In 2002 I went on a journey to an exotic country: Kyrgyzstan. I participated in a three-week trekking tour across the Tjen-Shan mountain. Three weeks outdoors, some nights at a hotel during the whole trek, temperature hikes between +30 °C and minus temperatures and all this while experiencing a focused trekking mode. It sounded like an adventure. Back in the day I used to take part in one-day excursions, tops. And now I was embarking on a three-week trek. To prepare for it, achieving the right condition was paramount. You can’t simulate elevation gain trainings in the centre of Munich, but you can jog at the Olympiapark. The equipment was just as important as achieving a good physical condition. That’s when I asked my friend Kurt for help. I needed a waterproof jacket and shoes. His piece of advice? Get myself the GORE-TEX Salewa AlpineXtreme Jacket and the GORE-TEX Lowa Mountain Shoes. Kurt said that I would be well equipped with those.
The arrival to Tjen-Shan was already quite adventurous and the on-site infrastructure makeshift at the very best. The mountain landscape, however, was incredibly beautiful. After +40 °C in the capital of Bischkek, a noticeably more comfortable temperature followed during acclimatisation at 2,500 metres. The following days were sunny and therefore ideal for trying to climb the summit. It should have been easy to climb without a rope. It actually was, but sadly it wasn’t as easy as I thought. Without the constant remix of Elvis Presley’s song ‘A little less conversation, a little more action, please’ pounding in my head, I likely would never have made it up to the 4,200-metre-tall summit. We were out and about for approximately 15 hours every day, and the descent was just as hard as the climb – but mostly because of our ebbing concentration and energy. Moreover, clouds kept on gathering above us and a bitter wind blew in our face. About time I used the GORE-TEX Jacket to ensure I didn’t get chilled. I conquered my first 4,000 m.
In the following weeks, we also took part in a trekking tour to the south-eastern side of the Issyk Kul lake. The climate there changed suddenly. At over 2,500 meters it started snowing and suddenly we found ourselves in a snowy landscape. Sleeping in a tent and waking up to -10 °C and 10 cm of freshly fallen snow were a new and especially cold experience. In this unhospitable landscape my equipment was essential. I spent three weeks in Kyrgyzstan in 2002: I still remember the beautiful mountain landscape to this very day and, what’s more, I also got to extensively test the advantages represented by GORE-TEX. Incidentally, I still have that jacket!
Andreas Marmsoler (on the right) during his tour across the Tjen-Shan mountains.
Andreas Marmsoler
Andreas has been responsible for PR & Sponsoring at W. L. Gore & Associates since 2011. A native of South Tyrol, he was practically born with a passion for the mountains. In his spare time he enjoys alpine or cross-country skiing and hiking. We look forward to exciting posts on our GORE-TEX athletes and events on the GORE-TEX blog.
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The arrival to Tjen-Shan was already quite adventurous and the on-site infrastructure makeshift at the very best. The mountain landscape, however, was incredibly beautiful. After +40 °C in the capital of Bischkek, a noticeably more comfortable temperature followed during acclimatisation at 2,500 metres. The following days were sunny and therefore ideal for trying to climb the summit. It should have been easy to climb without a rope. It actually was, but sadly it wasn’t as easy as I thought. Without the constant remix of Elvis Presley’s song ‘A little less conversation, a little more action, please’ pounding in my head, I likely would never have made it up to the 4,200-metre-tall summit. We were out and about for approximately 15 hours every day, and the descent was just as hard as the climb – but mostly because of our ebbing concentration and energy. Moreover, clouds kept on gathering above us and a bitter wind blew in our face. About time I used the GORE-TEX Jacket to ensure I didn’t get chilled. I conquered my first 4,000 m.
In the following weeks, we also took part in a trekking tour to the south-eastern side of the Issyk Kul lake. The climate there changed suddenly. At over 2,500 meters it started snowing and suddenly we found ourselves in a snowy landscape. Sleeping in a tent and waking up to -10 °C and 10 cm of freshly fallen snow were a new and especially cold experience. In this unhospitable landscape my equipment was essential. I spent three weeks in Kyrgyzstan in 2002: I still remember the beautiful mountain landscape to this very day and, what’s more, I also got to extensively test the advantages represented by GORE-TEX. Incidentally, I still have that jacket!
