, the Hubner’s will have no trouble keeping warm in temperatures of up to -100ºC.  “Baffin is based around the core philosophies of ‘living the brand’ and being ‘Polar Proven’, it wouldn’t make much sense to not test our new clothing system under the most extreme conditions”, says Paul Hubner.  “Through constant real world testing and technical innovation, we remain focused on being the undisputed leader in outdoor performance footwear and apparel.” Based just outside of Toronto, in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada. Baffin Inc. is Canada’s largest winter boot brand, with a new line of polar apparel.

For more information, visit www.baffin.com.

Product review by: Rick Shandley

When Timex chose to engineer a multi-function sensor watch for extreme high-country and rugged outdoor activity, they went a little further than thinking out of the box…they went out of bounds!  With the availability of the Timex Expedition WS4 timepiece outdoorsmen and women, mountaineers and backcountry travelers have access to a functional and valuable wrist-mounted instrument they can count on.

The Expedition WS4 is designed for extreme mountaineering at hyper-high elevations, but it’s a natural for wearing daily as the design is current with many of the fashion trends in wrist-wear these days, yet it delivers solid information regardless of your activity.

Working with legendary mountaineer Conrad Anker, Timex designed the Expedition Wide Screen 4 (WS4) with four significant functions mountaineers need to make sound decisions when operating at high elevations.  In 2008, Anker used a prototype of the WS4 on an ascent attempt of Meru, a peak in the Garwhal region of the Himalaya. The 6330-meter peak (approximately 20,767 feet elevation) proved an extremely harsh challenge, one in which the Expedition WS4 handled with aplomb. The Meru climb also provided Anker with expert feedback that has been incorporated into the WS4.

In addition to accurate, digital, time keeping, the WS4’s functions include an onboard Compass, Altimeter, Barometer, and Thermometer. Within this group of functions are several useful sub-functions that give the user a well rounded set of tools to operate in a harsh environment. The sub-functions of Alarms, stop-watch, time-splits and other functions an athlete would use to train for mountaineering or endurance events all worked flawlessly. Yet, for this review, we focused on the four primary information functions designed into the WS4.

In evaluating the WS4, the watch was tested against known measurements. Here are some of our observations of its functions:

COMPASS

The initial process of setting up the WS4 and calibrating the compass and weather functions took very little time, and for those of you accustomed to setting up digital instruments, the calibration and function set-up is almost intuitive.

After the compass was calibrated – it took two slow rotations of the watch – the compass calculates the declination angle or difference between magnetic north and true north giving you the directional heading and degrees of direction in relation to North.

The WS4 was then compared to two different liquid-filled traditional compasses and proved to be just as accurate, with all three pointing to zero degrees North. Each one was placed far enough from large metal or electronic objects, and apart from each other, to eliminate any magnetic field that might have influenced  the result.

While there is no direction of travel arrow on the watch dashboard, the direction of travel is simply the top of the watch as you would read the watch positioned right-side up on your wrist. That’s obvious enough for us. Direction of travel will appear on the upper right display, and the degrees will appear in the lower left side of the bezel.

ALTIMETER

Our known elevation at the start of the test is 2,306 feet above sea level. During more than 10 days literally living with the WS4, the highest elevation point known was 7,885 feet as we traveled in the San Bernardino Mountains above Big Bear, California. Our intent was not to seek the very highest peak we could access, but to compare the altimeter reading of the WS4, within reason, of known elevations. The Timex Expedition WS4 proved quite accurate, offering a sense of assurance in the instrument.

Timex Expedition WS4 altimeter display.

In addition to a choice of metric or standard elevation readings, the altimeter function offers several sub-functions a climber or person training for a climb may find useful. In the altimeter mode, the dashboard display will scroll through your Peak reading (your highest elevation), Accumulated reading as the total altitude change in your journey, and the current elevation you’re standing at. An on-screen graph will visually show you the topographical up and down changes of your current hiking or climbing activity.

Furthermore, you can set an elevation alarm that will sound when you reach a pre-determined elevation. This alarm is useful to alert you when you’ve ascended to an altitude you don’t want to exceed for medical reasons such as altitudes beyond 7,600 meters or 25,000 feet) to prevent hypoxia, or acclimatization climbs in preparation for the scramble to higher camps. You can also use the altitude alarm to alert when you are at the ridge or landmark, if you know the final elevation at that point. The instrument will also give you feedback on your climbing pace and progress.

Elevation rating for the WS4 ranges from -399 feet (cave exploration) to 8,997 meters elevation or 29, 517 feet elevation. With Mt. Everest hovering above earth at 8848 meters elevation (29, 028 feet and almost nine inches), the Timex Expedition WS4 has the technology to for virtually any peak on this planet.

BAROMETER

When calibrating the barometer function of the WS4, it’s best to set it to local weather conditions. In our case we calibrated the altimeter from a known elevation; both work off the same pressure so you only have to calibrate one or the other. The sensor technology picks up the calculations from there. In the barometer mode, the dashboard displays high, low, current and corrected sea level barometric pressure in metric or U.S. measurements.  With the information the Timex Expedition WS4 delivers, you can learn to analyze weather conditions and make a reasonable forecast for coming climatic changes or assess the potential for incoming storms.

Timex WS4 barometer display.

The following is how world-renowned mountaineer, Conrad Anker uses the WS4:

“Before I curl into my sleeping bag, I note the current altitude and barometric pressure,” he says . “In the few hours I sleep, if I see a change in the altitude or barometric pressure I can get an idea of the coming weather patterns. As it is an inverse relationship between altitude and barometric pressure, if I wake at the same or lower elevation I can be confident the atmospheric pressure has remained constant. If I rise to a higher altitude, I need to be aware as there is a chance of a low pressure moving in.”

THERMOMETER

Temperature readings very accurately matched outside temperature vs. mercury-filled analog, fixed, thermometers. This accuracy result occurred when the WS4 was off-wrist and stationed in the same location as the traditional thermometers. As the WS4 owner’s manual states, the watch will reflect body temperature when it is worn on the wrist, and heat from direct sunlight. A heat-shield between the watch casing and the temperature sensor may be a solution going forward.

