Hiking & Climbing Gear
Sep 24 2024
Bright mountain sunlight can be far more demanding on your eyes than an ordinary sunny day at home. High elevations, long hours above tree line, exposed rock, and especially snow and ice can combine direct sunlight with intense reflected glare. On glaciers and snowfields, suitable eyewear is not simply about comfort—it is an important part …
Sep 22 2024
Hydration is one of the most basic parts of mountaineering—and one of the easiest to manage poorly. Long approaches, heavy packs, cold dry air, intense sun, altitude, wind, and hours of sustained effort can all affect how much fluid a climber needs. At the same time, more water is not always better. Drinking excessive amounts …
Sep 21 2024
Mountaineering places unusual demands on the body. A long summit day may involve hours of steady climbing, steep elevation gain, cold temperatures, heavy equipment, exposure to wind and sun, and reduced oxygen at altitude. Food is therefore more than a comfort—it is part of your mountain safety system. The best mountaineering foods provide plenty of …
Sep 20 2024
Mountaineering takes people into environments where medical help may be hours—or even days—away. A cut, twisted ankle, sudden storm, or headache that would be relatively manageable near home can become a serious problem when it happens high on a mountain. Good mountain first aid is therefore about more than bandages. Climbers need to recognize serious …
Sep 19 2024
Mountaineering often takes place in terrain where knowing your elevation can provide an important piece of the navigation puzzle. Trails disappear beneath snow, clouds obscure landmarks, and ridges or gullies that look obvious on a map can become difficult to identify on the ground. An altimeter gives climbers another way to understand their position by …
Oct 15 2023
Navigation Mountain navigation is the ability to understand where you are, where you are going, what lies between those two points, and whether the landscape around you matches the route you planned. That sounds simple when a trail is obvious and the weather is clear. In the mountains, however, trails can disappear beneath snow, fog …
Oct 08 2023
Mountaineering clothing has a difficult job. It must protect against wind, snow, rain, cold, abrasive rock, and rapidly changing weather while still allowing climbers to move, sweat, reach overhead, wear a harness, and carry a pack. That combination makes technical mountaineering clothing quite different from ordinary hiking apparel. A lightweight rain jacket that works perfectly …
