Product Safety Recall

Due to safety concerns about the snaps on the Infant Capilene® Midweight Set, we are implementing a recall of units purchased between August 1, 2021, and January 12, 2023. For more information, including how to identify this product, how to return it and how to get a full refund, please click the link below.

Learn More

Rappel de produit pour cause de sécurité

En raison de préoccupations en matière de sécurité concernant les boutons-pression des ensembles Infant Capilene® Midweight, nous procédons au rappel de toutes les unités achetées entre le 1ᵉʳ août 2021 et le 12 janvier 2023. Pour obtenir des renseignements supplémentaires, notamment sur la façon de reconnaître ce produit, de le retourner et d’obtenir un remboursement complet, veuillez cliquer sur le lien ci-dessous.

Obtenir de plus amples renseignements

Earth Is Now Our Only Shareholder

If we have any hope of a thriving planet—much less a business—it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have. This is what we can do.

Read Yvon’s Letter

Nicolas Favresse’s First On-Sight Ascent of “The Mad Brown”

 /  Jul 28, 2008 2 Min Read  /  Climbing

20080531angleterre1147

Down with The Mad Brown! Exciting news from Patagonia Europe Rock Climbing ambassador Nicolas Favresse*. Nicolas and partner Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll spent the month of May in Wales, and while there, completed the first on sight ascent of “The Mad Brown” (E7 6b [5.12- X], 4 pitches). In Nicolas’ words:

I just wanted to share with you the super nice experience I had climbing in the UK. I spent 3 weeks with my friend Sean mostly in Wales and trying to learn as much as possible of their unique vision and ethic with climbing. We mostly trad climbed in Wales trying things ground up and on sight. It’s quite a mind game with lots of time no room for mistakes but the mind process is unique and teaches you how to stay zen in any situations. It’s a good skill to sharpen for the future [sic] projects!

The route, located in Gogarth, North Wales, is a choss-beast of stern proportions and is characterized by its exposure, angle, and loose flakes resembling–in Favresse’s words–“overhanging cheese.”

*Ed Note: Nicolas’ complete Patagonia Ambassador information is available on our Patagonia Europe website. To view, select the European country and language of your choice from the drop-down menus that will appear after clicking this link to the Patagonia Europe Ambassador Page. Photos courtesy of Nicolas Favresse and Adam Wainwright.

20080531angleterre1192

The route’s difficulty has prevented a complete ground-up repeat since its first ascent in 1996 by Adam Wainwright and George Smith. Its proximity to the ocean, the long period of dormancy, and highly suspect rock presented the Belgians with some unique challenges. According to Alpinists’ online newswire:

“The Belgians carried two full racks of cams and nuts to place as much gear as possible, knowing the poor rock would offer suspect protection throughout. Due to the proximity of the ocean, the carabiners left by Leo Houlding [second ascent attempt] in the pitons of the first anchor could not be removed. The Belgians, therefore, were forced to trust their lives to that rusting anchor. The second anchor was no better: two old, rusty ice pins pounded into mud.”

Complete climb details and additional photos can be found on Nicolas’ website, as well as these online climbing outlets:

http://www.planetmountain.com/english/News/shownews.lasso?l=2&keyid=36179
http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/older.html?month=6&year=2008#n44600
http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/older.html?month=05&year=2008#n44259

7

Popular searches