• Warm Winter Boots
• Sleeping Bag rated to at least -20 degrees
• Sleeping Pad
• Tarp: No smaller than 10′ x 10′
• Long Underwear
• Wool Socks: 4 pair (no cotton)
• Wool Shirt or sweater
• Wool Pants: 1 pair
• Windproof jacket and pants (can be rain gear)
• Rain Gear – should be sized to fit over cold weather clothes, can double as windproof gear
• Parka or warm Jacket
• Warm winter hat
• Mittens
• Sun Glasses
• Personal Toiletries, including towel and washcloth, etc.
• Other clothing that can get dirty and beat up.
• Flash Light or Head Lamp
• Snowshoes: 1 pair (read about snowshoe sizing information, and please contact us before buying)
– The Faber “sport” model is the traditional style for this part of the world, and works very well.
– Another option is the military magnesium snowshoe (google it)
– Don’t purchase bindings, as we’ll be making them.
• Cup for Hot/Cold drinks (unbreakable)
• Plate, bowl, fork, spoon
• Cook pot with a bail handle (Mors Pot, 16 cm Zebra pot, coffee can with lid or something similar). Will be used for cooking food and boiling water in the field..
• Water Bottle with wide mouth (uninsulated metal water bottles can be put directly on the stove, a bonus)
• Notebook and pen/pencil
In order to get the right size, put all gear for a winter trip (clothes, sleeping bag, pad, footwear, notebook, reading material, toiletries, etc.) into a trash bag. Then buy a large enough bag to hold this trash bag.
Tool List
• Sharp Knife, fixed blade (non-folding) – We recommend the Frosts Mora #2 Carbon Steel, available from Ben’s Backwoods
• Axe with Sturdy Leather Sheath (no hatchets) – handle should not be shorter than 25″. Contact Pole And Paddle Canoe for old, high-quality axes.
• File (mill bastard, flat) and sharpening tool or stone
Optional Gear
• Camera
• Orienteering compass
• Plastic sled for hauling your gear
• Ice fishing gear