UK Mountaineering

General

• Clothing – Loose fitting comfortable clothing to cover both warm and cold days. Thermal wicking base layer and a couple of fleece / soft shell tops. Light, quick drying trousers – polyester or fleece, cotton not ideal. Wicking T-shirt and shorts are worth bringing also.
• Mountain boots – 3-4 season with a good quality sole (such as Vibram) for scrambling.  If you are training for Mont Blanc or the Matterhorn, you can wear your boots you will be wearing in the Alps.
• Rucksack – Around 30 – 40L, with a waterproof liner. You should easily be able to get all the kit listed here inside.

Personal Items

• Harness – make sure it fits before the course and is not too big at its smallest possible waist size. Likewise that you can get it over fleeces, waterproofs etc.
• Helmet – Easily adjustable and big enough to go over a warm hat.
• Waterproof jacket and trousers – Lightweight waterproofs will be sufficient for most courses.
• Warm hat and gloves
• Water bottle and packed lunch – At least 1L Capacity.
• Spare warm layer – Large fleece or light duvet jacket.
• Personal first aid kit – Plasters and personal medication, midge repellent.
• Sun cream, sunglasses and sun hat
• Head Torch – small and light one sufficient for emergency use only for most courses
• Emergency survival bag – very light one to be used in emergency in conjunction with Guides Group Shelter
• Cash

Skye Ridge traverses – or other courses with a bivvi

• Lightweight sleeping bag – 2 season should be sufficient.
• Bivvi bag – Ideally breathable.
• Bivvi food – Lightweight dehydrated meals, noodles, packet soups, power bars, sweets etc – enough for 2 long days on the Skye Ridge.
• Camping Mat – Lightweight variety. Heavy therma-rests are excessive.
• Mug and spoon

Group Items – Supplied by your Guide

• Rope
• Scrambling / climbing protection hardware
• Group Shelter
• Map / Compass
• Cooking Stove, pots and fuel
• Lighter / Matches