Read the full review on Sam Winebaum's Blog.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Julbo Donates 100 pairs of Kid's Sunglasses to "Eyes of Love" Project in Mississippi
Julbo donated 100 pairs of children sunglasses to the Oak Grove Upper Elementary School for their "Eyes for Love" Project for less fortunate children without sunglasses protection. We just received a nice note from the Principal of the school as the project kicks off. More to come soon! But for now we thought we would share this kind note:
Thank you so much for your donation of sunglasses to our "Eyes of Love" campaign that is currently being sponsored by our student council. We are so thrilled that you chose to be a part of our project. You glasses arrived the morning of the meeting to announce the campaign, what perfect timing. We have had great media coverage. Miss Teen Mississippi came and spoke to our students on Thursday. She stated that she have received many pairs of adult glasses, but very few pairs of children's glasses. Your donation is awesome and so much appreciated.
We strive at our school to teach our 4th and 5th graders the importance of giving to those less fortunate. What a great example you have set for our students. As soon as the article appears in the paper, I will send you a copy.
Thanks again for your generosity.
Donna Rigel, Principal
Oak Grove Upper Elementary
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Thank you so much for your donation of sunglasses to our "Eyes of Love" campaign that is currently being sponsored by our student council. We are so thrilled that you chose to be a part of our project. You glasses arrived the morning of the meeting to announce the campaign, what perfect timing. We have had great media coverage. Miss Teen Mississippi came and spoke to our students on Thursday. She stated that she have received many pairs of adult glasses, but very few pairs of children's glasses. Your donation is awesome and so much appreciated.
We strive at our school to teach our 4th and 5th graders the importance of giving to those less fortunate. What a great example you have set for our students. As soon as the article appears in the paper, I will send you a copy.
Thanks again for your generosity.
Donna Rigel, Principal
Oak Grove Upper Elementary
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Monday, January 24, 2011
Glen Plake Announces the top Finalists of the Julbo Glen Session at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011
Check it out to find out if you are a winner!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Next on your outdoor pursuits’ list: ice climbing? Well, if it’s not, it should be
Ten years ago I had my first ice-climbing experience on Fox Glacier in Southern New Zealand. http://www.foxguides.co.nz/iceclimbing.asp I was a bit intimidated at first, but thanks to my super enthusiastic instructor (once I figured out that by “eee-ges,” she meant, “edges”), I learned lots of helpful tips and was stoked on the sport. One thing I liked was the fact that your axes make the holds and don’t have to find them like you do on rock. And once you learn to “trust” your equipment, you can feel like Spiderman on a rescue mission in the exotic Arctic locales of the world. OK – maybe not, but it’s a helluva lot of fun.
Clint Cook, owner/lead guide at San Juan Mountain Guides out of Ouray, Colorado gives us the scoop on getting started.
How long have you been ice-climbing and guiding ice climbers?
I’ve been ice climbing for about 16 years and guiding in Ouray for about 10. We are the official concessionaire of the Ouray Ice Park, which is super easy to access. www.ourayicepark.com. For those wanting to get into the sport, it’s a fantastic place to learn, for sure.
Based on what you’ve seen as a guide and at the Ice Park, is ice climbing growing in popularity?
Yes. It’s been amazing to see the growth in the sport over the last 10 years. It used to be one of the wilder sides of climbing to get into; it was always kind of on the fringes of climbing. It sort of had a reputation of being punishing and difficult. But innovations in technology have made it accessible to more people. You see more of the general public out there ice climbing – more women, kids, even grandpas.
What kind of innovations?
Everything from ice tools – like axes are easier to swing, crampons are lighter and more user-friendly – to ice screws, which are easier to put in.
What do you need to get started, in gear, know-how, and attitude?
Ice climbing is one those things where there is a right way and wrong way to do it; it’s really a craft and a skill. Those who have gotten into it just by themselves and then receive some instruction wish they had before. You can make leaps and bounds in the first couple of days if you have the right guidance. As far as equipment, you need boots, crampons, harness, helmet, ice tools, and lots of warm clothes.
