Backcountry.com Newsletter Articles

We think our retail store dynamo John Gilchrist might be part lemur. He doesn’t look much like a lemur, but it would at least explain his boundless energy and willingness to launch into the air, whether it’s on a snowboard into Utah’s bottomless powder, or off a bridge into a rushing river in his home state of Vermont. In the summer, when he’s not serving our loyal customers with charm and a smile, you’ll find John clinging to a rock face, hammering Salt Lake singletrack on his single-speed mountain bike, or just casually sending some challenge that would make most people think, “No way, José.” So it’s either regular lemur-DNA injections, or a well-disguised crack addiction. We’re kind of hoping it’s the former.

We stalked John halfway up a multi-pitch granite slab to find out what kind of gear he uses, and he laid down the business on five of his most crucial climbing equipment choices. (Oversized adrenaline glands not included)

Black Diamond ATC Guide
John sez: “The ATC is a tried-and-true belay device with no moving parts to break or foul. It’s as simple as a water, I can anchor it down and put it in auto-lock mode when I’m beat from the last pitch and need to belay my buddy. It's amazing what that added extra loop can do!”

Petzl e+LITE Emergency Headlamp
John sez: “You never REALLY know when you’re going to get off the wall, and sometimes that means unintentional down-climbs after sunset. The e+LITE is awesome ‘cause it weighs next to nothing, lasts for days, and comes in a little plastic egg that slips right into a cargo pocket or disappears into your pack. It’s helped me find a bottle opener in the dark on many occasions. I consider that an emergency because teeth are expensive and I'm not that much of a hardman.”

La Sportiva Solution Climbing Shoe
John sez: “The Solution's quick-lace feature makes if fit like a glove and the aggressive nature of this shoe helps it get a few more seconds on those super skinny foot holds. The sticky pad on top of the toe is a magnet for sticking toe hooks. Most of the time this shoe feels like a better climber than I am.”

Wild Country Superlight Anodized Rock Set
John sez: “I hate putting more than what I weigh on my back, even for safety’s sake, so I go as light as possible when I’m hauling my own protection. It’s kind of like buying extra-sensitive condoms—why go any heavier than you need to?”

Metolius Personal Anchor System
John sez: “Take a look at the stitches on a regular sewn daisy sometime, and you’ll see why I like the PAS (Personal Anchor System). It’s like a daisy chain for dummies. I’m not saying I’m a dummy, but it's worth the extra reassurance knowing this thing won't rip apart if I end up doing something un-smart.”