Steller’s Ski Wear
Thermoregulation-Focused Ski Mountaineering Apparel Design
Henry J. Gilbert
Sports Product Design, University of Oregon
SPD 689, Thesis Studio
Carly Mick, Rachael Volker
March 20, 2022
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 2
Abstract
This paper examines the role that apparel plays in ski mountaineering performance. At
this time, many top outdoor brands such as Patagonia, Black Diamond, and Arc’teryx design
apparel specific to backcountry skiing, ski touring, and ski mountaineering. These products are
designed to maximize athlete comfort, performance, and style.
This report incorporates analyses of these products, along with intellectual property
research, athlete interviews, and academic research to better understand how ski mountaineering
apparel can best help improve athlete performance, and where the current options can be
improved. It argues that the area with the most room for improvement is in thermoregulation.
This leads to the ultimate goal of this project: how could ski mountaineering outerwear
provide thermal comfort through a larger range of conditions?
Keywords: Ski mountaineering, outerwear, apparel, design, thermoregulation
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 3
Contents
Abstract 2
Introduction 6
“How Could We” Statement 6
What Is Ski Mountaineering? 7
Ski Mountaineering History 8
Ski Mountaineering Today 10
Demographics 10
Target User & Market Size 11
Athlete Skills 12
Ski Mountaineering Environment 13
Steller’s Jay Physical Adaptations 15
Standard Layering System 16
Product Focus 17
Ski Mountaineering Safety & Regulations 18
Product Anatomy & Jobs to be Done 21
Product Anatomy 21
Vest 21
Shell Jacket 22
Shell Pants 23
Jobs to be Done 24
Key Competitors and Baseline Products 26
SWOT Analysis 30
Intellectual Property Landscape 33
Materials and Manufacturing 40
Materials 40
Manufacturing 41
Branding Language 44
Color 45
Graphics 46
Logos 47
Branding 51
Quantitative Research 54
Physiology of Ski Mountaineering 55
VO2 Max 55
Heart Rate 55
Thermoregulation 56
Biomechanics of Ski Mountaineering 57
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 4
Stride Length 57
Injuries 58
Psychology of Ski Mountaineering 60
Psychological Benefits of Ski Mountaineering 60
Psychology of Backcountry Risk Management 61
Research Methods 62
Athlete Insights 64
Project Alignment with Author’s Strengths and Goals 68
Clifton Strengths Finder 68
The Golden Circle 68
How Thesis Project Aligns with Golden Circle 68
How Thesis Project Supports Career Goals 69
Platform Technology: Active Insulation 69
Manufacturing Process 69
Active Insulation Benefits 72
Performance Testing Plans 74
Testing Results 77
Proof of Mentorship 82
Final Designs 84
Line Plan 84
Materials Palette 86
Body Mapping 86
Trends 87
Stormbird Jacket 90
Stormbird Pants 90
Bluebird Vest 91
Bluebird Pants 91
Final Collection 92
References 93
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 5
Introduction
“How Could We” Statement
Ski mountaineering is an intense sport that features rigorous high-output aerobic activity
in high-elevation snowy environments. In these environments, “The weather can change very
rapidly with little warning” (National Parks Service, 1970). The combination of high elevation
and canyons that manipulate the wind direction cause the weather to change faster and be less
predictable than the weather at lower elevations (The Catalyst, 2020).
However, while the outdoor weather can change rapidly, “the body’s climate can change
even faster” (Ulriksen, n.d). As an athlete changes from high-aerobic-output to
low-aerobic-output activity in cold areas, the body temperature can drop rapidly, especially if the
athlete is sweaty. “Moisture next to your skin can suck heat away from your body four times as
fast as air - thus it is highly important not to get excessively sweaty on the uphill” (Larsen,
2020).
The combination of high and low output periods during ski mountaineering leads to two
general rules: “Staying warm while moving is directly linked to staying dry,” and “staying warm
while stationary relies on your ability to insulate” (Larsen, 2020).
Therefore, the best solution to thermoregulation for ski mountaineering will facilitate air
flow during high-output uphill travel in order to keep the user dry and can trap air for insulation
to keep the user warm during periods of inactivity and in cold temperatures.
This leads to the ultimate goal of this project: How could ski mountaineering outerwear
provide thermal comfort through a larger range of conditions?
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 6
What Is Ski Mountaineering?
The sport of ski mountaineering involves traveling across mountainous terrain using skis
for both walking uphill and descending downhill. There are 3 primary modes of travel in ski
mountaineering: skinning, boot packing, and downhill skiing. Skinning involves attaching skins
to the bottom of the skis that provide traction, allowing the athlete to move uphill without sliding
backward. Boot packing involves strapping the skis to the athlete’s backpack, and hiking uphill
using ski boots and crampons. This mode of travel is traditionally used in terrain that is too steep
and/or technical for skins to be used. Downhill skiing is used for descending. For this mode of
travel, the athlete removes the skins from their skis and skis downhill. This can be done using
either Alpine Touring (AT) bindings which lock the heel down into alpine mode, or telemark
bindings which leave the heel free. Figure 1 shows these three modes of travel.
Figure 1
Ski Mountaineering Modes of Travel
Note. This figure illustrates the three modes of travel in ski mountaineering. From left to right:
Skinning, boot packing, and descending.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 7
Ski Mountaineering History
Ski mountaineering originated in prehistoric times as a method for Norse peoples to
travel across snowy, mountainous terrain for trading and hunting (Dawson, 2021). The earliest
evidence of skiing is a petroglyph of a skier from 2,000 B.C. (Dahlmann, 2020). Figure 2 shows
this petroglyph.
Figure 2
Rodoy Petroglyph, 2000 B.C. (Dahlmann, 2020)
Later, Viking peoples in Norway wrote sagas about skiing. The Viking peoples also
worshiped pagan gods including Ullr, the Norse God of skiing. Figure 3 shows a depiction of
Ullr on the Böksta Runestone, erected around 1050 A.D. (Koopmans, 2020). Ullr is seen on the
bottom-right of this runestone.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 8
Figure 3
Ullr, the Norse God of skiing depicted on the Böksta Runestone, 1050 A.D. (Koopmans, 2020)
There are many Norwegian legends that celebrate great ski mountaineering feats. During
the Norwegian Civil War in 1206 A.D., the Norwegian military infant prince Haakon IV
Haakonson over mountains and through a blizzard from Lillehammer to safety Østerdalen (Vea,
n.d). Haakonson grew up to put an end to the civil war in 1240, and lead Norway to its “golden
age.” The journey to save Haakonson is celebrated every year in the Birkebeinerrennet, an
annual Norwegian ski mountaineering race, in which participants ski 54 km while carrying a
3.5kg backpack to symbolize the weight of the 1-year-old prince (Birkebeinerrennet, n.d).
In the 1800s, the Norwegians brought ski mountaineering to the Alps (Dawason, n.d).
This spread the sport through the rest of Europe and later to North America. In the North
American Pacific Northwest, many famous peaks were first climbed by ski mountaineers. For
example, in 1854 A.G. Aiken made the first ascent of Mt. Adams using skis (Topinka, n.d).
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 9
Ski Mountaineering Today
Today, modern technology has made ski mountaineering equipment lighter, faster, and
safer than ever before. These technological advancements have changed not only what feats are
possible, but also have made the sport more accessible and popular. The 2020 Covid-19
Pandemic also drastically boosted participation in ski mountaineering, as ski resorts closed,
forcing skiers to the backcountry. Even when resorts reopened, many skiers sought to avoid
crowds at resorts and opted for the backcountry. This trend is reflected by a drastic increase in
gear sales. In the 2020-21 season, year-to-year sales of ski touring and ski mountaineering
equipment increased by 76% (Luhn, 2021). This trend in increased backcountry participation is
expected to continue past the pandemic. As Snowsports Industries America noted, “if there’s one
story worth discussing heading into Winter 2022-23, it’s the continued rise of backcountry/alpine
touring interest” (Storm Mountain Media, 2022).
This rise in popularity has led to ski mountaineering competitions, where athletes
compete for the fastest time in a course that goes from the base of a mountain up to a summit,
and then back down to the base. These races will be added to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (Mather, 2022). The introduction of high-profile globally
televised Olympic ski mountaineering races, increased gear sales, and increased participation all
indicate that ski mountaineering will continue to see massive growth in popularity in the years to
come.
Demographics
Despite advancements in ski mountaineering technologies, ski mountaineering equipment
remains fairly expensive. An entry-level touring setup costs about $2,000-$2,500, and prices
only go up from there (How much should I pay for a ski-touring setup? 2022). This high cost of
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 10
entry to the sport means that many athletes are high-income young professionals who have a
decent amount of disposable income. Of athletes who go ski mountaineering 6 or more times per
season, 40.1% fall in the 25-34 age range, and 68.2% make at least $75,000 annually (Snowsport
Participation Study, 2021).
Within ski mountaineering participants, there is a significant gender disparity: 66% of
participants are male and 34% are female. While this disparity reflects the outdoors and
snowsports industries as a whole, there are efforts being made within ski mountaineering to bring
more women into the sport. Women’s ski clubs like “Lady Shred,” “Babes in the Backcountry,”
and “She Jumps” encourage women to enter the sport through community events and free
first-time gear rental (Hansman, 2021) (Women's mentorship program, 2022). Educational
groups like Altus Mountain Guides and Northwest Avalanche Center offer educational and
sometimes subsidized backcountry courses specifically for women (Women's mentorship
program, 2022) (Women's Ski Mountaineering, n.d). Many believe that initiatives such as these
will help bring more women into ski mountaineering and balance out the gender disparity.
Target User & Market Size
Based on the demographics research, the target user for this line of products is
high-earning young professionals who have extensive skiing experience. These skiers are the
weekend warrior type, who try to make the most of their weekends and enjoy spending their
disposable income on gear.
