Hiking on the Moon #10 - Snow and ice - By Quechua by QUECHUA

Issue 10 SNoW & iCE MADE BY QUECHUA

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EDITORI AL ISSUE 10

Winter is far from being a period of calm for everyone. Alongside those who migrate to warmer climates, many wait with stars in their eyes for the first flurries of snow that make the peaks sparkle. The snow and ice, which adorn our mountains and turn them into a treasure trove, make us think of a dreamlike world of tranquillity. What could be more appropriate then, than the magic of these ephemeral materials to celebrate the tenth issue of Hiking on the Moon! Ten issues during which we have done our best to transport you to the mountains and let you experience them in all their forms. And that's not the end of it, because after all these meetings, stories, portraits of enthusiasts and your many testimonies, we are more motivated than ever to continue this beautiful story that we are writing together. For this anniversary issue, we are going to take you on a trip to the heart of the snowy summits of the Yukon, to plunge into the blue abyss of glaciers, discover the magic of ice and snow sculptures and how the fauna and the flora adapt to this white kingdom. In the following pages you will also discover special features which can only be found in this issue, such as the exclusive magazine cover. See if you can find all the details painstakingly drawn by the 8 hands who worked on this beautiful creation. This fine example of team work truly reflects the spirit of Hiking on the Moon by Quechua. And since this issue is not quite like the others, and also to thank you for your loyalty and growing enthusiasm, we have a little surprise for you. It's a thoughtful gift, chosen with care, so that it suits globetrotters, seasoned mountain lovers and budding adventurers alike! And as we prefer to keep the best for last, this gift is waiting patiently for you on the last page of your magazine. Enjoy your journey to a world of snow and ice and thank you very much again for being part of the Hiking on the Moon adventure!

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CONTENTS SNOW & ICE

06 08 09

NEWS BooKS rEADER'S CoRNER

TrAvEL

SpECiAL rEporT

AN iNSiDE LooK

porTFoLio

CHEZ quECH'

ANiMALS

WHAT iS iT?

CuLTurE

5 quESTioNS For

TrENDS

proDuCT TEST

66 68 69

YuM YuM CoNtest IN BriEF

INTO THE WILD

GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS HOW DOES PLANT LIFE SPEND THE WINTER? A WORLD OF SNOW & ICE CHARLOTTE, OUR STAR FOR A DAY WHEN ANIMALS PUT ON THEIR WINTER COATS

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CENTRE

ICE AND SNOW SCULPTURE FESTIVALS TWO ICE AND SNOW SCULPTORS BEHIND THE SCENE WITH QUECHUA TRENDS! BIONNASSAY SKI TOUR BACKCOUNTRY SKIING RANGE

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YO U R MO U NTAIN

Windproofing

freedom of movement

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49,95 造 BreathaBility

Available in Decathlon's stores and on www.decathlon.com

NEWS

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10 LIKE ... 10 YEARS WITH DAWA SHERPA BY OUR SIDE!

Quechua technical partners are discerning sportsmen and mountain lovers, who support the brand on a day to day basis, by bringing their expertise to product design. But our relationships are far from limited to professional and technical discussions. First and foremost it's a human story, of a shared vision of the mountains and of sharing values, such as can be seen in our longstanding partnership with Dawa Sherpa. And what better place than the tenth issue of Hiking on the Moon to look back over our 10 years of collaborating with this exceptional man!

CHILD OF THE MOUNTAINS Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa, well known for his sporting performance on mountain trails, is just as well known for his personality. To understand where he gets this strength of character and his unfailing optimism, we need to go back a few years. Dawa grew up in Nepal, in the Solukhumbu district, and spent the early years of his life in a monastery. Before the age of 7 or 8, he had never worn shoes, he spent the whole year barefoot and dressed simply in a long robe. This early experience in life, which was not always easy, helped him to become a determined man. From this childhood spent with the monks he retains a philosophy of life that he applies to his day to day life: whatever happens, take nothing but the best out of every situation. A breath of optimism which can inspire everyone to enjoy simple pleasures.

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NEWS Having always lived close to nature, when he wants to recharge his batteries, Dawa finds inspiration in the mountains. He shares this source of well-being and energy through trails and hikes. You will no doubt recognise this as a value which Quechua shares!

OPENING NEPAL TO THE WORLD

primary medical care. The long-term objective is to ensure that this structure is sustainable. The causes promoted by Dawa are close to our heart too and that is why Quechua would like the humanitarian dimension of this partnership to be at the centre of this beautiful collaboration from now on.

A PARTNERSHIP BASED ON DISCUSSION

Dawa is an excellent runner, but also a promoter. For several years he has organised several races: the 3 Valleys Trail (Nepal), the Zanskar & Ladhak Because it is always a pleasure to talk with Dawa, Adventure Trail (India), the Solukhumbu Trail the Hiking on the Moon team asked him what he (Nepal) and the "Volcans de l'Extrême" (Indonehas taken away from these 10 years of close collabosia). Despite having timed stages, above all these ration with Quechua. This is what he told us! events are real human adventures. For Dawa, when we practice a sport, the essential thing is "to dis" Quechua has given me loads of things: meetings, a cover the landscapes, to hike with people who love different experience of the mountains, the mountains and want to be at one travel, memories ... I have been able to with nature". "i FouND THE discover how a large brand operates as Through these events, Dawa highwell as seeing behind the scenes how rELATioNSHipS To BE lights the richness of Nepal and its products are designed. I have been in people. He wants to share what he STrAiGHTForWArD contact with a lot of people at Quereceives with the local population chua and I found the relationships to LiKE iN THE and help them to improve their daily be straightforward like in the mounlives. The profits from all of the races MouNTAiNS." tains. 10 years of collaboration is not are given to humanitarian projects to be sniffed at, it is even quite rare. I which he supports fervently: am pleased and proud of this loyalty. In addition to my commitment to the brand's values, I have a lot of • Providing schooling for Nepalese children, who respect for this exceptional partnership!" unfortunately do not all have the opportunity to learn to read and write. Dawa works towards education being provided for the most disadvantaged populations or those living in remote villages. This commitment is reflected in the way he sponsors children and is constructing a monastic school in Mera, a valuable training space for monks which can accommodate 50 students. • Looking after and providing accommodation for old people in his home village. Beyond a certain age it becomes complicated to live in the family home. Dawa is working on constructing a place where these people will be able to live independently, in sheltered accommodation with medical care. • Ensuring there is primary healthcare for the local population, by renovating the Taksindu dispensary. There is currently a nurse available every day to give

Today, on behalf of all Quechua teams, Hiking on the Moon would like to thank Dawa for his unwavering support and his loyalty. It's always a pleasure to talk with him! One thing is certain, time passes but values stay the same and the collaboration between Dawa and Quechua should continue to produce exceptional projects! A very beautiful film about the history of Dawa, his philosophy and his native land is available on the Hiking on the Moon internet TV. http://www.hikingonthemoon.com/webtv or via the QR code below.

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B O O KS WE LIKED THEM

Glaciers, the planet's memory Sylvain Jouty et Sylvain Coutterand, Edition Hoëbeke

Adventurer on ice Nicolas Dubreuil, Edition Broché

This is a complete overview of the world's glaciers. They are both a reflection of our history and a tell-tale sign of climate change, responsible for modelling the landscape and populating regions. All the different facets of glaciers are here! With very accessible texts and almost 500 pictures (engravings, paintings, photos, computer generated images etc.), prepare yourself for a journey into the fascinating world of glaciers! 40 €

Nicolas Dubreuil is an explorer who is not afraid of the cold! He spends more than half of the year near the poles and crosses these icy lands in a sledge, on skis or in a kayak and knows everything there is to know about the world of ice. In this travelogue he captures moments spent with the Arctic peoples, changes to their way of life as well as the joys but also the risks of a living in the Great North. 18 €

The world's most beautiful mountains Claude Gardien, Edition Glénat - Volume 2 Every hiker, climber or nature lover has their own vision of their ideal mountain. For some, it is the brilliance of a glacier which reveals all its beauty, for others the wild elegance of rocky peaks or snowy summits. Whatever your point of view, you are bound to find something you like in these 210 pages. The world's top photographers took part in this book, which is a snapshot of the most beautiful mountains on our planet. 50 €

"White pass" on skisi Claude Vallier, Edition YukonBackCountrySkiing The White Pass region in the Yukon (Canada) is an ideal playground for backcountry skiing. This topographical guide, the first dedicated to this region, will be your best friend for planning your trips and getting the best out of these vast expanses of snow. There are routes for all levels, for skiing, snowboarding and telemark skiing, with information about access, difficulty, the equipment you'll need and safety. 28 €

Just what Hiking on the Moon needs to see glaciers in motion! Luc Moreau, Edition Espope Publicité Chamonix With these flipbooks created by Luc Moreau, a recognised glaciologist, you can observe the movement of glaciers at a glance. Flick quickly through these small books of images and the photos of glaciers taken at regular intervals move as if by magic making these ice monsters come to life. Flipbook no.1 traces the evolution of the Sea of Ice (France) and the Perito Moreno (Argentina) while no.2 is all about the movements of glaciers in Argentière (France) and Eqip Sermia (Greenland). 8 €

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R E A D E R' S CORNER We're always delighted to read your emails, whether you want to share your comments and opinions, make us laugh, send us a word of encouragement or just say a quick hello! So a big thank you to everyone for reading the magazine and the blog! Here's a small selection of some of the letters we've received...

