The Gear Behind Ephemeral: What’s in Our Ice Climbing Packs?
If you have watched the ice climbing documentary Ephemeral, you already know the level of grit, skill, and precision required to tackle serious alpine ice. Have you seen it yet? If not, go give it a watch, and then start counting down with us!
We are just weeks away from our upcoming Move Adventures experience with elite alpinist Jeff Mercier, deep in the French Alps. We will be spending a full weekend learning his craft, from ice climbing on the iconic Mer de Glace to mastering the glacier trekking and crampon skills that get you there safely.
When you are climbing in those conditions, your gear is your lifeline. Whether you are swinging axes on steep ice or navigating a glacier approach, you need equipment that is lightweight, bombproof, and built for the coldest conditions on earth.
Here is a piece-by-piece breakdown of exactly what is going into our packs for the French Alps:
The Apparel: Rab Equipment
When it comes to weather protection on steep, technical ascents, Rab's GORE-TEX Pro lineup is unmatched for balancing durability with the freedom of movement you need to swing ice tools overhead.
Pants: Rab Khroma Latok
Jacket: Rab Latok Alpine
The Footwear: La Sportiva
Ice climbing requires boots that are exceptionally warm, completely rigid, and incredibly precise.
Boots: La Sportiva G-Tech
The Hardware: Petzl
From the axes we swing to the protection that catches our falls, our technical hardware is an entirely Petzl kit.
Helmet: Petzl Sirocco
Ice Axes: Petzl Ergonomic
Crampons: Petzl Dart
Ice Screws: Petzl Laser Speed Light
Rope: Petzl Volta Guide
Harness: Petzl Hirundos
Are you ready to gear up and hit the ice with us? Let us know what your favorite piece of winter climbing gear is in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates as we pack our bags for the Mer de Glace!
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