1. Basic Gear Dave Andersen MITOC Winterschool 2002 8 January 2002

2. Basic Gear Packs Stoves Lighting Little bits: Knife, spoon, duct tape Map, Compass and Whistle Emergency Bits

3. Packs: Types Daypacks –Short trips, minimal waistbelt External-frame –Not for winter --- too unwieldy Internal-frame –Winter favorite Daypacks, I-frames for rent

4. Packs: Theory Hipbelt takes most of weight Shoulders mostly stabilize Constantly adjust straps to keep fit as load changes

5. Packs: Packing Bottom --- light (sleeping bag) High, close to back --- heaviest (water, food, fuel) High, far --- midweight (stove, clothing) Frequently used items in pockets to avoid opening main pack

6. Stoves: Use Melting snow --- put water in pot to avoid scorching Boiling water Fancier foods

7. Stoves: Types Butane, Butane/Propane, Isobutane –Pressurized gas canisters –Very easy to use –Poor performance in cold weather White gas –Liquid fuel turned to gas just before burner –More difficult to use –Winter favorite

8. Lighting: Flashlights C, D-cell flashlights too big! AA flashlights useful, but need a hand free… Headlamps! LED or Halogen Lithium batteries better in cold (More on batteries later in WS)

9. Lighting: Headlamps Halogen: bright (2 hours on 2 AA) Xenon: long-lasting (8 hours on 2 AA) LED (new): absurdly long-lasting (100 hours on 2 AA) Separate battery packs can be kept inside clothing

10. Navigation Necessities: Map –Each person carries one in a waterproof bag Compass –$10 compass is plenty Whistle –Plastic (sold during office hours)

11. Handy necessities Swiss army knife / leatherman Space blanket Waterproof matches Iodine Duct Tape (on water bottle, easy)