Adventure Apparel & Accessories

 Down are the fluffy clusters that are found underneath the tougher outer feathers of ducks and geese. Down is made of very fine fibres that provide the lightest and most efficient means of trapping and holding air in position.

 This trapped air provides an incredibly efficient thermal barrier. Its performance is unrivalled by any other natural or synthetic equivalent. Individual down clusters expand (or loft) to fill an area that is vast relative to their size. The down’s volume is then made almost entirely of trapped air, so any down filled gear remains incredibly lightweight and compressible.

 Fill power is a measure of the loft or "fluffiness" of a down product that is loosely related to the insulating value of the down. Fill power is the amount of space one ounce of down will occupy in cubic inches. The higher the fill power, the more air a certain weight of the down can trap, thus the more insulating ability the down will have and will retain its firmness longer.

 Fill power ranges from 550 FP (average quality) to 850 FP (exceptional quality)

 Fill power is not the indicator for the level of warmth but the quality of down. Level of warmth is determined by how much down has been filled in the jacket.

 Rab now uses 100% recycled down for this jacket thereby reducing waste and making the most of this valuable insulation.

 The jacket uses Recycled 700 fill-power down with Nikwax hydrophobic (water-resistant) finish. They fill about 153 grams of down in size “L”of the jacket.

 Fill weight is the total amount of down used in a complete item. This is generally measured in grams. Fill weight along with baffle construction is one of the largest influences on the overall warmth of the jacket. Very generally speaking the more down inside the item, the warmer it will be.

 Hydrophobic Down Treatment

 All the down is processed with a Hydrophobic Down treatment. This is a PFC-free chemistry co-developed with Nikwax that is added to the down at the cleaning stage. Hydrophobic Down absorbs less water than untreated down when exposed for long periods of time. Down is innately water-repellent, but will lose its insulating properties when eventually saturated with water.

 Hydrophobic Down helps to protect the down from saturation, preserving its lofting ability and insulation ability for longer. It will also speed up drying times, extending the range of conditions in which you can use your down filled product. Moisture that affects down performance can come either from the environment or from body moisture. Hydrophobic Down effectively combats the negative effects of both risks.

 As unfamiliar as it sounds, jacket construction is an essential part of the design. When you move into the realm of functional and durable clothing, then every aspect of clothing matters, as each part has a function which can be fine-tuned to perform better. This is exactly what Rab has done to the Microlight for over 10 years by implementing feedback from its users. The latest version features intelligent upgrades and subtle details such as the angle of the pocket which make life more convenient in limiting situations.

 What fabrics are used to make this jacket?

 The outer fabric is a downproof recycled 30D Ripstop Nylon (Pertex Quantum) with DWR coating. The DWR coating provides an extra layer of water resistance and drizzle typically beads off the jacket. Ripstop fabrics add a very important feature to the jacket i.e. in case you get a tear in the jacket then it will not spread and stay contained to the damaged area.

 The inner fabric is a softer recycled 20D ripstop nylon without any coating which helps the jacket optimize better with the body temperature and wicks sweat more efficiently as well when active.

 Down jackets are constructed using baffles. A baffle is a compartment creating by stitching together two fabrics. This compartment is then filled with down.

 The jacket features micro-baffles in the front, back and sleeves which mitigate down migration and reduce cold spots while nano baffles on the sides for more flexibility without inflating bulk.

 The sides and back of the jacket feature stitch-through baffles which increase the breathability but it has an additional inner lining in the front to enhance the wind proofing. This intelligent design helps keep your core warm without overheating the body when engaged in outdoor pursuits.

 The hood of the jacket also has a very interesting design. It is not an over helmet hoody but does fit over smaller helmets in our experience. The baffles of the hoody are low bulk and zoned in such a way that it falls flat on the back where you don’t even notice it.

Adventure travel gear & backcountry equipment for wilderness

 The wired peak helps keep rain off the face

 The elastic infusion in the hood keeps it nice and snug around your head.

 In addition it also has hem chords to make it even more snug and cosy.

 The outer fabric is a tightly woven nylon which is a synthetic fabric and in itself provides water resistance coupled with the DWR coating it beads off mild rain.

 The fill of the jacket is also treated with Nikwax hydrophobic down treatment which prevents the down from getting wet.

 Added inner lining in the front (chest) & storm flaps behind the zipper provide another barrier from oncoming rain.

