Gear Lists

All items listed should be acquired prior to the outing it is needed. If you have any questions about specific gear, please contact skagitbmcinstructors@gmail.com. For those items listed for the 8 week course as "can be shared" these do not need to be purchased before the course starts if others in the group already have them.

8 Week Basic Mountaineering Course

  • 3-4 regular carabiners
  • 3 locking carabiners
  • Baselayer top and bottom
  • Belay gloves (or leather gardening gloves)
  • Belay/Rappel device (ATC recommended)
  • Blue bags
  • Climbing Helmet
  • Climbing shoes
  • Crampons
  • Dark Sunglasses (Glacier glasses recommended)
  • Foam Pad
  • Gaiters
  • Good synthetic or wool socks
  • Hand sanitizer and Mask (as needed)
  • Head lamp & extra batteries
  • Hiking boots or Approach shoes
  • Hiking pants
  • Ice Axe
  • Insulating synthetic or down jacket
  • Leather or synthetic mountaineering boots. Plastic boots are also an option.
  • Lighter or waterproof matches
  • Navigation (map & compass or GPS)
  • Nut Tool (recommended but not required)
  • Overnight pack (60-65L is recommended)
  • Personal first aid kit -- the class carries large group kits on every outing, but you will want your own small collection of simple first aid supplies
  • Rescue pulley
  • Shovel -- one collapsible avalanche shovel – can be shared with other students
  • Sleeping Bag (recommended temperature rating depends on preference, 20F-0F is common)-
  • Sleeping pad, 4+ R-value for sleeping on snow recommended
  • Stove, cookware, spoon – can be shared with other students
  • Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm)
  • Tent - 3 season, 1-2 person recommended. – can be shared with other students
  • Trekking poles- (recommended but not required)
  • Water bottles or hydration system (2-4L capacity)
  • Water-proof mittens or gloves, synthetic over-mitts are an option too
  • Waterproof Pants
  • Waterproof rain jacket
  • Well-fitting harness (rock or alpine)
  • Wool or synthetic cap