The Incredible Hulk is one of the best alpine rock climbing formations I have ever climbed on. The rock is comprised of clean compact granite that rivals many of the routes found in Yosemite Valley. The Hulk host many challenging routes for the advanced rock climber, including the Red Dihedral and Positive Vibrations which are the two moderate lines on the main face. The Hulk is located in the Sawtooth Range of the Sierra Nevada mountains which is located just outside of the town of Bridgeport, CA. The approach is moderate compared to many backcountry formations in the Sierras taking only about three and a half hours. The formation itself is over 1000 feet in height and offers between 8-12 pitches of climbing. Standing at the base of positive vibrations, I believed the climb would be done in no time.

Crampons are spikes that are strapped on to the bottom of mountaineering boots for traction on snow and ice. They have 10-16 points protruding downwards about an inch in length. All crampons rely on the rigidity of the boot to maintain their stiffness. Crampons have front points which are kicked into steep ice or snow. There are four categories of crampons. Strap on Crampons use a combination of toe and heel caps to secure the crampon on the boot.
These crampons are great for basic mountaineering and fit on about any boot. A great crampon for using with your hiking boots for that short section of firm snow. Neumatic crampons have a toe cap (usually made of plastic) and a lever that fits into a heel welt to ensure a tight fit. These crampons are perfect for general mountaineering and climb ice moderately well. They fit well with heavy duty hiking boots that have a heel welt with a rounded toe.

Mont Blanc
How fit do I need to be?
This is a difficult question to answer, but in general you need to be able to sustain steady ascents of five to six hours carrying a pack over often uneven ground. (for the Cosmiques refuge route, the ascent is up to eight hours). An ability to keep going slowly without too many stops is much more effective than trying too hard and tiring yourself out. When training for your ascent at home, try to include as many long, steady jogs (at least an hour) as you can – short intense workouts are less helpful. If you can get outside for some long days in the hills, so much the better.
Does the route involve technical climbing?
Day one of the Gouter route involves a long scramble up a rocky ridge to reach the hut, though this ridge is not particularly vertiginous and you hardly need to use your hands. Day two mainly involves wide snow slopes with a more narrow, but usually well tracked, snow ridge to reach the summit. The Cosmiques route varies more according to the condition of the glaciers, but will always involve a 75m ice slope of about 60 degrees on Mont Maudit. You will be roped up for the majority of both routes for maximum safety.

By simple definition a double wall tent uses a rainfly over the tent, whereas a single wall tent does not. A tent needs to satisfy two functions: it needs to repel water from rain and dew on the outside, and it needs to breathe in order to eliminate condensation from the inside. A double wall tent repels outside moisture with a waterproof rainfly, and it eliminates inside moisture with breathable tent walls. A single wall tent performs both of these tasks with just the tent wall, which is usually a laminate of waterproof and breathable materials. Both type tents have their place. Double wall tents have more parts, are heavier, and cost less than single wall tents. For these reasons single wall tents are most often used by backpackers, mountain climbers, and bicycle or motorcycle campers. That is not to say that either tent can't be used anywhere.

The weight of a tent (including ground cloth, rainfly, stakes, and ropes) may not be a concern to car campers, but backpackers, who weigh their gear in ounces, give the weight of their tent serious consideration.

Large capacity (8+ people) canvas tents with accessories could weigh upwards of 60 pounds. Several people could easily erect a canvas tent in less than 15-20 minutes. These tents are bulky, and you'll need a large trunk or a truck bed to haul them.
Large capacity (8+ people) multi-room steel frame nylon tents with accessories can weigh upwards of 45 pounds. Two or more people can easily set these up in less than 15 minutes. These are somewhat bulky tents too, and you'll need trunk space to haul them.
Middle capacity (4-6 people) single or double room aluminum frame nylon tents with accessories weigh in the range of 17 to 35 pounds. One person can probably set these up without too much difficulty in about 10 minutes. These tents pack smaller, and they'll easily fit in the trunk of your car.
To the weight-conscious backpacker, a quality 2-person backpacking tent will weigh around 5-6 pounds, and a quality solo backpacking tent may weigh only 3 pounds. One person can easily set up a backpacking tent in less than 10 minutes, and these tents stow easily anywhere.