What percentage of down time do all the "flatlanders" (in quotes, as I'm one as well) spend recovering from altitude sickness? Friends have told me if they don't take their meds soon enough, it can ruin an (expensive) day or two.
Also, yeah, synthetics. Even if one wants to wear more wool -- and it is possible to find merino base layers, well-fitting socks, and make one's own intermediate layers -- well, sheep. Sheep graze. So wool is arguably not that environmental either.
Right?! Altitude sickness is frequently fatal, as well. Even in Colorado. If you drive along I-70 into the mountains, you can see people vomiting beside the highway, thinking they're car sick and not realizing that they have a blister forming on the lining of their brain. Serious business.
If you look at most wool garments today, you'll find that all but very few are actually made with polyester and elastics to make them comfortable and to not start to sag and stretch out. Most products from brands like Smartwool average about 40-50% wool and the remaining 50% are petroleum-derived fibers and materials. Even brands like Woolrich have integrated other fibers into almost all of their "wool" garments -- something only visible by reading the tag.
And, definitely -- wool doesn't come from Mr. Hogget's Quaker farm -- its entire supply chain and industrial advantage are also entirely dependent on high density fuels and materials to make possible.
It takes a LOT of energy to make mostly hairless and metabolically-intensive humans able to enter high mountain environments in winter and survive comfortably. :-D
What percentage of down time do all the "flatlanders" (in quotes, as I'm one as well) spend recovering from altitude sickness? Friends have told me if they don't take their meds soon enough, it can ruin an (expensive) day or two.
Have you heard of Tuckerman Ravine? ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckerman_Ravine ) Thought that might cheer you up to know that a no-lift place still exists!
Also, yeah, synthetics. Even if one wants to wear more wool -- and it is possible to find merino base layers, well-fitting socks, and make one's own intermediate layers -- well, sheep. Sheep graze. So wool is arguably not that environmental either.
Right?! Altitude sickness is frequently fatal, as well. Even in Colorado. If you drive along I-70 into the mountains, you can see people vomiting beside the highway, thinking they're car sick and not realizing that they have a blister forming on the lining of their brain. Serious business.
If you look at most wool garments today, you'll find that all but very few are actually made with polyester and elastics to make them comfortable and to not start to sag and stretch out. Most products from brands like Smartwool average about 40-50% wool and the remaining 50% are petroleum-derived fibers and materials. Even brands like Woolrich have integrated other fibers into almost all of their "wool" garments -- something only visible by reading the tag.
And, definitely -- wool doesn't come from Mr. Hogget's Quaker farm -- its entire supply chain and industrial advantage are also entirely dependent on high density fuels and materials to make possible.
It takes a LOT of energy to make mostly hairless and metabolically-intensive humans able to enter high mountain environments in winter and survive comfortably. :-D