Winter Camping
BASICS
backpack
sleeping bag and stuffsack
sleeping pad
headlamp and batteries, plus spare batteries
waterproof matches
knife or multi-purpose tool
compass
map of area being traveled
whistle
2 1-quart water bottles, or 2+ liter water bladder
first aid kit
2 large garbage bags
several zip-lock bags, 1 quart
tent, tent poles, stakes - share with tent buddy (usually supplied by troop)
ground cloth - share with tent buddy
pillow - small backpacker type (optional)
rope, nylon, 25+ ft (used for bear-bagging, usually supplied by troop)
EATING
plastic or metal drinking cup
plastic or metal eating bowl
durable plastic or metal spoon
personal food (trail mix, dried fruit, jerky, etc)
bear bag - big enough for all your "smellables"
CLOTHING (besides what you wear at any time)
fleece jacket, sweater or sweatshirt (polypropylene)
2 pair socks (wool or equivalent - NO COTTON)
2 pair sock liners (polypropylene - NO COTTON)
2 pair underwear
1 pair pants
2 undershirts (capilene/polypropylene shirt)
knit cap for warmth
mitten liners
mittens
mitten shells
thermal underwear, tops and bottoms (polypropylene)
gaitors
bandana
PERSONAL GEAR
camper’s soap (biodegradable, very small plastic bottle)
toothpaste (small tube)
toothbrush
toilet paper (with duct tape around and core removed, pack in zip-lock bag)
sanitary wipes
light-weight towel
wash cloth
plastic trowel to dig 6" to 8" cat-hole (pack in zip-lock bag)
suntan lotion
hand lotion (skin dries out fast in mountains and snow)
chapstick
insect repellant
sewing kit
notebook and pencil
"Polar Pure" water treatment (usually supplied by troop)
boot laces - 1 spare set
goggles and/or sunglasses
shovel
ice ax (depends on activity)
crampons (depends on activity)
cross country ski with skins (depends on activity)
snow shoes (depends on activity)
camera, disposable (optional)
WHAT YOU WEAR - Varies with weather
hiking boots - well fitted, good support, broken in, waterproof
socks - wool or equivalent (NO COTTON)
sock liners - Polypropylene (NO COTTON)
underpants
long pants
undershirt (polypropylene or polyester or equivalent)
long johns, tops and bottoms (polypropylene)
pile pants
waterproof pants/ski bibs
warm shirt/fleece
waterproof jacket/shell
knit hat
class "A" scout shirt for drive to and from - leave in car during hike
NOTES:
Getting your footwear right is very important. Good, well-sized, broken-in boots with polypropylene sock liners and wool outer socks makes hiking very pleasant. Sore feet and blisters can ruin a trip and may require evacuation.
Keeping you and the contents of your pack dry is another key element in having a great time on a trip.
Use zip-lock plastic bags to pack clothes in (keeps them waterproof)
Use sandwich size zip-lock bags to pack loose items, matches, etc
The clothing listed is designed to be worn in layers. As it gets cold or damp, more layers to go. As it warms up, more layers come off.
No electronic devices are allowed on trips (No cell phones, No music pods, No tablets, No game players, etc)
* OK for drive to and from. Must be left in car. Driver is not responsible for items."Light weight" and "non-breakable" are good words to describe all pack items.
Put name on personal items
Everything, and I mean everything, that gets packed in gets packed out. Leave no trace is more than a motto.