Winter Skills Course Required Equipment List
Please note that the following items are required (unless noted as optional) for students to bring to the start of the class. All students must have their own equipment to complete the tasks during the course.
Recommended items are in parentheses and linked for your convenience. You are welcome to substitute items but are responsible for making sure they are an adequate replacement for that item.
Fire Kit
Lighter (Bic or Zippo) Stormproof Matches (UCO Stormproof or UCO Behemoth) Ferrocerium Rod (Überleben Hexa, Kräftig 5”, or Zunden Fatty) Magnifying Lens (Magnifying Lens, Hudson Bay Tobacco Box, or HBTB Flint & Steel Kit) Emergency Tinder (GB2 Fatwood Shavings or Mini Inferno) Tinder Pouch (GB2 Tinder Pouch)
Shelter Kit
Tarp 8’ x 8’ (Tentsmiths Oilskin or Canvas) Emergency Survival Wrap (2) Wool Blankets (At least 1 Queen) (GB2 Custom Wool Blanket) (2 Wool blankets or 1 Wool blanket and a sleeping bag is recommended) Paracord 25’ #36 bank Line 1/4lb Roll
Water Kit
Stainless Steel Bottle Cotton Shemagh or 3’x3’ Cotton Cloth
Food Kit
Bush Pot with Lid
First Aid Kit
CAT Tourniquet S-Rolled Gauze (2) Emergency Trauma Dressing
Navigation Kit
Compass with Mirror (Suunto MC2) Map Protractor (Square | Round) Pace Beads Mechanical Pencils Waterproof Notebook
Signal Kit
Storm Whistle Headlamp with Extra Batteries (Princeton Tec Vizz) Orange Panel or Bandana
Tool Kit
Fixed Blade Belt Knife (Mora Bushcraft Black, Mora Garberg) Folding Saw (Silky Gomboy) Multi-tool with Awl (Victorinox Ranger Wood) Duct Tape Pack Axe Leather Needle
Safety items (Optional but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Eye Protection Leather Work Gloves
*Please note that if you choose to not bring or use any of these items you are assuming all risk for any injury that could have been prevented by them.
Optional
Hygiene Kit Any and all required prescription or over-the-counter medication (do not bring illegal drugs or unprescribed medication), including insect repellant and first aid items.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED EQUIPMENT LIST:
Weather can change at any time in the mountains and present training participants with emergency weather conditions. In addition to the normal packing list, all students attending a course at the Adirondack Campus must bring the following (this is non-negotiable and a requirement for training in winter):
Layered Clothing System:
Wicking Base Layer: Light or Medium Weight Merino Wool Top and Bottom Recommended
Insulating Layer: Heavyweight Merino Wool Top and Bottom Recommended
Durable Layer: Normal street clothes for cold weather (Pants, T-Shirt, Long Sleeve Shirt; 2 sets recommended)
Wind/Waterproof Layer: Goretex Shell Parka and Pants Recommended
Wool Socks (3 Pair Minimum)
Appropriate Waterproof Boots or Shoes (2 Pair Recommended)
30L Dry Bag
GB2 will provide snowshoes, but you may bring your own Snowshoes for this course if you’d like
This clothing system may be worn as needed or placed in the dry bag on standby (administratively) for emergencies depending on weather conditions.
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