Built For The Mountain Life

Meet Ben Peters - Kayaking Junior Champion

Whitewater kayaking and kayak competitions, despite their extreme nature and high level of difficulty, are no longer adult-oriented activities.  Ben Peters is the 2006 and 2007 C2 Junior Olympics champion.  He competes in freestyle, downriver, boater-cross and slalom.  Last year Ben was in China with the Olympic Development Team and trained on the prototype slalom course for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Ben is 15 and lives in Hudson, WI.  Other than kayaking, Ben competes in alpine ski racing, high school track and high school soccer.  I first met Ben at Canoecopia 2008 in Madison, WI and was impressed by his maturity, determination, love for kayaking and true appreciation for Mountain Khakis.  We are excited to be partnered up with Ben and look forward to tracking his progress.   

Professional Climbing Guides Institute

MK Ambassador Albert Nugue is the General Manager and Director of guide training for Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides.  He was recently named President of the Board of Directors for the new non-profit Professional Climbing Guides Institute (PCGI):

PCGI is a nationally organized, non-profit, non-membership based institute that develops and implements training curricula and standards solely for the education and assessment of professional and aspiring rock climbing guides.

In a nutshell, the mission of PCGI is to further develop and define the safety standards of guided rock climbing through enhanced standards, education and training.  PCGI currently holds several different training courses, including top rope guide, single-pitch guide, multi-pitch guide and more. 

This is a new and unique program that was developed based on the need for affordability, opportunity, choice, U.S.A.-specific standards and overall updated assessment methods and standards.  Check out the website for more information.

Kayak Trip Report from Lauren Burress

MK Ambassador and super-talented young kayaker Lauren Burress checks in from Tennessee with an update:

Easter weekend we finally got to run the Piney.  I've been waiting two years for this.  The beginning of the Piney was very mellow.  Then a few tributaries poured into the creek and it started to get a little faster.  The Piney has a lot of natural beauty, from the gorge section to the many tributaries and waterfalls.  The first drop we came to we scouted and ran and it was pretty cool because you landed right in a hole that just fed you out in to the big pool below.

Everest ER: Namche to Tengboche

Another Dispatch from the Edge from MK Ambassadors Tayloe and Kristin:

photo courtesy Press Club of Tibet

28 March 2008, Tengboche, Nepal, 12,810 feet

Today we trekked from Namche Bazar to Tengboche.  Pretty brutal uphill climb gaining over 2000 feet, up up and up.  Once again, the scenery was unreal as the peaks are starting to surround us closer and closer.  Will stay the night here and head to Pheriche in the a.m.  We will spend several days there at the HRA medical clinic organizing our medical equipment and gear.  From there its on to the Big E.  Several days trek into base camp and there will be no Internet until we are settled in camp

Trip Report: Avalanche Education in the San Juan Mountains

What do you get when you have more than 400 inches of snow, the hairiest mountains in Colorado, and the most avalanche prone highway in the lower forty-eight?  You get the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.  The only place you would want to spend four days getting your level two American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) certification.  I recently got back from Durango, CO working on my AIARE level two.

Everest ER: From Lukla to Namche

The adventures continue for MK Ambassadors Mike Tayloe and Kristin Peterson as they attempt to make their way to Everest Base Camp in order to set up the medical clinic.  We'll be following their progress through periodic updates:

March 26, 2008

Greetings all from 4000 meters in the Khumbu Valley.  I cannot even attempt to describe this place...huge peaks everywhere...it's beautiful.  We flew into Lukla without incident the day before yesterday and trekked to Phatding for the night.  Pretty mellow hike that took about 3 hours.  Check out these photos of Lukla airstrip...spicy!

"Dam Patagonia" says ENDESA

Local MK Ambassador Bruce Smithhammer has recently been down south fishing the mighty waters of southern Chile and Argentina.  The Patagonia region is a very special and fragile area, with some of the most pristine rivers and beautiful landscapes anywhere in the world.  Bruce wrote a brief story on the current plan to dam the Rio Baker and export the energy for profits.  Local reaction is not passive.  Great pictures included.  Check it out on Bruce's blog, Buster Wants to Fish.

