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Black Diamond Whippet Self Arrest Ski Pole: Added Security
Having spent numerous ski tours climbing and skiing steep, bulletproof terrain, I found myself wanting some added security in the often-precarious ski mountaineering environment. The latest model of the Black Diamond Whippet provided what I was looking for.
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Jamalots, Putty Nutz: Great April Fools Spoofs
In a strange bout of jubilation, maybe I should share a blog that isn’t mean. Just as I was starting to think that nothing climbing-related on the internet was funny, thanks to friends in the climbing industry who also happen to have far too much time on their hands, I was introduced to these…
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Inspirations, Part IV: High Conquest
Royal Robbins shares his inspiration: High Conquest. “It’s basically a history of mountaineering, but its most salient point is that the ‘high conquest’ of the title is not truly getting to the top of the highest peaks; it’s the conquest of those weak and timid parts of ourselves we don’t want running the show.”
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The Starter Jacket: What Were They Thinking?
Being a certified gear whore isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but being a gear whore in Jackson, Wyoming–where rent is unfathomably exorbitant–is certainly frustrating. You see, I live in a crawl space.
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Facing Obsession
Follow Robert Jasper and Stefan Glowacz during their obsessive attempts to climb the the 1000-meter Forgotten Wall on Cerro Murallon in Patagonia.
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Marmot Alpinist Pro Gloves: Warm and Dexterous for the Big-Thumbed
“Man, I wish my thumbs were bigger.” Testing these gloves is, unquestionably, the only time in my life I have uttered that phrase. The Marmot Alpinist Pro glove has, far and away, the largest thumb of any glove I’ve ever worn. I don’t know how to rectify this fact with the rest of my impressions…
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Chess. Bridge. Tug of war. Climbing?
If this is climbing in the limelight, sign me up–i don’t think it could get any more humorous.
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CiloGear Dyneema(R) 45 Pack: Lighten Your Load
Winter mountaineering: some people love it. But rarely do I picture the clear summit days with perfect cramponing and one-swing ice. Instead I think of the long and cold nights, my sleeping bag stuffed with everything I don’t want to freeze. I consider days at a stretch in the tent, arguing over a magazine before…
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South Georgia: A Photo Essay
Follow French alpinists through poor weather, unexpected obstacles, rough seas and defensive sea lion colonies on their crossing of South Georgia in the southern Atlantic.
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Exclusive: Working It
Cedar Wright works Half Shark Alligator, Half Man (5.13R)–a new-age Indian Creek climb that embodies the further potential of the iconic area. An Alpinist TV exclusive.
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New Resource for Avoiding Epics
I wanted to share a new website that tells you what the weather is like in popular US climbing areas called www.climbingweather.com…
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Reform the 1872 Mining Law
As human-powered outdoor recreation enthusiasts, we all need metal; from climbing carabiners and bike frames to trekking poles and ski edges. The problem lies with 19th century values and policy guiding 21st century high tech mining technology. The laws adopted in 1872 to govern prospecting with a pick and shovel and to help settle the…
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Petzl Dartwin Crampons: Serious about Steep
In December I headed down to Ouray, Colorado’s Ice Park, to begin testing the Petzl Dartwin crampons. With all kinds of immediate climbing to be had, Ouray seemed the best place to determine effectiveness on everything from low-angle ice to crazy mixed testpieces…
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