winter mountain courses

winter climbing kit list

What do I need?

Personal Clothing To Wear on the hill

• Thermal base layer with good wicking quality– not cotton – top & bottoms
• Polyester, fleece or woollen trousers and tops
• Stiff climbing boots (leather or plastic)- you need at least a ¾ shank
• Gaiters
• Preferably two pairs of thicker hill socks – not nylon or thin socks.
• Hat – to cover the ears,  waterproof gloves and scarf or neck gaiter plus spares
• Heavy-duty waterproof jacket and trousers with side zips – to get on / off over boots & crampons.

Personal Items of Gear and Spares to carry

• Map (OS sheet 41) in a waterproof case &  compass
• Torch, preferably a head torch
• Spare fleece or warm woollen top
• Spare hat / scarf, gloves / waterproof gloves.
• Flask or water bottle
• Lunch plus spare food
• Emergency survival bag (6’ by 3’ orange poly bag)
• Rucksack (45 - 50ltrs) and liner
• Whistle, Sunglasses and sun-cream
• Ski goggles

Who supplies what & where can I get it?

Group Items Supplied By Snowgoose Mountain Centre

All Technical Gear

• Harness with adjustable leg loops and helmet
• Belay plate and big screw-gate carabiner
• All other technical climbing hardware
• Ropes, dead “persons”, belay equipment
• Guide books
• Maps
• First aid kit
• Group Shelter

Items of Technical Equipment not provided by Snowgoose Mountain Centre

All of these items plus lots of odds & ends can be hired from our well equipped stores.

• Winter Boots which must be stiff enough to take crampons with at the very least a ¾ shank or full winter plastic boots
• Walking or Technical ice axes
• Crampons

Please do not go out and by expensive winter equipment just to come on a course with us! Unless you are sure that this is the sport for you. Beg, borrow or ...

Or you can hire from us in the meantime; take some advice from a reputable outdoor supplier or us; try out different gear with us; if you are new to the sport take a look on e-bay or in charity shops – you will be surprised what you can find there. When you are sure this is for you then go out and spend hundreds of pounds of your well earned cash.