Equipment List: Alpine Clinics

Our alpine skills clinics function as active, hands-on mountain classrooms where your technical hardware is utilized continuously throughout the day. This list specifies the comprehensive equipment arrays required to master glacier travel, crevasse extraction, and alpine anchor placement. Pack all specified hardware components to ensure you can fully participate in the systematic mechanical training loops conducted by our guides.

Use this equipment list is for the following Clinics: Steep Snow Climbing, Crevasse Rescue – 1 or 2 day, Glacier Travel, Anchors and Belay, Glacier Ice Climbing, Ski Mountaineering.

You must have all the items on this list when you meet your guide, regardless of season or forecast. Please call us if you have any questions. Your guide will not let you take part in the activity if you don’t have appropriate gear. Please arrive at your meet-time dressed for the activity. There will be time for questions and adjustments. Some technical equipment can be rented from us and requires advanced notice.

There are many brand/model options of clothing and gear. The links below are examples of items that work well.

CLOTHING

• Underwear – Wool or synthetic   Men’s     Woman’s
• Socks – 2 pairs of wool or synthetic socks.  Men’s  Woman’s
• Long Underwear – Wool or synthetic.  Men’s    Woman’s
• T-shirt – Wool or synthetic.  Men’s    Woman’s
• Lightweight Fleece Top (or sun hoody) –  Fleece top  Men’s    Woman’s    Sun hoody  Men’s  Woman’s
• Softshell Top – Men’s     Woman’s
• Hiking/Softshell Pants – Men’s     Woman’s
• Waterproof-breathable Pants – Waterproof, breathable pants without insulation; full-length side-zipper highly recommended for putting on over boots when the weather gets severe. Men’s    Woman’s
• Waterproof-breathable Jacket – Waterproof, breathable jacket without insulation; requires a hood that will fit over a climbing helmet  Men’s    Woman’s
• Insulated Parka – Men’s   Woman’s (Micro-puff jackets are too light for potential conditions.) *This item IS available for rent
• Light-weight Gloves – Men’s    Woman’s
• Medium-weight Gloves – Lightly insulated, waterproof.  Men’s    Women’s
• Heavy-weight Gloves – Insulated, waterproof.    Men’s    Woman’s
• Warm Hat – Wool or synthetic and fits under a helmet.   Unisex
• Neck warmer – Protection from wind, cold and sun. Unisex
• Sun Hat –Light packable ball cap or brimmed hat. Ortovox trucker hat
• Gaiters – For soft, slushy snow conditions. Gaiters can also protect from tripping and/or ripping pants with crampons. (ex: Outdoor Research Mountaineering Gaiters)

PERSONAL GEAR

• Lunch/Snacks – a variety of tasty, high energy foods
• Water Bottles – Two 1-liter bottles required. No bladders allowed for risk of freezing and/or breaking. Nalgene
• Sunglasses or Glacier Glasses – High-quality, dark, large and fit snugly or have side-shields. Julbo Mountain Glasses 
• Ski Goggles – Clear or light in color, in case of blowing snow. Julbo Goggles
• Sun Block – SPF 30 or higher
• Lip Balm – SPF 15 or higher
• Toilet Paper – Just in case! Blue bags will be available at most trailheads.
• Headlamp – Full charge or fresh batteries.  Petzl headlamp
• Personal First Aid Kit – Moleskin, ibuprofen, aspirin, antacids, personal prescriptions, band-aids.

TECHNICAL CLIMBING GEAR – Required for all clinics

• Mountaineering boots – Full-shank, insulated, waterproof mountaineering boots are required for all of our climbs.  Men’s  Woman’s
• Crampons – 10 or 12-point, steel crampons. Aluminum crampons aren’t suitable for typical steep climbing in the Cascades. Petzl Vasak
• Ice Axe – 50 to 65cm long. Petzl Summit Evo
• Climbing Pack – 40-50 liter. Pack must have ice axe loops. Ortovox Peak 45
• Trekking Poles with Snow Baskets – Trekking poles save energy on the way up and your knees on the descent. Black Diamond Poles
• Climbing Harness – Alpine-style Petzl Altitude (no charge for harness rental)
• Climbing Helmet – Edelrid Zodiac (no charge for harness rental)

Technical Gear – Specific clinics

Crevasse Rescue and/or Glacier Travel Clinic, add the following

• Sewn prussic loop x2 – Sterling Autoblock
• 20 ft length of 6 – 7 mm climbing specific cord – This can be purchased at a climbing shop
• 4-5 locking carabiners – Petzl Attache
• 4 non-locking carabiners – Petzl Spirit
• Platquette style belay device – Petzl Reverso
• 48in/120cm sewn sling – Petzl Sling

Recommended equipment (not required) 

• Progress capture pulley – Petzl Micro Traxion
• Toothed rope grabber – Petzl Tibloc

Anchors and Belay Clinic, add the following

• 48in/120cm sewn sling – Petzl Sling
• Belay device – Petzl Reverso