However, we have no issues with deducting an average of 10º F from the temp reading on watch. It’s just an automatic mental calculation and you’re just taking a glance at the watch anyway. A lanyard is supplied with the watch to locate the WS4 on your person if you are truly in on a mountaineering mission. The watch body and sturdy wrist-strap connections are perfect for using the lanyard.

We view the WS4, as a technically accurate information device bundled in a robust package with the primary purpose of serving well in true high-elevation alpine applications. The WS4 also accurately reflected outside temperatures greater than 107º F and at temps lower than 32º (freezing) to about 15º F. A light coat of condensation did develop on the watch crystal at the 15º F reading (easily brushed off), but all functions worked fine.

Here’s some input we received from the Timex product development team regarding the temperature rating of the WS4 on the low temperature:

The temp rating is for the WS4 watch, not the sensor. Therefore the watch will function accurately down to a watch temp of 15-degrees-F. Since watch temp and ambient (outside environment) are two different situations, and the WS4 is a wrist-mounted watch that is insulated by the body, the watch does not go beyond 15-degrees F…unless you are deceased. If, however, outside temperature is -30F and you take the WS4 off your wrist, the outside temperature will be accurately recorded in about a half-hour; or the time it takes for the cold to reach the internal components of the watch.

Overall Impressions:

As with any equipment you will rely on in your adventures, it is incumbent upon each person to train and become very familiar with the equipment. Like training with your crampons, ice-ladders, and oxygen systems, the Timex Expedition is no different a device. The more you use it, the better information you will extract from it. That said, the WS4 is relatively easy to get to know and operate. Beyond basic familiarity, individual time and experience will bring out the best in this instrument.

The Timex Expedition WS4 watch is without question an instrument that does what it’s designed to do. It’s light weight is also a positive attribute and the wide elastic band on the WS4 is comfortable and expandable to fit over heavy parka sleeves and insulation garments. A solid wrist-band clasp works well, yet would benefit from an opposing-direction locking mechanism to keep the instrument from inadvertently un-clasping.

By pressing the INDIGLO illumination button, you can view the time and dashboard information in low-light and total darkness. This function worked well. It would be great to see an illumination technology applied to the digital information so the wrist-born watch can be glanced at without using a second human hand to read the watch. I wear a wrist watch 24/7 and will look at the time in the middle of the night, half-asleep. My daily-wear watch is a heavy diver’s chronograph carved out of stainless-steel. The illuminated mechanical watch hands are visible in any kind of light.

At a price point of about $200.00 U.S., the Timex Expedition WS4 is a worthy choice for consideration when you still have to self-finance the rest of your gear. For more information, go to: www.timexexpedition.com

Timex Expedition WS4 watch’s specifications:

• Display: Widescreen, 38 mm x 25 mm
• Case dimensions: 50 mm x 40 mm — Case height: 15mm
• Temp range: Watch temp worn on wrist: 15-degrees F.
• Power source: Battery – CR2430
• Prime Functions: Chronograph, time/date, compass, altimeter, and barometer
• Sub-functions: Weather forecast, Chronometer (lap times and splits), Activity data review, Alarms for waking and preset elevation. Note: Alarm sound get’s your attention; not obnoxious.
• Case material: Composite with a stainless steel bezel
• Total weight: about .25 pound or 90 grams
• Water resistance: to 164-feet or 50 meters
• Watch Color Options: Black, orange, blue, white, and yellow – Strap colors coordinate with case.
• Watch Mount Options: Expandable fabric with Velcro and stainless steel hardware; Rubber wrist strap; Lanyard secured watch for securing WS4 on or near your person (away from direct sunlight or body heat) for most accurate data gathering. Some folks like to use a pocket-watch set-up to free their wrists from any encumbrances.
• Crystal: When matched against mineral crystal, the WS4 appears to also be mineral crystal – very scratch resistant.

Below are several other Timex action sport watches you might keep your eyes open to:

• Timex Ironman Sleek 150-Lap (with Tap-Screen Technology) – launch in Feb 2010
• Timex Ironman Race Trainer HRM (with downloadable workouts) – currently available
• Timex Expedition WS4 (with XL Elastic Strap) –  available in October 2009
• Timex Expedition WS4 Carabiner – available in February 2010

Editor’s note: As technology advances in any discipline, cost eventually declines. And with technology comes greater efficiencies. The Timex Expedition WS4 is constructed with composite materials, a stainless steel casing, and proven advanced technology in the sensors and digital functions. We don’t consider an affordable price to assess whether or not a product is useful or not. We test against stated features and functions of the product both objectively and subjectively. Subjective feedback is merely how the individual writer viewed a product in regards to how well the product functioned for the writer. This third-party evaluation does not eliminate (but intended to add to) the reader’s information for forming their own assessment of a product through research and evaluation in order to make a purchase decision.

On the 47th day of the Save The Poles Expedition, Eric Larsen and his team reached the South Pole on January 4th 2010. This is the first leg of this expedition in which Larsen and his team will attempt to reach the South Pole, North Pole and top Mt. Everest in a continuous 365-day period.

The purpose of the Save The Poles Expedition is to document the changes at these important locations and to be at the front lines of the global warming debate. Larsen is also hoping that the expedition will also bring awareness to improving strategies and awareness to reduce carbon footprints, while collecting important data that can be analyzed. “This expedition will tell the story of these remote places so we can better understand how our actions affect the poles and ultimately the planet,” says Larsen.

Eric Larsen finished his first part of a three leg expedition by reaching the South Pole. He will attempt to reach the North Pole and summit Mt. Everest to bring awareness to the effects of Global Warming. Photo by Eric Larson

The second leg of the Save The Poles Expedition will begin March 1st to reach the NorthPole. During this leg of the expedition, Larsen will be working with the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and the Protect Our Winters Foundation, to provide additional curriculum materials and tools for teachers who will be preparing students for these issues.

