Built Tour

Nationals of Climbing - Kyle McFarland

While everyone returns to work next week following the celebration of our Nation's Birthday, Climbin' Kyle will be getting set to take Ann Arbor by storm at the National Championships of climbing.  Having placed 1st in speed and 3rd in difficulty at Regionals, we're hoping he brings home a National Championship.  We asked Kyle to share his experience from Regionals with us... pease read on to enjoy a great insight into the mind of a young, up-and-coming competitor.

Football meets Futbol-David Beckham and Reggie Bush

For those of you who are fans of American Football and have no idea what Soccer (futbol) is...or those of you who are fans of soccer and could care less about football...or for those of you who love sports and the specific sport doesn't matter, this video is for you.  Two worlds collide. Here are two of the best in the world gaining a new found respect for each other. David Beckham meets Reggie Bush. Reggie Bush meets David Beckham. Football meets Futbol.

"why didn't we think of that?" - the Utilikilt

Thanks to our friends at Backcountry.com for pointing this bad-boy out.  In the words of MK Marketing Manager Shannon Hamby, "File this one under why didn't we think of that?"  Also may file this one in the same category as 'Manpris'... cut for those too hot to wear pants but too cool to wear shorts.

Story on the newest, manliest (?) fashion in workwear HERE.

Women's Team heads to Korea

The top women's rafting team in the US heads out today for Korea to comete in the World Rafting Championships.  This group of hardcore-ladies from Colorado has just revamped their website, so be sure to check that out and keep up with their blog.  Best of luck to the team as they make final preparations to take the world by storm.  USA, USA, USA.

Jari Kirkland on the Adventure Racing World Championships

This is the life on one mountain girl...
     We got to Scotland for the World Championship and none of our stuff showed up.  It was the biggest headache to track it down and make sure it got there in time to be able to race.  Luckily we got it with about 6 hours to spare.  So the race started on Rum Island.  It was so beautiful the first day and we did about 14,ooo vertical feet.  It was crazy.  Then the cold and rain started and never really stopped till the last day.  We covered 65,000 vertical feet in the next 5 days.  It was intense.  All the hiking was either strait up or strait down.  And did I mention that it rained.  I was so cold.  I had to get treated for hypothermia.  My temp was 88.  But I bounced back and kept racing.  I had wet hair and feet for the whole race.  I can say that I almost didn't want to take a shower after the race. The thought
of being wet was just horrible.   I had to swim in Loch Ness, which is only
40 degrees, which also put me into a state of udder coldness.  It also just happened to be the same day there was a Nessie sighting.  You can get on cnn.com and check it out.  You can also go to youtube.com and look up adventure racing world 2007 and see lots of pics and video of the race and interview.  It is pretty cool.  The last day of the race we hiked Den Nevis, the highest mountain in all of the UK.
I am glad it is over but I also like pushing myself past my limits.  We finished 8th, which I am happy about.  This was the hardest race I have ever done in terms of cold and suffering through the elements.  It was also the most competitive field ever in any adventure race.  Sweet!!
I am off to France in two weeks to compete on an all girls team for Salomon.
  It is a 5 day stage race and I am super excited to go and race.  Luckily my mountain life takes me to other mountains all over the world.

Town of Jackson Operations Go 100% Green

Jackson, WY. The Jackson Town Council is excited to announce that with the passing of the 2008 fiscal year budget last night, all Town of Jackson operations will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
“This is a remarkable partnership with Lower Valley Energy,” said Mayor Mark Barron.  “This program speaks directly to the importance of LVE in our community, as well as the Town’s continued commitment to our environmental and efficiency goals.”

Team Crested Butte Places 8th in World

MK Ambassador Jari Kirkland and her team of adventure racers took 8th at the recent Adventure Racing World Championships in Scotland.  A total of 60 teams from around the world competed for the coveted title of World Champion. For a (more) complete story on the team's success, read HERE.  In addition to 8th in the world, the team was also the 1st All-American team to finish.

Other race coverage:
Adventure Racing World Championships
Highland Official Website (event venue)

Runner's are their own breed of crazy

Body parts that failed to make it along the way.

For an adventure of a different flavor...

... call up Steve Romeo of TetonAT.com.  Spend a few minutes floating around his site and you'll quickly develop a deep respect for an entirely different type of outdoor 'adventure' (quotes only used to denote the fact that 99.9% of normal people would consider Steve's ambition and sense of adventure to be insane).
For example, in the picture shown, most people see scenic, beautiful, snowy peaks.  Steve sees a playground, and good challenge and reward for a hard early morning hike.  Crazy.

BFTML explained

Around here, we're always looking for new ways to streamline productivity and make the best of our time and efforst (cause let's be honest, we'd all rather be outside enjoying the warm June weather!).  One ways we've all saved ourselves a ton of time through both speach and type is by creating our own set of MK (!!) acronyms.  Our tagline, Built for the Mountain Life is both a mouth full and a marathon of keystrokes.  As such, we at Mountain Khakis simply abbreviate our trademark as BFTML.  Just like BFF, LOL, TTYL, BTW, and BRB, BFTML is quickly establishing itself as the next (mountain) cultural phenomena.

Off Roving

Our friends at Off Roving offer a guide/travel service that gets people back to the core of adventure, taking those pavement-pounding, soccer-mom suvs out to stretch their legs and do what they were actually made to - explore ('Rover) the world ('Land').  Check out this video from one of their recent trips...

Baxter reaches Everest Summit!

Our good friend and MK Ambassador Baxter Gillespie achieved a life-long dream of reaching the pinnacle of human existence, literally.  Last week his group made a succesfful attempt to summit Everest.  Congrats, Baxter, and well done.  Built for the Mountain Life indeed.  More pics, news, and stories to follow...