Hardwear Sessions

Ski the Himalayas, Season 2 - Out this Friday!

Ski the Himalayas Season 2 is releasing July 23rd. Explorers Ben Clark and Jon Miller return to 23,390' Baruntse for a second attempt at skiing from the summit in May 2010. The approach includes travel from the jungle of Kathmandu to the challenges of alpine climbing in the Himalayas, also providing a glimpse into Nepali and Sherpa culture. An unexpected twist sends the adventure into overdrive. View the trailer:

Ski The Himalayas Season 2 Promo HD from Ben Clark on Vimeo.

Ski the Himalayas Season 2 is 12 ten minute episodes and the followup to the widely viewed and vicarious 12 episode Season 1. Season 2 airs on TIVO, ROKU, HULU and PPV as well as online through iTUNES, YOUTUBE,VIMEO, BLIPTV, SkitheHimalayas.com and advertising/media partner websites. Ski The Himalayas will release one episode a week for twelve weeks July 23rd through October 9th. A 90 minute film will release in November, stay tuned and begin the adventure this Friday.

Jamling Norgay Carrying the Commonwealth Games Torch


Jamling Norgay carrying the "Queens Baton"

Mountain Hardwear Trekking Guide/Motivational Speaker Jamling Norgay was given the privilege to carry the Commonwealth Games Torch (The Queen's Baton) which was brought to Darjeeling on the July 18th, 2010 enroute to reach the opening ceromony of The Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on the October 3, 2010. The games will see 72 countries participating in 17 sporting events.

Commonwealth of nations, commonly known as the Commonwealth, is a group of 53 member-states, most of whom used to be a part of the British empire. The Singapore Declaration has outlined a set of common values and goals for these countries. Sports particularly popular in these countries generally form a part of the Commonwealth games and is held every 4 years and this will be the 19th edition of the game over all. Because of the World War II, the Commonwealth Games were not held in 1942 and 1946. The last games were held in Melbourne, Australia in 2006. Learn more here.

Topher Gaylord and Max King Hit the Trails in France

President of Mountain Hardwear Topher Gaylord and Montrail Athlete Max King

President of Mountain Hardwear & Montrail, Topher Gaylord and Montrail Athlete, Max King

Tour du Mont Blanc | Day 1

By Montrail Athlete Max King

Knowing how capable and tough Topher is I still thought he was crazy when I heard his plan was to arrive in Chamonix at 11pm the night before we were to start our adventure. The crew picked him up at his hotel at 7am looking fresh as a daisy... or the president of a world wide brand that needs to be "on" 24/7. I liked his enthusiam. As most of you know, running is unique in that it gives back more energy to the body than it takes out, but Topher is unique. There are few people that I've met that can maintain that kind of spark through situations with obvious fatigue. This morning was no exception. We had an hour drive around to Les Contamines but got started on the trail by 9am. Traveling quickly we crossed the valley and made our way up to tree line around 6,000ft up though the dense alpine forest. One up to the bowl below the Col we were greeted with green European pastures, sweeping views of the valley we climbed up from, and a few homes dotting the hillsides the trail passes by. We'd climbed about 1500ft and still had about 2500 to go before the top but we were fresh this morning and traveling well. Putting our heads down (metaphorically of course, I couldn't take my eyes off the vast mountain hillsides and expansive views) we crested the top, took some pics, and headed down the other side.

Topher Gaylord Tour du Mont Blanc

Mountain Hardwear & Montrail President Topher Gaylord

One aspect of the European trails that was evident pretty quickly was they never choose the easiest path just the shortest path. Just like the trail up the mountain, the trail going down was straight down, none of this wishy-washy switchbacky stuff, the trail gets to where it needs to be in a straight line. They decided to forgo saving joints for saving a bit of time when they made the trails here. Needless to say we made pretty quick work of a 2500ft decent. Topher and I hit the hut at the bottom and while he ordered some butter sandwiches with a little ham and cheese, I went back up to make sure the others were on the right track. As the token sponsored athlete I assumed the responsibility of keeping track of everyone and making sure they had what they needed and remained in good spirits. The last thing you want is for someone writing a story about their experience to have a bad one to write about. Keeping a positive feel and outlook to the adventure makes a huge difference in the perception of the trip in the days and weeks afterward. Of course adventures like this are supposed to be difficult, a chance to challenge yourself, and find your limits while keeping it enjoyable and rewarding for everyone involved. And you don't want to lose anyone, that will definitely put a damper on the trip.

