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Winter Mountaineering Course Equipment

Equipment considerations: There is a grey area that exists in terms of how much stuff to bring. One thing to consider is that you will not only carry all of your personal equipment, but also group food, group camping and climbing equipment. The goal is to bring only what you absolutely need to keep yourself warm , dry and fed in adverse weather conditions. Try to trim the weight down by eliminating the extra gadgets and do-dads.

The quality of the gear you bring can either enhance or detract from your experience. Unfortunately cost and quality often go hand in hand, but not always. There is a big difference between inexpensive and cheap equipment. The weather in the high mountains can be warm and balmy one minute and sub-freezing the next, even in mid-summer. Therefore, the equipment and clothing you bring needs to be of sufficient quality to keep you dry and warm as well as durable enough to last through some hard use. Needless to say, your equipment should be tested through use prior to departing on an extended climbing trip.

General sporting goods stores often sell cheap equipment that is adequate for backyard use or camping close to the car only. Good mountaineering stores will have a variety of equipment and clothing available to fit your budget. Also, the store you shop at should have a staff that has used the gear enough to know what works and what doesn't. If you live in a area that doesn't have a good mountaineering store, Southwest Adventures operates out of a well equipped store in Durango. If you are going to take one of our shorter courses ( 3 days) you may want to rent some of the equipment instead of purchasing it

Clothing considerations: The best clothing to bring is that made of synthetic materials such as pile or fleece. These will keep you warm even when they're wet, will wick away moisture and dry quickly . DO NOT bring cotton clothing unless it is just a t-shirt or sun hat. Cotton has no insulating properties and takes forever to dry if it gets wet. We will teach you how to use a layering system that allows for easy temperature control with a minimum amount of clothing. If you have questions you can call Southwest Adventures at 1-800-642-5389 or Backcountry Experience at 1-800-648-8519.

Health and fitness: Venturing into the high country demands a certain level of physical fitness. All of our courses entail a certain amount of walking, hiking, climbing in what might be stressful conditions for some. Furthermore, the elevations will almost always be over 9,000 feet above sea level. The better physical condition that you are in the more enjoyable the experience will be. Train before you come. Running and biking a few times a week starting at least three weeks before the course will help. Get a physical check up well in advance and get your doctors opinion of your physical condition.

Reading List: Mountaineering - Freedom of the Hills, Peggy Ferber. ed

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For questions or information please email or call (800) 642-5389