It’s called the Rocket Tent and it weighs only 1 lb. 6oz. That’s lighter than some bivy sacks and this has so much more space and can probably 2 people.

Revealed at the Outdoor Retailer, the minimalist winter shelter from Brooks Range Mountaineering is made of tough and ultralight sail cloth and uses trekking poles and an avalanche probe to provide the frame. There are also a few guy-out points.

The canopy is designed to minimize heat loss while blocking the sun. Watch out for reviews soon.

It’s a new world record by Christian Stangl. Before Everest, people thought he was crazy when he said he wanted to go up and down Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, in five hours. He only needed four-and-a-half hours.

There years later, with just a ski pole and a small backpack filled with carbohydrate gels, salted cookies and rosehip tea, Stangl went to the top of Everest in under 17 hours. No one has ever gone up that fast before.

In a total climbing time of 58 hours, Stangl conquered all the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on every continent.)

“Stangl’s climbing ethos has been described as pure mountaineering, but he calls it skyrunning. With hardly any equipment, no supplementary oxygen and no company, his approach is to insure against the grave dangers of high-altitude climbing by traveling light and getting up and back down the mountain before the weather deteriorates or his body begins to struggle from oxygen starvation.”

Now he’s preparing to climb the K2, a mountain fewer than 300 people have ever scaled.

What’s going to make it more difficult for him is the splitting of the serac, an overhang of glacial ice, in a steep corridor near the summit known as ‘The Bottleneck’. As a result, the ropes that help climbers up the normal Abruzzi Spru route are now gone and the route might have been blocked entirely.

Now this guy is something.

Careful preparation and the right mindset can go a long way toward ensuring years of enriching and safe adventures.

Alice Hutchison, an avid hiker who routinely visits Glacier National Park, gives an account on how she keeps safe everytime she ventures into the mountains. She is familiar with the wrath of Mother Nature in the mountains and the inherent dangers. Her experience has prepared her for nearly every situation.

In the pouch inside her fanny pack she always have with her some stuff she swears could make a difference between a pleasant experience or a miserable one, including raincoat, windbreaker, gloves, hat, light fleece, lip balm, sunscreen, bug repellent, moleskin, pocket knife, a packet of protein gel and pain relief medicine.

However, the one thing that she relies on most is her ability to stay focused when things turn bad. She is also always aware of her surroundings especially in bear country.

The owner of Kalispell’s Rocky Mountain Outfitter, Don Scharfe, echoes his agreement that your mental state is critical to safe mountaineering. He goes on to say that “Nothing beats keeping a level head and making a plan of attack when a situation in the woods goes south.”

Scharfe goes even further by using visualization techniques to mentally map out where he’s going to be at various times throughout the day, which is particular critical when you’re exposed to the elements high up in the alpine areas.

He also believes in hiking light and only takes with him enough gear to UNCOMFORTABLY survive and nothing else.

According to Glacier National Park ranger, Matt Graves, for safety in the mountains you need to pre-plan your route, know your physical limits, bring food and water, dress in layers, and know what’s out there in terms of hazards, including wildlife. Everything in the wild should be approached with knowledge and respect.

Both Graves and Scharfe agree that while cell phones and global positioning systems may be useful in emergencies, they also give you a false sense of security. For you own safety and the safety of the would-be rescuers, never go anywhere you’re not mentally and physically prepared to go.

Spending time in the mountains is one of life’s most deeply rewarding experiences. I always carry a lightweight bivvy with me on day hikes in the mountains.