General Notes
- All meets are self-catered, whether campsite or bunkhouse based, and access to local food shops may be limited. We strongly recommend you arrive with everything you might want to eat for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner across the whole meet.
- Weather in the mountains can change very quickly, so it is generally best to be prepared for hot or cold and dry or wet conditions when in this environment.
- It may seem obvious, but the top of a mountain is very different to the bottom – you can be hot in shorts and a t-shirt at the bottom and cold in a fleece at the top!
- Our committee members are more than happy to share advice if you have questions about anything on these lists.
- If you do not have an Essential item, please contact a committee member as we can probably sort something out.
- Winter items with an * can likely be hired if you do not have your own.
Activities Covered
- Spring / Summer / Autumn Meets
- Additional Items – Spring / Summer / Autumn Climbing
- Winter Meets
- Additional / Alternate Items – Winter Climbing
- Campsite
- Bunkhouse
1. Spring / Summer / Autumn Meets
Essential
- Walking socks
- Walking boots or shoes (some people prefer approach shoes or trainers)
- Wicking base layer (some people prefer cotton t-shirts)
- ‘Technical’ walking trousers (some people prefer leggings)
- Fleece jacket or fleece pullover
- Warm hat and gloves
- Headtorch
- Hard shell waterproofs (jacket and over-trousers)
- Water bottle and/or drinks flask
- Rucksack – ideally 35 litres as a minimum
- Map of the area (at least one per group)
- Compass (at least one per group)
- First Aid kit (at least one per group)
Desired
- Sun cream
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat / cap
- Insect repellent
- Walking poles
- Watch
- Gaitors
- Spare clothing – e.g. extra fleece / warm layer
- Rucksack Liner / dry bags for your gear
- Group shelter (ideally one per group)
2. Additional Items – Spring / Summer / Autumn Climbing
Essential
- Rock shoes (climbing shoes)
- Harness
- Helmet
- Belay device (tubular style for Trad, tubular or assisted breaking style for Sport)
- 1 x HMS carabiner
- Nut key
Desired
- Chalk bag
- 1 x additional HMS carabiner
- 3 x D shaped carabiners
- 1 x 120cm sling
- 1 x prussik loop (6mm accessory cord is best)
- Personal Anchor System, especially for Sport climbing, though a sling will do
- Any additional rack items and/or ropes you have
- Guidebook for the area
3. Winter Meets
Essential
- Ice axe* (55-60cm walking / mountaineering axe)
- Walking Boots* (designed for taking crampons and winter usage)
- Crampons* (ideally with 12 points and anti-balling plates + must be compatible with your boots)
- Helmet
- Snow / Ski goggles
- Headtorch
- Walking socks
- Wicking base layer / thermal top (not cotton)
- Fleece mid layers (a couple of thin layers gives more options than one heavy one)
- Fleece trousers (some people prefer power stretch leggings under waterproofs)
- Hard shell waterproof jacket with a hood that fits over a helmet
- Hard shell waterproof over-trousers or salopettes
- Warm hat
- Waterproof gloves (ideally at least two pairs)
- Water bottle and/or drinks flask
- Rucksack – ideally 40 litres as a minimum
- Map of the area (at least one per group)
- Compass (at least one per group)
- First Aid kit (at least one per group)
Desired
- Gaiters
- Crampon Bag (you can get away with wrapping your crampons in an old towel)
- Synthetic belay jacket / warm insulated jacket
- Rucksack Liner / dry bags for your gear
- Waterproof case for your mobile phone
- Whistle
- Watch
- Walking poles
- Spare clothing – e.g. extra fleece / warm layers, spare hat, spare gloves
- Spare batteries (even better, spare headtorch)
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Lip salve
- Survival bag or group shelter (ideally one group shelter per group)
- Snow shovel
- Emergency high energy food
4. Additional / Alternate Items – Winter Climbing
Essential
- A pair of technical ice axes* (generally 50cm long, one with an adze and one with a hammer)
- B3 Boots*
- Crampons* (ideally with 12 points, anti-balling plates and clip-in rear bindings + must be compatible with your boots)
- Harness
- Helmet
- Belay device (tubular style)
- 1 x HMS carabiner
- 1 x 120cm sling
Desired
- 1 x additional HMS carabiner
- 3 x D shaped carabiners
- 1 x prussik loop (6mm accessory cord is best)
- Any additional rack items and/or ropes you have
- Guidebook for the area
5. Campsite
Essential
- All the food you might need for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for the whole meet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Towel
- Personal toiletries
Desired
- Travel pillow (you can get away with a bundle of clothes, but a pillow is comfier!)
- Stove & fuel
- Pot to cook in
- Lighter or matches
- Washing-up kit
- Camping light
- Camping chair or sit mat
6. Bunkhouse
Essential
- All the food you might need for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for the whole meet
- Sleeping bag
- Towel
- Personal toiletries
Desired
- Pillow (although often present at bunkhouses, bringing a pillow as a backup is advised)