Category: Gear

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 […]

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 […]

Is my training working? Whether explicitly spoken or implied, this is the question many climbers ask of themselves, their friends, and perhaps their guides. At Alpine Ascents, we hear this question weekly. While the best answer to this question requires a comprehensive understanding of you and your objective, there are simpler ways to get a […]

Off-List Must-Haves Gear lists are honed utilitarian tools for packing for a trip. Our gear lists represent years of carefully considering only and exactly what is needed for a given climb. You might wonder: are there things worth bringing into the mountains, not on our gear lists? Absolutely! Loaded Smartphone (the Electronic Multi-Tool) A smartphone […]

Cleaning Down Gear: What’s The Real Deal? Today’s down can be chemically treated so it is hydrophobic, and is available in super-powered 900 or 1000+ fill-power. These fancy, lightweight, and expensive items naturally give us pause at the laundry room door. We automatically know not to treat our down gear like a cotton t-shirt. So what’s […]