Post
by TomPierce » Wed Dec 23, 2020 7:29 pm
My primary mittens are some boiled wool Dachstein mitts inside a Mammut Goretex shell. Good down to about -20, but also easy to ditch the shells when it's warm and I just use the inner wool mitts alone. They allow some air in so my hands don't overheat. Surprising how many warm days there are when huffing up an access road. If it's likely to be really warm I'll at least start with some light fleece mitts. My poop hits the fan mitts are some older model Marmot Expedition mitts. I got them NWT off ebay several years ago. Crazy overkill, but yes, I've used them on occasion here in Colorado. Numb fingers and the resulting screaming barfies really suck. All the shells of my mitts & gloves have idiot cords on them.
I usually start with sunglasses, I have a few pairs around, some battered Julbo's etc. If it's cold as crap and sunny, goggles with a sunblocking lens. If it's overcast and cold/windy, goggles with a yellow lens. Big things for me are a double wall lens, good ventilation, and most important: Lenses that are really easy to swap out. If it's bitterly cold and windy you don't want to be messing with a lens change for very long. Some people use a sort of universal lens. I'm not keen on them; purely my opinion but they are mediocre at best in most conditions, worthless at night.
Winter headlamp: Lithium batteries, good lumens and (big) a remote battery pack, it goes down your shirt/jacket to warm the batts. If your batts die, be able to pop in fresh ones quickly.
Edit: I don't want to sound like a know-it-all. I've done some winter peaks over the years, and this is what works for me. Like most things in life, certainly in sports, there is an element of personal style/choice. I think mine is middle of the road when it comes to gear, but I err on the side of simple/bullettproof gear. I'll also pack maybe a bit more gear than others because I tend to go alone in the winter. I've also spent the night out in winter in a bolt hole/cave at -5, G*d knows why...It's brutally sobering to realize how cold it is at night in the winter when you stop moving, so I carry a pretty good down jacket, etc. just in case. Just me.
All just my opinions.
-Tom