Gear List / Recommendations

Warm Hat

• Insulated beanie made from moisture-wicking fleece or wool, designed to retain heat and fit snugly under a helmet

• Himali - Backcounty Beanie

• Skida - Alpine Fleece Hat

Buff

• A versatile, breathable tube of fabric that protects the neck and face from sun, cold, wind, and snow while wicking moisture and allowing easy layering.

• Himali - Honeycomb Gaiter

• Skida - Lightweight Neck Gaiter

Hat

• Himali - Boulder Hat

• Skida - Brim Hat

Glacier Glasses

• Specialized sunglasses with dark, high-protection category 4 lenses and side shields. Category 4 lenses only let around 5% of visible light through the lenses offering optimal protection and are essential for alpine environments

• Julbo Glacier Glasses

• Julbo Vermont Classic Glacier Glasses

Sunscreen

• A high-SPF, broad-spectrum, sweat-resistant formula designed to protect the skin from intense UV radiation at high altitudes and in reflective snowy environments

• Badger Mineral Sunscreen

Headlamp

• Petzl -Lightweight Climbing Headlamp

• REI - Black Diamond Astro 300

Extra Batteries

• Extra AAA batteries for headlamp. A power bank can also be useful for rechargeable headlamps.

Base Layer Top / Sun Shirt

• Guides typically bring 1 - 2 sun shirts per trip. These long sleeve shirts are highly breathable and protect from sun damage. An insulated shirt in not necessary. Hoods are recommended for sun protection.

• Himali - Women’s Eclipse Sun Hoodie

Mid-layer Top

• An insulating garment worn between a base layer and outer shell, designed to retain body heat while remaining breathable and functional. If your soft shell and puffy are insulating enough, you may be able to leave this layer at home. Below are great examples of light mid layers.

• Himali Momentum Hoodie Mid-layer Top

• Patagonia - R1

Softshell Jacket

• A breathable, water- and wind-resistant outer layer that offers flexibility and moderate weather protection during high-output alpine activities.

• Himali - Softshell Jacket (Offers more insulation than other options)

• Black Diamond - First Light Stretch (Light weight option with slightly less insulation)

Hardshell Jacket

• A durable, fully waterproof and windproof outer layer designed to protect against harsh weather conditions. Opt for a light weight option over a ski resort heavy weight jacket.

• Himali - Monsoon Hardshell Jacket

• REI XeroCloud 3L Rain Jacket

Insulated Puffy

• At least 800 fill with a hood. This layer is very important in the alpine environment even when the forecast is warm. It is filled with down or synthetic insulation that provides exceptional warmth.

• Insulated Puffy

Lightweight Gloves

• Lightweight gloves offer some insulation but also protect against sun, wind, and abrasive snow and ice.

• Lightweight Gloves

Heavyweight Gloves

• Maximum insulation while still offering some dexterity. Ideal for wet and/or cold days on the mountain.

• Tour Gloves - BD Heavyweight Gloves

• Guide Gloves - BD

Base-layer Bottoms

• Typically Optional. Worn for additional insulation.

• Women’s Smekker Base Layer Pants

• Ice-Breaker Women’s Merino Tights

Soft-shell Pants

• Durable, breathable, and water-resistant trousers designed to provide flexibility and weather protection during high-movement

• Soft-shell Pants

• Women’s Arc’teryx Gamma Pant

Hard-shell Pants

• Used over soft shell pants for rain and snow protection.

• Hard-shell Pants

Mountaineering Boots

• Full shank or ¾ shank sole with crampon compatibility required.

• Women’s Nepal Cube - Heavier weight, warm, good for early season

• Scarpa Women’s Charmaz - Mid weight boot, good for mid/late season

Socks

• Women’s Smartwool Socks

Trailrunners (Optional)

• Used for the approach to camp and around camp.

• Women’s Trail Runner - Altra Lone Peak 9

Sleeping Bag

• Sleeping bag rated 10-20 degrees F warmer than the coldest conditions forecasted on your trip. If you sleep cold consider a warmer bag, thermal bag liner, or additional layers. Down filled bags are usually lighter and compress better than synthetic filled bags while synthetic bags are less expensive and still offer some insulation when wet.

• Bishop Pass 0 Degree Sleeping Bag

• Bishop Pass 15 Degree Sleeping Bag

Sleeping Pad

• Air pads with R-values of 4 and up will provide adequate insulation and comfort. Consider bringing a closed-cell pad for additional insulation, added protection for your air pad, and as a place to sit or lay around camp.

• Big Agnes Insulated Sleeping Pad

• ExPed Sleeping Pad - Closed cell pad used as an additional pad for insulation when snow camping

Backpack

• Bring at least a 60L capacity bag for your personal belongings as well as group gear. We recommend getting fitted by a professional. Everyone tends to prefer a different fit based on your individual body. Our favorites are listen below.

• Hyperlite 70L Southwest - Frameless Ultralight Bag

• Mountain Hardware AMG 75 - Very durable and designed for mountaineering

Liner Bags (Contractor Bag)

• Use large contractor trash bags to line the inside of your backpack for protection from rain and snow.

Hiking Poles

• We highly recommend bringing at least one trekking pole. Any poles are fine

Helmet

• It's important to make sure your helmet will fit over any hats you may wear and underneath any jacket hoods. Alpine style helmets will be lighter making them easier to carry and wear while more traditional climbing helmets will be heavier and less expensive. Either will be adequate.

• Black Diamond Vision Helmet - Comfortable, guides pick

• Black Diamond Half Dome - Less expensive

Ice Axe

• There are many different shapes and sizes of ice axes. Traditional Ice Axes are longer. Many people prefer shorter axes for weight and comfort.

• Raven Ice Axe in 60cm - Standard, less expensive

• BLUE ICE Akila Adze Ice Axe - Provides more versatility with adjusting pommel, lightweight

Boot Crampons

• Make sure crampons are compatible with your mountaineering boots.

• Black Diamond Sabretooth - Fully automatic crampons

• Petzl Vasak - Semi automatic crampons

Alpine Harness

• Lightweight harness that is able to fit over all your layers. Unlike traditional rock climbing harnesses, alpine harnesses are easily unfastened at the legs and waist in order to take them on or off without having to step through with crampons. They also do not absorb water. If you would like to bring your climbing harness, this is still safe.

• BLUE ICE - Choucas Pro Alpine Harness

Locking Carabiners (4)

• Locking Carabiners (4)

Non-locking Carabiners

• Non-locking Carabiners (4)

Belay Device (ATC)

• Belay Device (ATC)

5-6mm Cordelette (Accessory Cord)

• Sterling Alpine Cord

Prussic Loops

• Optional. We can also make these out of cordelette.

• Prussic Loops

Microtraxion (optional)

• Optional but highly recommended. We use this for progress capture in crevasse rescue systems. In the long term, you will likely want to add this to your kit.

• Petzl Micro Traxion

• Petzl Nano Traxion

Dyneema Slings

• Blue Ice Dyneema Sling (120cm) 1-2

Water Bottles (2)

• Nalgene 1L

Snacks

• Enough snack and lunch items for each day

Personal Health + First Aid Kit

• Blister Kit

Plastic Bowl

• Sea to Summit Ultralight Bowl

Spoon

• TOAKS Long Handle Spoon

Lightweight Cup (optional)

• Sea to Summit Ultralight Cup

Bear resistant container or sack

• Bear Can - Less expensive, Bulky, protects against all critters

• Bear Bag - More expensive, less bulky, does not protect against small critters

Blue Bags

• WAG bag

• PACT Pack it Out Kit