Living unique and unusual mountain experiences is possible, but well equipped!
Night spent in a portaledge with Inax Aventure, Annecy, 29th September 2016
Activist for comfort, CimAlp is held on designing ergonomic clothing that frees movement and is forgotten in the longest moments of immobilisation such as those experienced in extreme effort.
Last weekend our ambassador Florian Olivier – accompanied by 3 journalists and a travel blogger – spent the night in a portaledge above the lake of Annecy. On the programme: hiking, abseiling, dinner and a night on the edge of a cliff at an altitude of more than 120m, equipped by CimAlp from head to foot!
The promise of CimAlp was simple: we will occupy ourselves with the equipment, you only have to enjoy the moment!
Equipped in our suitable technical clothing that one forgets about, you can live this experience well off the beaten racks to the full, without having to worry about the problems / extreme conditions, in total safety and in comfort!
Erection of suspended beds, night in a portaledge with Inax Aventure, Annecy, 29th September 2016
Advice for a successful outdoor adventure:
THE PRINCIPLE OF 3 LAYERS
This technique, adopted by a large number of people who practice outdoor activities, consists of dressing yourself in an optimal way and adapting yourself to all climatic conditions as well as your level of exertion. The aim is to be at a comfortable temperature under all circumstances. Of course, if the idea is to combine 3 layers, one must not put just anything on! Indeed, protection against perspiration, heat and bad weather is the keyword to this technique.
The first layer: the perspiration
Often the most neglected, this layer is yet primordial for good performance. Its principal aim is to keep you dry during exertion and thus prevent the feeling of cold that moisture procures.
This layer should therefore be breathable and effectively able to evacuate perspiration. Avoid, therefore, cotton, favouring technical fabrics or merino wool.
The base layers from CimAlp®, engineered for your comfort and your protection, have been designed with innovative fabrics; Merino wool, silk, bamboo charcoal, these products will bring you warmth, insulation and efficient moisture transfer, ensuring your serenity and tranquillity during exertion. Designed to withstand cold up to -30°, they will be perfect for all of your activities!
The only exception: the desert. It is important, in contrast, to have a base layer that retains moisture and drys slowly in order to cool you down.
The second layer: the warmth
Placed over the top of the base layer, this one serves to insulate the body from the cold. As trapped air is the best insulator, it is important to leave a little space between the base layer and this one as well as between this one and the final one.
This layer is in fleece or down, that which will protect you from the cold.
Synthetic fleece fabrics are the most widely used because they protect against the cold even when they are damp. Down fabrics isolate better than fleeces for the same levels of thickness.
This layer should also be breathable and dry quickly in order to be able to continue to evacuate perspiration and keep the body dry.
The third layer: the protection
The last layer, in contact with the exterior must protect you against external bad weather. Waterproof and windproof, it finishes your outfit and keeps your body sheltered from the elements, such as the rain, the snow, the wind, whilst still effectively evacuating your perspiration.
NB: now that the idea has been understood, you can adapt it according to the situation. Indeed, it will not always be necessary to combine the 3 layers to have optimal protection. If there are very strong winds but it is not very cold, you could just use the first and final layers without any problem. In effect, you need the base layer to evacuate your perspiration and the final to act as a windbreaker, but the second layer for warmth will not necessarily be useful. Another case: it is good weather but cold. In this case, you could thus use the base layer to effectively evacuate your perspiration as well as one or several intermediary layers to protect you from the cold.
Hiking, abseiling dinner and a night in a portaledge with Inax Aventure, Annecy, 29th September 2016
Want to try a night in a portaledge yourself?
Here is the equipment that we recommend to you, to be adapted according to the season, (a version for women is also available on our site):
List of accessories not to forget: