Thursday, December 10, 2009

Patagonia Awarded 3 Gray's Best Awards!

Christmas comes early. Patagonia just received word from Gray's Sporting Journal that we had won not one, not 2 but an unprecedented 3 Gray¹s Best Awards for 2009. Fantastic!

What makes this award so special is the products have to be thoroughly field tested for a year before they are even considered before their committee. As they say, these products give that extra measure of quality and practicality.

This link is to the complete online magazine edition so you get
a feel of this magazine. The Awards begin on Page 49. The Guidewater Waders written up by Editor Jim Babb is on page 51. The Guidewater Shirt written up by Group Editor Steve Walburn is on page 55. And the Stormfront Pack (I'm wearing mine in the photo on the San Juan - THE perfect bag when you're out on the water for a full day!) written up by Associate Editor Russ Lumpkin is on page 56.

Enjoy!

Monday, October 26, 2009

US News & World Report Interviews YC

Yvon Chouinard: Patagonia Founder Fights for the Environment

"His accomplishments make him one of America's Best Leaders"

Posted October 22, 2009

Jackson Hole, Wyo.—Yvon Chouinard does this a lot. "I'll go fishing for two or three weeks sometimes, where no one can get ahold of me," says the founder and owner of Patagonia, the outdoor equipment and clothing company. "Even if a building burns down, why call me?"

in the shadows of the Teton Range, and the Snake River is flowing swiftly to the south a couple of hundred yards behind Chouinard's house. With a simple fly-fishing rod in one hand, Chouinard is jumping across rocks with the learned ease of the world-class mountain climber he was in his youth.

He is wearing a black Patagonia jacket, which holds a box of flies and might be mistaken for product placement were it a marquee product of practically any other company. But Chouinard, who is 70 but looks younger, doesn't care much about selling jackets these days. "The reason I am in business is I want to protect what I love," he says. "I used to spend 250 days a year sleeping on the ground. I've climbed on every continent. I'm old enough to have seen the destruction."

He points to pine trees along the bank of the river. Many are red-brown, the dying victims of a beetle infestation sweeping through the American West that is linked to warmer winter temperatures resulting from climate change. Behind the trees, the Tetons, even at their uppermost ranges, look largely dry, with only a few noticeable spots of ice. "These mountains should have twice as much snow on them," he says.

Read MORE...

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Wild & Scenic Film Tour

Once again, Patagonia is proud to be a presenting sponsor of the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. Please click on the image to the left for a complete calendar of upcoming events - several of which are in Colorado and New Mexico.

A Little History:

The Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCLd) started the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival to promote community building within the Yuba Watershed, as well as a way to explore environmental issues through an exciting and influential medium.

SYRCL is a watershed advocacy group that was started in 1983 by a small group of concerned citizens who banded together to fight against several proposed dams. The festival’s namesake is in celebration of achieving Wild & Scenic status in 1999 for 39 miles of the South Yuba River. After twenty-five years, 7,000 supporters and 600 active volunteers later, SYRCL is one of the largest single-river organizations in the nation and the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival is now the largest film festival of its kind in the United States. January’s annual 3-day event features over 125 award-winning films, plus speakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement.

The tour allows SYRCL to share their success with other environmental groups nationwide. It is building a network of grassroots organizations connected by a common goal, to use film to inspire activism. The festival’s national partners have joined together to support this campaign. By showing the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival to diverse audiences across the country, we collectively want to inspire more individuals to take environmental action.

Hope to see you there!

Nano Puff

The Nano Puff, in a very short time, has taken on a life of it's own. It has quickly become my one go-to piece for almost any activity and it is always in the pack. Look for more great things to come out of this technology in the near future! Details:

Already a cult classic with our ambassadors and testers, the new Nano Puff™ Pullover got top marks for versatility, surprising warmth and terrific all-around performance in a superlight no-frills package. It's weather-resistant enough to wear as an insulated shell in a wet snowstorm, trim enough to pull on for chilly rock pitches (and still see your footholds), and warm enough for light belay parka duty on quick alpine dashes. The wind-blocking, moisture-shedding DWR (durable water repellent) finished 100% all-recycled polyester shell (1-oz 15-denier) also glides effortlessly, whether worn as a mid- or outer-layer. Low-bulk, hydrophobic, highly compressible PrimaLoft® One (60 g) traps heat with remarkable efficiency, even when wet. The deep front zipper allows for easy ventilation. The Nano Puff Pullover also packs down to practically nothing and stuffs into a single chest pocket that has a carabiner clip-in loop. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program.

