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    • Travel

    Nature Is the Best Engineer

    Pete McBride spends his time exploring places where the weather can change dramatically, making him fastidious about packing the right gear.

    Published November 29, 2012
    • 6 min read
    This content was written by and is brought to you by our sponsor. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic or its editorial staff.

    Standing on top of a grassy ridge in Colorado’s Elk Mountains, Pete McBride watches a snowstorm rolling in. He seems unperturbed, despite the disconcerting way an afternoon of dazzling sunshine has suddenly given way to menacing dark clouds. Zipping up his jacket and pulling on a beanie, Pete pauses to point out two peaks of purplish mudstone rising above a glassy lake—the Maroon Bells—before they and the landscape are enveloped by clouds. Pete is taking it all in his stride: he’s prepared and he’s seen worse.

    Pete McBride is an award-winning National Geographic photographer, film maker, and adventurer who has explored some of the most extreme environments on earth, documenting expeditions from Everest to Antarctica across more than 75 countries. “I spent years travelling to remote regions to document other parts of the world,” muses Pete, “Now I try to do more work at home, focusing on the rivers in my home state.” This means Colorado with its diverse landscape of snow-covered peaks, spectacular river canyons and wide arid deserts. It is an environment Pete is committed to preserving and protecting by exploring, photographing, filming, and writing to raise awareness of the challenges facing the Colorado River and its greatest creation, the Grand Canyon.

    TK Caption Goes Here
    PHOTOGRAPH BY MATT HOBBS
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Last year, Pete became one of only a handful of people to continuously hike the entire 700-mile length of the Grand Canyon National Park—more people have stood on the moon than have completed this trek. With no trail to follow, it’s a gruelling, dangerous, pathless journey of extreme temperatures and perilously unstable terrain that has claimed many lives. When Pete speaks about surviving in the wild, he speaks from experience. “If you’re not well equipped,” he warns, “nature can feel like the enemy.”

    Gearing up for another day exploring the Elk Mountains, Pete reflects on how drastically equipment has changed over time. “It’s interesting,” he says, “that it’s actually taken a return to its historic roots with wool. We used to use wool about a hundred years ago because it’s a natural, effective product.” Today, the benefits of wool are being rediscovered by manufacturers and explorers. Thinking about his 71-day trek across the Grand Canyon, Pete reflects simply, “I wore wool the whole time.”

    Immerse yourself in a virtual reality experience of Pete McBride’s Colorado adventure with the Woolmark VR app. Available at woolmark.com/vr

    Carefully folding a layer of active wear into his pack, Pete explains that Merino wool has an outstanding reputation among professional adventurers. The secret of its success is that as an active fibre, it creates tiny, insulating air pockets that keep bodies warm in the cold and cool in the heat. “The weave of wool today is amazingly comfortable,” adds Pete, “It has incredible breathability, odour resistance and it’s durable.” Little wonder that the majority of the world’s leading outdoor brands incorporate wool into their clothing.

    But to Pete, the appeal of wool is more than its effectiveness. “In my work, I’m trying to capture the beauty and magnificence of the great outdoors,” he says. “I like the idea of wearing natural fibres like Merino wool. I’m dealing with something that feels closer to the world that I’m working in.” It’s a sentiment that is confirmed later that day when, on an exposed trail with the wind whipping brutally around him, he takes the time to stand and admire the sweeping panorama. Seemingly oblivious to the biting cold he flashes a wide grin as he shouts, “I try to find products that are more sustainable, and sometimes nature is the best engineer.”

    For a chance to win your very own Merino wool adventure kit, visit woolmark.com/ natgeo

