Cold weather has never been a deterrent to climbing trees. In fact, there are plenty of trees perfectly suited for the sport of tree climbing that are located in colder regions. You will need to wear appropriate clothing though –thick jackets, thermal pants, and insulated gloves or mittens. The problem with gloves and mittens is that they hamper the manipulation of ropes and climbing devices.
Recognizing this problem, Colorado Mountain Industries, created CMI Expedition Ascenders. The generously-sized grips of this ascending tool are perfect for gloved and even mitten-clad hands. They are not, however, particularly bulkier nor even heavier than other ascenders.
The CMI Expedition Ascenders are constructed of extruded aluminum alloy and painted with an epoxy coating colored black. This tough coating protects the ascender from rust. The plastic handgrips are securely fastened to the aluminum body with countersunk Allen or hex socket screws. There are three attachment holes, one at the top and two at the bottom that are big enough to accommodate the bigger-sized carabiners. A steel pin with a snap ring secures the cam to the body.
The ascender works well with 7 to 12 mm ropes, even icy ropes. It has a breaking strength of 3,400 lbs.