Details

  • Versatile 60-gram PrimaLoft® One polyester insulation provides excellent warmth and compressibility
  • Ultralight face fabric sheds water and blocks wind
  • Deep center-front zipper allows for easy ventilation
  • Stuffs into a self-storage left chest pocket
  • Elasticized cuff and hem seal out wind and trap warmth
  • Shell and lining: 1-oz 15-denier 100% all-recycled polyester with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Insulation: 60-g PrimaLoft® One. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
  • 266 g (9.4 oz)
  • Made in Thailand and Vietnam.

Material

Recycled Polyester
We recycle used soda bottles, unusable second quality fabrics and worn out garments into polyester fibers to produce many of our clothes.

Technology

At Patagonia we seek to build the best product and cause no unnecessary harm. That's our mission statement, and it takes many forms. As it applies to making products, we work hard to source materials and use processes that are less harmful to the Earth without compromising quality. Because to us, quality is not only how well a product performs and holds up, but also how it's made.

The Next Chapter...

So, it is time for RMPFF to evolve - welcome to RMP - Rocky Mountain Patagonia! Moving forward, this blog will become more focused on the entire breadth Patagonia collection, including Fly Fishing gear. I will be posting highlights on product, our enviro efforts, special events coming your way and my travels . Thanks for following!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Thursday, July 2, 2009

FFFR Conclave In Loveland For 2009

The Federation of Fly Fishers' (FFF) 44th annual International Fly Fishing Show and Conclave lands in Loveland, CO this year and runs for five days beginning July 28. The Conclave schedule will include more than 80 workshops and clinics on casting, fly tying, on-water fishing techniques and other topics, and features exhibits with the latest in gear, outfitters, conservation information and other topics such as outdoor art and books.

Patagonia will be in attendance with a booth and several of our Fish personalities to review product, the World Trout Initiative and upcoming new developments with both dealers and customers alike. Please stop by!

Get complete information at the FFF Conclave Web site.

Extra Extra - On Stands Now!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Baselayer!

From Fish & Fly - we couldn't have said it better ourselves!

Over 20 years ago, Patagonia introduced layering for the outdoors. From the original polypropylene in 1980 to the more environmentally friendly Performance Baselayers of today, we’re continually striving to set the standards for baselayer performance.

Patagonia Performance Baselayers offer two approaches to the goal of staying dry and comfortable: Capilene® polyester with recycled content or all-natural merino wool.

Baselayers - Capilene and Merino Wool
Next-to-skin baselayer is critical for angler comfort. This allows the angler to remain dry next to your skin so you avoid the effects of evaporative cooling and the clammy feeling of moisture on the skin. Worn alone in warm weather, the baselayer wicks moisture off your skin and out to the air, providing a cooling and drying effect on the skin. For those hiking in to fish and working up a sweat there are obvious benefits. For anglers standing still for long periods while fishing, the benefits of wicking ambient moisture off the skin while not wetting out are equally important. In cold weather it moves ambient moisture and sweat from exertion off the skin and into the outer layers, which in turn move it to the surface to evaporate. The Other performance benefits of Patagonia’s next-to-skin layer is quickness to dry, insulation when needed, environmentally safe odor control and ease of care (can be machine or sink washed).

UK anglers are challenged at home by the Maritime Climate with bone-chilling damp during salmon season and winter trout that slightly improves to a warmer damp in the summer months. Traveling anglers face the same myriad of climatic challenges when headed to remote destinations in South America, New Zealand, Rocky Mountains and even the tropics. To address moisture and temperature challenges, Patagonia offers two Baselayer collections with 4 specific weights.

Capilene is made from specially designed polyester fabrics that actively move moisture away from the skin when walking, standing and wading for long periods of time. For odor control, we added a naturally derived treatment called Gladiodor allowing for multi-day use between washing. Capilene 1 is designed for hot weather as it is fast-wicking, fast drying and highly breathable. Capilene 2 is for mild to cool conditions. Capilene 3 is our most versatile and popular style with its dense interior honeycomb construction that is brushed for warmth and softness. From walking the dog to taking on salmon in full conditions, this is an important style to have in your kit. Capilene 4 is warmest Capilene, featuring an inside grid pattern that disperses moisture and retains great warmth.

