Mountain Gateway Training Expedition Equipment List

Transcription

1 Mountain Gateway Training Expedition Equipment Backpacking Expedition Phase 60 days This information sheet applies to you only if you are notified that you have been selected as one of the twelve to be trained. This information has been included with your application packet so you will be able to see what is involved if you are accepted. The following equipment lists will help you decide what to bring with you to Colorado. Mountain Gateway does not have any equipment or clothing for purchase or rent. You must bring everything with you. There will be opportunities for last minute purchases in Colorado Springs before your course begins. This equipment list is designed to provide you information on the items you ll need for your Mountain Gateway expedition, as well as the functions your gear will serve. It is very important that you read the equipment list carefully. Our suggestions are based on years of experience. If you have questions, contact us! Please review the boot fitting instructions in your application packet and the boot recommendations at the end of this document. Also, we added a helpful checklist to the end of this document to aid you in the packing process. Your training expedition, totaling 90 full days, consists of two phases: The primitive technology phase, and the backpacking phase. Each phase requires different equipment. The gear list for the Primitive camping phase includes the gear you will need for that phase, and many of the listed items on the backpacking phase gear list, will also serve for the primitive phase. Some of the gear overlaps so pay attention to the lists. There will be duplicates listed, that does NOT mean that you need to purchase double of the items. What serves for one, will serve for the other. The Primitive Technology phase is first in your training. The actual gear needed for your course may vary, depending on instructor judgment, exact course location, and recent weather. Communication with us is key here. On the first or second day of your course, you will meet with one of your instructors and inspect each item you have brought. If the item meets our standards and is suitable for the course s curriculum goals, season, and prevailing weather conditions, you can use it on your course. If an item is not approved, you may leave it with your baggage at our storage location. We encourage lightweight, but not disposable, thinking when making gear and apparel choices for your course. We ve found that the lighter the packs, athletic injuries are less, the people are happier, and often, the more distance we can travel. With that in mind, make your choices also for durability. Please be mindful in your approach to equipment and apparel. Often times, one item can be used for multiple purposes. For example, some people use a water bottle for both their hydration system and their camp mug. Think creatively. Try new systems. Also, you may find you already own something that can be used for the course versus buying something new. As long as it fits the criteria in the detailed equipment list, bring it along! In addition to your equipment purchases, you will be responsible to cost share for any loss or damage to our group gear. If you have any questions or if you would like more information regarding any of the items in the Equipment, please contact Mountain Gateway Outfitting at mgselection@gmail.com Note: All gear listed below is required.!!

2 Equipment Footwear Insoles pair Can be either pressed wool felt or closed cell foam. Socks 4-6 pairs Must be 75-00% wool, Merino wool, heavy ragg type, or thick polypropylene (no wool/cotton blends). Camp Shoes Boots - ankle support Gaiters pair pair pair Lightweight sneakers, running shoes or Crocs in good condition and with closed toes to wear around camp (poor quality Crocs or those with holes are not acceptable). Camp shoes are not hiking boots. It is difficult to have the best of all worlds with boots, due to wet conditions and varied terrain. Staff suggest buying boots with sufficient ankle support. Whether you plan to buy boots before your course or own a pair of hiking boots, be sure to read the boot selection guide to help educate your purchase. Remember, boots should fit comfortably with pair of heavy wool socks. A light liner sock may be worn next to the skin. (See end of document for suggestions.) Must fit over boots. Any gaiters with a double closure (i.e. both zippers and snaps) or 2" velcro are also suitable. Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, and Mountain Hardwear are a few brands to look for. Upper Body Clothing You will want to have at least three (3) insulating layers, a wind-proof layer, a rain layer and a t-shirt. Make sure your layers fit comfortably over each other. One layer must be a fleece or insulated jacket such as a Mountain Hardwear Compressor jacket. If you get cold easily, we suggest that you count on taking four insulating layers. Base Layer (Long Underwear Top) 2 Mid- or expedition-weight polypropylene or polyester is best. Mid-weight only constitutes half a layer while expedition-weight counts as a whole layer (Example: Patagonia Capilene). Merino Wool is also excellent, Smart Wool Thin Fleece or Heavy Long Underwear Fleece or Insulated Vest This can be any secondary fleece layer of 00 to 200 weight polar fleece. An expedition weight long underwear top can be substituted. You may want a vest to supplement the upper layers. Insulation should be some type of polyester such as Light Loft, Polarguard 3D, and Thinsulate.! 2! Insulated or Fleece Jacket An insulated jacket, such as the Mountain Hardwear Compressor or the Patagonia Micro Puff, is a good third layer. A 300-weight fleece jacket that fits over your other layers will work too, though they tend to be more bulky and heavy. (Wind stopper or other tech fleeces are fine but not necessary.)

