CLOTHING SYSTEMS

When scrambling to the summit of a peak you can experience a wide range of terrain and weather conditions. Where you might start out on a well-maintained trail in hot weather, higher elevations can include off-trail travel on snow or scree with high winds and frigid temps.

To stay comfortable while scrambling, you need to dress in layers. With layers, you can adjust your comfort level by putting on and removing items as conditions or your exertion level changes. If you start to work up a sweat, you can stop and remove a jacket. If you feel chilled, you can put it back on.

Exactly what layers you choose to wear and pack for a scramble activity will depend on trip specifics like where you’re going, what time of year it is and what conditions you’re likely to encounter.

Base Layers

You will work up a sweat when scrambling. As evaporation removes the sweat, your body cools. For this reason, synthetic materials, such as polypropylene, polyester, wool and silk will wick away sweat from your body.

Do not wear any cotton during Mountaineers activities.

Once cotton is wet, it is worthless as an insulating layer and will actually cool your body too quickly. The base layer for scrambling varies greatly and will depend on the type of trip, weather and your individual performance. Base layers for summer activities typically include lightweight synthetic short sleeve shirts, form fitting poly tank-tops and lightweight synthetic underwear. Base layers should be selected carefully before the trip and be capable of preventing you from overheating. For winter trips, scramblers will find the benefit of thicker materials and longer sleeves. Don't let the season fool you though. Even in freezing temperatures, scrambling can generate a significant amount of body heat.

Smartwool

NTS 250

ArcTeryx

Rho

Kuhl

Valiant

IceBreaker

Oasis

Mid Layers

You can wear a single heavy layer or several light layers. Wool or synthetic materials (i.e., fleece or pile) work best for our damp climate. If they get wet you can just shake them out and they will still insulate you and dry very quickly. When down gets wet, it is useless as an insulating layer. However, some people like to put on a down vest or jacket when they stop for breaks or make camp. If you can keep a down garment dry under your shell, it can’t be beat for compressibility, lightness and warmth.

Fleece & Synthetic

Outdoor Research

Vigor

ArcTeryx

Delta

Columbia

Tech Trail

Patagonia

Insulating

ArcTeryx

Cerium Vest

ArcTeryx

Cerium

SmartWool

Smartloft

Patagonia

Nano Puff

Shells

Shell Layers have two purposes: defending you from wind, and protecting you from rain and snow.

The stronger the wind, the more heat you will lose through convection. In keeping warm, wind protection is as important as adequate insulation. When it is windy, wear a wind-resistant jacket and pants. Cover your head with a hat or hood. Often, a thin wind-resistant layer will maintain warmth more effectively than a thicker layer that the wind penetrates. Wearing several layers of lightweight clothing will trap more warm air near your body than a single bulkier layer of clothing will. A lightweight vest will provide torso warmth without restricting arm movement.

Wet clothing is dangerous. It can extract heat from your body 24 times as fast as dry clothing. When it is raining or snowing, wear densely woven waterproof jacket and pants. Coated nylon works well but tends to trap your body’s moisture causing underlying layers to become damp. Breathable waterproof fabrics, such as Gore-Tex®️, are more effective, but they aren’t perfect.

Ensure that the shell hood is helmet compatible.

ArcTeryx

Beta AR

Black Diamond Helio

Outdoor Research Aspire

Mountain Hardwear Exposure

REI

XeroDry

In a bivouac situation, you must remain warm enough to survive without danger of frostbite or hypothermia and, preferably, you should also be warm enough to sleep. Layering and insulating principles apply. You must bring enough clothing to remain warm during low levels of activity, and you must remain dry because wet garments conduct your body heat away from you into the cold air or cold ground next to you. Don’t forget that you may get clothing wet from perspiration as well as from snow or rain. Wet boots and socks can cause your feet to become extremely cold. Dry socks and boots and/or standing on a piece of closed-cell foam pad will help keep you warm by limiting the conductive flow of heat away from your body. Extremities such as head, hands and feet pass off large amounts of body heat if not insulated. Put on a warm cap and mittens before you become chilled. The first principle of survival is to avoid situations in which the survival issue arises. Physical conditioning, trip planning, route finding, competent leadership, and adequate equipment all can help you to avoid ending up in a survival situation.

Gloves

Smartwool

Wool Liners

Outdoor Research BitterBlaze

Rab

Baltoro

Outdoor Research Alti Mittens

Bottom Layers

Synthetic Underwear

Shorts

Lightweight Pants

Rain Pants

Insulated Pants

Be sure to bring a hat, mittens, jacket and pants to protect you from windy conditions in the mountains. Although the temperature may feel tolerable while out of the wind, body temperature drops quickly. When adding wind to exposure the tolerability becomes much less and can be dangerous.