Normally one might list standing on a remote summit, or finding new friendships, as the highlights of a climbing trip. For the first time in my life a few pieces of clothing made my list of trip highlights. For those of you who read my occasional rambling raves about new equipment you will know that I am a bit of a gearhead. Although I am conscientious about the clothing I take to the mountains, I am not one to look for the newest developments. Clothing usually falls to at least 2nd or 3rd priority. This last trip to Peru, however, I committed to try (read, put to the test) the Icebreaker merino wool line of clothing. Icebreaker is a company from New Zealand that is fairly new to the Canadian market. They have been courting us as a dealer for quite some time. I thought this climbing trip to Peru’s Cordillera Blanca would be the perfect place to test Icebreaker’s metal.

Icebreaker pitches it’s premium merino wool clothing as having a fabulous comfort range, making it ideal for activity, as well as for travel. It also claims to have more superior wicking and warmth when wet than a synthetic baselayer. Best of all, it claims to be virtually free of that stink. For anyone who has worn much synthetic baselayer you would know that these are heady claims (particularly that last one: no stink?). As someone who spends many days a year in long underwear I thought it all sounded too good to be true. So my crafty mind came up with a plan. I called the company and ordered my self a t-shirt, top and bottom long underwear pieces, a sweater and a pair of boxers.

Stop reading now if you are squeamish – I put on the boxers and the t-shirt in Peterborough and didn’t take them off until I got back 17 days later. The long underwear and sweater I used as needed, which would probably be about 13 days. Now I reckoned this would be a pretty good test. My range of use would be from here in Peterborough to the desert heat of Lima to the cold of the high, icy mountains. I would be sitting on planes, drinking beer in restaurants, shuttling heavy pack-loads and, hopefully, standing on the top of a few mountains.

I won’t bore you with all the details, but there were some highlights worth relating. Firstly I was very impressed with the soft feel as I slid into the tee and boxers that were to be next to my skin for a few weeks. Indeed, I was comfortable through the flight, 32 degree days in Lima, and acclimatization hikes in Juaraz. The test I was really interested in came at about day 12. We had spent the day carrying our heavy loads to our high-camp on Tocllaraju and, hot and sweaty, dumped the packs and spent the next 40 minutes hacking a platform out for our tent. Usually this would be about the time that, soaking wet, now stationary and facing plummeting mercury, I would expect to get the shivers. I normally carry an extra layer that I keep dry for just these occasions, but this time around I was committed to the experiment. We got the stove going and I sat back and prepared to get cold. Damnest thing was it just never happened. I could feel the cold but it never seeped into my core. And that was the moment that Icebreaker became a highlight of the trip.

The trip continued with many adventures. Every morning started with a ritual armpit-smelling and although my baselayers did start to smell a bit, they never got that smell that synthetic underwear gets - really. Out for a drink on the night before we flew home a girl actually tried to pick me up (okay, maybe that was just my imagination). Even the man who spent the eight hour flight home sitting next to me didn’t seem to notice that my clothes were not just-out-of-the-drier fresh. To top it all off I ran the stuff through the wash and have started wearing it to work. It certainly doesn’t have the used underwear look that my old synthetic baselayers do.

Icebreaker was, without a doubt, the most versatile layering system I have ever used. Suitably impressed I placed a big order when I came home. By the time you read this we should have a good selection in our store. If you have any questions, or would like any advice about the product, please let me know. After my experience with the clothing I just like talking about it.

Fall is in the air, and winter is just around the river bend.

Sunday, October 15, we will be hosting an Intermediate Orienteering Course at Trent University. Sign-up at the front cash: $10 per person, $15 for a team of two. Spaces are limited, so book your spot now! We will be meeting at the chip truck on Nassau Mills Rd. (Armour and Nassau) at 10:30. As always, dress for the weather and bring rainwear, water, lunch and snacks. Most importantly, be sure to bring along a compass, whistle, and map case or large Zip Loc bag. A color copy of topographic map 31-D/8 (Peterborough) is also an asset. Prizes for those who finish and solve the riddle the fastest! An intermediate proficiency with map and compass is strongly recommended.

Nordic Walking nights will be shifting to Thursdays for the month of October. Sign up in advance, and meet the ever-energetic Dave and Marcia at the front cash for a 6pm evening stroll. Interested in a Nordic Walk outside the downtown core? Sunday, October 15, at 10am Dave and Marcia will be leading a walk in the Trent Nature Area. Plan on being outside rain or shine for approximately 2 hours, meet at Nature Area Parking lot on Pioneer Rd., just off of Nassau Mills Rd, 10am. For all Nordic Walking events, there is a $5 rental fee for poles.

