The North Face

Jul 30 | Mt. Kinabalu Expedition: Hard Routes at 4000m

By The North Face

Yuji Hirayama, Daniel Woods, James Pearson and Caroline Ciavaldini have just returned from their expedition to Mt. Kinabalu (4095m) in Borneo, Malaysia. The plan for their expedition was to establish some of the hardest high altitude sport routes in the world, and thanks to the incredible weather that allowed the team to climb almost every day, they had a very productive time! The team spent the last month living close to the summit of the magnificent mountain, making each day the one-hour hike towards the summit plateau to climb, bolt and explore. They came back with a fine selection of routes that each represents the individual styles and strengths of its creator. The team opened over 20 new routes up to Fr 9a+.

Highlights include:

Yuji Hirayama - Pogulian Do Koduduo Fr 9a and Metis 120m 5-pitch E6 6b / 5.12r

James Pearson – Excalibur Fr 8c+ and a flash of Alanga 120m 3-pitch Fr 8b

Caroline Ciavaldini – Apuri Manan Fr 8b and Alanga 120m 3-pitch Fr 8b

Daniel Woods – Tinipi Fr 9a+ and Enter The Void Fr 8c

Here are Caroline and James’ first diary entries from this unique trip.

***

Caro, 13th of June

James just handed us tea and “ice cream” oreos. All of us, climbers, staff, are hidden in our sleeping bags, fighting not to sleep, asking for stories. It’s 1 p.m., we arrived in the Sayat Sayat hut, the highest one, at 3660m, at eight this morning. It took five hours yesterday to hike from 1800m, then one hour today. I am ashamed to have had the benefit of porters: as a climber, I am not quite used to paying somebody 30E to carry my heavy bag pack on their back. One flat panel of wood, ropes as shoulder straps, another rope around the forehead, here they go. Technically, it’s mountain tork, our sponsor, who paid them. So I am ashamed, but so thankful. This last walk in the morning, I had to stop every 5m, walk up the steps with my hands too. As deep as I may try to breathe, I don’t seem to get what’s needed to move.

Now it’s overly windy, misty, and rainy. Not a time to go explore the untouched faces of every peak around us. Yuji tells us with his relaxing accent: “here, don’t plan, maybe in a bit the weather will clear, maybe tomorrow…”

Right now, I am completely fine with waiting. I am realizing that Kinabalu will be a real expedition. Cold, wet, tiring, and so windy… and in this conditions we plan to bolt, trad climb… Something really hard. Part of me wonders, what the hell am I doing here. I will surely get sick, I will be tired, cold, scared. But I will come out happy, and proud to have been part of that expedition. I know it. Because I felt the same on my previous little adventures with James and The North Face. But for now, I hear a lot the little shy girl in me that struggles to keep warm even in the hut. Maybe if I recover a bit, acclimatize; a warrior in me may wake up.

Caroline on Alanga Fr 8b (5.13d)

James, 16th of June

Three days into the trip, well it’s actually more like seven, but today is the third climbing day. Bodies are beaten, but minds are getting stronger. It’s funny how just a few days ago, I would have said the exact opposite, as we arrived at the base of the mountain well rested, but a little apprehensive.

Climbing and living at 4000m is something new to me, and coming from sea level to the top in just a day made the experience even worse. My head is still aching and my lungs still screaming now, but on the first few nights it was hellish.

Walking up through a torrential downpour did little to help the situation, wet clothes that never dry make you clod to your bones. Wind, rain, how can we ever climb in a place like this? But then the clouds clear and the sun shines, you see the most incredible landscape you can imagine. A mountain of granite, twisted and sculpted into formations from your dreams, with overhanging towers and faces as far as you can see, just waiting for their first bolts.

Yuji has been here before and so we know the score. Patience is the name of the game, the weather can never be trusted, meaning a lot of time in the hut, then making the most of the small windows through the mist. He tries to explain us how things work up here, and what our schedule may be like. The 5 a.m. wakeup call sounds horrendous at first, but when you realize it is only 7 p.m. and your eyes are starting to close, perhaps it is not so bad.