At the same time, Larsen will be petitioning the U.S. Senate and the President on the need for stronger climate legislation. Assisting him in this endeavor, is the Center For Biological Diversity.

For more information on Eric Larsen visit www.savethepoles.com

Jansport’s Big Bear 82 backpack is work horse gifted with a comfortable saddle. We packed the Big Bear for late summer hikes where most of the gear is relatively compact and light, with the exception of the heavier water loads carried for the dry climate forests we visited. The Big Bear handled summer-weight gear loads well. And we had this pack loaded with winter gear with snow on the ground and very cold temperatures that could cause side-locking buckles and strap buckles to become brittle and break if they were not up to the low-temp conditions. We were happy to witness the Big Bear 82 is up to cold weather use, and the strap locks performed well.

S-shaped shoulder straps worked great with the internal frame using vertical tubular stays that supported various load sizes (30 to 50 pounds) with aplomb.  Generous and well constructed torso padding supporting the lower back and the spine offered good comfort, even on longer hikes and heavier load weights. The hip belt padding is also dialed-in just right and we had no problems with the gauge, strength, and adjustability of the large side-release composite buckle.

When tightening the shoulder straps to fit real snug, while underway on the trail, the adjustment buckles would slip. That’s not cool. This would occur with heavier load weights when using both the chest strap and hip belt.  At an empty weight slightly less than four pounds, the Big Bear is pretty light. Yet, in the quest for manufacturers to keep the empty pack weight low and relatively strong, there is a tendency among several manufacturers to use light-gauge hardware (composite materials such as nylon and plastic) for the side-release buckles and strap adjusters. The downside of dealing with super-light fasteners on the trail is the potential for either breaking or slipping.

An interior hydration bladder pocket and drinking tube outlet are thoughtfully built into the Big Bear 82. The water tube outlet is located in the top center of the pack so the mouthpiece can be accessed from the left or right-hand side. The bladder pocket fit a two-liter Camelbak hydration system easily and should accommodate a three-liter bladder also.

Interior hydration pocket holds a two-liter bladder. Note the drinking tube exits through top center of backpack.

An exterior bungee compression cord system worked great for containing the down sweater after the morning chill has worn off. It works just as well for transporting trekking poles, or other gear, that you’ll want access to without digging for it or having to stow it away on the interior.

A rain cover fitted to the outside dimensions of a full pack would seem to be a valued addition as standard equipment for the Big Bear 82. Also gusseted and standard strap slots at the top and bottom of the pack would be an asset, especially when you have to transport your tent and sleeping bag on the exterior of the pack.

For summer trips, a lightweight sleeping bag will compress down well enough to transport it in the main cargo compartment, but not a winter-weight down sleeping bag; it will have to have a place on the exterior of the pack or it will take up too much of the main cargo area of the Big Bear 82.

Some folks just stuff their down sleeping bag and their tent into the main compartment of a backpack, and it works for some people. But multi-day trips require compactness and organization of gear and food, so exterior lash points for the tent and sleeping bag would be valuable options to use if needed for the Big Bear 82.

As chilly days and cold nights of late fall and early winter start to set in, winter gear gets a little heavier and bulkier. This is where the top-loading main storage compartment, with the expandable storage, and double-sealing collars really shined for us.  

Hydration tube exits out of the backpack at top center for easy access.

Hauling winter gear and transporting equipment to a base camp represent quite a weight and bulk increase that requires the backpack to adjust (expand) upwards. So instead of cinching tight all the compression straps at the sides and top of the pack, like you would on a two-day backpack in the spring, all straps are let out to accommodate more bulky equipment while still being able to compress the pack contents so the load won’t shift while hiking. The Big Bear 82 did very good in this area. When you consider a full water bladder inside the pack, your cooking gear, food (and extra food just in case), heavier down sleeping bag, heavier down jacket (vs. down sweater), cold-weather gloves, winter boot socks, and cold-weather pants.  The bulk and weight adds up.

A winter sleeping bag for example, one capable of keeping you warm when temps drop below freezing will be, perhaps, two pounds heavier than a summer-weight down sleeping bag and not nearly as compact, even with compression straps on the stuff sack. Your four-season tent, with footprint, and longer tent stakes will add weight. Your boots will be heavier. Most everything you bring will be heavier gauge in both fabric weight and physical weight. The Big Bear 82 can handle the weight and bulk with a reasonable comfort level, and that’s what stood out.

Exterior mesh pocket works fine for storing wet or damp items.

Big Bear worked very well for us, in general. A large exterior front pocket, with heavy-duty zipper, is deep enough to store items that are relatively flat, and ones you’ll want easy access to. A smaller mesh laced pocket, with zipper, is on the outside of the large front pocket. The deep mesh pockets on either side of the Big Bear 82 worked well for storing water bottles, gloves, and watchman’s cap. What seemed to be missing from this heavy hauler pack are zippered access into the main cargo area from the front; access that would allow one to pluck out the stove at lunch break without unpacking to retrieve it. It would also be good to see an adequately sized sleeping bag compartment with a zippered roof panel to have the option of a separate compartment or the full cargo capacity of an open primary top loaded pack compartment.

Jansport’s Big Bear 82 is a reasonably priced and very capable load hauling backpack. Because we had this pack on late summer, fall, and early winter trips, it was scrutinized over a period of time. Make to mistake, this is a solid pack that was very comfortable on the trail. But since it was used more, it was judged more often, and it passed with flying colors.

 By Rick Shandley

Main pack compartment collar seal.

Specifications:

Colors:

– Grey Humboldt

– Cilantro Green

Long Trail Hauler… Cerro Torre TFX 10

 Lowe Alpine’s 2010 Cerro Torre 65:85 TFX 10 (Torso Fit Expedition) backpack is a thoughtfully designed, internal frame, platform built to perform on multi-day treks with moderate to heavy loads up to 66 pounds. And deliver it does. We’ve had the Cerro Torre 65:85 on several alpine hikes where any lapses in pack comfort and durability would be revealed by the end of any one day on the trail. Check it out now for your consideration as this pack should be available by March 2010 or early spring. 

