Clothing

Gear

Accessories

Get Your Profile Dialed

Scott Sala

Climber // Camper/Hiker // Camper // Snowshoer // Ice Climber // Backpacker // Mountaineer // Hiker

Scott Sala: #499 of 93,625 Top 500 Gear Guru More Information

10 Reviews:

Helpful?
7 Yes | 0 No

3 Questions:

Helpful?
0 Yes | 0 No

0 Answers:

Helpful?
0 Yes | 0 No

3 Photos:

Helpful?
0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments:

Helpful?
0 Yes | 0 No

0 Gearlists:

Helpful?
0 Yes | 0 No

  • Stomping Grounds:

    NYC and beyond, Cats, Daks, etc.
  • Bio:

    I grew up in the Northwest - WA State. Came to NYC after college. Got back into outdoors through caving. Underground adventures took me to multiple places across the US and the world. Extensive technical experience in vertical caving, endurance caving, low airspace caving. Several trips out West for canyoneering - Zion, Cedar, etc. Ice climbs around NY. Mediocre rock experience. And a dash of urban exploration for those days stuck in the city.

Flag

Un-Flag

Close

Something wrong with this profile?

Thanks for pointing it out. We'll take it down immediately and send it to our clean-up crew.

This profile was: (Optional)

Use your real name to add some legitimacy to your content. Real names mean real community, and real community means real knowledge. Gear Gurus who use their real names get bumped up 1.5x for each contribution - you deserve the credit. For more info check out the Help Center.

This is how you compare to all the other Gear Gurus on Backcountry.com. You earn one point for each list / review / question / answer / gear photo / comments / votes you contribute. You gain an extra point every time someone gives one of your contributions a thumbs up, but you lose a point for every thumbs down. Bonus: if you use your real name, your point total increases by 1.5x—you deserve credit for putting your neck on the line to make this community better. For more info, check out the Help Center.

Change me.

This is how you compare to the other Gear Gurus within a group of products. You earn one point for each of your list / reviews / questions / answers / photos / comments / votes. You gain an extra point every time someone gives one of your contributions a thumbs up (killer), but you lose a point for every thumbs down (filler). Bonus: if you use your real name, your point total increases by 1.5x-you deserve credit for putting your neck on the line to make this community better. For more info, check out the Help Center.

Caving somewhere in upstate NY

Caving somewhere in upstate NY

Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender

February 11, 2009

You can see the blue ascender dangling from my harness because I rappin'. But this trusty device has got me out of caves for more than 10 years, somewith ascents more than 500'. Never fails.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
See all photos for this product >

Leading in the Daks (NY)

Leading in the Daks (NY)

Black Diamond Viper Ice Tool

February 11, 2009

These are the original vipers, from about 2003. Still running strong on orig picks. I upgraded with Shrike and Fang - something I believe comes standard on the new ones.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
See all photos for this product >

Getting ready for a Daks climb

Getting ready for a Daks climb

Petzl Ecrin Roc Climbing Helmet

February 11, 2009

The Ecrin Rock has been protecting my head for 10+ years. From caves to rock to ice. Just wish they made it in black so I wouldn't have to spray paint it every so often.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
See all photos for this product >

Must Have

Metolius PAS Personal Anchor System w/ Element Locking Carabiner

Metolius PAS Personal Anchor System w/ Element Locking Carabiner

Rating for this product: 5 January 2, 2009

I always use this while ice climbing and canyoneering. Great racking as people have mentioned. Girth hitch to belay loop in harness, and biner the loops together then clip them to the equip loops on your harness. In action, like stated, you can weight yourself on any loop safely, allowing short or long lengths as needed. There are various methods of using, but heed best practices - clip into anchor/bolt, webbing anchor, wrap around a thin tree and clip into itself, etc.

The only drawback to this specific item is the included biner. Lots of people would want to use the biner of their choice. But as a package, it's well worth it.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Not Good All Around

Outdoor Research Alibi Glove

Outdoor Research Alibi Glove

Rating for this product: 2 December 29, 2008

Got these for light leashless in NY Catskills and Daks. Always cold. Even on so-so warmer days. They will get wet, if not from climbing, but putting in screws, grabbing the rope, whatever. I eventually sold them.

On a positive, the sticky was superb. But I need warm more than sticky.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Amazing All the Time

The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent 2-Person 3-Season

The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent 2-Person 3-Season

Rating for this product: 5 December 29, 2008

This tent has served me well for years. From the Utah desert to wet NY, it has been tested in heat, rain, storms, and plain old sleep on clear starry nights.

I recommend using this for 1-person mainly to store your gear inside and have that extra room. I have slept wit wife inside too, but it's tights. And in those cases we more or less car camp so saving space/weight is meaningless.

I love the low profile which has survived the windy nights atop Muley Point while others tents fared not so well. I also just love the shape. Big opening. Low at the feet. Wide near the arms when sleeping.