 Finally, it dries up very quickly – The jacket is not waterproof but wicks moisture very effectively.

 Finally, it dries up very quickly – The jacket is not waterproof but wicks moisture very effectively.

 Jacket Length, Fit & Pockets:

 This is a slim fit jacket so it remains close to the body in order to work efficiently with the body heat.

 It has extra baffles in back to provide warmth to your lower back, thereby keeping your protected from all sides. It has hem chords at the bottom to make it warmer or cooler depending on your need.

 It has 3 YKK zipped harness-compatible pockets, two on the sides and one at the chest. All pockets are spacious and can easily fit the large mobile phones.

 Though the sleeve lengths are standard as per the size of the jacket but they do not overshoot the arm length or look long because of the baffled design. Elasticated cuffs ensure that the sleeve ends sit at your wrist.

 Zippers:

 The jacket uses durable YKK zippers. The front zip has an added storm flap at the back to minimize heat loss from the zips; the storm flaps are also water resistant so they keep water and wind at bay. Each zipper has nylon loops to help operate the jacket when wearing oversized gloves

 The top of the zipper has a notch; this keeps the zipper away from your chin and beard. This helps as you don’t get unwanted chin nicks and beard pulls. Also the internal side of the top section of the zipper has been layered with supple fleece lining which feels nice and soft against the exposed face and neck.

 It is the little things that make you miserable in frigid condition especially when you’re active. It takes the focus away from your pursuit and gets repurposed towards problem solving the garment.

 Perhaps more than any climbing story, No Picnic on Mount Kenya captures that strong underpinning of revolt common to most mountaineers. The men and women I know drawn to the hills are mavericks whose principal loyalty is to the individual's right to take his own risks and discover his own truths, and as much as anyone, Benuzzi applauds that right and condemns those who might curtail it.”(Source: Wikipedia)

 'A tale worth reading ... Mr Benuzzi's paradoxical mixture of pride and self-mocking humility is attractive; his courage is amazing; his story dramatic' - New York Times.

 ‘More electrifying than anything a person with a nose for real adventure could hope to read’ - Piero Melati, Repubblica

 10. The Ascent of Rum Doodle - W. E. Bowman

 (Source: Publishers Weekly & Wikipedia)

 If you’re looking to buy vintage edition or autographed copy of these books then 'Chessler Books' & 'Abe Books' have some rare finds. Happy reading & collecting!

  The Sacred Summit of Kanchenjunga dominates the horizon in Sikkim. Avid trekker Maninder Kohli has conducted multiple treks in Sikkim spread over several years. On each trip he has felt drawn closer and closer to Kanchenjunga.

 In 'Sacred Summit' Maninder will share images and highlights of each of the three treks he has led in Sikkim and also build a case on why Sikkim should be a part of the mix for a genuine believer.

 night view of kanchenjunga

 Kanchenjunga 8,586m, located in Sikkim, is the third highest mountain in the world and India’s highest peak. Kanchenjunga is regarded by the people of Sikkim as a sacred peak, whose presence has historically supported the security of Sikkim and to this day influences the weather in the state.

 My first look at Kanchenjunga goes back to 1980 when I arrived at Darjeeling for my Basic Mountaineering Course from HMI Darjeeling. In the mid ground of this image taken at midnight Sikkim is in view. The training area of HMI is in Sikkim where I ended up climbing Dr. B.C. Roy Peak 5445m located quite close to Kanchenjunga. Since that period I strongly held the desire to trek again in Sikkim.

 singalilla kanchenjunga view

 In 2013 plans began to mature and I focused on the Singalilla Ridge in West Sikkim. This trek can be done by two different routes. The West Bengal route has over the years become very commercial and I chose the route through Sikkim, via the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, a route which is seldom used. The main highlight of the trek is the most impressive view of Kanchenjunga.

 forests of himalayas

 As you hit the trail in Sikkim what strikes you immediately is the general level of forestation. It's thick to a point that without the support of a trail it's virtually impossible to move even couple of feet around the forest. This feature of a dense forest is common within Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh which are all considered a part of the Eastern Himalaya.