Cerro Torre is a top-loader pack designed with dual vertical aluminum stays providing rigid support for the internal frame to work with the TFX multi-adjustment suspension system.

Fitting the Cerro Torre to your body type is a simple procedure. With the pack off, and the shoulder straps facing you, just flip the lumbar pad up, loose the buckle to slide the color-coded back-plate up or down to fit your torso according to the horizontal lines (Medium, Large, X-large) on the back-plate. Your torso measurement will appear in the buckle. Next you re-fit the lumbar pad and you’re good to go.

Back balance is handled by the Torso Motion system designed to let the waistbelt move relative to your spine as the internal frame of the Cerro Torre TFX moves and rotates with your torso. As part of the TXF system, high performance foam inside the lumbar pad forms to the natural curve of your lower back, and the upper pads offer cushion to your upper back while allowing the pack to ride close to your body.   

Torso Fit Expedition (TFX) adjustment system shows lumbar pad, buckle, and back support.

Cerro Torre can expand from 65-Liters of cargo space, to 85-Liters when you require more carrying capacity. This 20-Liter’s of extra/optional cargo space has closures at the top of the main pack compartment and at top of the pack extension. This double-collar closure system protects cargo (in addition to the top lid flap) whether the Cerro Torre TFX 10 is at maximum load capacity or not.

The pack lid is removable, and the entire depth of the pack can be used for packing bulky gear, such as setting up a base camp where each person carries entire loads dedicated to food, tents, sleeping bags, water, etc. Zippered compartments at top, bottom, and the middle of the pack permit total access to gear without unloading the entire pack.

At the bottom of the main pack, where your lighter load items should be packed, an ample sleeping bag compartment has enough room for a down sleeping bag and additional gear. For our trips, the sleeping bag compartment was loaded with a Sierra Designs Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag in its stuff sack, the new Therm-A-Rest NeoAire sleeping pad (very compact and light) as well as a down sweater and Adventure Medical First Aid kit.

Bottom sleeping bag compartment held a Sierra Designs Arrow Rock 30 down bag, a Therm-A-Rest NeoAire pad, and then some.

A separate sleeping bag compartment is a feature so many backpack designs don’t include, but it makes pack organization and protection for the sleeping bag so much more efficient, and allows you to keep potential spills or wet gear from your sleeping bag.

The Cerro Torre TFX 10 comes with a rain-cover that stores in its own zippered pouch on the frame-side of the main pack flap. The rain cover has elastic material around its circumference to cling onto the Cerro Torre in whatever phase of load capacity it has onboard, with enough room to cover gear (there are exceptions) you might have lashed onto the outside.

On the pack exterior, lash points and well-designed gear loops are located at every logical position you’ll need on the pack exterior for those treks where you’ll want to secure poles, ice ax, snow shovel, sleeping pads, or any piece of equipment that is not practical for storage in the main compartment.   And without going through the top of the pack to get at gear, heavy nylon zippers on the central pack main panel allow you to get at gear inside the main compartment without unpacking the Cerro Torre. For example, if your stove is at the bottom of the main compartment and you need a mid-day cup of hot tea with your lunch, you simply lay the pack on the ground, straps-down, unzip the main compartment and pull your stove, cook kit, and food out. When it’s time to get back to the trail, you’ll replace the gear into the main compartment and zip it back up.  The load cinching compression-straps with side-locking nylon buckles are easy to hook back up to keep your entire pack-load tight and secure; and you are on your way again.

The Cerro Torre TFX 10 comes with its own onboard rain cover. That's always nice to have.

That’s another detail we liked about the Cerro Torre TFX, there are enough compression straps located at the sides, bottom and top of this pack to completely secure your pack load from wiggling or load-shifting . All the side-locking buckles, including the hip-belt, shoulder straps, chest strap, and all the load-securing strap buckles are constructed of lightweight composite materials which contribute to a light overall empty pack weight of about 6 pounds. To achieve this low empty pack weight-to-load carrying capacity, Lowe Alpine uses 1000-denier nylon, 600-denier ripstop polyester, and 600-denier hexagon-patterned polyester fabrics for the pack itself.

 However, because the lightweight nature of the side-locking buckles and nylon straps, you should pull the straps in a straight line to tighten, not just yank them at any odd angle. We did yank one of the load-tightening straps at an off-angle and broke it. You must take that into consideration with any backpack you choose to own.  We’ve owned packs with heavy-duty side-locking strap connectors such as those found on the Kelty Trekker or the Gregory Spear (military) that are almost bomb-proof. But they add accumulated weight to the empty pack. There’s always a design tradeoff, and the buckles used on the Cerro Torre are plenty strong and durable long as you are conscious of how you treat them.

Inside the main cargo chamber of the Cerro Torre, on the frame side, is a pocket for your water bladder along with a fabric hoop at top to suspend the bladder, and a clearly marked exit hole in the upper right side of the pack to thread the drinking hose through. We were using a 2-liter Camelbak water bladder for our trips, but the pocket will easily hold two 2-liter bladders or a 3-liter. This is merely another example of the design being thought out by a team that has been at it for several decades and tons of real-world testing experience to draw from.

Different trip, different gear, the Cerro Torre TFX 10 is a comfortable long-haul backpack.

Torso Fit Expedition lumbar and back suspension view.

Another, zippered, pocket is located on the inside-front of the main cargo chamber for easy access from inside the pack or, by unzipping the front panel, the exterior of the pack to accommodate small, flat, gear items you want to keep separate from primary gear. At the bottom of the main cargo cavity, which is the top of the sleeping bag compartment, is a zippered false-bottom that you can open up and literally use the entire 85-liters (5,187 cubic inches) of the Cerro Torre volume capacity.

We found that with the storage pockets on the inside, bottom, and top of the Cerro Torre, you have enough compartments to organize your gear without the need for exterior side pockets. On the exterior of the pack lid there is a large pocket for your map, compass, and quick access items. Another large pocket is available on the underside of the pack lid; with international distress signal procedure stenciled in clear instructions in French and English.

