Auto locking gate works with one hand. Gate automatically locks when closed.

An excellent choice when needing to tie-in with the security of a twist ring to lock the gate from opening. Used on your harness in glacier travel.

Great general purpose biner for your pack. On expeditions I carry 4 for use in rescue systems such as the "Z-Pulley" configuration.

 
Item 471041

One of the lightest biners without compromising safety. Works well on big walls. Do not use when side loads can be experienced. Not for use attached to harnesses or on glacier travel.

Lightweight and versatile ascender for mountaineering. Clips to the rope using one hand operation. Used for self-extraction on rope teams. Purchase in Left and Right hand configurations. Replaces Prusik method. Each ascender weighs 196 grams (6.91 ounces).

Ultra Lightweight ascenders. Ideal for those desiring the safety and ease of a ascender while reducing pack weight. Each ascender weighs just 39 grams (1.37 ounces). Can be used in pulley systems. Only biners with a uniform round cross section should be used. The Black Diamond Oval Carabiner, item #471041 works well. Using these ascenders requires plenty of practice!

Item 644068

Used with Ascenders for rescue and gear hauling.

 
Item 635119

A lightweight pulley intended for self rescue. Easily attaches to a rope utilizing pivoting sides.

Designed with Belaying in mind. Used in rescue operations.

 
Item 471098

Extra strong aircraft grade, heat-treated aluminum. T-shaped for strength and attach points over the entire length. I use 24 inch models.

 
Item 474241

Ideal for glacier travel offering high abrasive resistance at a lower weight. The surface is coated with Teflon^® enhance finish.

Smaller diameter and cost helps to lighten your load. Ideal for glacier travel. Standard Fluoropolymer dry treatment. This rope does not have a abrasion resistant coating found in the Mammut listed above.

Durable ladder step made form 9/16" webbing. Used for self-rescue when using prussic or ascenders and not using runners. Optional.

 
Item 474077

Ideal for rescue in conjunction with ascenders when performing self-ascents.
Recommend : 1 - 30cm,  2 - 60cm.

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Used for providing attachment to anchors and pickets. Requires one 48".

 
Item 709160

Ideal for light weight, fast alpine ascents. This is a no frills harness priced for all budgets.

 
Item 699550

Ideal for comfort all day on the big walls. Well padded and plenty of attachment loops. Offers quick release leg buckles for easy entry / exit.

An excellent model for the ascent. When you select a helmet, make sure it has head lamp clips.

 
Item 751716

Best all around glacier and mixed climbing crampons. Must be used with crampon compatible boots.

Classic 10 point configuration with a twist. One pair of points bi-angular to provide additional bite when descending or traversing sideways, such as a French Step. Fit all style boots. I have used these on Mount Hood and Mount Rainier. The light weight is really appreciated and they have a good bite for safety.

These were my first crampons for mountaineering. Very durable and adapts to any boot size and shape. Excellent for general mountaineering.

The longer pick is ideal for soft or hard glacier and snow fields surfaces.

Low cost, light and fast setup. This avalanche probe provides a self-locking tension system. Made from 7075 Aluminum. Meets the minimum requirement for a probe when extended to it's full length of 6 feet!

After I broke my long term Tubbs Snowshoes, I decided to try the MSR brand again. My first try was the with the Denali Ascent, which I took back after one trip. That is another story. The Lightening Ascent are a class above the other snowshoes I already own.

To accommodate different trail conditions, I bought the 25" and 22" versions. This year (2008) winter season, I used the 22" almost exclusively and I was very impressed. The only negative comment I can make is the binding system is a a little to elastic when side hilling and your foot rolls too much. Otherwise I have been very impressed.

I use the 25" and 30" models depending on snow conditions. This model has the T91 bonding system which I feel is superior to the Bear Hug™ system now found on the Altitude series. The T91 system can still be found at Campmor and other internet stores.

