Town of Banff Bow Hut Trips Gear List

  • Having the proper equipment is essential for a safe and enjoyable trip!

  • All gear and clothing needs to be in good condition and if new you must ensure that it fits well and you are familiar with its use.

  • Any soft safety gear (harnesses, slings, prussiks) older than 10 years should be carefully inspected. There should be no obvious wear. Consider replacing soft gear that is more than 10 years old. You may borrow this equipment from me.

  • Any hard safety gear (helmets, ice axes, crampons, carabiners) must be inspected for cracks and wear; replace it if it is worn. You may borrow this equipment from me.

  • If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Loaner equipment

I have some of the items you require available for you to borrow. All of the following will be available to you at the beginning of the trip if you do not have it. You do not need to ask us to provide it, we will have enough for the whole group.

  • Helmet

  • Harness

  • Crampons

  • Ice Axe

  • Carabiners, slings, prussik cords

If you have your own gear please feel free to bring it!

Climbing gear


Boots

We do not provide loaner boots.

  • A boot designed for mountaineering such as the Scarpa Zodiac, Charmoz, or Mont Blanc; or the Sportiva Trango or Nepal are best. There are other brands with similar types of boots that are good too.

  • Alternatively, a stiff, mostly leather, waterproof backpacking boot with full ankle support and a stiff, lug sole is also OK.

  • Soft hiking shoes that are mostly fabric and have bendy soles will not work. If you can easily bend the sole with your hands the shoe is not appropriate. If you are uncertain that you have the appropriate footwear, please send a photo of your boots and we can discuss.

  • I do not have boots to borrow or rent. Options for boot rental are: Gear Up (Canmore).

This type of mountaineering boot is BEST.

This type of backpacking boot is OK.

This type of hiking shoe WILL NOT work.

Crampons

  • These need to fit your boot well – when fitted properly they will stick to your boot without the straps or bindings.

  • I require all clients to have anti-balling plates on their crampons. No exceptions.

  • For easy and moderate routes, a pair of 10-point crampons are adequate.

  • I can provide crampons if required.

Ice axe

  • Any ice axe 50 cm or longer will suffice.

  • I can supply an ice axe if required.

Helmet

  • Bring a helmet designed for climbing.

  • Your helmet needs to be free of damage.

  • I can supply a helmet if required.

Harness

  • A sit harness with a belay loop is required

  • Your harness needs to be free of damage and excessive wear

  • I can supply a harness if required.

Crevasse rescue kit 

I can supply all of this if you need:

  • 2 locking carabiners

  • 2 non-locking carabiners

  • One 5m length of 6 mm prussic cord

  • One 120 cm sewn sling

  • Optional if you have it: 1 Tibloc or equivalent with locking carabiner, 1 Micro-Traction or equivalent with locking carabiner

Other Equipment

Bring the following with you every day of the trip.

Backpack

  • Backpack large enough to carry all your equipment and food to Bow Hut. Usually this would be a minimum of 55 L capacity. This pack could also be used for the day trips from the hut, or bring a second 30-40 L pack for the day trips.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip protection

  • At the very minimum a 30 SPF sunscreen and lip protection is required. Full sunblock for your lips is recommended.

  • Sunglasses with wrap-around coverage and dark lenses are required.

Small first aid and repair kit

  • I’ll have a major first aid and repair kit but you should bring some band-aids, blister protection (include blister pads and duct tape), headache pills, head cold/antihistamine medication, cough drops, rash cream, pocket knife.

Water bottle and/or thermos

  • I usually carry about 1.5 - 2 L of liquids

Extendable walking pole

  • This should be able to collapse small enough to fit into your pack. I may have extras you can use.

Headlamp

  • Bring extra batteries, you may be using this for hours every morning.

Personal toilet kit

  • Include toilet paper, and a baggie for used paper

  • Hand sanitizer is required

Camera

  • Consider extra batteries or a portable charging unit.

Satellite messenger

  • If you have an InReach, SPOT, or other type of emergency messaging device please bring it.

Clothing systems

Be prepared for every type of weather from blazing hot to below freezing to slashing rain to heavy snow!

Socks, underwear and t-shirts

  • Bring one or two of each. Synthetic only, no cotton.

Long underwear top and bottoms

  • I like a zip-t neck for my long sleeved top. I use lightweight long-johns and a medium weight top. Synthetic only, no cotton.

Climbing pants

  • A soft shell fabric is highly recommended.

Softshell jacket

  • I like a hooded jacket, but it is not absolutely necessary. I avoid heavy fleece garments, as they are not wind-resistant and too warm for many activities. Rather, in cold conditions I will bring two thinner layers: a lightweight softshell and a second lightweight softshell or fleece.

Insulated jacket

  • I prefer a synthetic jacket that is lightweight, warm, and compressible. If you don’t bring one of these there is a good chance you will get cold!

Gore-tex jacket and pants

  • A hooded waterproof jacket and rain-proof pants are required. I prefer the lightweight Gore-tex such as Paclite or Proshell.

Hats

  • A warm toque for cold conditions

  • A lightweight toque that fits under a helmet for warmer conditions

  • A sun hat (I prefer a Gilligan type hat)

Gloves

  • Warm ski-type gloves

  • Gloves with removable inners (easier to dry) are recommended but not required

  • A lightweight pair of gloves should also be brought for warm conditions

Gaiters

  • Close-fitting gaiters are required so your crampons don’t snag them as easily. The shorter type gaiters seem to work well even in deeper snow conditions.

phone

  • There is no cell coverage on this trip.

  • A charge pack for your battery is recommended so you can use your phone for the navigation sessions and taking photos etc.

HUT Gear

We stay at the Alpine Club of Canada’s Bow Hut.

SLEEPING BAG

  • For huts a bag rated from +5 to 0 degrees Celsius is all that is needed. Down or synthetic are both fine.

SLEEPING PAD

  • NOT required.

HUT/CAMP SLIPPERS OR SANDALS

  • Only a light pair of footwear is required around the hut. Slippers, lightweight shoes or sandals are fine.

CUP/BOWL/SPOON

  • NOT required.

BATTERIES

  • Have spares for all your battery powered devices (EG headlamp).

  • A charge pack for your phone is a good idea.

Toiletries

  • Toilet paper.

  • Toothbrush etc.

  • Wet wipes.

  • Ear plugs (for sleeping).

  • There are no shower facilities at the hut.

FOOD

  • You need to provide your own food.

  • Focus on lightweight and non bulky food items.

GROUP GEAR

  • You will be required to carry some of the group gear (rescue equipment, climbing equipment) and you will need room in your pack to do so.

guide gear

The guides will provide:

  • Communications device (radio and/or satellite messenger)

  • GPS, map and compass

  • First aid and repair kit

  • Emergency shelter and evacuation kit

  • Group climbing gear (rope etc)

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