Wapta Hut Summer 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.

Climbing gear


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 and is NOT ALLOWED.

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

  • A belay/rappel device for the advanced crevasse rescue course only.

Other Equipment

Backpack

  • 45-65 L pack. Your pack needs to be big enough to fit everything inside, including some group safety gear. Helmets, crampons, and ice axes may be strapped to the outside but everything else should fit inside.

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.

Personal toilet kit

  • Toilet paper. Include a ziploc for used paper if you need to poop outside

  • Hand sanitizer and wet wipes

  • Toothbrush etc

  • Ear plugs (for sleeping)

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

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

  • A balaclava for stormy weather and a lightweight toque for use while walking uphill are recommended

Gloves

  • Warm ski-type gloves

  • Single gloves are OK for overnight trips but for multi-day trips, gloves with removable inners (easier to dry) are 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.

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.

HUT GEAR

  • Hut slippers or shoes (lightweight and easily packable)

  • Toiletries and toilet paper. Include a ziploc for used paper if you need to poop outside.

  • Prescriptions and basic pain medications for those sore muscles

  • Ear plugs

  • Headlamp or flashlight

  • Sleeping bag - (the hut will be warm so a lightweight bag is fine)

  • Water treatment system. It is possible to sterilize water by boiling while in the huts but it is recommended you bring an additional water sterilization system.

FOOD

Your food needs to be lightweight and simple to prepare on a stovetop. There are all the basic cooking utensils. There are no ovens.

THE hut WILL have:

  • Outhouses, no paper

  • All cooking utensils

  • All eating utensils

  • Propane stoves

  • Propane lighting

  • Mattresses

  • Some huts have heating systems but many do not. However, they are small enough that cooking and body heat keep them at a comfortable temperature.

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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