I'm headed to the Alaska range this summer to do some climbing and I'm looking for some good radios that we can use to communicate between camps, etc. I know very little about amateur radio but from talking to people, that seems like the best option so I'll be looking into learning a little bit and getting certified. But, I'm looking for some help finding radios. I need something durable obviously, maybe waterproof, with good range (5 watt min), ok in the cold, and either powered by AA batteries or rechargeable in some way via USB (we've got some GoalZero panels). Beyond that, I don't really know too much about the specifications of these radios to know exactly what I need. Preferably I'll spend no more than $200/unit, either.
Does anyone have any experience or suggestions? Thanks!