Welcome to the Alpine Ascents blog—where we share stories, knowledge, and inspiration from the mountains. From expedition updates and climbing conditions to training advice, gear tips, destination highlights, and stories from our guides and climbers, this is a place to stay connected to the world of mountaineering. Whether you’re preparing for your first climb, planning your next big expedition, or simply dreaming about the mountains, we hope you’ll find useful information, new ideas, and plenty of inspiration for the adventures ahead.
Above: crampons are required equipment on almost every mountaineering trip, like Mount Olympus’ Blue glacier, pictured. Words: Mike Hawkins In the beginning there were crampons, and they were not so good Have a look here for a fun, brief history of crampons in mountaineering. Crampons have been around for a very long time, and for…
I am deeply passionate about good backcountry food. While quick missions have me eating ramen and oatmeal packets, I typically stick to “real food” in the backcountry. Cooking is creative, interesting, and just plain fun. Little beats the satisfaction of feeding backcountry partners (and myself!) well, and little beats the peace of watching a wilderness…
Hiking deep into the North Cascades. Photo by Marc Simonpietri. Long gone are the days of heavy canvas and external frame packs with more tie-down points outside than space on the inside. While these packs were used for decades on on early ascents around the world, backpack technology has progressed at a steady clip….
Guide Brooke Warren in prime insulated pant conditions on the summit of Mt. Rainier. Photo by Patrick Chu. Insulated Pants can seem like a burden (will my legs really be that cold??), but they can be a critical piece of clothing in mountaineering, and can make a cold night at camp much more pleasant. Why…
If you are preparing to embark on a Denali Prep course or a Denali expedition with Alpine Ascents, you are also about to enter into the wonderful world of snowshoe travel. There are several reasons for our unilateral use of snowshoes over skis on these trips. First, the learning curve for snowshoeing is far less…
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…
