Gear list
The following equipment and personal items list is designed to help prepare you for your trip or course. Being prepared with the right clothing and equipment will increase comfort. Please feel free to contact us for clarification and for suggestions for buying/ renting gear.
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Indoor Activities
Summer Day Trip
1 Day Multi-Pitch Climb
Overnight tower climb
Ice Climbing or Mountaineering Day Trip
Backcountry Skiing Day Trip
Hut Trip
Two Day Mountaineering and Ice Climbing
Wilderness Medicine
Level 1 Avalanche Course
Backcountry Hut Trip with Avalanche Education
- Comfortable shoes
- Comfortable clothes
- 32oz. water per. person
- Snacks
- Camera
Summer Day Trip(suggested for all summer trips and courses)
- Waterproof shell
- Tennis shoes or trail shoes (no open-toed shoes)
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- 32oz. water per. person
- Food
You may also want to consider:
- Synthetic wear
- Ice cold fluids
- Lip balm
- Camera
- Tennis shoes or trail shoes
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- 64oz. water per. person
- Food/Snacks
- Five freezer size zip lock bags
- Backpack no bigger than needed
- Waterproof shell
- Waterproof shell
- Synthetic or wool long underwear bottom (thin)
- Synthetic or wool long sleeve top (medium)
- Mid layer top and bottom
- Synthetic or wool socks
- wool or fleece hat
- Head lamp
- Lightweight warm sleeping bag
- Closed cell foam pad
- Tennis shoes or trail shoes
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- 64oz. water per person
- Food/Snacks
- Five freezer size zip lock bags
- Backpack no bigger than needed
Ice Climbing or Mountaineering Day Trip
*No cotton – cotton does not wick moisture or insulate when wet.
- Synthetic or wool long underwear bottom (thin)
- Synthetic or wool long sleeve top (medium)
- Mid layer top and bottom
- Synthetic or wool socks
- Winter jacket
- Snow pants
- Warm gloves or mittens
- Hat and neck gaiter or balaclava
- Goggles or sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Food
You may also want to consider:
- Small day pack
- Hand warmers
- Hot liquid
- Insulated “Puffy” Jacket
- Gaiters
- Extra gloves
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle insulator
- Camera
*No cotton – cotton does not wick moisture or insulate when wet.
- Synthetic or wool long underwear (thin)
- Synthetic or wool long sleeve shirt (medium)
- Mid layer top and bottom
- Synthetic or wool socks
- Winter jacket
- Snow pants
- Warm gloves or mittens
- Hat and neck gaiter or balaclava
- Goggles or sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Food
- Extra wool or synthetic socks
- Avalanche gear: beacon, shovel and probe (Apex rents for $6 each per day)
- You may use the following means of back country travel:
- Alpine Touring Skis, boots poles, and skins.
- Telemark Skis, boots poles, and skins.
- Or Splitboard, boots, poles, and skins.
You may also want to consider:
- Adjustable poles
- Liner socks
- Small day pack
- Hand warmers
- Hot liquid
- Insulated “Puffy” Jacket
- Gaiters
- Extra gloves
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle insulator
- Camera
*No cotton – cotton does not wick moisture or insulate when wet.
- Synthetic or wool pant, base layer – light weight x2
- Synthetic or wool long sleeve shirt, base layer – light weight x2
- Synthetic middle layer top and bottom, medium to heavy weight
- Synthetic or wool socks – x2 pairs
- Winter shell jacket
- Snow shell pants
- Warm gloves or mittens x2
- Fleece hat
- Neck gaiter or balaclava
- Goggles and sunglasses
- Water bottle
- 70-100 oz of liquid for approach day
- Food – balance of energy snacks, drink mix, fruits, nuts, vegetables, protein for recovery, carbs for energy, and fats (we can provide all meals/snacks and drink at your request)
- Multi-day pack (40-70L)
- Sleeping bag – recommended -25° to 20° for yurt, 0° to 40° for hut, weather dependent
- Space blanket
- Personal hygiene kit – toothbrush/toothpaste, hand towel, comb/brush, prescriptions. Feminine products, if applicable
- Change of clean undergarments, per day
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Hut slippers or down booties
- Avalanche gear: beacon, probe and shovel (Apex rents for $10 per day)
- You may use the following means of back country travel:
- Alpine touring skis, boots, poles, and skins.
- Telemark skis, boots, poles, and skins.
- Splitboard, boots, poles, and skins.
- Snowshoes, boots, and poles.
