MOUNTAIN KHAKIS - Built For The Mountain Life Blog

The UK Loves MK too!!

“I am a Flight Test Engineer with AgustaWestland Helicopters in the UK and from January to April this year, I was in Minnesota doing cold weather testing when I bought a pair of Mountain Khakis from Trailfitters in Duluth.

 

Since then I have worn them virtually continuously, except when: -

1. Sleeping,

2. Kayaking,

3. Swimming,

4. It’s been too HOT

5. My wife has dragged them off me, because they were too dirty!

 

They are incredibly comfortable and in my short ownership they have been with me everywhere, including Snowmobiling in Minnesota, Hiking in the Welsh mountains, Jungle Trekking in Malaysia, (thereby washed – accidently - in the Straits of Malacca) and been in and around grubby Helicopters more times than I like to think.  In fact, the guys at work think I only own one pair of trousers.

 

They have a magnetic attraction (or maybe it’s just me) for Gearbox Oil, Hydraulic Fluid and Mud and each time that reaches an unacceptable limit, my wonderful wife does some magic with some Industrial De-Greaser, a deep-cycle washing machine and a flat-iron!

 

Next time I see them they look BRAND NEW!  There is not a mark on them, nowhere are they done scuff and I don’t think they have faded at all (incidentally, Malaysia is a fantastic country, but the climate has ruined my ordinary clothes)!

 

Very many thanks, John ”

MK LOVE

I walked into Ace looking for some odds and ends and I was wearing one of the NEW MK visors.  The guys behind the counter says "You're a Mountain Khakis fan, eh? I own three pair. Best pants around!"

 

Feeling the LOVE!!

Now THIS is Built for the Mountain Life

Highpointing - Black Mountain, KY

Mark Zimmer nears the beginning of his epic Summit Up USA adventure, he writes in about the 'winter-lull' and how he's approaching training for the upcoming trips.

   Ever since I have started to work on Summit Up, there has been a struggle between the business and sponsorship side and the actual climbing and training.  I do get some comfort from knowing that I am going to be starting on some of the easier peaks when I start climbing in April of 2009, and will then be working my way up from there.  However, it is easy to get soft during the winter, so I force myself to continue working on both aspects of Summit Up.
Black Mountain (elevation 4,145 ft) is the highest point in Kentucky. A quick interesting fact about Black Mountain is that as you drive up the peak, you pass a sign that says, "Welcome to West Virginia."  It is only after you park and hike a quarter mile are you actually back into Kentucky; that is how close this peak is the border.  Although I did do this climb, I will return once I get all of my flags and start climbing officially.
If you are ever in the area, it is a rather simple climb.  To be more accurate, it is more of a simple walk, since the trail is not too far or steep.  However, if you are anything like me, the peak will present its challenges.
I didn't drive to this peak; I rode with my uncle on roads that seemed to be modeled after a pile of cooked spaghetti noodles.  To make it worse, he seemed determined to break the land speed record while pulling at least 4 lateral G's in his silly little Dodge Neon.  I had no idea that the thing could go so fast.  I spent most of the trip staring at the floor of the car, trying to not loose my incredible meal of Mickey D's chicken nuggets, only to be jolted by my crazed uncle smashing the breaks to avoid a tree branch on the road from the previous night's storm. 
Much to my surprise, I did end up surviving the two hour roller coaster ride from hell.  I did get some pictures and a fun story.  So if you ever get the chance, grab the Tums and head to Black Mountain.  The ride alone is worth the trip.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, Gobble.

Gourmet Cooking - MK Bachelor Style

• One part Scooby Doo Mac & Cheese* ($1 on sale)
• One part frozen "California" veggies ($5 for 10lb bag, or $.50 per serving)
• Remnants of Shredded Cheese (not enough to make nachos, too much to throw out, about $.30)

1. Cook Mac and Cheese per box
2. Meanwhile, steam veggies in large pan with water
3. Mix two together
4. Sprinkle cheese on top
5. Mix
6. Flavor with Hot Sauce to taste
7. Eat, Eat, Eat!

Highlights: Cheap (about $2), Quick (20 min), Makes several servings (2 or more)
Bonus: GREAT after reheating next day

*Shaped or 'themed' noodles make the best!

ENJOY!

Courtesy of resident MK-er Jordan Hauser.  Pictured: lunch at the desk.

