Base Camp - CHUCS and Mount Everest

Two of my most prized pieces of ‘mountain attire’ at Base Camp (where striking the delicate balance between mountain fashion and function is clearly a priority!) are my 
(1) ultra light down jacket and 
(2) Chucs sun cap. 
Having said that, fashion is relative… If I walked into the Base Camp mess tent in an Alexander McQueen gown and my high altitude boots I’m fairly sure that the boys would ask why I was wearing high altitude boots at Base Camp…. 

I digress! Interestingly enough, both the down jacket and the cap have a fascinating history and connection with the North Side of Everest.

In late-March, just before departing for the expedition I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Finch, entrepreneur, media maverick and the founder of CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop.

Whilst designing the debut collection for Chucs Dive and Mountain Shop on Dover Street in London, Charles Finch was inspired by his unique and colourful family heritage which spans generations of explorers, scoundrels, actors and inventors. Charles’ ‘Dive’ collection is infused with unparalleled style based on memories of family holidays in Jamaica where his father, Peter Finch, and pals Errol Flynn, Ian Fleming, Noel Coward and Ian Pringle together formed the nexis of Caribbean elegance.

Charles’ ‘Mountain’ collection, on the other hand, reflects Charles’ direct personal history with Mount Everest.

The ‘Mountain’

I have Charles Finch’s grandfather, George Ingle Finch to thank for my warm down filled jacket (and hence the title of this blog!). Whilst he was no ‘Diva in Down’, Australian-born George Ingle Finch, referred to by George Mallory as 'Finchie’ was known as much for his sartorial style as for his climbing flair. He invented the ‘puffa’ or down filled jacket before ascending Mount Everest via the NE Ridge with George Mallory in 1922. Whilst they did not reach the allusive summit on the expedition, this historic climb is cemented in the record books as it was the first mountaineering expedition to breach the 8000m barrier and proved to be excellent ‘reconnaissance’ for the 1924 expedition with George Mallory and Andrew Irvine.

More importantly (and yet another thing that I will be thanking George Finch for in just over 1 weeks time) was that George Ingle Finch was the first person to use oxygen whilst at high altitude. Critics thought this was cheating and believed smoking cigarettes would provide greater benefits than supplemental oxygen. This would certainly have changed the nature of Everest Summit photos and the ‘warning labels’ on a pack of Camels (although I’m pretty sure that high altitude mountaineering is equally bad for your health!!) Whilst George never made it to the summit of Everest, he remained an inventor and explorer and his ideas were often realised and accepted years after his own experiments.

“After this, my first mountain ascent, I had made up my mind to see the world, to see it from above, from the tops of mountains”. - George Ingle Finch, 1922

Charles Finch took inspiration from his grandfather and opened CHUCS in January 2011. Ultimately CHUCS Dive and Mountain shop provides the discerning traveller with everything required for a trip to the beach, mountain or hunting lodge… After all, as Chucs says, ‘A man’s finest hour is often not in the office or the boardroom, but on he sports field, the hill and at sea!’

A huge thank you to CHUCS for letting me be part of their rich history and for keeping me comfortable (and stylish!) while on the mountain..! The only caveat is, next time I decide to ‘explore often’, please remind me to focus on the ‘Dive’ element - a beach holiday, a bikini, espadrilles (and a mojito) are pretty appealing at the moment!!

Live Well. Stand Tall. Give Freely. Explore Often. --- CHUCS DIVE AND MOUNTAIN SHOP

CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop

31 Dover Street, London

http://www.chucsdiveshop.com

Bottom Photo: George Finch on the 1922 Everest Expedition.