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.
Blister Prevention words: Mike Hawkins Take a few seconds to think of the toughest person you know, or the toughest person you can imagine from your favorite action movie… Got it? This person should probably be covered in mud or have some cuts on their arms and legs, but they don’t care because…
Words: Val Peckarsky Photo Credit: Cecily Breeding It has been said that if you don’t pack a headlamp on a trip, you are guaranteed to need one. Small and easily overlooked, headlamps are extremely useful in the backcountry for pre-dawn alpine starts, late-night cooking sessions, and pretty much any other time a little extra light…
Is my training working? Whether explicitly spoken or implied, this is the question many climbers ask of themselves, their friends, and perhaps their guides. At Alpine Ascents, we hear this question weekly. While the best answer to this question requires a comprehensive understanding of you and your objective, there are simpler ways to get a…
Off-List Must-Haves Gear lists are honed utilitarian tools for packing for a trip. Our gear lists represent years of carefully considering only and exactly what is needed for a given climb. You might wonder: are there things worth bringing into the mountains, not on our gear lists? Absolutely! Loaded Smartphone (the Electronic Multi-Tool) A smartphone…
Cleaning Down Gear: What’s The Real Deal? Today’s down can be chemically treated so it is hydrophobic, and is available in super-powered 900 or 1000+ fill-power. These fancy, lightweight, and expensive items naturally give us pause at the laundry room door. We automatically know not to treat our down gear like a cotton t-shirt. So what’s…
The Flats, Ingraham Glacier, Mount Rainier – 10:00 p.m. It’s the night before your summit push, and you’re lying in your tent wide awake. Your tentmate is fast asleep next to you. Adrenaline and nervous energy made it difficult for you both to settle down after dinner, especially since the Pacific Northwest sun was still…
Mountaineering vs. Backpacking: Small but substantial gear differences Sometimes the differences are obvious, and sometimes they are more subtle. And sometimes they only make a small difference, will others can make or break a summit attempt. Many mountaineers start their outdoor lives as hikers and backpackers, and this article is going to go through seven…
What’s the difference between a rock climbing harness and a mountaineering harness? Why might one be better than the other? Below we’re going to dig into the primary differences, and why for anything but technical rock climbing, you should choose a mountaineering harness for your next objective. There are three primary differences between your average…
The following article is adapted from a letter written by guide John Van Nostrand to climbers heading to Aconcagua, and is based on John’s many years of experience not only in guiding, but also in healthcare in and out of the hospital setting. While we hope his advice serves you well, please seek medical advice…
Mountain Weather When heading into the mountains, there are many factors which will affect your trip – training, logistics, planning, skills, and more. While we can prepare in advance to control many of these factors, we cannot predict nor change the weather! What’s more, mountain weather is a fickle beast and can constantly surprise even…
