The Summit Register - Page 50 of 51 - The Mountain Safety Research Blog

Time to go

Apr 16, 2013

MSR Contributor Aili Farquhar shares her thoughts on the shoulder season. Closing-day skiers adorned in neon one-pieces and Mardi Gras beads (most probably under the influence of several blue-ribbon winning adult beverages) fly off jumps and stock makeshift slopeside bars carved in ice with cans from their backpacks. Across the river gravel bike trails and million dollar homes of the valley I fill my living room with well used down gear and the finest rock and ice pro money can buy. Skiers wait at the bus stop down the street as tennis players in shorts dodge lingering snowdrifts in the court across from my house. My small calico cat looks on with nervous attention. She knows the drill. All year she has seen my going and returning. I have left…

MSR Backcountry Café: French Press Coffee

Apr 10, 2013

A French press can produce rich, strong coffee that will supercharge your day in the backcountry. Collapsible presses allow you to use your cooking pot for a brewing vessel, saving weight and space in your pack. Best of all, good French press coffee is simple: get the grind and water temperature correct and you’re likely to have a great cup, or three. The Coffee: You’ll need about one ounce of coffee per finished cup. It should be course-ground and stored in an air-tight container. With French Press coffee, an even grind is important – use a burr grinder rather than the blade type. Normal drip coffee will work if you can’t find the proper grind; our presses are designed to work with generic drip grounds too. The Water: Backcountry water…

New Video Alert! MSR Stoves: Liquid Feed Mode

Apr 3, 2013

Did you know that a MSR Whisperlite Universal or WindPro II stove can operate on canister fuel in liquid form? This allows the stove to perform much better in cold conditions and maintain higher fuel pressures over the life of the canister. Take a look at the new video above and see how it’s done. For more information on what fuel to use with your MSR stove.

The Summit Register #1: April 1, 2013

Mar 28, 2013

MSR began in 1969 as a newsletter committed to improving mountaineering safety. Our founder, Larry Penberthy, was an engineer, professional inventor and lifelong mountaineer who dedicated himself to making the backcountry safer. At first Penberthy set out to meet this challenge under a committee of The Mountaineers. He spent more than eighteen months testing stove fuels, the elongation of ropes, the holding power of pitons, the strength of ice axes and a whole list of other important but generally neglected issues. As time went on, the scope of the project stretched far beyond what the organization, and Penberthy, could afford. “After six months, it became apparent that the outlay was more than I could manage alone, and so I formed Mountain Safety Research, Inc. as a vehicle to make and…

Chad Kellogg Everest 2013

Mar 26, 2013

Chad Kellogg is returning to Everest this spring, intent on setting the speed record from base camp to the summit and back. As he did in earlier seasons, he’ll be climbing solo and without oxygen. With two previous attempts and over six years of training, Chad is better prepared than ever to achieve his goal. The Summit Register will offer exclusive content about Chad’s attempt, including a video series, informational articles and regular updates from Base Camp. You can even follow Chad’s progress in real time on our Everest map. Join us in wishing Chad speed and safety on the mountain!

“Tempting Fear” – a ski film featuring Andreas Fransson

Mar 25, 2013

What does it mean to live life on the edge? Ski mountaineer Andreas Fransson shares his thoughts on the subject in his new film “Tempting Fear” “Only by defying society’s expectations can you find the true uncertainty that defines adventure.” Fransson examines his perspective on the risk, euphoria and philosophy surrounding his approach to high level ski mountaineerning pursuits, describing what it’s like to take risks when death lies just one misstep away.

Outdoor Cooking with Tim & Christine Conners

Mar 20, 2013

“Lipsmackin Backpackin’” is an essential item for your packing list that outdoor enthusiasts Tim and Christine Conners have authored, along with six other outdoor cooking books. These two are not only familiar with all things food, when not writing you will most likely find them camping, backpacking the Appalachian Trail and kayaking! Title’s that might come in handy while on your next adventure: Lipsmackin’ Backpackin Lipsmackin’ Vegetarian Backpackin The Scout’s Outdoor Cookbook The Scout’s Dutch Oven Cookbook The Scout’s Backpacking Cookbook The Scout’s Large Group Cookbook Expect a new series to be released this year for 2013 and visit Tim and Christine’s website to get one of these essentials for your outdoor equipment packing list!

Climb for a Cause profile: Summit for Someone

Mar 15, 2013

Mountaineering can be a selfish endeavor but there are programs out there that help combine one’s love for the summit with aiding a noble cause. Big City Mountaineer’s program, ‘Summit for Someone’ aims to improve the lives of under-served urban youth. Funds that are raised through SFS climbs allow Big City Mountaineers’ to lead transformational wilderness mentoring expeditions to thousands of urban youth across the country in need of “positive adult guidance in challenging and restorative environments.”

First Winter Ascent of Broad Peak

Mar 12, 2013

On March 5, Polish climbers Artur Malek, Adam Bielecki, Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski reached the summit of Broad Peak (8047m) laying claim to the first winter ascent of the mountain. Tragically, two teammates did not return. Tomasz Kowalski and Maciej Berbeka separated from their teammates, on the decent and spent the night at or near the high saddle at 7,900 meters. Bielecki and Malek returned to Camp IV, staying the night before continuing their final descent. Bielecki reached Base Camp at 9:30 p.m. on March 6, followed by Malek. What happened to Kowalski and Berbeka? In a statement on polishwinterhimalaism.pl, reports that Kowalski was having trouble breathing and felt fatigued. He later fell and broke one of his crampons and was having a problem fixing it. Expedition leader Krzysztof Wielicki called off the rescue effort on March 8th: Considering all…