Each boot was solid plastic with a separate inner boot, like a ski boot but more flexible, providing warmth and support. Warmth, as I hung from one of the two ice tools I carried, was at that moment not a concern. Exertion and at times fear often cause an ice climber to perspire. But most climb with at least one partner, and the two almost never climb at the same time. The time not climbing can be cold.
Clothing is high on the list of proper gear for the alpine enthusiast.
Layers of fleece or wool, avoiding cotton at all costs, wind and water protection such as Gor-tex, proper head and hand gear, and a spare down parka will help make most days in the mountains enjoyable. But some days it does not matter what you wear or what you bring. Weather in the White Mountains cannot be underestimated. Every year these mountains claim lives, often as not young, fit adventurers with some experience in the mountains. Looking into the orphaned car of a climber who froze to death on Mount Washington, one may find gear not taken that might have helped keep the climber alive, but the crucial mistake is usually the decision to go in the first place.