Yuri resting before the Crux on Pogulian Do Koduduo Fr9a (5.14d)

The first time on top of the mountain, it’s hard to take it all in. It’s so vast, so three-dimensional, with towers shooting off towards the heavens, and dark gullies seeming to fall away to hell. Yuji explains the location of his existing routes and shares the secret of his projects, we spy a few new things of our owns, all that remains is to start.

James passing the crux on Excalibur Fr8c+ (5.14c)

I have bolted before and understand the fundamentals, but the everything, really knowing what to do, and the little things that make it work well, only come with practice. However in comparison to Daniel and Caroline, I am a master and so I do my best live up to their hopes, and teach them what (little) I know. Within a few days everyone is firmly in the swing of things. Everyone has found their piece of inspiration, thrown in some steel work, and stared trying the moves. Like bolting, climbing at altitude is something that also needs learning. So different from climbing near the sea; not only does the slightliest tricky sequence have you panting for breath, but I also find myself feeling much more intimidated than usual, worrying that my feet and hands unexpectedly slip, despite the amazingly grippy rock.

Speaking of the rock… The best quality granite, formed into every shape you can imagine, offer a seemingly endless playground for the (slightly) adventurous. We are essentially running around, cherry picking the best, hardest, most inspiring lines from the whole plateau, and there is more than we could ever hope to blot. If you extent things to the easier grades or the more difficult to reach areas, the potential is there for several life times. After a few days we all become more accustomed to living at altitude. No longer are we out of breath during evenings in the hut, and we start to become aware, some more painfully than others about the importance of Sun cream and moisturizer! Of all the routes we have bolted, the majority have been freed, leaving some of the hardest routes in the area. The difficulty when bolting is not just to choose a beautiful line, but to find something close to your limit, but still climbable. The difference between possible and impossible is something very small!

Life in the hut is easy and enjoyable, thanks in a big part to the involvement of Mountain Tork – a Malaysian Adventure Tourism operator, and our guides on the mountain. They have taken care of everything, leaving us free to focus only on the climbing. The amount of planning and preparation on their part is simply outstanding and it is safe to say without their help, this expedition may not be possible, certainly not in the same way.

Yuri on the start of Tinipi Fr9a+ (5.14d-5.15a)

 

Caro, 17th of June

Yesterday was a great day… I had bolted a short route on the first day. It turned out to have quite incredible mouves, very precise footwork and… a double dyno! I didn’t expect it. And figuring out the methods, I knew I couldn’t do it.  So I gave it to James, who made it first try after working the methods. I was so happy! My first route ever was a success, 8b, Apuri Manan.

It means sensations. But then Daniel and James pushed me to keep on trying the moves… And third day, I found the precise footwork to do the jump. And I made it! I was so surprised. I always give up when I can’t do a move of a route. Interesting to discover the land of projecting. Today was a good day as well because James found his project. The Double Arête. While he was bolting, after a precarious trad approach to the top, he really wasn’t sure that the route would work. But the in the day he made all the mouves. You should have seen his smile when he came down. Happy.

Caroline, Yuji and James on Metis E6 (5.12)

***

You can read the whole trip diary on Caroline Ciavaldini and James Pearson’s blogs:

http://www.carolineciavaldini.com/new-english.html

http://jpclimbing.com/

All photos by: The North Face / Mitci S.

Jul 26 | Heidi Wirtz : Hiking the Fourth of July Trail

By The North Face

I have to admit that ever since my addiction to rock climbing began, my “purely” hiking trips began to dwindle. Not that I don’t hike, but typically I have either a heavy crag pack, a monstrous backpacking pack or a crash pad on my back. However, despite my climbing bug, I still can’t miss the amazing wild flower season in Colorado…blankets of every color in the rainbow, high mountain meadows, snowy peaks and deep blue skies…yep, can’t be missed! 

