WE ARE USUALLY CLIMBING IN TIBET FROM MID-AUTUMN INTO MID-WINTER SO CLOTHING CAN BE THOUGHT OF AS ‘WINTER ALPS PLUS’. IT’S HIGHER ALTITUDE SO THE BODY NEEDS HELP STAYING WARM, DRIER SO EASY TO MANAGE & GRITTER AS THE ENVIRONMENT IS DUSTIER WITH MORE UV EXPOSURE & HARDER APPROACHES.
WE LIKE A MORE STRIPPED DOWN VERSION OF WHAT OTHER 6000m AREAS USE – BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CARRY IT FURTHER – BUT WE BEEF UP THE INSULATION BECAUSE WE ARE HIGHER FOR LONGER AS WELL.
FEET
- 6000m DOUBLE BOOTS
- PRIMALOFT SOCKS
- INSULATED CAMP BOOTS
BASE LAYER
- WINTER-WEIGHT TOP & BOTTOM, POCKET FOR BATTERIES
MID-LAYER
- SYNTHETIC INSULATION WITH HOOD, SLIM FIT
SHELL LAYER
- LIGHT, FULL SPEC JACKET, FITS OVER MID-LAYER
- SOFT OR HARD SHELL PANTS OR SALOPETTE, FULL LEG ZIPS
TOP INSULATION
- BELAY JACKET, DOWN OR SYNTHETIC, FULL SPEC
- BELAY PANTS, DOWN OR SYNTHETIC
HEAD
- SUN VISOR
- BEANIE
- NECK BUFF
- CAT 3 SUNGLASSES
HANDS
- CLIMBING GLOVES, FULL SPEC
- MITTS, DOWN OR SYNTHETIC
- WINDPROOF APPROACH GLOVES
THIS LIST HAS GOT US THROUGH DOZENS OF TIBETAN EARLY WINTERS, OFTEN CLIMBING IN FULL INSULATION BECAUSE DAYS ARE SHORT & THE BODY IS ASKING FOR MORE WARMTH. A FULL SPEC INSULATION SET ALLOWS CLIMBERS TO STREAMLINE THEIR SLEEPING SYSTEM, USING CARRIED WEIGHT MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND IS THE PERFECT WAY TO TEST GEAR IDEAS FOR THINGS LIKE K2.