[ rémi ] Hello Hiking on the Moon, I really admire the work, attention to detail and all too rare good taste that goes into this magazine. I would like to congratulate the entire team who are behind it. I would also like to know how the editorial office works, if you are a fixed team or if you have different contributors etc.. Dear Rémi, First of all, we would like you to know that we are always very pleased when our readers take the time to congratulate us! The magazine is created and edited 100% "in house". The Quechua team are all regularly asked to suggest topics, carry out interviews, tell us about their trips and speak about their jobs or their passion for the mountains. This system also applies to the graphic design of the magazine. For each edition, we bring together designers and graphic designers to create the artwork as well as the illustrations which adorn our pages. You can see a very concrete example of this team work on the cover of this edition! In this way we aim to offer you varied articles and to communicate our passion for nature and all the beautiful things it gives us to look at. See you soon! [HKG]

[ jeAn-mArie ]

[ BApTiSTE ] Hello, First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the site, which is superb: what with the pictures and videos, it's quite amazing to look at! However, I can't find any shops selling the magazine, which is also fantastic. Thank you in advance for getting back to me and good luck with your project which I hope is very successful! Baptiste, We are delighted to learn that the articles on the blog give you a daily dose of escapism, something which is close to our heart since we launched this project. As for the magazine, it is available in the many Decathlon stores all over France as well as in the Mountain Store in Domancy. A list of these stores is available at www.hikingonthemoon.com, in the "Magazine" section. This is where you can also find internet versions of previous magazines. Happy reading and see you soon. [ HKG ]

[ pedro ] A big hello to the Hiking on the Moon team! Thanks very much for the magazine and the great backpack that you sent me after I entered the competition on the Quechua Facebook page! These gifts are really fantastic! Pedro, The Hiking on the Moon team are all delighted that you liked these gifts! Make sure you try your luck again, so you get the full set of perfect hiking gear. [ HKG ]

Hello, Being a fan of hiking, trail running and other outdoor activities involving heights if possible, I really appreciate the work produced by Hiking on the Moon! Both the content and the choice of visuals are excellent. Is it possible to get a paper version of the magazine because although I like reading it online, documents of such beauty deserve to be touched, displayed, and leafed through from time to time to get away from it all! If so, is it possible to get previous copies to make up the complete collection? Thanks in advance and congratulations for all your hard work. Jean-Marie, All these compliments deserve to be published in our 10th edition! You're not the only one to tell us that you'd like to get old copies of Hiking on the Moon. Unfortunately, our stock has now run out. To make sure we don't run out again and that everyone can get a paper copy, we will increase the number of copies printed for each new edition! Even though previous copies are no longer available, you will still be able to build a beautiful collection with the new editions. [HKG]

[ kArol & mAgdA ] Hello, Thank you very much for this beautiful magazine, my wife and I like it very much. It made us want to tell you all about our last trip to Patagonia. This photo taken by my wife Madga is shows what Hiking in the mountains is all about for us! Thank you Karol and Madga for your kind words, and congratulations on this very beautiful photo, which deserves its place in our magazine! [HKG]

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INTO THE WILD

iNTo THE WiLD

Mountain chains as far as the eye can see, glacial expanses and lots of lakes, these are the key features of the Yukon. Mount Logan, the highest summit in Canada towers over this majestic region. Floriane Macaire, head of ergonomics for the Quechua connected hiker division, takes you on a journey of complete immersion in this land completely covered in snow! A great adventure that she shared with Guillaume Faussurier and Claude Vallier, her two friends who are mad about the mountains.

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INTO THE WILD

After a backcountry ski trip in the Yukon snow, Guillaume and I returned to this Canadian region on the border with Alaska. This time, we headed to Kluane National Park and its countless glaciers. We were met at the foot of the park by Sian and Lance from the Arctic Institute of North America, and then we flew off into this wild and untouched world.

KLuAne, into the Wild After a few minutes, there were only traces of the aircraft marks left in the fresh snow. And the silence. Deafening. Walking through heavy layers of powdery snow we reached the big tent in the shape of white tube which will soon be used by scientists from the Arctic Institute of North America. Guillaume and Claude, the local French on this stage, carried the equipment up to the door, where I was buckling down to clear the 79 cm of accumulated snow. An hour later, with skins stuck to our skis, we headed directly North towards the Most Beautiful Peak which really is a beautiful peak and a superb slope, perfect for our first outing. In this grandiose setting and with no prominent landmarks, crossing the glacier seems to take forever. The more we move towards it, the more the mountain seems to move further away. Finally we reach the summit, with our skis on our backpacks and crampons on our feet. On the narrow ridge the view is overwhelming: 360° of glaciers and even more glaciers. Mount Logan is facing us at a height of almost 6,000 meters. 60 km away as the crow flies, you could almost touch it and easily think "Shall we go there? It's easy! ".». Claude very quickly sets us straight: "Forget the Mont Blanc massif and the landmarks that you had. In Kluane, everything is bigger, further away, higher, and more difficult than everything you know! ». At least that's clear. We put away our crampons, put on our skis and the descent is a pure delight: the spring snow has barely been touched for the beginning of July. What more could you ask for?

MiDNiGHT SuN We return to the camp under a blazing sun and fortunately the wind refreshes the atmosphere a little bit. A "sunscreen" break is required. Suddenly we hear a "wouhmmmmfff ". Under our boards the snow collapses a few centimetres. Nothing more, but a bit scary. "It's a layer of snow which is settling", explains Guillaume. Which reminds us that, if anything happens out here, we've only got ourselves to rely on. When we get back to the tube tent, a cup of tea and Chinese pie serves as a meal. Our sleeping bags are calling. "Here, there's hardly any night in the summer, recalls Claude. So you sleep when and however you can. If it's too hot during the day, you can ski at night". A wave of drowsiness takes us to midnight. We extricate ourselves from the tent. This phenomenon is not to be missed for anything, especially in a place like this: the midnight sun and its surreal colours.

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INTO THE WILD

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CLiMBiNG MouNT LoGAN

During our short stay on the icefield we could always see Mount Logan in all its 5,959 meters. It's a real wall of rock and ice, like a citadel and one of the most difficult to conquer in the world. Many expeditions have run into trouble and have had to turn back because the challenge is so great. The first to reach the summit of this giant were members of the team led by the Canadian Albert H MacCarthy, in June 1925, after more than a year of unsuccessful attempts. Every year, only sixty or so climbers reach the summit of Mount Logan, while more than 1,200 reach the summit of Mount McKinley in Alaska, further north and nearly 6,200 meters high.

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BACk to bAsiCs Sian, head of the Kluane Lake Research Station, had warned us: the wind will start blowing and our window of good weather will be very short. The bad weather descends on us from above. At around 4 o'clock in the morning, it's almost day. I'm woken up by rustling on the plastic canvas of the tent. We look through the steamed up window of the door: it's snowing. Beautiful snow flakes in a white grey sky. You can't see further than 19 meters. There's nothing else to do but go back to bed. At 10am, there's a sunny interval and we can put our noses and skis outside. To the south of the camp, a small chain of mountains separates us from our initial objective: Mount Queen Mary. We decide to climb up to the pass to assess the conditions. The slope is not too bad and covered with a layer of fresh snow, blown about in places. We navigate under the seracs with all senses alert. The crevasses here are not caves. These are real ice canyons which you don't want to fall into. Even though the snow

INTO THE WILD

bridges are thick and seem sturdy, the most basic survival instincts make us cross them at speed and with well tensioned ropes. At the pass, an icy wind blows and as it pushes the clouds the summit of Queen Mary is just about visible. We won't be going any higher. We take a short break in a rock shelter, before coming back down and making the most of these July bends. These few hundred meters of climbing are not enough for Guillaume. The wind and snow make him happy under the speed riding wing that he took care to bring with him. And he threads his way over the glacial plateau. Meanwhile Claude tries to contact Sian, using the satellite phone that she gave us before letting us fly off to the glaciers. "The weather is going to be too bad in the next few days; we will try to come and get you tomorrow morning. Be ready", she orders us. So we fall asleep thinking that this night will be our last one here. In the morning, after gulping down hot tea, we sort out our stuff. Just enough time to leave a message of

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thanks on the whiteboard. A few minutes later and despite the wind which blows ceaselessly, we hear the engine of a small Cuckoo plane. Tom, the Kiwi pilot who had left us there came back to get us. Everything, all the skis, backpacks and boxes is stored "Tetris" style in the tiny cabin. With seat belts fastened and doors closed there was no time to lose. Take off. Gusts of wind shook the aircraft, but everything was okay and we were flying. From above the crevices which seemed large to us before were actually gigantic. Behind us the grey clouds closed in again and the small camp disappeared, returning to its frozen silence. photos: Claude Vallier

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GooD SAFETY MEASurES

You have probably realised from Floriane's story that safety is vital for any adventure off the beaten track. Also, to make sure you enjoy the expanses of powdery snow safely, it is essential to carry the famous trio of avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel! In addition, before any getaway to virgin territory, make sure you find out about the weather conditions and the avalanche risk, all essential information in the mountains. Also, remember to take a rope and an ice axe if you plan to move on to a dangerous section, to hold you in case of landslides or falls. And if you are not familiar with the safety concepts necessary for this type of adventure, it is better to set off with a guide. Guides will train you before you set off on how to use an avalanche transceiver, and how to react effectively in the event of an avalanche.

