Official Backpacking/Climbing/Summit Thread

Hey guys,

As I continue my adventure on becoming more of an outdoorsman and less of a glorified car camper, I wanted to start a thread for those who are interested in more of technical climbs or long duration backpacking trips. I'm talking about summit pushes like Mt. Rainier, Whitney, Hood...as well as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, etc.

I would love to start this thread and have it turn into somewhere for people to ask advice on training, gear, experience, etc. to become better climbers themselves. If there is another one like this, please link it to me as I could not find it!

If you have completed a climb or long trip, or have any questions, please feel free to comment!

 

Saved..just in case

 

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Woo! I hope this thread can become filled with info, and maybe potentially some members doing some climbs together. I know it can be hard to find partners (currently struggling to find partners...lol).

 

My goals to hike Whitney in one day then hit up DV for relaxing vacation HAHAHAHA

 

I'm training to do Whitney currently. I almost bought a pass that came up for sale for next week and debated doing it with no real training.

Although I'm a marathon runner and in the best shape I've ever been, that would have probably been a terrible idea. I'm imaging myself at 13k feet looking at the summit, contemplating everything in life We'll get there one day brother!!

 

This was my Mt. Hood summit on July 1st. Pearly Gates was the most technical part but over all a great climb and a killer ride down from the top.

 

three weeks later I did Adam's. Not incredibly technical. Rainier in the back ground.

 

Easy. Just do the climbers trail up the North Fork then go up Mountaineers Route. I've climbed Whitney a bunch and have never gone the hikers trail. lol

 

My buddy who just completed the climb took that route and said it was not for the average person planning on just climbing it once, and that the trail wasn't marked well/kicked his ass.

I'm not sure if that's exactly an easier way of doing it than the hikers trail?

 

It just depends on skill set and fitness level. The hikers trail is 11 miles one way. The climbers trail is 5 miles one way. They both start and finish at the same spot so that gives you an idea of the difficulty of either trail.

Actually climbing Whitney vs hiking to the top is more appealing to me. I've also been climbing 20 years so there is that. lol

 

Super awesome brother. I would love to climb Mt. Hood. What training did you do prior to that? Snowpack is something I've never dealt with before and is a whole new chapter for me.

 

Ah that makes complete sense to me. What would you suggest as the best time to take on Whitney?

 

Sick! I’m doing Baker next weekend. Wanna do Rainer one day!

 

Whenever you can get one of those lottery tickets!!

 

It also depends on fitness and skill. The easiest way up is the Mountaineers Route. Depending on the season it can be all snow or all rock. I've only used it as a descent. It's mainly class 3 with the occasional bit of 4th class.

The funnest way up Whitney is Pee Wee Buttress(AKA East Buttress). It's fairly sustained at 5.6 and has one of the coolest pitches on the planet up high. It's way more 5th class climbing then it's more famous brother the East Face. Both are technical climbs.

 

I almost picked 3 up this morning for the 28th. By the time I called my buddies to see if they were into it (literally all 5 minutes), they sold.

I'll be shooting for next year and prepping this year. I started to add weight into my running pack to wear me down quicker and build more endurance.

 

Rainier and Baker are on my list. Post up pics and how it went when you get back

 

Took the Avi course and went with a buddy who is experienced with Mt Hood. Did Adams solo. I'm no Mt Climber by any means but as I seek out more and more back country riding I'm realizing that good climbing skills and knowledge of snow pack are essential.
I dated this girl years ago that was a hard core climber, member of Mazamas bla bla...so I got to do alot of rock climbing with her, particularly Smith Rock, so I do have some really good informal training.

 

Does anyone have any good recommendations for:
-Backpacking Packs
-Backpacking Tents
-Day pack backpacks
-Headlamp

In need of those three items. I have just about everything else and I've been bumming it around with the most ridiculous backpacks for too long, as well as mediocre headlamps. I would love to have real-world input! Done some searching too, just wanted second inputs. Thanks!