Never leaked - and perhaps best of all, set it up and then put it where you want it. Free standing style rocks. Plus make shaking bugs and dirt out an ease.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Good Build

Black Diamond Punisher Glove

Black Diamond Punisher Glove

Rating for this product: 4 December 29, 2008

Just got for Xmas, but here's what I notice. I have severely beat-up Cloudveil Ice Flow gloves from the last 3+ years. Everywhere my old gloves are worn through, the BDs have the necessary reinforced padding/stitching. For instance, there is added padding to the top of the pinky where each of my old gloves ripped. Also the leather section between the thumb and forefinger covers a smaller area - which is good since on the old gloves it was too much. Really only needed where you squeeze the tool. No padding on the back of the 1st 2 fingers like Ice Flows - not needed.

They fight slightly tight, but that is part of the dexterity plan. The leather goes over the finger from top-to-bottom, rather than side-to-side, creating a better smooth fingertip experience. When on, my hands literally rest with thumb and forefinger touching tips, perfect for the next screw. I even used the computer mouse fairly well with them on. Perfect for avoiding bulk but staying warm (I expect).

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Old Orig Style

Black Diamond Viper Ice Tool

Black Diamond Viper Ice Tool

Rating for this product: 4 December 3, 2008

I've been using the original Vipers for 3 years and they are strong, a tad heavy but very framing-hammer like in top balance. I believe the shaft is rotated 90 degress on the new ones for a sleeker bend. I warn people when buying vipers to ensure you get the new ones - I've heard of people getting old ones (not on BC.com though). I also mounted the leashless elements on mine (shrike and fang). It comes automatic on the new ones. I bought 2 hammers as I never cut steps, playing 99% on steep ice or preferring crampon maneuvers to old style mountaineering. All in all a solid tool. Not the lightest if that's what you want. Honestly, though well served by them, I would probably buy a lighter tool like if I had to switch. As others said, can be hard to pull out, but you do get first swings in often due to the top heaviness.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Grwat But Not For Leashless

Black Diamond Blizzard Holster

Black Diamond Blizzard Holster

Rating for this product: 3 December 3, 2008

I used to use these for my Vipers. Awesome stashing, much better than clipping top into an ice clip along with 5 screws. But once you have leashless tool with a fang on the bottom (Viper) and shrike they can be hard to get into the holster. I don't use them anymore.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Sweet

Black Diamond Ice Clipper

Black Diamond Ice Clipper

Rating for this product: 5 December 3, 2008

Get a pair. Nothing better for most screws. Easy to clip in, and easy to unclip a screw, one-handed even with frozen fingers. Also remember you can flip up your top-racked screws and get to the 3rd or 4th down while all screws are still racked. That's what the little lip at the top is for. Move your shorty up and away and get to your 16s or longer.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Must Get for Orig Vipers

Black Diamond Cobra/Viper Fang

Black Diamond Cobra/Viper Fang

Rating for this product: 5 December 3, 2008

I'm fairly sure the gold/new Vipers come with these, so only buy if you have the old silver Vipers. And get these before the shrike. You'll be totally leashless with these alone. Easy to mount. Easier than shrike.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Simond Ice Screw Rack

December 2, 2008

Kinda pricey. Isn't it just a couple of overpriced carabiners connected? Has anyone used one and seen definite advantages to justify the price? I also wonder why you'd want so many screws on one side -I usually split them on left/right.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
Read all Q&A about this product >

CAMP USA Radion Ice Screw

December 2, 2008

What about the lack of ice screamer. Seems everyone I climb with uses screamers on all but the rarest of situations. Anyone see a problem with this?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

View Product Details >
Read all Q&A about this product >

Black Diamond nForce Ascender

August 5, 2008

Can someone with small hands (smaller woman) use these? As compared to Petzl?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

View Product Details >
Read all Q&A about this product >

Great over long haul and extreme abuse

Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender

Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender

Rating for this product: 5 August 5, 2008

Been using both types for 7-10 years - in extreme environments. Caves - wet, muddy, dragging on rocks, falling on rocks, squeezing and scraping rock as I crawled through tight openings. Never failed. Still work beautifully. 100+ ascents on rope, some 500'+. I oil once in a while. Keep clean and dry, but have left them weeks in bags of muck only to pull them out, clean up and use.

I haven't used BD (which looks good for gloves/ice/winter). But I've used other lesser-known brands and simply didn't find any reason ever to switch.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product

Good but expensive

Black Diamond Turbo Express Ice Screws

Black Diamond Turbo Express Ice Screws

Rating for this product: 4 December 1, 2006

These are great. Go in fairly easy, though one-handed is more a function of dexterity than pure screw design. Always on the lookout for more, but unwilling to pay full price.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

0 Comments

Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
Read all Reviews about this product