Equipment for climbing
Hello, friend! I have already written several articles about climbing Kazbek from the Georgian side: how it goes, what awaits you and what difficulties with conditions you can encounter. Now let's talk about equipment. Yes, you can read the list of necessary equipment, but often questions arise, for example, "do I really need a ski mask?" I will try to answer them in this article. By the way, it will also be useful for those who are going to climb to the top and other five-thousanders with a similar level of difficulty and are wondering about choosing equipment. I will not recommend brands and models, but only the qualities that this or that piece of equipment should have.
Climbing shoes
The most important element of equipment is footwear. It should be given special attention. The altitude and weather conditions allow you to climb up in single-layer boots, but these must be rigid high trekking boots. The presence of welts for crampons is not so important, but it is worth understanding that automatic crampons are put on faster and have less effect on the condition of your shoes. Shoes must be worn in, have a size reserve of 1-1,5 sizes and have a thick, rigid sole. Thin soles freeze very quickly from crampons. Warm trekking socks with wool are a must on your feet. It is important that the sole of the socks is thick, insulating the heat inside and not letting in the cold from the outside. No ultralight options! It is better to wear gaiters (gerts, flashlights - there are several names) over the boots.
Thermal Underwear
Thermal underwear. Any that you have will do for climbing Kazbek. The main thing is without using cotton or other natural components. The exception is merino wool.
It is important that its heat retention level corresponds to your "frost resistance". It should not be too cold, but it is not necessary to be too hot either. As you go up, you will definitely get warmer. Thermal underwear that is too warm can add discomfort.
Membrane clothing
The top must be made of membrane items: pants and a jacket. You may be lucky with the weather and you will climb in calm, clear weather, or you may not, and when moving in a group there will be no time to carefully and thoroughly review the set of clothes you are wearing. If there are no special assault items, ski or snowboard clothes will do. It is better to choose the thinnest options with less insulation. Believe me, it is definitely better. Each layer should ideally be separate: thermal underwear, insulation, membrane.
Gloves should be in several versions. Thin fleece, warm membrane and preferably thin membrane tops. We lose most of the heat through our hands, feet and head. It is important to keep these parts warm, eliminating the possibility of frostbite. Also, there should be a buff on the neck and a synthetic hat under the helmet. It is good practice to have spare accessories, since they are the ones most often lost or blown away by a sharp gust of wind, it is worth taking something off and putting it nearby.
Optics
You need to have two types of optics. Category 3-4 glasses and a ski mask. There are usually no questions about glasses, but the need for a mask often causes them. In short, yes, you need one! Is it possible to go on an assault without one? No! Strong winds combined with ice and snow chips flying not from above, but horizontally into your face, will not allow you to continue the ascent and can cause disorientation on the route. Category 2-3 will be enough.
Backpack
A compact backpack for climbing Kazbek will give you comfort and will be less restrictive. Also, a small backpack of 15-30l is lighter in itself, at such a height the weight of each element is felt and carrying less weight will only be a plus for you.
The backpack must contain a thermos with hot tea, energy bars or gels, SPF cream with a protection factor of at least 50, spare mittens or gloves, a down jacket (!), an unused optical item, spare batteries for a flashlight, and a portable charger.
Down jacket
A down jacket is a must. In addition to the comfort of being in the camp, it also has a more important function. It will not let you freeze in case of an emergency (anything can happen in the mountains), perhaps your down jacket will save your life or another person's life.
With the correct and competent selection and preparation of equipment, the chances of a successful ascent only increase, and upon returning to camp, your comrades will be able to congratulate you “Happy Mountain!”
All the necessary equipment for climbing can be found rent from us, and only We will organize the ascent for you on a turnkey basis.