3 Upper Body Clothing (Continued) Synthetic or wool T-shirt Wind Jacket or Bug Shirt To wear on warm days. We strongly encourage the lightweight polyester, polypro, or coolmax top because it can dry much more quickly than a cotton T-shirt. Merino Wool, such as Smart Wool also works great. Nylon wind shell (not waterproof), preferably with a hood, that should be roomy enough to fit comfortably over all upper-body layers. We suggest the MontBell U.L. Parka as a wind shirt or the Bug shirt Elite Edition ( Most use their rain jacket for this layer. Lower Body Clothing You will need two lower-body insulating layers that should fit comfortably over each other and underneath your wind or rain pants. These should be medium weight base layer (long underwear) bottoms and either an expedition weight polypro bottom or fleece pants. Nylon Shorts pair Light athletic shorts are fine. These do not serve as an insulating layer. Base Layer Bottoms (Long Underwear) Expedition Weight Bottoms or Synthetic Puffy Pants pair pair These must be mid-weight polypropylene, polyester, or merino wool(e.g. Capilene, Extend by Mountain Hardwear, or Smart Wool). Cotton and Duofold are unacceptable. Expedition weight bottoms such as Patagonia Capilene 3 or R bottoms work well. Instructors highly recommend synthetic fill puffy pants (Example: MontBell U.L. Thermawrap Pants). Rain Gear Lightweight, Durable Rain Jacket Rain Pants pair Jacket should be roomy enough to fit comfortably over all upper-body layers and have a hood. Coated nylon or waterproof breathable jackets and parkas are acceptable. Ponchos are unacceptable. We recommend the following manufacturers: Mountain Hardwear, Arc'teryx, Patagonia, or GoLite. Coated nylon or waterproof breathable rain pants are acceptable. Your rain pants may double as wind/rain pants. (Example: Patagonia Rainshadow Pants).! 3!

4 Sleeping Gear You can bring a synthetic-filled sleeping bag (Polarguard 3D, Light Loft, Polarguard HV). Down is best. Your bag should have a temperature Down Sleeping Bag rating of at least 5 degrees. If you get cold easily, Bring a 0 degree bag. Should be closed-cell foam and 3/8" thick or a self-inflatable sleeping pad. This item is used for padding and insulation between your sleeping Sleeping Pad bag and the ground. We highly recommend self-inflating sleeping pads of ¾ or full length. Therm-A-Rest and Insulmat are great brands. Sleeping Bag A compression stuff sack lined with a plastic trash compactor bag works Compression Stuff well. A waterproof (rubberized) dry bag or compressible dry bag is Sack another option. REI, Northwest River Supply, Easy Rider, and Bill's Bags are suitable. Packs & Bags -2 (your preference) to organize personal gear, such as toiletries, Small Stuff Sacks -2 personal hygiene articles or eating utensils. Lightweight stuff sacks like Granite Gear are encouraged. Plastic trash compactor bags are sturdy and work well. These can be Waterproof Bag 3-4 found in any grocery store, and will be used to line the inside of your Liners pack, your sleeping bag stuff sack and other important spaces. We recommend these brands: Lowe, GoLite (Odyssey), Osprey, Arc'teryx, North Internal Frame Pack Face and Gregory internal frame packs. We do not recommend external frame packs. Your pack must have a volume of at least 5,000 cubic inches. The most important thing is that the pack fit you well. Get help at outdoor retailer. Small Daypack A small daypack is useful for around camp and also for day trips like peak ascents. There are many creative options for this piece of gear and we highly encourage you to think lightweight and dual function. Your internal frame pack may have a removable lid that can be used as a daypack. Another option for a daypack is the Summit Attack by Lowe Alpine, which doubles as a small daypack and a compression stuff sack (see Sleeping Gear section). Head, Neck & Hand Layers Lightweight Liner Gloves Sun Hat or Baseball Cap Fleece or Wool Warm Hat A lightweight glove, such as the Patagonia lightweight or heavyweight glove liners will do. If your hands get cold easily bring a warmer pair of gloves, such as ragg wool or a thicker polypropylene blend. You will be living outdoors for three months. You need something that will protect you.! A balaclava may be substituted for the warm hat. 4! Mosquito Headnet Make sure the mesh is not only mosquito proof but gnat and black fly proof also. If you have a bug shirt, this item is unnecessary.