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GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS

glACiers: the moving giants

Glaciers seem to be immutable, frozen in their eternal snowy mantle on the highest peaks. But don't believe any of that, these ice giants are continually moving, slowly but surely!

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GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS

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We invite you to explore their bluish depths and discover how they work. Put on your crampons and follow in the steps of Luc Moreau, glaciologist and associate member of the CNRS Edytem laboratory. Fascinated by the slow but inexorable movement of these ice monsters, Luc measures, studies and photographs some of the most famous glaciers in the world, particularly those on the Mont Blanc massif, at the foot of the emblematic "Sea of Ice", where he has been based since 1986.

[ HKG ]

A small glaciology lexicon

Luc, what conditions and ingredients are needed to create a glacier? [ luc moreau ]

NÉVÉ: accumulated layers of dense old snow which will become "impermeable ice" (ice under 40m of névé, i.e. 8 years of accumulation at the col du Midi on the Sea of Ice, LGGE measurements). GLACIER FRONT/FRONTAL ZONE: The end of the glacier, where the ice disappears entirely and torrents of melt water run out in summer. SÉRAC: chaotic piles of blocks of ice, usually in intersecting crevasses MORAINE: deposits of stones, gravel and sand, left by a glacier on its sides or front. Link: www.lgge.osug.fr

To make glacier ice, snow that falls has to not melt completely at the end of the summer and accumulate over several years, to make ice. In the Alps, for example, this process takes place above 3000m altitude, where the balance is positive: i.e. there is always more snow falling than melting. This area known as the "accumulation zone" is where glaciers start to form. Of course in the tropics you have to get above 6000m altitude to find these conditions. Conversely, in polar areas, glaciers start forming almost at sea level. But how does it switch from snow to ice?

Mainly by compaction. Under the effect of its respective weight, layers of snow accumulate, get denser and are transformed into impermeable ice. The ice might stay cold and dry, stuck to rock if it does not melt, as is the case at the summit of Mont Blanc or at the centre of the polar ice caps! If melting occurs, water soaks up the névé* and the ice becomes tempered. When this happens it can slide downstream like a sledge and reach very low and very far! Does that mean that cold and dry ice is not moving?

No, even if cold glaciers stay stuck to the rock, this does not mean that they're not moving, because ice has plastic deformation properties a bit like metals. So, regardless of the type of ice, are all the glaciers in the world constantly moving?

Exactly. It's hard to see this with the naked eye, but if you take a picture every day, at exactly the same place, you can see this movement. The ice changes shape and slides every day, every minute, simply under the effect

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of its weight. From the source of a mountain glacier to its front*, it's like a real life natural treadmill which keeps going downhill, without stopping. Do the crevices and moraines that can be observed on glaciers result from this movement?

Yes, if you follow the profile of the slope all the way along the glacier, you see crevassed areas especially in the steep slopes. When tension increases and the plasticity of the ice reaches its limits, the ice breaks, cracks and fractures. Crevasses can open up in a few days and "seracs*" can become detached, sometimes brutally. As for hanging glaciers (cold glaciers attached to a mountain face), in winter these ice falls can result in snowslides of fresh snow in the underlying avalanche corridors. Moraines* are simply formed by the natural erosion of the mountains. As the glacier's front continuously advances it rips rock debris of all sizes (sand, gravel and blocks) out of the mountain, which will form natural barricades and be transported some-

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times very far away. As it gathers all these rocky elements the glacier loses its gleaming white colour and becomes covered with stones (Sea of rocks). These days, volumes of ice are decreasing, glaciers are slowing down and not throwing out this debris any more. They are keeping themselves covered, which also protects them from sunlight a bit. You can also see intense runoff from the surface of glaciers in the summer. "Bédières" are water torrents formed by the melting water falling at full speed. Elsewhere water meanders through and under the ice making torrents that feed the river under the glacial ice. Finally the glacier shrinks under the effect of the solar heat as it moves several kilometres. It gets thinner and thinner until it disappears into the ice front*. Conquered, the glacier creates a river which will supply other water courses. And that's the story of the "voyage of the glacier", the snow crystals that become névé and then ice, which returns to a liquid state for a never ending water cycle!

GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS

HErE ArE SoME EXAMpLES oF FLoW SpEEDS:

2 meters per year at the summit of Mont Blanc, cold glacier 2 meters per day in the serac* falls on the Géant glacier (French side of the Mont Blanc massif ), tempered glacier 2 meters per hour on the Ilulissat glacier (Greenland) or 50m per day, which makes it the fastest in the world! The glacier front* floats in a fjord.

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GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS

You talked about the effect of heat on glaciers. is global warming making glaciers disappear?

photos: Collection Luc Moreau

illustration:

Maria Carrasco, Designer graphique, Quechua

To put it simply glaciers are completely affected by climate. Snow makes them form and the sun (simply put) makes them disappear at the front. They are a natural element which reacts most quickly to climate change. Glaciers have already been smaller than they are today and larger too of course! During the decades when summers were cool and humid (1970-1985), coupled with heavy winter precipitation, the fronts* of our glaciers were advancing! Two factors were at play then: glaciers increased in size and therefore in flow speed. And when there is more ice at the bottom, glaciers also increase in length! Today, nearly all the glaciers in the world are receding. They are suffering because of global warming!

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The glaciers in the Alps lose more ice than they actually make and they have been shrinking every year for the last 25 years. They are going back to their smallest size in the Middle Ages. For all that, in the last 2 years, thanks to winters with heavy snow, some glaciers have had a very small respite and have not got smaller. Two or three have even got more ice. Why are there such differences between neighbouring glaciers?

Because these ice giants evolve or react at their own pace, depending on their own features such as exposure, morphology, altitude, surface condition, topography, height of the front etc. This guarantees us a lot of surprises and delight season after season, year after year!

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Talking about surprises, have you ever found any "treasures" buried in the ice?

Glaciers are honest if you can call it that. With their continual accumulation in their upper part they take and hide everything in their snow but they return everything out of their lower part through "ablation" when they melt! In other words, everything that falls into or is trapped in the glacier will travel with it and emerge through the surface several dozen years later, more or less distorted. For example, in the Dolomites, on the Marmolada glacier, remnants of artillery or ammunition from the First World War are still being found. In Switzerland, at the front of the Z'Mutt glacier at the foot of the Matterhorn, there are utensils and wood from high mountain pasture farms dating back to the Middle Ages which were spit out by the glacier

GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS

in the 19th and 20th centuries after if buried the hamlet of Tiefenmatten during the last Little Ice Age (LIA, 1600-1830). Finally, on the Bossons glacier in the Chamonix valley at the foot of Mont Blanc, pieces of cabin from the two Air India plane crashes (Malabar in 1950 and Kangchenjunga in 1966) are found every year! Mountaineering equipment from all eras, backpacks, crampons, skiers or mountaineers clothes and skis, and even animals caught in avalanches, mummified by the dry and cold high mountain air, often turn up.

The figures in this article are taken from measurements by the LGGE, C. Vincent, D. Six and L. Reynaud.

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GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS

1 01.02.2012

PERITO MORENO ARGENTINA

immortalising the day to day movements of glaciers

To observe the changes in the glaciers that he studies Luc Moreau uses a time-lapse camera. The shots taken automatically by his cameras (2 to 4 photos per day) mean that he can see the daily movements of the ice. Luc has used his cameras in France, Greenland, Nepal and Patagonia! His images and videos can be found on www.moreauluc.com

27.03.2012

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GLACIERS: THE MOVING GIANTS

ARGEN TIERE

EQIP SERMIA

FRANCE

GREENLAND

31.07.2009

04.01.2014

21.06.2009

28.08.2013

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HOW DOES PLANT LIFE SPEND THE WINTER?

How does plant life spend the winter?

In winter, "living in the mountains means adapting or disappearing*". This duality is particularly true for plants. And in matters of survival, mountain plants are like warriors, "able to suffer without dying" as the Pyrenean botanist Henri Gaussen liked to say. In this inside story, we invite you to get nearer to the ground to observe the thousand-and-one survival strategies of mountain plants.