Nepal: The Roads vs. The Mountain

MK Ambassadors Tayloe and Kristin of Katabatic Consulting check in with an update from Nepal:

March 23, 2008

Did I mention the driving situation here?  Good Lord!!  It's amazing that a death or two per MINUTE does not occur...the way people drive here blows my mind.  For those of you who know what I am talking about...you get it.  For those who don't, there is no way that I can adequately explain it...pure madness!

Checking In from the FIS Telemark World Cup Finals

Lorin Paley is 15 years old, an MK Ambassador and a member of the US Telemark Racing Team.  Here she reports from the World Cup Competition at Sugarbush, VT.

Right now I am up in Vermont for the Telemark World Cup Competition.  So far I have taken a 9th place and a 6th place.  Hopfully I will continue to move up the ladder over these next few days of competition.  It is so much fun competing against all of the top telemark racers from Europe and Japan.  Recently I took second place overall at the Telemark Nationals in Idaho.  Honestly, I would have liked a first but there is always next year - something to shoot for.  I'll keep ya posted.

Easter Rescue - Mt. Whitney, California

"I spent my night huddled in a snow cave that I hastily built around 11am on the side of Mt. Whitney.  I was soaking in the hot springs contently out of my mind, when my pager went off.  Next thing I know, I'm in a Bell 460 en route to save a guy that had fallen 1,000 feet.  You should have seen him, he was still alive, it was a miracle.  We tried to keep him warm and stabilize him, but we ran out of oxygen and he got combative.  At 2am, two US Army Blackhawk Helicopters with night vision crazy technology, set a new parameter for the operations of helicopters.  One landed for us at 13,000 feet on a snow patch at night.  It was insane, I've been inside a number of helicopters over the last couple years, but this thing was off the hook.  So powerful it's scary.  They give you a Snickers bar when you get on.  I loaded our patient into the life flight helicopter and proceeded to collapse.  The adrenaline was going so good, I forgot about my sprained ankle and bum knee."

"After an extraordinarily long drive home from Mt. Whitney, it was off to Denny's and into bed at 6am.  Happy Easter."

MK Ambassador Jonathan Willy is a grade-school teacher, climbing coach, accomplished mountaineer and member of the local Search and Rescue team in Bishop, CA.  Jonathan enjoys the MK Cottonwood Cords for their warmth and high comfort level.

Everest ER - Katabatic Consulting Arrives in Nepal

4:30 am; Kathmandu, Nepal; Holy Himalaya Hotel

Greetings all...we made it!  Despite the weather, airport and luggage epics!

We were super worried as we awoke to ice and snow on Monday a.m. and headed to the airport way too early...flight was on time and all was well, however, as we taxied on the runway and were ready to fly, the plane broke and we went back to the gate...go figure!  After a short meeting with mechanic it appeared all was okay and we were on our way...made the gate in SLC with 10 minutes to spare.  Had a 5 hour layover in LAX...joy, let me tell you.  20 hour flight over the pond to Bangkok, another 5 hour layover in Bangkok and then a short hop to Kathmandu.

Strong Finishes in Early Season for TIME Pro Cycling

Just got word from Erik Saunders of TIME Pro Cycling Team, sounds like Daniel Ramsey won the Food Lion City Park Criterium in Salisbury, NC last weekend, and team member Mike Stoop won a shortened Out Like A Lion Road Race in Albemarle, NC.  The team is thrilled to get off to a winning start, and will be heading to California for a month of racing.  This is the first season TIME Pro Cycling has attempted to field a team on the West Coast.  Mountain Khakis is thrilled to be involved with TIME Pro Cycling as their official apparel sponsor.  Keep it up boys!

Dealer Profile - Duke's Northshore

Three cheers to Duke's Northshore for sending us great pictures of their Mountain Khakis displays.  They have been an integral part in introducing MKs to Canada and the response has been fantastic.  Currently Duke's front windows are filled with Mountain Khakis and MK merchandising pieces on display.  It looks great.  Duke's has four locations - three in Ontario and one in British Columbia.  The brainchild of Sam Baio, who also pilots the popular West 49 stores, Duke's is looking to expand their locations and concept in the near future.  While West 49 has a young, surf- and board-inspired feel, Duke's focuses on "men's action apparel" and has multiple video screens displaying televised sports in the stores.  Be sure to check them out when you are in the area!

