Winter Equipment List

Compiled originally by John Waffenschmidt. Modified by Bob Moulder over the years.

Sleeping Gear

• Tent – Winter mountaineering, plus snow stakes
• Sleeping bag, rated to -20°F or lower
• Double sleeping pads – full-length closed cell, plus ¾-length ThermaRest

Backpack

• Internal frame, minimum 5,000 cubic inch, with two 500 c/i pockets

Head

• Hats – Two, Polartec or pile lined, with ear covers
• *Nylon baseball cap
• *Cotton bandana
• *Polartec 200 balaclava
• Neoprene face mask
• Sunglasses – Dark glacier glasses with side shields
• Ski goggles
• Headlamp – Petzl Zoom or Micro, with fresh batteries plus spare batteries and bulb

Upper Torso

• Jacket – Polartec 200, with pit zips
• Shell jacket Gore-Tex, or similar.
• Down parka – TNF “Baltoro,” Marmot “8000-Meter,” or equivalent

Hands

• Gloves – Thick pile mittens with Gore-Tex shells, plus
• Two sets Polartec 200 gloves, plus
• Two sets of thin polyester liner gloves

Lower Torso

• Long Underwear – one medium and one lightweight set, tops and bottoms
• Pants – Polartec 200, with full side zips
• Shell bibs --Gore-Tex, or similar. Shell pants will do, but bibs are recommended
• *Shorts – nylon with built-in briefs preferred
  

Feet

• Sock liners – Two pairs of  thin polyester
• Socks – two pair of wool or wool/synthetic, Thorlo or equivalent
• *Down or Polarguard booties
• Boots – Plastic double-boots, inner boot insulated with closed-cell foam
• Gaiters – Outdoor Research (OR) Gators, or equivalent
• Crampons – 12-point step-ins recommended, plus crampon bag
• Snowshoes – 9x30 inches, but more or less depending on your size

Safety/Stability

• Ice axe – General mountaineering, with leash
• Ski poles – Adjustable preferred, but fixed will do

Kitchen Gear

• Swiss Army knife, Leatherman tool, or equivalent
• Insulated mug with snap-on lid tethered to mug
• 1-liter stainless steel or titanium pot, plus pot lifter if the pot has no handles
• 2-liter pot for melting snow (1 per 2 people)
• 2 Lexan spoons
• 2 Lexan Nalgene bottles, plus OR water bottle parkas
• Food – the simpler the preparation the better. Two steps is one step too many.
• Stoves – MSR XGK or WhisperLite preferred, plus stove base and repair kit
• Fuel – White gas, ½ to 1 pint (if melting snow for water) per person per day, plus 25%

Safety Gear

• Map & Compass
• *Altimeter watch
• Bic lighters – several stashed in various places
• 2 large plastic garbage bags
• Several 1-quart Ziploc bags
• Repair kit with duct tape, parachute cord, sewing kit, etc.
• Sun block and lip block
• Whistle – two-tone is best
• Thermometer – small tag type, but check accuracy
• Shovel – Lightweight Voile, or similar
• *Bamboo wands – with colorful flags, for route marking

Personal Hygene

• *Ear plugs – for a good night’s sleep
• Toiletry kit
• Toilet paper
• *Pee bottle
• First Aid kit

Other

• *Camera and film – Pentax 928 known to work down to -30°F

*Optional, but damned handy sometimes