There are such pure lines, it just motivates me to go on now and just climb.

—Yannick Glatthard

With an ephemeral medium like ice, radically changing conditions are part of winter climbing. That’s why versatility and adaptability are crucial to success. This applies not only to your gear, but also your mindset.

Last winter, we tested this theory with BD Athletes Aaron Mulkey and Yannick Glatthard. Equipped with a pair of new Hydra ice tools, these world-class climbers made a trip to Montana in search of some classic ice and mixed routes. Starting off in the Bozeman backcountry, the team unfortunately found melting flows. After a few scrappy pitches, it was time to pivot.

The boys rallied to nearby Cooke City where they found winter. Making the necessary head-weight adjustments to their modular Hydras, Mulkey and Glatthard got after it, and put our new tools to the test.