Therefore, the target user is a 24 to 36-year-old male who makes over $75,000 annually
and lives in the United States of America. Based on the SIA Participation data for backcountry
skiing, this accounts for approximately 128,000 potential users (Snowsport Participation Study,
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 11
2021). This number of projected users will likely continue to grow as more people continue to
enter this sport.
Athlete Skills
Ski mountaineering combines the technical skills of mountaineering and alpine skiing
with the cardiovascular endurance of cross-country skiing and rock climbing. Therefore, some
important skills for ski mountaineering athletes include avalanche safety knowledge,
mountaineering knowledge, cardiovascular endurance, and alpine skiing ability. Ski
mountaineering educational courses generally assume that beginner ski mountaineers have
already developed athletic skills and stamina from alpine skiing, rock climbing, running, and
other sports. Therefore, courses focus on knowledge-based skills such as route planning,
avalanche rescue, navigating crevasses, building anchors, and belaying (Stock, n.d). Figure 4
shows an example of students in a course learning how to build an anchor and belay.
Figure 4
Ski Mountaineering Students Learn Safety Techniques (Stock, n.d)
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 12
Based on these skills, the athlete apparel needs are incredibly demanding. The athlete
needs apparel that not only provides warmth and environmental protection, but also is
waterproof, breathes well during high-aerobic-output activity, offers a maximum range of motion
and mobility, is comfortable to wear all day, and is lightweight.
Ski Mountaineering Environment
Ski mountaineering is an intense sport that features rigorous high-output aerobic activity
in high-elevation snowy environments. In these environments, “The weather can change very
rapidly with little warning” (National Parks Service, 1970). The combination of high elevation
and canyons that manipulate the wind direction cause the weather to change faster and be less
predictable than the weather at lower elevations (The Catalyst, 2020).
This project will focus on Mt. Hood as an example of a popular ski mountaineering route
in the Pacific Northwest. As the U.S. Forest Service warns potential climbers, “Mt. Hood is
notorious for rapidly changing weather. Storms can arrive quickly, resulting in poor visibility and
extreme temperature swings” (Climbing Mt. Hood, n.d). Mt. Hood is particularly prone to
extreme weather and temperature swings because of the elevation and exposure. Figure 5 shows
ski mountaineers approaching the summit of Mt Hood on a warm spring day. The most common
route for climbers is the Hogsback route, on the south side of Mt. Hood. This route is the
namesake for this collection.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 13
Figure 5
Ski Mountaineers Approach the Summit of Mt. Hood (Bosworth, n.d).
Ski mountaineers typically begin their journey at 6000’ of elevation at the Timberline
Lodge, and take 4-5 hours to reach the summit at 11,240’ (Climbing Mt. Hood, n.d). At the
nearest National Weather Service weather station, located at Government Camp (3,914’), the
2021 season (January - March) high temperature was 60 °F, and the season low temperature was
5 °F (US Department of Commerce, n.d). It should be noted that this station is thousands of feet
lower than the summit, and the summit temperatures can get much lower. Mt. Hood also has one
of the deepest and most consistent snow bases in the country. Mt. Hood Meadows, a ski resort on
Mt. Hood, receives an average of 444” of snowfall each season (Meadows Team, 2019).
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 14
Steller’s Jay Physical Adaptations
Many animals reside on Mt. Hood, and have developed interesting adaptations to
thermoregulate in this extreme environment. Among these is the Steller’s Jay, a non-migratory
bird native to the Pacific Northwest that resides on Mt. Hood year round. This bird has
developed physical adaptations that allow it to use its feathers for insulation in the winter, and for
ventilation in the summer. In the winter, the Steller’s Jay “fluffs” its feathers, trapping warm air
around its body. In the summer, when the Steller’s Jay needs to cool down, it “flutters” its
feathers, opening air channels that allow cool air to cool itself off. Figure 6 shows these physical
changes in action.
Figure 6
Steller’s Jay Physical Changes for Thermoregulation
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 15
Standard Layering System
Today, ski mountaineering athletes rely on a standard layering system consisting of base
layers, mid layers, insulation layers, and outer layers. A well balanced layering system is
essential for temperature control and for moisture management. Figure 7 shows this layering
system.
Figure 7
Typical Ski Mountaineering Layering System
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 16
The outer layer is a hard shell or soft shell that blocks wind and snow. The insulation
layer is a down or synthetic-fill puffy that provides extra warmth in cold conditions. The
midlayer is a lightweight fleece made of wool or synthetic materials that breathes very well and
provides some insulation. The base layer is a very thin tighter fitting wool or synthetic layer that
is worn against the skin go wick sweat.
Product Focus
This project will focus on a ski mountaineering apparel. Specifically, this project will
focus on developing two lines of apparel: one for winter and one for spring. Spring skiing is
extremely popular in the Pacific Northwest, which makes a spring-specific collection important.
Each collection will include a touring cap, a shell top, and shell pants. Figure 8 visualizes what
this line plan will look like and how the various elements can be worn together.
There are many other components to a ski mountaineering apparel system beyond those
created for this project. These include base layers, gloves, socks, eyewear, and packs, and
helmets. The products designed for this project will integrate with these other components to
create a coherent system.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 17
Figure 8
Line Plan Visualization
Ski Mountaineering Safety & Regulations
In order to safely ski in the backcountry, athletes must be trained in reading avalanche
conditions and must carry avalanche rescue equipment and other safety equipment. Certain
equipment should always be carried. This equipment includes a helmet, skins, an avalanche
beacon, an avalanche probe, a shovel, and a touring backpack. Other safety equipment must be
carried during certain routes, depending on the length of the journey and the conditions, but is
not necessary for all circumstances. This equipment includes a repair kit, maps, a compass, an
ice axe, a two-way radio, food, water, a first aid kit, an emergency heat source, emergency
blankets, emergency shelters, an air mattress, extra layers, a headlamp, a GPS, and a satellite
phone. Figure 9 shows an example of the items that may be carried for a ski mountaineering
expedition.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 18
Figure 9
Ski Mountaineering Safety Equipment Kit Example (Goodland, n.d)
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 19
Most events and races have a list of required safety equipment. For example, the Elk
Mountain Grand Traverse, which is considered by many to be “North America's premier ski
mountaineering race,” has a very extensive pack list (Elk Mountain Grand Traverse: Insider's
Gear Guide 2022).
However, for the majority of athletes who are pursuing ski mountaineering ventures
outside of organized competitions, they must determine their gear pack lists independently. Ski
mountaineering apparel must be compatible with all of the safety equipment listed above. The
most important pieces of equipment are the avalanche beacon, the helmet, and the backpack.
The avalanche beacon is worn on a harness underneath the outer and mid-layers.
Therefore, the outer and mid layers must allow for easy access to the avalanche beacon in the
event of an emergency.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 20
The helmet should always be worn while descending but is sometimes removed during
non-technical ascents. Therefore, the apparel should be compatible with helmets. Specifically,
this means that all hoods, hats, and eyewear should be compatible with helmets. The pack may
carry safety equipment and skis and can become heavy. Therefore, the apparel must allow a
heavy backpack to be worn comfortably over all layers.
Product Anatomy & Jobs to be Done
Product Anatomy
This section will dissect the product anatomy of each component.
Vest
The insulated vest can either be worn as an insulating mid-layer under a shell jacket or worn on
its own over a base layer. This garment functions to provide insulation and block the wind when
the skier stops moving, descends, or is exposed to sudden wind gusts, while also remaining
highly breathable and shedding excess heat. The vest has several key components. The
breathable, DWR-finished fabric repels snow while also allowing excess heat and water vapor to
escape. The low-profile insulation provides warmth without obstructing outer layers from fitting
correctly. The easy-access hand pockets are convenient for storing items without donning and
doffing the backpack. Figure 11 shows an illustration of these key features.
Figure 11
Vest Product Dissection
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 21
Shell Jacket
The shell jacket is typically worn all day during colder and windier days, and on warmer days the
jacket is typically packed during the climb and worn during the descent. The shell jacket has
several important features. The adjustable cuffs cinch down to prevent snow from entering the
sleeves. The adjustable vents facilitate ventilation and cooling. The chest pockets allow for easy
climbing skin storage. The reinforced hood brim prevents the hood brim from blocking vision.
The hood adjustment points allow the helmet to fit well either over a helmet or without a helmet.
The jacket is typically constructed of either a soft shell or a hard shell material. Figure 12 shows
an illustration of these key features.
Figure 12
Shell Jacket Product Dissection
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 22
Shell Pants
The shell pants are typically worn all day every day. The pants have several important features.
The adjustable waistband accommodates various waist sizes. The thigh vents facilitate
ventilation and cooling. The articulated knees help improve mobility. The reinforced kick panels
help improve durability in high-wear areas. The integrated gators help create a snug fit over
boots. The pants are typically constructed of either a soft shell or a hard shell material. Figure 13
shows an illustration of these key features.
Figure 13
Shell Pants Product Dissection
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 23
Jobs to be Done
All Ski Mountaineering apparel must perform well in many different conditions to meet
the intensive needs of the athletes. The jobs to be done can be divided into four general
categories: facilitating thermoregulation, conserving energy, integrating with equipment, and
protecting the environment. Figure 14 shows a breakdown of these categories.
Figure 14
Ski Mountaineering Apparel Jobs to be Done
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 24
The first job category is the facilitation of thermoregulation. Both uphill modes of travel,
skinning and boot packing, are energy-intensive aerobic activities. During these aerobic
activities, the apparel must breathe well to avoid trapping sweat. However, the apparel must also
provide adequate thermal and environmental protection during snowy winter days. Perhaps most
importantly, the apparel must be adaptable, so that it can adapt to the changing environments and
conditions that the user experiences.
