Category: Blog

Guide Brooke Warren in prime insulated pant conditions on the summit of Mt. Rainier. Photo by Patrick Chu. Insulated Pants can seem like a burden (will my legs really be that cold??), but they can be a critical piece of clothing in mountaineering, and can make a cold night at camp much more pleasant.  Why […]

If you are preparing to embark on a Denali Prep course or a Denali expedition with Alpine Ascents, you are also about to enter into the wonderful world of snowshoe travel. There are several reasons for our unilateral use of snowshoes over skis on these trips. First, the learning curve for snowshoeing is far less […]

By Mike Hawkins There are a wide variety of carabiners available on the market, and each type has its pros and cons. Some carabiners are built for very specific uses, while others are geared toward general use. For both safety and efficiency, it is worthwhile to understand the subtle differences in order to choose the […]

In a previous post, Maddie mentioned adaptability. Due to the exceptionally unpredictable nature of the mountain environment, it’s worth a deeper dive into this trait and its cousin, resiliency. Best Chance of Summits To maximize our chances in the mountains, we try to control every controllable factor. Things like fitness, the right gear, route knowledge, […]

Poles are critical companions in the mountains. Whether inbounds skiing or trekking into Aconcagua base camp, backcountry skiing or towing a sled into camp high on Denali, poles give the body very necessary support and aid. Not only do they absorb shock in the knees or add power to a big uphill step, but they […]

Words: Marc Simonpietri Photo Credit: Various A mis-tossed (and frozen!) Sour Patch Kid. A full Nalgene sliding down Rainier’s summit cone. A lead swap gone wrong with a dropped #2 cam. Falling ice, falling rock, and falls on rock or ice. These are all instances in which we need head protection while recreating in the […]

Product spotlight – Julbo Superflow goggles By Brendan Smith    Like many recreational consumer industries, the mountaineering gear producers are almost always prophesying radical improvements in technology that promise to the The Next Big Game Changer Of Gear. As industry professionals who use our gear in demanding environments regularly, we have become somewhat jaded to […]

Climbers nearing the summit of Vinson Massif In the world of high altitude mountaineering, your feet are an extremely valuable asset. Part of caring for this asset means selecting the boot design that will serve you best. Companies have gone to great lengths to create a variety of boot technologies and options to maximize comfort […]

  Blister Prevention words: Mike Hawkins   Take a few seconds to think of the toughest person you know, or the toughest person you can imagine from your favorite action movie… Got it? This person should probably be covered in mud or have some cuts on their arms and legs, but they don’t care because […]

Words: Val Peckarsky Photo Credit: Cecily Breeding It has been said that if you don’t pack a headlamp on a trip, you are guaranteed to need one. Small and easily overlooked, headlamps are extremely useful in the backcountry for pre-dawn alpine starts, late-night cooking sessions, and pretty much any other time a little extra light […]