Some of the most spectacular wildflower hikes that I have ever been on are actually located very near my current hometown of Boulder, CO. One such hike named “The Fourth of July Trail”, located in the Indian Peaks, is perhaps my favorite on the Front Range and one that I frequent on rest days during the summer. Yesterday was one of those days….

Once again I got to bring out one of my favorite The North Face packs for a quick day hike. I find the Verto pack, which is a small lightweight summit pack, to be perfect for the quick outing. It actually holds quite a bit and I can fit my raincoat, fleece, hat, camera, water and snacks easily into this pack, typically with room to spare. The Verto doesn’t have any unneeded bells and whistles, making it so light that it barely adds any extra weight to your outing, which I really like. The top lid is also perfect size for my bee sting kit (yep unfortunately I have an allergy to the very bug that keeps the flowers blooming), sunscreen and quick snacks.

Driving up to the trailhead from Boulder we could see the clouds already building, thunderheads beginning to make their way upward into what looked like giant bulbous mushrooms. By the time we turned up the final dirt road, large drops of water began splatting on the windshield and soon turned into a full on deluge with thunder cracking in the distance. Committed, Patrick, my boyfriend rallied up the winding, bumpy, potholed road to the trailhead.  Finding plenty of parking spaces at the trailhead, which is actually unusual, we pulled in front row. Maybe the rain was turning people away, or the fact that we were not getting an alpine start, but rather, what I call a crack of noon start. Either way, it was looking like we would have the trail pretty much all to ourselves, which is always a bonus in my book.

Since I have lived in Colorado for over twenty years, I feel pretty comfortable with the often times schizophrenic weather in the summer. One minute it can be raining buckets with terrifying ear cracking thunder and lightning and the next blue bird and hot. So, by the time we parked the car the birds were singing and sun peaking out. We jumped out of the car, grabbed our packs and headed up the trail. I love this trail for several reasons, not just for the awesome flowers, but also for the streams, waterfalls, hanging meadows and amazing views of the continental divide. Typically I hike up to Caribou pass, but yesterday since the lightning seemed to be hitting the pass, we opted to head to diamond lake, which keeps you just below tree line. I had never gone this way, but to my delight the lake was just as awesome as the pass. Towering peaks all around, alpine lake, flower filled meadows…who could complain? Apparently there is amazing fishing and quite a number of great looking campsites up there too.

So, if you are looking for something to do on the front range this summer, I would suggest grabbing your pack and heading up for a beautiful day hike into the Indian peaks. Since we won’t be getting our usual 4^th of July fireworks this year, go out and experience Mother Nature’s version of exploding colors!

Jul 25 | Mike Wardian on promoting the next generation of role models

By The North Face

Hey Everyone,
 
I don't know if you caught this but The North Face is doing a cool program called "Role Models" on Facebook. The idea is, you sign up and pledge to get outside and take some friends, family, loved ones, and even people you don't know. 

Here's the link so you can take the pledge too: https://www.facebook.com/thenorthface?sk=app_441308789221860
 
I love the idea and already took a few pledges (running a race with the boys, going on a hike with the guys, camping in the back yard) but the one I wanted to talk about today was to take the kids "bouldering".  I use the term "bouldering" very loosely so please forgive me as I know that real bouldering is super hardcore and I have be lucky enough to meet some of really tough The North Face athletes (http://www.thenorthfacejournal.com/bouldering-in-the-mediteranean/) that do this big time and they are amazing so that when I say our guys, Pierce (6 years old) & Grant (3.5 years old) are "bouldering" it might be a stretch but it was really neat to watch them navigate the woods, get to the "boulder" and then climb it and see how really excited they were.

 
It was so empowering to share the experience with them and watch the grow and become more confident with each and every trip.

 
I even did a few trips up the "boulder" so they could see how to do it, where to grab and what to look out for.
 
I love that my wife Jennifer and I can share the outdoors with the boys and I hope that someday they will look back and think that we were "Role Models" and inspired them to never settle or stop exploring their worlds.  I want them to have limitless opportunities and have the skills to tackle life challenges as they arise.
 
