– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Squak Glacier Tour — North Face Wool Baselayer Review

by Guest Blogger May 23, 2018
written by Guest Blogger May 23, 2018

Leif Whittaker

Lunch break in Rocky Creek drainage.

Lunch break in Rocky Creek drainage. Photo by Fennwood Photography

A good way to test a baselayer is to hike fast on a hot day, sweat profusely until the layer is soaked, and then stop, lower the air temperature by 20 degrees, and see if you stay warm. On an overnight trip to Mount Baker’s Squak Glacier, I did that exact thing.

My partner, Freya, and I parked where the snow began about two miles from Schreibers Meadow trailhead. The early May morning was foggy and cool, a respite from the unseasonable heat Washington had been experiencing recently.


Snowmobiles jetted past as we skinned up the road. The whine of the engines dissipated and we heard the low-pitched whoomp-whoomp-whoomp of a grouse. My backpack, loaded with extra gear for training purposes, dug into my shoulders and hips, but it was not an unwelcome discomfort. I’d be on Denali in two weeks and needed all the preparatory suffering I could get.

The fog lifted as we made our way through the meadow and turned northerly, following Rocky Creek drainage rather than sticking to the summer trail. We stopped for lunch in the shade of a mountain hemlock. When we began hiking again I had an urge to push myself, so I gradually quickened the pace until sweat dripped down my forehead, washing sunscreen into my eyes.

Skinning up the moraine edge toward the Squak Glacier.

Skinning up the moraine edge toward the Squak Glacier. Photo by Fennwood Photography

Packing a heavy overnight bag, wearing the TNF baselayer.

Packing a heavy overnight bag, wearing the TNF baselayer. Photo by Fennwood Photography

Our primary objective was to camp that night and ski the glacier in the morning, but I also wanted to test some clothing and gear to see if they would work for Denali. I was particularly interested in a merino wool long-sleeve zip-neck baselayer from The North Face.


I’m partial to merino wool for many reasons and I wear it often, but I usually stick to brands that specialize in wool. In the past, I’ve found that merino clothing from larger brands with more diverse material and product lines isn’t as comfortable as clothing from wool specialists. In other words, all merino is not created equal.

However, I must say, the long-sleeve baselayer from The North Face is one of the most comfortable and functional merino layers I’ve used. The internally taped seams and bonded collar eliminate chafing, and a band of elastic in the cuffs and hem hold the garment in place and make it easy to roll up your sleeves if you need to cool off.

Little features like these do a lot to improve a piece of clothing, but the most important thing with merino is the quality of the fabric, and in that regard, this baselayer does not disappoint. It’s the perfect thickness for the foundation of a layering system, has zero odor, and is so smooth I wish they made underwear.


The North Face zip-neck long-sleeve wool baselayer.

The North Face zip-neck long-sleeve wool baselayer.

One issue I’ve noticed is that, after several washes, the fabric is showing a slight bit of fuzziness, but this is mostly an aesthetic concern and hasn’t affected performance. The forearm area has also become a bit looser than it was when brand new and it remains to be seen how the fabric will hold up to a month of frequent use.

Freya skins toward camp in the Metcalf Moraine area.

Freya skins toward camp in the Metcalf Moraine area.

Wool’s moisture control qualities became apparent as I charged up the Metcalf Moraine to the top of a snowy hill at about 6000 feet, where we planned to camp. I had been moving fast for two hours. The panel of my backpack was drenched with sweat, as were my feet, but my upper body felt amazingly dry. As a crisp wind picked up out of the east, I didn’t feel the chill of damp cloth on my spine. I stayed warm instead.

Our camp below Mount Baker’s Squak Glacier.

Our camp below Mount Baker’s Squak Glacier. Photo by Fennwood Photography

We built camp, cooked macaroni and cheese for dinner, and watched sunset paint the North and South Twin in brilliant gold light.

Sunset behind the South and North Twins.

Sunset behind the South and North Twins.

As night crept in, the wind strengthened. By 1:30 a.m. it was buffeting our tent with 40 m.p.h. gusts. On the windward side, I braced my arms against the nylon walls and held on.

At first, there were moments of calm between battles. The noise of the flapping, shaking tent would recede and I thought it was over. Then from the ridges above came the roar of a jet, and seconds later the walls were punched in again with more force than before. Soon the moments of calm were gone too and there was only incessant noise. After a couple hours I began to forget what silence sounded like. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked for all the suffering I could get.

At dawn, the blasts lessened but remained quite strong, and after a sleepless night, we decided to forego our glacier walk and focus on getting back to the car with all our equipment present and intact. One tent pole was irreparably bent, but we were otherwise whole. Denali prep? Perhaps.

Skiing with a full pack after a long night. Still fun!

Skiing with a full pack after a long night. Still fun! Photo by Fennwood Photography

We carefully packed up, made twenty fun turns on an open face directly below camp, and coasted down the drainage toward home. As we dropped below the walls of the moraine, the wind suddenly disappeared and we found ourselves in sweltering heat again. I stripped to my baselayer and kept going.

After this and several other trips with The North Face’s zip-neck top, it’s easily made my final list of clothing I’m taking to Denali. Let’s just hope I don’t take the wind with me too, as Denali from what I hear may have its own plans for that.

Specs for The North Face Wool Baselayer L/S Zip Neck:

  • Fabric: 148D 145g/m2 100% merino wool
  • Bonded, low-chafe collar
  • Low-profile overlock for improved comfort
  • Internally taped raglan seams
  • Integrated, bonded thumb-loop cuffs
  • Bonded drop-tail hem
  • Sizes: S — XXL
  • Average weight: 230 g (8.05 oz)
  • Center back: 29.5″
  • MSRP: $130
  • Shop for The North Face baselayers here.

    (Born into a family of tall and loud mountaineers among the glaciated spires of the Olympic Mountains, guest blogger Leif Whittaker blames his lack of skiing talent on his high center of gravity. He has twice climbed to the summit of Mount Everest and he currently works as a climbing ranger for the USFS on Mount Baker. His first book, My Old Man and the Mountain, was published in October 2016 by Mountaineers Books.)

    (Thanks to Freya Fennwood for permission to publish her beautiful photos. Check out her website for more of her stunning images.)

    Guest Blogger

    Beyond our regular guest bloggers who have their own profiles, some of our one-timers end up being categorized under this generic profile. Once they do a few posts, we build a category. In any case, we sure appreciate ALL the WildSnow guest bloggers!

    wildsnow.com
    0
    Email
    previous post
    Zero Boot Ramp and Feather Weight — Marker Alpinist First Look
    next post
    New 24 Hour Vertical Ski Touring Records Set in Norway

    Trip Reports

    • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

      April 23, 2024
    • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

      December 9, 2022

    Avalanche Department

    • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

      March 10, 2024

    Tips & Tricks

    • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

      January 6, 2023
    • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

      December 5, 2022
    • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

      November 15, 2022

    Recent Comments

    • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
    • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
    • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
    • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • About Lou Dawson
    • Terms of Service
    • Authors Page
    • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Copyright & Legal
    • Website Security

    @2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


    Back To Top

    Read alsox

    Polar Star Inn Hut Report: Mellow...

    March 7, 2025

    Best Touring Packs for Guides and...

    March 3, 2025

    Moment Wildcat 108 Tour Long-Term Ski...

    February 10, 2025