Equipment List for Winter Backpacking

by Russ Laher March 26, 2001

Winter backpacking can be dangerous and it is safer to go with at least one other person. All members of the group should be trustworthy, mutually compatible, and more committed to the survival of the group rather than to personally reaching the planned destination. It is also better that they all have similar standards of hygiene.

The checklist provided below should be scanned just prior to embarking on your backpacking trip. This habit will minimize the number of forgotten items and disappointments.

Depending on the location of the trip and time of year, some of the listed items may be inappropriate. For example, you probably don't need crampons unless your hike takes you over ice fields or icy compacted-snow slopes. Overboots and vapor-barrier-liner socks are needed only for extremely cold conditions (less than 0 degrees F. with wind chill included).

Finally, this checklist does not include the additional equiment needed for glacier travel or technical climbing.

Clothing

As a general rule, do not take any clothing made of cotton (with the exception of a bandana).

Outer Layer
- Gaiters
- Gortex mitten shells
- Plastic hiking boots
- Overboots
- Fleece stocking cap
- Insulated pants (fleece or preferably Polarguard 3D with nylon shell)
- Detachable, general-purpose suspenders
- Down jacket or parka, depending on conditions
- Gortex shell pants and jacket if insulated pants and down jacket or parka are not water resistant
- Rain poncho (depending on area)
- Thin, insulated, waterproof gloves for camp chores
- Ski goggles
- Dark sunglasses
- Sun hat
Inner Layer
- Polyester briefs
- Long polyester underwear (top and bottom; middle or expedition weight)
- Thin polyester gloves
- Polyester liner socks
- Vapor-barrier-liner socks
Middle Layer
- Fleece jacket or pull-over
- Polyester loose stretch pants
- Single or double insulated mitten liners
- Heavy wool socks
Miscellaneous
- Bandana
- Balaclava (liner or mid-weight)
- Fleece neck gaiter

Personal Equipment

Large backpack with frame (6000+ cu in.)
Sleeping bag & waterproof stuff sack
Fleece sleeping-bag liner
Foam pad
Air mattress
Larger pan for melting snow
Smaller pan for cooking
Insulated cup
Metal spoon (for sturdiness; warm before putting in mouth -- reminds me of a childhood incident where I bloodied my tongue peeling it off a frozen handrail!)
Liquid dish soap (for handwashing, dishwashing, etc.)
Sponge
Headlamp with fresh battery
Ice axe
Crampons
Snow shoes
Snow-shoe poles
Nylon belt/straps for attaching equipment to backpack
Large plastic bag (to cover backpack at night)
Gallon-size ziploc bag for garbage
First-aid kit (bandaids, Neosporin salve, gauze pads, tape, ibuprofin, antacid tablets, super glue for closing lacerations)
Swiss army knife with scissors (Super champ preferred)
Camera, film and fresh battery
Book for past-time reading
Small notebook and pencil for note-taking
Pocket star chart or planisphere (there's nothing more pathetic than having a college education and not knowing a few constellations aside from the Big Dipper, especially if your major was astronomy; study the star chart beforehand and bedazzle your companions with your brilliance! Check out the pocket finder at www.cepheus.com)
Needle compass
Topographic map
Zipper thermometer
Suunto altimeter/barometer/thermometer/compass watch
Waterproof matches
Fire starter
Space blanket
1.5-liter, wide-mouth, plastic water bottle
1-liter, wide-mouth, plastic water bottle with insulated cover & belt clip
Quarter-size bandana for filtering crud from melted snow or stream water (should be slightly larger than mouth of water bottle)

If cooked food is to be shared, then it is appropriate to bring a personal bowl (which is more useful than a plate). Otherwise, save the weight and eat right out of the pan.

The cooking pans can be made of either stainless steel or lighter, teflon-coated aluminum. Be careful when spooning food out of the latter, so as to extend the life of the non-stick coating. Consider carrying a small plastic spatula, which should be easier on the coating, that is, if you can afford the extra weight. Experience shows that the coating will become scratched even when treated with care.

Toiletries

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Comb
Toilet paper
Sanitary napkins
Sun block (SPF 50 or greater)
Lip balm

Group Equipment

Tent
Shovel for digging emergency snow cave, leveling tent area, etc.
Snow saw for igloo-building
White gas stove
Adequate supply of white gas
Small balsa-wood board to serve as stove platform
25-ft. nylon cord

Food

The amount of food to take obviously depends on the length of the trip and the number of group members. The food list given below will hopefully provide good ideas for camp cuisine.

Planning, bringing, and preparing the right foods should be high on your priority list. This is especially true for high-alitude trips, where your appetite, if you're like most people, will be naturally diminished by the effects of altitude. The February 2001 issue of Backpacker magazine has good ideas for meal-planning, including recipes. Variety is a key consideration for your eating enjoyment on the trail.

Combine soup mix to rice, noodles, or flake potatoes to spice them up. When canned meat is also added, you end up with a complete meal. Test your own recipes out at home prior to using them in the field.

Mixed nuts
Peanut butter
Raisins, dried fruit, etc.
Flake potatoes
Cooked, dried beans (oven-dry 'em yourself)
Instant noodles (throw away MSG packet, and use your own non-MSG seasonings)
Trader Joes' dried-tomato & parmesan-cheese seasoning
Trader Joes' onion soup mix
Trader Joes' Japanese miso soup mix
Trader Joes' pasta seasoning
Trader Joes' cup 'o soups (contain no MSG)
Wild Oats' corn pasta
Instant oatmeal
Powdered milk
Instant Rice
Corn meal
Canned chicken
Soy protein
Eggs
Cheese
Bread, rolls, pita bread, tortillas, etc.
Apples
Chocolate and hard candy
Pretzels, corn chips, crakers, etc.
Jerky
Salt, black pepper, spices (cumin, corriander, cayenne pepper, etc.)
Olive oil
Butter
Daily multi-vitamins for long trips

Cheese is an excellent high-calorie, nutritious, compact food source. It should be in every trip's pantry.

A variety of food products sold by Trader Joes are listed. These items have no MSG or preservatives, and are generally good tasting.

Remember to load up on carbohydrates and sugars for breakfast and lunch. That'll keep you energized throughout the day when you're most active. Save the bacon and eggs (protein and oils) for dinner, so you'll have all night to digest these more complex foods!