Captain Sparks joins MK Ambassador Team

Captain Jerry Sparks, owner of Northeast Kayak and Boat Charters, IGFA Certified Captain and winner of over 15 fresh and saltwater tournaments is the newest addition to the Mountain Khakis Ambassador Team.  I met Jerry recently at Canoecopia 2008 in Madison, WI and his passion for fishing, guiding and teaching was evident right away. 

Along with owning and operating his outfit in Rhode Island, Jerry is on the road throughout the spring  hitting different expos and trade shows.  He is commonly called upon to give seminars because of his expertise in kayak fishing, tackle and methodology.  Jerry's presence with MK will surely be a positive one and we look forward to hearing his "fish tales" this spring and summer.

Extreme Altitude Medical Training 2008

I was invited to be an instructor for the 2008 EaMT (Extreme Altitude Medical Training) course in Nepal in January.  This year it was taught in Phortse in conjunction with the Khumbu Climbing School.  We taught our 5 day course to Sherpas who work in the trekking and expedition arenas.  We had 30 students and it was a great success.  We had several students who have summited Everest more than once and also had 4 women in the course.  The course was developed by Sue Purvis who was the lead instructor.  She had developed a curriculum to teach wilderness medicine to people for whom English is a second language.

MK Ambassador Kristin Peterson is owner and co-founder of Katabatic Consulting Inc, providing medical consulting in remote and high elevation locations.  Kristin and co-founder Mike Tayloe are currently in Nepal, at Everest Base Camp, working with Luanne Freer, providing medical support for local Sherpas.

Junior Yacking in Oz

MK Ambassador Jez Blanchard is from New South Wales, Australia and excels in whitewater kayaking, educating the youth and clowning around.  He is a member of Team Jackson Kayaks for a reason...

"So I have been instucting at Penrith Whitewater for a term as part of the Junior Development Course.  I've had a chance over the past few weeks to instuct to a young and excited group of kayakers who seem to like kayaking more than I do.  Crazy, I know.  The best part of this course is how amazingly motivated the students are.  They really love getting out there, with a few really getting into it and taking every opportunity to paddle.  Sure we don't have the most up to date gear, nor the best boats around, but it doesn't matter when you are doing what you enjoy.  I guess the saying is true, "Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life." - Confucius

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your students pick things up that you teach them, and I'll tell you they are picking it up quick.  Here are a few pictures of the team getting out there.  Thanks to Colin Dupren for the pictures.  Now stop reading the internet and go boating.  --jez

Chicago Orbasm

I was just in Chicago, there's this crazy large and oddly shaped chrome orb in a new park downtown.  We had fun with it...

  

Steamboat Pentathlon Runs Strong for 17th Year

The Steamboat Pentathlon is a wonderful event that has run now for 17 consecutive years and continues to grow and become more competitive each year.  The event features a standard course and a short course and includes a 400 foot hike and ski, 3 miles of snowshoeing, 4 miles of cross country skiing, 12 miles of mountain biking and 5 miles of running (standard course).

This year, MK Ambassador Barkley Robinson took 1st in his age bracket and 3rd overall.  Mike Kloser of Vail took the title again this year, for the 9th time.  Nice work Barkley, keep it up.  Check in regularly for more updates on Barkley's busy competition schedule.

Teton Composting Pilot Project

Last August, 1% For The Tetons awarded roughly $33,000 to help fund a local food composting pilot project.  The idea was that seven local restaurants and The Whole Grocer would isolate this waste.  It would then be collected by Terra Firma organics, which would compost it at a site at the county's trash transfer station.

A successful pilot program would form the basis of an eventual county-wide roll-out, ulitmately involving most valley restaurants, grocers and other producers of organic waste.

The pilot project rolled out in early February.  One month in, it's already a wonderful success, so much so that the amount of organic material they are collecting every day - well over 1/2 ton - is far more than they anticipated.  The owners, employees and Terra Firma have responded with positive feedback.

An article about this project can be found on the Biocycle Magazine website.