ON THE TRAIL

The Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre TFX 10 packed great on the trail. On a 12-mile hike in the Sierra Nevada, the Torso Fit Expedition pack fit system is straightforward, allowing easy adjustment and fit-tuning on the trail. By extending the color-coded lumbar support adjustment to fit a long torso, this Cerro Torre, loaded with approximately 40 pounds, rode close to the body and distributed the pack weight across the top of the hip. There was no tendency to bind clothes or chaff the lower back skin when using a leather waist belt to hold up the Mt. Khakis Original Alpine pants. Working in combination with the adjustable hip pad, shoulder straps, and sternum strap, we found the Cerro Torre easy to adjust and cinch up while hiking with the pack on.

On the trail, the Cerro Torre TFX 10 fit close to the body and did not bind or chaff, even in hot weather.

The pack was loaded light at the bottom with the heavier items up towards the top. Compression straps are also located over the bottom sleeping bag pocket of the Cerro Torre. These two vertical straps not only allow you to cinch up to keep gear from moving around on the hike, but they also make a convenient place to hold your jacket or long pants once the sun comes out and you’re shedding clothes by midday.

Whether it was due to incorrect pack adjustment, hunched shoulders, or shoulder-bulk, the shoulder straps seemed to taper too narrow, too quickly, from where they contact the top of the shoulder to the front of the chest. There is plenty of shoulder-strap padding where the straps are at their widest point; but that point was not where the pack rode on this trip, even when the shoulder straps where adjusted very snug. This is the one potential downside we observed with the Cerro Torre, but it’s a subjective observation for one individual that certainly will not apply to most body types it is designed to fit.

Notwithstanding, the Cerro Torre TFX 10 handled the pack weight, had plenty of room and carrying capacity for more gear, and it was comfortable on a hike that was well above 10,000 elevation. The trail itself was rock-strewn and ascended at steep inclines in various places. Both the altitude and the trail were challenging enough to require significant physical effort. There were few trail sections where strolling upright was the norm, most of the time it required leaning into the trail, burning calories and hauling like a misunderstood donkey.

Burning calories and perspiration, especially in summer and early fall seasons, comes with the freedom of backpacking. The Cerro Torre torso and lumbar padding did a good job of wicking away sweat where the pack is in contact with your body.

Deep mesh pockets on either bottom sides of the Cerro Torre held two EcoReusable stainless steel water bottles. This pocket shows the Benchmark Marc A. Lee Glory knife.

A sturdy nylon loop at the inside top of the Cerro Torre and two nylon loops at both sides of the pack bottom facilitated getting the pack on and off, with or without the help of another person. When pack-loads get really heavy, it’s always a good idea to have a friend help you get into the pack or take it off, and those grab handles can come in real handy. The grab handles at the pack bottom are also good lash points for securing gear outside the pack, as are the other built-in lashing points you can employ to tie down your early morning outerwear, ice ax, or trekking poles when not in use.

Two deep pockets at either bottom side of the Cerro Torre are convenient for storing water bottles, gloves, and anything else you want easy access to. On this trip, two stainless steel EcoReusable liter-sized water bottles rode in these pockets and secured with small carabiners onto the compression straps outside the pockets. With the elastic pocket tops, the compression strap, carabiners, and deep pockets, there was no worry about losing the water bottles.

Final Thoughts

We found the Cerro Torre TFX to be an extremely capable, multi-day backpack that is fully able to perform on long-mileage hikes. The pack is able to take on heavier loads, adjusts very well with the compression straps to secure the load and size-it down as you use up food or simply take it on an overnight hike with minimal gear.

Because the upper, expandable section of the Cerro Torre uses dual enclosures to seal the top of the pack, we found this a great location for carrying a three-man Hilleberg Kaitum 3 mountaineering tent. Plenty of cargo room and enough pack adjustments for long trips made the Cerro Torre one of the best long mileage, internal-frame packs we have enjoyed this year. It’s a pack you can so easily adjust to fit several torso sizes that you can grow into it, if you are a youngster, or make it available to friends who want to get into backpacking and may not own their own backpack just yet.

Asolo Lowe Alpine and the gear they produce are known for reliability and comfort. The new Cerro Torre TFX 10 is a backpack we will definitely take on future backpack and alpine trips. And you will be seeing this pack in the gear list on trail stories going forward.

 Review/Photos by R. Shandley

End of the day. We found this big flat rock to cook on and sort out the gear. A Hilleberg Kaitum 3 tent sits at top of the Cerro Torre TFX 10.

Cerro Torre TFX 10 loaded up and ready to hike.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Price: $299.99

Dimensions: 29” x 15” x 11”

Weight: 6 pounds (empty)

Access: Top / Bottom / Front 

Volume: 65L (3,967 cu in) expandable to 85 L (5,187 cu in)
Torso: 16 – 23 in (41 – 59 cm)

Frame: Internal frame

Materials: Ripstop Nylon/ Ballistic

Colors: Croc-Green, Terracotta, Black
Features:

Load range: 55 – 70 lbs.

Expedition quality: Yes

Expandable Capacity: Yes

Exterior Lash Points: Yes

Fully Adjustable: Yes

Full Access: Yes

Hydration Compatible: Yes

Ice Axe Loops: Yes

Dual Trekking Pole Loops: Yes

Sleeping Bag Compartment: Yes

Rain Cover: Yes

Compression Straps: Yes

Grab Handles: Yes

The Kelty FoxHole 3 is a sturdy four-season tent suitable for three people

Four season comfort, durability, great ventilation and quick set-up time are distinguishing features of the Kelty Foxhole 3 mountaineering tent. Part of the Kelty Apex Series of expedition level four-season tents, the Foxhole 3 is designed to take on inclement weather wherever you find yourself spending the night.

Kelty Foxhole 3 setup early evening in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico.

Kelty Foxhole 3 in transport on a heavy Gregory Spear backpack; 12 Spears on this hike.