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HOW DOES PLANT LIFE SPEND THE WINTER?

ALpiNE FLorA

obstacles in a mountain environment The cold, the snow, the wind, the gradient: do you think those are main challenges facing high altitude plants each winter? You are forgetting the rocky ground, the short amount of sunshine on the north facing slopes, dizzying temperature changes on slopes exposed to the sun, and also solar radiation so intense that it becomes toxic. And of course the risk of being trampled, eaten and picked. Not to mention not being able to move to improve their living conditions! Faced with this avalanche of obstacles, plant life uses quite stunning survival strategies. Get closer to the ground so you can see the beautiful creativity of alpine plants when they switch to "survival" mode.

roots and leaves become thicker to protect themselves from the coldd To face the severe frosts, some plants secrete antifreeze molecules and thicken their roots. A change which is invisible on the surface, but sometimes allows them to resist temperatures as low as -40째C. This strategy also applies to parts of the plant left in the open air. Plant leaves thicken and they are covered in a protective sheath, a sort of impervious surface wax. But then, you ask, how do they get the vital air they need? They do this under cover, using the underside of the leaf.

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HOW DOES PLANT LIFE SPEND THE WINTER?

Cushion plants are true survival guides

Knowing how to bide their time… At altitude, life knows to be patient. To survive the winter, some species have opted for minimum size: that of a seed! This is the case with "therophyte" plants, which survive unfavourable seasons in seed form. Small but durable, these seeds wait in the ground until conditions are favourable for germination: this may be next spring, or the following spring. Common sense in the mountains which means they can make good use of the limited land available in this rocky environment.

plants get razed to the ground in the drying and brittle winds Most of the plant species found between 2,500 and 3,000m prefer to stay small. Some stay flat to the ground, like houseleek or primrose for example, and others, such as net leaved willow, stay in the shape of a shrub. These plants skilfully avoid dessication and mechanical damage (abrasion, breakage, uprooting) caused by icy squalls. Their shape is all the more relevant because wind speed increases with altitude. On the mountain pine, a survivor of the ice age, the branches all face one side. This "flag pole" is enough to illustrate how violent squalls at high altitude can be.

Trekkers and climbers know very well that high mountains can always take you by surprise with the extreme changes in temperature. Plants are no exception! Species growing on a south facing slope must be able to withstand temperatures from -10°C on a cloudless night to +15°C on a sunny afternoon in one day. This is a brutal temperature change for many plants, but not for cushion plants (such as androsace helvetica and silene acaulis). These grow in a ball shape which allows them to trap the sun's rays by day, to lay low in squalls and protect their core from ice, as well as water loss. Better still, this amazing structure also has the advantage of retaining withered branches: the plant just has to recycle them to feed itself. It is not for nothing that round species attract many micro-organisms, which shelter inside them. One after the other small communities colonise the most hostile environments on the mountain.

A thick mantle of snow to protect them from the cold Rhododendrons know very well that it is better to stay under the cover of a layer of insulating snow than under the onslaught of the icy wind that sweeps across the surface of the white mantle. These shrubs do not lose their leaves in winter and have the unique feature of producing buds very early. These appear at the end of autumn and spend the winter sheltered under the snow. The flexible stems of this species bend docilely downwards to lie down and hide under the first flakes of snow, thus protecting the buds from the ice. In addition, during an avalanche or when the snow starts to melt, they resist the forces of motion admirably and remain well anchored in the sloping ground.

Being hairy has numerous advantages Copying their Mediterranean cousins, some mountain plants cover the epidermis of their leaves with hairs. Why? To trap air, a true heat insulating material also used by animals and even in your down padded jackets! The emergence of these hairs also helps to reduce the friction from the wind and to reflect the light which is sometimes too intense. A "3 in one" strategy trusted by the edelweiss and the hairy hawkweed.

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pigments and vitamin C to counteract solar irradiation The sun may well be vital to plant life, but intense solar radiation caused by altitude can damage the DNA of mountain plants. Some species will respond by producing vitamin C (an antioxidant), in order to annihilate this toxicity. Glacier crowfoot for example, contains almost 10 times more vitamin C than buttercups on the plains**. Other plants will accumulate pigments to absorb the excess UV radiation, and present us with a pretty carpet of purple and blue colours in the spring. That's just the favourite colour of pollinating insects. Alpine plants certainly leave nothing to chance!

* Maxime became the title of a documentary by Laurent Cistac (Aster), with the help of the Écrins National Park . www.ecrins-parcnational.fr) in 2009. ** See the rich account in "Alpine plants, life in an extreme environment" by S. Aubert, R. Bligny, Ph. Choler, R. Douzet (Le Lautaret alpine resort - Joseph-Fourrier University) in the February 2003 issue of The Mountains and Mountaineering magazine.

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HOW DOES PLANT LIFE SPEND THE WINTER?

HIKING ON THE MOON N° 6

REPORT

…adapts

MAGICAL MOUNTAIN PLANTS While all these mountain plants are real warriors confronting the changing moods of mother nature, they also have great qualities for curing all our everyday aches and pains. To learn about their magical powers, see our account entitled "Magical mountain plants", which appeared in issue number 6 of Hiking on the Moon.

illustrationS: Lydie Perret, Designer Graphique, Quechua Anne-Sophie Blanchet, Designer Materiel, Quechua

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A WORLD OF SNOW AND ICE

A world of snow & ice

For this tenth portfolio, we asked François Guion, head of Quechua image production, to share some images representing his vision of a universe of snow and ice. Eternal traveller and a great observer, François showed us with his photos that depending on the countries visited, not all winters are the same. To learn more we're heading to Norway, Nepal, France and Switzerland. When they're covered in snow, the mountains of the world change their appearance. When they're wrapped in white clouds they seem endless. While those frozen by ice remind us that nature always has the upper hand, that it has the power to redraw landscapes, the ability to freeze energies and stop time. These few pages are an invitation to a hushed world where a feeling of solitude intertwines with that of serenity, and where each region deals with the winter cold in its own way.

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HIKING ON THE MOON LEADS YOU ALL OVER

TO EXTEND THE JOURNEY, Check out the blog

WWW.HIKINGONTHEMOON.COM A blog created by and for mountain lovers.

BY QUECHUA

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CHARLOTTE, OUR STAR FOR A DAY

Charlotte, our star for a day

In our previous issue, Julie Bordez, communications & marketing director at Quechua, took you behind the scenes in a Quechua advert. Today it's the turn of Charlotte, a Quechua fan and model for a day in our new "We all need warmth" X-Light campaign, to tell you about her experience. Charlotte won our "we all need warmth" competition last year, which gave her the opportunity to spend a day shooting with the Quechua teams. She is the very first customer to be included by the brand in an advert broadcast on the small screen.

C h ez q ueC h '

CHARLOTTE, OUR STAR FOR A DAY

A little reminder:

[ HKG ]

the slogan "We all need warmth" is being used to illustrate our warm winter

Why did you want to take part in the competition?

products campaign. Animals get closer

[ charlotte ]

to humans to warm up and share a mo-

I love the Quechua brand and I adore the mountains. Unfortunately, at the moment I live very close to Paris and opportunities to see the mountains are scarce. That's why this competition started me dreaming straight away: the opportunity to head off into the Alps with the Quechua team was a chance not to be missed! What's more, I love animals and what chances do we get in real life to get close to wild animals in this way? Basically it promised to be a magic moment ... and I have definitely not been disappointed! I also had the chance to see the old "We all need warmth" Quechua TV ads. I thought they were very beautiful and full of poetry, it was a wonderful chance to be a part of that!

ment of tenderness during a hike in the middle of the countryside.

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Can you tell us about your day? (the place, the animals, the shooting conditions, etc.

It was a busy day! The whole team (photographers, artistic director, trainers and animals) and myself were up at 4 am in the morning and at 5 am we were in the mountains waiting for the sunrise. When the sun started to appear, it was a spectacular sight. Mont Blanc was very close, it was beautiful. I was filmed in the late morning and in the meantime I made the most of the landscape, the super welcoming team and small fox cubs. The atmosphere was the best! Before the sun came up the temperature was very cold, but once it had risen we had a beautiful blue sky and it was just perfect!

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CHARLOTTE, OUR STAR FOR A DAY

You had the chance to hold the little owl in your arms, how was that?

It was much more impressive than I had imagined! The little owl was very young and the trainer told me straight away that she was very fragile, and that she should be handled with care. She was so small and light, I was afraid of squeezing her too tight or dropping her, all the more so because the camera and all eyes were on me. To start with, she was nervous and agitated, then she nestled right into my hands and at that point it became easy, as if she had felt that I wished her no harm. It was magnificent to see this animal close up, I could scrutinize its slightest movements; she already had a tight grip and a well sharpened beak for her age! These birds are fascinating.

And what about the well-being of the animals in all that?