Wednesday Bike Clinics will continue through October. Beginning with our Intermediate clinic Wednesday, October 4, clinics will alternate between Beginner and Intermediate levels. Spaces are limited, and do go quickly, so be sure to sign up at the front cash.

Kayak Pool Roll sessions will start in late January, with sign-ups available November 1. Really keen to get signed up for pool sessions? Email Graham, at graham@wildrock.net, with any comments, questions or concerns. More updates, including a possible special Trent Students only session, to follow.

Wild Rock is very excited to be offering a selection of Rome snowboards and bindings this winter. This company understands what it is like to hike a hill to get the first 6 inches of snow of the year or to shovel the yard to get you rail going. The quality is excellent and will always surpass what the Big Boxes have to offer. Boards that are stronger through the design of flexible, impact resistant plates. Boards that carve better through the targeted placement of stiffer woods and carbon fibers. Boards that land switch with more float in powder through an innovation in Geometrics. Boards that butter more smoothly through an experimentation in core profiling. Bindings that more directly connect rider imagination with terrain through the integration of custom shapes and technologies.

The not so sad conclusion to my voyage from kayaker to monoathlete to multisport athlete. As some of you might recall my first adventures into triathlon were amusing not only to myself but others as they observed the sloth like progression. If you did not read the first article you may want to check it out here http://wildrock.net/newsletter/october2005.asp Since then I have made steady progress that had me recently attend the World Championship for Age Group Athletes in Lausanne Switzerland. The title is quite a mouthful but means an Olympic Distance Triathlon (1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run) where you compete against other athletes in your 5 year age bracket that have come from around the world.

In order to attend I had to jump through a few hoops that included qualifying by placing top 12 at The Canadian National Championships. Due to a complete lack of interest in this event by fast men aged 35-39 I managed an 8th. The rest of the hoops involved siphoning money out of my bank account at an alarming rate to cover entry fees, uniforms, plane tickets and accommodations. My pro career appears to be on hold because my appearance fee appeared to be negative $2500.00 Such is life; I like my day job anyway.

I was heading over to Switzerland with my partner Kathy Eggenberger to stay at the team hotel. Already there, was Tom Whillans, part of Team Sophia (all 3 folks from the Peterborough area live on Sophia St.). It may be the altitude and extra training provided by Mount Sophia in East City that hones these athletes! The event was held on Saturday, September 2nd in lovely downtown Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The venue was amazing. The city of Lausanne embraced the event and allowed full road closures etc. Other than the six hour time delay and our bikes not showing up Kathy and I settled in nicely. We gave ourselves 3 days to check out the course, adapt to the time change and wait for our bikes.

The day before the event our bikes arrived. What a relief. I suffered very little pre-race jitters, as I was quite confident I was going to be near the back. My big goal was top 100 and not to be last out of the water. Kathy was looking for a top 25. I find being that fast results in too much pressure to perform so I had my genetics chosen at birth to keep me out of the lime light. So far so good.

Race day proved to be warm and sunny. Kathy and I got up and had a solid breakfast and a cup of fine coffee. We then hopped on the bus and headed to the race site downtown. The evening before we had put our bikes in the transition area so clutter was kept to a minimum on our commute. After getting to the race site I set up my transition area. I organized my running shoes with my hat on top of them. Clipped my cycling shoes into my pedals, put my water bottles on my bike, put my helmet upside down on my bars with my sunglasses inside. This way as I run towards my bike after the swim my station id dialed for quick changes. The schedule of events worked out well. Tom was racing earlier so we could cheer him on; I raced next but would be finished before Kathy started. This made “Team Sophia St.” a cohesive cheering bunch especially when combined with Kathy contingent of Swiss relatives and Tom’s kids.

An hour before my race I went to “The Holding Area” where we were corralled like nervous sheep. 140ish nervous 35-39 year old athletes are quite a site to behold. I was a little in awe as I looked around and started feeling quite chumpy. It seemed someone tricked me as these guys all looked pretty fit; surely I did not have to race against them. I struggled into my wetsuit, topped up on fluids and then took the obligatory 27 trips to the porta potties.

