Shorts.—In order to avoid the discomfort of the great heat often met with on the way up to huts, one experienced mountaineer used to have his knickerbockers made so that when the knee-buckles were undone, the breeches could be turned up above the knees and worn as if they were shorts.Another plan is to have very thin flannel shorts made for wearing under the breeches, with tapes sewn on (as for drawers), through which the tabs of the braces can be passed. Thus it is possible to put the breeches in the rucksack and walk up to the hut clad in very thin shorts and without suffering from the heat. On arrival, it is only necessary to extract the knickerbockers from the rucksack, and put them on over the shorts, in order to be comfortably warm, even on a chilly evening. If a high peak is ascended next day the climber may be glad to wear both garments.
Shorts are also invaluable for the hot valley marches in the Himalaya. If the stockings are long enough, they can be turned up during halts, when the shorts can be tucked into them to protect the knees from biting flies. But those whose mountaineering takes them further afield than the Alps, and others whose Alpine campaigns are on an ambitious scale, will probably consult specialists in mountaineers’ clothing. Howard Flint of Avery Row, Bond Street, makes a special costume of Grenfell cloth, while Furcot Sports Wear of Holmbridge, Huddersfield, have produced a jumper and breeches at a very low cost. Both firms have used zip fastenings. In fitting these fastenings it is important to keep them from contact with the skin and to allow an ample under-flap of cloth, as the joining is not always weatherproof. The difficulty of repairing a damaged zip is another serious disadvantage.
Shorts are also invaluable for the hot valley marches in the Himalaya. If the stockings are long enough, they can be turned up during halts, when the shorts can be tucked into them to protect the knees from biting flies. But those whose mountaineering takes them further afield than the Alps, and others whose Alpine campaigns are on an ambitious scale, will probably consult specialists in mountaineers’ clothing. Howard Flint of Avery Row, Bond Street, makes a special costume of Grenfell cloth, while Furcot Sports Wear of Holmbridge, Huddersfield, have produced a jumper and breeches at a very low cost. Both firms have used zip fastenings. In fitting these fastenings it is important to keep them from contact with the skin and to allow an ample under-flap of cloth, as the joining is not always weatherproof. The difficulty of repairing a damaged zip is another serious disadvantage.
References
Chapter Three “Equipment” by C F Meade in The Lonsdale Library of Sports, Games and Pastimes, Volume XVIII, Mountaineering, London: Seeley Service & Co, 1934.
Chapter Three “Equipment” by C F Meade in The Lonsdale Library of Sports, Games and Pastimes, Volume XVIII, Mountaineering, London: Seeley Service & Co, 1934.
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