Douglas Tompkins, co-founder of North Face, dies after Chile kayak accident | Environment | The Guardian
The co-founder of North Face died after a cold water kayak tip over.
My first high quality piece of gear was a North Face sleeping pad, Christmas 1971. I still have it and use it as a pad for my dogs hunting, camping and in the shop, which is where it is now. I never forgot why my Dad liked their gear back then and clearly he was right, they were making good stuff.
So with all his experience around cold water, his entire life starting in San Francisco, at 72 hypothermia got him. I am a freak about hypothermia. I am more than comfortable wading across a stream in cold weather or even winter. Two years ago during a snow while hunting I had to go rib deep to get my dog out of a drowning trap, miles away from any help. The thing is, if I do a water crossing, I plan it and I am prepared for it. If it is unplanned, like my dog, I am dressed for it and have minimum gear needed to have a good chance at surviving. Early in life I had tons of training and opportunity to test my survival skills in all extremes.
When I got hypothermia, it was June or July in Minnesota. I could survive 100+ temps or -50, there I was in summer with hypothermia. I got through it and thank God the next day was warm, sunny and dry. One of my favorite sunrises of all time. Obviously my case was mild hypothermia but still a very painful experience. It is the baseline of my thoughts every time I step out. This will most likely get you before anything else does. I know when I am walking the edge but I won't die due to lack of tools or skills. It will just be bad timing AKA nature at work.
It sucks he died that way, but it gives credence to a lot of what he was about. Quality gear helps to give you a quality life in sync with the outdoors. There is a certain base line common knowledge that goes with it. Be careful, don't be in a rush, no shortcuts.
The co-founder of North Face died after a cold water kayak tip over.
My first high quality piece of gear was a North Face sleeping pad, Christmas 1971. I still have it and use it as a pad for my dogs hunting, camping and in the shop, which is where it is now. I never forgot why my Dad liked their gear back then and clearly he was right, they were making good stuff.
So with all his experience around cold water, his entire life starting in San Francisco, at 72 hypothermia got him. I am a freak about hypothermia. I am more than comfortable wading across a stream in cold weather or even winter. Two years ago during a snow while hunting I had to go rib deep to get my dog out of a drowning trap, miles away from any help. The thing is, if I do a water crossing, I plan it and I am prepared for it. If it is unplanned, like my dog, I am dressed for it and have minimum gear needed to have a good chance at surviving. Early in life I had tons of training and opportunity to test my survival skills in all extremes.
When I got hypothermia, it was June or July in Minnesota. I could survive 100+ temps or -50, there I was in summer with hypothermia. I got through it and thank God the next day was warm, sunny and dry. One of my favorite sunrises of all time. Obviously my case was mild hypothermia but still a very painful experience. It is the baseline of my thoughts every time I step out. This will most likely get you before anything else does. I know when I am walking the edge but I won't die due to lack of tools or skills. It will just be bad timing AKA nature at work.
It sucks he died that way, but it gives credence to a lot of what he was about. Quality gear helps to give you a quality life in sync with the outdoors. There is a certain base line common knowledge that goes with it. Be careful, don't be in a rush, no shortcuts.