The next job category is energy conservation. All garments must fit well, be comfortable,
and provide an adequate range of motion for all movements. The garments should also be easy to
take on and off. Garments also must be as light-weight as possible in order to reduce the weight
that athletes carry uphill, and therefore reduce the work that the athlete exerts.
The next category is equipment integration. All garments must remain functional and
comfortable in conjunction with all necessary safety equipment. This means hoods should fit
well with a helmet. Jackets and vests should not inhibit beacon access, or pants should have a
designated beacon pocket. All removable layers should pack down well to fit into a backpack.
And all layers should be comfortable when worn together and when worn with a backpack.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 25
The final job category is environmental protection. Environmental advocacy has become
an increasingly important issue to outdoors enthusiasts such as ski mountaineers. Organizations
such as Protect Our Winters (POW) have been working to connect professional athletes to
legislators to help improve environmental policy. Pow executive director Mario Molina believes
that POW has pushed “the entire industry into the realization that civic engagement is not a
political activity” (Duncombe, 2022). For the purposes of this project, environmental
responsibility will be approached through sourcing sustainable materials and through durability,
both of which have been shown to be two of the most impactful ways outerwear brands can
reduce their carbon footprint (Salfino, 2022).
Key Competitors and Baseline Products
The existing ski mountaineering apparel framework relies on a layering system. This
layering system typically has 4 components: base layers, mid layers, outerwear, and accessories
(How to layer for backcountry skiing, n.d). This section will analyze the components that will be
redesigned for this project in depth. These products will be designed to be worn with other
in-market products, such as base layers, gloves, eye wear, that would typically be worn with
these garments.
The layering system starts a base layers. Base layers make direct contact with the skin
and are typically made of knit polyester or wool that wicks sweat and moves with the body. The
base layers may or may not provide insulation or compression, depending on the conditions and
the wearer’s preference. This collection will not include a base layer.
The next layers are midlayers and insulation layers. Midlayers are fleece jackets that
provide insulation without inhibiting breathability. Insulation layers are puffy jackets with a
down or synthetic fill that provide insulaiton in cold conditions. These layers can be worn on
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 26
their own or underneath a shell jacket. This collection will not include mid layers or insulation
layers.
The next layer is outer layers. Ski mountaineering outer layers typically have an
uninsulated shell construction. These shells come in two different forms: hard shells and soft
shells. The materials section will analyze the differences between hard and soft shells in depth.
Many outerwear companies release shell jackets and pants in the same line with the same name.
For example, Patagonia’s top-of-the-line touring softshell pants and jacket are the Patagonia
Upstride, Black Diamond’s top-of-the-line touring pants and jacket are both called the Dawn
Patrol, and Arc’teryx’s top-of-the-line touring hardshell pants and jacket are both called Rush.
Figure 15 compares the Upstride, Dawn Patrol, and Rush shell jackets. The Upstride is a soft
shell, the Rush is a non-hardshell, and the Dawn Patrol is a hybrid, meaning it has both hard shell
and soft shell paneling.
Figure 15
Competitor Shell Jacket Comparison
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 27
Figure 16 compares the Upstride, Dawn Patrol, and Rush shell pants. The Upstride and
Dawn patrol pants are both soft shells, and the Rush is a 4-way stretch hardshell. It should be
noted that the shell pants generally use stretchier fabrics than the shell jackets, despite having the
same product names.
Figure 16
Competitor Shell Pants Comparison
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 28
In warmer climates, skiers may opt to wear a vest instead of a full jacket. This collection
will focus on a vest. Some key examples of touring vests are the Norrona Lyngen, the Patagonia
Nano-Air, and the Dynafit TLT Light. All of these examples use synthetic insulation. The use of
predominant synthetic insulation for ski touring vests is discussed in the materials section. Figure
17 shows what these products look like, along with prices, weights, and materials.
Figure 17
Competitor Vests Comparison
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 29
SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis examines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of any
given product. As part of this project, a SWOT analysis was performed for an assortment of shell
jackets, shell pants, insulated vests, and caps that are marketed to be used for ski mountaineering.
The jackets analyzed are the Arc’teryx Rush hardshell jacket and the Patagonia Upstride
softshell jacket. The SWOT analyses for these products take into account not only the material
differences between hardshell and softshells but also the design differences and the findings from
customer reviews. The findings from these SWOT analyses are shown in tables 1-2.
The pants analyzed are the Arc’teryx Rush hardshell pants and the Patagonia Upstride
softshell pants. These products are the sister products to the shell jackets that were analyzed. The
findings from these SWOT analyses are shown in tables 3-4.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 30
The Dynafit TLT Light Vest and was also analyzed using the SWOT method. This
product was selected because it represents the designs of most ski mountaineering vests. The
findings from this SWOT analysis is shown in table 5.
Table 1
SWOT Analysis for the Arc’teryx Rush Jacket (Rush Jacket Men's, n.d).
Table 2
SWOT Analysis for Patagonia Upstride Jacket (Patagonia Upstride Backcountry Ski Jacket, n.d)
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 31
Table 3
SWOT Analysis for Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pants (Rush Bib Pant Men's, n.d)
Table 4
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 32
SWOT Analysis for Patagonia Upstride Pants (Patagonia Upstride Backcountry Ski Pants, n.d)
Table 5
SWOT Analysis for Dynafit TLT Light Ves(TLT light insulation M VST, n.d)
Intellectual Property Landscape
Many companies currently compete in the ski mountaineering apparel space, and these
companies use patents to protect their original ideas and inventions. These patents protect
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 33
inventions in spaces such as garment construction, new materials, and innovative garment
features. This section of the paper will cover some of the most interesting and relevant patents in
the ski mountaineering patent space.
First, Patagonia has a patent on reinforced seams. This patent protects “a composite seam
system including a narrow weld bead joining two panels of fabric and a seam tape applied
thereon” (Harward, n.d). Figure 19 shows a diagram of this patent. Initially, this seems to cover
all seams manufactured using a USLB machine and SRT. However, closer inspection reveals that
this patent protects a very specific type of seam tape. This tape is a straightforward 2-layer TPU
system that then has a tricot-type “reinforcing” layer added under the adhesive with the intention
that the melted adhesive will flow into and through the tricot layer to meet the substrate. As such,
this interesting patent from Patogiona protects an innovative new seam tape construction.
Figure 19
Patagonia’s patent on reinforced fabric seams (Harward).
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 34
Helly Hansen has a patent protecting their micro-climate system, a series of air tubes that
run the length of a jacket to improve airflow. Figure 20 shows an illustration of this patent. Since
this patent, Helly Hansen has branded this innovation as their H2FLOW™ temperature
regulation system. This system creates air pockets that retain body heat when needed but also
have an innovative ventilation system that allows this trapped warm air to easily be released and
replaced by cool air from outside of the body. Many of Helly Hansen’s current top-of-the-line ski
jackets utilize this technology.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 35
Figure 20
Helly Hansen’s Patent on their Micro Climate System (Ulriksen, n.d)
Nike has a similar patent surrounding ventilated insulation. They have a patent protecting
an insulated polyfill/down jacket with wider bonded baffles. These bonded baffles have laser-cut
perforations that are designed to improve airflow and breathability in an insulating layer (Ingram
et al., 2022). Figure 21 shows illustrations of this design.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 36
Figure 21
Nike Patent for Ventilated Garments (Ingram et al., 2022)
Another relevant patent concerning ski mountaineering is the roll-up sleeve system from
Arc’teryx (Fayle et al., 2013). This system allows the jacket’s sleeves to transition from
long-sleeve to sleeveless, with the excess fabric being stored in a shoulder pocket. This invention
helps facilitate breathability and thermoregulation and is implemented in the Arc’teryx Leaf
Gryphon Jacket. Figure 22 shows an illustration of this invention.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 37
Figure 22
Arc’teryx Roll Sleeve System (Fayle et al., 2013)
There also are many inventions and patents surrounding hoods, particularly ways to
easily adjust the volume of the hood. Arc’teryx is among the companies holding patents in this
space, with the hood design shown in Figure 23. However, there are many other companies who
own IP in this space, including the 7 other hood adjustment patents referenced by Arc'teryx's
patent (Fayle & Routh, 2003). The Arc’teryx storm hood patent protects their mechanism of
adjusting the volume both vertically and horizontally with a single adjustment.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 38
Figure 23
Arc’teryx Adjustable Storm Hood Patent (Fayle & Routh, 2003)
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 39
Materials and Manufacturing
Materials
Material selection is an integral component of apparel design. In outerwear, such as shell
jackets and pants, the typical materials are hardshell or softshell fabrics. Hardshell and softshell
fabrics each have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The hard shell typically has a
2L, 2.5L, or 3L construction, with a woven face. These hard shells are fully waterproof and
windproof and can be designed to offer superior packability, durability, and weight compared to
soft shells. Hard shells typically have a woven face fabric that is either non-stretch and made of
nylon or has stretch and is made of a nylon/elastane blend. Due to limitations with the
waterproof membrane, stretch hard shells typically have more of a “comfort stretch” than a
functional stretch. Adding stretch to hardshell fabrics can reduce the durability, breathability, and
waterproofness, or can increase weight. Stretch fabrics are more common in pants than in
jackets, because leg mobility is more important to skiers than arm mobility.
Soft shells typically have a single-layer knit construction with a soft brushed inside, a
DWR finish, and no waterproof membrane. Soft shells offer superior stretch, comfort, and
breathability at a cheaper price than hard shells but lack the waterproof and windproof properties
of their hardshell counterparts (Hardshell vs. Softshell Jackets: How to choose, n.d).