I look at my parents and how they tried to instill in me a desire to push the boundaries of what I was comfortable.  I think of other Role Models like my boss, Keith Powell, he showed me that there is no substitute for hard work and no matter how successful you have become, or think you have become, that it is important to do your absolute best every time and on every project big or small.
 
Again, I hope this small pledge to get the boys "bouldering", will have a lasting influence on them and perhaps shape their future but if it only leads them to become more comfortable and confidient in nature then that works too and I suspect it will build on itself as things tend to.
 
Hope you are well and look forward to hearing what pledges you might take (hit me up on Facebook or Twitter) and look forward to perhaps seeing you out there.
 
Cheers,
Michael Wardian

 

Jul 24 | Hal Koerner Wins the Hardrock 100

By The North Face

Race morning began with all the usual hectic runaround with an hour to go.  Walking into the gym one minute from not making the official starting list only heightened things.  If you aren’t there to check in 15 minutes before the race they give your spot to the next person on the waiting list and I ended up cutting it the closest.  Things for me were going to be a stepping razor all day. 

Out of Silverton we climbed in the post dawn light, our legs and voices filled with jittery excitement.  There was a pack of 7 usual suspects that took the nice ascent out of town to KT with what I would call reserved optimism.  Dakota had a great pace and began to work the sticks while Joe proved that he was up for the challenge of leading the group all day if he had to.  I eased in and checked the lungs trying to maintain a nice pace by breathing solely through my nose.  

By KT we started to spread out a bit on the climb to Grants Swamp Pass.  The steepness of the course reared apparent and Timmy Parr took off over the ridge and down the talus field like he was riding a wave, a 150 foot wave.  I hesitated behind Joe and Dakota as they bounded down the course trying not to crap my pants even though it looked like it from sliding down on my backside the whole way.  Carly reminded of how at the Death Race in Grand Cache they carry cardboard to quicken the steep descents and although it probably would have helped, cardboard was no match for this section.   We immediately regrouped like a slinky and headed into Chapman for the next assault on Oscar’s Pass.  It would be a recurring theme.  

At the top of Oscars I was pretty happy with my climbing and the ease with which my lungs were taking the effort.  My legs didn’t feel anaerobic and Joe and Dakota were only pulling away slightly.  Scott Jaime  helped push me up and over the pass and then we sailed away to T-Ride.   

Once again, Joe, Dakota and I found ourselves in a train going up to Viginius.  Rain enveloped our efforts on the climb but kept things cool and sent the black flys fleeing for cover.   At the aid station we huddled for cover from the driving wind and precip but my head was pounding and I knew I needed to get down.  Joe bombed down the scree once more but this time everything felt a little more dire.  As I scaled down, I’m sure I looked like a novice road runner hitting the trails for the first time, but I didn’t want to do anything herky jerky this early into the race and put my chances of survival in jeopardy.  Dakota flew by me and bounced off the wet rock down the narrow chasm out of sight faster than the camera shutters clicking around us.  Once in the basin I could hear him directing me onto the correct path that lead to the rocky road down to Governors.   I was relieved to get out of there alive. 

Once on Camp Bird Road I began to feel at home and started to reel in Joe.  I didn’t stop at the AS and powered on down to Ouray catching Dakota about four miles from the bottom.  I was flying, had my headphones in and told him I was going to get down off this road.  By the time I made it to Ouray the suffocating swell of oxygen greeted me along with my family and the throngs of cheering onlookers.  I was psyched to see my friends Tony K and Mike Wolfe but I remembered they were there to help get Joe and Dakota over these mountains faster than me and it jolted me out of town and onward to Engineers.  I had run this section so much lately that I knew where to push and where to hike.  All of it came to me pretty quickly and before long I was at the pass looking back into the basin for any moving speck of life.  I could see Dakota and surmised I had about 15 minutes.  Luckily another 6 miles of downhill dirt road awaited me and I took off.   