Full Trip Report: BASE Jumping Angel Falls

MK Ambassador Baxter Gillespie checking in with a report:

In the all the years I have been a BASE jumper, there have always been certain "objects" that are hailed as the crown jewels of BASE Jumping.  Most of them, are cliffs such as The Eiger in Switzerland, Mount Brento in Italy, Kjerag in Norway and Angel Falls.  I had been extended an invitation to jump Angel Falls in 2005 but was unable to join the group because of the real world intruding into my fun.  The chance arose again last November and I couldn't pass up the opportunity.  I left the 20' of snow in Salt Lake City for a 5 hour flight to Atlanta, where I met up with a couple friends and snuck into the Delta Crown Room.  We all relaxed together with a little help from the free bar and boarded the flight for Caracas. 

World Premiere: Here & Now from FIVEIGHTWO Productions

MK Ambassador Nick Troutman, badass kayaker from Team Jackson Kayaks, is ready for his World Premiere of Here & Now, his first kayak DVD from FIVEIGHTWO Productions and JK Films.  Mountain Khakis is a sponsor for this video, and we are thrilled to announce that the Premiere is tonight in Tennessee.  Check the Jackson Kayak website for more information, but get out there and watch this video, it's going to be epic.

Mountain Khakis joins Country Goes Huntin'

Mountain Khakis is excited to be an apparel sponsor for Country Goes Huntin' 2008, in Dothan, Alabama, April 6th-9th.  Never heard of this event?  Where you been the last several years?  CGH was designed to bring together two Southern passions - country music and hunting - to make a difference in peoples lives. 

Top Hunting professionals and Country singers from around the country come together to raise money for people less fortunate.  The professionals take the singers on a multi-day hunt and at the end of the last day, the country stars perform a huge benefit concert for the general public.  All the money from ticket sales, online auctions and proceeds from other items sold are put together and divided among the celebrities, who then donate to their charity of choice.  In 2007, approximately $130,000 was divided among several different charities, both local and national.

This years music stars include Rhett Akins, Daryl Singletary, Craig Morgan, Chad Brock, Jeff Bates and more.  Check out the website for more details.

Katabatic Consulting Heads to Everest

MK Ambassadors Kristen Peterson and Mike Tayloe, owners and founders of Katabatic Consulting, a special-environment medical consulting firm, are heading to Everest Base Camp (EBC) to volunteer their medical expertise.  They will be assisting Luanne Freer, MD., with setting up her medical clinic for the climbing season.  The clinic's main goal is to provide free medical care to the Sherpas who work on Everest.

To learn more about the Everest Base Camp Clinic check out the website.  Click here to learn more about Katabatic Consulting and what Mike and Kristin do.

Here is a video from BBC/Indus Films about the clinic.

Quaffing Photos

Below are a few photos from the Gelande Quaff Championship at Teton Village.  Thanks to Loren Moulton of Big Sky Brewing for providing these shots.

Dawkins goes for the grabMalman picks one by the handle

Mountain Khakis to Sponsor TIME Pro Cycling Team

TIME Professional Cycling Team and Mountain Khakis are thrilled to enter into a new sponsorship agreement.  The team, once known as the TIME Factory Development Team, has changed it's name slightly, in recognition of the evolution from a 6-rider elite amateur squad into a 12-rider UCI Continental team.  The fellas will be rocking their MKs pre and post race, as well as to many of the events and programs they support. 

The Pro Cycling Team will target the 2008 USA Crits Series, which is a national 10 race series in some of the biggest venues across the country.

TIME Pro Cycling is very active in the community promoting cycling and bike safety at the grassroots level through collaboration with Cyclesafe.org.  Each rider volunteers to assist with community, hospital and school events.  The team focuses a good deal of energy into introducing the sport to younger generations and promoting safety and awareness.  We are looking forward to a great partnership and strong race results in 2008.

World Championship Gelande Quaff - Highlights

At last, the highlight footage is out.  Team MK didn't fare too well, with an early elimination to the eventual champs from the Village Cafe.  What a great time we all had though, thanks to Cloudveil and JK for putting on such a fun event.  And of course thanks to Big Sky Brewing for the tasty beer.

Check out Greg Epstein's quality slide show here.

And David Gonzales from The Snaz made an epic video of the final round, featuring the clinching boot quaff.