Lindsey Jackson climbing in her Ridge Pursuit Ultralight Hoodie and Hilltop Shorts
Longtime Mammoth Lakes local Lindsey Jackson gets after it. We're always inspired by her adventures and love hearing how our gear works for her while she's out peak bagging, multi-pitch climbing, ridge scrambling and splitboarding.
We originally published this post in July 2024. This summer, Lindsey completed a huge goal finishing the Sierra Peaks Section (SPS), a list of 247 peaks in the Sierra she's been working through for the past five years—and Ridge gear has accompanied her for most of them. You can follow her incredible mountain adventures on Instagram.
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1. Tell us about yourself and how you got to Mammoth.
I have lived in Mammoth on and off since summer of 2003. I came here early on and was fortunate enough to become involved with a very young Grenade Gloves snowboarding crew thanks to my best friend from college, Hana Beaman (another Ridge ambassador), who was Grenade's only female rider at the time. I was able to create artwork for the snowboard industry and have a good ‘ol time in Mammoth during my early 20s.
Now my Mammoth lifestyle looks different. I'm a morning person instead of a night owl. I want to recreate in the mountains in a much different way. I climb the technical routes on peaks, scramble the ridges, and attempt to snowboard down them so that I have objectives in every season. I'm a tattoo artist, which grants me a flexible schedule to play in these mountains that I'm lucky enough to have in my backyard.
2. What's your favorite thing about climbing in the Eastern Sierra?
What I love most about climbing in the Eastern Sierra is the wonderful granite rock paired with expansive views and temperate weather. I feel so spoiled here because other mountain ranges have so many other stresses like constant storms or more fearsome apex predators to contend with. Most of the time it's just me vs. the limitations I put on myself out in these mountains.
Some of my favorite areas in the Eastern Sierra are the Evolution Basin and Dusy Basin. Both areas are incredibly beautiful and bordered with massive mountains that are very non-trivial to climb and so majestic to look at.
Lindsey on a knife edge ridge in the Sierra wearing a Pursuit Hoodie
3. What are your go-to Ridge items for peak bagging?
I've been wearing my Pursuit Ultralight Hoodie nearly every day this summer. It has been a hot summer this year, and the breathability and quick-drying fabric has been so necessary.
What I enjoy most about these shirts compared to my other ultralight hoodies is that they don't stink, and that's such a big deal to me, especially when camping in the backcountry for multiple days.
I also love the Biker Shorts. Usually I romp around in skirts or a hiking dress, but I can't wear a climbing harness with those. These shorts are perfect for that, plus I love the big pockets, which my snacks also appreciate.
Lindsey on a recent trip to check off two more peaks on the Sierra Peaks Section list: Mount Harrington and Kennedy Mountain on the Monarch Divide
Lindsey on putting her Ridge gear to the test:
"The last time I stopped by the Ridge Merino store in Mammoth, I was encouraged to take my new Ridge gear into some 'less than pleasant' terrain to see how it would hold up. I was shocked! Why on earth would I want to drag my favorite clothing through forests of evil buckthorn growing inch long needles that destroy your skin and clothing?
Why would I want to walk through soot covered barren wasteland burn scars potentially staining and wrecking my favorite gear?
Well sometimes this happens unintentionally. Sometimes I unknowingly walk through literal hell, and you know what? My Ridge Merino weathers that storm with flying colors! Not one tear or rip or stain after a surprise torture trip where conditions were worse than I expected.
The same can’t be said about my poor skin. 😂 Hats off to you Ridge, thanks for making me some serious bushwhacking armor."
4. What tips do you have for climbing in the area? How about for staying cool this summer?
For climbing and staying cool, especially this summer, getting into the high alpine is the move. Merino wool makes it more doable. Whether it’s the Solstice Hoodie, Pursuit Hoodie or just a tee, I love that my Ridge gear protects me from harmful UV rays.
I also like to dip my Ridge Run Hat into any creek I pass by then put it back on to help cool my head down a bit.
5. What are your goals/plans for peak bagging? Any big objectives coming up?
As I draw near to 1,500 mountains climbed, my goal is to complete all of the Sierra classics. Since so many can be called classics, it seems like I'll never run out of new things to climb or areas to explore!
I plan to do more traveling to climb more mountains in the Pacific Northwest and the Continental Divide, but at the moment I'm so happy and my heart is so full playing in my own backyard.
