LabEider Supershield
27 July 2004 Mario
Dibona, Renato Sottsass, Marco Da Pozzo and Renzo Benedetti reach the
summit of K2. 28 July 2004 both Mario Lacedelli and Luciano Zardini
stand on the 8611 m high summit of the great mountain. More than a
month has passed since their arrival at Base Camp, a month of
continuous activity, of ascents and descents to make the best use of
the weather conditions. To acclimatise and, step by step, get closer to
the final attempt that finally awarded the Scoiattoli di Cortina
expedition. Renzo Benedetti, just like his companions, had ample time
to test the Eider Supershield which, like a second skin, accompanied up
to Camp 3 at 7300m. Here are Benedetti's impressions after this
emotional and demanding test on the mountain of mountains.
SUPERSHIELD THE SECOND SKIN
by Renzo Benedetti
If
the choice of clothing is of fundamental importance in any alpine
ascent, this is even more the case when confronting the highest
altitudes in the world.
K2's 8611m definitely demanded the
highest quality technical gear, without neglecting comfort and
practicality. It is for this reason that the Gruppo degli Scoiattoli di
Cortina placed their trust in Eider for their "K2 Expedition
1954-2004."
And so, if the "Articheski" carried out the lion's
share of the work from 7200m to the summit, the work carried out on the
lower sections of the mountain by the Supershield suit is of equal
importance.
I climbed up to Camp 2 (6600m) various times and to
Camp 3 (7300m) wearing this exceptional piece of equipment, both during
a storm and in relentless sunshine. Regardless of the conditions, I
never encountered any problems: if it was too hot I simply opened the
waterproof zippers on the sides of the trousers, and if it was too cold
all I had to do was put on the lightweight Duvet Stroke Eider.
Before
departing for K2 I thought I wouldn't use the suit very much because at
0.910 kg it seemed particularly heavy. I hadn't realised that, if
combined with a lightweight base layer, it would easily stand up to any
test the mountain had to offer.
When climbing up demanding
mixed terrain such as House's Chimney or the Black Pyramid I
immediately tested the resistant nature of the materials implemented by
Eider to make the Supershield.
The stategiaclly placed Kevlar
reinforcements in the lower leg passed some difficult tests: rocky
outcrops, unwanted crampons and... controlled slides down the snow
field beneath Camp 1 to quickly reach Base Camp. Fantastic Supershield!
The stretchable fabric meant that I could also use it in the
lightweight sleeping bags in the upper camps, almost without any
inconveniance whatsoever... as if it were a second skin!
I'll
return to the Himalaya: in my rucksack there will always be space for
this extraordinary piece of clothing. And I'd love to see this same
suit (including the hood) as a practical two-piece suit (trousers +
jacket) to take advantage of its exceptional qualities in an alpine
environment.
To a friend of K2
Renzo Benedetti
