The Cleanest Line

Product Testing - Whale Watching with a Wee One

We test our gear on a variety of levels. Our athletes and ambassadors are responsible for putting the latest designs and fabrics through the paces before we'll add a new product to our lineup. But just because something reaches our shelves doesn't mean testing is over. Once a new item shows up in our catalogs, our Customer Service staff gets busy ground-truthing the latest offerings. They know the questions our customers will be asking, and turn that attention to our gear.
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Product Report: Synchilla Marsupial, “O” Web Belt, Women's Sender Capris, Kids’ Sky Serpent T-shirt, Baby Synchilla Cardigan, Baby Puffer Vest and Kids’ Trucker Hat
Activity: Camping and Whale Watching, Northern California
Tested by: Michelle L., Patagonia Web Team

As I’ve gotten older my lack of sanity manifests itself in different ways. Fifteen years ago my friends referred to me as the wild one since I was always up for partying, loud music and any adventure life would throw at me. Long gone are the days for too much partying, but nevertheless I will never let go of the adventure. This time, I decided to take my very newly potty-trained 3.5 year old son on a camping trip and to go catch the gray-whale migration out at Point Reyes in Marin County, California, all on my own. My husband was going to stay home and peacefully recover from oral surgery.

I know the area well, as I grew up in Mill Valley, California. Samuel P. Taylor Park, outside of San Rafael, is a beautiful campground with lots of amenities set in a gorgeous Redwood Grove with Lagunitas Creek running right through it. The forecast was exceptionally good. Even at Point Reyes Station they called for 77 degrees and clear skies. I was so excited to enjoy some warm spring weather, the scent of the ocean, to bond with my son, and give him lessons about the wonders of nature and how we need to protect it.

Sacred Craft Surf Expo & Respect the Gaviota Coast Paddle Through Ventura This Weekend

We have two stellar happenings to share with you today: the Respect the Gaviota Coast paddle and the Sacred Craft Surfboard Expo.

Respect the Gaviota Coast
On May 12th, two surfer activists, Chadd Konig and Nole Cossart, launched their paddleboards into the glassy waters off the Gaviota coast. The pair will be paddling all the way down to Mexico, surfing their alaias along the way, in order to raise awareness for SaveNaples.org and the pristine Gaviota coast, which is threatened by imminent development. This Saturday, May 15th, Chadd and Nole will paddle up to the Ventura County Fairgrounds for the Sacred Craft Surf Expo.

[Chadd Konig and Nole Cassert on day one of their paddle from Gaviota to the Mexico border. Photo: Branden Aroyan]

Sacred Craft Surfboard Expo
When last we covered the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo, the event was held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This weekend, Sacred Craft comes to Patagonia's backyard, the Ventura County Fairgrounds, for "two days of surfboards, live shaping, demos, seminars, movies, music and good times…but mostly surfboards." Patagonia and Fletcher Chouinard Designs, along with the Malloy Brothers and Jeff Denholm, will be on hand to answer questions about FCD surfboards and Patagonia wetsuits. On Sunday, Gerry Lopez will be signing his book Surf is Where You Find It at the Patagonia booth and he's scheduled for a live shaping demo that afternoon at 12:30 pm. FCD will also be offering board demos at the point on Saturday morning at 7am.

Man Plans, Mother Nature Laughs - Fly Fishing B.C.'s North Coast

Patagonia fly fishing ambassador Dylan Tomine recently returned from a trip to British Columbia. The conditions weren't ideal for fishing but they were ideal for some cold-weather gear testing. Dylan shares his thoughts here along with some great shots from photographer Tim Pask.

Just back from our North Coast, British Columbia spring steelhead expedition and thought I'd report in. We took a 42-foot converted gillnetter out of Prince Rupert and headed north with two small jet sleds in tow. The plan was to anchor up in the river mouths and take the sleds upstream to swing flies for big spring steelhead. But, as they say, "Man plans, Mother Nature laughs."

