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Selecting the right gear and clothing for winter hiking and camping
Overview of gear used for winter camping
Route planning, campsite selection and preparation
Cooking outside in the winter
Being prepared for winter hazards
Rental gear available upon request
It’s time to extend your three-season hiking and camping experience and give winter camping a try! We provide modern lightweight snowshoes and camping gear to make the deep snowy woods more comfortable and accessible than ever before. This two-day one-night program will introduce the basics of snowshoeing and winter camping skills. We hike deep into the mountains to explore some of the most remote and pristine spots in the region. Your guide will cover dressing and packing for winter, route planning, campsite selection and preparation, equipment use, and cooking outside. If you’re a backpacker ready to take on the winter, this is the program for you. No winter camping experience is necessary to join, just the desire to learn and have fun!
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Offered 7 days a week:
$585 + $150 each additional person
Special Group Rate:
$225 per person on these dates
2011 dates coming soon!
Start/ End: Day 1 starts 9am. Day 2 ends approximately 12pm. Groups will meet at the Lake Placid EMS on day 1
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Includes: snowshoes, trekking poles, plastic double boots, tents, stoves, cook kit, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast
Does Not Include: transportation, personal gear and clothing
Prerequisite: summer camping experience
Driving Directions
Local Information Guide
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Equipment List for Winter Camping 101
EMS Climbing School Provides: All technical equipment including, plastic double boots, crampons, ice axe, and snowshoes, dinner and breakfast.
You Provide: (Required) In these courses, you will be going above treeline and will be exposed to the elements. In this environment, it is essential that you pay closer attention to being dressed appropriately for your personal safety. Dressing in layers works the best. This way, you can take off or add on any layers to adjust to the changing environment as you heat up and cool down. Wearing your “winter coat” or heavy “snow pants” is not the best choice when trying to dress in layers. Most likely, you will overheat when being active and you’ll end up sweating and expending more energy than needed.
Clothing is as important a piece of equipment as your boots and ice axe. Being properly dressed is essential to enjoying your outdoor adventures. Cotton has no place in your winter layering system: it keeps you cold if you sweat and it takes a long time to dry out. Synthetic fabrics or wool keep you warmer when they become wet with sweat and certain synthetic base layers are designed to wick the sweat away from your skin to keep you drier and warmer. In order to make your experience more enjoyable, please do not wear any cotton as layering pieces. Also, remember, you have to carry all your clothing with you, so packing efficiently is important. If you can't wear it all at once, you don’t need to bring it. If you have questions about how many or which items to bring, please call 800-310-4504. We expect that you will be dressed and ready to go upon arrival.
* indicates rental item from the climbing school or retail store. Call 800-310-4504 to discuss rental needs. Not all EMSCS locations are equipped with rental gear. Please inquire at the time of your reservation.
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Base Layer
(2 tops and 2 bottoms)
Light to mid-weight synthetics, snug fit and close to skin, eg. EMS® Techwick®.
Over-Base Layer
(top and bottom)
Light-weight fleece or heavy-weight EMS® Techwick®. Power-Stretch and micro-fleece are ideal materials for this layer. No heavy, 300 weight fleece trousers—you will be over-dressed.
Insulation Layer
(jacket only)
200 to 300 weight fleece, heavy weight soft shell or Prima-Loft sweater
Uninsulated Waterproof/breathable Shell
(jacket and pants)
EMS System III, Gortex®, or similar waterproof/breathable material. Jacket MUST have an integrated hood. Flimsy “stow-away” nylon hoods are not adequate. Full side zip pants are helpful.
"Over-It-All"
(jacket)
A.K.A. "Puffy" --Hooded, Down or Prima-Loft Jacket.
Gloves/Mittens
(2 pair)
1 pair ski/ice climbing gloves and 1 pair of Mittens. Waterproof/breathable is ideal.
Fleece Hat
*Backpack
5,000 to 6,000 cubic inches
*Sleeping Bag
-20 degree to -40 degree mummy bag
*Sleeping Pad
Closed cell foam and/or self inflating Therma-Rest style pad.
Wool/Synthetic Socks
2 pair
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*Gaiters
These should fit around your entire calf as well as fit over your pant layering system and a plastic ice climbing boot. Summer hiking gaiters will not fit over plastic boots and leg layers.
Balaclava
Headlamp
With spare set of batteries
Plastic Bowl, Spoon and Mug
No metal
Lunch
For each day. Peanut butter and jelly, cheese and pepperoni…whatever you normally eat on the trail. Temps may be well below freezing, so choose food accordingly, and make sure you can open it and eat it with gloves on.
Snacks
For each day. Trail mix and energy bars
Water 1-2 liters
Use a wide-mouth Nalgene plastic bottle. No thin plastic Poland Spring bottles, water bladder hydration systems, or metal water bottles.
Sunwear
Sunglasses and Sun-block
Personal Toiletries
Keep these to a bare minimum
Optional Items
Camera
Light-weight thermos (1 liter max, with a hot drink in it)
Water Bottle Insulator (old "clean" socks work well)
Change of base layer clothes
Camp booties
Primaloft pants or heavy fleece pants to wear for evening wear
Hand/Foot Warmers
Ear plugs
Trekking Poles
Money for Souvenirs! (Climbing School t-shirts, travel mugs, ceramic mugs and water bottles available)
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Missing anything on this list?
Don't forget your 20% discount EMS coupon that comes with your Climbing School confirmation letter!
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