Category: Blog

Certified Ski Guide Shane Robinson is a man of refined culinary tastes.   He and his wife subscribe to not one, but two CSA (community supported agriculture) boxes which keep their strategic kale and beet reserves strong in the winter and crisper overflowing with heirloom lettuce, crunchy cucumbers, and all manner of delicious vegetables in the […]

Hey Alpine, I just took my AIARE Level 1 Course last month (115% worth it) and my friends invited me to go backcountry skiing this weekend. Psyched. I do a lot of day hiking but am pretty new to ski touring. Could you give me a primer on how to pack for a day on […]

By Trevor Husted The opportunities and benefits that meditation can bring to our mountain climbing experiences If you’ve navigated to this mountaineering focused blog, there is a high likelihood that you’re interested in improving your performance in the alpine and perhaps overall quality of life. One of the more intriguing ways to boost our mental […]

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 […]