What should be in your Backpack
It is impossible to make a standard list of items that will work for everyone on every hike. You need to change your gear list for every hike. When considering what items to put in your pack, you need to consider all the conditions that you might encounter on the hike. You want to keep warm, dry, and be able to travel with relative easy. And, above all, you don't want to get lost. To achieve this, you need to know what the weather is going to be on the hike, and the day after the hike. Always error on the side of caution. The weather forecast can change during your hike, and you can encounter high winds, snow, rain, sleet, and cold. Always be prepared for the unexpected. If the weather turns unexpectedly sour during the hike, you should seriously consider turning around.
In the summer months some hikers use "Minimalist Gear List". The idea behind Minimalist Gear List is to reduce the amount of weight to an absolute minimum. You will take only what is absolutely needed. In the Winter, you want to do the complete opposite! You want to error on the side of caution. You want to bring more then you think you will need. Weight is only a minor consideration in the Winter. In the summer if you forget an item, you will survive. In the winter, you can die over forgetting an item.
When considering what your gear list should be, you need to think about: (1) What gear is needed to keep you moving at a reasonable pace; (2) What gear is needed to keep you warm and dry while moving and stopped; (3) What gear is needed keep you alive.
What gear is needed to keep you moving safely at a reasonable pace: General items are: snowshoes, poles, microspikes, crampons, maps, and GPS.
What gear is needed to keep you warm and dry while moving and stopped: Your clothing should polyester or wool. General items are: hat, light gloves, heavy gloves, layers of shirts and jackets, snow pants, gaiters, waterproof boots, heavy duty wicking socks, and hand warmers. You need to bring extra clothing in case you are injured and cannot move. You will cool off considerably once you stop moving.
What gear is needed keep you alive: General items are: Emergency fire kit (lighter, lint, hand sanitizer), clippers, rope, emergency bivy bag, whistle, construction tape, marker, head lamp, fully charged cell phone, and PLB.
Clippers - Most people would never think of putting clippers in their backpack. Most people would prefer to put a pocket knife in their pocket. But, let me explain why clippers are so valuable.
If you are stuck in a blizzard like Seth Lyon's was, you will need to cut conifer branches to help make a snow cave. His hands were frozen. With clippers you can cut a dozen branches in one minute. A knife would take a good 15 minutes to cut the dozen. You would probably need to cut over a hundred branches. You might freeze to death before you could get the job done with a knife. In a blizzard where you are frostbite and cold, which tool would you want?
If you are stuck in the woods overnight, and you are exceedingly cold. You want to make a fire quick. Clippers will help you get that fire started quickly. Clippers can also help you make a bow fireboard. A bow fireboard is a way to start a fire with a shoe lace and a clipper.
Clippers can be used to repair a snowshoe, or make a snowshoe. Clippers can be used to make a fire. They can be used to make a snow cave. They can also be used to make a bed. They can be used to clear a fallen tree.
There are a couple of features you need to consider when evaluating clippers. The most important feature is their ability to cut the largest branch possible. You want a high quality pair of clippers. Second important feature is the color. I like red handles because if I drop them in the snow, the red handles stick out better then other colors. The third feature is the weight. I like light weight, but I will not pick a pair of clippers that are light weight over cutting ability. I like to find a pair of clippers that can cut a 1 inch branch easily. Lastly, they need to have a lock on them. You don't want a pair that cannot be locked.
Lighter - It is important to have a "Fire Kit". While it is possible to start a fire without a Fire Kit, it is more important to get a fire started quickly in the Winter. A complete Fire Kit should consist of a cigarette lighter, flammable material, a candle or sterno.
A cigarette lighter is the most important part of the kit. Pick one that is a bright color. If you drop it, you want to be able to find it easily in the snow or brown ground cover. Find one that allows you to turn up the flame. If it is windy, you want the lighter flame to be big and strong enough to not blow out. If your hands are frostbitten, you want a lighter that is easy to light. You also want one that is compact. You don't want a lighter with a long spout. There are also magnesium sticks that you can strike to make a fire. They are marketed under a number of names. Most do not work well, and some don't work at all. Don't waste your money on them. A compact lighter is a better choice.
Flammable material is an optional item. But, most people don't mind carrying some. Here are a couple of options. The best option is a small $1 hand sanitizer bottle. They carry about 1 oz of a gel. This gel has approximately 50% alcohol by volume. It can be used for it's intended purpose, or it makes an excellent fire starting material. Other people like to use dryer lint. Dryer lint is excellent in some cases. Most blankets and some cloths have fire retardant added to them. So, if you use dryer lint, check to make sure that the lint you use is flammable before you store it. The last item of good value is dollar bills. $1 dollar bills burn quite nicely. If you are about to freeze to death, then burning money isn't that important to get a fire started.
