Innerwear

For what goes on where we don't want to see.

E

Regular underwear

Two extra pairs of boxers or briefs should be enough, unless you intend to soil them.

O

Long underwear

A.K.A. thermal underwear, these polypropylene skin-tight garments aren't essential, but they wick sweat away from your skin and keep you dry and comfortable.  You can buy a long-sleeve shirt and pants made of this material at Sportmart or Big5, but it is EXPENSIVE.  ($20 each)

Outerwear

Your front line of defense.

E

Beanie

A warm wool beanie will prevent precious body heat from escaping through your head

O

Balaclava

Covers all of your face except for your eyes, keeps snow and wind from touching your skin

E

Thick, waterproof gloves

ESSENTIAL!! Bring at least one good pair of gloves - you will be building snow caves and packing snowballs with your hands.  Make sure that the gloves have insulation and waterproof shells.  Leather or fleece gloves are not enough!

R

Fleece sweater

Fleece is comfortable and an excellent insulator.  Try to find a fleece sweater or jacket from family or relatives; new fleece clothing is usually expensive.

R

Down jacket

There is nothing better than being surrounded in poofy geese butt feathers.  If you have a goose down jacket at home, bring it, but keep it as dry as possible; down does not insulate when it is wet.

E

Waterproof jacket/parka

This is the outer layer of your clothing.  Make sure you obtain a WATERPROOF ski jacket, breathable (Gore-Tex) if at all possible.  Once again, try to borrow one if you don't own one because these are expensive.

E

Snow pants

Snowboarding pants and waterproof and very insulative.  Make sure you get WATERPROOF pants for this outer layer, not just nylon windbreakers.

E

Other pants

You will be wearing pants underneath the outer layer.  Three pairs of (lined) nylon windbreakers or other comfortable pants are enough.  DO NOT BRING JEANS.

Footwear

Because your feet need lovin' too

E

Hiking boots

If you do not own snow boots, your regular leather hiking boots will be fine.  Try to waterproof them with either a spray or wax.  But no matter what, snow WILL get into your boots and your boots WILL get wet.  That's why you need... 

E

PLASTIC BAGS!!!

AT LEAST 10 plastic bags (grocery bags and newspaper bags work best, not ziploc) should be packed inside a ziploc bag.  One bag is worn over each foot, outside the wool socks and inside the boots.  These will keep the inevitable water from reaching your feet.

E

Gaiters

These waterproof garments are worn around the ankles, and can be bought at almost any camping store.  They will keep excess snow from falling inside your boots.

E

Wool socks

Bring at least 5 extra pairs of wool socks.  If you have more than that, bring them all.  Your feet will be the wettest, coldest part of your body.  Dry socks will make you very happy.  NO COTTON SOCKS!

Camping Gear

Snow CAMP

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Tent

Just in case your snow cave collapses at the last second, you should always have a back-up shelter.  Bring a reliable 3- or 4-season tent, not a flimsy Big5 tent.

E

Hiking backpack

Your usual camping backpack used to transport your gear from the parking lot to the campsite. 

E

Sleeping bag

Make sure you have a warm sleeping bag (either goose down or very thick synthetic fill) or else you are in for a terrible night.  If you do not own a good sleeping bag, borrow one.

E

Sleeping bag

An air-mattress (Thermarest) is recommended, but your ordinary camping pad will do fine.  Make sure that it is a full-length pad, not a 3/4 length, or else the snow will suck out all your body heat.

E

Flashlight

A good headlamp or waterproof flashlight with extra batteries

R

Snow shovel

Used to build your snow cave.  High quality snow shovels are expensive ($40 up) but spades and shovels used for gardening are fine.  Make sure there are at least 2 shovels per snow cave. 

E

Garbage bags

Bring at least 5 heavy-duty garbage bags.  You will find many emergency uses for them at camp.

E

Water bottle

Duh.

R

Parachute cord

50 feet of strong parachute cord can be bought a REI for less than $5.

R

Wood boards

Do you want to sit on cold snow when you're eating or resting?  Bring a cheap piece of thin wood to sit on or put your patrol stove on so it doesn't melt the snow around it.

E

Ziploc bags

Like garbage bags, you will find uses for them.

E

First Aid Kit

Bad things happen sometimes happen with shovels.  Each patrol should have at least one full first aid kit

R

Backpack cover

In case your backpack does not fit inside your snow cave (it probably wont) keep your stuff dry with a backpack cover.  Or you can always use a garbage bag.

E

Waterproof Tarp

Used to line the inside of your snow cave. 

Food

Yum.

E

Water

Fill your water bottle with this.

E

Mess kit

The ordinary spoon, fork, chopsticks, bowl, and cup

O

Thermos

A good thermos will keep boiling water warm even until nighttime, right when you need it. 

R

Granola Bars

In case all your other food fails to cook, always have a backup.  Or eat them as energy snacks when you're building.  Granola bars can save lives.

R

Matches

Some lighters don't work at high altitudes, so bring extra matches. 

Personal Items

More stuff.

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Car Kit

Composed of the following items.  Keep them in a school backpack for that long ride to and from Bear Paw. 

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Clothing

Extra underwear, cotton socks, comfortable pants, t-shirt, sweater

-

Tennis shoes

For getting out of the car at rest stops to take a leak

-

Games

Playing cards, a book (if you're strong enough) or anything to keep you occupied

E

Sunscreen

Being in snow is like having 2 Suns shining up (and down) at you

E

Sunglasses

So you don't go blind by staring at 2 Suns

E

Toilet paper in a Ziploc bag

For your face and the better-looking set of cheeks

R

Duct Tape

As important as water.

R

Pocketknife

To cut things with

R

Lip balm

Uh.. to prevent chapped lips

R

Sharpie

To identify the frozen corpses of your buddies.  Just kidding, it's just useful.

R

Watch

To tell what time it is in your dark snow cave

E

Money

To buy food from fast food restaurants on the way to and from camp.

Others / Extras

Stuff you may want to get

O

Hand warmers

Those small chemical packs come in pairs for around $1.50.  Stick one in each glove when you're cold

O

Emergency blanket

For $3.00, you can have another layer of waterproofness