Category: Blog

Hey Alpine, I’m resolved. 2022 is the year I learn the ropes (pun intended) of mountaineering. You have a lot of offerings on your site and I’m not sure which one is right for me. Can you give me the CliffsNotes explanation of the difference between them all? There’s a 6-Day, 8-Day, 9-Day, 10-Day, 13-Day, […]

by Aili Farquhar  As you toil against the steepness of the hill, the backpack hipbelt secured to your sled digs into your harness.  All the sweat accumulated and dried in your hair during your sunny journey across the lower glacier begins to itch as a fresh new layer accumulates under your sunscreen-rimmed hat.  After setting […]

by Sam Hennessey Climbing in the Alaska Range in late spring sometimes feels like stepping into another world. The endless daylight, and the sheer contrast of Denali towering over the rest of the state gives it an atmosphere like no other. For the last decade, Michael Gardner and I have stared down from the upper […]

by Mary Brown ‘Twas the night before Rainier dates were released, when all through the land Many a climber was stirring, contemplating high altitude plans so grand Their crampons were placed in the gear bin with care In hopes to use them on Rainier in weather so fair My timer was set for the exact […]

Hey Alpine, I’m headed out to Washington in mid-September for a 6-day course (stoked) and I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about backcountry quilts.  Apparently all the cool-kid alpinists are using them.  Can I bring one on my course? Sincerely, Steve House in Training  Hi Steve House in Training, Thanks for reaching out […]

by Brooke Warren Denali “The High One” is the third highest of the seven summits, right behind Everest and Aconcagua, at 20,310 feet. It is an “ultra-prominent” peak with soaring vertical relief of 18,000 feet, greater even than Mount Everest (a mere 12,000′ of vertical relief) when measured from its 2,000-foot lowlands to its lofty […]

Misconceptions about climbing gear can leave you wandering in the woods. In this article, we’ll look at the top-10 most common gear-related misconceptions for those newer to mountaineering, and offer some quick comments in answer. This piece was originally published in 2017, but it’s proved so helpful that we pulled it from the archives and […]

by Maria Faires, RD The strength-to-weight ratio is an important key performance indicator for mountain climbing athletes. Have you ever tried to hike up a steep trail with a heavy backpack?  The more you carry, the harder the effort. Weight matters. A mountaineer’s performance will be enhanced by being as close to their ideal body […]

by Trevor Husted  How to decide if the items you can’t live without should come along your next adventure Humans naturally seem to flee from the discomforts of life, mountain guides gravitate towards that light. It is as if there is some sort of element in a mountain guide that finds something bizarrely satiating in taking […]

by Micah Sherman As we skinned our way up a snow covered forest road to the Heliotrope Ridge trailhead, we knew we were about to have a fun time on Mt. Baker, but we had no idea what a spectacular adventure we were in for. With heavy packs supported by fresh legs we made our […]