Out of Grouse I felt good, my main goal was to summit Handies, a fourteener and the highest point on the course, before nightfall.  So I pressed on.  Seeing the mountain from the pass brought back many memories of why I loved living in Colorado.  The large mountains are so majestic.  They loom and feel ominous at times just standing there.  I hastily made my approach in the quickening darkness, watching the pass for runners but it wasn’t until I had descended almost 3,000 feet that I saw headlamps on the summit of the mountain.  I still had 20 or so minutes. 

I am not a night runner and one of the most welcome moments was running into Sherman and grabbing my pacer, Chris.   With a little burst of enthusiasm we stormed up Cataract Creek boasting of our pace but also that of the two fellas giving chase.  No sooner than a few switchbacks up the trail we heard cheers from below,  bellowing  to ourselves we picked up the pace.  Luckily Dakota would sit at that aid station for a while allowing us to struggle and stammer over the high alpine course over the next miles with little consequence.  

I ran the Colorado Trail for the speed record in 2003 and would have liked to consider myself familiar the next chunk of terrain but everything was grey, figuratively and literally, for the next 20 miles and it clearly showed not only in time but also momentum.  Chris and I became human searchlights scanning the hills for the elusive Hardrock markers that dangled and dimmed with our pursuits. 

As we eased in to Cunningham thoughts of winning began to creep into my sleepy, cloudy, oxygen starved brain.    As Carly and I marched up Little Giant the pains of the effort really boiled to the surface.  I was a little upset with myself for feeling so down for the first pacing job she had ever come on with me but that vanished as quick as she did up into the morning light as Joe came screaming in to the valley below.  I measured it at 25 minutes, with 7.5 miles to go.  I had to keep that relentless forward motion going.   

Cresting the summit we bailed over to the Silverton side and began the rocky descent into town.  I had Carly stop every 5 minutes or so to look for any stealth silhouettes on the road above.  As we eased down to the path into town I mustered the last bits of energy I had to crank on in. I have to thank Carly for her encouragement as well as James Bonnet for believing in me all day.  

Striding into the finish was just as I imagined it and will forever be burned into my mind.  Friends old and new, family from far and wide as well as that animated rock standing proud below the hanging clock that read 24:50:13.                

There are things you know you are capable of but sometimes it takes special people, places, and circumstances for that to happen.  This year's HR100 encompassed all of that for me and more. I would like to say I surprised myself, which I did, but I was also out to surprise others as well.  I thought I built off of some lessons learned from running the race in 2005 and that seemed to make all the difference.  Going in well rested, making concessions for the altitude, staying patient in the race, and making myself stay focused for 100 miles made the day come to me.  

Jul 24 | More Than Sport – Panama Mission

By The North Face

Friend of The North Face Chris Lieto is a professional triathlete and founder of More Than Sport – a non-profit agency that focuses on partnering athletes with local communities.  The mission is to partner athletes that are used to giving their all for their sport and empower them to give back in new ways.  To work in the communities they race, train and compete in. 

After racing a half Ironman this spring in Panama, Chris and a team of triathletes and other supporters went to a flood damaged area to help re-build a house.  “When we chose to do this I had no idea how many guys and girls would sign up.  I mean it’s the day after the race, and I know how I feel after a race, I’m sore as all heck. I can hardly walk. I wasn’t sure if guys would rally and want to do it.  We had to cut it off. Even the day of the race people were saying, we want to come.”

To learn more about Chris Lieto and More than Sport please visit: morethansport.org. 

To volunteer your time or make a donation please visit: morethansport.org/index.php/how-we-help

More Than Sport - Panama Mission from More Than Sport on Vimeo.

 

 

 

Jul 23 | ANNOUNCING THE SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR PRESENTED BY THE NORTH FACE

By The North Face

Event organizers of SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR, Freeskiing World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding announced this week a merger that will combine all three tours under one unified global 5-star championship series. The new six-stop world tour – named the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE – will include freeride skiing and snowboarding at each stop.

