In 1991, Patagonia famously conducted an audit of all of the materials in their product line, finding cotton to their surprise to be the most environmentally impactful. This discovery spurred a revolution; no industry existed at the time for organic cotton, but Patagonia was determined to eradicate harmful pesticides from its cotton production process.

With the cooperation of a big box store -- who, after some coercion, agreed to invest in making 1% of their styles with organic cotton -- Patagonia was able to grow organic cotton production enough to erase all non-organic new cotton material from its products.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, the majority of my outdoor time was spent at the lakefront or in the forest preserve near my grandparent’s house. During the summer, we spent weekends camping in Wisconsin and Michigan or road tripping out west. By the time I was deciding where to head for college, I had a thirst to explore more mountainous terrain.

When I committed to the University of Vermont, I was ecstatic to take part in a Wilderness Trek trip. This program, sponsored by the University, offers incoming students a chance to spend six days in the backcountry with future classmates and two upper class leaders. Although I had only backpacked once before, I was excited to explore the Green Mountains right off the bat.

The sun’s beaming, the snow’s melting, and it's finally time to shed those layers! I love the winter, but this time of year is so special. Everyone is ridiculously happy and we get to see blue sky’s multiple days in a row. It almost makes you want to scream, “We made it!”

With the change of seasons comes a change in how we dress; especially while training in April for the Vermont City Marathon, where we get tastes of spring and flashbacks to winter. A great pro-tip would be to make sure that you keep a synthetic layer or wool and synthetic blend as your next-to-skin layer. This will help to wick moisture from your body, keep you dry, cool, happy, and out there for longer.

That being said, here are some of my new favorite pieces broken down by different scenarios.

Some things never change... this year is the 20th anniversary of the R1.

We’re celebrating two decades of wild adventures, first ascents, and classic moments with Patagonia Burlington staff stories, all done in an R1. #DoneInAnR1

The world of waterproof shells can be very confusing, especially because of the unique technology and terminology that, without a certain level of knowledge, seem like another language.

Patagonia is no exception to this; H2NO, 3-Layer, 2.5-Layer, Waterproof/Breathable, are all terms that we use on a regular basis. For most, what really matters when looking for a rain jacket is: will it keep me dry? | will it be breathable enough? | Is it durable?

As a locally owned and operated store, Patagonia Burlington is fortunate enough to collaborate with local action-oriented organizations. Through Patagonia’s environmental grant program, we partnered with Burlington’s Intervale Center and the Intervale Conservation Nursery to create a grant proposal. Over the last 2 years, the Intervale Conservation Nursery has been awarded $25,000 to raise awareness within our community about the importance of riparian buffers for the health of our waterways and to continue to grow the conservation nursery itself.

Last April, my family and I decided to embark on our dream adventure vacation to Japan. The traditional tour of Japan, in many readers minds’, may include visiting the numerous temples with extraordinary architecture, savoring the view from the top of the Tokyo tower, and admiring the beauty of Mount Fuji.

While we certainly did enjoy the unique beauty of Japan and even some “tourist traps,” the main purpose of our trip was to experience, first hand, the highly acclaimed JaPOW. Our dear friends of Arctic Heli Skiing, a ski touring and heli skiing company based out of Iceland, have worked with a local guiding company, Alpine Guide GAO, in Japan for several years. During this trip, we too would be able to connect with with local guide for a small and intimate tour of family, as well as old friends and new friends.

Join us for Treeline, a film celebrating the forests on which our species has always depended, and around which some skiers and snowboarders have based their entire lives.

Follow a group of snow-seekers, scientists and healers as they explore the birch forests of Japan, the red cedars of British Columbia and the bristlecone pines of Nevada, delving deeper into the rich environments they call home.

Is it time to change your underwear?

It is hard for me to justify spending any money on underwear. They are a piece of clothing I put on and forget about. Whether their performance is good or bad, I just sort of live with whatever I get. When something is reversible, or dubbed as multi-purpose, it makes it easier for me to prove that purchasing the item is worth it.

Patagonia’s new Capilene Air has fulfilled my proof of multi-functional underwear. This new baselayer blends recycled polyester with recycled wool in a woven fabric that does an incredible job of keeping you warm and dry, yet looking like you didn’t just come from the mountain or trail.

On Thursday, August 23rd Patagonia Burlington’s partner store, Vermont Trailwear will be hosting an in-store screening of the Orianne Society film, The Great Northern Turtle. This short documentary is about Wood Turtle conservation in the working landscapes of Vermont.