Insulation is another key material category in this space. Insulated vests and jackets
typically fall into two categories: down, and synthetic insulation. Both of these types of
insulation have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Down is made from waterfowl
plumage, and is known for being “light, easy to compress, long-lasting and breathable”  (Pasteris,
2022). Because down has a better warmth-to-weight ratio than synthetic insulation, it is superior
insulation for garments where warmth is crucial.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 40
However, down has one critical flaw: it does not perform well when it gets wet. Because
of this, the US Army developed Primaloft in the 1980s as a “synthetic down” that can provide
reliable insulation even in wet environments (Shulley, 2017). Synthetic insulators like Primaloft
are cheaper and more water-resistant than down (Pasteris, 2022). These insulators also can be
used with a wider variety of fabrics than down, because it does not require down-proof linings.
Therefore, synthetic insulation is superior for applications that will get wet or snowy. As a result,
the vast majority of ski mountaineering vests on the market use synthetic or Primaloft insulation,
including all of those analyzed in this paper.
This is because vests are not designed to provide maximum insulation. If a user is looking
for maximum insulation, they will choose a down puffy jacket. Vests are typically designed to
insulate the wearer’s chest and core while allowing for breathability and for dissipation of excess
heat and sweat. Additionally, vests will often get wet, either from exposure to snow or from the
sweat of the wearer.
Synthetic insulation is a particularly logical choice in the Pacific Northwest, which is the
target environment for this project. This is because the conditions in the “Pacific Northwest are a
lot warmer and wetter, giving synthetics the upper hand” (Shulley, 2017). Therefore, the vest
designed for this project will be compared to vests that use synthetic insulation. This is more
appropriate than comparing with down vests that are unlikely to be used in this environment.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing methods of apparel can drastically affect the ultimate performance of
the manufactured garments. Some of the key construction methods are cut and sewn seams, sewn
and taped seams, and reinforced ultrasonic line-bonded (USLB) seams. All of these
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 41
manufacturing methods optimize for different factors and play a critical role based on garment
type and material selection.
Cut and sewn seams are the cheapest and most common type of construction. This
construction method involves cutting garment pieces out of fabric and sewing them together. The
sewing can be done by any stitch type, including a lock stitch, overlock stitch, flatlock stitch, and
active seamer to name a few. The type of stitch used affects performance, durability, and cost.
Figure 25 shows an example of a hat made using cut-and-sew manufacturing.
Figure 25
5-panel hat made using cut-and-sew manufacturing (Red 5-panel)
Another type of seam is sewn seams that are covered by seam tape. This follows the same
first step as cut-and-sew seams, but then seam tape is used to cover the sewn seam. Seam tapes
can provide waterproofing, durability, and abrasion resistance. The type of seam tape used
depends on the fabric being used. For example, a 2L waterproof hardshell fabric will use a 2L
seam tape, and the same goes for 2.5L and 3L waterproof hardshell fabrics (Bemis Associates,
n.d). Seam taping is most common for waterproof garments, but can also be used to improve the
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 42
performance and durability of non-waterproof garments. Seam tapes are usually applied using an
industrial laydown machine such as the Macpi 336.59T seam sealing machine (Macpi Group,
2021). Figure 26 shows an example of a seam that is sewn and then sealed with seam tape.
Figure 26
Seam that is sewn and then sealed with seam tape (Seam-sealed, n.d)
Another type of seam is a USLB seam that is reinforced with seam reinforcement tape
(SRT). This type of seam uses a USLB machine to create a weak bond between two pieces of
fabric. This weak bond is then reinforced using SRT. The SRT can add not only durability but
also waterproofing. SRT-reinforced USLB seams weigh less than traditional seams, hold less
water, are lower profile, more comfortable, and more durable, but they also are more expensive
to make. This type of seam is typically seen in the highest pricepoint garments. Because the
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 43
advantages of this type of seam are not limited to waterproofing, this type of seam is seen not
only in waterproof outerwear but also in sportswear and intimates. Figure 27 shows an example
of this type of construction used for a 3L waterproof jacket (Bemis Associates, n.d).
Figure 27
Waterproof 3L Jacket with a USLB seam reinforced with SRT (Bemis Associates)
Branding Language
Branding in the outdoors industry is incredibly important to the success of a product and
company. Three of the most important elements of branding are color, graphics, and logos. This
section will examine each of these sections individually, and then examine how one company
combines all of these elements to create intuitive and cohesive branding across their entire
product line.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 44
Color
Color and color blocking are huge aspects of outerwear design. Many companies with
popular and well-known products release similar product lines year after year with few changes
besides the colorways. Two colors that are particularly common in the outerwear industry today
are blue and yellow. These colors will be the focus of this project based on their popularity today
and expectations to remain popular in the coming seasons. This section will examine how those
colors will evolve over the next few seasons.
Two of the blue tones for A/W 22/23 are Arctic Blue and Atlantic Blue, both of which
confirm the importance of green-infused blues. Black Diamond’s 2022/2023 Mission Shell
Jacket perfectly exemplifies an application of Atlantic Blue, as shown in Figure 28. The third
blue this season, Lazuli Blue, signals “the return of deep, saturated tones” (Smith, 2022).
Looking forward to the next few seasons, blue is expected to remain popular but will shift away
from the green-infused colors and towards lighter colors and pastels.
Yellow outerwear will also remain robust in A/W 22/23 and beyond (Smith, 2022). This
season, warmer golden yellow-browns are especially popular, such as the Satin Brass. Black
Diamond’s 2022/2023 Mission Shell Jacket is also sold in this Satin Brass color. Looking to
future seasons, yellow outerwear will remain popular but will shift to more mineral and
earth-inspired tones (Smith, 2022).
Figure 28
A/W Color Trends 2022-2025. The 2022/2023 Black Diamond Mission Shell jacket exemplifies
the A/W 22/23 Color Trends (Smith, 2022)
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 45
Graphics
Graphics are another important element of ski outerwear. Three key trends for this season
are color blocking, eye-catching prints, and asymmetric trims. The goal of the prints and color
blocking is to introduce interesting shapes and colors. This helps apparel feel fun and dynamic,
and creates a “main character energy.” The asymmetric trims help draw attention to the
functional components of the garments, making products feel more technical and
performance-driven. Figure 29 shows some examples of these trends. These trends are popular
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 46
this season and are expected to carry through to the following seasons as well. The products
developed for this project will incorporate these key graphics trends.
Figure 29
Ski Mountaineering Graphics Trends
Logos
Logos and branding are another important aspect of the apparel space. One
growing trend in this area is the concept of a dynamic logo and a dynamic brand identity. This is
perhaps best exemplified by The Whitney Museum’s logo, a “W” that can be graphically
changed and manipulated to fit whatever marketing it is used for. Figure 30 shows some ways in
which the “W” can be changed to fit different surrounding text and marketing media (Whitney
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 47
Graphic Identity 2013). Creating this dynamic logo and brand identity means that the Whitney’s
logo is versatile, adaptable, and fits perfectly wherever and however it is used.
Figure 30
The Responsive “W”. The Whitney's logo can be manipulated in different ways to serve various
purposes (Whitney Graphic Identity 2013)
Another example of dynamic branding is OCAD University. This institution has a
standard window framework for their logo that has an interchangeable fill. Each year, the
university invites a group of graduating students to design a new fill for the logo. Through
classes and iterations, OCAD University’s logo has seen “a library of identities… with records of
ideas and aesthetics gathered over time” (Mau, n.d). Figure 31 shows how this logo has evolved
over the years to create imaginative and compelling visuals within the recognizable window
frame.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 48
Figure 31
OCAD U Logo Evolution (Mao, n.d)
This concept of dynamic branding is not unique to large institutions - outerwear brands
have begun to utilize this concept as well. For example, Patagonia has an incredibly recognizable
logo that incorporates bright colors, and the Monte Fitz Roy silhouette from their namesake
Patagonia mountains. Figure 33 shows the standard Patagonia logo. However, rather than use
this standard logo for all product lines, Patagonia has evolved this logo into a series of animal
inspired variations, where the base logo is clipped by an outline of an animal. Figure 34 shows
examples where the mountain silhouette is clipped by a trout, a grizzly bear, an American bison,
and a panfish.
Figure 33
Patagonia Standard Logo
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 49
Figure 34
Patagonia Adaptive Logos using Animals
These adaptive logos serve two purposes. First, they connect the brand to the animals and
nature that Patagonia seeks to protect. This connects to Patagonia’s core mission to “protect and
restore the stability, integrity and beauty of the web of life” (Our core values - Patagonia, n.d).
And second, these adaptive logos help connect the brand to the user. For example, a fisherman
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 50
may be more interested in Patagonia products featuring the trout logo than products featuring the
standard logo.
The future of logos in the outdoor industry will see a continuation of adaptive logos and
adaptive branding to create product lines that feel cohesive across multiple product categories.
Branding
The companies who brand themselves the best are able to combine their logo, color
palette, and graphics trends to create products that look and feel cohesive across their entire
product line. One excellent example of this is The North Face.
This dynamic brand identity can also be achieved in a soft-goods space to create lines
that feel cohesive across many different products. One brand that does an incredible job of this is
The North Face. The North Face has some iconic looks, such as their yellow jacket with black
chest panels. They are able to extend the design language, color blocking, and colors from this
product across many different product areas to create an entire array of items that all resonate
cohesively. Figure 35 shows how this brand identity translates from the classic recognizable
jacket to a tent and a blanket.
Figure 35
Cohesive Branding by The North Face
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 51
Because The North Face has these iconic styles, colors, and designs, they can play with
their design rules to create fun and interesting new products that share the heritage and
consistency of the rest of their line. For example, the printed jacket in Figure 36 remains
recognizable by sharing the iconic “TNF” panel configuration, but with different colors and fun
prints. Similarly, the hoodie in Figure 36 uses color blocking to be reminiscent of a TNF jacket
and feels like a much more technical garment than it actually is.
