My wife and I just started a glacier climing course that will take us to Mt Baker and Mt Rainier this summer. We're both avid hikers, just got married and she got me involved with this group, I've already done some climbing.

I'm concerned about her being too cold, I'm trying to do as much research as possible for her equipment because she's kinda overwhelmed with all of that right now.

I'm thinking about suggesting the Scarpa Charmoz boots to her, we both wear the same Keen hiking boots, just in mens and womens and i love my Scarpa Charmoz. What do you think?

Also, I was thinking the Big Agnes Ethel +0 Sleeping Bag and Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad for her, what do you all think?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks!

matai wrote:
I'm concerned about her being too cold, I'm trying to do as much research as possible for her equipment because she's kinda overwhelmed with all of that right now.

I'm thinking about suggesting the Scarpa Charmoz boots to her, we both wear the same Keen hiking boots, just in mens and womens and i love my Scarpa Charmoz. What do you think?

Also, I was thinking the Big Agnes Ethel +0 Sleeping Bag and Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad for her, what do you all think?

Scarpa Charmoz might be ok for Baker in July and August, but is not a boot for Rainier, particularly if you get cold easily. Step up to Scarpa Mont Blancs if Scarpas fit your feet well. As for sleeping bags, a Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering bag rated to 15 degrees will be lighter, more compressible, and likely just as warm as a Big Agness 0 degree bag. Expensive? You bet, but consider it an investment. My WM Apache Super Dryloft +15 bag has 45 seasons of hard use and is still going strong. I've used it on multiple Rainier summit trips in Winter as well as on several big Alaskan Range peaks in spring. As for sleeping pads, I'd recommend a Thermarest Prolite 4 or Z-Rest. Don't let yourself be constrained to what REI carries. Pro Mountain Sports, Marmot Mountain Works, and Feathered Friends has much high quality climbing gear and clothing. REI is for soccer moms.

Did Rainier in Charmoz last Sept. Was pretty warm. It was a warm day though.

I saw a bunch of Russian kids climb the DC route in September wearing leather tennis shoes, but that doesn't mean its a good idea.

Shane Rathbun wrote:

ExcitableBoy wrote:I saw a bunch of Russian kids climb the DC route in September wearing leather tennis shoes, but that doesn't mean its a good idea.

Was that by chance Sept 2011?

No, this was mid September 2009. A storm had rolled through the week before and left excellent neve rather than bare ice which is probably why they didn't all die. They were using new-matic crampons - the kind with a heel lever. I'm not sure how they got the crampons to not fall off. They all wore leather belts which they tied some hardware store braided rope to. We hung out with and ended up climbing with Brian Oestrike who had summitted Everest and soloed Lhotse. He kept saying "Should we say something to them? Should we tell the ranger? I'm gonna tell the ranger to say something. I think we should say something." We intentionally left early so we didn't have to witness them falling to their deaths, but they all made back down in one piece.

REI is for soccer moms.

I would have to disagree. I bought probably 2000$ worth of gear from used gear sales at REI and paid about 1/10th of that price. 160 dollar Crampons 25$, ice axe 25$, 200 dollar+ sleeping bag (20$), 400 dollar 3person tent 70$, climbing shoes 10$, go pro that I re sold and made 100$ on, 370 dollar arcteryx shell pants 80$, 300 dollar shell jacket for 70$, helmet 20$, headlamp 5$, approach shoes 15$....


I have no idea what is wrong with Russians. My first time on Shasta -affliction Tshirt, running shoes, and a ski pole...

Vitaliy M. wrote:

REI is for soccer moms.

I would have to disagree. I bought probably 2000$ worth of gear from used gear sales at REI and paid about 1/10th of that price. 160 dollar Crampons 25$, ice axe 25$, 200 dollar+ sleeping bag (20$), 400 dollar 3person tent 70$, climbing shoes 10$, go pro that I re sold and made 100$ on, 370 dollar arcteryx shell pants 80$, 300 dollar shell jacket for 70$, helmet 20$, headlamp 5$, approach shoes 15$....


I have no idea what is wrong with Russians. My first time on Shasta -affliction Tshirt, running shoes, and a ski pole...

You must have a better REI than I do. The one in my town has a 10' x 10' section for climbing. The plurality of the store is devoted to women's clothing. They do not carry a single pair of boots you could climb Rainier in, but a big selection of clogs. Sure, I could go into the Seattle store, but why when I could go to Feathered Friends, Marmot Mountain Works, or Pro Mountain Sports, all which offer a far better selection of climbing goods.