The North Face

Jan 07 | Featured Philanthropy :: Protect Our Winters

By The North Face

Protect Our Winters was founded in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones to address the gap between the effects that climate change was already having in our mountains and the action being taken by the snow sports community to fight it. Winter sports is a $66 billion industry that supports over 211,000 jobs in our local mountain communities - so to us, climate change is serious business. Without a stable climate, our industry, our jobs, the economies of mountain communities everywhere and the valued lifestyle of winter will be gone.

As we start a new year, it's our goal to continue our work teaching high school students about the effects of climate change, how important it is for them to appreciate and protect the outdoors and to become the next generation of environmental leaders. In our community, professional athletes are the greatest influencers, and to have athletes such as Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Ingrid Backstrom and Nick Martini meet and talk to students about climate change and the environment is once of the most powerful ways to inspire them to really get involved. Our young students are the ones who are going to find themselves directly feeling the effects of climate change, so it's our responsibility to provide them with the tools to get involved now.

To learn more about The North Face partnership with Protect Our Winters check out: http://protectourwinters.org/programs

To learn more about how The North Face is helping inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts visit www.TheNorthFace.com/getoutdoors.

               Kit DesLauriers shares her stories of witnessing climate change first hand at a Bay Area elementary school.

               

                Nick Martini talks with a Denver Highschool student about starting an environmental club at his school.

                Sage Cattabrigga-Alosa pumps up the crowd in Salt Lake City

Sep 27 | Conrad Anker :: Glacier National Park with the Sierra Club's Climate Recon Team

By The North Face

This past August, I had the privilege and honor to climb in Glacier National Park as a member of the Sierra Club’s Climate Recon Team and America's most proud citizens, Veterans. Our goal was to understand the landscape, in particular glaciers, and see how they are changing. We left for Glacier National Park the 12^th of August.

For the Veterans I met on this expedition, they were a group of people that I really did not know. I am closing in on 50 and have a closer connection to the Vietnam War. The guys and gals who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 onwards are a generation younger than me. This was an opportunity to learn more about these two conflicts.

We met at St. Mary's, on the eastern side of the park. We had to sort through our food for a week, pack it into bear proof vaults, and load it up onto our backs. Our goal was to climb Blackfoot Peak, a spectacular peak in the Continental Divide. Our first day was an enjoyable day. Easy hiking on a well maintained trail, a fine group campground and no bears. The second day getting up into Blackfoot Basin was a real challenge. The trail was no longer maintained and we went overland. Sharp limestone talus, big trees, and chest high brush slowed us down. Eventually we settled into a beautiful campsite next to a small lake on rock recently exposed by glacial recession. This was our base camp for the next three nights. The first day we practiced snow travel and rope safety. While the team had all seen combat in hostile situations, climbing with 24 small knives attached to you boots was a new experience. After self arrest practice we were ready for our summit climb. We left camp at 4 a.m. after oatmeal and cowboy coffee. The glacier was firm and secure and the one section of technical climbing was well frozen.

On the 16^th of August we reached summit of the peak in clear and blustery conditions. We looked out across the Continental Divide, looking west towards the Columbia River and eventually the Pacific Ocean and looking north and east out toward the mighty Missouri River and the Great Plains. After unfurling our flag we paid our respect to fallen friends, soldiers and climbers alike, and to the spirit of the Blackfoot Nation. 

What I learned on this expedition was the connection that I as a mountaineer share with our military vets. It was a chance to get out, to be this 'Band of Brothers', if you will, in a non-combat situation. We still need communication, trust and reliance as a team to achieve our goals.

For the Vets it was a chance to relate to each other in a non-combat situation and to understand what they had been through. Having lost friends in the mountains, there was a certain simpatico between soldiers and what I do. Thanks to my attention to detail, my getting up early and making sure people were caffeinated the team they gave the honorary nickname of Sergeant Major.  Sergeant Majors motivate the troops and stand out front and inspire team.  “Don't worry. The situation is crazy but you will be fine.”

I hope that vets who have served will look to the wilderness - camping out with their fellow vets and citizens - to rejuvenate their souls, to understand the land that they put their life on the line to defend, and walk away from it with a greater connection to the outdoors. I’m looking forward to our next expedition.

 

Apr 03 | Get Out, Give Back: Join PlanetExplore for a Chance to win an American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation

By The North Face

PlanetExplore, the online community and resource for outdoor recreational activities, is offering an opportunity to win one of four American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacations.  The “Get Out, Give Back” Sweepstakes will give winners the chance to visit a national park or recreational area for a week of maintaining trails in exciting and diverse locations across the country.

Beginning today through May 28, become a member of PlanetExplore through The North Face Facebook page and be entered for a chance to win one of the following volunteer vacations for two, a $500 gift card to The North Face and a full year membership to the American Hiking Society.

For more information or to enter to win one of the following four American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacations, visit the Planet Explore Facebook tab. New members who share the “Get Out, Give Back” Sweepstakes with friends will earn up to three additional entries.

Yosemite National Park, CA

6/24/12 – 6/30/121

Strenuous, Backpacking

 

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, CA

8/7/12 – 8/12/12

Strenuous, Day Hiking

 

Iao Valley State Park, HI

8/19/12 – 8/25/12

Moderate, Day Hiking

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC

9/30/12 – 10/6/12

Moderate, Day Hiking

 

“Volunteer Vacations” are trail-building projects on America’s public lands and include meals, park/campground entry fees and backcountry permit fees (as applicable) in conjunction with project activities.

 

 

Jan 30 | TNF Sustainability ambassador james balog on the continued success of feature film chasing ice

By The North Face

Whew! The wild ride continues. “Chasing Ice” continues to show to sellout crowds and standing ovations. The insight into climate change provided by the film has been inspiring and uplifting for the audience—and for those of us in the field and creative teams, seeing our handiwork on the big screen is FANTASTIC!

As of today, the film has shown seven times, with one more screening tomorrow. New friends, passionate about the cause and the art, grow out of every presentation. At one special screening for 350 high students, a poll showed that essentially ALL of them left the auditorium with a profound understanding of how real climate change is.

Hollywood Reporter gave us a terrific, thoughtful, well-written  review: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/chasing-ice-sundance-film-review-284913.

 

Team members left to right: Adam LeWinter, Dr. Tad Pfeffer, James Balog (with one of our time-lapse camera boxes), film director Jeff Orlowski, Svavar Jonatonsson.

To learn more about The North Face's sustainability efforts and ambassador James Balog please visit http://expeditionsustainability.com/