Which places do you recommend for ice climbing on the East and West Coasts?
On the east side of the country North Conway, New Hampshire is one of the best places to learn; it’s sort of the center for ice climbing in the Northeast. Out west, Lee Vining in California has a lot of spots with ice and some good guide services. Nothing compares to the (Ouray) Ice Park, though, just because of the sheer size of it. But outside of that, those are the better places in the country, for sure.
What about resources for those who want to learn more?
Will Gadd has an awesome ice-climbing book out, published by The Mountaineers Books. http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/productdetails.cfm?SKU=769x
– Christine Rasmussen
Clint Cook, owner/lead guide at San Juan Mountain Guides out of Ouray, Colorado gives us the scoop on getting started.
How long have you been ice-climbing and guiding ice climbers?
I’ve been ice climbing for about 16 years and guiding in Ouray for about 10. We are the official concessionaire of the Ouray Ice Park, which is super easy to access. www.ourayicepark.com. For those wanting to get into the sport, it’s a fantastic place to learn, for sure.
Based on what you’ve seen as a guide and at the Ice Park, is ice climbing growing in popularity?
Yes. It’s been amazing to see the growth in the sport over the last 10 years. It used to be one of the wilder sides of climbing to get into; it was always kind of on the fringes of climbing. It sort of had a reputation of being punishing and difficult. But innovations in technology have made it accessible to more people. You see more of the general public out there ice climbing – more women, kids, even grandpas.
What kind of innovations?
Everything from ice tools – like axes are easier to swing, crampons are lighter and more user-friendly – to ice screws, which are easier to put in.
What do you need to get started, in gear, know-how, and attitude?
Ice climbing is one those things where there is a right way and wrong way to do it; it’s really a craft and a skill. Those who have gotten into it just by themselves and then receive some instruction wish they had before. You can make leaps and bounds in the first couple of days if you have the right guidance. As far as equipment, you need boots, crampons, harness, helmet, ice tools, and lots of warm clothes.
Which places do you recommend for ice climbing on the East and West Coasts?
On the east side of the country North Conway, New Hampshire is one of the best places to learn; it’s sort of the center for ice climbing in the Northeast. Out west, Lee Vining in California has a lot of spots with ice and some good guide services. Nothing compares to the (Ouray) Ice Park, though, just because of the sheer size of it. But outside of that, those are the better places in the country, for sure.
What about resources for those who want to learn more?
Will Gadd has an awesome ice-climbing book out, published by The Mountaineers Books. http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/productdetails.cfm?SKU=769x
– Christine Rasmussen
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Want to get your climb on? Try these Julbo models .
Ice climbing is one of those sports where high-performance glasses are just plain mandatory. If you’re fogging up, squinting, or uncomfortable in your helmet because your glasses are pinching, you can’t concentrate on finding your line. And if they tumble off your head on a fall? Yikes!
In 2010 Julbo added two new models to its Mountain line, a comprehensive collection of mountaineering glasses for high-altitude and extreme conditions. The Montebianco http://www.julbousa.com/mountain/montebianco/ and Monterosa (the ladies’ version) http://www.julbousa.com/mountain/monterosa/ look so cool it’s almost hard to believe they are so technical. There aren’t many glasses in the world you can wear on an intricate icefall and then wear out shopping on the streets of New York.
Both are available with the Camel lens http://www.julbousa.com/lenses/camel/, which are photochromatic – meaning, they can lighten and darken according to the intensity of light – and polarizing, for anti-dazzle protection and high-definition vision. Bright sun on ice can be quite dazzling; the next thing you know you’re in the shadows.
The Camel can easily handle both ends of the spectrum. An anti-fog coating is essential, too, for high levels of exertion which usually translate to a sweaty head. Both have Grip Tech temples for a secure and custom fit.
For smaller faces try the ultra-stylish Whoops http://www.julbousa.com/performance/whoops/, a favorite of Julbo athlete Caroline George. The Whoops has curved, wrapping temples that will hold better with sharp, repeated movements, a feature that can be hard to find for those with petite faces. They are available in multiple lenses, yet the Zebra is Caroline’s choice: “I like the Whoops with the Zebra lens because the lens adapts to the darkness, which is key for ice climbing.”
– Christine Rasmussen
In 2010 Julbo added two new models to its Mountain line, a comprehensive collection of mountaineering glasses for high-altitude and extreme conditions. The Montebianco http://www.julbousa.com/mountain/montebianco/ and Monterosa (the ladies’ version) http://www.julbousa.com/mountain/monterosa/ look so cool it’s almost hard to believe they are so technical. There aren’t many glasses in the world you can wear on an intricate icefall and then wear out shopping on the streets of New York.
Both are available with the Camel lens http://www.julbousa.com/lenses/camel/, which are photochromatic – meaning, they can lighten and darken according to the intensity of light – and polarizing, for anti-dazzle protection and high-definition vision. Bright sun on ice can be quite dazzling; the next thing you know you’re in the shadows.
The Camel can easily handle both ends of the spectrum. An anti-fog coating is essential, too, for high levels of exertion which usually translate to a sweaty head. Both have Grip Tech temples for a secure and custom fit.
For smaller faces try the ultra-stylish Whoops http://www.julbousa.com/performance/whoops/, a favorite of Julbo athlete Caroline George. The Whoops has curved, wrapping temples that will hold better with sharp, repeated movements, a feature that can be hard to find for those with petite faces. They are available in multiple lenses, yet the Zebra is Caroline’s choice: “I like the Whoops with the Zebra lens because the lens adapts to the darkness, which is key for ice climbing.”
– Christine Rasmussen
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Julbo Headed to Salt Lake City, UT next week for Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011
If you are going to be at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011, be sure to stop by our booth and say "Hi!" Our booth number is #1001. Also, come join us and Glen Plake for a beer on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at 4:30pm for our Julbo Glen Session Happy Hour:
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Pinching herself all the way to Antarctica
Julbo athlete Caroline George is one hardcore chica. The Swiss-born Salt Lake and Chamonix resident is one of only a handful of women in the world who earned status of IFMGA-certified guide (International Federation of Mountain Guides). Alpine, rock or ice, Caroline’s proved she has the knowledge, skill and confidence to lead others to their outdoor imaginings, which likely match her own.
When did you do the Icefall Brook trip? http://www.julbousa.com/athletes/george/icefall-brook/
It was March 2009, in the Canadian Rockies, on the border of Alberta and British Columbia.
How do you handle situations like that, when you’re out in the boonies and you have a physical challenge to deal with (the pain in your hands), and others are relying on you?
You’re out there to climb and you just don’t know if that opportunity will ever come your way again, so you suck it up and climb anyway. I think it’s a mindset. I wasn’t injured or had anything broken, so I could still go.
When did you get your IFMGA guide certification?
Just this past Spring, 2010. I finished with my ski exam which took place in Alaska.
Have you been guiding a lot since?
I have been guiding a ton this past year. I guided such amazing routes as the Frendo Spur in Chamonix, the Kuffner ridge, the Meije Traverse, the Matterhorn, etc. Right now, I am in Punta Arenas, Chile about to go guide Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.
How long have you been climbing ice?
Eleven years. I started by competing in an ice climbing competition. My ex-boyfriend was competing and there were really few women doing it, so I was encouraged to try it. I instantly fell in love with it!
Are you competing in the Ouray Ice Festival this weekend?
No, because I am in Antarctica guiding Mount Vinson and then trying to do some first ski descent! I will miss it. The Ouray Ice Fest is my favorite event to attend. Great atmosphere; it’s a great time to reconnect with people who share the same passion and to communicate that passion to others. I love Southwest Colorado and this event is a great excuse to visit friends and enjoy the hot springs. Can’t beat the ice climbing/hot springs combo! I also really love the competition: there aren’t many out there that are still on real rock and ice, so I hope it remains as such!