    <p>Rab’s Focus Hoody uses a unique to Rab® MerinoIN™ fabric technology, to create a lightweight fleece for year round use in your layering system. Combining the wicking and durability of polyester fibres with the odour resistant soft nature of merino wool, this winning blend makes the Focus Hoody a classic piece for any keen climber, hill walker or mountaineer, whether it's worn during the crux pitch of an alpine rock route or at the post climb social gathering down in the valley. MSRP $200</p>
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    <p>Devold Tinden Spacer combines great insulation with lightweight performance. This is the first time the Spacer fabric has ever been combined with wool; where you create pockets of air for enhanced insulation. This innovative technology makes it possible for wool to compete with other garments with high warmth-to-weight values. These products will also keep their natural wool properties like the ability to regulate body temperature and create warmth even when wet. The Spacer series consists of several light weight, yet super insulating mid-layers. MSRP $249</p>
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    <p>When the temperature drops but your motivation is high, this jacket helps you stay comfortable even during your toughest workouts. The gender-specific design uses the best of our Body Mapped Technology; we place lightweight SmartLoft insulation on the top half to help keep you warmer and our breathable hybrid fabric on the bottom half where stretch and ease-of-movement are key. Designed from the inside out, we put Merino next to your skin and top it off with a DWR finish. Adjust the zipper to help control temperature. Now that's one smart jacket. MSRP $180</p>
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    <p>The KÜHL SKAR™ 1/4 ZIP makes an indelible impression with a 3D articulated pattern for a better fit; luxurious 18.5 micron merino wool delivers better performance. Merino wool provides body temperature regulated warmth and “no itch” comfort. Wool is naturally wicking and odor fighting, making it one of nature’s ideal performance materials. The SKAR 1/4 ZIP features KÜHL's signature thumb loops. Travel light and move smooth with this 1/4 zip shirt. MSRP $99</p>
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    <p>Full Zip Hoodie, in Black Pinstripe Heather. The weight of this hoodie: 400GM, and the fabric: 81% Merino wool/19% polyester mean, simply, it's a serious, full-on, active, insulating midlayer/outerlayer for any day-long aerobic training you can think of. Raglan sleeves, three zippered pockets, thumbholes, reflectivity, strategically placed flatlock seams. MSRP $158</p>
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    <p>The merino optic on the outside does not make this jacket look like a functional one, but the water-resistant membrane on the inside guarantees you to stay dry during a surprising rain shower. Thanks to the innovative material mix of merino wool and polyester, our super.natural products ensure perfect thermoregulation. Additionally, the Advanced Two Layer Jacket is also convenient when it comes to ease of care, as it is washable at 40 degrees and can even be put in the tumble dryer.</p>
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    <p>Devold Hiking garments are lightweight and soft, knitted from fine Merino wool. Devold Hiking has superior insulation abilities and will regulate your body temperature ideally for any outdoor activity. Devold Hiking holds a slim fit, absorbs moisture and helps keep users dry during exercise. Drier skin means a lower heart rate and less lactic acid, which helps you stay out longer. Devold Hiking has a chafe-free seam construction and panels that offer more comfort with a backpack. Recommended for hiking, climbing and snow sports. MSRP $89</p>
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    <p>Protection and freedom of movement are important for those who spend long days in alpine regions – and it has to be as light weight as possible. We developed the PELMO SHORTS in the MERINO SHIELD ZERO line especially for the needs of mountain climbers. We’ve left out all superfluous details and concentrated on the most important features, making the PELMO SHORTS for men light and functional. MSRP $99</p>
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    <p>Merino wool is the new alternative to be used in wetsuits and other thermo lined products. The reason for this development is that it comes from a sustainable resource whereas synthetic linings are constructed from petrochemicals. In addition, Merino is as natural and organic as your own skin. Being in the cold has never been this warm due to revolutionary, comfortable, antibacterial and odor resistant wool in your gear. In tests conducted by the British Textile Technology group, Merino lining proved to offer a 35% increase in thermal efficiency, in both dry and saturated conditions over the best, comparable synthetic linings. MSRP $126</p>
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    <p>The perfect pants for the urban woodsman, the Trailhead Pants provide the optimal combination of rugged durability, stretch and comfort you need for cabin weekends and cool-seater trail adventures. The Trailhead’s tough double-weave fabric combines soft and breathable merino wool with durable nylon and a touch of LYCRA® for active stretch. MSRP $211</p>
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    <p>The DoubleWool is made from a superb mixture of materials that many already use: it has WoolNet Original in towards the body and WarmWool as the next layer. By combining these fabrics we made a product with optimal wicking properties, but at the same time ensured excellent insulation by allowing air to flow between the layers. We claim that this is the warmest woollen underwear on the market. Exposed body parts such as knees, shoulders and elbows have been protected with two layers of WarmWool, and parts of the body that emit more moisture have a WoolNet Original inner layer. Aclima DoubleWool is made for those who like to stay outside, even in extreme cold weather. MSRP $194</p>
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    <p>ZEALWOOD fine Merino wool underwear is suitable for skiing or outdoor adventure in cold weather. It is soft and will keep warm when wet, well breathable, dries quickly, no odor, biodegradable and renewable. MSRP $103</p>
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    <p>The Merino+™ 160 Glove is a lightweight glove designed to be worn as cold-weather layering piece or a standalone glove in warmer environments. Made from our unique Merino+™ fabric, created using a combination of superfine Merino wool and polyester with 37.5™ Technology, all our Merino+™ products are designed to maximise temperature regulation, offer unrivalled levels of warmth and to control odour performance during multi-day use. MSRP $24</p>
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    <p>A remarkable shoe that’s soft, lightweight, breathable, and fits your every move. MSRP $95</p>
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    <p>These light and insulating tops weigh the same as before, but are now much more durable. We still use a waffle structure on the inside, which ensures good moisture wicking and therefore feels warm and dry on the skin. The outside, however, is now smooth. This means the contact surface is now smaller. Of course, nothing about the high breathability or incomparable wear comfort and perfect temperature management of the fine merino wool has changed. MSRP $219</p>
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    <p>Rab’s Focus Hoody uses a unique to Rab® MerinoIN™ fabric technology, to create a lightweight fleece for year round use in your layering system. Combining the wicking and durability of polyester fibres with the odour resistant soft nature of merino wool, this winning blend makes the Focus Hoody a classic piece for any keen climber, hill walker or mountaineer, whether it's worn during the crux pitch of an alpine rock route or at the post climb social gathering down in the valley. MSRP $200</p>

    Rab’s Focus Hoody uses a unique to Rab® MerinoIN™ fabric technology, to create a lightweight fleece for year round use in your layering system. Combining the wicking and durability of polyester fibres with the odour resistant soft nature of merino wool, this winning blend makes the Focus Hoody a classic piece for any keen climber, hill walker or mountaineer, whether it's worn during the crux pitch of an alpine rock route or at the post climb social gathering down in the valley. MSRP $200

    PHOTOGRAPH BY MATT HOBBS
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