Continue reading "Topher Gaylord and Max King Hit the Trails in France " »

Climbing, Camping, Music & Conservation

Mountain Hardwear is a proud sponsor of one of the greenest and most innovative festivals in New England, the 2010 Nor'easter is coming to Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire this September 24-26. Climbing Competitions, Clinics and Music!

View the slideshow/video.

Matt Moniz in Route to Hawaii for Final High Point

50 in 50 50 43 Days?!?

Mountain Hardwear just received a call from the Moniz family as their plane prepared for take-off at LAX. By mid-day Hawaiian time, Matt Moniz and family will land in Kona and head to Mauna Kea, the highest point in the state of Hawaii. If all goes as planned, Matt and his team will beat the standing record of reaching the highest point of each state, which is 45 days, 19 hours and 2 minutes, set by Mike Haugen in 2008.

On Wednesday, American alpinist Charlie Mace, joined Matt and the team to climb #49, Montana's 12,807 foot Granite Peak. They climbed the West Rosebud Route which, due to the late spring in the Rockies, included a fair amount of technical snow work. The team reported that Granite was their most difficult climb of the lower 48. "I have two overriding images of my time with Matt," reported Charlie, "his killer smile and the back of his pack as he raced ahead of me."


Mike, Matt Moniz and Charlie Mace	Matt Moniz

To follow Matt's final summit bid on Mauna Kea, visit Climb7. Click here to read the previous Hardwear Sessions post on Matt's adventure.

New Summer Camping Gear

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Alpamayo - First Blind Ascent

By Blind Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer

Alpamayo

Alpamayo Expedition | Photo Eric Alexander

Alpamayo is a mountain that pulls at the heartstrings of all climbers. Even though I can't see it, I know that it is one of the world's most beautiful mountains. Anyone with a sense of adventure who does see its dramatic southwest face can't help but imagine following the natural lines to the summit. I've been thinking about this mountain for years and finally made it happen.

I rounded up my good friend, Eric Alexander, and we flew to Lima, Peru. At the airport, we were surprised by our local guide, Rodrigo Callupe, who had made all the arrangements for our lodging and transportation. If fact, throughout the trip Rodrigo did an outstanding job of taking care of us.

Soon we were in the gateway city of Huaraz, exploring some Incan ruins and allowing our bodies to start acclimatizing to the 10,000 foot altitude. But we weren't here to sightsee so we quickly moved on to the village of Quechapampa where the trail begins.

From the trailhead, it takes two days of hiking to reach base camp. I have to say that this stretch is pretty disgusting. The scenery is spectacular but the uncontrolled grazing of cattle has destroyed the valley bottom and left stinky landmines everywhere. This isn't a trek to do unless you are a climber heading to Alpamayo, which is a shame.

Once we reached base camp at 14,500 feet, Eric and I were anxious to get started on the climb. Our goal was the French Direct, a route that was first climbed in 1980 by a pair of Americans yet named after a pair of Frenchmen were killed on the third ascent. Normally climbers take a few days to acclimatize but we decided to push the schedule...and would later pay the price. We established a camp at the end of the moraine, roughly at 16,000 feet.

Erik Weihenmayer, Blind Adventurer

Erik Weihenmayer, Blind Adventurer on Alpamayo

Alpamayo Expedition | Photos Eric Alexander

From this intermediary camp, we climbed the lower part of the glacier to the col at 18,200 where we established our high camp. I was already starting to feel the effects of the cattle-tainted water (at these altitudes, boiling isn't very effective) and the thin air didn't help either. The weather was a bit dubious as well, with rain and snow in the afternoons.

Despite these adversities, we woke at 1:30 AM and started the climb with six inches of fresh snow on the ground...

