What To Look For
Safe mountain travel requires specialized gear, and the gear you take will vary, depending on the range. Climbing in the Cascades, for instance, requires an ice axe, crampons, climbing rope and pieces of snow protection, such as pickets, a pulley and possibly some ice screws--all necessary for crevasse rescue techniques. Climbing in the Tetons or the high peaks of Colorado will, if snow travel is encountered, probably require no more than a pair of crampons and an ice axe.
Regardless of what range you are going to, look for lighter equipment, especially with ice axes, ropes and crampons. For ropes, a single 8.5 mm line is plenty for non-technical climbing. For general mountaineering, a pair of hinged crampons is adequate; routes that involve a lot of steep ice climbing call for rigid or semi-rigid crampons. For glacier travel, a simple mountaineering ice axe, usually around 65 or 70 cm, is a good choice. Your boots should fit well and be crampon compatible; if you are considering winter climbs, or climbs in the great ranges in Alaska and the Himalaya, get plastic mountaineering boots, which will keep your feet warm and provide plenty of support.
Common Pitfalls
One of the most common mistakes is to buy equipment inappropriate for the type of climb you have planned. Nothing will make you more unpopular on a trip than bringing a lightweight ice axe designed for general snow travel on a route that has extensive technical ice on it.
Where To Buy
Mountaineering shops are the best place to look for gear, particularly if you are climbing in local ranges. They can offer advice on any specialized gear you might need for different routes in the area.
Cost
A full complement of mountaineering equipment will run $500 or more for the technical climbing items. Good mountaineering boots can run $200 to $500.
Accessories
A pair of glacier glasses with high-quality glass is essential for travel on glaciers, and also useful for climbing in the Rockies. A quality water filter helps get drinking water from shallow and slow-moving streams and in puddles, where you can't dunk a water bottle to fill it. An altimeter watch is useful for navigation and knowing how much more climbing is ahead of you. Trekking poles help cushion the knees and provide support while traveling in steeper terrain.