As Charlotte said in her interview, all the animals are accompanied by their trainers all the time during filming. They are reared baby animals, bred in captivity and they are used to the presence of humans. The needs of all the animals are respected during shooting and when taking shots. All necessary measures are taken to avoid the animals feeling stressed or tired. We always use experienced professionals with lots of experience in training animals for the cinema and advertising.

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CHARLOTTE, NOTRE STAR D'UN JOUR

Finally what was the high point of your day?

X-LiGHT jacket The X-light jacket is a mix of lightweight, warmth and compact design. For sure, it will be your hiking favorite products! 39,95â&#x20AC;&#x2030;â&#x201A;Ź

Along with the magical moment when I held the little owl in my arms, the whole of the day was unforgettable. The whole team was super friendly with me and it was great to be backstage. I was wondering how shooting for an advertising film would unfold, how the animals were moved into place, how natural light would affect shooting and even who chooses the outfits and make-up. I got all my answers in one day, and learnt about everything that goes on behind the scenes. Finally, the place was truly spectacular, a real breath of fresh air.

You can find Charlotte on the Hiking on the Moon Web Tv, in a "making of" special recounting her experience filming this advert! www.hikingonthemoon.Com/webtv

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WHEN ANIMALS PUT ON THEIR WINTER COATS

When animals put on their winter coats

Winter settles in silently. Temperatures drop, water freezes in places and edible plants become scarcer. The rules of the game have changed and mountain animals all have their own way of braving the cold and the freezing winds that start to arrive. To learn about their diverse strategies, often all you need to do is observe nature, from the blue of the sky to the most discreet burrows.

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WHEN ANIMALS PUT ON THEIR WINTER COATS

If you look up you will see lots of birds in flight migrating towards warmer latitudes, whereas on the ground lizards, snakes and amphibians are all slowing down. Further away brown bears are gently going into hibernation while groundhogs are curling up out of view for a very long nap.

What about those that stay active then? They are living proof of adaptation, the key word for survival in mountain environments which is also adopted by the flora, as we explained in our "inside story" section of this magazine. On the programme: fat reserves, building shelters and even changing their coats. When it comes to winter coats, high altitude animals are very pragmatic and creative. Get your best pair of binoculars, and take a look for yourself!

Mountain hares go into camouflage mode Early in October mountain hares get their special livery. It takes 70 to 90 days for them to swap their brown fur for an entirely white version ... well almost: a touch of black remains at the tip of their ears so congeners can easily find each other. This radical change means the animals can blend in with the snowy landscape and escape the piercing eyes of their predators, particularly birds of prey,

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which have not migrated. The other advantage of this new fur is that it maintains the animal's internal temperature: white reflects heat inwards and consequently slows it being lost externally. If you manage to see a mountain hare in its winter coat look at its paws when it moves about: they are covered with excess fur to stop it sinking into the powdery snow. This very effective camouflage trick is also adopted by stoats and ptarmigans (in a feathery version).

red foxes and the wolves add another layer When temperatures start to fall red foxes and wolves cover themselves in a thicker coat designed to keep their vital organs working. Their hair gets thicker and their outer coat gets longer so water runs off them more easily. But the real effectiveness of their winter coats comes from the air - a natural insulator - cleverly trapped between these two layers.

WHEN ANIMALS PUT ON THEIR WINTER COATS

What triggers moulting?

Falling temperatures and shortening days have an effect on the hypothalamus of animals. This causes neuroendocrine glands to secrete hormones responsible for moulting. That's how they get their place in the autumn-winter collection!

Nothing is unused

When the good weather returns, summer coats takes over again: short hair, more red and more beige. Winter coats fall off in clumps and cling to tree trunks or thickets. Sparrows and other birds pounce on this material to furnish their nests!

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WHEN ANIMALS PUT ON THEIR WINTER COATS

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WHEN ANIMALS PUT ON THEIR WINTER COATS

photos: Jérémy Calvo

And what happens to sled dogs?

Pets can also adapt their fur in winter. Rémy Coste, professional dog musher and Quechua technical partner, explains to us how dogs react when they are faced with falling temperatures. « First of all, you should know that dogs do not like heat very much. They are much more comfortable in cold environments. For example, the ideal temperature for my dogs, where they are the most efficient, is somewhere between -10°C and -15°C. This is explained by the fact that unlike humans dogs do not sweat. The only way for them to get rid of heat is to open their mouths and pant. However, as you can imagine, this "ventilation" surface is really not very big and combating high temperatures uses a lot of energy. However, any kind of dog can adapt to spending winters outside. When temperatures fall their organism develops a very dense undercoat, a sort of duvet, which will enable them to withstand the cold. When it comes to my dogs, I avoid leaving them outside too long, because I don't want them to develop this famous undercoat. While it might be a very good insulator, dogs can keep it for a long time, which will be a problem for summer training sessions. Because of this, after each trip out, I prefer to put my dogs back in the warmth. That way we can train for the whole year! »

pyrenean mountain dogs and Arctic wolves get oily coats and Saint Bernards get black glasses Some animals make their undercoats more effective by secreting sebum which ensures their coats are insulated and waterproof. This is what happens with Arctic wolves (white throughout the year) and Pyrenean mountain dogs who are both used to yomping through the powdery snow. As for Saint Bernards, they have black around their eyes: a distinctive mark which makes it easier to withstand the brightness reflected by the snow.

Mouflons, ibex and deer get darker coats and lynxes too… White is not the only fashionable colour at altitude! See how wild hoofed animals prefer greybrown shades. Red deer abandon their beautiful red fur for a dark brown hue. This darker coat means they can quietly reach the undergrowth where all the leaves have fallen off, such as rocky ridges where the wind finds the meagre vegetation. Mouflons and ibex get similar camouflage: their coats become black and thicken to a make woolly undercoat. This abundant coat absorbs more rays from the winter sun. Better still, it makes the ani-

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mal look massive and the weight reduces the risk of slipping on frozen surfaces. On the opposite side predators do the same: lynxes trade their mottled ochre summer coat for winter grey.

pyrenean chamois put on their scarves, mountain goats get out their masks and deer get whiter These animals are certainly not reluctant to add a touch of originality! Chamois, the emblematic goats of the Pyrenees, accentuate the contrasts in their coats as if to reaffirm their incomparable aesthetic. Their coats change from red to dark brown and they have a black streak ending in a point on their chest, just like a scarf. Goats also get darker hair, but their head and throats stay very light as if to emphasise the elegant black band which runs from their horns to their snout. Finally, look at the deer. The mark on their rear end known as a mirror changes from beige to a tantalising white: in the shape of a heart for ladies and two beans for gentlemen. What a way for each of these species to start rutting in November, dressed in all their finery.

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CENTRE

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THE quECHuA WED'ZE SiMoND iNTErNATioNAL DESiGN CENTrE Quechua, Wed'ze and Simond have just opened their new site: the international design centre. The Hiking on the Moon team couldn't wait to share this new adventure with you! So we're taking you on a guided tour of this shrine to design dedicated to all mountain sport enthusiasts.

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INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CENTRE

The dream becomes reality

Right from the start, Quechua has only had one desire: to be rooted in the mountains. The aim was to be on the ground, as close to hikers as possible to develop relevant products, which meet their demanding needs. The adventure began in 1997 in Sallanches (in the Mont-Blanc valley), with a team of 6 people back then and it continued in Domancy. Over the years as the brand developed and the Wed'ze and then Simond brands came on the scene, the teams became cramped and the premises were no longer suitable. That's when the slightly crazy project came about for a

new international design centre where all the jobs for the 3 brands (300 people) would be grouped together at one base camp, and where users could interact directly with the design teams via a dedicated mountain sports store, placed at the centre of the projec. At the end 2014 this dream became a reality with the opening of a brand new building: the Quechua, Wed'ze, Simond international design centre! The building facing the Mont Blanc massif covers an area of 10,000 sq. m and is designed to be the laboratory and the beating heart of the 3 brands.

A place for creation and constant discussion, centred on your needs

To develop innovative, technical, practical and safe products, it is vital to be in touch with mountain sport enthusiasts constantly. That is why the place has been designed so that every little thing happening in the mountains, at experienced or amateur level, can interact with the design teams and give an opinion about our products. And why the "store/laboratory", 3,000 sq. m dedicated to customer feedback, has been placed at the centre of the building. The prototyping workshops and the various teams (communications, product managers, engineers, designers, model makers, etc.) are all located around the store so they can interact very easily with users.

