Gear & Notes
Notes on equipment and systems, written from use rather than speculation.
This section is a work in progress. Notes on rope systems, footwear, layering, and specific gear choices will be added as I find time to write them properly.
Philosophy
I try to carry what's needed and not much more. That calculation changes dramatically between a single-day route on low-angle snow and a three-day alpine climb with technical mixed terrain, but the discipline of questioning each item before it goes in the pack is consistent.
I'm skeptical of gear reviews that aren't grounded in real use in serious conditions. The notes here will be written after meaningful time on route, not after a weekend backpacking trip or a single climb.
Coming soon
- Glacier travel systems and rope teams
- Boot selection for mixed alpine objectives
- Layering for the Cascades (wet, variable, often miserable)
- Pack selection by objective type
- Crevasse rescue kit — what I actually carry
In the meantime, gear referenced in specific trips is listed in the metadata block of each trip report.