Our Capilene Baselayer can be recycled through our Common Threads Recycling Program. When your Capilene is no longer usable, send it back and we melt down these garments to create new polyester fibers for future clothing. This keeps worn garments out of landfills.

Merino Wool
Wool has long been popular for anglers with is inherent ability to remain warm when wet and resistant to odor. A quantum leap by 3 ranches in New Zealand produces special fine-gauge yarn fiber that is 18.5 micron fineness, one-fifth the thickness of a human hair that actually can wick moisture. Using Patagonia’s slow wash process instead of using the environmentally damaging chlorine to remove the hard scales, we are confident that this is the best 100% Merino Wool Baselayer that manages moisture, is incredibly soft against the skin, naturally odor resistant and is machine washable. We developed Wool 1-4 weights like Capilene, with Wool 1 being the lightest. Wool 2 best suited for use in warm to cool conditions. Wool 3 best suited for active, cold conditions. And Wool 4 for coldest conditions and styled for outerwear for even greater variety of uses.


recycleWay too much of what is made these days ends up in the trash at the end of its useful life. At Patagonia, we're working to change that.

In 2005 we launched our Common Threads Garment Recycling Program, through which customers could return their worn out Capilene® Performance Baselayers to us for recycling. We've since been able to expand the list of recyclable garments to include worn out Patagonia® fleece, Polartec® fleece clothing (from any maker), Patagonia cotton T-shirts, and now some additional polyester and nylon 6 products that come with a Common Threads tag.

Through Common Threads we can transform your unusable garments into new clothing, which gets us closer to a long-standing company goal of taking full responsibility for every product we make.

How to Recycle
Recycling old Patagonia garments is easy. Simply wash them first and use one of the following collection methods:

1. Mail them to the Patagonia Service Center at

Patagonia Service Center
ATTN: Common Threads Recycling Program
8550 White Fir Street
Reno, NV 89523-8939

2. Drop them off at the Patagonia Retail Store nearest you or at one of our Performance Baselayer Dealers – ideally, while you're running other errands, to reduce environmental impact.

Please note: Recycling your old clothes is voluntary. If you choose to recycle, you'll gain the satisfaction of knowing that your old polyester garments will not end up in a landfill or an incinerator, and that future Patagonia products will require significantly less virgin polyester (less oil) than products from seasons past.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Fine Brew Can = Finer Rivers...

During the month of May, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. will donate to Western Rivers Conservancy a portion of the proceeds from every 12-pack of Pale Ale and Summerfest Lager sold in the United States. LINK

Courtesy of the Chum...

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Days On Road and Water

A spring road trip through southern CO and NM always affords the angler a chance to fish quality water. This particular trip found me meeting with some great Patagonia Fish accounts and spending some time with the folks that make them the great places they are.

Jon Harp of the Conejos River Anglers was kind enough to take me on a quick tour of that storied fishery. If you have never had an opportunity to walk the land and water of that canyon, make a plan to do so. "Spectacular" does not do it justice. Although the water was running closer to chocolate milk, the company and scenery more than made up for it. Jon has done an incredible job with the Superfly event and the potential for some amazing river habitat improvements over the next few years is quickly becoming reality. Kudos to all the staff there.

From there it was off to the San Juan to meet with Larry Johnson and Leslie Jedrey who operate the Soaring Eagle Lodge. Short story - get there. Great company, excellent guide staff, productive private water and fantastic meals are just the tip of the iceberg. The fabled waters of the SJ produced many a hungry rainbow and brown trout, and the unique nature of the fishery demanded a diverse skill set and patience.

To top it all off, there is no better chance to drill professional guides on Patagonia gear. Even I got to put some products I had not used to the test including the Stormfront Pack, the Hip Chest Pack and the new Guidewater Waders. Make no mistake - the water of the San Juan never really warms up and merino-lined booties make and 8-hour day of wading plenty comfy. As always, the Great Divider stands out as the premier drift boat bag. I got to row Larry's Clackacraft (exactly the same as my boat which made it easy...) one day and the GD keeps everything where you need it and dry to boot.

Thanks to everyone for your hospitality, local knowledge and dedication to the Patagonia brand. I have to give a special bonus award to Larry and Leslie - waking up every morning to the Red Sox scores outside the fly shop was just sensational - the fact they swept the Yankees series boded well for tight lines on the water!