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INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CENTRE

product creation process

NEED iDENTiFYiNG

01 _

CuSToMEr NEEDS

05 _ proDuCTioN

02 _ product

produCtion and

proDuCT

marketing

DEvELopMENT

03 _ proToYpiNG

04 _ tests

moDELLiNG

tests ANd

AND proToYpiNG

approval

All the products are conceived, designed, made into prototypes and tested on the spot, to be subsequently distributed globally. 4. TESTS AND ApprovAL

1. iDENTiFYiNG CuSToMEr NEEDS

Product managers, designers and engineers listen to and identify the needs of customers in the store, and also those of users out on the trails. 2. proDuCT DEvELopMENT

Depending on the use of the product, the teams define its features (safety, functionality, style etc.) to create the technical specifications. 3. MoDELLiNG AND proToYpiNG

To progress from the idea to the product, the model maker makes a pattern, which will be used to create a prototype. The prototype will be tested and analysed. If necessary, changes will be made before arriving at the final, industrial prototype which will be used to manufacture several thousand copies of the product

Before sending the final prototype into production, products are tested in the laboratory by R&D, and on the ground by mountain sports professionals or by you, the hiking fans! Colour tests and merchandising tests are also carried out in the store. 5. proDuCTioN AND MArKETiNG

Once the products have passed all these tests with flying colours, they are launched into production before finding their place on the Quechua shelves in Decathlon stores.

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INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CENTRE

A dream meeting place for all mountain enthusiasts

An integrated, eco-friendly building

The international design centre is open to everyone: guides, doctors, researchers, lecturers, associations and technical partners all take part in the life of this place. To add to the experience, there is a reception and tourist information space, an internet café/restaurant and a large terrace to enjoy the surrounding landscape. The Quechua, Wed'ze and Simond teams are not forgotten, as the centre is equipped with large open plan offices. And to make the lives of our team members easier, the building is equipped to encourage sports, with a bicycle garage, changing rooms and showers and even direct access to hiking trails. The teams also enjoy a childcare service and a concierge desk that takes care of all the tasks in our daily lives that take up valuable time (taking cars to the mechanics, retrieving parcels from the post office or even handing in documents at the prefecture).

The mountains are our playground and our testing ground and we must respect them. The international design centre has been designed to fit into its natural environment in the best way possible and to have the least possible impact on the environment, just like the Quechua people on their homelands in South America. The construction materials were chosen with great care. The use of wood, stone and glass allows the mountains to permeate the place. The green spaces have also been worked harmoniously, drawing inspiration from the existing local flora. For example willows have been planted at the edges of the building. The building has been awarded "High Environmental Quality" and "Very High Energy Performance" accreditation. The high performance level was achieved because the building is perfectly integrated into the landscape, is energy efficient and recycles its waste.

olivier colloc - site manager

Christian ollier manager of quechua and The mountain brands division

« The store is at the centre of our offices, which themselves are surrounded by hiking trails and mountains. This makes it possible for us to go and test our products live, as

« Based around the design teams being closer to users and customers

they leave the prototyping workshops and to

we have made this site a unique

discuss them very easily with our customers.

place in the service of the creation

We are as close as possible to the ground! »

and innovation. »

3 BrANDS CrEATED iN THE HEArT oF THE MoNT BLANC vALLEY

Date and place of creation:

products developed:

sports:

philosophy:

1997, in Sallanches - France

Hiking equipment, clothing and accessories Hiking, speed hiking, camping, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing philosophy:

Make the pleasures and benefits of hiking accessible to everyone

2006, in Domancy - France

Skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing equipment, clothing and accessories Down hill skiing, snowboarding, freeride and freestyle skiing Make it possible for everyone to discover how it feels to glide whatever their level and style

For a guided tour of our international designer centre and to see the first customers arriving, you just need to flash the qr code opposite.

W H AT iS iT ?

150 years ago, in Chamonix - France Innovative, simple and reliable mountaineering and climbing equipment From indoor climbing to big mountain climbs Make climbing and mountaineering accessible by providing maximum confidence in the sport

CuLTurE

iCE AND SNoW SCuLpTurE FESTivALS When we talk about snow and ice, we very often imagine large areas covered in a white mantle, towering icebergs or a quiet, snow filled forest. We don't necessarily think about the majestic works of art made by ice or snow sculptors in the four corners of the world. For these artists, water in its solid form is an unusual playground and means of expression. in these pages, we would like you help you explore this world and the major festivals where these snow tamers are on display.

FROM A BLOCK OF ICE TO A MAGICAL WORK OF ART It all starts with a block of ice, chosen carefully by the sculptor. The success of the work essentially rests on the purity of the ice. The more transparent and perfect the material chosen, the more the light rays which pass through it will make it shine brightly. For snow sculptures, the quality of the block is less important, but the outside temperature and environment remain predominant criteria for how long they survive. Armed with patience and dexterity, the sculptors saw, chip and sand their blocks to get a crude shape. Then they use smaller tools, such as a chisel, a file or even a toothed chisel, to refine their creations. To make the most imposing pieces that flourish at many festivals, several blocks of ice or snow are stuck to each other, to create sculptures that can reach up to 250 meters wide! The amount of blocks required for a festival is impressive and mobilises everyone living in the cities that host these events. For the Harbin Ice Festival in China, 120,000 sq. m. of snow were used last year. From these astronomical amounts emerge sculptures which are all quite different from each other with the artists attaching their own style and technique.

A FESTIVAL TO BEAT ALL FESTIVALS! Lovers of ice and snow sculptures will find dozens of annual events all over the northern hemisphere, wherever winter temperatures are very low. Whether it's a festival in Russia, Japan, Alaska, Poland, Sweden, Canada, England or even in France, the sculptors showing at these events are motivated by the desire to share and to take visitors on a journey. In many cases, these are not just competitions or World Championships, but above all beautiful celebrations where young and old alike find themselves surrounded by friendliness and magic. Visitors, who come in the hundreds and thousands, brave the cold to admire the statues, ice castles and all the other creations straight from the imagination of these ephemeral artists. These art works, which are worthy of the work of a silversmith, become totally magical at night during the light shows. A PROGRAMME RICH IN EMOTIONS Alongside the demonstrations and exhibitions, the programme is often enriched by rituals specific to each culture. During the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, one of the oldest festivals, there are singing competitions, ice dancing spectacles and skiing parades. While in Canada, where temperatures can reach -20째C, the more courageous will attempt to try snow bathing. Sometimes these exhibitions use themes to set the tone, such as comic strips for example during the "Brussels Ice Magic" festival in Belgium. For the occasion, 400 tons of ice were transformed into comic strip heroes, to the delight of both children and parents.

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CuLTurE

photos: Bernard Grange / Office de Tourisme de Valloire André Marastoni

Four festivals not to be missed Although there is a very long list of snow and ice sculpture festivals, we have chosen four for you which are conducive to travel, and won't leave you frozen to the spot!

HARBIN ICE AND SNOW SCULPTURE FESTIVAL ■ Chinea- January/february Harbin is the unmissable event for the most talented international artists. Here, traditional sculptures based on Chinese folklore sit alongside modern and abstract creations. For one month, visitors venture into a city of ice, where the highlight is a 46 meter tower from which you can descend on a giant slide cut out of the ice. However, to visit this life size fairy tale, you must be prepared to put up with temperatures as low as -30°C! QUEBEC WINTER CARNIVAL ■ Canada - January/february Every year Quebec City hosts the largest winter carnival in the world. For 60 years it has been the custom for locals

to decorate certain streets with ice sculptures. "Bonhomme", the mascot of this great festival, is built each year in an ice palace, which can reach up to 20 metres high. The blocks needed for this crazy construction are cut directly from the river, which is completely frozen at this time of the year. LAKE KHÖVSGÖL ICE FESTIVAL ■ Mongolia - March This event, which celebrates the arrival of spring is the most authentic festival of all. In breathtaking scenery, on the frozen surface of Lake Khövsgöl in northern Mongolia, this festival combines sleigh races, ice skating competitions and ice sculptures. Nomads, reindeer herders and other local people take part, dressed in their finest clothing to share their culture through traditional dances, prayers and Shamanistic ceremonies.

VALLOIRE INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE CONTEST ■ France Nestled in the heart of the Alps, Valloire is the only ski station in France to organise an international snow sculpture contest. Every year, thousands of visitors come to discover this magical land and wander through the impressive driveway of sculptures. The atmosphere is very cosmopolitan thanks to the twenty teams from all over the world, ready to face the cold and put on a physical performance. We met with Pascal Veuillet and Andre Marastoni, two sculptors who are participants in this event and have often won awards. For them, the Valloire contest is a warm and technical event, synonymous with magic and meeting the other sculptors, the members of the organisation and the visitors. Their full interview is available on the next page!

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5 questions for two ice and snow sculptors

in the previous article, you were able to discover the magical world of snow and ice sculpture festivals. Hiking on the Moon wanted to find out a bit more. So we set off to meet two sculptors who already have lots of prizes under their belts: pascal veuillet and André Marastoni. These two men, united by the same passion, tell us about their world and recall the team they formed for the international Snow Sculpture Competition at the quebec Winter Carnival. They did not come back empty handed from the other side of the Atlantic by the way. in 2013 and then in 2014 they won 3rd and 2nd place.

ice and the way the light passed through it. At the same time, I really liked wood and stone sculptures.

[ HKG ]

What do you like about this job?