You may also want to consider:
- Gold bond
- Comfy clothes for hut life
- Notebook “rite in the rain” notebook and pencil (should be avalanche field book)- necessary for avalanche courses, available for purchase from Apex
- Any snow study tools/kit (magnifying loupe, thermometer, crystal card, clinometer, snow ruler) – strongly recommended for avalanche courses
- Snow saw – optional for avalanche courses
- Adjustable collapsing poles in place on non-collapsing
- Liner socks
- small, super light-weight, compact day pack
- Hand warmers
- Thermos
- Insulated “Puffy” Jacket
- Gaiters
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle insulator(s)
- Coffee or tea
- Camera
- Ski wax, diamond stone and scraper
- Shorts for the deck?
- Great attitude!
Word of warning: keep your pack as organized, compact and lightweight as possible. Not only will you be touring uphill on approach with your pack and all of its goods, you’ll be skiing back downhill on the way out with nearly the same weight.
Two day mountaineering/ ice climbing
*No cotton – cotton does not wick moisture or insulate when wet.
- Complete ski, split board or snowshoe equipment, including boots, poles, etc
- Synthetic or wool long underwear (thin)
- Synthetic or wool long sleeve shirt (medium)
- Mid layer top and bottom
- Synthetic or wool socks
- Winter jacket
- Snow pants
- Warm gloves or mittens
- Hat and neck gaiter or balaclava
- Goggles or sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Food
- Multi-day pack (40-70L)
- Sleeping bag (0 to -30°)
- Sleeping mat
- Personal hygiene kit
- Headlamp with extra batteries
You may also want to consider:
- Hand warmers
- Hot liquid
- Insulated “Puffy” Jacket
- Gaiters
- Extra gloves
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle insulator
- Camera
- Cold weather clothing, fleece, hats, gloves, etc.
- Raingear
- Pack
- Sleeping pad
- Headlamp
- Water bottles
- Hiking boots / hiking shoes
- Notebook with pen/pencil
- Items you would typically have in your pack on a backcountry trip
You may also want to consider:
- Second hand watch
- Pocket Knife
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lighter
- Waterproof matches
- Compass
- Camping equipment
- Any other needed personal items
- Probe, shovel, beacon (Apex rents for $10 per day)
- Clinometer (BCA slope meter, also available on compasses)
- Complete ski, split board or snowshoe equipment, including boots, poles, etc
- Cold weather layering synthetic clothing
- Wool or synthetic hats/balaclava
- Wool or synthetic gloves
- Goggles
- Water/wind proof jacket with hood, pants, gloves
- Pack
- Ground mat (insulation so you can sit on snow)
- Headlamp and batteries
- Water, food, hot liquid
- Notebook (for lecture day) <AIARE field book provided for field days>
- pen/pencil
- Items you would typically have in your pack on a backcountry trip
- *level 2 requires a snow study kit with:
- Snow crystal card
- Magnifying glass (at least 10x zoom)
- Thermometer C°
- Snow saw (minimum 30cm)
- 2 m folding ruler in cm
- Compass
You may also want to consider:
- Down jacket
- Gaiters
- Second Hand watch
- Pocket Knife
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Compass
- Camping equipment if camping
- Snow study kit
- Helmet
- Any other needed personal items
- Snow Saw (30cm)
Backcountry Hut Trip with Avalanche Course
*No cotton – cotton does not wick moisture or insulate when wet.
- Synthetic or wool long underwear (thin)
- Synthetic or wool long sleeve shirt (medium)
- Mid layer top and bottom
- Synthetic or wool socks
- Winter Jacket
- Snow pants
- Warm gloves or mittens
- Hat and neck gaiter or balaclava
- Goggles and or sunglasses
- Probe, shovel, beacon (Apex rents for $10 per day)
- Clinometer (measures slope angle)
- Complete ski, split board or snowshoe equipment, including boots, poles, etc
- Pack (40-70L)
- Sleeping Bag (0-30°) the hut stays warm with woodstoves
- Ground mat (insulation so you can sit on snow)
- Headlamp and batteries
- Water, food, hot liquid
- Notebook (“rite in the rain” recommended) with pen/pencil
- Items you would typically have in your pack on a backcountry trip
You may also want to consider:
- Small day pack
- Hand warmers
- Insulated “Puffy” Jacket
- Gaiters
- Extra gloves
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle insulator
- Pillow
- Gold bond
- Comfy clothes for hut life (can be cotton)
Feel free to contact Apex Mountain School with questions at 888-MTN-SOUL, or use our contact us page.