Continue reading "Alpamayo - First Blind Ascent" »

Matt Moniz - 48 Down, Two to Go

Matt and Mike

Mountain Hardwear Athlete, Matt and Mike Moniz on Rainier, WA

Just under six weeks ago, on June 3rd , Matt Moniz , a 12-year-old middle schooler from Boulder, Colorado, summited 20,320 ft., Denali, the highest peak in North American and the U.S. It was then that he and his father, Mike Moniz, announced their goal to reach each state's highest point in the span of 50 days. 50 Peaks, 50 States, 50 Days. In addition to wanting to 'do something rewarding together', the father and son team planned to use their summer adventure to raise awareness for a rare illness, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which Matt's best friend has.

Matt, an Outdoor Nation ambassador, also wanted to inspire other kids to get outdoors. Outdoornation.org However, with Rainier and Mount Hood, the two ominous west coast volcanoes, successfully accomplished on July 2nd and 4th, and only two more peaks remaining as of day 40, it's possible the team could break the standing highpoint record of 45 days, 19 hours and 2 minute, set by Mike Haugen in 2008.

Matt, Mike and support team are currently in Billings, Montana, preparing for their 49th high point, the state's Granite Peak. Once they accomplish that, they will fly to Hawaii and hit the trail for the rim of Mauna Kea, their last peak, hopefully before the week is out!

Over the weekend, Matt and Mike were featured in this ABC Denver Channel 7 news piece theDenverChannel.com. For more information on Matt's climb and his fundraising efforts for PAH, visit: Climb7.com

Ueli Steck Honoured with Karl Unterkricher Award 2010

Extreme alpinist Karl Unterkircher was killed on July 15, 2008 during his expedition on Nanga Parbat. Friends, colleagues and relatives decided to set up a prize in honour of Karl Unterkircher. The "Karl Unterkircher Award" has been given away for the first time during a public event on Friday and Saturday, July 9 and 10, 2010 in Gröden / South Tirol (Italy). Mountain Hardwear Athlete, Ueli Steck was honoured with the Karl Unterkricher Award 2010, which was given away this year for the first time.

Ueli Steck was honoured with the Karl Unterkircher Award for his extraordinary polyvalent alpinistic performances during 2009 for: Speed ascent of Matterhorn Northface in 1 hour and 56 min. on January 13, Golden Gate route (8a) on El Capitan in May, Ascent of Gasherbrum II (8035m) on July 9 such as the ascent on Makalu (8463) on September 24.

More information about the event go to: KarlunterKircher.com

Ski The Himalayas, Season 2 on iTune 7/23

Ski the Himalayas Season 2

Explorers Ben Clark and Jon Miller return to 23,390' Baruntse for a second attempt at skiing from the summit. The approach includes travel from the jungle of Kathmandu to the challenges of alpine climbing in the Himalayas, also providing a glimpse into Nepali and Sherpa culture. An unexpected twist sends the adventure into overdrive.

Ski The Himalayas Season 2 is releasing July 23rd. 12 ten minute episodes, releasing one episode a week for twelve weeks. Viewers will be able to view low res video online for free or an HD version will be available from iTUNES for purchase at $3.

Ski the Himalayas Trailer

Ski The Himalayas Season 2 Promo HD from Ben Clark.

MH Appears on "Gear of the Half-Year"

By Stephen Redenold from gearjunkie.com

Each year, I test dozens of outdoors products for GearJunkie.com, Outside magazine online, and a network of newspapers that syndicate my column. The gear included are items from boats and bikes to tents, gadgets, apparel, and trail-running shoes. At the end of the year, my annual "Top 10 Gear Picks" article highlights and awards 10 products as the best-of-the-best items I've used over the year.

Well, it's halfway through the year now, and after some major adventures and accompanying gear tests in places like Chile, Nepal, and Iceland, I have a few favorite things already. These products below are candidates for the 2010 "Top 10" awards. I am still testing them -- no decision is final until the year's end. But this is a preview of what I like so far. If nothing else, these products deserve some attention. They are some of the best gear on the outdoors market today.

Mountain Hardware Ultralamina 32. If you need a light, packable, and warm sleeping bag, the Ultralamina is hard to beat. I crashed out in this synthetic-insulation bag in temps down slightly below freezing and was warm (with a jacket and layers on, too). It weighs a scant 31 ounces and stuffs into a tiny sack the size of a small cantaloupe.