Figure 36
The North Face Printed Jacket and Hoodie
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 52
The North Face also uses its logo in interesting ways. They start with clear and consistent
logo usage: their recognizable logo is placed in a high-contrast color (usually black or white) on
the top-left chest panel of their jackets. From these consistent rules, they break away and use
their logos in new and exciting ways. For example, they have begun using their logo as prints for
many of their products as shown in the Antora jacket in figure 37. They also change their logo
for some of the high-profile collaborations that they release. For example, figure 37 shows how
they modify their logo for a Gucci collaboration.
Figure 37
The North Face Printed Antora Jacket and The North Face x Gucci Collaboration
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 53
The North Face exemplifies consistent and exciting branding. They start out by
establishing cohesive and recognizable brand guidelines that customers grow used to and
familiar with. They do this through color, graphical elements, and logo usage. They then break
these guidelines in compelling and interesting ways to create eye-catching and exciting products
that stand out. The future of branding in the outdoor space will likely follow The North Face’s
exemplary usage of color, graphics, and logos to create cohesive product lines.
Quantitative Research
This section will explore the academic research surrounding the physiology,
biomechanics, and psychology of ski mountaineering.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 54
Physiology of Ski Mountaineering
There are three key components to ski mountaineering physiology: VO2 max, heart rate,
and thermoregulation. This section will explore the academic research about the role that each of
these physiological metrics plays in ski mountaineering performance.
VO2 Max
Ski mountaineering is an incredibly demanding endurance sport that is “viewed by
athletes and practisers as one of the most exhausting endurance sports” (Duc et al., 2011). It also
takes significantly longer to travel uphill than it does to ski downhill. This means that an athlete’s
physical conditioning can make a larger impact on their times than their skiing ability. As such,
cardiovascular indicators such as VO2 max are the best indication of athlete ability in ski
mountaineering (Hutchinson et al., 2021).
The impact of VO2 max is especially significant because ski mountaineering typically
takes place at high elevations, with some events occurring as high as 13,000 feet in elevation.
This can have a huge impact on athletes, because “for every 3,000 feet of elevation, VO2 max
declines by about six percent” (Hutchinson et al., 2021). Therefore, not only is physical
conditioning critical for athlete performance but so is altitude acclimatization.
Heart Rate
When looking at ski mountaineering racing, the best strategy for top-level athletes is to
maintain a constant heart rate throughout the entire race. For longer races, the ideal heart rate is
typically around 87% of the athlete’s maximum heart rate (Duc et al., 2011). What is particularly
interesting is that during races, elite athletes typically maintain this heart rate during both the
uphill and downhill sections of the race. This is because although the athlete may not be working
as hard during the downhill sections, the speed, excitement, and adrenaline from skiing downhill
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 55
maintain an elevated heart rate (Duc et al., 2011). Figure 38 shows an example of how a ski
mountaineering racer’s heart rate stays relatively constant throughout the course of a race.
Figure 38
Athlete Heart Rate and Elevation Data during a SkiMo Race (Duc et al., 2011)
Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation is an essential component of ski mountaineering. The combination of
high-output work and cold snowy alpine environments makes it easy for athletes to get too hot or
get too cold, especially as work output and weather conditions change. While exercising, the
athlete’s metabolic heat production “usually increases well above the rate of body heat loss” even
in extreme cold (Bergeron et al., 2012). This means that the athlete likely will not experience
hypothermia during high-output activity, but may experience heavy sweating, especially if their
apparel system does not provide sufficient breathability and ventilation. Research has shown that
improper “clothing and protective gear can measurably increase thermal strain” which causes
sweating and decreases athlete performance (Bergeron et al., 2012).
This sweating can then lead to hypothermia when the athlete stops high-output activity to
transition or take a break. Sweat causes the athlete’s body to be prone to rapid cooling and
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 56
hypothermia, because “moisture next to your skin can suck heat away from your body four times
as fast as air” (Larsen, 2020). Heat loss can be detrimental to performance, by causing shivering
and exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Shivering is an effective mechanism for warming the body,
but wastes energy. EIA is caused by a parasympathetic nervous reflex to cold, and has been
shown to occur in over 50% of elite athletes in sports similar to ski mountaineering such as
nordic skiing and biathlon. EIA is also detrimental to athletic performance (Bergeron et al.,
2012).
This research shows the importance of creating an apparel system that provides
functional thermoregulation, to keep the athlete warm, dry, and sweat-free throughout the
entirety of their ski mountaineering expedition.
Biomechanics of Ski Mountaineering
There are two key components to ski mountaineering biomechanics. During the uphill,
the biomechanical focus is on stride length, while during the downhill the biomechanical focus is
on injury prevention. This section will explore the academic research about the role that each of
these biomechanics plays in ski mountaineering performance.
Stride Length
Although the mechanism for skinning uphill in ski mountaineering is similar to
cross-country skiing, there are some key differences. Because skins do not glide as well as
cross-country skis, and because ski mountaineering courses can be steeper than cross-country
skiing courses, ski mountaineering athletes take shorter, quicker strides than cross-country skiing
athletes. Additionally, as the terrain gets steeper, ski mountaineering athletes adapt by both
shortening their stride length and slowing down the frequency of their strides. This is different
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 57
from cross-country skiers who maintain the same frequency of stride but shorten each stride
(Hutchinson et al., 2021).
Injuries
While ski mountaineering, it is important for athletes to maintain best practices to avoid
injury. The vast majority of injuries occur during downhill travel, with only 22% of injuries
occurring during the ascent (Mueller et al., 2019). Based on the similarities between alpine
skiing and the descent in ski mountaineering, it would be expected that the injuries between the
sports would be similar. However, there are several surprising differences in both the injury rate
and the types of injuries observed.
The injury rate in ski touring and ski mountaineering is 7.0 injuries per 1000 days of
sport activity (Mueller et al., 2019) . Alpine skiing has a much lower injury rate of only 2.6
injuries per 1000 skier days (Davidson & Laliotis, 1996).
However, the types of injuries observed are also quite different. In alpine skiing, the most
commonly injured anatomical region is the knee, with ACL and/or MCL ligament injuries
accounting for the most injuries (Davey et al., 2019). This is contrasted by ski touring and ski
mountaineering. In these sports, throughout an entire 10,955-hour study, zero ligament knee
injuries were reported (Mueller et al., 2019). The knee injuries that were reported in this study
were all abrasions and bruises. Table 7 shows an analysis of ski mountaineering and alpine skiing
injuries by anatomical region.
This significant contrast between injury types is shocking. How can knee ligament
injuries make up the majority of alpine skiing injuries, yet not affect ski mountaineering and
touring descents, despite the similarities between the sports? One possible explanation is that
uphill travel during ski touring builds muscle in the quadriceps and other supporting knee
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 58
muscles, which protects the knee ligaments during crashes (Mueller et al., 2019). However,
further research would be needed to prove this theory.
The higher overall injury rate in ski mountaineering and ski touring is also interesting.
This could be explained by icy conditions in the backcountry compared to the groomed runs and
man-made snow at ski resorts. The majority (52%) of injuries during ski tours occurred with icy
conditions (Mueller et al., 2019). However, further research would be needed to prove this
theory.
Table 7
Ski Mountaineering and Alpine Skiing Injury Rate by Body Part.
Ski Mountaineering Injury Rate Alpine Skiing Injury Rate
Anatomical (Injuries per 1,000 days) (Injuries per 1,000 days)
Region (Mueller et al., 2019) (Davidson & Laliotis, 1996)
Hand 2.24 0.45
Knee 1.40 0.88
Foot/Ankle 0.84 0.57
Thigh 0.84 0.55
Hip 0.56 0.37
Arm 0.56 0.19
Ribs 0.56 0.48
Head/Face 0.28 0.76
Neck 0.28 0.21
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 59
Shoulder 0.28 0.39
Psychology of Ski Mountaineering
This section will explore academic research surrounding ski mountaineering psychology.
First, there are the psychological benefits of ski mountaineering. Spending time outdoors and in
the mountains has been clinically proven to boost mental health. There also are important
psychological factors related to risk management in the backcountry. This section will break
down both of these factors.
Psychological Benefits of Ski Mountaineering
Ski mountaineering can provide not only physical benefits from exercise but also
psychological benefits from spending time in nature. An observational study that followed
395,369 individuals for 21 years demonstrated that long-distance skiing reduces the risk of
depression to nearly half that of non-skiers (Svensson et al., 2019).
World-famous ski mountaineer Greg Hill has discussed how ski mountaineering has
improved his mental health. “The mountains have given me time to work on getting rid of all the
clutter that makes you focus on things that don’t matter. I believe being out there helps you
figure out how to be happy” (Morgan, 2019). Hill also discussed the importance of appreciating
these mental benefits while also being mindful of the risks associated with ski mountaineering.
“There’s always about 20 percent of my brain that’s focused on the hazards and evaluating them
constantly. And because I know that 20 percent is focusing on that, I can free up the other 80
percent to enjoy and to understand how lucky I am to be there” (Morgan, 2019).
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 60
Psychology of Backcountry Risk Management
Ski mountaineering exposes athletes to serious and potentially lethal environmental
hazards such as avalanches, dangerous falls, physical injury, and hypothermia. Given that this
sport typically occurs in the backcountry, it is up to the individual athletes to understand and
mitigate these risks. A great deal of research has been conducted to better understand how
athletes make decisions about risk in this backcountry environment, particularly when it comes
to avalanche dangers. Most athletes participate in ski mountaineering in teams of at least two so
that teammates can help each other out in the event of an injury or avalanche burial. Therefore, it
is especially important to understand how risks are evaluated by groups and teams.
One study surveyed 467 athletes and discovered that social admiration plays a critical
role in these decisions. This means that athletes are likely to accept risks that they may otherwise
feel uncomfortable accepting if their team members who they admire determine the risk to be
acceptable (Mannberg et al., 2018).