Kelty’s Foxhole 3 is a freestanding tent you can guy out partially or fully depending on conditions you encounter. Kelty made good use of illumination materials on the large Kelty Foxhole 3 logos on the exterior of the tent, near the two entrances, and illuminating thread woven into the guy-out lines. At night, you can easily see where your tent is from a distance as the illumination glows perfectly clear in the headlamp or flashlight beam; even at the periphery of the beam. Also, when you are walking around outside the tent at night, the illumination strands woven into the guy lines let you know exactly where to avoid tripping accidents.

Set-up goes fairly quick as the Dac ultra-light poles configure rapidly into an external frame that anchors in deep pockets at four-corners of the tent. The entire exoskeleton uses slider-clips and hook-clips to rapidly erect the core tent body so it’s taught and ready to stash your gear.

It only takes one person to roll out the tent body, assemble the Dac-pole frame, slide four pole ends into the pockets, and clip up the tent. In addition, the guy lines can be adjusted with the ITW Lineloc guy line adjusters to batten down the hatches in severe weather. All seams are fusion welded and taped, increasing this tent’s capacity to withstand harsh environments.

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent-crown slider clip in place.

When attaching the rain fly, remember to line up the two doors of the Kelty Foxhole 3, and it's easy street for the night.

Ventilation is well thought out with or without the rain fly attached. Closable mesh panels allow you to open ventilation routes where you want air flow. With the rain fly attached, ventilation ports on the rain fly are propped open with short (about 3-inch) sections of Dac poles inserted into sleeves and secured in upright position with Velcro fasteners.

This combination of rain fly ventilation working with the main tent ventilation system allows you to fully adjust to the current conditions at your bivouac site. Even in warm weather, you can still have the full protection of the rain fly without restricting the ventilation and cool air through the tent.

The rain fly drapes over the exoskeleton — creating an air chamber between the tent walls and increased insulation – and fastens with side-release buckles to the main body of the tent. When securing the rain fly, you do have to match the two doors located caddy-corner across from each other on opposite sides of the tent. With practice, this becomes routine.

With the rain fly secured and the entire tent guyed out, you have two roomy gear-storage vestibules and two door openings you can literally stand up in to put your boots on as the walls of tent slant away from the tent floor. This design characteristic is convenient because you don’t have to step out of the tent, onto the ground, in order to stand up to full height. And these tent doors are especially nice for taller people as you won’t have to crawl out of the tent.

Interior view of Kelty Foxhole 3 window, floor, entrances, and far-side vestibule.

Hook-clip attached to Dac tent pole on Kelty Foxhole 3.

Two clear windows are welded into the rain fly at the door openings. This is a cool feature as you do not have to completely unzip the inner tent door or rain fly door to check on the weather or to figure out what kind of mammal is tossing around the bear canister 50-feet away.

Noiseless zippers worked well with the Foxhole 3. Zippers are stout enough to manage the taught tent fabric and tent walls without binding or making any racket. And because the tent design yields taught walls there are times when you have to balance the left-side zipper travel with the right-side zipper travel to close a door. But when an opening is fully zipped up, the tent wall is as tight as it needs to be to shed any moisture and withstand a snow load or stiff wind.

Having two entrances and two vestibules add comfort and convenience value to this Kelty Apex Series Foxhole 3 tent. With three people using the tent, having two doors facilitates easy access in and out of the tent. And the vestibules offer enough room to accommodate the gear for three people. When lodging just one or two people, the Foxhole 3 takes claustrophobia right out of the equation.

Fusion welded floor seams run up the sides of the tent to create a tub affect. This is great as any potential build-up of snow or water outside the tent during any single weather event is not likely to intrude into the tent. Tent floor material is 3000mm thick, polyurethane coated 70D polyester. When used with a footprint, you are assured of sleeping on as weatherproof a foundation as you could ask for in the backcountry.

Kelty Foxhole 3 rainfly vent supported by section of Dac pole and secured with velcro.

During the several trips this tent was on, at no time was there a sense the tent floor was too thin skinned or incapable of handling overnight moisture. Though we did not get into any heavy rain or snow events, there were several mornings of overnight frost and freezing; conditions that lead to condensation – none of which were a problem.

Overall, the Kelty Foxhole 3 is certainly a solid choice to consider in a four-season, all-weather tent. There are some questions as to the ability of the tent hooks to withstand super-cold conditions without breaking, or becoming brittle over time.

And the argument can be made that the main tent body may be better supported with a combination of pole sleeves (where the Dac poles pass through sections of tent sleeves on the upper portions of the tent) as well as the use of hooks to offer the strongest possible design, should the hooks fail. But this is a design philosophy tent makers continually wrestle with and improve upon.

Even though the exoskeleton pole design appears complicated at first, we found this tent to be one of the most reliable and easy tents to set up quickly with just one person doing the task.

When morning arrives, and it’s time to break camp and move on, the Foxhole three disassembles and roles up quick.

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent components ready to set up.

 Some folks just stuff the entire tent fabric into a backpack or stuff it into the stuff bag. I found it to be very convenient to fold the tent properly and roll the poles up with the tent. Each time, the tent rolled up quickly and fit into the Kelty stuff bag with no balking.

For the comfort and shelter this tent provides, the weight is negligible. And when you plan on sharing this kind of tent with more than one person, then each person can carry either, the rain fly, the main tent, or the poles as separate units and thereby distribute the load. However, even for solo trips, at its full 9.4 pounds, the Foxhole 3 would probably be the first nine pounds loaded into the pack. The Kelty Foxhole 3 tent is simply a sturdy shelter to look forward to at night.

Although each person has to assess the qualities and attributes they want in a four-season tent, the Kelty Foxhole 3 is a good shelter I’d recommend potential tent buyers to consider.

 By R. Shandley

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent without rain fly.

Kelty Foxhole 3 zipper at top of door, when closed, is taught like it's supposed to be.Kelty logo on Foxhole 3 tent pops with illumination when headlamp beam hits it at night. There's a big Kelty logo on both sides of the tent.Kelty Foxhole 3 interior with Therm-A-Rest NeoAire mattress on right, and Sierra Design Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag.

