Mediocre Mountaineering

Welcome to Mediocre Mountaineering

These are my Mountaineering, Climbing, Skiing, and Outdoor Pages (with some camera and gadget stuff thrown in for good measure.)

Why the title, “Mediocre Mountaineering?” Because these pages aren’t about the extreme, hardcore, or difficult. The focus of these pages is on moderate climbs by a mediocre climber, backpacker and outdoor person.

Although I really love climbing, I am a mediocre mountaineer at best. The best evidence of this is that I’ve climbed for 30+ years, and I’m still not climbing anything truly difficult. I have a desk job, where I mostly sit all day long. If I’m lucky, I can get out and climb on the week-ends, and maybe take a multi-day trip every so often. I’m not a guide, not an expert, and not a very good climber. I’m just a guy who’s been climbing for a while, who has figured out a few things that work, (and some that don’t work) for the mediocre stuff that I do.

This web site is for mediocre folks like me; people who just like to get out and climb in the mountains every so often, and are looking for a few tips and (possibly) useful advice.

Posts are listed below in chronological order. You can use the Search function or the category listing above or at the bottom of the page to find specific posts.

Puffy Jackets

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is to never go into the wilderness without a puffy jacket. Puffy jackets keep you warm when you’re at a cold belay, they help you survive an unplanned night out, they stave off cold when you’re at the end of a long hard mountain day. Putting […]

February 28, 2021
Long Term Update: Salewa Quick Screw ice screws and Climbing Technology Alpine Up belay device

Several years back, I did an initial review of the Salewa Quick Screw ice screw and the Climbing Technology Alpine Up belay device. The initial review for the Alpine Up can be found HERE The initial review for the Salewa Quick Screw can be found HERE This is a long term review update, detailing my […]

February 15, 2021
Leki Trekking Poles: Leki Micro Vario Carbon Pole – Black Series; and Leki Carbon Titanium

For several years now, my go-to trekking poles have been the Leki Carbon Titanium poles. They’ve been with me on hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and I’ve put ski baskets on them and used them as my for winter backcountry skiing too. (Leki’s Big Mountain Binding Basket is a great basket for both skiing […]

February 13, 2021
Compact Cameras for the Backcountry: Panasonic LX100, Ricoh GR 3, Sigma DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill

I own a pretty extensive array of Micro 4/3 lenses and an Olympus OMD E-M1 Micro 4/3 camera body. This interchangeable lens system provides a lot of flexibility in my photography. However, even though the Micro 4/3 format allows for much smaller cameras and lenses than other interchangeable lens systems, I find that I seldom […]

February 12, 2021
SCOTT PATROL E1 40 BACKPACK (Avalanche Airbag Pack)

I was an early adopter of avalanche airbag packs. I’ve been using them for over a decade, and have owned and used models by Snowpulse/Mammut ABS, and Dakine. My packs have all used compressed gas (either oxygen or nitrogen) to inflate the airbags. My first airbag pack was an ABS model, which uses nitrogen charged […]

February 6, 2021
Hydration Part 1: Insulated Water Bottles

An insulated water bottle can be a great piece of equipment for winter outdoor activities. Depending on temperatures and what sort of bottle you’ve got, you can keep your water from freezing or enjoy a hot drink. I will usually take an insulated bottle with me when I’m backcountry skiing or ice climbing. Sipping hot […]

February 3, 2021
Hunt Gear Checklist: Full list for October Solo Deer Hunt

This is the full list for a solo deer hunt in the La Sal Mountains of Utah. Late October. Temperatures ranged from 20 degree overnight lows to mid 50s during the day. Weight in Ounces Clothing: Julbo Venturi sunglasses with Zebra light lenses and cloth bag 1.4 Smartwool Merino boxer briefs (2 pair) 2.6 […]

March 28, 2018
Hunting Gear Checklist Part 4: Cooking Gear and Water

Cooking Gear and Water Total weight in ounces: 42.1 Total weight in pounds: 2.6 pounds MSR Reactor stove 1 liter pot, gas canister, fire steel and small pack cloth. 22.5 ounces The MSR Reactor is the most powerful stove I know of. It easily outperforms the popular Jetboil stoves, particularly in colder conditions or wind. […]

March 28, 2018
Hunt Gear Checklist Part 3: Rifle and Shooting Gear

Rifle and accessories Christensen Arms Summit Ti/Th 6.5 Creedmoor rifle with thumbhole stock for deer For elk, I use a slightly heavier, RBros Rifles LW Hunter 300 Win Mag rifle Both of these rifles are top quality. At 100 yards, they will consistently shoot groups of 1/2 inch or less. Christensen Arms Rifle is 99.4 ounces; Scope […]

March 28, 2018
Hunt Gear Checklist Part 2: Shelter and Sleeping System

Part 2. Shelter and Sleeping With my shelter and sleeping gear, I try to walk the line between light weight and function. It’s really important to get a good night’s sleep, and your shelter needs to be able to protect you from nasty mountain weather. Shelter I use a floorless shelter that utilizes a trekking […]

March 28, 2018

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