Equipment Check Lists
Equipment List: Winter
Recommended for overnight trips:
- Skis (160 - 185cm) wide ski designed for powder
- Or, Snowboard (Split board)
- Climbing skins 'Stick-on type'
- Ski Poles
- Ski/boarding boots
- Avalanche beacon
- Collapsible Avalanche Probe
- Shovel (lightweight snow shovel)
- Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment)
- Sunglasses and ski goggles
- Thermos flask and/or water bottle (full!)
- Sun block & Lip Cream
- Pocket knife
- Large backpack
- Sleeping Bag, 3-season for Alpine Club Huts, 2-season for others
- Small Flashlight or Headlamp with fresh batteries
- Small Blister & 1ST-Aid Kit (‘moleskin’, plasters & Tylenol is enough)
- Camera
- Personal Toilet Items (keep to a bare minimum)
- Ear Plugs for dorm sleeping (optional)
- Insulated Booties or Hut Slippers
- Harness (ski mountaineering only)
Clothing List: Winter
We suggest layers of light, easily carried clothing that allow for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast changing temperature conditions. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet(Satan's fabric). Temperatures can vary widely from –20C overnight to +10C on sunny days. For clothing use the ‘layer system’: Light technical clothing that doesn’t take much space in your backpack and dries quickly if sweaty or wet. Layers that can be put on and taken off fast if weather conditions change during the day. For winter layers we recommend wearing:
- Polypro underwear (top & bottom)
- Warm pants (pref. insulated or fleece)
- Warm shirt (not cotton)
- Medium weight fleece or windstopper sweater
- Fleece or shouler Jacket
- Light insulated jacket or vest
- Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex)
- Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex with side zippers)
- Socks (wool outer & polypro liner), several sets.
- Wool or fleece hat
- Waterproof ski mountaineering gloves or wool mitts with waterproof overmitts.
- Neck tube
- Sunhat
For your safety, the guide carries the following:
SAT phone and/or VHF
Complete first-aid kit
Repair kit
Complete crevasse rescue gear/ski-mountaineering rope (route dependent)
Evacuation gear for injured people
Avalanche rescue gear
All maps of the area
GPS, compass and altimeter
Snow saw, snow study kit
Complete first-aid kit
Repair kit
Complete crevasse rescue gear/ski-mountaineering rope (route dependent)
Evacuation gear for injured people
Avalanche rescue gear
All maps of the area
GPS, compass and altimeter
Snow saw, snow study kit