Some great work from Sales Rep Jeff Buerman

Kuddos to Great Lakes Mountain Khakis Rep Jeff Buerman and his wife Ann for creating The Michigan Youth Cycling Program. In addition to giving scholarships to youth cyclists who participate in trail work on behalf of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, they also award an Iceman Scholarship to a "cyclist who has made a commitment to cycling and represents the values of good Character, Courage, Goal Setting, and Self-discipline through friendly competition." Jeff and Ann are passionate about working to bring exercise and healthy lifestyle programs through Cycling to children. Best of luck to those participating in the Iceman Cometh Challenge in Traverse City on November 8th!

Fall Lover

Dealer Services Rep Jessica Hoffmann shares some sentiments on fall, embracing what some would consider to be a purgatory between summer daze and fresh snow.

 

 

I have to admit, I am definitely a fall lover, and I have been soaking up every dash of color during my first fall in Jackson. From the aspen groves at Wild Iris, amongst fabulous, steep sport cilmbing to the sweeping views heading into Death Canyon and the solitude of Coal Creek meadows, I can't help but wish fall was longer. Perhaps that is what makes it so special. Here in Jackson we have had a fair amount of wet weather lately and my friends and family are already asking for snow reports. So far, we have only received snow at higher elevations, but that does mean I have already driven through a bit of snow on Teton Pass. The hardcore skiers are getting jittery with anticipation for the upcoming season and the completion of the new tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. I selfishly hope this weather will stick around a bit, as it is perfect for climbing, and, well perfect for just about everything as far as I am concerned!

Global Warming Myths, Debunked

The following excerpts are from a Wired Magazine article about the truths and myths of global warming.  The article addresses many issues and activities that are commonly deemed "green" but might not be as earth-friendly as we think they are.  Pretty interesting stuff here. According to Wired:

-"urban living is kinder to the planet, and Manhattan is perhaps the greenest place in U.S.  A Manhattanite's carbon footprint is 30 percent smaller than the average American's."

-"A/C is okay and inherently more efficient than heating.  Salving the summer swelter in the U.S. produces 110 million metric tons of CO2 annually.  Heating the country releases nearly eight times more carbon over the same period."

-"Organics are not the answer.  Dairy cows raised on organic feed produce 8% less milk per cow.  So it takes 25 organic cows to make as much milk as 23 industrial ones.  More cows, more cow emissions.  Organic beef steers take longer to achieve slaughter weight, which gives them more time to emit polluting methane.  Organic fertilizers deliver lower-than-average yields, so those crops require more land per unit of food.  And plenty of pesticide-free foods are produced by industrial-scale farms and then shipped thousands of miles.  The result: refrigerator trucks belching carbon dioxide.  What really matters when it comes to food is eating locally grown and in-season foods."

Relics: In Search of the Southernmost Native Brook Trout in the World

MK Ambassador Zach Mathews developed and manages the fly fishing forum The Itinerant Angler, is a freelance writer and photographer, and finds some time to practice law in Georgia as well.  Here he reports on a recent adventure:

August 16, 2008

With Gerogia's lengthy drought showing no sign of giving over and the dog days of August well upon us, I decided to seek a little solace and solitude high in the Appalachians.  My target was native Georgia brook trout, part of an ongoing project I am pursuing, born of my fascination with the southernmost native brookies in the world.

Science tells us that in the deep freeze of the last Ice Age, brook trout (technically and arctic char known as salvelinus fontinalis) were able to extend their range as far south at the 34th degree latitude, give or take a few clicks, which means they petered out a few miles south of today's Blairsville, Georgia.  Common sense says the brook trout must have swum upstream from larger rivers in the bottomlands.  Further, those larger rivers must necessarily have flowed north, toward the rivers draining the Arctic, rather than south to the Atlantic.  Thus, the logical place to search for the southernmost remnant of this Ice Age holdout is on the north-facing streams of the Blue Ridge.  Or in other words, for AT through-hikers seeking brookies, look left.

Today the trout are cut off - marooned by hotter waters in the lowlands - from their ancient bloodlines.  Until an Ice Age comes again, these brookies must evolve in isolation, slowly becoming more unique with each passing year.  They are precious, they are rare, and they live on the knife edge of global warming.  A few too-hot years, and their lines will retract even further.