[Story of the trip...beautiful spot, no fish. Photo: Tim Pask]

Pat Ambassador Krissy Moehl Posts New Record on Leona Divide 50

[Ed note: The following submission is from Patagonia Velocity and Performance Baselayer Designer, Jenny Uehisa. Together with Krissy Moehl, the duo are responsible for the design and development of many of the products found in Patagonia's line of running apparel.]

I first met Krissy about 7 years ago when we shared a tiny workspace together at Montrail.  At the time, she was brand new to trail running and since I thought running was something you did only in case of an emergency, I was fascinated by her. I remember asking her, “What’s an ultramarathon?” and she explained that it was any race longer than a marathon, 26.2 miles.

“And people do that for fun?” I asked.

It didn’t take long for me to catch the bug as Krissy has an infectious way of making everything look fun and easy, including trail running. She set a new course record for the first 50K ultramarathon she entered and has rocked the ulltrarunning scene ever since (see her bio on our homepage).

The thing about Krissy is that when she gets something in her head, she is unstoppable. So when I read her Facebook status, “Krissy Moehl hoping for 7:38 on Saturday!”  I knew her old course record was going down.

[Photo: Krissy Moehl collection]

My Footprint series - Shaping a New Relationship to Skiing

Series intro: The “My Footprint” series shares the stories of Patagonia friends and employees who have been inspired by The Footprint Chronicles, and whose inspiring lives help fuel the vision of what we can do as a company.

Their stories are offered here, glimpses of individual footprints spotted along the path toward positive change. We invite you to enjoy these personal accounts, and share your own in the Comments section included with these posts.
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There's a side to skiing in the United States that many American skiers would just as soon not talk about. For all of its inspiring outdoor elements, the industry as we know it is uniquely dependent upon increasingly limited resources. All too often, those resources tie this mountain-inspired population back to petroleum dependence.

With the vast majority of the U.S.'s destination resorts located in remote areas under-served by mass transit, very few of us are fortunate enough to be able to reach a ski resort without use of a combustion engine. Those who choose to ski in the backcountry may be able to claim independence from the energy needed to keep the lifts turning, but just like resort skiers, the earn-your-turns crowd relies (for the most part) on vehicles to reach their chosen destinations.

[All photos: Miyazaki/Greenhall collection]

Is 2009 the Year for Industrial Hemp?

Back when we were just budding bloggers I wrote a post about the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007. Unfortunately, the bill never made it to vote, but that was two years ago when things were a lot different. Now it's time to try again.

Earlier this month, Congressmen Ron Paul (R-TX) and Barney Frank (D-MA), along with eight co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 1866, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009. With a struggling world economy and the desire to create new jobs and new industries at home, will this be the year we finally free industrial hemp from the chains of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937?

[Fear not, your feet won't get high from walking in the Men's Olulu shoes. Photo: Free]

From the Trenches - Where'd my jacket come from and what's replaced it?

Our Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) are our front line of communication with Patagonia fanatics far and wide. The crew here at our Call Center in Reno, NV are at it seven days a week, taking orders, helping with returns, and most importantly, answering the astonishing range of questions our customers fire at us. Like flocks of swirling swallows or shimmering schools of tropical fish, our customers swoop in with mysteriously synchronized concerns and questions on a regular basis, prompting the need for ready answers. Times like these, nothing would be more handy than magically beaming knowledge out into the ether. Our very own Old School is here to do just that. He's stepped back from the front lines to answer some of these popular questions, straight from the trenches.

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You've had your Patagonia jacket for years, so long, in fact, that you can't remember when you picked it up. Had to have been at least 10 years ago. Come to think of it, wasn't it a a present? No matter, the problem you're facing right now is that last god-awful trip you took, the one that left your beloved jacket looking like wearable swiss cheese.