5 Miscellaneous Items These items are required. They are NOT optional. Bandana -2 Sunglasses pair Eyeglass Retainer Eating Gear N/A These are often used as a small towel or washcloth. A small "Pack-towel" by Therm-A-Rest works well and dries fast. Terrycloth is not acceptable. Any good quality sunglasses with 00% UV protection will work fine. If you wear prescription lenses and have limited vision without them, bring your own prescription sunglasses or look for a quality pair of clip-on polarized shades at a specialty-fishing store. Lenses should be dark and block 00 percent Ultra Violet. Glass lenses will get scratched less than plastic. A "chum" or "croakie" is indispensable for keeping a hold of those eyeglasses and sunglasses. You can purchase these at outdoor, or eyeglass, stores. A Tupperware type bowl ( to 2 pint) with a screw on lid, lexan plastic spoon (titanium works too), and an insulated mug. Lightweight mug models include titanium (Example: Snow Peak brand). Water Bottle A one liter plastic, aluminum or stainless steel bottle. Lip Balm tube or stick Pack Towel Extreme Sunscreen 3 tubes or bottles Stick or cream with sun protection, SPF 5. A quick drying, medium to large sized pack towel is fine. It will be used for showers at the base camps, not in the mountains. 2-3 oz. tube or bottle size is plenty. A sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater is necessary. A physical sun block such as clown white or zinc oxide is strongly recommended for people who burn easily. Insect Repellent 3 Small bottles. Sunscreen,/bug spray combinations work well as well. Small Notebook and Pen Toilet Articles 3 each N/A Watch Prescription Glasses and Contact Lenses N/A A small steno-type notebook is fine, and can be found at most grocery or drug stores. Avoid heavy notebooks. If you are an artist - bring your color markers or water-colors (small set). Toothbrush, toothpaste, prescription meds, tampons (bring more than you usually use). For liquids, sample sizes of 2 oz. are preferable. Female students recommend a small box of scent free wet-towels. A cheap watch is best. One that is waterproof and has an alarm is preferable. Bring a watch even if you are not accustomed to wearing one. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, you should bring a spare set. Bic Lighter 2 Due to airline regulations, you will need to purchase this item in Colorado. Headlamp Get a quality LED head lamp that is waterproof. Petzl and Black Diamond are two good manufacturers. Bring 4 sets of extra batteries. Emergency Blanket One heavy duty all season emergency blanket. Space brand all weather blanket. Trekking Poles pair One or two trekking poles. Ski pole type trekking poles are preferred. Walking sticks or track skiing poles are not acceptable. We highly recommend Leki poles.! 5! Bible A small, lightweight version of your choice.

6 Miscellanous continued Camera and Waterproof Bag You will need some type of waterproof container. NRS, Kokatat, and LLBean all carry waterproof small dry bags for cameras. We encourage waterproof bags as opposed to cases as they are much lighter. You can also use two thick plastic bags instead. Underwear 2-3 pairs Briefs or boxer shorts. Women can bring cotton, silk or a synthetic quick drying brand. Men should bring silk or synthetic fabrics only. Many outdoor stores sell polyester underwear, which are a bit expensive, but help to keep you warm and dry. Sports bras made out of supplex/lycra or polypropylene wick moisture away from your skin. Vitamins N/A Some folks prefer to supplement their diet with a multi-vitamin. Book You may (but not required) bring a book for your own pleasure. It must be lightweight and not hardback. (Leave Moby Dick and War and Peace at home or in your luggage.) Compass Small Instrument Sit Pad Neck Warmer Bring a Sylva or Brunton compass. Bring your harmonica or any other small instrument that can withstand a damp environment. A small inflatable sit cushion (Thermarest, for example) or simple and small foam pad works great as a seat for around camp. A simple " - thick piece of foam roughly 2 x 2 feet is sufficient. We do not encourage Crazy Creeks, Fleece neck warmers are great and very comfortable. If you own one, bring it. Swimsuit Women can use their lycra jogging top for sunny days as a swimsuit. No bikinis. Coffee N/A If you are a coffee drinker bringing a pound of your favorite flavor will be appreciated. Knife Mora of Sweden, Bushcraft Triflex sheath knife only. Multi-tool A small multi-tool. Leatherman tools work well.! 6!