Some people like to carry a candle or a small can of sterno. A candle is less valuable then sterno. The candle can be used to start a fire. It can also provide light. Lastly, it can be used inside a snow cave to heat it up and create an ice covered ceiling. I find the value of a candle questionable. Sterno is a little different. It is light, but takes up more volume. It can be light very easily. It produces a lot of heat, and burns for 2 hours. It can be used to melt snow into warm water to warm yourself. It can be used to get a fire started in a difficult situation. It can heat up a snow cable or a natural rock cave quickly. It can also be used to heat up your hands very quickly. It does burn very hot. It doesn't produce as much light as a candle. But, I feel it is much more valuable. You can also light it for a short time, and it will heat up the can. You can then put the lid back on, and hold it in your hands to warm them up. With the introduction of hand warmers, some hikers no longer carry candles or Sterno. This is a decision for you to make.
Lastly, I like to put all these items into one plastic container. It keeps them isolated from the rest of the items floating around in my pack. You do need to check them every once in a while to make sure that everything is still good.
Survival Kit - is for emergency situations. This is a kit that will probably never be used. But, if you do have a need, it may be what saves your life.
A simple whistle can be very important. If you are lost, and not sure where you are, it can be used to help bring rescuers to you. When Seth Lyon's got lost during a blizzard it took 24 hours to find one of the two people. It took 40 hours to find the second person. If they could have found him earlier, they would have recovered him alive instead of dead. A whistle can also be used in areas where you cannot call 911. Anyone who hears it knows that someone is in urgent need. Remember that whistles cannot be heard around water or in high winds.
Keep some light weight rope (1/8" or 3/16") in your pack. You can also use round or flat hiking shoe laces. It can be used to repair snowshoes, backpacks, shoe laces, etc. It is light weight, and can be used for any number of emergencies.
I like to keep 1" medical tape in my backpack. It can be used to cover blisters on your feet, patch rips in your clothing, cuts, etc. It can also be used to set a splint on a broken bone.
Construction tape can be used to leave evidence of your path. If you get lost, you can use this tape to mark your trail. This can be used by rescuers in locating you quicker. I like to use pink or orange tape. It is highly visible. You can purchase it in Home Depot or Lowe's. You can also use a Sharpie Magic Marker to write on the tape the date and time you tied it on a tree branch. I like to keep it in a zip lock bag. It has a tendency to unwind in your pack without a bag.
Space blankets are often part of a survival pack. Many people believe that they can be used to keep you warm, but this is not the case. they have little ability to warm you up. They only work well in an enclosed environment. They are often used to keep people dry. They can be used to lay on inside a snow cave. They can be used in the roof of a snow cave to keep water from dripping on you. They can also be used to keep snow and rain off of you when used as a blanket. They can also be used to create a reflective signal to helicopters and planes. They are very light weight and compact, so there is little reason not to have one. Some people like to carry a space blanket Bivy. A bivy is like a sleeping blanket that doesn't have a zipper. A bivy is nice insurance in the winter. I prefer the space blanket emergency bivy sack to a flat space blanket.
Instant hand warmers can be very important if you become hypothermic. They can be used to warm your hands or feet. Frozen feet can keep from moving to safety. They usually last about 10 hours. I usually keep two extra pairs. The hand warmers are white, so if you drop them in the snow, they can be very difficult to find.
Headlight - is a necessary item any time of the year. If you get stuck in the woods, you need a light to survive during the night. Headlights can be purchased in a number of locations, including Walmart. The batteries you use are important. NiMh batteries should NOT be used in the winter. You should use either NiCd or disposable AAA batteries. Disposable batteries work best because they don't discharge and will work in any temperature. NiCd batteries can also be used, but they need to be recharged each time you hike. A good headlight will work for up to 20 hours or more with modern LED lights.
Extra Clothing - is very important for Winter hiking. Always bring warmer clothing then you think you will need. You should always carry at least one extra pair of socks. If you accidentally break thru the snow into water, you need to change your socks. Your boots can also leak in the snow. Cold water will draw the heat out of your foot 30 times faster then air. You can become hypothermic very rapidly.
You should always carry a winter hat. Even during warm spring weather. If you become trapped in the woods overnight, the temperature can fall quite quickly. Keeping your head warm can help you think better. Hypothermia can cause you to think poorly. If your head is cold, it is also very difficult to sleep. So, covering your head becomes very important.