How did you find out about this job and how long have you been doing it? [ andré marastoni ]

I made my first snow sculpture in 1993. I started with a polystyrene block that I shaped with a hacksaw and sandpaper. I entered that project for the Valloire Snow Sculpture Competition and I was selected! I first discovered ice sculpture in 2000 and I started doing it myself in 2004. It really was love at first sight. I was amazed by the transparency of the

ished very quickly, which means you live very intensely. This means that I live in the moment!!

[ pASCAL vEuiLLET ]

In my family, some of my ancestors were stone cutters, my great-grandfather was a silversmith and my grandfather was a metal gilder. Perhaps the mysteries of genetics have something to do with who I am! It's about seventeen years now since an acquaintance came to see me and asked me to make a sculpture out of wood for him. From this experience everything fell into place little by little and I started making sculptures out of exotic woods. The years passed and after encountering stone which I still work with assiduously (marble), ice and snow called me.

There are many things that I like about this job. First of all I can initiate projects and see them come to fruition. There is this important concept of having the freedom to create and being able to manage your time however you want. Finally, this job is a great opportunity to meet other people, discuss with them and learn.

[ pv ]

The thing that interests me about snow and ice sculpture is the ephemeral side of things. The works need to be fin-

[ AM ]

What difficulties do you encounter when you're making ice or snow sculptures? [ AM ] The difficulties are mainly related to time and place. The thing I fear most is temperatures above zero and the effect of the sun on the material. When temperatures are high, the radiation of the sun on the ice creates micro-cracks in the material and sculptures can crumble very quickly. In this environment the ice needs to be protected with covers or survival blanket. [ pv ] As well as the two factors mentioned by Andre materials are all different from each other. For example, French snow is not the same as snow in other parts of the world. The climatic differences between cold and very cold winter temperatures give snow unique characteristics. It is this material that I particularly like. The same goes for ice. Here in France it's manufactured, whereas in other far away places it's a natural material. The colour and the density of the material, whether it's homogeneous or fine and its appearance are not the same. These differences give us a different perception

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5 quESTioNS FoR and a different approach to creating the sculpture. These variations affect the choice of tools we use to work with. In the creation process, what is it that differentiates sculptures made as a team from individual creations? [ pv ] SFrom an observer's point of view not much. But when I'm looking at things as team captain the differences are important. Managing teammates is essential, both in terms of monitoring construction and in terms of supporting and motivating the troops. You have to have an overall vision so that the team lives and breathes the project it's building. In terms of organisation, each person works on different shapes on different parts of the block of snow. These sculpted shapes come together to complement each other and develop into the final sculpture. [ AM ] With team creations, you never feel that the sculpture belongs to one person more than another. Of course there is a captain, but everyone is involved and responsible. There is real integrity which means everyone can find their place. Also we're united in our passion and any difficulties bring us closer together. We know that we will have to give our best and if there's any setbacks, solidarity and friendship we will see us through. We enter these competitions for the atmosphere. It's not the reward that's important but having this incredible experience, where we all help each other out and there's such a mix of friendliness and cultures! I would really like to thank Pascal for getting me into this wonderful adventure. A place on the podium is just the icing on the cake.

What was your most cherished moment at the Quebec Winter Carnival, the largest winter carnival in the world which hosts "the International Snow Sculpture Competition"? [ pv ] There are so many! First there's the satisfaction that the project was chosen. It's always a great pleasure and a responsibility to represent your country abroad. The rest depends on how the sculpture turns out. This is a very special time. The pressure drops and we instinctively hug each other, swap knowing glances and friendly gestures. It really is very satisfying to have experienced this together and created a beautiful artwork which blossoms under the Quebec light. Finally, the closing ceremony is always an intense time, full of emotions. [ AM ] When we took part in 2013 and 2014, we made sculptures which together formed a kind of vault. When we were building it we used several pillars to support these creations so that the suspended elements did not col-

lapse. When it got towards the end of the competition, these pillars had to be sawn away to give the sculptures their final appearance. When I was sawing one of the pillars it was very intense. You could feel the suspense in the whole team, but also in the other sculptors and visitors who came to take part with us in this "delivery". There was an explosion of joy as well as a moment of immense pride when we realised that everything was just fine! [BONUS] Can you give any advice to our readers on how to sculpt a nice snowman so they can try to win the competition at the end of the magazine? [ AM ] Start by forming a ball or a block with the snow that you have around you. Once it reaches the right size you can sculpt your snowman and give it its final shape. There are lots tools to help you, you just need to use a little bit of imagination. For example, you can use a bread knife or even a cheese grater! [ pv ] Be original and have fun creating a snowman with accessories that you love. Don't forget that the more compacted your snow, the easier it is to make extra decorative details to adorn your creation.

photos: André Marastoni Bernard Grange / Office de Tourisme de Valloire

TrEND

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Behind the scenes with quechua trends

up to now, in each "trends" section of Hiking on the Moon we have talked to you about changing sporting practices and the clothing styles resulting from this. From our infatuation with padded jackets to connected trekking, not forgetting ultralight hiking, we have explored all the latest crazes for you. For this 10th edition, we're going back to our roots to find out how these trends and the major lines in each quechua collection were defined! Clement pinson, Design Manager at quechua, has kindly agreed to take part in our littlecross examination.

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TrEND

[ HKG ]

Can you introduce your team to us and explain its role?

How do you choose the destinations for your inspirational trips?

[ Clément pinson ]

We are a team of 28 people, comprising several different jobs: shoe and equipment designers, colour specialists, stylists, fashion designers and graphic designers. We create and design products to meet all your needs whenpractising sport: we look at the shape of the product, its size, its colour and the materials to be used. How do you decode and define trends? We spend all year spotting trends. The whole team is permanently on the look out to capture new inspiration with regards to products, materials, colours, graphics, components and uses. Our geographical location, at the foot of Mont Blanc, gives us the opportunity to be constantly in touch with mountain enthusiasts. Thanks toour international creation centre, where we can have discussions with hikers, we can understand the slightest developments and discuss them with mountain sports lovers. At the same time we take a couple of inspirational trips per year, to take time toobserve and analyse the market depending on the country. Wealso attend trade fairs, which are open to the general public ( fashion, furniture, cars, etc.) as well as professionals. This helps us to confirm any trends. Finally, the internet is a great help, and we are permanently logged on to trending sites.

We select locations known to be drivers of creativity. Korea and Japan for example are very interesting places, where things happen which you don't see anywhere else. These days, it is mainly over there that new styles are being tried out in hiking, and in the world of outdoor pursuits more generally. They have a much more colourful and stylish image of hiking than in Europe. North America is another country which influences global trends in sport and the outdoors. At the same time we also follow the trends in ready-to-wear and for this we go to the important fashion centres such as New York, Paris or London. What happens during these inspirational trips? Wherever we are, we visit mountain sports shops of course, but not only. Urban trends have an inevitable impact on our market, so we visit lots of shops specialising in interior decoration and electronics as well as fashion. By simply strolling around the streets and going to the right places, you can absorb a lot of the atmosphere, the culture and the way of life, all essential elements in our observation work. We also spend time on the playing fields with our practitioners, all the better to observe and identify the needs of the future. For example, when we go hiking, we study the hikers' equipment, the colours that they wear and even the products they use.

How do you get the most out of all the information that you gather on these trips? When we get back from a trip, we make reports to get an overview of everything that we were able to observe, before summarising it all to draw out the themes and the major trends. We also hold a large workshop to discuss each season (spring-summer and autumnwinter), where the full team comes together to define future creations. This is a really practical phase, where we decide what directions to take, what products to develop to complete our range as well as the colours and flagship elements where trends are involved! From this moment onwards it takes 24 months before you the mountain enthusiasts can find our new collections on the shelves! in the next editions of Hiking on the Moon, we will explore even further into this universe, with some tips about customising your favourite products into the bargain!

produCT TEST

Bionnassay Ski Tour backcountry skiing range

When Frédéric Fortina, backpack merchandiser at quechua, announced that he was going to Lapland for a few days with the "Ensemble" association this aroused our curiosity. This association would also like to make the mountains accessible to everyone, and especially to disabled people. This is how Frédéric came to set off for Swedish Lapland, alongside ten other companions, so that two people with reduced mobility could enjoy five days of backcountry skiing. As this trip promised to be rather sporty, we asked Fred to take the "Ski Tour" backcountry skiing range in his suitcase. Like all quechua products they were developed with the idea of guaranteeing hikers the best comfort and freedom of movement. Frédéric came back from his travels with a head full of memories and a detailed analysis of the Bionnassay Ski Tour range!

