RMI and Whittaker Mountaineering Gear Guides Rainier Five Day Kautz Glacier Climb | Page 22

Climbing Pants (Layer 3) Soft-shell climbing pants offer a wide range of versatility. You can wear them in combination with the base layer on colder days, or alone on warmer days.\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\nWhy Soft Shell Pants? The soft shell material breathes well and allows the sweat and heat generated during the climb to dissipate, while still offering some resistance to light wind and precipitation. These climbing pants are our main workhorse layer, often worn alone to ascend the snowfield, and with a baselayer on the upper mountain for added warmth. A fleece pant serves the same function but is not as durable, breathable, or weather resistant and as a result are rarely used by guides. Depending on the model, soft shells come in varying thicknesses. If you are climbing in the middle of the summer climbing season when temperatures are higher, or you tend to run warm, aim for a lighter weight version. If you are climbing in the early or late season or find yourself always being the person wearing an extra layer, bring a pair made from a thicker material.\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\nHard Shell Pants (Layer 4) A waterproof pant with 3/4 side zippers (sometimes called 7/8 or full side zips) are required for facilitating quick clothing adjustments over boots and crampons.\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\n