The Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 isn’t anything new for 2016, but this trusty backpack has survived 2015 and 2016 without any real issues. It’s the bag that I reach for over and over again for hiking, climbing and commuting. It’s burly enough to withstand inclement weather and holds a ton of gear and snacks for a day at the crag. You can even strap a rope on top for the approach, or for biking to the gym for a post-work climbing sesh. After two years of abuse, it’s a little worn in some spots, but it’s nothing a little duct tape can’t fix. Now this workhorse of a bag can be yours.
rock climbing
As a climber, most of my weekends are spent in the mountains where the rock is prime and the views are unbeatable. Local crags like, Castle Rock, Indian Rock, are my playground on days where I can’t make the 3+ hour drive out to the Sierra. Sometimes it’s hard to give up that play time, and sometimes, the stars align and I have that opportunity to give back to the places where I play.
When I met with Mammut during Summer OR 2015, little did they know that they were going to blow my mind. Why deal with a pack to carry your things when you could have a chalk bag to eliminate most of your carry needs? Internally, Mammut has debuted prototypes of this carry all chalk bag, but this summer 2014 was when they put the idea to fruition. The Mammut Multipitch Chalk Bag, now known as the Mammut Alpine Chalk Bag, is a brilliant piece of gear for when you’re way off the deck.
Friday afternoon, a week before Red Rock Rendezvous, I frantically dialed the number of the dude organizing the entire festival. In the span of an hour, en route to Joe’s Valley, I managed to completely freak out and convince myself that my measly trad skills were too measly for an advanced gear placement and anchors class.
I anxiously rifled through the website, hoping for something, or anything, to tell me that I’d be okay. But somehow things looked a little different from when I bought my early bird ticket back in November. And this time around? There were skill levels associated with all the descriptions. Crap.