View this email as a web page. The end of daylight savings time always catches us by surprise. We see the announcements in the paper, we reset our clocks the night before, but it never gets easier. One evening we look up at 5pm, the light has gone out of the sky, and we're left to bike home in the glow of streetlamps and brake lights. The shift is particularly abrupt here in the Northwest, and so to keep sane we draw a pint with friends, share meals with family and build fires to keep the dark at bay. As we enter this season of celebration, our natural inclination is to hunker down, reconnect with the communities that are the foundation of our lives, and share the stories of our year. Whatever stories winter has in store for you, we want to make sure you're as warm and comfortable as possible. So to help you get a hold of the baselayers that will form the foundation of your winter wardrobe, we're offering special savings on Men's and Women's baselayer items for a limited time. From Merino2 pieces like the Long Sleeve Crew to cozy insulators like the Base2 Mock, to the innovative Two-Faced Long Sleeve Zip that marries a wicking PLA interior to a soft cotton shell, check out the newest fabrics and technologies to anchor your winter layering systems. the commute. It's 6am when you turn off your engine at the top of the pass. The radio cuts out, the heater dies, and in the now-quiet darkness you look up at the mountain, a dark bruise against the pre-dawn sky. Your skis wait in the back, strapped to your pack, but outside the air is sharp and cold. So you wait a moment, and then head out into the snow. There are relatively few of us for whom pre-work 'dawn patrols' are part of the morning commute. Yet all of us will soon be starting our days out in the cold, conscious of that thin envelope of warmth between us and the elements. Whether you're on a peak in the Cascades or a snowy city street, we know you'll want to take that envelope with you. We've built the Asylum Jacket, our most technical hard-shell (available for both men and women), to do just that. If it's the kind of morning when you just want to hide from wind-driven rain or spindrift, the high collar and generous, helmet-compatible hood offer a sanctuary from the storm. A zip-in powder skirt means you're equally ready for deep morning turns and warm afternoon climbs. When your day's over, it's easy to remove your ticket from the split-ring fob under the hem—no wire cutters necessary. And it's the only 3-layer hard shell on the market made of 100% recycled material. The Asylum Jacket's technical design offers a doorway into any environment. So get out there. Winter's here, and you're prepared. going vertical. Winter's arrived in the Northwest, and with it the rain. But for many of us, dark skies in the city mean fresh snow up in the hills. Fortunately, the weather cleared just long enough a few weeks ago for a couple of our friends to head up to Mt. Hood for some early season skiing. Check out their turns over snow, rock and tree branches in First Tracks. They're not the only ones looking forward to winter, however. The women of Chicks With Picks use ice climbing to inspire, empower and give back to the community. Their motto, "kiss my axe," is part of the sassy attitude that keeps women coming back year after year. Chris Giles captures some of that sass in his black and white portraits of these confident athletes. For climber and photographer Craig Demartino, however, the joy of the ascent comes from a newfound appreciation for life. See how a terrible accident hasn't dampened his passion for movement. black sheep. It's no secret we love wool, and for good reason. Its ability to keep you dry, warm and comfortable across a wide range of environments is unequalled. But like any fiber, wool faces many challenges on its way from sheep to finished fabric. We're working hard to source our wool responsibly, but it's not always a simple process. In this month's Grey Matters we explain some of the things we're doing to ensure our wool arrives with the least possible impact, and we explore some of the ongoing challenges that we don't yet have perfect answers to. bigger fish to fry. Can fly-fishermen turned filmmakers stop the development of the world's largest open-pit mine? Our friends over at Felt Soul Productions hope so: they've turned the pursuit of their passion—fly fishing—into an opportunity to engage two other worthy endeavors: filmmaking and activism. Over in the Kitchen, Eugenie spends a minute highlighting their latest project, Red Gold, which took them to Alaska, where they turned their lenses on how an effort to build what would be the world's largest open pit gold mine at the headwaters of the Bristol Bay area will impact the local community. Read her piece, and learn more about the project. more than skin deep. Despite the name, Surface magazine is concerned with much more than just appearance. Focused on the intersection of design, art and style, Surface turns its critical eye on much of what we love to read about and look at. So we were pleased when they featured a conversation about our design approach with Chris, Mark and Ian in their recent Avant Guardian issue, which highlights the work of some of America's best young photographers. Look for it on newsstands near you. hate free zone. For most of us, the holidays are a time to share with our community, our friends and our family. For some, however, community isn't yet something to celebrate, and that's an issue that our Partner For Change Hate Free Zone takes very seriously. Founded in the aftershocks of September 11th as a response to hate crimes and discrimination targeting Arabs, Muslims and South Asians, Hate Free Zone works to promote fundamental principles of democracy and justice for everyone. Working in Washington State, where 10% of residents are foreign born, they work to empower immigrant communities while campaigning to restore and protect civil liberties and human rights for all. Visit their website to learn more about Hate Free Zone, or consider directing 5% of your next Nau purchase to support their important work. seven summits. We're proud to announce Nau's first ascent of one of the seven summits! Ok, so the credit really belongs to Kati Rooney, who submitted this image of her team at the start of their extraordinary climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. But we're glad her pair of Delivery Shorts (on Kati, second from left) stood up to the challenge of Africa's highest peak. For submitting this month's winning photograph, Kati wins a Merino2 Long Sleeve Half-Button Shirt. Want to get some Nau for yourself? Submit a photo of yourself or a friend wearing Nau to share@nau.com; if we think yours is the best we'll send you both a warm, wicking, stylish Merino2. lucky you. This month we're kicking off our monthly subscriber giveaway with a question: In what city did Nau's first store open? Think you know the answer? The first reader to email the correct location to share@nau.com will win a free Merino2 baselayer of their choice! So think quick, type fast, and look for another giveaway next month! (for contest rules, terms and conditions, please email share@nau.com with the subject line "terms and conditions.") This email was sent to you because you asked to receive updates and promotions from Nau. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, click here. Privacy | Terms of Use Nau, 1624 NW Lovejoy St., Portland, OR 97209