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Below is a glossery of terms for gear and clothing. Please see your trip or course page for items you will be responsible for.
Base Layers
There's no way around it. You sweat. Wear fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin. Unlike 100% cotton that gets wet and stays wet, wicking fabrics help you regulate your core temperature and avoid overheating or chilling. Great examples include EMS® Techwick® T1 and T2 polyester which wicks, packs, wears, and washes like nothing else.
Over-base Layer
Mid-layers add mild insulation to help retain heat that your body creates, and are worn between the base layer and insulation if needed. Examples of over base layers are EMS® Techwick® T2 or T3 or any lightweight wool shirt.
Insulation Layer
Mid-layers add insulation to help retain heat that your body creates, and are worn between the base layer and outer jacket. Examples of insulating mid-layers include a fleece vest, a down sweater, or a synthetic jacket made of PrimaLoft® or Thermore®.
Wind and Rain Layer
Forget about bulky coats. Wear an outer shell (over your base and insulation layer) to shed water and snow. Layering will give you more versatility, depending on the weather and your activity. Outerwear that is waterproof with increased breathability will be more adaptable and can help transfer moisture away from your body to keep you dry and protected from the elements.
Big Puffy
Hooded, down or primaloft jacket. This layer is put on when you stop for a break. It keeps the body temperature up when stopped. This layer is generally worn over all your layers; yes, even over your Gore-Tex® Or System Three® jacket.
Gloves
When its cold out, your body pumps less blood to your extremities in order to maintain heat in your core. Pack 2 pairs. 1 pair ski/ice climbing gloves is used when your hands are not cold and need to be dexterous. 1 pair of mittens (Gore-Tex® or System Three® is ideal) are worn when your hands are cold and don’t need to be dexterous.
Fleece Hat
You've probably heard that most of your body heat escapes from your head. When you’re feeling cold the first piece to add to your clothing system is a hat. This hat should cover your ears and can be made of fleece or wool. Remember to fit the hat so you can wear it under a helmet.
Backpack
A properly fitting pack will make your day 100 times better. Use a pack large enough to hold all your gear without strapping extra gear to the side. Also, it’s important to have a pack that carries ice axes easily, and that has a hip belt to help support the weight. (2,500-7000 cubic inches depending on activity)
Wool/Synthetic Socks
How many times have your feet been way too cold? Wool or wool blend socks are great natural insulators, even when wet. For most cold-weather sports, wear wicking liner socks and midweight wool or synthetic socks. Make sure you fit footwear with heavier socks for more warmth. Footwear that constricts your foot will constrict your blood flow and cause your feet to be cold.
Gaiters
Gaiters cover the top of the boot to keep out rain, snow, and ice. They should cover your entire calf and be able to fit over a plastic ice climbing boot. They also cover your Gore-Tex® pants and provide a clean surface around your legs. This way, you are less likely to trip on loose pant legs and damage them while walking and climbing in your crampons.
Balaclava
When the temperatures drop and the wind picks up, the skin on your face becomes very vulnerable to frostnip, and even worse, frostbite. Wearing a balaclava adds protection and warmth to your clothing system. Use an all-fleece balaclava and leave the neoprene for the face mask.
Neoprene Face Mask
When the balaclava isn’t enough, we put on the neoprene. Neoprene is the same material used for wetsuits. In extreme cold or windy conditions neoprene is a supreme windproof layer. When tucked up inside your goggles it gives you full facial protection from the elements. We often cut the mouth holes a little larger to help you breathe better. This piece is the best protection against frostbite on your face.
Ski Goggles
We all wear hats and gloves, but don't forget about your eyes. It's not uncommon for climbers and skiers without protective eyewear to burn their eyeballs. And the sun damage can be just as strong on cloudy days. Wear sunglasses or goggles with UV protection. Goggles also shield your eyes from the harsh temps and blistering winds often encountered above treeline during the winter.
Headlamp
Mother Nature doesn’t always provide us with light so we bring our own. Carry an LED headlamp with extra batteries for when She decides to flip the switch.
Lunch
Fuel your body. In the mountains, lunch starts when breakfast ends and ends when dinner starts. In other words, we eat all day. A typical climber or skier will consume about 3,500 calories during the course of a day. Pack foods that don’t freeze hard, cover all the food groups and are easy to eat. Pre-make peanut butter sandwiches, or bring last night’s pizza, and those oh-so delicious candy bars. Carry your bars inside your jacket to keep them warm and gooey.
Snacks
Trail mix, energy bars, and candy bars; choose your weapon
Water
Wide-mouth water bottles are recommended for winter. 2+ liters is a minimum to keep us hydrated during the day. Please, don’t store your water in hydration systems or metal bottles, and don’t use thin plastic Poland Springs narrow-mouthed bottles. All of these systems freeze easily making the water unavailable to you. Before coming to the school, please consume ¾ to a liter of water. This will ensure you are starting your day well hydrated.
Sun wear
Sunglasses and Sun-block will keep you eyes and skin happy. Don’t forget that snow is a reflector and can burn your nose, your ears, and even the roof of your mouth.
Optional Items
Camera- point and shoot
Light-Weight Thermos- 1 liter max, with a hot drink in it. Its great to sip sweetened tea or cocoa when you stop. If you are going to make soup for lunch make it at home. Don’t expect to keep the water hot enough in your thermos to make your instant soup in the field.
Water Bottle Insulator- Keeps your water in a liquid state. Often these are foam-insulated, zippered cylinders that accommodate your Nalgene. (old "clean" socks work well too)
Camp Booties– These are either down or primaloft filled booties. These are extremely nice to slip into after a long day outside in the cold. They give your feet relief from being in your hard plastic boots all day, and you can comfortably walk around camp in the morning and evening!
Primaloft or Heavy Fleece Pants– These pants are a great addition when winter camping. You will reap the benefits once you set up camp and want to relax. When combined with your “big puffy” jacket, it is like wearing a sleeping bag! Functional and warm.
Hand/Foot Warmers– those inexpensive chemical heat packs that come in pairs
Ear Plugs– These are worth their weight in gold when wanting a good night sleep. They cut the noise of the tent flapping in the wind and other people snoring!
Trekking Poles- Make sure they are collapsible and that you know how to use them
Money for Souvenirs!- Climbing School t-shirts, travel mugs, ceramic mugs and water bottles available
Helpful Hints
1) When packing clothing for your outing, do not pack any more clothing than you can wear at once. If we empty your pack and you can’t wear all your clothes because you packed too many layers, you will need to eliminate some clothes.
2) If you are doing a multi-day program, remember all this gear needs to be worn for multiple days. If it will not dry over night please bring extra for the following day(s). Although we have tricks for drying your synthetic long underwear in the tent, its nice to have a spare set of “next to skin” layers and socks to wear while your other clothes are drying.
3) If you need help determining which layers to wear, bring more rather than less, and ask us to help you pack. Drop us an email or call with questions. Remember we are out there every day.
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