Expedition News

Matthew Moniz on Mt Hood

Matthew Moniz on Mt Hood, Climb7 Blog | Photo Courtesey of Sarah Hassell

Pre-Teen Climbs America's Highpoints - On June 19, Mountain Hardwear introduced 12-year-old Boulder, Colo., climber Matthew Moniz to outdoor media assembled in Central Park at the Adventures NYC day sponsored in part by Backpacker Magazine.

Moniz hopes to climb the 50 U.S. highpoints in 43 days, thus besting current record holder Mike Haugen who during a Coleman-sponsored project in 2008, broke the highpoint record with partner Casey Grom in 45 days, 19 hours and 2 minutes.

Speeding the Climb7 team along is a donated Cessna airplane and a Mercedes Sprinter van with a bed and three volunteer drivers. Joel Gratz of ColoradoPowderForecast.com is providing microweather forecasting.

"We're not pursuing age records here," says Moniz's father, Mike. "In fact, he's not going to be climbing any 8000 meter peaks until he's an adult." The younger Moniz tells EN that the Climb7 Project is about exploring the country and inspiring kids to get outdoors. He also hopes to raise money in honor of his best friend, Iain Hess, who suffers from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. PAH symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness similar to the symptoms of pulmonary edema commonly experienced by mountain climbers at high elevations. Last summer, Matt and his team climbed 14 of Colorado's famed 14,000-foot peaks in just eight days, ultimately raising $20,000 for PAH research.

Says his father, "We're drawing attention to a serious orphan disease, and so we don't consider this a failure if we complete it in over 50 days." By press time (July 6), they had completed 45 out of 50 climbs in just 30 days. Mike Moniz emails EN, "Yes, we have five peaks left... Kings (UT), Gannett Peak (Wyo.), Granite Peak (Mont.), Borah Peak (Idaho), then Hawaii for the last peak (Mauna Kea). Weather has been a bear for us but looks like a good run of weather for the next seven days."

Matthew Moniz and Ian Hess, who suffers from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

"This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life."

- Unknown for My Friend Ian Hess

Learn more about Matt and his Expedition on his website: Climb7
Watch Matt Moniz, Iain Hess and Mike Moniz on the (2009) CBS Early Show here.

Continue reading "Expedition News" »

Paddling from Seattle to San Diego

This summer, Margo Pellegrino is paddling her outrigger canoe from Seattle to San Diego with her plan to call out for healthy oceans and her hope to inspire people along the way to take action. The Pacific Coast Paddle is her fourth major expedition in as many years. She'll be visiting communities and speaking about what it takes to heal them.

Margo Pellegrino

Why The Paddle? by Margo Pellegrino

This coastal paddling journey is my way to call attention to the need for healthy oceans. An effective public education campaign is critical for advancing strong ocean policy. We need to ensure that healthy oceans policy is buoyed from what legislators hear from their constituents. As a project of the Blue Frontier Campaign, what I am planning to accomplish is speaking out for the oceans.

oilspill

While not everything thing we do, every decision we make or action we take carries the weight of the world upon it, it does carry a lot more than most people think it does. Every one of us is also a living example for everyone else around us - and none moreso than the children around us.

Please follow my journey here as I'll be uploading blogs, photos and videos of the story of my adventure and others who become part of it along the way.

Track Margo

Pacific Paddle flyer.pdf

As for the goods: Margo packed lightweight gear to fit in her kayak, the Women's Phantom 15 sleeping bag and Skyledge 3 tent.

Superlight Mountain Hardwear Gear

The Skyledge 3 is a very roomy, freestanding, three season tent designed for the serious backcountry user. A mesh and ripstop canopy provides both weather protection and privacy in a lightweight package. Two side doors with large vestibules provide ample gear storage.

Women's Phantom 15°, Designed to be warm and as light as possible, the Phantom™ 15 is a great all-around choice for colder conditions. This light, warm mummy cut bag has a snug fit and is an ideal choice if you only want one bag. The Phantom 15 is insulated with 800-fill down, tuck-stitched for durability and built from Superlight 15 denier fabric.