To enhance this snowshoe, contact Tubbs Customer Service at info@tubbssnowshoes.com or 1-(800) 882-2748 and order a replacement set of Viper steel teeth to replace the original teeth on the Altitude Series.

Low cost leash for your ice axe.

These poles will take the punishment. One of the best pieces of gear I ever bought.

These poles weigh in at 15.8 ounces. The "Ti" in the name makes you believe there is a titanium component to these poles, however, there is none. Leki plays on the "Ti" symbol from the Periodic Table and it is very misleading, see Gear Review below.

Outstanding performance! This headlamp contains four SuperBright LEDS for general use plus a Xenon bulb to reach out up to 100 meters! The bezel can be adjusted to focus your beam. The headlamp is powered by 4-AA batteries.

 

Gear Review

Over these past few years, there has been a great jump in headlamp technology. The Black Diamond Vectra IQ is one of those headlamps that provides excellent distance and subtle lighting when needed. Pros: Several power settings to adjust your light output between a SuperBright LEDs or the Xenon lamp. User friendly switching system. With 8 modes of operation to choose from, this new switching system does not require you to cycle through them to turn on and off. Plenty of light that will focus out to near 100 meters. I found this comforting when traversing a glacier, or checking for flying rocks from surrounding walls. In low power modes, you have plenty of light for trails or base camp needs. Behind the lamps reflective shield there are two positions available where a spare bulbs can be stored. One spare bulb comes with the unit. I like the IQ technology which monitors the conditions of the batteries. There is a early warning system where the headlamp will flash once when batteries will soon be in need of replacement. Cons: There is a small access screw that holds the battery door cover, I found it not glove friendly when dealing with battery replacement in extreme cold environments. The headlamp is better suited for helmet use due to the size of the battery compartment which hold 4-AA batteries. Summary: When I am in need of a wide array of adjustable lighting, this headlamp is a great choice.

Technical Details

Configuration: 4-AA Batteries. Adjustable LED power settings ranging from 110 to 300 hours. Adjustable Xenon power settings ranging from 3 to 14 hours. Weight : 8.9 ounces with batteries.

What I like the most about this headlamp is the focused beam which throws light well ahead of you. This is important in glacier travel to see what is ahead of you.

Does a headlamp that weighs 1.1 ounces sound great? This is the perfect headlamp as a backup or just hanging around camp. I always carry an Ion to ensure I have two or more headlamps in my travels. The battery lasts about 2+ hours in summer, about 1 hour in winter.

THE protection for your lips. A zinc Oxide based protection for your lips and nose.

Available directly from Labiosan

Your nose is out there and the sun will find it. A leather nose shield will save you great discomfort. They sell these at REI and other mountaineering stores.

Basic medical support.

If you were allowed to have one book, this would be it. I call it an essential part of your mountaineering experience.

Available at Amazon.com

Well designed, easy to use basic GPS system. Works well on cloudy days, has some limitations under trees. Plenty of memory for waypoint and route storage. Easy to use interface with various Topo programs such as Topo.

I used my 9500 in several locations within the Continental US and have been very pleased with the performance. Since I use it only on longer event, I purchase 30 day phone cards which eliminates the monthly charges.

I use BlueCosmo to purchase pre-paid phone cards.

Very durable, good basic compass. All you would need at a good price.

Item 408011

The Best! My Avocet was purchased in 1998 and has served me very well all this years. The accuracy is unquestionable and their support go above and beyond what you might expect.

This system is smaller than most competing watches which wears very well especially when wearing coats.

Visit Avocet - Vertech II

Excellent performance and good accuracy. Plenty of functions available for all ascent and descent needs.

The only fault I can find is the effective temperature range which is -4°f to 158°f. If you do any winter climbing, it goes well below -4°f. Although I have not seen performance degradation below that temperature, I am not sure if the altitude compensation for temperature is affected.

Similar to the AltiTech II shown above, only on your wrist.

The only fault I find is the size of the bezel. When wearing long sleeves, or coats, it is hard to get access to use.