Expert Tips

...Powders Foods that Tend to be Inefficient Foods with high water content Lean meats Bulky, low-fat snacks 3. Balance Nutrition… Read More

Micro cams live in the world of finger cracks and below—tiny constrictions where larger gear simply won’t go. These cams… Read More

...bunch up at the progress capture. Ideally, the rope between climbers is short. You often don’t want more than forty… Read More

Pioneers in Mountaineering, Climbing, and Adventure “Mountain climbing is the greatest sport in the world…There is no better fun than… Read More

Getting equipped for waterfall ice climbing, a highly equipment-intensive activity, used to be easy. You just had to buy some… Read More

...a fall hazard. Terrain type Terrain type is very critical in my own decision-making. When the terrain is wide-open, such… Read More

Alasdair Turner As a guide who always carries a camera, I am often asked about cameras on climbing trips and… Read More

...a knot used to join two rope ends. In practice, we often use “knot” as an umbrella term to cover… Read More

...and techniques of rock climbing. Top Rope Climbing vs. Lead Climbing On small crags or practice boulders where there is… Read More

...individual at the climbing shop. “Dude, you need shoes that hurt,” he tells you. “They should be at least two… Read More

...Climbing Styles: What Do the Different Terms Mean? Alpine Efficiency: Combining Speed and Safety Selecting Equipment for Waterfall Ice and… Read More

...very specific piece of gear designed. For most applications (approach, ice climbing, rock climbing, etc.) you will likely have a… Read More

...uphill) can be a quick and easy way to dry your gloves while in action. Be careful of drying gloves… Read More

...route, there are some sections of the route that require physical conditioning outside of walking on moderate slopes with heavy… Read More

...“north wall hammer” (an ice axe with a hammer end in place of an adze end) instead of carrying a… Read More

...some of the the technical knowledge and experience necessary for making smart decisions about what you decide to put in… Read More

​ AAI Instructor and Guide In the mountains, speed is often thought of as safety. Reducing your exposure to the… Read More

...difficult will it be to get down? If the route is very difficult to descend, consider taking a different route… Read More

...more dangerous decisions. You do not ever want to have to use your rescue gear. 5. Travel with trusted, avalanche-educated… Read More

...shots later in your presentation. Don’t stop shooting after reaching the summit. Many good mountaineering photos are made while going… Read More

...etc.) from expedition equipment Heat Stroke ♦ Mist bottle for cooling in arid climates ♦ Digital thermometer Heat Exhaustion &… Read More

...research has thrown light on the ways in which emotion and non-rational modes of thought play integral roles in most… Read More

​ AAI Program Coordinator and Denali guide Pulling sleds on an expedition is very much a love-hate relationship – one… Read More