*Phantom is a popular item and unfortunately we didn't have one on hand to send Margo. Instead she will be using the Spectre. It's an 800 fill power expedition down bag. Welded waterproof shell and taped stuff sack. In case Margo needs to put it on the boat- it's not a bad choice and it can do an exposed bivy in a pinch.

- Chris Hilliard, Product Manager

The Untold Story Tragedy and True Heroism on K2

Freddie Wilkinson's book

Freddie Wilkinson's Book is now available online here.

Freddie Wilkinson's book is officially out today! There will be a book signing tour throughout the summer and fall. View the schedule on Freddie's website, TheNamelessCreature.com.

In the early morning hours of August 1st, 2008, more than three dozen men readied in the starry darkness for their final ascent to the summit of K2, the world's second highest mountain. In little more than 24 hours, 11 climbers would be dead. News of the K2 catastrophe rocketed through the international media. The annals of high altitude mountaineering are filled with stories of storm and slaughter - but this tragedy occurred in perfect weather, under bright, windless skies. What happened? How had the mountain killed so many, so quickly?

Freddie Wilkinson, a veteran alpinist and mountaineering scribe, closely examines the mysterious tragedy that cost the lives of 11 men on the unforgiving K2, the world's second highest mountain, on August 2008, in his new book. Interviewing not only the survivors and the families of the victims but the heroic Sherpa guides in Nepal, he gives the daunting legacy of the challenging terrain and a blow-byblow account, with clinical accuracy and detail, of the disaster that nearly wiped out the international climbing team. Wilkinson also describes what makes an experienced climber challenge himself to risk death using his technical skills, endurance, and mental stamina while battling bone-chilling cold, altitude sickness, and avalanches. In this powerful rendering of a well-publicized grim event, there is so much said about the courage and heroism of the climbers braving these geological wonders and the media's silence over the neglected native saviors. Available online.

A slight change of plans...

By Patricia Deavoll, Expedition Sponsorship Recipient

India is mad! Not bedlam mad, or bloodthirsty mad, or nuclear holocaust mad...but mad in a riotous, raucous, blindingly colourful way that distinguishes it from any other nation on earth. Nowhere else do you find such contrast, such anomaly between religion, ethnicity, lifestyle or culture as you do in India. Nor do you find such inconsistency in bureaucracy, timeliness or officialdom. This in itself has a charm... until you have to deal with it yourself!

In 2004 Malcolm Bass and I, plus three other climbers from the UK and New Zealand, made an attempt on the first ascent of Jankuth (6805m) in the Indian Garhwal. We failed, for a variety of reasons. In 2007 Bruce Norman and I applied for a permit to give the mountain another go. In the interim the Uttaranchal State Government decided to get in on the act and charge a fee for the Garhwal peaks. The Indian Mountaineering Federation promptly and efficiently issued our permit, but the State Government would not, giving the reason, "It is not on our LIST of peaks, madam!" In a huff, we went and climbed something else.

Late 2009. Thinking that the Uttaranchal State Government would have softened, Malcolm and I applied again for a permit for the peak. Not a chance. After diplomatically battling for eight months, we conceded defeat, only to stumble across an entry on Facebook of an Indian/ USA team leaving June 20th for Jankuth! "Irritated" falls short of summarising our feelings!

Vasuki Parbat

West face of Vasuki Parbat (6792m). The Fowler/ Ramsden line takes the buttress right of centre with a snow exit. They reached a point just below the main snow slope below the exit.

However, our Plan B is equally exciting. The huge, steep and very cold West Face of Vasuki Parbat (6792m), attempted two years ago by Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden. There is a very entertaining account of the climb in the 2009 Alpine Journal. It's the lead article. The pair arrived at Base Camp the same time as winter, and heavy snow put pay to an effective acclimatisation period. They came down after a week on the face, suffering the vicious effects of cold and altitude. Fortunately Malcolm and I will have an extra two weeks on Mick and Paul. Meaning we'll have time to do some good solid, and no doubt miserable, acclimatising somewhere above BC.