Confirmed tour locations include Revelstoke, Canada, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France, Kirkwood, USA, Fieberbrunn PillerseeTal, Austria, and one more stop still to be confirmed, before the World Tour finals in Verbier, Switzerland.

“The union of the three tours is a major step in the sport’s growth,” said Nicolas Hale-Woods, Freeride World Tour Managing Director Europe. “Not only at World Tour (FWT) level, but also at qualifying level, with events happening in New-Zealand, North & South America, and Europe, all counting for one unique Freeride World Qualifiers (FWQ) ranking, enabling riders from all active areas to qualify for the next season’s SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE.”

For 2013, start lists will feature qualified athletes from all three of the 2012 Tours, as well as from qualifier events (4-star events), along with a limited number of wild card entries from both continents.

“The merger of the two ski tours is a great step for our sport,” said 2012 SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR Champion Reine Barkered of Sweden. “It will add even more recognition around the world. For me as a rider I'm looking forward to an even more exciting season with a lot of new faces.”

In addition to the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE, there will be around 50 qualifier events (FWQ) around the world, ranging from 1 to 4-Stars for up-and-coming athletes to earn a spot on the next years FWT. First stops of the 4-Stars FWQ will be in New Zealand and in Chile in August 2012. Riders will score points in two separate rankings, a FWT ranking and a FWQ ranking. 

The North Face, a long-time supporter of big mountain skiing and snowboarding, Freeskiing World Tour and founder of The North Face Masters of Snowboarding, has joined on as presenting sponsor to the new merged Freeride World Tour.

“Since the 1980's, The North Face has been at the forefront of snow-sports with our technical product and pioneering athletes, including Scott Schmidt and Jim Zellers. Inspired by our team at the recent Freeride World Tour - Giulia Monego, Janette Hargin and Xavier De Le Rue - we continue our commitment to the future of freeriding and the next generation of skiers and snowboarders. We are excited to be partner of the globally-unified SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR and look forward to taking an active role with the tour's organizers and partners in the coming seasons.” said Eric Pansier, VP Marketing EMEA The North Face.

 

SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE 2013

Competition Calendar

1. Swatch Freeride World Tour Revelstoke 2013 by The North Face

• Dates:   7 - 12  January; Location: Revelstoke (CAN)
• Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard

2. Swatch Freeride World Tour Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2013 by The North Face

• Dates: 26 January - 1 February; Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (FRA)
• Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard

3. Swatch Freeride World Tour Kirkwood 2013 by The North Face

• Dates: 27 February - 3 March; Location: Kirkwood (USA)
• Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard

4. Swatch Freeride World Tour Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal 2013 by The North Face

• Dates: 9 - 15 March; Location: Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal (AUT)
• Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard

5. Stop No5 in Europe - Location To Be Confirmed

6. Swatch Verbier Xtreme 2013 by The North Face

• Dates: 23 - 31 March; Location: Verbier (SUI)
• Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard

Jul 19 | Badwater Ultramarathon Wrap Up

By The North Face

Dean Karnazes finished Badwater in 12^th place, with a time of 29:57:50 just under the 30 hour goal he had set for himself. For Dean to keep his pace throughout the race he had to do everything on the move so he didn’t slow down or get too comfortable.  Dean told his crew before the race that they are his lifeblood and it is up to them to keep him moving forward.  He wanted them to work just as hard as him, and when everything goes right, the entire crew will be exhausted at the finish.  Not only did his crew help with all the details, but each member spent time pacing him during the run.

There is a saying at Badwater, “beware of the chair.”  As Dean said, “once you sit down, getting up becomes the hard part.” Without a chair for rest, or an umbrella for shade, Dean’s efforts were continuous for 30 hours without taking a break longer than 10 minutes.  During the heat of the day which maxed out at a cool 118, Dean would receive ice baths, food, drinks, and change clothes on the move.  During the night he had to keep moving forward in order to stay warm with temperatures that dropped to 52 degrees.  With a 66 degree temperature range throughout the day, moving was the way to keep focus and hold energy. 

