KIT LIST

Introduction to Alpinism

Short sleeved thermal shirt.

Long sleeved thermal shirt..

Thick socks. Thorlo or Smartwool recommended x 4 pairs.

Warm hat x 2.

Sunglasses (Category 4 glacier glasses).Bolle, Vuarnet, Julbo and Cebe all recommended.

Warm gloves (at least 2 pairs).

Fleece Jacket. Mountain Equipment recommended.

Spare warm jacket

Waterproof/windproof outer layer (Gore Tex is very popular). Mountain Equipment recommended.

Boots (must have stiff soles for crampons). La Sportiva Nepal Extreme recommended.

Gaiters (yeti gaiters not recommended)

Ear-plugs (for huts with snorers!)

Crampons (12 point classic mountaineering) Grivel G12 and Petzl Vasak recommended.

Mountaineering Axe (50-70cm shaft depending on your height)

Helmet (Black diamond Half Dome and Petzl Ecrin rock recommended)

Harness.

Prussik Loops (for crevasse rescue)

Belay plate. Black Diamond ATC or similar recommended.

Pear shaped screw gate karabiners x 4. DMM recommended.

Sling, 8 foot diameter x 1. DMM recommended.

Rock Shoes. 5.10 and Red Chilli recommended. Bring rock shoes if you have them, but if you don’t they can always be rented here.

Chalk bag. Bring one if you have one.

Walking Poles. Collapsible ! Leki Makalu ultra light recommended.

Sun cream (minimum SPF 30 and UVA and UVB resistant)

Lip Salve (high SPF)

Rucksack (Approx 40 litre capacity)

First Aid Kit (lightweight, with paracetomol and blister kit)

Advanced Alpinism (as above plus the following)

Lightweight Alpine Boots (for rocky ridges). Must be able to take a flexible crampon. La Sportiva Trango recommended.

Two technical axes. Approx 50cm shaft. One axe and one hammer. Petzl Quark highly recommended.

Ski touring ice axe (if on the Alpine Rock/Ski Mountaineering course).

Don’t have any of the above ? Use the links below to find your nearest stockist in the UK:

Cotswold Outdoor
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

Field and Trek
www.fieldandtrek.com

Snow and Rock
www.snowandrock.com

V12 Outdoor (Llanberis)
www.v12outdoor.com

Needle Sports (Keswick)
www.needlesports.com

Peglers Outdoor Specialists (Arundel)
www.peglers.co.uk

Packing your kit for the plane journey

A few reminders if you are travelling by plane:

Security – The days of packing your heavy climbing gear in hand luggage are long gone ! Anything sharp such as ice screws, axes or crampons must be in hold luggage. Ropes should also be stowed in the hold as should karabiners.

Rucksacks – Anything with loose straps, like a rucksack, will usually have to be dropped at the “Out of Gauge” baggage area. Save time by taping up loose straps before you travel.

Weight Allowances – Many airlines have cut their baggage allowances to 20kg or less. That means you’ll have to be smart when packing. Try and get as much clothing as possible into your hand luggage.

Also think about what you can do without, and whether you can buy it/rent it in Chamonix. If planning on staying in huts and hotels you can do without a sleeping bag and a towel for example. You might choose to rent boots and crampons, thus saving several kilos.

Disposables such as camera film, suncream and shower gel can all be bought in Chamonix, so do you need to waste your baggage allowance bringing them from home ? Check your baggage allowance before travelling.

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