I hope I haven't done India an injustice. As a mountaineering nation, it tends to draw the short straw. It's been the poor sister to Nepal and Pakistan since the advent of Himalayan climbing. The Indian Himalaya, with some of the most breathtaking peaks on earth, has been relegated to second best for no other reason than that its mountains fail to meet that magic 8000m mark. So what! Even on the well known peaks like Shivling and the Bagarathis' there is every chance you'll have the mountain to yourself. Just be prepared to spend a bit of time in the organizational phase!

MH is a Proud Sponsor of Team Montrail & WS100

Mountain Hardwear Sponsoring Montrail & WS100

Mountain Hardwear is excited to be a sponsor for athletes that take it to the next level. On Saturday June 26th, the ultrarunning world will make a pilgrimage to Squaw Valley, California for the start of the 37th annual Western States Endurance Run, a 100 mile trail running race from Squaw Valley to Auburn. This is the oldest and most presitigious 100-mile race in the country, and this year the competition is stronger than ever in the both the men's and women's field. Run begins at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday at the west end of Squaw Valley. Runners must reach the finish line no later than 11:00 a.m. the following day in order to be eligible for an award. Top racer will cross the finish line around 9 or 10 p.m - INSANE!!

WS100

100 mile trail running race from Squaw Valley to Auburn

Team Montrail has a very solid and experienced group of athletes racing Western States 100. Follow along with Team Montrail and all the other racers at the Western States 100 LIVE webcast. View Montrail's Team Blog and connect with the Montrail Facebook Page to talk about training, pre-race nutrition... prompt any topic you like. The Montrail fans are enthusiastic about the sport and love to share muddy stories.

The Montrail Team Members that will be competing this year are:


Geoff Roes #11	Joelle Vaught #44	Ryne Melcher #25	Luanne Park #26

Jill Perry #17	Gary Robbins #23	Erik Skaden #M8	Annette Bednosky #28

Ben Clark Home With A Broken Ankle

An early summer update by Mountain Hardwear Alpine Explorer, Ben Clark

High and wild my eyes are always beaming. I see them while glancing at my oversized monitor editing between rough cuts of video footage.My gaze is stuck on the hours of Himalayan aerials, high altitude exposure and trekking in the finest mountains I know. The dream trip...well of spring 2010, set in the mountains of Nepal at the foot of 23,390' Baruntse

That was then, about 7 weeks ago. Today, I feel a little bit different about the scale of those jagged highpoints. My distance has been lifted week by week by surgeons, physical therapists and the loving care of my wife. Even our moody dog has forgiven me for coming home. With crutches. She hates crutches.

On May 1st, I broke my ankle at 17,600' in Nepal. I was on my out of basecamp to complete a project on 23,390' Baruntse, climbing and skiing it. No analogy sums it up as well as one I heard in Kathmandu after my arrival and treatment for the class 2 sprain and fracture in my Talus bone. A Hindi man offered me this stirring tale, one I will share. He explained that there is a sacrifice that involves a goat, two weeks of pampering for the goat and then a moment of bliss...a sweet is given to the goat as he stands on an alter surrounded by well wishers. At the end of the two weeks of pampering, as the goat chews the sweet while standing on the alter, a blade serates his neck and sacrifices his life at the highest moment of satisfaction.

I don't know, leaving basecamp to go and ski after the great times I had with my partner Jon Miller on the upper mountain and braking my ankle 100 paces out of camp was certainly abrupt, but nowhere near the height of religious. Of course, then maybe he thought I was as stupid as the goat to be sucked in by the mountain in the same way. Seduced by it's offering of the highest moment of physical satisfaction, taking sweet turns on skis after swinging ice tools on a high mountain we had to ourselves. High stakes decadence in todays marvelous times. I took a risk and I got popped...by tripping myself, no one to blame. Hmmph...

Continue reading "Ben Clark Home With A Broken Ankle" »

Women's Climbing Gear

Climbers Dawn Glanc and Julia Niles roping up in Kalymnos Greece. Click on the product images below to learn why these Mountain Hardwear pieces are meant for the rocks.

