Westcomb's Bowie solos Death Valley-Mt. Whitney prepping for Himalayas

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – To prepare for the unexpected during the upcoming Himalayan climbing season, Westcomb adventure-athlete Don Bowie has developed a simple formula.

Spin. Scramble. Suffer. Repeat.

His most recent training escapade — a solo endeavor connecting the lowest point in the contiguous United States to it’s highest in less than 24 hours – is available and worth checking out on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/52131503).

Starting before dawn at Badwater in Death Valley National Park — 282 feet below sea level – Bowie covered 145 miles to reach the 14,505-foot summit of Mt. Whitney in 19 hours and 41 minutes.

The bicycle portion was done as a non-drafting solo rider, the run was done with a minimal pack and shell, and throughout the adventure Bowie reaped the benefit of Westcomb Outerwear’s lightest, most technical designs.

“There’s no way to replicate the high altitude environment when you’re training at home, so the game is to find adventures that can replicate extended fatigue and big suffering,” said Bowie, who lives in Bishop, Calif. “The Badwater-Whitney route is something I’d been eyeing for a while, and it’s very satisfying to finally check it off my list.”

One of the world’s rising high altitude solo climbers, Bowie used the route as part of his training for the upcoming mountaineering season. Starting in January, Bowie’s calendar includes a summit bid for Aconcagua from the ocean in a day, as well as a series of routes in Nepal in Pakistan.

As a Westcomb athlete, Bowie wears the brand’s high-performance, ultralight designs for year-round training adventures as well as high-altitude winter ascents. Westcomb’s combination of impeccable quality, performance and fit ensure that Bowie is always supported at the highest level.

“As designers, we truly value the extreme situations that Don puts our gear through,” said Alan Yiu, president and lead designer for Westcomb. “This type of feedback allows us to support the adventures of thousands of other athletes who choose to wear Westcomb.”

Bowie’s Badwater-Mt. Whitney day is documented in detail on his Garmin Connect page (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/227736933). Bowie started his watch 6 minutes into the event, and reached the summit at the end of “lap one” at the mark of 19:41. He also completed the adventure with a “moving time” of 14 hours and 10 minutes – a measurement that separates out his rest time from biking and climbing portions.

Other key stats included a total elevation gain of 23,251 feet, a burn of 8,210 calories, a maximum speed of 48.7 miles per hour, and an average moving speed of 10.2 mph. Bowie’s average heart rate was 112 beats per minute, with a maximum heart rate of 145 bpm.

ABOUT WESTCOMB: Westcomb (www.westcomb.com) creates innovative, stylish, performance-driven outerwear for men and women that is 100 percent made in North America and 100% committed to performance. Made to be worn in the most demanding conditions, Westcomb gear achieves a standard of excellence that is attainable only through the constant access and oversight provided by their industry leading commitment to local manufacturing. Conveying a true passion for the outdoor experience, Westcomb’s 2012-13 collection features strategically minimalist designs, blending essential features for active athletes with an international, athletic fit. Westcomb builds their unique performance apparel with a remarkable roster of industry leading supplier brands including Polartec NeoShell, eVent, Schoeller, Primaloft, Pertex, YKK, Mapp, Riri, and the world’s finest Hutterite goose down. For more information on Westcomb, please visit www.westcomb.com.