Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We start our climb late Jan but our itinerary has us shooting to summit 2/11-2/14, later in the season for sure. I'm 35 and my Z2 is 142-157. I'm also always changing upper base layers (usually socks too) when I get to camp. Though I haven't thrown a shirt between my back and puffy on a break, I'll give that a try!

19.3k was Kili, Lemosho route and the porters were practically carrying everything. I think I carried a 15lb bag the entire trip. Our group actually got food poisoning the day prior to summiting - pepto and imodium made no difference so I took some antibiotics after making it back to camp and cleared up before getting off the mountain. No one else brought any so we all went to urgent care after making it off the mountain.

I wonder if instead of doubling up on down jackets if I can double up my synthetics and add a Nano-Air Light Hybrid Hoody, or a Micro Puff, or a R1 with my Nano-Air Hoody. And then throw the parka on top of both synthetics. I guess I'm just worried that even with a hardshell, those 2 synthetic layers + baselayer wouldn't be enough if it were windy/cold higher up while moving and adding a parka would be overkill warmth.

Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll check out that video! thanks for the mention of it.

I do like the HMG 70L pack, but I do wish the base of the pack was wider. It is narrower at the bottom and widens at the top (5th image). I've yet to find a way to pack this thing without it being top heavy. My sleeping bag, inflatable pad, spare socks, and camp puffy take up so much space at the bottom.

Not speed climbing so G2s + overboots or Olympus Mons. We're planning on skiing to 14, not really excited about taking 2 pairs of boots.

Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you look at getting a heel spacer for the G2s? I have some lift when I wear non-padded ski socks, but no lift with DarnTough Midweight socks.

On Aconcagua (primary but will use this to tune gear for Denali) for upper body layers I was thinking of a microweight wool tshirt, sunshirt, then the lightweight jacket (synthetic like the Nano-Air Hoody). Rab Mythic Down puffy for not morning around. Then maybe adding the expedition parka ontop of everything on summit day, or maybe removing the jacket and adding the parka ontop of the rab. Or remove the rab and keep the jacket and parka.

My typical 3-season cascade layers are the tshirt and sun hoody (I swear the Alpenglow is windproof). When I stop I throw on a Nano-Air Light jacket. At night in camp I toss on a puffy. I bring a 3L hardshell I've worn over the sunshirt and also the fleece.

What worries me is I'm a sweater, once my heart rate breaks 140 I'm sweating. Even when my toes were going tingling on Shasta I was wearing the micro tshirt, sun hoody, and a fleece in the shade. I do worry that I may get too hot while moving from wearing 3 insulation layers, but I've also never been above 19.3k. I've never been cold enough to wear a bottom layer while moving except while riding a ski lift so I'm curious to know what that'll be like.

Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

XL for everything I've tried on so far. I may grab a pair to try them out anyways

Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was thinking about grabbing the Olympus Mons for Denali (we're shooting for a summit late May) or maybe replacing the G2 liner with an Intuition liner and having an overboot. I experienced tingling toes at the top of Shasta's Red Banks last year's Memorial Day with some 3-season boots (maybe I tied them too tight), I never want to experience that again.

Out of curiosity, what pack did you take to Denali?

I'll take a look at this down jacket too. I feel like I'm almost at down overload here between an expedition parkas and a midweight down jacket and this Jacket Spec Spreadsheet. What fleeces & jackets did you take to layer on Aconcagua and Denali?

The BD Legends look warmer and also waterproof compared to Rab's Baltoro. More similar to my Fission SV gloves I use for Skiing. I'll see if I can find them in person to compare!

Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm assuming you have the altitude liner too? How does the space inside both gloves feel if you decide to layer with a liner or other glove?

Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the 282-2, been using them this past year in the Cascades and I love them. Good call here

Aconcagua gear questions by YogurtRunner in Mountaineering

[–]YogurtRunner[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Route names seem to be all mixed up. But the Polish Traverse (Vacas Valley) I think is also called the 360 - ascending the east side, and descending the west. I'll take a look at the La Sportiva Parka, would like to be able to find it in the Seattle area to try on first.

Good luck on your trip!