Kelty Foxhole 3 interior with Therm-A-Rest NeoAire mattress on right, and Sierra Design Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag.

Kelty logo on Foxhole 3 tent pops with illumination when headlamp beam hits it at night. There's a big Kelty logo on both sides of the tent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specifications:

Wall material: 70D Polyester taffeta (Dye free)

Floor material: 70D Fusion welded Polyester (3000mm thick with polyurethane [PU] coating)

Weight: 9.4 lbs.

Floor size: 45 sq. ft.

Doors: 2

Vestibules: 2

Vestibule areas: 9.4 sq. ft.

Length: 92”

Width: 79”

Height: 42”

Packed size: 8”x28”

MSRP: $419.95 U.S.

In 365 Days Eric Larson plans to summit Everest and reach the North and South Poles to study the effects of Global Warming.

It seems like a daunting task, but Eric Larson is determined to reach the ends of the earth to reach what he calls the front lines of global warming. At each location, Larson will take measurements and use the expedtion as a platform to advocate new strategies for reducing carbon emissions.

“This expedition will tell the story of these remote places so we can better understand how our actions affect the poles and ultimately the planet,” Larsen says. “We all need to be reminded that we must act now to stop global warming.”

Eric Larson plans to summit Everest and reach the North and South poles in 365 days.

Assisting Larson is the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and the Protect Our Winters Foundation, who will help to produce 12 hours of climate change curriculum. This will provide teachers with the tools and information needed to prepare and educate students on global warming and how it may affect their future. Larsen will also team up with the Center for Biological Diversity to petition the Senate and President on the need for stronger climate legislation.

A member of The Explorer’s Club, Larsen isn’t new to the world of polar exploration. Larsen completed the first-ever summer expedition to the North Pole in 2006 where he pulled and paddled modified canoes over 600 miles of shifting sea ice and open ocean. In January 2009, Larsen successfully led an international team to the geographic South Pole becoming one of only a few Americans to ski to both poles.

Larson’s trip couldn’t come at a much more appropriate time. Scientists estimate that by summer 2030, the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free. Recently, the 1,250 square mile Larsen B Ice Shelf collapsed off of Antarctica and disintegrated into the Southern Ocean. A report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts that if current trends continue, 80 percent of Himalayan glaciers will be gone in 30 years. While we are seeing the most dramatic changes in the polar and higher altitude regions, global warming is an issue that affects us all. For more information, visit www.savethepoles.com

The Wegner Patagonia Expedition Race will again put teams through extreme terrain and conditions.

Using only a compass and a map to navigate 10 days of some of the most remote and unyielding terrain on earth, teams from around the world will once again strive to hit their marks in the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. Starting February 9th, 2010 teams will survive on minimal sleep and nutrition, yet exert maximum effort to not only complete the race but win it.

Fewer places on this planet are as beautiful and ruthless as the the southern parts of Chile. Patagonia conjures up thoughts of glorious scenery and deep, aquamarine blue fjords. But the teams who will trek, kayak, swim, mountain bike, and practice pure compass orienteering skills don’t entertain a false sense of security. They know it will be harsh. And they’ve seen other teams retire from the race after reaching one of the six checkpoints they must report to in order to arrive at the finish.  The checkpoints are positioned throughout the 375 miles of mystical wonderland that makes up Chile’s Patagonia; a region that race organizers are using to attract world attention to preserve the area’s natural significance. For 2010, the race promises to be no less of a hurdle for the sixty or so athletes that make up approximately 10 teams from around the world.

Druce Finley’s Account Of Last Year’s Race

In early 2009, the race covered the route from Torres Del Paine National Park to Cape Froward on the tip of the South American continent. Druce Finlay, U.S. Team captain gave some  hints in his journal, as to the difficult and extreme challenge that this event puts on a human body.  We’ve compiled several outtakes of his journal that showcases the intense physical torture and gratification of nature that he experienced throughout the journey. He writes, “It seems team Calleva as destined to have a staggering amount of adversity, and through it the adventure of a lifetime. Every time we used our tent we were rained on; and it was very cold, except once when it sleeted on us. It started off with me heading to Patagonia sick as a dog and getting team Captain Mark Lattanzi sick for the first five days of the race.”

Team Calleva, left to right, Valentin Chapa, Druce Finlay, Mark Lattanzi, and Sara Percy

According to Finlay, the first section of last year’s race began with a paddle in an area known as the Grey River.  The river resides in Torres Del Paines, a world famous rock climbers’ getaway in Chile, where Grey Glacier forms Grey Lake. This is the head waters to the beautiful Grey River where the paddle started. Twenty miles downstream in merges the Rio Serrano (aptly named as it resembles the color of a clear green Serrano chili pepper), the two rivers mix, resulting in a fantastic display of colors.  “Patagonia has met our expectations as one of the most pristine and unimaginably beautiful places on earth” Finlay says in his journal. “Throughout the race I kept calling it the land of the lost. We headed downstream towards a large ocean bay and ended up getting ferried by the race organizers due to 100-140 km winds out on the bay.”

Once at the second stage, Wenger, the maker of the Swiss Army Knife, was a sponsor of the event, and paid the local tavern for a mass buffet so teams could head off with a fresh start for the mountain biking section of the race. “We then mounted our bikes and cranked out an absolutely marvelous 60 miler,” says Finlay. “It was just sweet riding and as the night set in the full moon. It was fun to use it for a while instead of lights.  As navigation became imperative we busted out the lights, Val and I riding with AYUP and in the process lighting up the entire road. We finished strong.”

For the third section of the 2009 race, things started off well for team Calleva. They were only one hour behind the leaders after two sections. “Let me just say that the Patagonian mountains have a very daunting look to them, especially when imminent weather is at hand,” said Finlay. “ Night was approaching and we had been getting rained on for 12 hours as we crossed the bogs/wetlands and headed towards the first mountain crossing. The crest of the mountains was very craggy, limiting where a team could find passage, and we had no visibility due to heavy rain clouds and the rapidly approaching night. Perhaps we would have braved it if our teammate Mark wasn’t sick as a dog. We hunkered down for 10 hours and waited for light, everyone being mildly disappointed knowing that it was lost time. We continued on the next morning, making great time and to our surprise finishing the trek in fifth.”