Thoughts on your career, Julbo or ice climbing?
I have always dreamt to have this life and have worked hard to get here. There isn’t a day that goes by without me having to pinch myself to make sure that this is all really happening to me. I love the combination of being an athlete and a mountain guide because both enable me to hopefully inspire people to go out there and push their own boundaries. I love the challenge that guiding provides me. Every day is like solving a new puzzle: you have the pieces and you need to put it all together properly to make it work. And although you may do the same climb or ski descent a few times over the season, conditions and weather always make it a different climb or ski descent. There is no routine to my job or to my life, and I love it that way.
I am very grateful to my sponsor for the support they provide me and for Julbo for keeping my eyes healthy, thus enabling me to continue seeing how beautiful and magical the world is through its glasses and lenses.
I love the diversity in my job: from alpine, to rock, to ski and of course, to ice climbing. Ice climbing has done so much for me: it’s enabled me to launch my career as a professional climber and has provided me with some of the most intense moments in my career. It’s allowed me to meet amazing people along the way who share the same passion, and also to meet my husband, when I mistakenly dropped my ice axes from the top of Ames Ice Hose in Telluride. He was climbing below and I almost killed him. But instead, I married him.
– Interview by Christine Rasmussen
When did you do the Icefall Brook trip? http://www.julbousa.com/athletes/george/icefall-brook/
It was March 2009, in the Canadian Rockies, on the border of Alberta and British Columbia.
How do you handle situations like that, when you’re out in the boonies and you have a physical challenge to deal with (the pain in your hands), and others are relying on you?
You’re out there to climb and you just don’t know if that opportunity will ever come your way again, so you suck it up and climb anyway. I think it’s a mindset. I wasn’t injured or had anything broken, so I could still go.
When did you get your IFMGA guide certification?
Just this past Spring, 2010. I finished with my ski exam which took place in Alaska.
Have you been guiding a lot since?
I have been guiding a ton this past year. I guided such amazing routes as the Frendo Spur in Chamonix, the Kuffner ridge, the Meije Traverse, the Matterhorn, etc. Right now, I am in Punta Arenas, Chile about to go guide Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.
How long have you been climbing ice?
Eleven years. I started by competing in an ice climbing competition. My ex-boyfriend was competing and there were really few women doing it, so I was encouraged to try it. I instantly fell in love with it!
Are you competing in the Ouray Ice Festival this weekend?
No, because I am in Antarctica guiding Mount Vinson and then trying to do some first ski descent! I will miss it. The Ouray Ice Fest is my favorite event to attend. Great atmosphere; it’s a great time to reconnect with people who share the same passion and to communicate that passion to others. I love Southwest Colorado and this event is a great excuse to visit friends and enjoy the hot springs. Can’t beat the ice climbing/hot springs combo! I also really love the competition: there aren’t many out there that are still on real rock and ice, so I hope it remains as such!
Thoughts on your career, Julbo or ice climbing?
I have always dreamt to have this life and have worked hard to get here. There isn’t a day that goes by without me having to pinch myself to make sure that this is all really happening to me. I love the combination of being an athlete and a mountain guide because both enable me to hopefully inspire people to go out there and push their own boundaries. I love the challenge that guiding provides me. Every day is like solving a new puzzle: you have the pieces and you need to put it all together properly to make it work. And although you may do the same climb or ski descent a few times over the season, conditions and weather always make it a different climb or ski descent. There is no routine to my job or to my life, and I love it that way.
I am very grateful to my sponsor for the support they provide me and for Julbo for keeping my eyes healthy, thus enabling me to continue seeing how beautiful and magical the world is through its glasses and lenses.
