Having the right gear makes all the difference in your experience, check out our packing lists below.
Being properly prepared for your trip is essential to having an enjoyable experience. Please select the gear list that best matches your program and review each item carefully. Our goal is to ensure you are ready for your outdoor adventure.
Below is a list of items you will be responsible for bringing while climbing with the EMS Climbing School.
Being properly dressed is essential to enjoying your outdoor adventures.
EMS will provide all climbers with rock shoes, harnesses, helmets, chalk bags, and climbing hardware for the day at no extra charge.
Loose fitting, quick dry pants or shorts. Shorts should be mid thigh. Please dress appropriately for the day’s weather.
Please avoid cotton on colder days, especially in the spring and fall. Unlike cotton (that gets wet and stays wet), wicking fabrics will help regulate your temperature as you sweat.
Lightweight waterproof/breathable jacket with a hood. You may not need it… but if you do, you’ll be glad you brought it.
Spring and fall temperatures can be chilly, especially in the mountains. Keep an eye on the forecast. If temperatures are expected to be in the 50s F or below by mid-day, we recommend packing a fleece jacket.
You will be at the cliff for almost the entire day, so please pack a lunch and plenty of snacks for each person in your group. PB&J, bagels, trail mix, jerky, and granola bars are good options. Avoid soft fruits (like bananas), as they don’t pack well. Tip: pack your food in hard containers, so it doesn’t get crushed in your pack.
2 Nalgene-sized bottles per person (64 oz)
The equipment we choose to utilize in the winter can make all the difference in the success of our day. The standard winter kit below will serve as the starting point for all of our winter trips. Certain courses may require additional equipment (see other gear lists). Also, customization for the day’s weather and individual preferences may be needed. Please contact us if you have any specific questions about your needs.
EMS will provide Plastic mountaineering boots, crampons, mountaineering axe, ice tools, harness, helmet, climbing hardware, and ropes. for the day at no extra charge.
You’ve probably heard that most of your body heat escapes from your head. When you’re feeling cold, the first piece to add to your clothing system is a hat. This should cover your ears and can be made of fleece or merino wool. Remember to fit the hat so you can wear it under a helmet.
When the temperatures drop and the wind picks up, the skin on your face becomes very vulnerable to frost-nip, and even worse, frostbite. Wearing a balaclava adds protection and warmth to your clothing system. NOTE: BALACLAVA DOES NOT REPLACE A NEOPRENE FACE MASK.
Glove liners are very useful for the more aerobic approach to your climb.
We recommend having at least 2 pairs of gloves or mittens. Insulated gloves, like ski gloves, with a windproof/waterproof shell are a must for higher elevations and more technical climbing. Mittens with a windproof/waterproof shell are essential for those colder temperatures at higher elevations. NOTE: Even when using waterproof gloves/mittens, with enough time and pressure your hands will eventually get wet!!! You will want extras to keep those hands dry and toasty.
Keeping your feet dry and pants free of holes is important. Wearing gaiters adds a great level of protection to achieve this. They keep dirt and debris, and most importantly snow, out of your boots. Crampons are sharp and can easily poke holes in your pants letting in the elements – gaiters are made with a very durable material to protect against such rips.
There’s no way around it — you sweat. Wear fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin. Unlike 100% cotton that gets wet and stays wet, wicking fabrics help you regulate your core temperature and avoid overheating or chilling. Great examples of winter base layers include merino wool layers and EMS® Techwick® Lightweight and Midweight polyester (which wicks, packs, wears, and washes like nothing else). Both top and bottom are needed. Light to midweight merino wool or synthetics, with a snug fit and close to skin.
Mid-layers add insulation to help retain heat that your body creates and are worn between the base layer and outer jacket. Examples of insulating mid-layers include a fleece jacket or a synthetic jacket made of PrimaLoft® or Thermore®. Jacket only. 200-300 weight fleece, heavyweight soft shell, or lightweight synthetic jacket.
Forget about bulky coats. Wear an outer shell (over your base and insulation layers) to shed water and snow. Layering will give you more versatility, depending on the weather and your activity. Outerwear that is waterproof with increased breathability will be more adaptable and can help transfer moisture away from your body to keep you dry and protected from the elements. Both jacket and pants are needed. EMS System Three®, Gortex®, or similar waterproof/breathable material. Jacket MUST have an integrated hood. Flimsy “stow-away” nylon hoods are not adequate. Full side-zip on pants are very helpful.
*Soft shell pants and jacket can be very appropriate on days when we are not expecting heavy snow or wet weather. They provide wind and water protection while still allowing you to breath.
This crucial layer is often added when you stop for a break. It helps to maintain your body temperature while you are resting and is essential for keeping you warm on those cold descents and during inconvenient breaks above tree line in high winds. This layer is generally worn over your outermost layers — yes, even over your Gore-Tex® or System Three® jacket.
EMS will provide all climbers with appropriate plastic winter mountaineering boots. Boot sizes range from women’s 5-men’s 16. If you have a larger or smaller foot, please let us know before you arrive.
Sneakers or trail shoes. No open-toed sandals or heavy hiking boots.
Fuel your body. In the mountains, lunch starts when breakfast ends and ends when dinner starts. In other words, we eat all day. A typical climber or skier will consume about 3,500 calories during the course of a day. Pack foods that don’t freeze hard, cover all the food groups, and are easy to eat. Pre-make peanut butter sandwiches or bring last night’s pizza and those oh-so delicious candy bars. Carry your bars inside your jacket to keep them warm and gooey.
2 Nalgene-sized bottles per person (64 oz)
2,000-3,000 cubic inches or about 30-50 liters is recommended with a max 20lb load. A properly fitted pack will make your day 100 times better!!! It is essential to have a backpack which has a comfortable hip belt to help support the bulk of the weight. Use a backpack large enough to stow all of your gear on the inside without having to strap any of your personal gear on the outside where it is exposed to the elements. Also, make sure your backpack has ice axe loops you can use to carry your mountaineering axe when you are not using it and side compression straps to cinch the load close to you. Tip: Pack your backpack with your gear before you arrive and make sure you still have enough room to stow your puffy jacket, hardshell jacket, and extra warm layers for the initial hike in. This will save an enormous amount of time in the morning.
Staying hydrated is very important. Having a bottle that keeps your water from freezing is equally as important. A double-wall insulated bottle does the job great. Wide-mouth water bottles are recommended for winter. 2+ liters of water is a minimum to keep you hydrated during the day. Please do not use hydration systems, single-wall metal water bottles, or thin plastic. All of these systems freeze easily, making the water unavailable to you. Before coming to the school, please consume ¾ to a liter of water. This will ensure you are starting your day well hydrated.
If you aren’t willing to spend the money for a double-wall vacuum sealed water bottle, this is the cheaper option to keep your water hot or from freezing. Water bottle parkas will slide over your Nalgene bottle and keep your water insulated. A thick sock works just as well to keep those liquids in liquid form.
Our guides carry first aid kits with them, but you can make/bring your own tailored to your needs and let us know if you use inhalers, EpiPens, etc.
The equipment listed below is required in addition to our Standard Winter Kit above. This equipment is needed for the following programs: Mt Washington Ascent, Observatory Overnighter, 3-Day Accelerated Mountaineering course, and any private trip that involves above tree line travel.
You will need one additional pair.
You should have a total of 3 or more pairs of gloves or mittens. Insulated gloves, like ski gloves, with a windproof/waterproof shell are a must for higher elevations and more technical climbing. Mittens with a windproof/waterproof shell are essential for those colder temperatures at higher elevations.
This face mask must be made of neoprene (wetsuit material). Neoprene provides a snug-to-your-face fit and, if adjusted well, will prevent frostbite. This face mask can be incorporated into your buff or balaclava, but we recommend purchasing just the face mask in order to maintain maximum layering flexibility.