Tin Shed Nominated for the 2009 People's Voice Webby Award

Often dubbed "the Oscars of the Internet," the Webby Awards just announced their nominees for the 2009 People's Voice awards and Patagonia's Tin Shed has been given the nod in two categories: "Best Visual Design Aesthetic" and "Corporate Communications." Considering all the fantastic Web sites out there, we're really stoked to receive this recognition. But we need your help to bring home the Webbys.

People's Voice Webby winners are determined solely by votes cast on the Webby Awards site. Would you consider taking a moment and voting? Again, you can find us under these two categories so please vote for each one:

"Best Visual Design Aesthetic" (listed under Features)
"Corporate Communications" (listed under Marketplace)

A lot of people in the company worked really hard on Tin Shed and we're grateful to them all, including our friends at the Royal Order of Experience Design. And we're not done yet. New stories from Gerry Lopez, Liz Clark, Crystal Thornburg and Freedom to Roam are in the works. Look for them to go live in the Shed at the end of the month. Thanks for your support!

Product Testing - Soft Shells Weather the Storm

We test our gear on a variety of levels. Our athletes and ambassadors are responsible for putting the latest designs and fabrics through the paces before we'll add a new product to our lineup. But just because something reaches our shelves doesn't mean testing is over. Once a new item shows up in our catalogs, our Customer Service staff gets busy ground-truthing the latest offerings. They know the questions our customers will be asking, and turn that attention to our gear.
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Product Report: Wool 3 Zip Neck, R1 Pullover, Capilene® 1 Bottoms, Ready Mix Jacket, & Backcountry Guide Pants
Activity: Winter traverse of the Carson Range (2 nights, 3 days) - Tahoe City to Sky Tavern 45+ Miles
Elevation Lo 6,300 ft Hi 9,500 ft - Temps 28°F to 45°F
Tested by: Adam B., Patagonia Customer Service

2/21

Shelly and I left Tahoe City on about 3 ft of snow.  It was warm leaving the car so I pretty much snow-shoed all day in a Wool 3 Zip Neck and Capilene® 1 Bottoms with a pair of Backcountry Guide Pants [Ed note: At time of publication, only Women's Backcountry Guide Pants remain available for this season. Look for Men's availability in late August 2009.] Wool 3 is a really good weight for me - not too warm that I end up overheating, but warm enough when I need it at night in camp [closest current equivalent is the Wool 2 Zip Neck]. I like the vents on my Guide Pants as well. The gaiters on the pants have worked well for me this winter.  I also like all the pockets on the pants for chapstick, extra batteries, map, etc. When Shelly and I topped out on the ridge we got some nice views of the Squaw Valley area. We found some deep untracked powder following the rolling ridge over to Painted Rock.  That was fun being in the deep snow in the shady side of the ridge. I practiced a new trick at lunch today: take fresh snow add it to what water you do have and sit it on a black rock for 30 minutes and presto! more water. This is for the most part a waterless stretch, so any water I could get without melting snow is a good thing (don’t want to carry too much fuel).

Patagonia T-shirt Artist Opens Gallery Exhibit in Reno

We're pleased share this announcement of a local gallery exhibit of the works of Phyllis Shafer. Ms. Shafer is an artist from Lake Tahoe whose work has appeared on one of our more popular t-shirts (image below). Fans of vivid, dynamic landscape imagery will thoroughly enjoy immersing themselves in her work. Please read on for the full exhibit press release and for links to a visual tour of Phyllis Shafer's work:

STREMMEL GALLERY PRESENTS:

PHYLLIS SHAFER
Into the Landscape: Vistas and Visions

March 12 - April 4, 2009

OPENING RECEPTION:
Thursday, March 12
5:30 - 7:30 pm

On Thursday, March 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Stremmel Gallery will host an opening reception for South Lake Tahoe artist Phyllis Shafer. Shafer's exhibition of new oils and gouaches, entitled "Into the Landscape: Vistas and Visions," are observations from her personal explorations of her Sierra Nevada surroundings and the Sonoran Desert. The show will continue through April 4.

[Images courtesy Stremmel Gallery and Tahoe Divers' Conservancy]