So, you've committed to a climb of Mt. Rainier, now you've got to get in shape if you want to have any chance of making the summit. 

Where to begin?

First things first, let's look at what you'll be expected to do during the climb:

• Hike up 5,000 vertical feet to Camp Muir in under 5 hours with a 40lb. pack

• Rest for 6-8 hours at Camp Muir

• Climb 4,400 vertical feet to the summit in under 5 hours with a 20lb....

There are many reasons why you might choose to climb solo.  Finding reliable climbing partners can be hard, plus it allows you to practice over and over and doesn't require you to spend any of your time belaying.  For these reason, and others, I chose to do most of my ice climbing via a solo toprope method.  These systems can be relatively safe, as long as you use the right tools in the right ways.  There are numerous methods...

When it comes to general mountaineering, there are really two options when it comes to crampons: 10-points and 12-points.  When you're first starting out, it can be hard to know which one will be best, and unless you've done a lot of research, the difference certainly isn't always clear at first glance.  I bought my first pair of crampons when I registered for a guided climb of Mt. Rainier.  I didn't put a lot of research into...