The Remat!

One man's trash is another man or woman's…wader changing mat. The ultimate recycled product, the Remat is a byproduct from automobile gasket manufacturing (o-rings), reworked and repurposed for a long life of heavy-duty use. Beyond wader changing, it doubles (or triples) as a driftboat seat cushion, work station floor mat or boat floor protection from studded boots. The tough, cushy, water- and stain-resistant Remat is also showing up in front of kitchen sinks and mudroom doors wherever anglers live. Surfers, skiers and snowboarders have found the Remat to be ideal for parking lot changing as well as for cushioning between surfboards on the rack. It's a good thing to have around camp too. Made from 100% synthetic nitrile rubber.

Details

  • Withstands temperatures from -40 C to +125 C
  • Oil/fuel resistant
  • No off-gasing
  • Abrasion-resistant
  • Water-resistant
  • Extermely flexible and lightweight
  • No PVC content; floats; easy to wash
  • Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber (NBR) with 30% – 35% Acrylonitrile Content. Commonly referred as "Nitrile" or "Buna-N" rubber.
  • Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
  • 354 g (12.5 oz)
  • Made in USA
Photos by Billy Smith, S. Stracqualursi and Rene Braun

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Scanout Mag Delivers!

"Online publishing tools continue to help spawn new format offspring as paper dependent purveyors struggle to adapt. The most recent evolution is Scanout Magazine. Here's what Tim Pask had to say about this new "off the road" venture:

"Yngve, Peter and I had been tossing this idea around for several months and went to work on the project just after Yngve returned from Argentina. Our magazine concept is very simple and along with our Art Director, Peter Huber, we have decided to release a new issue every time we return from a trip. We will release issues from previous trips, but for the most part we will focus our efforts on recent travels.

The first issue of Scanout Magazine focuses on a trip that Yngve Ask made while traveling throughout Patagonia. It is titled Mustangs of Stag River and Yngve takes us on a photographic tour of this amazing Estancia and the Mustangs that roam its seemingly endless territory. The second issue of Scanout Magazine takes place in Miami Beach, as we pursue The Silver King with Captain Carl Ball.

This latest issue of Scanout Magazine focuses on a Steelhead float trip. We hope you enjoy our newest project."

Thanks, once again, to El Pescador...

Monday, April 13, 2009

CNN Delivers Well-Deserved Press on Project Healing Waters

MADISON COUNTY, Virginia (CNN) -- Amidst the tranquility of a fishing trip at the Rose River Farm in Madison County, a wounded warrior says he almost feels "semi-normal again."

The amputee is one of about 1,000 servicemen and veterans who have reaped the benefits of the therapeutic art of fly-fishing, with the help of retired Navy Capt. Ed Nicholson.

"The demons of war, you just don't set them aside," says Nicholson, 67. "But once you get out on the river, the serenity is incredibly healing."

While recovering from cancer surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2004, Nicholson witnessed wounded and disabled men and women -- many of them amputees -- struggling with their injuries.

"Other than being in Vietnam and seeing people in the process of getting hurt, I never really had a full appreciation for the recovery part and what happened after they came home. My recovery was nothing compared to what they were facing. It planted the seed that maybe there's something I could do," Nicholson says.

The solution was obvious to Nicholson, who says being an outdoorsman is in his blood: Get them out of the hospital and into nature.

Through free classes and outings, Nicholson's organization, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, helps rehabilitate injured and disabled servicemembers and veterans.

"We would run these classes that would better prepare them to be fishermen when the weather got nice and we could move outside, start casting lessons and go fishing," he says.

Nicholson and ty flying instructor John Colburn saw that the discipline of tying flies, which requires patience and training, benefited veterans recovering from injuries. And it helped them relax.

Read more HERE.

See video HERE.

Courtesy of CNN.com

BWO's Starting To Cause A Stir In CO

"It isn't necessarily carved in stone that the meek shall inherit. But, in the case of a certain tiny insect, it certainly can cause a lot of commotion.

You'll find this occurrence on display at rivers all across the Colorado high country, where an emergence of miniature mayflies has touched off what may be the most dynamic surface fly-fishing event of the season.

This little bit of a bug is the baetis, better known and loved by its descriptive name, the Blue-Winged Olive or, for simplification, BWO. The beauty of the baetis is in its punch, the sheer strength to endure a cold weather lifestyle where other mayflies cannot survive.