You should also carry good winter leather gloves. I rarely use them in the winter, but they are always in my backpack. In rain, wet snow, or blizzards you need leather gloves to keep dry and warm. Most non-leather gloves will become wet in certain weather events. I usually keep several gloves in my backpack. Keeping your hands warm is very important for survival in the Winter. Your body regulates your body temperature by opening or closing the capillaries in your hands and forearms. So, keeping your hands warm when it is cold is very important. When your body is hot, it is important to switch to lighter pairs of gloves.
Before a trip, I will always check www.weather.gov to see what the weather will be the day or two after my hike. If something happens, I need to know what to expect if I am stuck in the woods for several days. I will then keep extra jackets and thermals in case the weather gets colder. Better safe then sorry. Never under estimate how cold it may become. Sometimes the weather is colder then the weathermen expect, so be prepared.
Clothing - can be a very important part of Winter hiking. One important point is to make sure that you don't wear any cotton clothing. Most good winter hiking cloths are made of polyester. Cotton absorbs sweat and water, and water on the cottom clothing evaporates very slowly. Polyester doesn't absorb water, and will wick it off quickly with evaporation or gravity. Polyester is just a form of plastic. Fleece jackets and micro-fleece shirts are made of polyester. You should make sure that your shirts are made of polyester or other non-absorbing materials. The real issue is cooling off and still being wet. This can cause you to become hypothermic quickly. Your body can cool 30 times faster with liquids versus exposure to the air. If you become hypothermic, and your body cannot recover, you can easily die of exposure. You will essentially freeze to death.
Your body regulates your temperature by your blood flow. People with high blood pressure have more problems with getting cold in the winter then people with low blood pressure. Actually, older people also stay warmer then younger people. The heart of young people beats harder and can thrust the blood faster. Older people have weaker hearts, and can overheat faster. Your heart reaches it's peak at 18 years old. Likewise, when you cool down, older people will cool off faster then younger people. Your body releases most of it's heat thru your forearms and hands. It is important to keep those areas well regulated. Most keep 2-3 pairs of gloves in their pack. They keep a lite pair for when they are hot. A medium pair for colder days. And, a leather pair that is well insulated for those extreme conditions. Insulated Leather gloves are hard to find, but work well in most extreme conditions. It is hard to get them wet. Wind has a hard time flowing thru leather gloves. You can dig in the snow with them, and they don't get wet. During blizzard conditions they can keep your hands warm. Insulated leather gloves can make the difference between life and death. Your socks also play an important role in keeping you warm. Most hikers bring 2-3 pairs of winter socks that have the ability to wick the sweat and water out of your boots. If you feet get wet for sweat or weather (snow or rain), you need to change them. You want to have at least one extra pair in your pack. If you break thru the snow into a hidden stream, your foot can get wet. You need to change your socks if this happens. If you get your socks wet, place them on the outside of your pack to dry them out. But, only if it is not snowing or raining.
While we are talking about your socks, it is important to have a good pair of boots that are water proof. Make sure that you keep them maintained with sno-seal or nikwax for smooth leather boots. Silicone spray if they have a rough texture. Check with your boot manufacture for the best method of water proofing them. Don't use boots that have vents built into them. They need to be WATER PROOF. If you step into a stream, and water can seep in, then they are NOT water proof. Most experienced hikers use gaiters. The most commonly used gaiters is made by Outdoor Research. These keep snow and water off your boots and lower pants.
Ski pants can be difficult. Some are insulated and some are not. Colder weather require insulated pants. Very cold weather requires insulated pants with thermo underwear. Warm Spring days may require polyester pants. Some pants have zippers, so you can convert them into shorts. During wet weather, some ski pants are NOT water proof. During blizzard conditions, most ski pants cannot keep your legs dry and you can easily die from hypothermia. Good water proof ski pants are very hard to find.
You also need to torso warm. The best way is to dress in layers. Start with a thin polyester shirt. Then add a micro-fleece. Then add a fleece jacket. And, finally a water proof shell. Take off cloths to cool off, and add cloths to warm up. Your shell jacket is one of the most important pieces of clothing for your torso. When it is raining, sleeting, snowing, or windy it helps keep you dry and warm. If the trees are snow loaded, you can use the shell jacket to keep you dry. Try to buy a jacket that has a hood. This will keep snow from getting down your neck.
Sometimes when it is really cold, you may need a face mask. Some buy a hat with a face mask already built in Other people keep an extra mask in their pack for those rare moments.
Full Backpack - are a necessity in the Winter. In the Summer you can use small back packs or fanny packs. But, in the Winter you need to carry a lot more items. Even for small day hikes. Furthermore, backpacks help keep you warm. It helps insulated your back.
