Patagonia Clothing System - Flute Bowl, Whistler/Blackcomb Sidecountry, British Columbia
Storms spinning off the Queen Charlotte Islands slam into Whistler’s backcountry with the impact of a teenager’s kiss – slightly slobbery and with lots of gusto. These low-pressures are the makings of epic days, but given Whistler’s notoriously damp conditions, you need a clothing system that works in tandem with your body heat to stay dry and insulated and keep you racking up the vertical.
The day starts with a trudge up the Musical Bumps and over to the Flute Bowl; a likely place to work up a sweat. Your shells face two extremes here: wet snow on the outside and a building storm of moisture inside. The H2No® waterproof/breathable barrier in our Primo Jacket and Pants stops snow, blocks wind, and provides excellent breathability to keep you dry inside. For the initial stomach-churning jump turns, Primos have a stretch-woven shell that allows you to move naturally.
Of course, one lap isn’t enough, but the chilling rides back up can leave you feeling like leftovers in the fridge. That’s when your R3® Jacket kicks in, trapping heat and providing core warmth. Its plush interior whisks moisture from baselayers; its grid structure captures and holds your body’s heat.
Your baselayers anchor the system. The Merino 2 Zip-Neck and Merino 3 Bottoms regulate your inner furnace by letting your body breathe on the climbs and holding heat on the descent. When your attention turns to cold brews and hot fires, merino possesses the important après-ski benefit of naturally resisting odors, which makes the trip home under falling temperatures and a setting sun even finer.