In doing so, it serves a serendipitous function both for hungry trout and eager anglers. The season's first significant dry fly event features the perfect insect for Colorado, where higher elevation and a plenitude of tailwaters demands a bug tough enough to take the chill. This tough little bug also has the punch to produce two separate broods each year; rare among mayflies, it yields a second hatch almost precisely six months later, in late September and October — just in case we didn't have enough fun first time around."

Read more here!

By Charlie Meyers
The Denver Post


Photo: Charlie Craven's Soft Hackle BWO Emerger has proved deadly for spring hatches on the Arkansas River. ( Charlie Craven, Special to The Denver Post )

Friday, April 10, 2009

Congrats YC!

Jim Range Conservation Vision Award: Yvon Chouinard

"Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia's founder, started Patagonia in 1973 to meet the equipment and clothing needs of outdoor enthusiasts, primarily rock climbers, hikers and anglers. From the very beginning, Patagonia devoted time and money to the increasingly apparent national and world-wide environmental crisis. Yvon saw what was happening in the remote corners of the world: creeping pollution and deforestation, the slow, then not so slow, disappearance of fish and wildlife and decided to do something about it. Since then, Patagonia never looked back.

Yvon had the foresight and commitment to have Patagonia become a leader in giving back to natural resources to ensure their future viability and stability. In 1986, Patagonia began a program that makes it unique among corporate entities that care about fisheries habitat. Patagonia committed to donate 10% of profits each year to grass-roots environmental groups. They later upped the ante to 1% of sales, or 10% of profits, whichever was greater. Patagonia has kept to that commitment every year since, and placed a high emphasis on fishery habitat protection over the years, as evidenced by the starting of the World Trout Initiative to specifically address trout habitats and populations, the 1% For the Planet program that supports local grass-roots projects which include fishery habitat projects, and the Conservation Alliance – a program that enlists other funding sources to participate in wildlife and fisheries habitat projects."

Synopsis:

SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL FISH HABITAT AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Award Ceremony to be held at Jim Range National Casting Call, Winners include: EPA, Patagonia, Project SHARE, LLI-University of Wisconsin-Extension Lakes

(Washington, DC) – A group of the nation’s leading authorities on aquatic conservation, the National Fish Habitat Board, will honor two exceptional organizations and two individual champions in aquatic resource conservation at the Second Annual National Fish Habitat Awards ceremony on April 27, 2009 at the Jim Range National Casting Call hosted by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association.

From nominations submitted by the hundreds of organizations that comprise the National Fish Habitat Partners Coalition, the awardees demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to fish habitat conservation, science and education. They are leading by example to help resolve the nation’s most significant fisheries problems.

For 2009, the selection committee added an additional award category, Extraordinary Action category in support of fish habitat, bringing the total number of awards to four. Also, in honor of the recently passed Jim Range, who tragically lost his battle with cancer, the selection committee has re-named the Exceptional Vision Award in Jim’s honor. The award will now be the Jim Range Conservation Vision Award. “Renaming the Award in honor of Jim, is just a small token to honor all that he has done in Washington to support fish and wildlife conservation. The Board found it fitting to rename the award and there is no better venue to honor Jim than Casting Call.” said Kelly Hepler, National Fish Habitat Board Chairman. “Jim was a true pioneer for conservation and was a true visionary when it came to fish and wildlife related issues.”



Thursday, April 2, 2009

Pack Vest Revisited!


Patagonia introduced the Pack Vest in 1996 and holds the patent on this modular backpack and utility vest concept . This award winning product continues to provide straight forward, reliable functionality even though it hasn't changed all that much in over a decade. The latest version of this piece of gear has some crossover functionality with the Stormfront Pack. The front vest component connects to that as well. What inspired the post though was that I saw reviews of the Sun Mask and Pack Vest in Steve Schmidt's Western Rivers March newsletter that I wanted to share. Here's what Steve wrote about the Pack Vest:

"Over the three decades I’ve been seriously chasing fish with a fly rod, I’ve not found a more versatile vest than this. For 2009 it’s been revised, and it's better than ever. It can be either a very light and perfectly functional vest, or a vest with a comfortable pack on your back for carrying rain gear, camera, lunch, water, etc…or it's just a very good backpack for wherever you may wander. For the money, considering the cost of a good vest these days, it’s also a great value at $180.00 (US Dollars)"

Visit the Patagonia web site to learn more about the Pack Vest.