As team Calleva headed off on bikes at 11:00 pm that evening, the team thought they were in for a horrible rids as four days of rain turned the local roads into nothing but mud. “To our surprise the mud was not thick and as we headed out of the mountains it disappeared altogether, we continued making our way to a ferry crossing and had a two hour nap as we waitted for the ferriers to wake up. Let me just mention now that this race had the best mountain biking and some of the most scenic riding I’ve experienced in an Expedition Race. We pushed hard on the rest of this ride which was battling the roaring 40’s for 30 miles on an ocean road, trying to get to the next TA by 4:00 pm which we thought was a kayak dark zone.” As it turned out, the team was met with yet another challenge, as the Navy would only launch one team per day, starting at 7:00 am. This was a safety precaution so that the Navy could send safety boats along with the paddlers. “We reorganized our gear, ate heartily, and caught up on some rest,” said Finlay.

Team Calleva on bikes to the next stage

Once in the water, the teams had to cross the Straights of Magellan, then paddle up a very scenic fjord, “The most scenic paddling I have ever seen,” exclaims Findlay, and make their way to a 17 km portage. “This was was really 7 km of portaging, then 10 km of lakes and fast moving rivers in between the lakes,” Findlay says. “Val and I had bad luck first. As we made our way precariously down a fast moving section full of brambles we got dumped and lost two headlamps, half a paddle, a fleece jacket and some food. The situation cost us one hour and we headed out again a little rattled (the conditions were life threatening). After crossing another small lake it was Mark and Sara’s turn for a little adventure and they were put into an even more dangerous position with no possible way of getting the boat pulled out and portaged beyond the danger zone. Val and I lashed our boat to some trees and headed over to aid in the rescue which included using our 50 ft. tow line. With all team members staging along the brambles to ease the Necky Amarukthrough the rapids. It cost us another hour and we reached the final 10 km ocean section just in time for another Dark Zone.  So it was up with the tent and 10 more hours lost. That put us in a position of fighting the clock for the next few days.”

The final section included a trek in which team Calleva had to pick up the pace. “We pulled in early with our boats and had only expectations of a smart, clean TA. We needed a little recovery time to dry our gear, get well fed and planned out the supplies for a 125 km trek through extremely dense forests and wetlands. Since we arrived late with the previous day’s bad luck, we were hours behind where we wanted to be, and heading out on this trek early in the morning would have been extremely beneficial. Yet, we didn’t head out until noon.”

The team pushed hard and within hours they felt they could easily be in third place. “We reached a high saddle where we could see the next mountain crossing and plan our route. We knew it was hours away and didn’t want to sleep again so we agreed to go for it. It was a bad idea. We entered the mountains at night into a full on snow storm with zero visibility and dangerous cliffs everywhere. We had to pitch the tent again and wait for light. It would have made a great film shot for a tent company as we were placed on a little tiny ledge of rock surrounded by steep snowfields and jagged cliff bans. Throughout the night we snuggled and made hot soup to survive the cold. In the morning none of us could believe the position we had unwittingly camped in.”

That night the team veered off course and had to take the long way around to get back on track. “We were 7 km from being back on course. We had to go up a river valley and could see the original canyon where we should have come out. The bush was so thick it took us 12 hours to do the 7 km which was a little aggravating. Let me mention we were going like animals to get through that stuff and get back on course.”

The next two days the team made great time. “Because of adversity on the first portion of this trek we were way behind and ran out of food with 40 km to go. We did a major river crossing and inspected the map. The recommended route was much longer than a mountain option that the team agreed would be a good shortcut due to the absence of food.”

 Their plan was a simple one, get above the bush on the ridges and drop down into the area known as the Cross at the End of the World. “I guess it wasn’t meant to be. Horrendous weather dropped in on us and we bailed from the mountains at high speed down a canyon that proved to be truly epic. “From here we should have been able to head over to the Cross trailhead.  For two days we tried to coasteer but would become hypothermic almost instantly because of the freezing water and cold conditions upon leaving the water. We tried three times to go back up and over the mountains but would get cliffed out. Let me mention this was a brave team that would not just turn around and we would spend hours trying to contour around the cliffs through the thickest jungle/bush you’ve ever seen. When all seemed lost we finally cracked through to the trail and found some of the remaining personnel who took us by helicopter the hospital and then rushed us to the closing ceremonies for a well earned meal and a bottle of wine.”

The last couple of days were hard for the team. “I’m sure we made a few bad decisions because of a lack of good rest and food,” said Finlay. “I learned that everyone on this team has true strength and internal fortitude and would not quit no matter how hard or how bad the situation had become. Instead of turning on each other we just kept getting stronger as a team and kept going for it, knowing that we had to make it. Team Callevayou are true champions that I’m humbled and honored to have raced with!” Findlay exclaims.  “The Patagonia Expedition was the most adventurous course I have done and I will go back. I highly recommend it for any adventure racer seeking a good race.

For more information on the race, go to www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com

Backcountry Watch with A-List Style

This watch is a light weight, multi-function instrument loaded with style and capabilities. With a barometric pressure sensor to track meteorological trends and changes in altitude, this watch can predict weather 12 hours in advance while providing current and accumulated altitude information. A declination-adjustable digital compass helps with back country navigation. Other functions include barometric trend display, thermometer, maximum altitude, two daily alarms and count down timer. The Rendezvous Peak features a lightweight, injection molded case and a scratch resistant mineral crystal lens. This watch is water resistant up to 165 feet. Retail: $180.

Your investment on this mountaineering boot will be in the range of: $425.00 for the women’s or men’s Nepal Evo GTX. You can purchase La Sportiva and research most all your mountaineering gear by working going to: www.Whittakermountaineering.com .

Women's La Sportiva Nepal Evo GTX

Men's Nepal Evo GTX by La Sportiva