Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

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seaguirre85
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Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

Post by seaguirre85 »

I’ve hiked difficult 3s but never a 4. Plan to hike my first in a couple of weeks. Helmet, ice axe, crampons, more??
Last edited by seaguirre85 on Wed May 26, 2021 1:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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cottonmountaineering
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Re: Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

Post by cottonmountaineering »

doing your first class 4 peak with snow is a bad idea, you should wait until the snow melts
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Scott P
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Re: Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

Post by Scott P »

Since you mention taking an ice pick, is it safe to assume that you are inexperienced?
18119-cuda-icepick.jpg
18119-cuda-icepick.jpg (13.59 KiB) Viewed 2035 times
Anyway, yes the gear you list (other than an ice pick), would be needed on some routes, but you need to know how to use them.

Some class 4 routes might be drier in a month or so, but I wouldn't count on it.

Snow climbing equipment (ice axe, crampons, helmet, and the knowledge of how to use them) on the class 4 14ers should be taken until at least July. Also, you need a pair of boots stiff enough to take crampons. Other than Little Bear, the class 4 14ers happen to be in the snowier ranges. Since the class 4 part of Little Bear is in a shaded gully, it can hold snow as can the first part of the route up the north facing chute.
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Wentzl
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Re: Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

Post by Wentzl »

Assuming for a moment that your question is genuine, what is the climb you plan to break the 4th class barrier?

Telling the route, and letting spectators guess about current conditions, is really the only way you might get useful information.

To my mind, there is no difference between things you carry on a 3rd or 4th class hike.

And as Scott pointed out, ice picks for drinks after!
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daway8
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Re: Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

Post by daway8 »

No extra equipment in summer (except maybe the helmet on some routes).

As for right now - I'm going to +1 the feedback already given...

(Hint: axe, not pick)
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Re: Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

Post by pvnisher »

If you need crampons, axe, and helmet, there's a decent chance that it shouldn't be a first class 4.

Do it in summer.

Do easy snow climbs before if you don't want to wait.

Pushing a new limit in new conditions isn't a great plan.
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Re: Extra equipment for Class 4 climbs?

Post by desertdog »

I would recommend you share the route you are planning. You could get some good feedback from people that have done it. That would also help with advising what gear you would need.
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