I love the diversity in my job: from alpine, to rock, to ski and of course, to ice climbing. Ice climbing has done so much for me: it’s enabled me to launch my career as a professional climber and has provided me with some of the most intense moments in my career. It’s allowed me to meet amazing people along the way who share the same passion, and also to meet my husband, when I mistakenly dropped my ice axes from the top of Ames Ice Hose in Telluride. He was climbing below and I almost killed him. But instead, I married him.
– Interview by Christine Rasmussen
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Heading to the Ouray Ice Festival? The lowdown on little Switzerland, USA
The 16th Annual Ouray Ice Festival will permeate the “Switzerland of America” with all things ice on January 6th through 9th. The nickname for this quaint and beloved little town perched in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains is certainly befitting. Ouray virgins get it as soon as they see the place, particularly if you arrive from the south and see it from above as you descend the switchbacks into town. Situated in a narrow valley head at 7,792 feet and surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks, you really do feel like you’re in another world, an Alpine Planet. The original Victorian structures that pepper downtown add to its appeal and ambience.
Getting there: If you fly into Albuquerque or Durango, you’ll have to drive over Red Mountain Pass (550 North), which is prone to closure during stormy conditions due to its narrowness and all-around gnarly-ness. Plan B in that scenario is Lizard Head Pass between Cortez and Telluride on 145. If there is heavy snow forecasted, I recommend just going Lizard Head, because there are two big passes to contend with on just the Durango-Silverton leg of the drive, also prone to closure. Coming from the north from Montrose or Grand Junction is much more chill – fly into those airports if at all possible.
Getting around: Once you are there you can park the vehicle and just use your feets to get around. The Ouray Ice Park is only a few minutes’ walk from downtown, or you can take a donations-only shuttle run by Festival organizers.
Must-do: the Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings. Although I have not soaked at this place personally, friends tell me this is a must-do in Ouray if it can be arranged. It’s worth the price to enjoy the continually flowing natural hot springs and the vapor caves, especially after a day of hard of climbing!
Recommended eats/drinks: The thin, stringy fries at O’Brien’s Irish Pub are loaded with greasy yummy-ness – a perfect pairing with a thick, dark stout. Try some locally crafted brew at the Ouray Brewery. Top off the gluttony with ice cream and homemade pies at the Backstreet Bistro.
For additional beta on Ouray:
Ice Park conditions: http://ourayicepark.com
Ouray Chamber of Commerce: http://www.ouraycolorado.com
Gear go-to: http://ouraysports.com
Festival low-down: http://ourayicefestival.com
Getting there: If you fly into Albuquerque or Durango, you’ll have to drive over Red Mountain Pass (550 North), which is prone to closure during stormy conditions due to its narrowness and all-around gnarly-ness. Plan B in that scenario is Lizard Head Pass between Cortez and Telluride on 145. If there is heavy snow forecasted, I recommend just going Lizard Head, because there are two big passes to contend with on just the Durango-Silverton leg of the drive, also prone to closure. Coming from the north from Montrose or Grand Junction is much more chill – fly into those airports if at all possible.
Getting around: Once you are there you can park the vehicle and just use your feets to get around. The Ouray Ice Park is only a few minutes’ walk from downtown, or you can take a donations-only shuttle run by Festival organizers.
Must-do: the Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings. Although I have not soaked at this place personally, friends tell me this is a must-do in Ouray if it can be arranged. It’s worth the price to enjoy the continually flowing natural hot springs and the vapor caves, especially after a day of hard of climbing!
Recommended eats/drinks: The thin, stringy fries at O’Brien’s Irish Pub are loaded with greasy yummy-ness – a perfect pairing with a thick, dark stout. Try some locally crafted brew at the Ouray Brewery. Top off the gluttony with ice cream and homemade pies at the Backstreet Bistro.
For additional beta on Ouray:
Ice Park conditions: http://ourayicepark.com
Ouray Chamber of Commerce: http://www.ouraycolorado.com
Gear go-to: http://ouraysports.com
Festival low-down: http://ourayicefestival.com
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