 We were trekking in November and found that the established trail had partially disappeared thanks to rapid growth of vegetation over the monsoon period. Our lead on the trail was carrying a machete which was being used to clear the trail. Some element of social distancing was required from the gentlemen swinging the machete to avoid injury.

 kanchenjunga view from north

 At camp during the evenings we would spend time to determine which peaks are in view. It was a painstaking exercise to determine each high point. What was most interesting to observe was how a high peak like Kabru North 7338m was seemingly overshadowed by Kanchenjunga. The Kanchenjunga Massif contains 5 distinct high points, 4 of the points are above 8000 meters.

 everest and makalu view from singalilla

Mega Sale on adventure gear

 Three days into the trek and we were now on the Singalilla ridge at about 3500m. The Singalilla ridge descends from Kanchenjunga and runs along the border between India and Nepal. When we claimed the ridge multiple peaks in Eastern Nepal came into view. About 180 km’s away was the peak of Makalu and another 20 km’s further away we could partially see Mt. Everest. It was truly majestic.

 On my return to Delhi I did spend a fair amount of time in identifying each of the peaks in view and marking them. Clustered together were four 8000m peaks and multiple 7000m peaks. When you add this to the much closer view of Kanchenjunga and the Kabru peaks one can only refer to it as a grand spectacle.

 In 2016 I got motivated to do another trek in Sikkim and this time around the plan was to go for the Goecha La trek. Our team reached the sleepy town of Yukson in West Sikkim from where this trek originates. In three easy days we were at Dzongri which is like a mid-way and stop over point for an acclimatisation break. I had stopped over at Dzongri during my Basic Mountaineering Course. From Zongri there are two routes, one heading to the HMI training area and the other towards Goecha La.

 From Dzongri Top one can gain a grand mountain view. From this point at around 3800m the view is dominated by Kanchenjunga South. In comparison to the earlier trek from Singalilla it’s a much closer view. The objective if the trek is to reach Goecha La which is a view point offering a close view of Kanchenjunga South and the Kabru Peak cluster.

 We moved on to the next campsite called Thansing. This section of the trek was one of the most memorable walks I have enjoyed in many years of trekking. The view of Mt. Pandim (6691 meters) was most impressive and the day resulted in a beautiful walk through the rhododendron forest. From time to time we would also encounter wide meadow stretches where the views would open up.

 Finally there is a steep descend down to the valley floor with the final leg being a flat walk to Thansing 3900m. That evening I declared the plan for the next day. Group 1 would leave at 2am and will head to View Point 2 or referred at Goecha La. Group 2 will leave at 4am head to View Point 1, which offers a slightly distant view of Kanchenjunga. Group 3 would leave at 6am and go to Samiti Lake.

 Kanchenjunga South Face

 Kanchenjunga South Face

 It was a dramatic day with a lot of excitement. All three teams regrouped for lunch at 1pm an hour from Thansing and had a story to tell. Everyone was happy with how things panned out but one group was looking disappointed. Group 1 consisting of 4 participants made it to Goecha La and got a close view of Kanchenjunga and was elated with the challenge they encountered.

 Group 2 which I was a part of made it to View Point 1 and we also got an impressive view of Kanchenjunga South. The glacier in view was the Kabru glacier and the multiple Kabru Peaks were visible towards the west.

 Samiti lake in Sikkim Himalayas

 It was group 3 which despite meeting its objective looked disappointed. They were all carrying the feeling why did they not push themselves and get to View Point 1. This feeling lingered on for a further few months. It was a lesson for several of us that the pain for pushing hard for a few hours is temporary, but the pain of not trying lingers on a lot longer.

 Kanchenjunga South View Sikkim Himalayas

 It was interesting to understand why we were only seeing the South Peak and not the complete Kanchenjunga Massif. While most Himalayan massifs face south, the Kanchenjunga massif faces east and hence the view of the entire massif would not be visible from this approach.

 As I soaked in the final view of Kanchenjunga I felt that it would be unreal to see the complete Kanchenjunga Massif. I assessed that the next logical step would be to head to the Kanchenjunga Basecamp towards the East referred as Green Lake.

 It was October 2018 and we began our trek to Green Lakes. The trail runs along some of the most wonderful forest sections I have trekked through. We were the only trekkers in the valley. The reason why Green Lakes is unfrequented comes down to logistics support and quality of the trail.

 The trek to “Green Lakes” starts from a village called Lachen and it’s customary that porters are hired from the closest village. But if one goes back to read the accounts of previous expeditions one can see that time and time again teams they have been abandoned by Lachen porters.