7 Shared Group Equipment Mountain Gateway Will Supply Expedition members share both the use of, and the responsibility for, the group gear that Mountain Gateway issues. Mountain Gateway charges only for group equipment that gets lost or damaged. Keep in mind that Mountain Gateway evaluates gear from a number of perspectives beyond those which an individual user might consider. Performance, durability, and simplicity are all factors we consider when we select our gear. Tents & Shelters Camp Stoves, Fuel Bottles & Funnel Cooking Gear (pots, fry pans, group utensils, pot grips) First Aid Kits Equipment Repair Kits Trowels Water Purification (cost share) Blister Kits Reference Books, Maps & Compass Food Bags for Rations Recommended Boots Medium-weight, off-trail backpacking/light mountaineering boots work best. This type of backpacking boot is constructed with a full grain leather upper or a leather and fabric upper and typically has a Vibram rubber sole. Some models utilize an injection molded, composite rubber sole with a randed welt to bond the leather upper to the sole. Both types of sole are acceptable. These boots are designed for extended backpacking, provide good support for off-trail hiking with heavy packs, and usually require less break-in time than heavyweight mountaineering boots. The following list is not exhaustive and is to be used for suggestions only. The boots listed here should help define what types are acceptable for your course. It is fine to substitute a similar boot for one listed here provided the boot that you bring is a good quality model designed for extended backpacking expeditions with heavy packs. Please feel free to if you have any questions! mountaingatewayoffice@gmail.com EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTABLE BOOTS* * Please note that boot manufacturers often rename their product line. Visit the manufacturer's website or contact us if you have questions. Asolo: TPS 520 GV, TPS 535 Lowa: Tahoe GTX, Tibet GTX, Banff Garmont: Dakota, Expedition, Montana La Sportiva: Latok Trk, Thunder GTX Montrail: Blue Ridge, Torre, Traverse Raichle: Mt Peak, Mt Trail Scarpa: Delta M3, SL M3 Technica: Galaad NB, Galaad SD GTX Vasque: Zephyer, Luna, Wasatch GTX, Sundowner Summit GTX! 7!

8 Quick Gear list This quick list is a tool and is not exhaustive. Please read through the equipment list for specifics. Miscellaneous Personal Gear -2 Bandanas Footwear Sunglasses and chums Insoles 4-6 pr socks Camp Shoes (closed toed, not sandals) Lightweight boots Gaiters Mug, bowl, spoon Water bottle ( Liter minimum) Lip balm (SPF 5) Pack towel Sunscreen (SPF 30+) Insect repellent- small bottle Upper Body Clothing Notebook and pen- small & lightweight Base layer top (2) Heavy long underwear top Insulated or fleece vest Insulated or fleece jacket Synthetic or cotton t-shirt Wind jacket or bug shirt Lightweight rain jacket Toiletries (minimize!) Watch Rx meds Rx glasses/ contacts Lighter 2 Headlamp or flashlight Emergency Blanket Trekking Poles Bible Lower Body Clothing Nylon shorts Base layer bottoms Fleece pants Rain pants Camera with lightweight, waterproof bag 2-3 pairs underwear Vitamins Trekking poles Trail book Head/ Hands Misc. Clothing Compass Lightweight gloves Sun Hat Warm Hat Mosquito headnet Small instrument Sit pad Neckwarmer Swimsuit Multitool Sleeping Gear & Storage Coffee Sleeping bag Sleeping pad Knife Compression stuff sack Travel Valuables/ Other -2 small stuff sacks 3-4 trash compactor bags (waterproof liners) Backpack- internal frame only Small day-pack or compression sack with shoulder straps Pillow Flight info/ airplane tickets Wallet Phone & charger (optional) MP3 Player & charger (optional) Books &/or magazines (optional) Travel snacks/ trail treats (optional) Travel clothes, 2-3+ days worth 8