The ordering and delivery process- Easy. The website is well thought out and helpful. Sale items are identified and purchased with minimum fuss. We occasionally have problems with suppliers delivering to our home in Spain. In this case the delivery was prompt and, pleasingly, without such issues. The jacket was a “special”. This means that normally the Gore Tex option is not there.

The Yukon Jackets, oh and Cerro Torre too!

The down side – Strange colours. Well for me at least. Mine is white! Sorta camouflaged against the snow. My partner had a more acceptable bright yellow one. Not a problem for me. I like to remain inconspicuous.

Price – 186GBP for a Gore Tex down jacket is a real bargain. With 15GBP  delivery to Spain we got top notch jackets for just over 200GBP (Normal price for a Drishell outer lining is currently 255GBP!).

Features -

• Front zip with internal draft baffle
• 2 zipped handwarmer pockets
• Stud-on down hood with stretch lycra edging
• Stretch hem cord
• Stuff sac
• Gore Tex outer
• Superlight MX inner

How did it perform?

Out on the Patagonian Icecap when we were in the thick of the action it stood up to all sorts of abuse, both from nature and ourselves. As we retreated down from the Paso Marconi in a blizzard, the gale force wind ripped though all our clothing until the Yukon was recovered from the rucksacks and put on. Immediately we started to feel warm again. Whats nice is that the rain and spindrift had no effect whatsoever on the Gore Tex outer. Well it shouldn’t you say? OK. But in my experience Gore Tex hasn’t been all it’s cracked up to be. Patagonia wasn’t a Cheap Holiday by any means, but this jacket was money well spent and the build quality should ensure that it will last many many years to come.

Building tent walls on the Patagonian Icefield

A pleasant surprise was that there was absolutely no condensation inside the jacket neither. Warm as toast I even started to enjoy our battle with the elements. Goes into my pack whenever I am in the Sierra Nevada ………. “just in case”.

Highly recommended. Not only PHD as a company, but also the combination of down and Gore Tex if you are heading for colder parts. Keep an eye on the sales they tend to have twice a year and you may well pick up a real bargain. The website can be found at http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/. I recommend you subscribe to their email list so you get advance notification of the sale.

Details of our trip to the Patagonian Icefields in November 2010

Details of our next trip to Patagonia in 2012. Places remaining.

The trip is actually a hybrid of the two we offer. This means we complete the regular “icefield traverse”, but we are also going to include the ascent of Gorra Blanca at the northern end of the icefield. The traverse west to take in Cerro Lautaro or Cerro Moreno cannot be undertaken due to time limitations.

Proposed Itinerary:
16th Nov – meet El Calefate
17th Nov – provisioning, planning day. Hotel
18th Nov – bus transfer to El Chalten. Camp
19th Nov to 28th Nov – 10 days Icefield Trek including ascent of Gorra Blanca.
29th Nov – spare. Camp
30th Nov – bus back to El Calafate. Hotel
1st Dec – flight home

Cerros Torre and Fitzroy, Patagonia

We have allowed 10 days for the main trek. If the main trip goes well and the weather is fair then there should be some spare days afterwards. If that is the case then we aim to ascend the glaciers up to the base of Fitzroy and Cerro Torre and maybe an ascent of Cerro Solo.

We have 2 places spare on this expedition. See http://www.spanishhighs.co.uk/patagonia-icefield-expedition.html for further information or use our contact form for direct enquiries.

El Chalten and its mountain backdrop

I remember we had camera troubles on the trip. Both video cameras broke and some digital still cameras got wet or failed in the cold. However, interesting editing effects and an annoying computer generated narrator, called Paul, add interest to the marvelous photos and the dramatic scenery. Some great music too. The definition is not great at times, but the video does convey the isolation of the icefield.

When I re-ran the 20 minute video I immediately was inspired to return to this wonderful part of south America. The sense of isolation when on the icefield itself can never to be forgotten. It is the closest you can get to an Antarctic experience without actually going there. Can’t wait to get back!

We also have a good quality photo slideshow of some of the photos used in the film with some descriptions.

What’s on offer is a combo of trekking and biking, either camping out, bivvying or staying at mountain huts. Depending on your timescales and the emphasis of the trip (trekking or biking), you can be pedalling to the summit of Veleta, shoving on your boots to top out on Mulhacen or Alcazaba, then bivvying down under the stars at Siete Lagunas.

Find out more on the expedition web page.

The combination of our mountaineering and trekking experience, Karl’s bike guiding and Nikki’s expedition work make for a fairly formidable team. We’re ready and waiting to take you on one of the most breathtaking adventures you and your bike* are likely to find!

*and if your bike doesn’t fancy it then no problem, you can always hire one of Ride-Tribes!