What to bring on winter
weekends
Club members are responsible
for their own safety in the hills and they should carry equipment
appropriate to the level of activity they intend to engage in. The key
to keeping warm is layering: with a good wicking base layer and a top
layer that breathes as it repels the rain. The MCofS has an
extremely good
page which explains the criteria
for selecting basic equipment to keep you warm and dry on the hill.
Everyone has different requirements and ESTC does not claim to be the
leaders of fashion; but experience has shown that the following is a
useful basic checklist.
General
- 30/40 litre
rucksack (preferable with straps to allow attachment of skis
for walking in and out)
- Whistle, compass (e.g. Silva
4), bivvi bag, space blanket, emergency shelter (GPS and mobile phones
are matters of personal choice)
- Basic first aid kit
- Head torch/torch
- Sun/wind protection
including goggles or glasses
- Thermos/drinks bottle
- Food for lunches on the
hills and emergency rations
- 2 Fleeces
- Waterproof/windproof jacket
(Goretex or similar)
- Waterproof trousers
- Thermal underwear for base
layer (tights, vest,
etc)
- Socks
- Walking boots/shoes
- Hat and gloves (including
spares)
- Dry change of wear for
evenings
- Towel
- Personal toiletries
- Sleeping bag/sheet sleeping
bag (quality of provision varies between huts)
- Bags to keep spare gear dry
- Maps
Ski Equipment
See ski equipment
page
for discussion of skis, etc.
The club has
skis, boots and poles for hire. See hire
details.
- Set of Nordic skis with
metal edges
- Ski poles with Nordic baskets
- Ski boots
- Gaiters
- Waxes and skins (unless you
have fishscale skis)
- Ice axe and crampons (these
are not usually used by beginners)
- Basic repair kit and scraper
- Ski ties and ski bag
Weekend Bunkhouse Extras
- Personal breakfast
ingredients (cereal, bread, tea, etc)
- Any evening meal
responsibilities allocated by weekend co-ordinator. You will be
reimbursed costs as part of the reckoning up
of contributions done on Saturday evenings on weekends.
Backpacking Extras
- Larger 50-75 litre Rucksack
- Tent (shareable)
- 3 or 4 season sleeping bag
- Thermorest/sleeping mat
- Candle(s)
- Stove (shareable)
- Stove
- Fuel (shareable)
- Lightweight camp food
(shareable)
- Lightweight cook pot(s)
(shareable)
- Water container
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