Once again, thanks to Steve and Way Upstream for a great post.

The Divider Series - Live And Direct

From standing waves to blue-water wind chop, there's one universal truth: Watercraft decks get wet. Hence, the award-winning Great Divider and new Sub Divider. These soft-sided gear cases efficiently organize and protect everything a waterman needs. They are built from 840-denier nylon with a polyurethane coating on both sides and patented molded top and bottom "pans" for waterproof protection even in standing water (up to the #10 reverse coated zipper). Welded seams eliminate leakage. Shock-absorbing high-density foam gives these gear cases structure and can be removed for cleaning or to create an occasional cooler. Inside, foam dividers can be arranged in multiple configurations. Transparent pocketing makes locating things easy plus the end pockets are removable and are excellent for organizing small items. Access through the highly water-resistant zipper is aided by a new t-grip plus we've eased the corner radii for a little smoother zipper action. The Dividers are now more streamlined than ever with a single, widely adjustable, removable handle/split shoulder strap. Both the Dividers make great air travel carry on bags for sensitive equipment. Note that the time tested Great Divider fits into the base of the Freightliner Max as well as the newer Freewheeler Max. You'll find the Guidewater Duffle collection to be Divider-friendly too.







Photos by Rene Braun

Thanks to Steve and Way Upstream

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Brownlining with T2...

"ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Like most serious fly fishermen, Tom Teasdale has a little-known place where he finds peace in a river's placid waters.

Standing waist-deep and casting a hand-tied fly earlier this month, he pointed to his favorite deep pool. "This is the honey hole," he said.

Here, the fish are big. The strikes are frequent. And other anglers are kept at bay by the occasional bobbing diaper.

Mr. Teasdale's fly-fishing hole is on the South Platte River, at the mouth of a 6-foot-wide corrugated-metal drainpipe and downstream from a wastewater-treatment plant. The water has elevated levels of E. coli bacteria, according to government surveys. When Mr. Teasdale walks alone past the graffiti-covered overpass and down the littered trail in this Denver suburb, he brings his Glock 9mm pistol to ward off "shady characters."

Mr. Teasdale is a "brownliner," one of the growing ranks of fly fishermen who try to catch whatever lives in the muck close to home -- in drainage canals, cemented urban riverbeds and murky farm-runoff canals. Another of Mr. Teasdale's favorite spots is a muddy stretch of river behind a strip mall.

Brownliners enjoy fly-fishing's primary perks -- the suspense of watching a fly disappear beneath the water's surface, the struggle of man against beast, the spinning of fish stories. If that doesn't come with fresh water and clean air, so be it."

Read more here.

Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal.

Monday, March 16, 2009

State Of The Steelhead

To further put the "world record" Hoh steelhead hullabaloo in perspective I would encourage everyone to read Patagonia Fly Fishing Ambassador Dylan Tomine's, State of the Steelhead. Originally appearing in Wild on the Fly, it can now be found in on-line magazine form courtesy of Tim Pask. Balancing the sobering information contained in the article is some photography from Tim and Jeff Bright that beautifully underscores exactly what's at stake.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Pebble Mine In Men's Journal

By Marshall Cutchin

"A pair of earthen dams (one, the world's largest at four miles long) will hold back 10 square miles of chemical waste. If this toxic lagoon ever leaks -- ever -- it will poison not only nearby streams and rivers but also the key spawning grounds for the largest sustainable salmon fishery on Earth, 200 miles downstream in Bristol Bay." In Men's Journal, writer Daniel Duane takes a closer look at the ongoing fight over whether Northern Dynasty should be allowed to build a massive gold, copper, and molybdenum mining operation in the Alaskan wilderness.


Courtesy of MidCurrent, again...

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Get Some!

Colorado Springs Fly Fishing Show

The 2nd annual Colorado Springs Fly Fishing Show hosted by Angler's Covey was held yesterday. Several industry reps were on hand to chat with the few hundred customers and anglers that came down on a funky snowy day.

