| Essentials | |||
|
Extra clothing (replacement layers). | |
Extra pair of gloves. |
|
Extra food (at least 1 meal) plus some hard candy for snacks on the trail. | |
Extra Flashlight (and batteries). |
|
Motrin, Asprin (your favorite headache cure) | |
Extra Sunscreen. |
|
Extra matches. | |
Extra Socks |
|
Map of the area | |
Compass |
|
Picture ID | |
Leave a copy of your route with a friend. |
|
|
||
| Clothing | |||
|
Winter underwear (Polartec 100, Chinchilla, etc.) tops and bottoms | |
Fleece middle layer (Polartec 100 or 200) tops and bottoms |
|
Fleece pants (Polartec 300, Shearling or Windblock) | |
Fleece jacket (Polartec 300, Shearling or Windblock) |
|
Down jacket or sweater (after the hike) | |
|
|
|
||
| Outerwear | |||
|
Parka shell (Goretex or equiv.) | |
Shell pants (Goretex or equiv.) |
|
Gloves/mittons (Fleece or Insulate) | |
Glove liner (polypro. or silk) |
|
Hat (cap or helmet style - Polartec or Turtle Fur) | |
Neck gaiter (Polartec or Turtle Fur) |
|
Overmitts (Goretex or equiv.) | |
Sunglasses or ski goggles |
|
|
||
| Footware | |||
|
Liner sock (Polypro. or silk) | |
Hiking sock (Wool or Polartec) |
|
Booties (for after the hike - Down or Polartec) | |
Boots (for the conditions) |
|
Extra laces (1 pair) | |
Gaiters (Goretex or equiv.) |
|
|
||
| Camping gear | |||
|
Backpack (5000-7000ci) | |
Daypack/Summit pack |
|
Tent 3/4 season (or expedition quality) | |
Bivy bag (Goretex, Dryloft, etc) anything to keep the condensation off the bag. |
|
Sleeping bag (Down or Man-made fill) rated at or below the regional termperatures. *1 note below | |
Vapor barrier liner. *2 note below |
|
Sleeping pad(s). *3 note below | |
Snow stakes. |
|
Extra stuff sacks | |
Plastic bags for trash (emergency liners, etc.) |
|
Water bottles. *4 | |
Headlamp or flashlight |
|
|
||
| Hardware | |||
|
Crampons. | |
Ice Axe. |
|
Snow shovel. | |
Snow shoes. |
|
Skis, poles, boots, etc. | |
Avalanche transceiver (and/or Amateur radio). |
|
Knife or Survival tool | |
|
| Cooking gear | |||
|
Stove. | |
Extra fuel bottle(s) for stove. |
|
Matches/Lighter. | |
Cooking kit. |
|
Vittle kit (Knife, fork, spoon). | |
Pot "grabber" handle. |
|
Large pot/cup. *5 | |
Water purifier. *6 |
|
Food. *7 | |
|
|
|
||
| Personal items | |||
|
Tooth brush and tooth paste | |
Sunscreen (SPF 50+) and lip balm (SPF 25+) |
|
Small hand towel | |
Toilet paper *8 |
|
|
||
| Other | |||
|
Disposable camera (24 or 36 exp 100-200ASA) | |
Cards (or other games) |
|
Sewing kit | |
Extra cord (25' climbing cord works well) |
|
Money (for the pizza run afterwards) | |
|
|
|
||
| *1 | If I'm camping where I know it may hit -20 my bag is rated at -40 for added comfort (you can always vent a warm bag to cool off, but you may not want to wear your same wet clothes just to try and make a colder bag warmer). |
| *2 | Use it only in extreamly cold tempertures, it will keep your bag drier and reduce convective heat loss. |
| *3 | I use a 3/4 length insulite pad as my first layer with a full length (72") self inflating pad on top for comfort on the colder trips. |
| *4 | Plan on several water bottles. Two that you carry within your jacket (so they won't freeze) two that are attached to your pack (use these first) and one in an insulated container wrapped in plastic within your pack. The two attached to your pack may have a mixture of your favorite sports drink for flavor and as an energy boost. The bottle within your pack will give you something to drink while you're melting snow for water at camp. |
| *5 | This can be used to melt snow in (or when weather is real bad, as a pee pot.... just remember to clean it before you use it to melt snow in again for water). |
| *6 | These used to be very expensive, but the prices have come to around $35.00 for Virus level filtration. |
| *7 | Food should include hearty snacks and energy bars for during the hike or climb, hard candies, large dinners and breakfasts, warm drinks, etc. Lunches (unless you're going to set up a cook area somewhere along the way) should be something easily carried within your jacket that are high energy. |
| *8 | With the emphasis on "clean" camping, either be prepared to pack it out, or use biodegradable toilet paper and pick a spot well away from the camping area and your water supply. |
TIPS: Know what weather is expected to develop in the area you're going into. Have a retreat plan made and agreed on. Know your limits and when it's safe to push them. Do your first snow camp with someone who has already done it for a season or two. |
|
Comments to: Jon Finley
| Home |