We were herded down to the dock where we lined up one beside the other. I knew my fans would be able to pick me out because I was in the black wetsuit with the swim cap on. Wait a second: we all were. I would have to rely on my fans picking me out by my standard position at the tail end of the swimmers. The water was chilly but refreshing. Finally the long awaited gunshot. Off I went almost immediately l starting my steady march to the rear. Swims are to be endured as some sort of sacrifice in order to be able to ride the bike. I did my utmost to use good form, swim hard and stay on people’s feet.

As I swam I really had no idea how I was doing. I was confident I was not leading and hoping I was not last. The finish ramp loomed in the distance and seemed to be getting closer at a glacial rate. After a little over 27 minutes I was onto the 4th event. I know it is called a triathlon but this one was a Quadrathlon. I started trotting up the impeccable laid blue carpet; first removing my goggles, then my swim cap and finally the top half of my wetsuit. I choose a brisk “tempo” pace as this was going to be an epic run barefoot. The transition area was 2 bikes wide by 1250 long. This meant you were running in bare feet for over 2km!! My mind was busy taking it all in”nice carpet, my feet are starting to feel hot, this wetsuit is getting steamy, nice blue carpet, keep running, ouch my feet, nice blue carpet: on and on it went.

Finally there it was - my bike gleaming in the sun waiting for it’s pilot. Off came the wetsuit, on go the sunglass, slap the helmet on and - start running barefoot again. This time with a bike but for only about 250m. Alas I safely boarded my trusty steed with a sprightly plop onto the saddle. Now the fun begins I thought. This course had climbs, turns, cobbles and more turns. I was having a hoot. The course was well padded on the outside of the curves with wrapped hay bails and mats. My fellow racers were regularly testing the density and durability of the crash barriers. Each lap the mats at the sharp corners at the bottom of steep descents were remodeled. Some had holes that looked suspiciously like someone had tried to throw their bikes through the mats. Others were upended with scantily clad folks sprawled out on them doing what appeared to be mid race yoga moves. Fortunately for me I avoided getting to know the barriers in any intimate way. I really enjoyed the cobbles on the descent. 50- 60km/h over cobbles creates quite a racket but is exhilarating. After 45 minutes of fun I realized I was having too good of a time and really had no idea whether I had done 2,3 or 4 laps. I actually had to scroll through my bike computer to see that I had gone 33k, which meant I was on my last lap.

Approaching the dismount line I was thinking “Oh joy, Oh, joy I am number 686 so that means I only have to run past 1900 bikes in my bare feet before I get to my running shoes. I don’t think I have ever been so glad to strap on my sneaks before in my life. Off I went with a new lease on my soles and life to tackle the run course. With so many people on the run course it was great people watching. Unfortunately I kept watching people in my age group pass me. My running has improved but apparently it is not World Class. I just pegged it as best I could. As I came down the last finishing straight I was thinking “Don’t leave anything on the course, bury yourself.” So for the last 2km I redlined it. I kept repeating my running mantra of the way to make this stop sooner is by running faster. Bring the suffering to end Scotty Boy.

The finish line was like no other. Loads of people cheering but few that spoke the same language as I saw no familiar faces. It was a bit like being dumped onto a busy subway platform. A bit lonely but surrounded by people. I spent 5 minutes gathering my wits and collecting my thoughts and breathing. I concluded that it was definitely over, I never want blue carpet in my home and I don’t think my performance was a disgrace to the uniform. What a great way to spend a day.

I was officially on vacation now. I chugged back a recovery drink and ate some food. I donned some street clothes, grabbed a beer and proceeded to cheer the Hell out of Kathy and the other friends still on course. Life is good but just say no to blue carpet.

On Saturday October 14, 2006, the Ganaraska Forest in Campbellcroft, Ontario, will be teeming with women, grinding out the gears for a great cause. They will be participating in The Big-O – A Mountain Bike Charity Event for the National Ovarian Cancer Association (NOCA). This recently announced sporting event is quickly shaping up to be one of the biggest all-women mountain biking events in the area.

Here is a profile of a local rider, Dave Girolametto, we thought you might be interested to read. Dave came second in his age group in the 60 Km distance at Paul's Dirty Enduro at the Ganaraska Forest. He travelled with Wild Rock to Mallorca, Spain in the spring and has been out consistently for the Wednesday rides at the Ganaraska Forest. He rides with the Peterborough Cycling Club and the Kawartha Cycling Club in Lindsay.

Congratulations, Dave!