Equipment Checklist - Snow Camping

 

Personal Gear: Clothing  (NO COTTON!!!)

1 Windproof and Rainproof Coat Windproof and Rainproof coat with hood – should fit comfortable over all of your clothing
1 Windproof and Rainproof  pants Should fit comfortably over all of your clothing
1 Heavy Layer 300 weight synthetic jacket, coat or sweater
1 Medium Layer Mid weight poly fleece top insulation layer
1 Long underwear Synthetic tops and bottoms
1 Nylon pants
4 Pairs of Heavyweight socks Heavyweight wool or synthetic
4 Pairs of sock liners lightweight synthetic
1 Winter Boots Insulated and waterproof
1 Hat (winter weight) Stocking hat or balaclava
1 Headband Synthetic or Wool - headband or Buff
1 Gaiters
1 Gloves, heavy
2 Glove liners
1 Glover, rubber for igloo construction




10 Essentials - Winter (Snow)

1 Pocket Knife Durable locking blade acceptable but fixed blade knife is preferred
1 First-Aid Kit Small personal kit (half sandwich bag sized)
1 First-Aid Kit - Whistle Small pealess whistle for signalling
1 Extra Clothes Heavy Top and Bottoms, Head and Neck protection
1 Rain Gear Waterproof jacket and pants.  Jacket must have hood
1
Rain Gear - Shelter Mylar emergency blanket or bivy bag, tarp, insulating pad
1
Rain Gear - Shelter Maker Snow Saw and Shovel
1 Water Bottle 3 liter capacity in 2 or more containers
1 Water Bottle - water melter Way to melt snow (stove and pot)
1 Flashlight Replace batteries before trek.  Bring extra batteries and bulbs; headlamp preferred
1 Trail Food High calorie
1 Matches & Fire Starter 2 different types of fire starters. Small lighter, waterproof matches, ferrorod or magnesium bars are acceptable. 
1
Matches & Fire Starter - Tinder Fuel tablet or other longer burning tinder
1 Sun Protection - Sunglasses Doesn't need to be expensive.  Ideally protects peripheral vision. sunglasses or goggles
1 Sun Protection - Sun Screen Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide works best
1
Sun Protection - Lip Balm Chapstick or similar; SPF of 25+
1 Map & Compass- Compass Working Compass; Suunto will work; waterless military lensatic compass recommended
1
Map & Compass -
Map
Coated Map; Ask SPL for map; USGS Quad Maps
1
Map & Compass -
GPS
Optional and does NOT Replace Paper Map and working compass; waypoints programmed
1
11th Essential - Repair Kit Duct Tape; small roll warped around pencil or water bottle; possibly also multi-tool, scissors, screw driver, cable ties







Personal Gear: Sleep System

1 Sleeping bag
20° EN rating or better.  Down or synthetic fill.  Down is more expensive but lighter.  Synthetic is more forgiving it if gets wet. 
1 Sleeping bag liner Optional (depending on bag). Liner or blanket. Wool or Synthetic
1 Dry bag for sleeping bag
Your sleeping bag must be waterproofed in dry bag or contractor trash bag. 
Roll-top dry sack made of silnylon-type fabric, just big enough to fit your sleeping bag is ideal.
OR pack can be lined with trash compactor or contractor grade trash bag.
1 Bivy bag optional
1 Sleeping pad
Thremarest Ridge Rest or insulated inflatable pad; NOT optional in winter
1 Waterproof ground cloth
1 inflatable pillow (optional)
Inflatable pillow weighs only a few ounces and takes little space.  You can also stuff an empty pillow case or bag with clothing to make a pillow.




Personal Gear: Other Gear

1 Backpack large enough to carry all winter equipment
1 Pulk Optional
1 Large stuff sack Optional - Used to strap extra items to top of pack if needed
1 Straps Used to attach items to outside of pack
1 Dry bags (for sleeping bag, clothes)
OR 1 backpack rain cover +  1 dry bag
OR 1 pack liner
Backpack rain covers will shed most snow from Paddle sports Drybags are heavy but ideal, especially if using a pulk.  
1 Daypack Optional
1 One-gallon Ziploc freezer bags Freezer bags are more durable than regular Ziplocs
1 Bowl
1 Cup
1 Spoon Long handle
5 Personal hygiene kit Just the basics - don't forget brush and toothpaste
1 Shortie pad Cut down closed cell insulation pad - use to sit or stand on




Specialty Snow Gear


Snowshoes

Ski poles

Snow saw


Snow shovel

Wands

Poo Kit - Paper towels Regular TP just isn't good enough

Poo Kit - Bag or tube Used to collect and pack out solid waste




Other Prep


Necessary permits Parking, Wilderness, Snow, Camping, etc

Paper and pen

Emergency Money

Emergency Plan Evac plan and emergency numbers

Trip itinerary One set under car seat and one with a friend/family at home

Weather forecast & Avalanche forecast

PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)




Food


Mountain House dinner Professionally made dehydrated meals are light and taste good.

Breakfast-in-a-bag Hearty cereal or something equivalent

Lunches First lunch will be consumed at trailhead and does not need to be packed away. 

Days of snacks Packaged and labeled for each day.  1,200-1,500 calories per day.  Mix it up so you don't get sick of it
1 Butter It's not just for breakfast anymore
1 Stove Backpacking stove - Propane, white gas or isobutane.  If using isobutane, must know how to avoid canister freeze
1 Pot Large enough to melt lots of snow.  Lid and handle
1 Stove insulation Stove board and windscreen (do NOT use windscreen around stove over canister setup)




Group Gear (to be divided among patrol members)


Pulk Used to carry extra gear or evac

Emergency Tent

Stove One heavy duty stove - propane or white gas

Fuel Extra fuel

Emergency Fire Starter - Scoutproof Road flare - adult use only!

Large tarp Emergency shelter or for evac

Heavy duty shovel

Axe For cutting down trees, obstacles and ice

Saw For fire wood and shelter construction

Paracord Shelter construction, tying down equipment, "roping in" in blizzards

Group First Aid Kit 1 per patrol

GPS tracker 1 per patrol or any group that separates




Other





































 

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