Sterling Ion R 9.4 XEROS rope: Every filament is dry-treated and made for the alpine

When my partner and I began prepping for a Grand Traverse attempt in the Tetons this summer, he asked if there was any way we could take a 60-meter rope instead of a 70-meter to save on weight and bulk. Maybe we could get away with a carabiner block, or a tagline for the longer rappels, he suggested. No need: I had a Sterling Ion R 9.4 XEROS. Now my alpine rope of choice, the Ion R weighs 57 grams per meter, making it about 0.3 pounds lighter than other 70-meter ropes I've tried in a similar diameter range. A tight, dense weave also makes it feel more svelte: I scarcely noticed the difference between the Ion R and Sterling's notoriously slender Nano IX 9.0.