Goggles are an essential component of any mountaineering endeavor. They cover your eyes and the upper part of your face to shield you from high winds, frostbiting cold temperatures, and damaging UV rays on both sunny and cloudy days. However, they are hard to manage while hiking uphill and breathing heavily. Your breath often freezes on the inside of the lens (mostly because you are breathing through your neoprene face mask and your breath is forced up through your goggles) and is nearly impossible to prevent and clear off once this has happened. This is why we recommend 2 pairs (maybe one new pair and one old pair as a spare). We have had to turn around on Mt. Washington because of this situation, as our climbers simply couldn’t see and they needed their eyes and face protected from the cold and wind.
This is another crucial item for any mountaineering trip. Mother Nature doesn’t always provide us with light, so we bring our own. Carry an LED headlamp with extra batteries (lithium is recommended) for when She decides to flip the switch. If you are caught in the dark, getting back to your car can take 3-4 times as long without light.ite a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
1) When packing clothing for your outing, do not pack any more clothing than you can wear at once. If we empty your pack and you can’t wear all your clothes because you packed too many layers, you will need to eliminate some clothes.
2) If you are doing a multi-day program, remember all this gear needs to be worn for multiple days. If it will not dry over night, please bring extra for the following day(s). Although we have tricks for drying your synthetic long underwear in the tent, it’s nice to have a spare set of “next to skin” layers and socks to wear while your other clothes are drying.
3) If you need help determining which layers to wear, bring more rather than less, and ask us to help you pack. Drop us an e-mail or call with questions. Remember we are out there every day.
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Clothing is an important part of your paddling experience, as it will provide you with the warmth and comfort you need to enjoy your day. Cotton should be avoided as part of your layering system as it often remains cold and wet and it takes a long time to dry out. Synthetic fabrics or wool keep you warmer when they become wet with sweat/water and certain synthetic base layers are designed to wick the sweat away from your skin to keep you drier and warmer. During the warmer summer months paddlers get away with wearing a light synthetic t-shirt, swim/hiking shorts, sunglasses and some paddle shoes! Very often these paddlers find warmth and comfort in their spare set of dry clothes that includes: a thicker synthetic long sleeve shirt and pants, nylon spray jacket and insulating hat. When we get into those colder weather situations paddlers must dress in layers of synthetic fabric and need to be insulated from the cold water by wearing a wetsuit and paddle jacket. Dry suits are worn with multiple layers of synthetic clothing underneath when the water temp drops below 50 degrees F; this keeps you dry and warm when you need it.
EMS will provide Appropriate kayak, personal flotation device (PFD), paddle, and nylon spray skirt as needed for the day at no extra charge.
For colder days we may provide you with a wetsuit or dry suit and a nylon paddle jacket.
Helmets are provided for classes that require them.
Clothing is an important part of your paddling experience, as it will provide you with the warmth and comfort you need to enjoy your day. Cotton should be avoided as part of your layering system as it often remains cold and wet and it takes a long time to dry out. Synthetic fabrics or wool keep you warmer when they become wet with sweat/water and certain synthetic base layers are designed to wick the sweat away from your skin to keep you drier and warmer. During the warmer summer months paddlers get away with wearing a light synthetic t-shirt, swim/hiking shorts, sunglasses and some paddle shoes! Very often these paddlers find warmth and comfort in their spare set of dry clothes that includes: a thicker synthetic long sleeve shirt and pants, nylon spray jacket and insulating hat. When we get into those colder weather situations paddlers must dress in layers of synthetic fabric and need to be insulated from the cold water by wearing a wetsuit and paddle jacket. Dry suits are worn with multiple layers of synthetic clothing underneath when the water temp drops below 50 degrees F; this keeps you dry and warm when you need it.
EMS will provide Appropriate board, personal flotation device (PFD), paddle, and leash
for the day at no extra charge.
For colder days we may provide you with a wetsuit or dry suit and a nylon paddle jacket
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