3. Clothing
ïŒ Minimize sweat; Donât get wet!
wet = cold; DRY = WARM
ïŒ Change into DRY clothes ASAP
ïŒ Light-, mid-, and heavy-weight layers
Merino/SmartWool wicks; does not retain odor!
ïŒ Hat and balaclava
ïŒ Multiple sets of gloves, with tethers
ïŒ Soft-shell pants and jacket
ïŒ Hard shell (Gore-Tex) jacket & pants
(full zips are worth the price)
ïŒ Hand and Toe Warmers
ïŒ Dry socks at night. VBLs work well for some.
ïŒ Bring damp clothes in your bag to dry
ïŒ Pee Bottle (48 oz., marked)
4. Shelter
ï§ Tent
4-season recommended for wind & strength
Identify âsafeâ place to establish tent zone
Use shovels to level tent platform
Use snowshoes to firm up tent platform
Leave the ground cloth at home!
Use lightweight snow stakes; consider parachutes
Must dig out during heavy snowfall!
ï§ Snow Walls
Blocks the wind
Snow shovels and snow saw
5. Shelter
ï§ Snow Cave
Dig down and deep â must not collapse!
Must have air vent
Quiet, warm, dark, light (no tent, poles, stakes)
But, takes longer than tent, and you will get wet!
Consider for multi-day base camp
Not for claustrophobics
6. Sleep System
ï§ Sleeping Bag (consider temps and conditions)
ïŒ 0 degree is our âmost usedâ for CO winters
ïŒ lighter bag will suffice on Mt. Rainier
ïŒ down vs. synthetic (rainy/wet camping?)
ïŒ add warmth with liner bag and/or down clothing
7. Insulation
ï§ Insulated pads
ïŒ Protect tent floor â keeps in warmth
ïŒ Extra protection for sleeping pad
If it leaks and goes flat, you are still protected from snow
1/4â EvazoteÂź foam pads - prolitegear.com
ïŒ Exped Downmat â 5, 7 or 9 (great if you sleep cold)
ïŒ NeoAir â lighter option
ï§ Small size insulation rectangle for sitting/standing
ï§ Optional: lightweight, collapsible, camp chair
8. ï§ Stoves
ïŒ
ïŒ
ïŒ
ïŒ
Cooking
Helios JetBoil - canister
MSR Reactor - canister
MSR WhisperLite Universal â canister and liquid
MSR XKG EX â all types of liquid fuel
ï§ Fuel Pros and Cons
ïŒ Canister Fuel â typically heats water faster, easy to use,
fuel is more expensive, build-in pots (less flexible),
not as accessible outside U.S.
(cold weather performance with inverted canisters)
ïŒ Liquid Fuel â less expensive, excellent cold weather
performance, heavier, requires fuel bottle
9. Cooking and Food
âą Typically, most just melt snow for water
and âjust add boiling waterâ to their food:
instant soups and potatoes, hot cocoa, tea, coffee, oatmeal,
dehydrated/freeze-dried veggies and dinners
âą Cooked food in pans âfreezeâ and difficult clean-up
Bacon, eggs, pancakes â always welcome! Group meals
can also be fun.
âą Consider food that doesnât require cooking: (i.e., tortillas
or flatbread with chicken, tuna)
âą Bring the food you like and know you will eat!
âą Water containers need to be insulated, or they will freeze
Use insulated water holders rather than camelbaks/bladder