r/Mountaineering

Where on earth does one get snow pickets in Europe, in store and online I cannot for the life of me find any, currently residing in Switzerland. Any and all clues or resources are welcome. Thank you.

My boyfriend and I are planning to climb Mt Adams and I’d like to get the best of both worlds and try splitboarding. It’s my first time climbing Adams but my boyfriend is no stranger and he anticipates using crampons. I have about 20 years experience snowboarding and have hiked into Tucks with microspikes, that’s about the extent of my experience boarding outside of resorts so any advice is appreciated. I have some mountaineering experience, boyfriend is an experienced mountaineer

I’m wondering if I should climb in my mid-stiff resort boots or bring my mountaineering boots along as well? Carrying both sounds awful but I’ve know people to regret climbing in their resort boots with crampons. I have TM2s and the boas loosen on resort days resulting in frequent tightening. I’m planning to rent equipment in Portland. Am I better off renting hard boots? I don’t have the funds to buy any new equipment at the moment so I come to you searching for enlightenment 🫶🏼

Also if anyone knows a spot to rent gear that’s closer to Mt Adams than Portland, please do tell!

Thank you

Edit: Alternatively, is it unwise for a beginner splitboarder to descend in mountaineering boots?

Newbie here training for a July trip.

I have 2x 25 lb plates, is it worth switching to sand or water jugs? They feel a bit wobbly when I put it in my hiking bag. I can kind of wedge them between towels but still feels a bit unnatural weight distribution. Am I being too picky or can this cause some injuries?

I’m looking to improve my layering system for alpine starts and could use some advice.

During mountaineering approaches, especially between 3–7 AM, I consistently struggle with the cold. My current layering system is:

•⁠ ⁠Base layer: 100% merino wool

•⁠ ⁠Mid layer: fleece (merino + synthetic blend)

•⁠ ⁠Insulation: down jacket

•⁠ ⁠Shell: Gore-Tex

The issue is that with just the base + fleece, I feel quite cold during those early hours. But as soon as I add the down jacket while moving, I start sweating pretty quickly, which obviously becomes a problem later.

I’m trying to find a good “in-between” layer to wear between the fleece and the down — something that adds warmth but is still breathable enough for active movement during the approach.

Any recommendations for mid-layers that balance warmth and breathability well in these conditions?

Im seeing on the USDA's website that the cascades are sitting at mid ~55% SWE. I've climbed in the cascades and olympics before, but dont have enough experience to know what the best time would be to go given the current conditions. Experience, and asking at least one other local expert, tells me that going earlier in June would be better, but I know later in the season provides better weather opportunities.

We still have some storms on tap, but there are also 2 full months of spring warm up that could degrade conditions even further, but I am curious to know if any locals (or area experts) would think that the late june/early july time frame would not be ideal this year.

Mostly just concerned about crevasses being way too open and subsequently the routes become unnavigable, or too dangerous to try and get around.

Hey

Im pretty new to mountaineering, but my dream is to maybe climb Everest someday. If I hypothetically climb these peaks, could I attempt Everest?

Kilimanjaro

Mont blanc

Lobuche east

Aconcagua

And Himlund Himal

+ technical training

I've got a fair amount of climbing and high altitude hiking experience (e.g. Dana, Truchas), and have gone through intros in vitro on how to use ice climbing gear (i.e. shown the basics and instructions but not in an actual ice climb). I have never experienced any significant side effects due to altitude (though largest 1-day gain was only 4k) and am in very good shape.

Problem is, I will only be in Portland for a few days and don't have friends in the area, and there's no way in hell I'm shelling out a grand for a guided climb (i'm only in town for a conference anyway so I didn't have to pay for transport or lodging).

Planning - hopefully - for mid-June, most likely a Sunday or Monday. What are y'all's thoughts as more experienced mountaineers?

Just wondering what people on here tend to use to filter water. Thinking namely for glacial runoff or melted snow. I've used a sawyer filter for a while and am curious what other good options might be. Thanks!

Recently got a good deal on a 60m RAD line style rope. I plan to use it for general ski mountaineering, and glacier travel while on skis, or on foot, usually as a party of two.

Having done more research, and from my general use it seems a 60m static does have plenty of uses, but 40 or 50m is more popular for teams of two on glaciers, and in the past I have used 30m's for general skiing. I won't carry a 60m 'just in case' but I would definitely carry a 30m while skiing.

So the question: Should I cut my 60m in half and have two 30s, and could I tie the two 30's together to form a 60 for team of two glacier travel? Leaving me with essentially the best of both worlds?

Hi all,

I have about 4 days to spend traveling in Ecuador, and I'd really like to summit cotopaxi - but I don't know if it's too risky with a short timeline. I've been in the oriente region of Ecuador (598 m) for about 7 months, and I previously hiked the quilotoa loop (3,914m), rainbow mountain (5200m) and chimborazo (up to 5100 m). When I did rainbow mountain i had been in Cusco for i think 3 or 4 days, but quilotoa and chimborazo I came straight from 598m or lower.

I will say that when I did rainbow mountain and chimborazo, I definitely felt winded, tired, and weak, and had a bit of a headache, but did not really feel sick. On chimborazo when I was at rest I felt fine. I know none of this is a great indicator for how I might fair on cotopaxi, but if im spending Thursday and friday night at the secret garden cotopaxi (3800m) and then spending Saturday night at the refuge, does that still seem like not enough time? It's my first time summiting anything, i had a guide tell me if I hiked up to the refuge on one day and then summited the next that would be enough aclimatazation but I just don't know.

Thanks so much for any advice!

Hi, as someone who didnt do technical stuff yet, only walking, a bit of climbing, what is the best way to learn how to in Germany/Austria.