Hardwear Sessions

View More Photographs of our Intrepid Young Explorer

By Joy Gray

The days were getting shorter and nights colder. The calendar was getting close to the end and there were only a few days left before the Christmas Fantasy would be gone.

If young Benjamin didn't go now, he would have to wait it out for another 12 months. He carefully put on his gear-- his Mountain Hardwear baby suit, custom made for this epic adventure by the production team at Mountain Hardwear, and his fuzzy gorilla hat and mittens. He assembled his team of sherpas, Mom and Dad, and made sure they were equally equipped in their Mountain Hardwear insulated outerwear.

Complete with diaper bag and faithful scout Bogey, they ventured out into the Berkeley Hills in search of the Christmas Fantasy. After many minutes of harrowing twists and turns through the narrow switchbacks of Kensington, the group crested a hill and saw the lights in the distance. They had arrived! The full spectacle of the Christmas Fantasy was reveled and within minutes, they were whirling through the brisk winter air atop carousel stallions. As little Benjamin clung to the ride for dear life, he wondered if he would make it back alive.

Luckily the arctic resident known as Santa Claus came to the rescue. Benjamin was warmed and reassured that he would make it home safely. The return trip was much less eventful as the group took the longer route, via noodle-bowl peak and Bev-mo falls. Thanks to Mountain Hardwear and their tremendously warm jackets, the team arrived back at base camp is good spirits with many pictures and stories to tell.