There are a lot of items to look at when considering a backpack. One of the most important items is that the backpack must be waterproof. Backpacks that become saturated will endanger you. This can cause the life saving clothing and equipment to become worthless when you need them the most. If you fall into the snow, you don't want snow to come into the pack. If you are caught in a blizzard, you don't want snow creeping into small openings. If it is raining, you want the rain to not enter the backpack. Carefully examine a backpack for places that might leak or allow your gear to become wet.
I also look for a backpack that can hold gear on the outside of the pack. You may want to tie your jacket to the outside. If you ski, you may want to tie your skies and poles to the outside. And of course, you will tie your snowshoes to the pack at some point. Some hikers like to buy backpacks that can also be used for backcountry skiing.
Snowshoes and poles - are a very important part of your winter hiking gear. Trying to hike without snowshoes is a quick way to die. The higher you hike in elevation, the deeper the snow will get. Without snowshoes, the post holing in the snow will quickly wear you out. Finding the right snowshoe for you is a personal choice. For older snow, or harden snow, most people pick snowshoes that are around 25 inches long. For deep snow that is fresh, some people will move up to 30 inch snowshoes. For very deep fresh snowshoes, they will use 36 inch snowshoes. If you have to buy one pair of snowshoes, buy a 25 inch pair. That are very few opportunities to hike in deep fresh snow. Smaller women who are very light can use women's snowshoes that are smaller then 25 inches long.
One important factor is the ease of putting the snowshoes on. If you are hypothermic, you may have difficulty in putting on your snowshoes. This is exactly what happen to Seth Lyon. It cost him his life. When he could not put his snowshoes on, he simply walked off without them. After 100 feet he colapsed and died. So, make sure that the bindings are very easy to use.
Always look at the cramp-ons on the bottom of the snowshoes. The more aggressive they are, the less problems you will have on steeper sections. The Catskill Mountains have some very steep and difficult trails. You want a snowshoe that is going to stick to ice and snow. Some of the newer snowshoes have outside rails that help the snowshoe stick better.
Snowshoes now have a step bar at the back of the heel of your boot. When the bar is lifted up, it helps you climb up inclines easier. Women's snowshoes have the bar placed further up for smaller feet. The step bar will also help prevent Plantar Fasciitis and ACR damage. Don't skip this feature. Poor quality snowshoes often do not have this step bar.
There are basically two types of ski poles. Once piece poles that are used for downhill skiing will also work for snowshoeing. These poles are more rugged and will not bend as easy as three-piece poles. Three piece poles are thinner and collapse into a very short length. If you are traveling by plane, these are required to fit into a snowshoe bag.
Always talk with other people about their experience with the products you are interested in. This will help you find hidden problems with the products you are interested in buying. This will help you purchase the best product for your application.
Topo GPS - are the most expensive piece of gear you can purchase. Hiking is a fairly cheap hobby. But, a GPS can be a pricey purchase. In most cases, a GPS is a luxury. But, if you are caught in a blizzard, a GPS is the most important item needed to save your life. We recommend that you purchase a GPS that has a topo map on the GPS. That way, you can always look at the GPS to determine exactly where you are. If you can call 911, you can provide them with a GPS coordinate to your exact location. If you need to backtrack back to your car or a lean-to, you can look at a map in the middle of the night and follow your tracks backwards.
One of the biggest problems with hypothermia, is that it puts you into a mental state that is like being very drunk. Very intelligent people have been known to make incredibly stupid decisions. A GPS can assist you in making a better decision. It can allow you to know where you are, and which direction you need to go in. If you can call 911 for help, you can read off the GPS coordinates for SAR to find you quicker. Seth Lyon was so cold and disoriented that he could not tell EMS where he was located. It took them 40 hours to find him. If his mental states was not affected by hypothermia, he probably could have figured out where he was.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) - is an electronic device that can notify EMS exactly where you are, and they you are in danger of dying. It is considered to be a "last resort" device. Should you become severely injured or ill, and have no possible alternative to get out of the woods safely, the PLB will automatically call National Search and Rescue (SAR). You just need to turn on the device to obtain help. One minute after you turn it on, the PLB will make a transmission to a special satellite, and the satellite will contact SATSAR with your exact GPS location automatically. A minute later a strobe will come on. The strobe means that help is on the way. The strobe will work for a minimum of 40 hours. SATSAR will coordinate with local SAR and EMS to come and rescue you. They will also contact people on your contact list to obtain as much information as possible. After the PLB has made contact with SAR a strobe light will activate. The purpose of the strobe light is to guide in a helicopter to your location. The PLB has a very strong transmitter (5000 milliwatts), and will work in some difficult locations where other devices will not work. The PLB can also be used down to -40F. Before the PLB can be used, you must register with NOAA.gov with your contact information. In the event of an emergency, they will notify your family that you are in an emergency situation. The device has a permanent battery that will last up to five years before it needs to be replaced.