Dean’s efforts were incomparable as he pushed himself to the limit.  There is a fine line at Badwater between exertion, exhaustion, and annihilation.  Dean stressed the fact that managing your body, mind, food intake, and efforts are something that is difficult to concentrate on during Badwater, and that’s why your crew is crucial.  Dean handpicked each member of his crew because they are all experienced endurance athletes and know firsthand what if feels like to suffer.  Dean said “the crew’s job was to get him to the finish, or the hospital, either way we are a team and in this together. “  Dean is very thankful that this year his crew got him to the finish, and not the hospital. 

As he received his belt buckle at the finish, Dean said “every year I finish this race I try to find a reason not to do it again, but this year I feel differently.  Even though I hurt, I feel good about this race and the effort with my crew.”  Looks like Dean might be back next year!

Jul 18 | Outdoor Nation NY Delegate Report - Yoon Kim

By The North Face

Even in the thickest of concrete jungles, dedicated explorers will find ways to enjoy the great outdoors.  Fountains turn into a place to splash your toes, city walls get climbed, and parks turn into campgrounds.  That’s exactly what a group of roughly fifty young delegates from around the country did at the Outdoor Nation Summit in New York City.

Outdoor Nation is a non-profit that encourages young people to go outdoors.  But they aren’t just any advocacy group; they’ve taken a really wise approach on how to go about their evangelizing.  They understand that young people don’t want to be told to go outside, but want to go outside with other young people.  So instead of taking a traditional approach to advocacy, they fund outdoor related startup projects led by young people.  Everyone loves startups led by young people.

In this sense, Outdoor Nation is like an angel investor but they don’t take ownership of the projects.  Instead, they want the younger generations to lead their own movement to get their friends outside.  Funding goes toward projects like organizing trips, service projects, or other activities aimed at actually, going outside.

The North Face climber Matt Segal

During the New York Summit, about fifty Millennials broke up into teams, brainstormed projects, created marketing strategies, then pitched projects to Outdoor Nation.  The funded teams will take that money and hopefully, convince their peers to go outdoors.

But really, it’s about more than just getting young people outdoors.  Going outside is just the first step; any outdoor enthusiast knows that going outdoors does something to people; it changes the way they look at life and the world around them.  And this is the end goal for Outdoor Nation.

After a day of being trapped by concrete walls, we took a photo in Washintgon Square Fountain then headed to Central Park and set up camp.  All fifty of us crashed in tents and even brought along a familiar face to the North Face, Mary Anne Potts, Producer for National Geographic Adventure.

The great outdoors is the single most abundant resource that we have, whether it’s in the heart of the city, or the foothills of the Tetons. It’s available to everyone because it is so vast, beautiful and free. And despite being stuck in one of the most urban places on the planet, we found a way to explore the outdoors.

----------------------------------

Go outside, take someone with you. Have you taken the #RoleModels pledge? Commit to taking someone outside this summer on Facebook and enter to win great gear from The North Face. 

Jul 16 | The North Face Gets A Sustainable New Headquarters

By The North Face

The North Face, JanSport and lucy Move to Employee-Inspired, Sustainable Campus Designed to Inspire Innovation and Collaboration

It’s a pretty exciting day for us at The North Face as today we moved into our new headquarters in Alameda California.  We are joined by our VF Outdoor coalition partners JanSport and lucy at this new location. The new 14-acre campus embodies the brands’ outdoor ethos and commitment to their associates, community and the environment. The goal from the beginning was to create a work environment that mirrored the commitment to the outdoors that The North Face believes in.

“I’m thrilled to welcome our VF Outdoor associates to our new home in Alameda. Today culminates nearly four years of thoughtful design and planning. Our new campus reflects our team’s unique culture and passion for the outdoors,” said Steve Rendle, Group President of VF Outdoor and Action Sports Americas. “VF Outdoor includes many of VF’s fastest-growing businesses and the co-location of the JanSport, lucy and The North Face brands at one central campus will lead to even greater product innovation, collaboration and business growth.” 

