Real Life Stories
Scott BennettSurviving an Alaskan storm
"This past August, I had the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of hunting Dall sheep in the Yukon Territory's McKenzie Mountains.
My guide and I backpacked up to 3,500 feet to camp along a rim. When we arrived at the peak to set up our tent, it was pouring rain and the wind was picking up quite a bit. Given the poor visibility and the late hour, we decided to get some sleep and then head out first thing the next morning.
Unfortunately, upon awakening, we found that the temperature had dropped to the low 20s during the night and that the rain had turned to snow, which was now being whipped around by winds we estimated at 40-50 mph. We were stuck in the tent pretty much all day.
After discussing the dangers and the problems of spotting sheep in these conditions, we decided to head down the mountain and to hike back to camp.
Heading out, I wore a packable Browning rain suit featuring GORE-TEX® PACLITE® fabric and Cabela's Canada Hunting Boots lined with GORE-TEX® fabric. Given the steep vertical walls of much of the creek's run, we had no option but to wade across the rushing knee-deep water. We counted 48 crossings of 5 to 10 yards across each. In most places, the freezing cold water was at least knee deep; in a couple of rather hairy crossings, it was at mid-thigh.
I noticed to my amazement that my feet and legs did not get wet. On the contrary, the GORE-TEX® pants, which covered the tops of my boots and zipped/snapped tight around the ankles, effectively held out the water and kept any from going over the tops of my boots. The boots themselves and their GORE-TEX® linings kept my feet completely dry. After the first couple dozen crossings, I was getting kind of brassy with complete confidence in my equipment and its ability to protect me in these exceptionally harsh conditions, including complete submersion in freezing water.
After 10 miles we made it back to camp, tired but proud of the time we had made.
My guide, a considerate soul, came into my tent to remove the linings from my boots to make sure they were placed near the stove so they would be dry the next day when we headed out again. My favorite moment was when he reached into the first boot and pulled out the liner, exclaiming "Holy @%#$! Your liners are still dry!" He was even more amazed when I showed him the legs of my pants, which were also dry.
In this case, your GORE-TEX® products not only saved the day — they helped save my life by allowing me to complete with confidence the dangerous descent down the mountain drainage and the long hike back to camp."
Scott Bennett, Honesdale, Pennsylvania