The ACR PLB is made by the same company that makes PLB for boats and ships. It comes from a very reputable company with excellent results. The ACR PLB cost about $250. Cheap insurance for the experienced hiker. It works in the winter or summer. The only down side is that you must be conscious to call for help. They also have an optional message system for those who want to send home, "I'm okay".
There is also another device called a SPOT. The SPOT is an excellent device to let your family know where you are and that everything is good. It can be used as an emergency device, but it has limitations. It has a weak transmitter (400 milliwatts). Due to the weak transmitter, sometimes the GPS location is significantly wrong, and SAR goes to the wrong location. You also will not know if someone got the signal and SAR is coming for you. It will only work down to -22F. The SPOT does not meet the requirements to be called a PLB. The primary purpose of the SPOT is to reduce the anxiety of your family.The SPOT requires an annual payment for the service.
The ACR PLB is best product for hikers. The SPOT has it's application. In the case of an emergency, the PLB is the right device to own.
Microspikes - are very useful in late Fall and late Spring. They are often used to get over ice flows or when the trail ices up. Microspikes run about $60. They seem expensive, but they are made of stainless-steel which is much more expensive then steel. They are less then a pound of weight, and take up very little space. Virtually all experienced hikers carry them.
In very icy conditions, the next step up, is crampons. While they are not used very often in the Catskill Mountains, sometimes there is a need. Sometimes, we have ice storms, or we have a severe melt cycle. In this case, crampons become mandatory for safety. The disadvantage of crampons is that they have high spikes and it is hard to walk on terrain where there is not thick ice. Crampons generally require a mountaineering boot that is stiff.
Hiking Boots - In the Winter you have to use high quality hiking boots. It is always best to use good mountaineering boots. Two common brands are Scarpa and Asolo. You want to use boots that are completely waterproof. You want smooth or rough texture leather hiking boots. Cloth boots are a bad choice. You want them to have a tongue that is complete to the top of the boot. You should be able to standing in water to the top of the boot, and no water gets inside the boot. A good pair, like the Scarpa Escapes shown on this page, can be placed in water for a week and still be bone dry inside. You want the sole of the boot to be thick and rugid. This serves as insulation, and helps keep your feet warm. If you use cramp-ons, you want to check and see if your boots can be used with cramp-ons. Always shop for high quality boots that fit your feet well. A poor fitting boot can cause a lot of problems. You also want to make sure that your toes don't touch the end of the toe box anywhere, and that you have space to move your feet up-and-down. Your heel should pull up and down while tied up.
Other Items - rain gear, cell phone, etc.
Most people would not consider bringing rain suit for hiking in the winter. But, there are a couple situations were a rain suit can save your life. In high winds during a snow storm, the snow can hit your clothing hard enough to melt on contact. This can cause your clothing to get wet, and hypothermia to set in. This is what happen to Seth Lyon. He encountered winds in excess of 75mph during a snow storm. The second situation is when a storm turns to sleet or rain. You can easily become wet, and hypothermia sets in. You also have to remember that maybe a weather forecast calls for snow, but something happens, and it turns unexpectedly to rain. You always want to be prepared. I recommend using a light weight and plyable rain suit. There are some very good nylon rain suits available. PVC suits are a poor choice. They may make you too warm, and make you sweat. If you cool down later, you can easily become hypothermic.
Make sure that you have a cell phone that has good reception in the catskills. Some cell phone services has poor signal strength in the Catskills. Also make sure that your cell phone is fully charged. I recommend that you turn off the cell phone when you are hiking to preserve battery life. If you become lost, you can consider turning it on if you have a signal. Cell phone carriers can point point your position from your signal. But, they usually will not do this until you have been lost for quite a while, and have not been found.
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High Quality Clippers |
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Regular Cigarette Lighters |
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Hand Sanitizer for starting a fire |
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Sterno |
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Emergency Whistle |
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Construction Tape |
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Emergency Mylar Bivy Bag |
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Chemical Hand Warmer |
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LED Headlight |
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Hiking Socks |
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Fleece Jacket |
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Shell Jacket
Mandatory for Snowy Weather |
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Leather Gloves (mittens)
Mandatory for wet weather |
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Outdoor Research Gaiters |
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Winter Backpack |
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Tubbs Couloirs (left)
Tubbs Alps (right) |
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Microspikes |
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Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) |
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Garmin Oregon GPS |
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Scarpa Mountaineer Boots |
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