Expedition Hanesbrands' Mount Everest climbing team, led by international mountaineer Jamie Clarke, reached the 29,035-foot summit of the world's highest peak late Sunday, celebrating a 30-month endeavor to design and test innovative apparel and inspire others to achieve their own self-defined summits.
After an 11-hour climb from Camp 4 on Everest's South Col route, Clarke, 42, of Calgary, Alberta, Scott Simper, the Expedition Hanesbrands videographer/photographer from Salt Lake City, and their Sherpa teammates reached the summit at 8:40 a.m. Monday Nepal time (10:55 p.m. Sunday EDT). It was Clarke's second summit of Everest.
“We've climbed our Everest, what's yours?” Clarke radioed to base camp, reiterating his familiar motivational refrain for others to dream big and set their own goals in life.
Clarke and Simper, who wore specially designed Champion and Duofold gear, were joined on the summit by Sherpa teammates Kami Sherpa (11 summits), Pemba Dorje Sherpa (seven summits) and Ang Namgyel Sherpa (five summits).
In 2008, Clarke began working with Hanesbrands' research and development scientists to develop new Champion and Duofold apparel that improved mobility, retained heat and shielded against the elements without adding weight or bulk. As part of the Hanesbrands partnership, Clarke has been testing the innovative apparel, including a training climb on Mount Pumori in October 2009 prior to the Mount Everest expedition.
On both climbs Clarke tested a high-tech prototype jacket known as the Champion Supersuit, an ultrathin high-altitude extreme weather coat, which uses aerogel nanotechnology insulation instead of goose down and has a radiant foil layer to retain body heat. Clarke tested the Champion Supersuit at Everest Camp 3's subzero temperatures and high winds.
Hanesbrands will continue to evaluate the use of aerogel as an apparel insulator and its prospects for potential commercialization.