Clinical psychologist and ski mountaineer Dr. Sara Boilen teaches backcountry safety
courses and has discussed the psychological factors in backcountry decision making in great
depth. A number of factors such as confirmation bias and opportunity cost can cause skiers to
take on more risk than they may realize. In order to combat these psychological traps, Dr. Boilen
recommends ski mountaineering teams elect one group member to be the devil’s advocate for the
day. This person’s job, she explains, is to “come up with valid arguments against whatever the
group is moving toward” (Menzel, 2019). Strategies such as this can help make the group more
carefully examine all of the risks, especially as weather and conditions change throughout the
course of the day.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 61
Research Methods
Athlete interviews will be the primary method used for collecting user insights on how
athletes currently use their apparel. The author prepared a list of questions to guide the interview,
but also relied on conversational skills and follow-up questions to extract valuable information
relevant to the project. The prepared questions are as follows:
1. What is your typical layering system for your ski mountaineering trips? How does this
layering system change based on weather and temperature? How does this system change
based on the length and type of trip?
2. What features do you look for when purchasing a shell jacket?
a. Do you prefer hardshell or soft shell?
b. What pockets do you need?
c. What kind of hood do you prefer? What are your thoughts on the adjustment
hardware on hoods?
3. What features do you look for when purchasing shell pants?
a. Do you prefer hardshell or soft shell?
b. What pockets do you need?
c. How often do you use side vents in your pants?
i. Do you prefer vents on the inside or outside?
4. What features do you look for when purchasing insulated mid-layers?
5. How often during an all-day ski-mountaineering expedition do you typically stop to
change your layering system? How long do these stops take?
6. How easy is it for you to regulate your temperature with your current layering system?
a. When do you find you are too cold?
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 62
b. When do you find that you are too warm?
i. What areas get the most sweaty?
7. What would the perfect ski mountaineering jacket look like? If the perfect technology
existed, what would it be?
In addition to interviews, the author used the “try-it-your-self” method by spending time
ski mountaineering on Mt. Hood and surrounding peaks. This process will help the user
understand how exactly the athletes are using their apparel, and how the Mt. Hood environment
impacts apparel decisions. Figure 39 shows the author and his family on a casual ski
mountaineering adventure on Mt. Hood on November 27, 2022.
Figure 39
The Author and his Family Ski Mountaineering on Mt. Hood.
The author also used observation as a research method. The author went on several ski
mountaineering trips with friends and observed outfits, layering systems, and how often people
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 63
stopped to change layers. Figure 40 shows documentation of what the friends were wearing on
one of these trips on November 11, 2022.
Figure 40
Ski Mountaineering Apparel Observed on Mt. Hood on November 11, 2022
Athlete Insights
For this project two elite ski mountaineering brothers, Jason and Andrew Dorias, were
interviewed. These brothers are some of the fastest ski mountaineers in the world, and they
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 64
currently hold the world record for the fastest known time (FKT) skiing the Grand Teton in
5:17:33 (this time includes both the uphill and the downhill) and previously held the FKT for ski
mountaineering Mt. Rainier at 3:57:55 (Landers, 2013) (Romeo, 2011). Figure 41 shows these
athletes after setting the FKT on Mt. Rainier. These athletes are currently ramping up their
training as they attempt to set several more FKTs on traverses of Utah’s Wasatch and Oquirrh
Mountains this season. The goal of interviewing these athletes was to better understand how they
use their apparel systems and what the pain points are in their current apparel systems.
Figure 41
Andrew and Jason Dorias celebrate setting the FKT on Mt. Rainier (Landers, 2013)
The author interviewed these athletes over the phone, separately. The author had prepared
questions, but the interviews generally followed a back-and-forth conversational flow. This
section will highlight some of the key takeaways from speaking to these athletes.
First, the athletes were asked about what current products they use. Both of these athletes
are currently on the La Sportiva team, which limits their apparel selection to some extent. As
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 65
Andy said, “I don’t necessarily think that La Sportiva makes the best apparel in the world, but it
is high quality and the price is right.” La Sportiva has an extensive product line geared towards
ski mountaineering, which means that these athletes still have options to choose from. Jason and
Andy both usually bring standard La Sportiva base layers, both down and Synthetic jackets, hard
shell wind-resistant jackets, and soft shell pants with them on their trips.
Next, the athletes were asked about their layering system. These brothers prefer wearing
only a base layer while climbing uphill unless conditions are especially cold, snowy, or windy.
Wearing as few layers as possible while climbing helps them regulate heat and water vapor
during their massive ascents. During the downhill, these athletes don either their shell jacket or a
puffy to help stay warm.
This changes depending on the type of route they are skiing. For example, if they are
climbing a mountain and then descending, they will typically add layers at the summit. However,
during a traverse that has many shorter climbs and descents, changing layers for each section
becomes cumbersome and time-consuming. In this scenario, without changing layers, they will
be either too hot while climbing or too cold while descending. They always choose to be too cold
during the descents because sweat accumulation will hurt them in the long run.
On the topic of thermoregulation, the athletes were asked about what areas generally get
the sweatiest. They noted that under the backpack is always an area of concern, and also brought
up that the chest area usually gets fairly sweaty.
Next, the athletes discussed how their layering systems change based on where they are
training. Their ski mountaineering journey began in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, where the snow
is significantly lighter and dryer than in other areas, so Jason and Andy originally exclusively
used soft-shell jackets and pants, which provide them with adequate environmental protection
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 66
and also afford more stretch than hard shell options. Then, as Jason and Andy began training in
the Pacific Northwest which has wetter, heavier snow, they transitioned to hard shells for better
waterproofing. Today, they prefer soft-shell pants, which have superior stretch and mobility, and
a hard shell jacket, which is lighter and more packable than a soft shell would be. Both brothers
also noted that hardshell pants are excessively loud which gets annoying during long days on the
mountain.
Next, the athletes discussed mobility, range of motion, and sizing. As noted earlier,
athletes typically opt for soft shell pants for a greater range of motion. Andy also noted that he
generally “sizes up a size or two” with his jackets and his pants because he prefers a roomier fit
that will not inhibit his range of motion. Anything that inhibits their range of motion at all will
slow skiers down.
Next, the athletes were asked about the durability of their products and what areas seem
to wear out the fastest. With pants, “it always seems to be around the ankles,” noted Jason. With
jackets, the athletes have had problems with snagging on trees and scrub oaks, which tears their
sleeves.
Next, the athletes discussed what features are most important to them. They noted that
more pockets are always better. Some technical jackets remove pockets to save weight, but Jason
noted that this is a mistake. Both Andy and Jason said that they always find themselves using
their pockets for energy bars, storing gloves, and other small items, which saves them from
having to remove their pack to access these items. The athletes also were not too keen on the pit
vents in their jackets. “If I need to unzip my pit vents, I will just take my jacket off,” said Andy.
However, the thigh vents on their pants are a different story, given that it is pretty much
impossible to quickly remove pants in the backcountry. The athletes also said that they never use
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 67
adjustment hardware in their apparel, such as hood adjustments. These features, they say, are
impossible to use while wearing gloves and do not work very well. Instead, they just look for
hoods that are helmet compatible and do not wear their hoods unless they are wearing a helmet.
Next, the athletes were asked “what would the perfect ski mountaineering jacket look
like? If the perfect technology existed, what would it be?” Andy and Jason had similar feedback,
noting that the perfect jacket would be super light, stretchy, fit well, breathe extremely well,
provide insulation, and block the wind.
Project Alignment with Author’s Strengths and Goals
Clifton Strengths Finder
1. Achiever
2. Self-Assurance
3. Activator
4. Includer
5. Ideation
The Golden Circle
The Why: I want to empower others to enjoy the great outdoors through inclusivity, accessibility,
and optimism.
The How: I will incorporate my creative design process, bonding expertise, and passion for
prototyping and creating.
The What: Beautiful, durable, and performance-oriented ski mountaineering apparel.
How Thesis Project Aligns with Golden Circle
The ski industry, and ski mountaineering, in particular, has historically not been the most
inclusive space. This project will allow me to push the boundaries of this sport and create
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 68
products that not only outperform other products on the market but also are more inclusive and
adaptable for all athletes.
How Thesis Project Supports Career Goals
After graduating from the University of Oregon’s Sports Product Design program, I hope
to find employment in the ski industry designing outerwear. This project will help me pursue this
career by demonstrating my knowledge and expertise in ski apparel to future employers. This
project will also show my creative problem-solving skills, and my ability to bring a new
perspective to the design process by applying my engineering background to develop innovative
solutions.
Platform Technology: Active Insulation
For this project, a new material technology was developed. This material technology
implemented into the garments as a way to improve thermoregulaiton and stretch. This section
will discuss how this material is made, what the key benefits are.
Manufacturing Process
This material is made with a 3-layer stackup: a knit powermesh fabric, lasercut adhesive,
and a 2L waterproof face fabric. The first step in making the material is to pre-stretch the
powermesh fabric over a heatpress. Then, while the mesh is in the stretched state, the adhesive is
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 69
laminated to the face. Next, the 2L wateproof fabric is laminated to the mesh, again in the
stretched state. Next, the powermesh is relaxed, which creates a unique texture pattern. Figure 42
shows this process, and the final textured fabric, and a call out of the various layers.
Figure 42
Active Insulation Manufacturing Process.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 70
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 71
Active Insulation Benefits
The active insulation material innovation has three key benefits: Insulation, ventilation,
and stretch. The insulation is provided by the air cavities. Air is a great insulator, and is the
foundation of all other apparel insulaitons. For example, down, polyfill, and fleece are all
materials that are designed to trap warm air around the body of the user.