« This trip was a really beautiful experience. I hadn't set foot in Lapland for 20 years. We spent every day on skis, out in the backcountry. We enjoyed crossing snowy forests, picnics in the snow and above all a very friendly atmosphere. It was great to be able to show these people the pleasures of backcountry skiing, particularly in such a dream setting. During these few days my Bionnassay Ski Tour gear was severely tested. Here's my verdict of this product, which in my view combines all the features you need for backcountry skiing! »

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produCT TEST

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BionnAssAy Ski Tour jacket

79,95 € Men's version available in black, sizes S to XL Women's version available in green, sizes XS to L

BionnAssAy Ski Tour pANTS

69,95 € Men's version available in black, sizes 38 to 46 Women's version available in green, sizes 36 to 44

+ Breathability

In backcountry skiing you have to alternate between climbs and descents. When you exert yourself strenuously, your body generates steam and therefore moisture. With this range, you are guaranteed to stay completely dry, because the technical components used wick moisture away and therefore dry quickly. The windproof function on the front of the gear is particularly useful for hurtling down the summits that you've climbed! + Freedom of movement

To practice backcountry skiing comfortably you need total freedom of movement which this product affords by being cut very close to the body. The back of the jacket and trousers are designed from a two-way stretch fabric that stretches easily both horizontally and vertically. It's really good to have equipment that follows every movement of your body!

+ Lightweight

+ Solid

For endurance sports lightweight equipment is essential. The trousers and the jacket together weigh less than 1kg. They weigh 510g and 465g respectively, for a man's size L. So you don't feel like your outfit weighs anything.

When you're talking about backcountry skiing, you're talking about sharp edges! To avoid any abrasion and protect your trousers, there is a reinforced panel at the bottom of the trousers. In addition, the material used is recognised for its robustness. All this product needs to make it perfect would perhaps be some gaiters!

+ Thermal insulation

The brushed fabric on the inside of the jacket traps air for better insulation and the hood gives you even more thermal comfort when you're faced with bad weather. In addition, this range offers you a certain amount of flexibility. Depending on the intensity of your effort, you can easily pull on a pair of tights or an extra layer under your jacket. + Easy storage

The two large pockets on the front of the jacket have been designed so you can store your skins easily. They are accessible at any time, which is really practical and saves you time.

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yum yum SNOW BALL FIGHT!

These coconut snowballs are small cakes which melt in the mouth and are traditionally found on festive tables in North Africa. We decided to let you discover them for yourself so that you can enjoy their unequalled sweetness. Simple and tasty are what Yum Yum is all about in this 10th edition! The cakes are rolled in coconut making them completely white like small snowballs which is where our title comes from.

For the sponge cake - 200g melted butter - 250g sugar - 1 vanilla pod - 1 teaspoon vanilla essence - 3 eggs - 500g flour - 1 sachet of baking powder - 50g coconut - 1 pinch of salt For decoration - 1 jar of apricot jam (ideally without bits) - 3-4 tablespoons of orange blossom extract

Whisk the melted butter and the sugar until they turn white. Add the eggs one by one making sure to combine them well with the mixture. Little by little add the cornstarch, baking powder, pinch of salt, coconut and finally the flour to the mixture. Your dough should now be properly mixed together without being too dry or too sticky. Preheat your oven to 180Â°C. While the oven is heating up, make small balls from the dough the size of marbles. Use a melon baller to help you get the right size. Remember that the balls of dough will grow during baking! Place your balls on a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Take out the baking tray and let the sponge balls cool down. In the meantime melt the jam on a low heat and dilute with the orange blossom extract or simply use water if you prefer. Pour this mixture into a bowl and prepare another bowl with the coconut. Let the sponge balls soak for a few minutes so that they soak up the syrup from the jam. Stick the balls together two by two and then roll them in the bowl full of coconut. Roll them between your hands so that the coconut sticks properly. Then all you have to do is enjoy them. Bon appĂŠtit!

TIP: to make them look even more festive we recommend that once they've been rolled you place them in different coloured small paper cases.

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YO U R M O UN TA I N

DesigneD for locating the victim of an avalanche anD finDing out the burial Depth.

Mountain safety

Bionnassay sKi touR sHoVeL

19,95 造 Bionnassay sKi touR PRoBe

19,95 造 DesigneD for freeing avalanche victims.

Available in Decathlon's stores and on www.decathlon.com

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Contest Now that you know all the tricks of the snow and ice sculptors*, it's your turn to play! Let your imagination run away with you and make us dream by making your most beautiful snowman or any other snowy creature!

WiN A NiGHT iN AN iGLoo For this tenth issue of Hiking on the Moon our team has decided to spoil you even more than usual! Budding sculptors who demonstrate the most creativity will be greatly rewarded, because this time there is not one but three winners who will all be well and truly spoilt! The best ones will win a night in an igloo with our partner Alpes Bivouac, as well as the equipment you need for an unforgettable day in the heart of the Alps: snowshoes, a clic hiking kit, a jacket and accessories! In short, everything you need to fully enjoy an unforgettable trip in a snowy setting

How do you take part?

Closing date

Publish your photo on the Quechua Facebook page, on Twitter or on Instagram using the hash-tag #HKG10 and identifying us (@ quechua), or send your photo to hello@hikingonthemoon.com

30 April 2015 Participation restricted to one photo per person. The full rules of the competition are available on request: hello@hikingonthemoon.com

A jury composed of Quechua team members will have the onerous task of choosing the 3 most beautiful sculptures. *Find advice from Pascal Veuillet and AndrĂŠ Marastoni in the Culture section p.60

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in brief

our team, set to the rhythm of beautiful encounters, emo-

tions, stories and discoveries of all kinds and also some

Products tested

Each issue of Hiking on the Moon is a new adventure for

149

unforeseen events. For this tenth issue we have made a small summary of the figures in your favourite magazine!

220.000

Hours of workshops

786

Printed magazines

40 Felt tip pens and pens used

Snow ball fights

Designers motivated and inspired to make you beautiful illustrations

Photos published

863

Emails received at hello@hikingonthemoon.com

100%

Hikes to find inspiration

Of Quechua teams pleased to share their adventures with you

1641 Posts on the blog

30 Countries visited

96 People interviewed

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YOUR MOUNTAIN YOUR MOUNTAIN

Available in Decathlon’s stores and on www.decathlon.com Gamme ski de randonnée Quechua à découvrir sur Quechua.com et dans les magasins Decathlon et sur www.decathlon.fr

Back country skiing

BIONNassay SKI DE RANDONNéE 700 BIONNassay 700 349,95 ¤

349,95 ¤

With trimmed skins

399,95 ¤ 399,95 ¤

AVEC LES PEAUX TAILLéES

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LEGAL INFORMATION

Editor QUECHUA, une société du groupe DECATHLON SA 4 boulevard de Mons, BP 299, 59665 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France Director of publication: Julie Bordez Art Direction: Timothé Blandin Writting: Clothilde Drouet & Justine Briffaz Collaborators on this issue Articles: André Marastoni, Charlotte Bouvier, Clément Pinson, Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa, Floriane Macaire, Les Navigauteurs, Luc Moreau et la Fondation Eau Neige et Glace, Pascal Veuillet, Pauline Martin, Rémy Coste et Victor Lièvre. Photographs and illustrations: Anne-Sophie Blanchet, Benjamin Simon, Bernard Grange / Office de Tourisme de Valloire, Caroline Olivier, Christophe Angot, Claude Vallier, Floriane Macaire, Guillaume Sailly, Jérémy Calvo, Jérémy Laurent, Lydie Perret, Maria Carrasco, Philippe Daguillon, Rail&ride et Ugo Fontaine. Portfolio: François Guion Advertising production: Stéphane Costantini +33 (0)6 60 68 15 95 scostantini94@gmail.com Cover: Jeremy Laurent, Maria Carrasco, Philippe Daguillon, Timothé Blandin Logo: Studio ORES Translation: Nord Expansion, part of Powerling Graphic design: Alban Guerry-Suire alban@clickandwatch.net Printing: Deux-Ponts Manufacture d'Histoire, 5, rue des Condamines, 38320 Bresson, France Publication date: January 2015

Legal deposit for publication ISSN: 2257 – 4662 Frequency: quarterly magazine Any reproduction or representation, in part or in full, by any process whatsoever, of the pages published in this magazine without the consent of the editor is illegal and constitutes counterfeiting. Only reproductions strictly reserved for the private use of the copyist and not intended for collective use, and short quotations justified by the scientific or informative nature of the work in which they are incorporated are allowed. (Art L. 122-4, L. 122-5 and L. 335-2 of the Code) Cannot be sold

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our HiKiNG oN THE MooN GiFT

The first 100 of you who send an email to hello@hikingonthemoon.com will receive their Hiking on the Moon's travel diary!

To celebrate our tenth issue and thank you for reading us for several years now, we have decided to give you a travel journal! This logbook is perfect for all adventurers. You can use it to note down spontaneous thoughts on your travels, your emotions, your impressions, your meetings, and even good recipes you discovered on route! All those blank pages asking to be brought to life with your anecdotes, sketches, stories and photos. In fact, it's a bit like you were writing your own Hiking on the Moon! Whatever you use it for, use it carefully and keep it in a safe place ... it could you be very useful for the next competition!

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Issue 10 SNoW & icE MADE BY QUECHUA