Gear List

A general mountaineering ice axe. Too short is always better than too long. Size according to height; under 5'2'' use a 50cm axe, 5'3'' to 5'7'' use a 55cm axe, 5'8'' to 5'11'' use a 60cm axe, 6'0'' to 6'2'' use a 65cm axe, above 6'3'' use a 70cm axe. If you already have and prefer to use a waist leash, you are welcome to bring it to your gear check.

40 feet of 6mm accessory cord to be used for prussiking and other climbing rigging. Bring pre-tied prussiks if you already have them, or bring one continuous length to be cut.

General mountaineering crampons. We recommend modern steel 12-point crampons with anti-balling plates. 10-point, aluminum, or single-piece ridgid crampons are not recommended.

A fully adjustable alpine climbing harness with gear loops. Fully separating leg loops & waistbelt are required. Bring two locking carabiners in addition to the harness, which will be used only with the harness.

Four non-locking, lightweight D-shaped carabiners. Wiregates are recommended over standard gates.

Two screw-lock carabiners, ideally with large openings for easy manipulation while wearing gloves. Must be rated for climbing.

Collapsible skiing/trekking poles with snow baskets. Three-section varieties are preferred.

One right or left-handed ascender (pick your dominant hand to choose which style ascender). This item must be in good condition.

3 pairs of medium to heavy hiking socks. These must fit over your liner socks if you plan to wear liner socks.

Full-sized waterproof gaiters that must fit snugly over your mountaineering boots. Short trekking gaiters do not offer sufficient protection.

A double boot with either a hard plastic or soft synthetic outer designed for use with a high-altitude liner. Not necessary if using a high-altitude all-in-one boot system.

Below the knee length neoprene overboot. Should fit tightly over your boots and work well with your crampons. Necessary when using a high-altitude double-boot system. Not necessary for use with a high-altitude all-in-one boot system.

Used instead of the high-altitude double-boot, this all-in-one integrated boot system is warm enough for use without overboots, and eliminates the need for gaiters.

Synthetic or down camp booties for comfortable wear around camp.

Two to three pairs based on personal preference. Synthetic or wool fabrics only; bring a comfortable athletic style for any top and bottom underwear.

Non-cotton baselayer bottoms that should fit snugly without constriction.

Heavy, expedition-weight baselayer bottoms designed to be used while climbing in very cold conditions. Fabrics such as Polartec Power Stretch, Capilene 4, and Polartec Power Dry will work well.

One to two long-sleeved baselayer tops. Baselayers must be constructed of a non-cotton material such as merino wool or polyester. Note that many guides prefer light-colored, hooded baselayers for sun protection.

A mid-weight, form-fitting, lightweight fleece layer for use over baselayers or as a baselayer in cold conditions. Hoods are optional but recommended.

Stretchy, comfortable, non-insulated softshell pants which should fit comfortably with or without your baselayer bottoms. Please note that "zip-off"-style trekking pants are too light to be considered softshell pants.

This breathable but wind-and-weather resistant jacket is a key part of a mountaineering layering system. We recommend a hooded model. This layer must fit well over your midlayer top and baselayer top.

A non-insulated, fully waterproof shell jacket with a hood. We recommend durable 3-layer fabric. Goretex Pro Shell or a similar eVent fabric will offer the most durability and long-term weather protection. This layer must fit comfortably over your baselayer, midlayer, softshell, and potentially a lightweight insulated layer. Helmet-compatible hoods are required.

We recommend a lightweight insulated jacket to serve either as a layering piece or as stand-alone insulation when appropriate. This may be filled with down or synthetic insulation.

An 8000-meter rated, expedition ready parka. This parka must be in excellent condition, fully baffled, and should be brought recently cleaned with Nikwax Down Wash to ensure maximum loft.

A synthetic insulated pant with full-length separating side zips. Ski pants are typically not appropriate for this layer.

Very lightweight wool or synthetic liner gloves that offer a snug, comfortable fit. Lighter colors absorb less sunlight while still offering UV protection. Black or dark-color gloves are also acceptable.

Midweight, lightly insulated gloves for use when mittens are too warm and liner gloves are not warm enough. Leather-palm construction is always ideal for the sake of durability.

One pair of warm shell gloves with insulated removable liners. Excellent for use when conditions are too cold for softshell gloves, but too warm for expedition mittens.

Expedition-rated mittens with an insulated removeable liner. Please be sure this mitten is the warmest model available by any manufacturer.

