The holidays are a time to spend with loved ones and to reflect on the past year, but it’s easy to get sidetracked by the glitter and excitement of holiday shopping.
The folks at Second Ascent aren’t about selling “stuff,” but outfitting the community with gear for the life-boosting experiences we get while in the backcountry, and we’ve come up with a few ideas on how you can give a gift that endures beyond the holidays:
Give the Gift of Warmth
Right to left: Montbell 0-Degree Down Hugger, MSR Windboiler
Being cold can ruin an otherwise magical outdoor experience for many adventurers. A crisp sunrise bike commute can go from blissful to agonizing when the relentless wind chill numbs the fingers and toes; or camping on a beautiful ridge can be marred by a night of shivering without proper insulation.
Our staff have first-hand experience with cold weather adventures and are more than happy to guide you to giving the gift of warmth to the adventurer in your life.
Anne, our assistant apparel buyer, recommends the Black Diamond Cold Forge Hoody. “It’s warm and water resistant but still down. The stitching is unique, and the brand is one of my go-to’s.”
Give the Gift of Safety
BCA Tracker 3 avalanche beacon, Endura Luminite II bike jacket
Backcountry exploration can come with some inherent risks. Safety isn’t just about the physical security of your adventurer but also the physical safety of their backcountry partners and the peace of mind of loved ones at home. We might even say that gifts geared towards safety benefit the giver as well as the recipient.
Now that the snow season is well underway and the days get shorter, avalanche safety in the mountains as well as visibility on the road are major concerns. Beacons and airbag packs make excellent gifts for your backcountry adventurer. More urban adventurers will appreciate bright, reflective bike clothing and blinking lights during their rides.
Benny from the bike shop recommends the Kryptonite Series 2 bike lock in merlot: “I love my bicycles and I like to keep them safe.”
Give the Gift of Adventure
Left to right: DPS Wailer 112, Ortlieb Classic Paniers
Our mountains in the Pacific Northwest are deep and can be hard to access when filled with snow. With the right gear, winter in the Cascades can be a magnificent playground. Skis, snowshoes, or boots allow the adventurer in your life to explore hidden glades, alpine lakes, and glaciated mountains. Whether for multi-day trips or just an afternoon, guidebooks, backpacks, and paniers will let your adventurer pack a lunch for a day trip or pack for the PCT.
Aaron, our ski and bike tech, recommends the WXB Pro-Barrier glove from Pearl Izumi. “We all have waterproof pants and tops for when the weather gets bad, but your hands connect you to your bike and a good pair of gloves makes all the difference. The palm has just the right amount of grip for wet conditions. Dexterity is really important to my ride, and I’m finally expiring an old pair of Pearl Izumi AmFib gloves that are bulky, cold and pretty much good for inner tubing.”
Give the Gift of Second Ascent!
It can be hard to find the right gear for someone who seems to have it all, so give us a call at the shop and get a gift card to help your adventurer gear up for the next trip.
Supporting your local outdoors shop has a positive cascading effect on the community. We host fundraisers and events, safety clinics, and lecture series to inform and support the backcountry community. As always, we support our favorite local brewery by serving Georgetown Brewery to appropriately-aged customers.
Brennan, our shoe specialist, recommends a good boot after a full, interactive fitting experience in the shop: “For all the people I measure, it’s rare that they get a good fitting experience, especially during the holiday season rush. The power of knowledge and a good fit session means that I can help them have the best time after they leave the shop.”
The amazing Maya Angelou once said “people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Give the gift of experience instead of things this year and contribute to their next adventure.
We’re here to help!
See you out there,
SA
Second Ascent Blog 