While trapping air is the key to insulation, air flow is the key to ventilation, cooling, and
moisture management. Getting fresh air from the environment to replace the warm, sweaty air
around the body is essential for cooling and avoiding sweat buildup. This is why most ski
mountaineering shells have zippered vents on the thighs and armpits that can open to provide
ventilation. The design of this material creates air channels that allow the cool air to pass through
the body much more efficiently than otherwise would be possible.
Figure 42 shows a close-up of the inside of the active insulation, and how the textured
surface can either trap air for insulation or create air channels for ventilation and cooling.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 72
Figure 42
Active Insulaiton Can Trap Air For Warmth Or Facilitate Ventilation For Cooling
Active insulation also has another key benefit: stretch. Adding stretch to waterproof
garments is challenging, and most solutions have tradeoffs such as durability, breathability, and
weight. Currently, Gore-Tex Pro Stretch is considered to be one of the market leaders in terms of
stretch waterproof fabrics. This fabric has a 4-way stretch with a 20% stretch ratio. Active
insulation has a much superior stretch, with a 4-way stretch with a 50% stretch ratio. Figure 43
shows a comparison between Gore-Tex Pro Stretch and Active Insulation.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 73
Figure 43
Active Insulaiton (Top) has a stretch ratio of 50%.
Gore-Tex Pro Stretch (Bottom) has a stretch ratio of 20%.
Performance Testing Plans
The overall goal of this project is to improve the thermoregulation of ski mountaineering
apparel. Therefore, in the testing plan, it is incredibly important to prove that the apparel
designed for this project thermoregulates better than products currently on the market.
The testing plan below has been broken down by item. It should be noted that while the
collection as a whole focuses on thermoregulation, each item has slightly different objectives.
The primary objectives for the shell layers are ventilation, mobility, and fit. This section outlines
how each item will be tested. For all test plans, it is assumed that consent forms will be collected
in advance from all participants.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 74
Before testing, it is important to clearly define success for this project. The objective of
the project is to improve thermoregulation by creating garments that provide thermal comfort
over a larger range of conditions than existing garments. Therefore, in order for this project to be
successful, the apparel must provide more thermal insulation when the vents are zipped and
closed, and less insulation when the vents are opened. Figure 44 illustrates success for this
project.
Figure 44
Defining Success For Project.
In order to complete this testing, a thermal manikin will be used. The Boise State
University Thermal Manikin Laboratory has generously agreed to use their thermal manikin for
this testing. The thermal manikin measures how much insulation a garment provides in watts
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 75
(W). This is done by blowing warm air into the manikin at body temperature (around 37 °C). The
air is circulated through the entire manikin body, and then blown out. The temperature of air
coming in and air going out is measured, and the difference in these temperatures is used to
calculate the energy loss in watts. This method has been proven to be highly repeatable and
accurate. The garments designed for this project will be measured using the thermal manikin, and
compared to benchmark products.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 76
Testing Results
In order to start testing, prototypes were made integrating active insulation into apparel.
Figure 44 shows the process of building garments using the active insulation.
Figure 44
Integrating Active Insulation Into Ski Mountaineering Apparel
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 77
Next, the author traveled to the Boise State Thermal Manikin Laboratory. Figure 45
shows the author with Dr. Uwe Reschl, inventor of this thermal manikin, in the laboratory.
Figure 45
Author with Dr. Uwe Reischl at the Boise State Thermal Manikin Laboratory
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 78
Next, several tests were conducted using the thermal manikin. The first test was to
compare the insulation provided by the prototype jacket to the insulation provided by a baseline
product: the Arc’teryx Rush. The Rush is a hardshell jacket that would commonly be used for ski
mountaineering. The prototype jacket and the competitor shell jacket were teste on the thermal
manikin in three configurations:
1. With all zippers and vents closed
2. With the vents unzipped and the front zipper closed
3. With the front zipper and the vents unzipped
These results are recorded in Figure 46. The prototype jacket provides far more insulation
than the competitor garment when zipped up, and less insulation than the other garments with the
zippers and vents open. This means that not only does this garment provide better insulation than
the other garments, but it also offers more reliable ventilation and cooling. This means that the
prototype jacket can provide appropriate insulation over a much larger range of temperatures and
climates than the competitor shell jackets.
All tests were conducted in a wind tunnel with a wind speed of 0.8m/s. Figure 46 shows
the measured insulation of each garment.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 79
Figure 46
Comparing Prototype Jacket Insulation to Baseline Product
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 80
Figure 47
Comparing Ventilation of Prototype Jacket to Benchmark Products
Next, the prototype jacket was compared to a combination of two layers, the Arc’teryx
Rush Hardshell jacket and the Arc’teryx Delta. Figure 48 shows these results. The prototype
jacket was able to achieve a very similar range of insulation as this two-garment system. This
shows that by using a jacket featuring Active Insulation, athletes can comfortably cary one fewer
garments, saving weight and also saving time because athletes will have to spend less time
transitioning from one garment to another.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 81
Figure 48
Comparing Prototype Jacket to 2L System
Proof of Mentorship
My mentors will include Alice Clemans, an apparel pattern designer for Bemis
Associates, and Chris Pew, the CEO of TREW Gear. I have discussed my project in detail with
these individuals and have emailed agreements from them to mentor me. Figure 49 shows these
emails.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 82
Alice Clemans, Apparel Pattern Designer, Bemis Associates
Alice Clemans is a pattern expert who I currently work with at Bemis. She has already
provided extremely valuable insights into my project, and I am extremely excited to continue to
work with her. Alice and I will meet once a month for one hour and she will provide expertise on
design, patterning, and assembly.
Chris Pew, CEO TREW Gear
Chris founded and continues to direct TREW Gear, a ski and snowboard outerwear
company in Portland, OR. Chris and I will meet once per month for one hour and he will provide
expertise on branding, design, and consumer expectations in the ski outerwear space.
Rachel Preuit, Outerwear Developer, Black Diamond
Rachel is not only an incredible developer with a ton of experience with backcountry ski
apparel, but also a tremendous skier herself. Rachel and I will meet once a month for an hour and
she will provide feedback and guidance to ensure my project is appropriate and marketable for
the target users.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 83
Figure 49
Proof of Mentorship Emails
Final Designs
Line Plan
The Steller’s Skiwear project features two garment collections: the Stormbird collection
which is geared towards winter use, and the Bluebird collection which is geared towards spring
skiing and warmer temperatures. Figure 50 shows these two collections
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 84
Figure 50
Line Plan
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 85
Materials Palette
In addition to Active Insulation, this project uses several other materials. Polartec
Windbloc softshell fabric has a microgrid fleece lining, and is used for areas that need a soft next
to skin feeling. A 3 layer hardshell fabric is used for areas that need a more durable fabric. And
X-Pac is used for the kick panels of the pants for extra abrasion resistance.
Body Mapping
The next step was to consider the athlete needs in this sport. These considerations include
sweat zones, regions of temperature sensitivity, areas where items like a climbing harness or
backpack would be worn over the garments, areas with high abrasion, and areas where the
athlete will need a lot of stretch. This information was used to map out where each material
could provice the most benefit to the athlete. Figure 51 shows these regions of consideration.
Figure 51:
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 86
Trends
This project also integrated various industry trends into the design. These trends include a
technically advanced aesthetic, blending style and function, design language that feels
harmonious with the environment, and using the texture of active insulation to create a tactile
connection between the user and their apparel.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 87
Logo Design and Branding
As mentioned in the “Steller’s Jay Physical Adaptations” section, the Steller’s Jay is a
bird that inspired the name for this project. This bird also serves as a logo for the project.
Additionally, a logo was created for Active Insulation.
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 88
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 89
Stormbird Jacket
Stormbird Pants
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 90
Bluebird Vest
Bluebird Pants
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 91
Final Collection
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 92
References
About. SheJumps. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.shejumps.org/about
Bemis Associates. (n.d.). Waterproofing seam tapes archives - bemis associates inc.. Bemis.
Retrieved December 6, 2022, from
https://www.bemisworldwide.com/product-category/waterproofing-seam-tapes/
Bergeron, M. F., Bahr, R., Bärtsch, P., Bourdon, L., Calbet, J. A. L., Carlsen, K. H., Castagna, O.,
González-Alonso, J., Lundby, C., Maughan, R. J., Millet, G., Mountjoy, M., Racinais, S.,
Rasmussen, P., Subudhi, A. W., Young, A. J., Soligard, T., & Engebretsen, L. (2012,
September 1). International Olympic Committee Consensus statement on
Thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes. British Journal of
Sports Medicine. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/11/770
Birkebeinerrennet: The legendary ski race. Birken. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2022, from
https://birkebeiner.no/en/ski/birkebeinerrennet-54-km
Bosworth, A. (n.d.). Mount Hood: West Crater Rim Descent. Outdoor Project. Retrieved
December 5, 2022, from
https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/oregon/mount-hood-west-crater-rim-desce
nt
The Catalyst. (2020, July 10). An explanation for Colorado's unpredictable weather. The
Catalyst. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 93
https://thecatalystnews.com/2019/09/16/an-explanation-for-colorados-unpredictable-weat
her/
Climbing Mt. Hood. Forest Service National Website. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mthood/recreation/?cid=FSEPRD1018659
Cripple Creek Backcountry. (2022, May 4). How much should I pay for a ski-touring setup?
Cripple Creek Backcountry. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from
https://cripplecreekbc.com/blogs/backcountry-blog/how-much-should-i-pay-for-a-ski-tou
ring-setup
Dahlmann, L. A. (2020, November 19). Ski history: Hunting in a landscape with Deep Snow:
Norway. talk NORWAY. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from
https://talknorway.no/ski-history-hunting-in-a-landscape-with-deep-snow-norway/
Davey, A., Endres, N. K., Johnson, R. J., & Shealy, J. E. (2019). Alpine skiing injuries. Sports
health. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6299353/
Davidson, T. M., & Laliotis, A. T. (1996, April). Alpine skiing injuries. A nine-year study. The
Western journal of medicine. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1303504/
Dawson, L. (2021, October 26). Timeline - North American Ski Mountaineering History.
LouDawson.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from
https://www.loudawson.com/ski-mountaineering-history/timeline-north-american-ski-tou
ring/
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 94
Duc, S., Cassirame, J., & Durand, F. (2011). Physiology of ski mountaineering racing.
International Journal of Sports Medicine, 32(11), 856–863.
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1279721
Duncombe, J. (2022, March 21). How the ski industry stopped worrying and learned to Love
Climate Activism. Eos. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://eos.org/features/how-the-ski-industry-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-clima
te-activism
Elk Mountain Grand Traverse: Insider's Gear Guide 2022. Cripple Creek Backcountry. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 20, 2022, from
https://cripplecreekbc.com/blogs/backcountry-blog/elk-mountain-grand-traverse-packing-
list-updated
Fayle, T. W. C., & Routh, T. R. (2003, December 2). Outdoor jacket.
Fayle, T. W. C., Penderson, B. H., & Richardson, A. (2013, January 1). Garment Having Roll Up
And Stow Sleeves.
Goodland, B. (n.d.). Ski touring kit list. Alpine Guiding by Bruce Goodlad. Retrieved December
5, 2022, from http://mountainadventurecompany.com/ski-touring-kit-list/
Hansman, H. (2021, November 9). Skiing is different for women. but it doesn't need to be. ELLE.
Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a38079962/
Harward, R. (2015, April 21). Reinforced Fabric Seam. .
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 95
Hutchinson, A., Rai, D., & Barronian, A. (2021, November 12). The complex physiology of Ski
Mountaineering. Outside Online. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from
https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/ski-mountaineering-physiolo
gy-research/
Ingram, J. K., Noll, E. R., & Pezzimenti, L. A. (2022, August 9). Vented Garment.
Koopmans, A. (2020, September 23). The Böksta Runestone. Secrets of the Norse. Retrieved
October 13, 2022, from
https://www.secretsofthenorse.com/norse-history/vikings/the-boksta-runestone-and-the-st
ars/
Landers, R. (2013, June 22). Ski mountaineers set speed record for Rainier -- 3:57:55.
Spokesman.com. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2013/jun/22/ski-mountaineers-set-speed-rec
ord-rainier-35755/
Larsen, E. (2020). Managing warmth & heat loss. Stay Warm in the Backcountry . Retrieved
November 2, 2022, from
https://www.backcountryskiingcanada.com/Stay-Warm-in-the-Backcountry
Luhn, A. (2021, March 5). Backcountry skiing sees resurgence – and the deadliest week for
avalanches since 1910. The Guardian. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/05/avalanches-deadliest-week-skiing
Macpi Group. (2021, September 2). Macpi 336.59T seam sealing machine. YouTube. Retrieved
December 6, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8zDTkmHFog
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 96
Mannberg, A., Hendrikx, J., Landrø, M., & Stefan, M. A. (2018, August 18). Who's at risk in the
backcountry? effects of individual characteristics on hypothetical terrain choices. Journal
of Environmental Psychology. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494418300598
Mather, V. (2022, February 19). What's new for the next Winter Olympics? ski mountaineering.
The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/sports/olympics/skimo-ski-mountaineering.html
Mau, B. (n.d.). OCADU: An identity for an institution on the move. Bruce Mau Design.
Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.brucemaudesign.com/work/ocadu
Meadows Team. (2019, August 13). History points towards an above average snow year during
ENSO-neutral seasons. History points towards an above average snow year during
ENSO-neutral seasons | Meadows. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://www.skihood.com/about-us/meadows-blog/posts/2019/08/history-points-towards-
an-above-average-snow-year-during-enso-neutral-seasons
Menzel, C. (2019, January 10). Your heart and brain are working against you in Avalanche
Terrain. POWDER Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from
https://www.powder.com/stories/your-heart-and-brain-are-working-against-you-in-avalan
che-terrain/
MONCHAU, J.-P. (2021, December 21). Comparative test of the thermal insulation of Down
Jackets. Themacs Ingénierie. Retrieved December 6, 2022, from
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 97
https://themacs-engineering.com/en/actualites-en/comparative-test-of-the-thermal-insulati
on-of-down-jackets/
Morgan, N. (2019, November 12). Ski-mountaineering and self-knowledge. Psychology Today.
Retrieved November 9, 2022, from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-the-mountains/201911/ski-mountaineering-
and-self-knowledge
Mueller, T., Ruedl, G., Ernstbrunner, M., Plachel, F., Fröhlich, S., Hoffelner, T., Resch, H., &
Ernstbrunner, L. (2019, September 12). A prospective injury surveillance study on Ski
touring. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6743203/
National Parks Service. (1970, January 1). Weather and climate. Rocky Mountain National Park.
Retrieved November 2, 2022, from
https://archive.org/details/weatherclimate0000unse_p8s6
Our core values - Patagonia. Patagonia Outdoor Clothing & Gear. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7,
2022, from https://www.patagonia.com/core-values/
Pasteris, J. (2022, January 31). Down vs synthetic material. REI. Retrieved December 5, 2022,
from https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/down-vs-synthetic.html
Patagonia men's upstride backcountry ski jacket. Patagonia Men's Upstride Backcountry Ski
Jacket. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.patagonia.com/product/mens-upstride-backcountry-ski-jacket/29930.html
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 98
Patagonia men's upstride Backcountry Ski Pants. Patagonia Men's Upstride Backcountry Ski
Pants. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.patagonia.com/product/mens-upstride-backcountry-ski-pants/194187613136
.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_f22_snow&gclid=
Cj0KCQiA99ybBhD9ARIsALvZavX2WawInoyD0kdobAXY47vK7uLnOJHKSTlLge81
_Zbj97ainPxjuigaAi5_EALw_wcB
Red 5-panel. Make Yesterday Jealous. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2022, from
https://makeyesterdayjealous.com/products/make-yesterday-jealous-red-5-panel
Romeo, S. (2011, June 26). Grand Teton Ski descent speed record set? Teton AT. Retrieved
November 18, 2022, from
https://www.tetonat.com/2011/06/26/grand-teton-ski-descent-speed-record-set/
Rush bib pant men's. Arc'teryx Equipment. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/rush-bib-pant
Rush jacket men's. Arc'teryx Equipment. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/rush-jacket
Salfino, C. (2022, February 17). Why brands should focus on durability aspect of sustainability.
Sourcing Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/lifestyle-monitor/durability-sustainability-apparel-cott
on-inc-mckinsey-state-of-fashion-thredup-329196/
Seam-sealed. LTP Group. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2022, from
https://www.ltpgroup.com/technologies/seam-sealed
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 99
Shulley, V. (2017, January 23). Insulation: Synthetics vs down. Last Frontier Heliskiing.
Retrieved December 9, 2022, from
https://www.lastfrontierheli.com/news/synthetics-vs-down/
Smith, C. (2022, October 14). Colour Evolution A/W 24/25. Future Strategies. Retrieved
November 3, 2022, from
https://www.wgsn.com/fashion/article/6331b1399a8501b726f733b7#page6
Snowsports Industries America. (2021, April). Snowsport Participation Study. Travel Oregon.
Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://industry.traveloregon.com/
Stock, J. (n.d.). IFMGA-instructed ski mountaineering course in Alaska. Stock Alpine. Retrieved
December 5, 2022, from https://www.stockalpine.com/ski-mountaineering-course
Storm Mountain Media. (2022, January 25). State of the Industry. FREESKIER. Retrieved
October 13, 2022, from https://freeskier.com/first_look/state-of-the-industry
Svensson, M., Brundin, L., Erhardt, S., Madaj, Z., Hållmarker, U., James, S., & Deierborg, T.
(2019, August 31). Long distance ski racing is associated with lower long-term incidence
of depression in a population based, large-scale study. Psychiatry Research. Retrieved
November 9, 2022, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178119307796
Switchback Travel Staff. (n.d.). Hardshell vs. Softshell Jackets: How to choose. Switchback
Travel. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from
https://www.switchbacktravel.com/hardshell-vs-softshell-jackets
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 100
Switchback Travel Staff. (n.d.). How to layer for backcountry skiing. Switchback Travel.
Retrieved October 27, 2022, from
https://www.switchbacktravel.com/layer-backcountry-skiing
TLT light insulation M VST. Dynafit USA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.dynafit.com/en-us/tlt-light-insulation-m-vst-08-0000071372
Topinka, L. (n.d.). First Ascent of Mount Adams, Washington late August or early September,
1854. Cascades Volcano Observatory, History - First Ascent of Mount Adams,
Washington Late August or Early September, 1854. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/cvo/Historical/first_ascent_adams_1854.shtml
Transalper Cap. Dynafit USA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.dynafit.com/en-us/transalper-cap-08-0000071527
Ulriksen, K., Johansen, M., & Jenssen, T. (2016, October 25). Garment with an Incorporated
MicroClimate System WITH AN INCORPORATED MICRO CLIMATE SYSTEM.
US Department of Commerce, N. O. A. A. (n.d.). National Weather Service. Retrieved
December 5, 2022, from https://www.weather.gov/
Vea, M. S. (n.d.). Håkon Håkonsson. Avaldsnes. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from
https://avaldsnes.info/en/informasjon/hakon-hakonsson/
Whitney Graphic Identity. Experimental jetset. (2013, May). Retrieved December 6, 2022, from
https://www.jetset.nl/archive/whitney-museum-identity
STELLER’S SKI WEAR 101
Women's mentorship program. Northwest Avalanche Center. (2022, November 7). Retrieved
December 5, 2022, from https://nwac.us/womens-mentorship-program/
Women's Ski Mountaineering. Altus Mountain Guides. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://altusmountainguides.com/ski-learn/womens-ski-mountaineering/