About Pro Mountain Sports
At Pro Mountain Sports we work to offer customers a selection of products very much along the lines of what we would choose for our own mountain trips. Seeking value, function, and style. Offering the best in mountain equipment since 1997. Value, function, and style. The fastest and the lightest.
Because our retail store is small, we need to choose what we sell very carefully. It is challenging for us not to be influenced by the
latest and greatest miracle fabrics that promise to do everything - windproof, waterproof/breathable, warm, unusually extremely breathable, etc, and even light weight. We are committed to choices based on actual field use. Both our own and our friends and customers.
Pro Mountain Sports has introduced our customers to some great innovative products and fabrics through the years. Silicone impregnated
nylon products from Integral Designs and Hilleberg Tents, Merino wool base layer clothing, crampons with Universal Speed Bindings that fit all types of footwear, some of the warmest and lightest down insulated products from Western Mountaineering, and much more.
Whether your aim is comfort, safety, or pushing the limits we are a shop that will work with you and for you.
About Jim Nelson
A rock and ice climber who relied on those disciplines to push his boundaries in a quest for adventure in the alpine. Significant climbs include a winter ascent (1986) of Mt. Slesse's NE Buttress with Kit Lewis, an early ascent (2nd) of the Infinite Spur on Mt. Foraker with Mark Bebie (1988), and the complete South Buttress of Mt. Tiedemann, a 40 pitch rock climb in British Columbia with Carl Diedrich and Jim Ruch (1988).
Jim says... My method for training and improving has always been to repeat favorite climbs and trips. Gaining experience and confidence slowly, and loving every trip. Triple Couloirs 5 times, northern routes on Mt. Stuart 45 times, Liberty Crack 12 times..... you get the idea.
Decades of guiding and repeating many of the classic climbs in Washington State led to
co-authoring Selected Climbs in the Cascades, Vol. I and Vol. II, published by Mountaineer Books.
I love to travel and camp in the high country, unfortunately rock and ice climbing equipment is ridiculously heavy and a real hindrance to traveling the high country. As a result trips without the rock climbing have become my preference.
I still enjoy an occasional moderate alpine rock climb, and have managed to trim my rope and rack to 6 pounds if I choose the climb carefully. Three pounds each for a team of two.
Jim Nelson
Owner, Pro Mountain Sports