high altitude clothing and gear from Trek Kit
At Rest Camp that night temperatures hit the -10°C level. My experience in Sikkim is that there is a high humidity level even at altitude and when you combine the humidity with the cold the bite is intense. Out team of 15 was well equipped. We had top tier tents, thermals and down jacks used for high altitude pursuits. Every day on the trek an advance team would head to camp and set up the dining tent. It was a critical safeguard if the weather were to break.
siniolchu mountain in Sikkim Himalayas
The next morning we rose to possibly the most mesmerising sight I have ever seen of a mountain. We were looking at Siniolchu 6888 meters. Douglas Freshfield, an explorer of the Sikkim Himalaya described Siniolchu as, ‘‘the most superb triumph of mountain architecture and the most beautiful snow mountain in the world”. All of us on the team strongly endorsed that view.
The excitement continued as we made our way towards Green Lake. We were aware that over the years Green Lake had dried up but what certainly had not dried up was the view we were gaining. We were surrounded by multiple peaks but standing tall, standing broad was the Kanchenjunga Massif. In the back of my mind I was now thanking the Lachen porters and the lack of infrastructure. We were the only people at the base of an iconic peak, the 3rd highest in the world.
This time around we were seeing the full face and both the shoulders of the peak. Being statically inclined I was trying to assess what we were seeing. The Zemu Glacier was at a height of 4500m and the main peak was towing 4000m above us, a massive height gain. Additionally based on estimates the width of the Massif was about 5km. That’s an exceedingly large expanse of a mountain both in terms of width and height. I was pleased that I had the opportunity to experience this grand setting.
The connection of the people of Sikkim with the mountain is so deep-rooted and strong that the state government took a decision in the year 2000 to stop any climbing of Kanchenjunga from the Sikkim route. As I soaked in a final glance of Kanchenjunga on the way home I felt in agreement with the Sikkim government’s decision and sentiment. It’s best that the Sacred Summit is left undisturbed.
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Recreating in the mountains has become wildly popular over the last several years. One thing that most people who are new to spending time in the mountains overlook is the importance of wearing the appropriate clothing.
Weather changes quickly at altitude, so if you’re going hiking, climbing, or mountaineering, you’ll definitely want to be prepared for anything!
Even during the summer, the weather can turn quickly. It has been known to snow in June in certain elevations! As a savvy traveler one should do some research into the weather conditions of your destination so that you bring the correct layers which will sustain those conditions. This will also ensure that you travel light and don’t end up taking excess baggage.
So, to be prepared for your next trip to the mountains, be sure to wear plenty of layers. At a minimum, you want to be sure to bring along:
These three layers will allow you to comfortably and safely go into the mountains with the confidence that you can take any weather you encounter. But are all fabrics and layers equal? Most certainly not! You definitely want to pay attention to the fabrics and quality of the outdoor sportswear you choose to bring!
Fabric choice matters when you are selecting your layering options. As a basic rule of thumb, never, and I mean never, wear cotton in a mountain environment. Cotton absorbs water and is difficult to dry. While this might sound refreshing (especially after you have spent all morning trekking up a mountain) you can lose a lot of body heat as a result of being wet.
Fabrics that are very popular for mountain environments are:
Nylon is more abrasion resistant than Polyester whereas Polyester is more hydrophobic than Nylon and both are stronger than Merino wool but merino wool provides the best temperature regulation and odor resistance hence the use of the particular fabric in specific garments is largely dependent on the desired functionality.
All of these fabrics are hydrophobic, which basically means that they don’t absorb water! When you sweat, the fabric springs into action by allowing the moisture to pass through it and shed off of your body, which keeps your skin dry!
Again, staying dry in a mountain environment is key as the temperatures can fluctuate drastically throughout the day, even during the summer!
winter sportswearSo now that we have that out of the way, what do you need to include in your layering kit for summer mountain exploration? Keep it simple and follow the layering system mentioned before! Base, middle, and outer. For some suggestions on a few products to choose from, keep on reading!
BASELAYERS
Your base layer is going to be the layer that you wear closest to your body. In non-mountainous environments, you might wear a cotton t-shirt or a tank top as a base layer. But in the mountains, you’ll want to bring something that will be sure to keep you warm when the temps dip but is also breathable to help you shed body heat and sweat during the hot parts of the day.
The Rab Mantle Tee is a good option for a summer base layer. It’s made out of polyester (which is moister wicking) and short-sleeved to keep you cool.
A great option for mountain base layer is the Rab Syncrino Merino Baselayer Tee. What makes this baselayer awesome is the material that it’s made out of: merino wool blend. Merino wool is legendary for its breathability, comfort, and odor control qualities while polyester enhances the strength and wicking properties of the fabric thereby delivering a durable product with outstanding performance.
Merino wool is made from collecting it from the Merino sheep. There are many different varieties of sheep, but the Merino has been bred specifically for its wool. Merino wool is the warmest, thinnest, and softest wool produced by sheep making it ideal for making base layers. In addition to that, since Merino wool is collected from sheep, it is a renewable source of material which means that it’s ecofriendly!
Tip: When selecting a baselayer for high intensity activity like running one should consider stronger polyester fabric whereas for a multi-day low intensity activity like hiking or backpacking one can consider merino wool as it offers better temperature regulation and is naturally antimicrobial.
Tip: When selecting a baselayer for high intensity activity like running one should consider stronger polyester fabric whereas for a multi-day low intensity activity like hiking or backpacking one can consider merino wool as it offers better temperature regulation and is naturally antimicrobial.
After you have picked the right base layer for you, it’s time to focus your energy on finding an appropriate middle layer. Middle layers are great for a few reasons.
The middle layer that you bring with you will vary based on the environment that you are going into.
Outdoor shirts offer a unique versatility; they work well as mid-layers in warmer mountain conditions and can double up as a baselayer in nippier conditions.
The Craghoppers Mens NosiLife Adventure II Insect Repellent Long-Sleeved Shirt is an excellent option for those that are venturing into the high alpine, but are worried about the amount of exposure to sun and bugs along the way. This middle layer is great because it’s made with a special moister wicking polyester blend fabric called NosiLife.
NosiLife provides wearers with excellent sun protection, which is very important to have at high altitude as the sun’s rays are harsher in thinner air than they are at sea level. In addition to sun protection, NosiLife fabric is treated with insect repellent, which helps keep disease spreading insects from biting you!
If you’re not concerned about bugs or the heat being an issue for your mountain trek, but you are worried about the changing temperatures, you won’t have far to look for an excellent option for middle layer bliss.
One of the most comfortable and warm middle layers on the market is the Rab Geon Fleece Hoody. It’s an activewear sports fleece that comes with a full-length zipper, which allows the wearer to completely control their level of warmth. Feeling cold? Zip it all the way up! Too hot? This jacket opens all the way up to provide thorough ventilation.
The Rab Geon Active Hoody is made out of polyester fleece, which provides a few benefits. It’s breathable, which helps moisture produced from sweat move away from the body. Also, fleece jackets still keep their wearers warm when they get wet. That is one of the superpowers about fleece! In fact, you could use your Rab Geon as an insulating layer if you ever decided to go on a whitewater rafting or kayaking trip, making this an extremely versatile piece of gear!
Another worthy mention is the Craghoppers range of fleeces. Made from recycled plastics they are designed for Adventure travel and wilderness excursions. Their fleeces will keep you covered in a variety of conditions and temperatures.