Women's climbing gear


"I lived in the Tonga Hoody for the past month. The light cotton is comfortable and not too bulky when you stash it in the pack. The zipper pockets are great for ensuring that you won't lose the things that go in there. And the hood fits well and adds extra warmth when the sun goes down and you're still at the crag." - Julia Niles	"I love the Placement Halter top! It fits well, flatters, and can be worn for athletic or stylish purposes. This is great for going to those high end yoga classes - you'll outdo them all!" - Julia Niles	"This tank is great for climbing and for aerobic activity. It is quick to dry after making long approaches. The fabric keeps me cool and feels great against the skin on hot humid days." - Dawn Glanc

"The High Step Judo pant is my new favorite short. They come just over the knee so they protect the knee without getting too hot. I really like the mini zipper pocket. It is just big enough so that you can stick a credit card or lip balm in there if you are going on a shorter trip and don't want to bring a pack." - Julia Niles	"These pants were great for climbing in Greece. The fabric is quick drying and feels very light. The pants held up well against abrasion. I wore them while climbing the tufas on the island of Kalymnos. They protected my legs as I knee barred and wrapped my legs around the hanging tufas." - Dawn Glanc	"The Petra short is great for climbing. The length is perfect. It fits well under my climbing harness, and the legs do not ride up." - Dawn Glanc

MH Announces 1st Youth Athlete: Matt Moniz

Mountain Hardwear Athlete Matt Moniz

Mountain Hardwear Athlete Matt Moniz

12-year old alpinist, Matt Moniz summits Denali, Whitney and Elbert to raise money and awareness for best friend's illness
Matt Moniz is the newest and youngest alpinist on the Mountain Hardwear Athlete Team. This 12-year-old from Boulder, CO has an impressive climbing resume with Denali, Mt. Whitney and Mt. Elbert as his most recent accomplishments. But his climbing serves a greater goal: to raise funds and awareness for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.

At age twelve, Matt Moniz is a passionate and naturally skilled alpinist having climbed to Mt. Everest Base Camp and summited Cerro Aconcagua, Mt. Elbrus, and Mt. Kilimanjaro. Most recently, Matt summited a tall trio of North American peaks in just eight days. On June 3rd, he summited Mt. McKinley (Denali at 20,320 ft., the highest peak in North America), Mt. Whitney on June 8th (14,505 ft., highest in the contiguous U.S.), and Mt. Elbert (14,443 ft., the 2nd highest in the lower 48) on June 11th. He was in the company of his favorite climbing partner and father, Mike Moniz, and their hand-picked crew.

But Matt isn't your average mountain climber or your average kid. "Matt has impressed us on every level, as an athlete, an alpinist and as a kid with a really big heart," said Chris Strasser, Mountain Hardwear's athlete and promotions manager. "He climbs for a bigger purpose."

Shortly after summiting Cerro Aconcagua in 2008, and the youngest person to do so, Matt started getting a lot of attention from media and the climbing community. Shortly thereafter, his dad told him, "Heroes are those who help others." It was then he decided to start climbing for a purpose, and that purpose was his best friend Iain Hess who suffers from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. "I thought about the shortness of breath you feel when climbing a big mountain, and how it is exactly how Iain feels everyday of his life," said Matt. PAH symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness similar to the symptoms of pulmonary edema commonly experienced by mountain climbers at high elevations.

In July 2009, Matt launched an expedition to climb fourteen of Colorado's famed 14,000 foot peaks in fourteen days ultimately raising $20,000 dollars for PAH research through the Iain Hess Breath Easy Fund. Matt and his team successfully summited each of the fourteen peaks in just eight days. They covered a total of 36,846 vertical feet and 65 miles bringing national attention to this rare and little-understood disease. Mountain Hardwear contributed $1000 to the fund by sponsoring Matt's ascent of Mount Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado.

Matthew Moniz and Cam Dudiak

Matt (right) and friend Cam Dudiak on Mt. Elbert, June 11, 2010

Mountain Hardwear is thrilled to support Matt in his high alpine adventures and honored to have such an exceptional young man on the Mountain Hardwear Athlete Team. For more information about Matt, his expeditions and his fundraising efforts for PAH, please visit: MountainHardwear.com, Climb7.com or http://climb7.com/Blog/.

