For Peter Ostroski, the Hooded Insulight Jacket proved to be the perfect piece for the Alaska backcountry, keeping him warm without overheating.
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Dispatches
Chugach Gravity Research
Alaska was of the hook this year!
By Wild Things Athlete, Peter Ostroski • April, 2012
Spending the winter in Girdwood, Alaska, we saw negative temps for about month with lots and lots of snow. When I left North Conway in October, I grabbed the new Hooded Insulight Jacket and used it in just about every activity. On super cold days it proved to be the perfect piece for Nordic skiing, having a good fit and great breathable side panels. It kept me warm while allowing me to push hard without overheating. For the big descents, Forty Seven Ten and Byron Peak, it was just right, offering the right blend of warmth and breathability.
Forty Seven Ten
Getting a heli drop in the Chugach this past January, we started the day pulling up to the hanger at 8 am. The sun was still down, and it was -15 degrees out. I had the Insulight handy all day. We dropped in on top of "forty seven ten" above "punch bowl" glacier and were able to catch the sunrise at about 9:30. Up and down we went, ticking off vertical feet, skiing until the sun went down. I kept the Insulight on for most the day, skinning up in it and skiing down, without having to exchange layers every time I took my skins off.
Byron Peak, Portage, Alaska
Spring days in Alaska make you forget the dark, cold of the mid winter. Our day on Byron Peak was no exception. Sunny, highs in the 30s, with daylight until 9pm. Great! Byron Glacier is one of many in the Portage area, and Byron Peak stands above it, with a North face off of the summit that was holding dry powder. The peak looked pretty big from the parking lot, but quick travel, skating on crust with touring equipment, got us to the base of the glacier within 40 minutes. Skinning and booting through the glacier, we finally came to the run we were looking at. Booting up the 2000' pitch took some effort, but getting over the near vertical last bit was quite worth it. I threw on the Insulight Jacket while looking into Prince William Sound and Whittier from the summit, and got ready for the descent. We enjoyed the dry snow while the sun was baking everything else around us.
Fun day, first time passing over a glacier, and I got to ski another sick Chugach peak! The Hooded Insulight Jacket is my new "go to" jacket.
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