“In planning the new headquarters, we drew heavily on employee input, relying on a group of employee-led taskforces to consult on the campus’ design,” Rendle added.  “As a result, several features were incorporated in the campus, including:  

• A 1,000 square-foot fitness center and outdoor training area
• On-campus bike shop and equipment gear lockers
• Café featuring healthy and organic food options that will host cooking classes and chef demonstrations
• Community vegetable garden for employee harvest, which will also provide fresh produce for the café and
• Emphasis on ‘bringing the outside in’ by maximizing the amount of natural sunlight at indoor work spaces.”

Employees get ready to sample the organic cafeteria food

The campus will also include several sustainability features that align with our dedication to outdoor preservation and environmental responsibility. In addition to being built in accordance with LEED Gold standards, the campus generates 100 percent of its anticipated electricity needs through a combination of photovoltaic solar panels and wind turbines. Additionally, a state-of-the-art indirect-direct evaporative cooling (IDEC) HVAC system circulates 100 percent fresh air without the use of emission-causing coolants. The campus also features electric vehicle charging stations and is conveniently located near public transit to encourage associates to consider alternative modes of transportation to and from the new headquarters.

VF Associates enjoy a great outdoor lunch on our first day!

Our new neighbors are pretty excited that we are here too. “We are thrilled to welcome the VF Outdoor family to our Alameda community. The JanSport, lucy and The North Face brands’ commitment to sustainability and passion for the outdoors mirror those of our local residents,” said Marie Gilmore, mayor of Alameda. “We look forward to the contributions VF Outdoor will make to the local business community and economic well being of our city.”

Lots of historical images were included in the new building

The 160,000 square-foot headquarters is located at 2701 Harbor Bay Parkway in Alameda. VF Outdoor worked with several key partners on the project: San Francisco-based interior designer Rapt Studio, Alameda-based developer SRM Associates, San Francisco-based exterior designer FME Architecture & Design, Pleasanton-based general contractor J.M. O’Neill and landscape architect April Philips Design Works Inc. of San Rafael, Calif.

Jul 16 | Dean Karnazes takes on the Badwater Ultramarathon

By The North Face

Today is the start of the Badwater Ultramarathon. Recognized globally as one of the world's toughest races, this legendary event annually pits approximately 90 of the world's toughest athletes — against one another and the elements. Covering 135 miles non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F.  We asked The North Face team with Dean Karnazes this year to supply us with updates as he works his way across the desert and into the mountains.

As 98 runners and their teams anticipate the start of the “world’s toughest footrace” Dean Karnazes is ready to take on the challenge for the 10^th time, in anticipation of his 9^th finish.  With average race temperatures hovering around 125 or higher, racers are looking forward to what is considered to be moderate race temps, with highs around 115.  Michelle Barton of Laguna Niguel, CA who paced Dean for 92 miles in 2009, and is crew captain this year says “the lower temps are good news for Dean and his team.”   

Of course most of the hard work relies on Dean’s legs, and let’s hope that the race is as easy as he states here in a comment about ultra running.  “All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other, and you are doing it.” 

For Dean’s assistance through the race he has selected a team of individuals he has worked with in the past to help him push through the finish.  As mentioned above, Michelle Barton (2010 Badwater Finisher, and previous crew member) will head the Dean support team of Brandon Friese (Denver, CO), Harald Zundel (San Diego, CA), and Sam Bosworth (San Diego, CA) which will aid Dean to the finish.  Both Brandon and Harald have spent time by Dean’s side as they assisted him on his 3000 mile run from LA to NYC last spring.  Sam’s completion of multiple ultras will be sure to round out the team experience of helping Dean. Dean’s hopes are that his team's experience will give him and his team a leg up on the competition.  Dean has the latest start time of 10am, which means enduring the most heat during the race.   

The “world’s toughest footrace ” is about to start and The North Face is ready to support Dean. Help us do the same, and check out live updates at www.badwater.com.   Make sure to send cool thoughts and energy their way, they are going to need it.

Dean's support team is ready for action