All posts by NEM Guides

Gear Review: How To Choose The Best Ice Screws

The Best Ice Screws

Photo By Brent Doscher, BrentDoscher.com

If you are familiar with ice climbing or looking to purchase a rack of ice screws you know that there are options. Like any other piece of gear, it can be confusing, time-consuming and overwhelming to choose the screw for you. Don’t sweat it. NEM Guide, David Lottmann has got you covered over at NEAlpinestart.com.


Ice Screw Options

Black Diamond Turbo Express

Petzl Laser Speed

Petzl Laser Speed Light


So what should you get? This is a personal choice. What do you value most? Lightest weight? Durability? Ease of placement? If you count ounces like I do you might justify the added expense and lower durability of the Petzl Laser Speed Light screws.

Get the full Gear Review here: The Best Ice Screws

“I Highly Recommend This NEM Course”

AIARE Avalanche 1 Course With Northeast Mountaineering

To increase my education for safe travel in avalanche terrain, and to help me better assist with the Ski Committee’s annual Avalanche Awareness course, I spent January 6-8 at Northeast Mountaineering in North Conway, taking an AIARE 1 course taught by NH guide and AIARE instructor Dave Lottmann.

 

For many years, Dave taught avy education for EMS and this was his first year with NEM and also the outfit’s first avy course. Besides Dave’s expertise, the greatest benefit of taking the course through NEM was the fact that on-site lodging in the NEM bunkhouse was provided to all students, which led to great group bonding, cost savings, and convenience. It was basic hostel-style living, but it was comfortable and clean. For the record, you can book a bunk there even if you’re not taking a course for $20 per night, which is a steal!

​Our classroom: quaint!

​Our classroom: quaint!

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