Matt also serves as an Outdoor Nation Ambassador working to empower youth to reclaim, redefine and rediscover the outdoors. He will be attending Outdoor Nation's Youth Summit in New York City on June 19-20, 2010.

Ueli's Attempt to Beat the El Cap Record

By Patricia Bamert, from the office of Ueli Steck

Current Record: 2:37:05 Set on 10/8/09 by Hans Florine and Yuji Hirayama
Monday, 07 June 2010 at 08:37 clock

After three hours and 45 minutes we are on top of El Cap. Everything went well and we are thrilled. Now it is slow at the details. We need to rehearse the various climbing, to get even faster. On Thursday, 3rd June 2010, we get one again. Everything is running perfectly. Again, there are a few details that we can improve. But then underneath the El Cap Towers I slip out. I tried to climb quickly and it also took the risk of slipping into account. Between me and Alex were two intermediate save. I fly 25 yards through the air before me catches the rope. It was a long fall, bruises and some abrasions with the result.

We were pretty fast. Alex and I have reached a point that is efficient and still very secure. As of now it's about the individual passages to climb more optimally, and to learn by heart. It is very route specific. Something that brings me eingentlich for big alpine walls, not much. In addition, the risk of injury is relatively high.

There is another piece of the puzzle for me and for Alex. Solo Speed Records, endurance training, 8000 Summit, Freikletterrouten, etc., etc. Learning the techniques of speed climbing Yosemite helps me further. To break the record, it means a great effort. The last record by Yuji Hirayama and Hans Florine is the result of a prolonged training on the route. Hans Florine climbed the Nose at least 82 times I am looking for my challenge to the big mountains in the Himalayas. But I can adapt the techniques of Yosemite. I must, however, limited to one goal. Much more can Alex and I do not the "Nose" in this short time. We will now devote more other routes in Yosemite National Park, Alex has his projects and I have mine. We will support you. Let's see what this is all still about.

El Cap: Route Free Rider
On Monday, June 7th, along with our sleeping bags we headed up to the so-called El Cap Spire. We spent a cozy night on the unique tower 500 feet above the trees in the valley. How beautiful it is up here. I'm happy: the so-called monster Offwith is already behind us. This notorious pitch last year I have already climbed free. The route runs from the Golden Gate El Cap Spire on the same route as free riders. For fear of the heat we started already at 6 clock in the morning. Now is noon, and we treat Bagels and Cheese. For today, we should be realistically achievable on us. We spend the night here.

On Tuesday June 8th it starts relatively early. We actually have enough time. Only just 11 pitches separate us from the summit. The hard granite is not really without a mat to sleep. So we quickly climb out of bed at 7 and again at the clock. The first key passage is waiting for pitch number 23 on me. The Boulderseillänge. A vertical plate with tiny bars and kicks. The main difficulty is a pincer grip, which I straining on the shoulder needs to take to push my left foot on the opposite wall of an intersection can. If the foot is pressed, I need to grab with my hand on the same level in the gap, only to pull my whole body weight on this left foot. Then it goes straight up through the Rissverschneidung. Actually, this pincer movement was relatively large. But last year a part of the handle is broken off. Now you need some more power and the individual train in the intersection is harder than the first ascent. With the pitch still succeed right away, and the relatively loose. Just as I have my memory a week ago: handle for grip. Alex rises and we continue to climb. This year is very much wet, making it difficult to climb further. In the second Schlüsselseillänge I must surrender first. I slip and fall into the intersection of the wet rope. After this fall I climb on to the next stand. Alex lets me down again at the beginning of the pitch. And I use my T-shirt to the grips slightly wet to dry. Perhaps it would help even a little bit. I pull on the rope and make a 15 minute break and start to pitch again. This time it's better. I can hold the wet grips and no longer slip. Thus, the last difficult pitch is climbed. The rest is routine and I am shortly before my second route, which I could climb on El Cap free. It's pretty exactly 14 clock as we stand on the summit plateau.

Free Rider is the second route, which I was able to climb free. For me a perfect trip is coming to an end.

Photo Courtsey of Ueli Steck

>>Read more of Ueli's stories here.

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