Fly tying clinics ran throughout the day and some excellent slide show / Power Point presentations covered great topics such as fishing effectively with streamers and the seasonal hatches in the Roaring Fork Valley. I took advantage of a large space and set up five seasonal layering scenarios and talked to several people about the appropriate Patagonia pieces they needed to stay comfy on the water. Angler's Covey has done a great job with their landscaping and have two large casting pools on the side of the building and just about every rod in the house got tested - and several were sold.

All in all a really fun event and a great success for the Covey. They moved a lot of product, educated local anglers and continued to build the strong community in the Springs. I was very glad to be a part of it.

Patagonia Layering 101:

Friday, February 27, 2009

FFFT & Boulder - A Classic Combo

Once again the home town did not disappoint with a fantastic showing at the Boulder Theater for the Fly Fishing Film Tour. After a 1-year hiatus, the Tour was back and better than ever as an eager crowd ate it up.

With a few changes in the line-up there were films that appealed to everyone and once again the footage of a winter midge hatch on the Roaring Fork got great response (The volume of that response had nothing to do with a crowd ready to take on the challenge thrown down by Tour organizers: The last time the FFFT was at the Boulder Theater the bar posted its all-time best sales. What? That's right. Could we beat it this time around? I'm not sure if we did but as I closed out my tab the boys working the stick were very pleased...).

A beautiful Boulder Boat Works drift boat (pictured) added some spice out front and the raffling of a new SST Jacket and Sage Z-Axis rod got the crowd fired up during intermission. I have to admit, we were all psyched on the number of women in the house and a lucky lady went home with the jacket. Nice.

The folks from Rocky Mountain Anglers and Front Range Anglers also threw in some great prizes. The staffs of both shops came out in force and although I never saw him, the ever entertaining Randal Hicks of Rocky Mtn. made his presence felt throughout the evening.

To all of those who showed up, thanks again. It is a pleasure to live in a town with so many bug-throwers ready to support the pursuit we love, the groups that protect the resources we treasure and the film makers that get us fired up in the middle of winter. See you on the water!

How's this for a classic Boulder Theater line-up?!?


Thursday, February 26, 2009

Early Reef Session...

Sometimes... You just have to get out there. Mikey, Blake and I got to take advantage of some unseasonably warm February weather and floated the Reef this past Saturday. Water being cold as it was it took a little while for the fish to wake up and they hit the bottom as soon as the sun took the low arc but in between we got a few hours of quality action.

Afterwards we joined over 450 Casper locals at the Parkway Plaza Motel for the Wyoming Wilderness Association benefit concert benefiting the Rock Creek campaign. Patagonia was a title sponsor along with Mountain Sports and it was inspiring to see so many people motivated to protect this beautiful place. Well done everyone!

All in all, a great day.

The NEW SST!

Bristol Bay, Tierra del Fuego, the Russian Arctic – they all share three things: good fishing, bad weather and a whole lot of SST Jackets. Since its introduction in 1989, the venerable SST has continually set the standard for on-the-water weather protection and this new iteration sets the bar even higher.

The 2009 version features our latest advances in shell design and technology, along with a host of new, angler-friendly details. We're building this jacket from 3-layer nylon double ripstop fabric with our completely waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish. The new SST is durable and windproof yet still extremely light. Plus there are two features that you might not expect: 1) The jacket hem is folded over and glued which eliminates the conventional tunnel that can hold water. 2) The SST is fully recyclable (Common Threads Recycling Program).

The feature list continues with a new integrated hood with single-pull adjustment and waterproof, corrosion-resistant Aquazip center front, hand/cargo and back pocket zippers. The iconic large, gusseted chest pockets are seam sealed (waterproof) up to their opening and set high for deep wading. Each large pocket has a zippered tippet pocket inside. Our latest streamlined cuffs lie extremely flat and are virtually snag-proof when worn loose or tightened to seal out water.

More details include: Large back pocket, zippered inside pocket, hidden rod holder/accessory clip, lined collar/chin flap and two Beastie D-rings on front, one on back. For comparison, the SST is 2" longer than the Deep Wading Jacket. The Guidewater Jacket is our longest option - 2" longer than the SST.

Thanks to all of you who weighed in with advice on the Setting the standard post back in 2007, to YC who tested prototypes across the globe and who made sure the jacket worked with our favorite packs & techniques and huge thanks to the Patagonia design and development teams for jumping hurdle after hurdle to make this jacket the best. Onward.







Photos courtesy of Yvon Chouinard, Brian Bennett and Alistair Stewart Illustration by El Pescador