Louie here, I’m headed off to a NOLS Wind River Mountaineering course starting next week. Here is some new gear I just got for the upcoming adventure. A few upgrades, most just to replace stuff that was worn out.
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| Louie with his NOLS gear — not exactly Go-Lite, but should be fun. |
1. North Face Pyxis. This sleeping bag is a super lightweight synthetic bag that can keep you nice and toasty. It only has a half length zipper but it has a innovative foot vent to make up for it (which also doubles as a escape hatch for those people who move during their sleep and wake up to find that their head is in the bottom of their sleeping bag). It also has a great tight mummy fit that does not waste any insulation or fabric.
2. Patagonia fleece jacket High tech warm fleece, it has special Polartec Wind Pro technology to block wind without using a layer of wind proof fabric, so it is still super breathable.
3. Scarpa Summit GTX. This boot is a nice stiff boot for mountaineering. It has Gore-Tex so it is completely waterproof. It also has attachments for crampons.
4. Sole custom insoles. Sole custom insoles. We used these custom insoles in the boots for a nice supportive and comfortable fit.
5. Black Diamond Raven Ultra ice axe. I got a this ax as a 10th grade graduation gift from Dad’s former guiding client Alan, who’s been a friend of our family for years. It is nice and light but also made of steel and very durable.
6. Outdoor Research gaiters. These gaiters are durable, light, and use Velcro instead of a zipper, so there is no zipper to blow out
7. I also have some nice DriClime pants from Marmot, our review here.
8. Remember $1,000 Joe, the budget backcountry skier? We found something he might like. At Target they’ve got C9 Champion T-shirts made with what’s labeled as “Duo Dry Stretch,” a synthetic wicking fabric that’s also anti-order antimicrobial. These shirts are only $9.99 and they work great.
Louie Dawson earned his Bachelor Degree in Industrial Design from Western Washington University in 2014. When he’s not skiing Mount Baker or somewhere equally as snowy, he’s thinking about new products to make ski mountaineering more fun and safe.