A must-have for all outdoor activities, the UV Buff is a versatile replacement for the bandana and serves a multitude of purposes.

Any style of lightweight hat for shading the head will work well. Baseball caps and sombrero-style sun hats are the most common.

Two full balaclavas, one heavyweight and one lightweight, that will comfortably layer together. These items are not replaced by a Buff.

A non-cotton wool or synthetic hat that covers the head and ears comfortably.

Neoprene models are recommended; be sure your facemask is sized well to your face. Balaclavas with built-in facemasks will also work well.

High-quality glacier glasses offering full coverage around both eyes and across the nose. Removeable side-shields are not required provided eye coverage is sufficient.

High-quality goggles for sun and wind protection at altitude. The lens should offer visible light transmission (VLT) of no more than 30%. Those with light-sensitive eyes may wish to use a darker lens. Photochromatic models are ideal for use in changing conditions. See here for more.

Nose guards are optional, but can be useful for those with extra-sensitive noses in lieu of constant sunscreen application.

An expandable expedition climbing backpack with approximately 75-liters of carrying capacity. Keep it simple and lightweight. Climbing-specific designs are recommended.

This sleeping bag should be appropriately rated to -40 degrees. Down bags are a must- synthetic bags are overly bulky and heavy when rated below 0-degrees.

A full-length, modern inflatable sleeping pad is recommended. Older-style three-quarter length pads have been superseded by ultralight full-length pads. We recommend bringing a valve repair/body patch kit.

This pad should be either 3/4 or body length. Cut pieces of closed cell foam or industrially-crafted pads are both acceptable.

(Two to three 1 litre capacity bottles) Bottles should be wide mouth made of copolyester (BPA free plastic). No water bag or bladder systems, they freeze or are hard to fill and no metal bottles as lips have a tendency to stick.

One insulated outdoor-style mug with a removable lid. Your mug should retain heat well and be spill resistant. 12-20 ounce models are acceptable.

Medium size. Keep it simple and light.

One wide-mouth, clearly marked collapsible container or wide-mouthed bottle for use overnight.

One durable hard plastic or anodized metal spoon. Longer spoon stems can be helpful for eating while wearing gloves.

Two total. Fully insulated with zip opening. Neoprene 'cozy' style does not provided enough insulation and is not recommended.

Optional. Practice is critical for the use of this item.

One two-cup capacity packable bowl. Models with a lid (like a Tupperware) work well, as do lidless bowls and flatter "deep plate" models. Collapsible models can suffice, but must be handled very carefully to avoid unintended collapsing.

Three bags for use as waterproof pack/stuff sack liners. Compactor bags are made from a heavy plastic and stand up well to prolonged mountain use.

Optional. Small point-and-shoot cameras (including compact SLR's) are ideal & work well at altitude. Alternatively, many opt to use a smartphone camera. Due to weight & care in the mountain environment, large dSLR cameras are discouraged.

Include toilet paper (one roll stored in a plastic bag), hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and some wet wipes if desired.

Several 1-2 ounce tubes of SPF 30+ sunscreen. Zinc-oxide added versions are preferred. One ounce is typically sufficient per week, but several tubes . Sunscreen loses SPF rating over time; we strongly recommend brand-new sunscreen.

Several tubes of SPF 30+ lipscreen. As with sunscreen, be sure your lipscreen is new. Recommended: Aloe Gator Medicated 30 SPF Lip Balm.

An approximately 150-liter expedition-ready duffel bag used to transport all gear.

Basic medical supplies in a compact package- we recommend basic painkillers, Moleskin, first-aid tape, Band-Aids, and anti-septic wipes or gel.

Bring any personal prescriptions, plus Pepto Bismol, Cipro (500mg tablets), Metronidazole, Z-Paks (250mg tablets), Diamox (125mg tablets, approx. 2 per day at altitude), and a variety of standard painkillers like Excedrin Extra Strength, Ibuprofen, etc.

Many alcohol-based hand cleaners will work well. Bring a small amount appropriate to the trip duration.

Bring 3 sets of each. Please note that toe warmers are different than hand warmers. They are formulated to work in a lower oxygen environment, like the inside of a boot, they also burn out more quickly.

Please review the food and water information available in your Climber Information Packet. A close reading of this information is important towards a smooth trip. We recommend taking plenty of time consider this information. Please contact the Gear Department with any food-related questions.

Clean 'town' clothing is recommend for use traveling as well as pre-and-post trip. We recommend bringing a comfortable variety of clothing for peace of mind, including some t-shirts.