Pack contents for a winter walk
A while ago, Si posted a short article on our Facebook page suggesting what was prudent to carry for a winter months walk in the hills or mountains. Here it is as reference for website readers and potential clients:
Just because we're getting into the winter months doesn't mean we should have to cut down on our mountain adventures! But we do need to adopt different attitudes to planning, what we attempt and the gear we carry and wear. Today, Si will share what he carries in his rucksack for a day out in the mountains...
"In my experience, there's a balance to be found between carrying too little and too much on a mountain walk. Too little seems to be the norm these days and we see folk suffer when an unforeseen situation presents itself. However, I also occasionally see a mountain enthusiast carrying a pack so big and overweight that it jeopardises their chances of covering distance over difficult terrain.
This article is just a rough guide but is the result of years in the mountains and lots of fine tuning. I'm mindful of the fact that many folk will be on tight budgets but I still can't stress enough the importance of buying quality and preferably lightweight kit.
Around our locality, access to the hills tends to be easy – from car park to first climb may only be a few hundred metres or so. Probably for that reason, we're seeing many day walkers carrying very little in the way of 'what if this happens?' type gear. This means that in the event of an issue, particularly one where they're rendered immobile, self rescue is often impossible and help from others becomes necessary. Some of the kit I carry may not only assist me in an emergency but equally could make a big difference to someone else I come across.
Some might feel that the pack contents illustrated are more than are needed for their activities and I respect the choice of the individual. There are a few items in the image that are 'optional extras' and would only be carried on certain routes that might involve scrambling, wintry weather or more remote terrain. All I'm attempting to do is to present a 'toolkit' for the mountains that can cover most eventualities.
OK, let's look at it all in detail...
1) An insulative mid or outer layer for when not moving. Best to be a synthetic fill as unlike down jackets, they still perform when wet. This means that in an extreme situation, you can throw it over other already soaked clothing and it will still retain warmth.
2) The all important waterproof and preferably breathable jacket. Even if you think it won't rain, it should still be packed as it's also windproof and will retain body heat in an emergency.
3) Waterproof and preferably breathable overtrousers. These should be capable of being donned without taking your footwear off – three quarter or full length zips are the easiest to put on.
4) Walking poles. These can be a controversial item to advise on and are an individual preference. No longer seen as just for 'old people', most mountain professionals not only use them but recommend them for their clients. I'm an occasional user of them so have as light a set as possible that fold shorter than my pack height. If you carry a longer set on the outside of your rucsac then ensure the tips are protected and don't project upwards into other walker's faces!
I also wrap a few turns of Gorilla tape (or duck tape) around the top of the poles for repairs – this is an old ski touring trick!
5) Water container or carrying system. The Nalgene bottle in the system is my preferred way of carrying water in freezing conditions as it stows in the pack (outside of the waterproof liner) and stays warm. However, I'm a big fan of soft reservoir systems such as Camelbak and Source in warmer weather when two plus litres of water may need to be carried and accessed quickly. In heat, it's also a good idea to add some flavoured electrolyte tablets to help replace body salts – my favourites are Nuun tablets as they taste good!
Also worth carrying is a water filter 'soft' bottle such as the Salomon XA Flask. I often use this to cut down on weight of fluid carried as you can fill it from streams and drink straight away.
6) A first aid kit of some description should always be carried – if not for yourself then for those you may come across. Keep it basic as improvisations can be made with clothing when it comes to slings and bandages. It's worth carrying blister and insect bite treatments together with a couple of puritabs to sterilise stream water should you run out of what you're carrying. Make sure the kit has plasters & dressings, sterile cleansing wipes, toughcut scissors, eyewash and nitrile gloves. I also carry paracetamol for my various aches and pains – personal medications should be carried but not administered to others. Most good lightweight mountain first aid kits such as those made by Lifesystems also have basic primary care advice leaflets to guide you through a trauma.
7, 8 and 20) These are all variations on the theme of a survival bag and I sometimes carry all three! I'd recommend at the very least a light weight and minutely packable foil emergency bivvy bag (7) such as is made by Lifesystems or Sol is carried – it could save your or another's life. Don't be tempted to buy a foil blanket – they're next to useless! The larger storm shelter is useful for waiting out foul weather, particularly if you're with others – they're available in two person right up to eight or ten person versions! Mine is a two person type big enough for myself and Gyp to chill out in.
The classic orange heavy gauge polythene bivvy bag (20) is better than the foil bag if you have room and is reuseable. I like to carry one to spread out and sit on for resting and eating if with other folk. In foul conditions or an emergency you can literally just climb in and feel the heat start to build around you.
9 and 10) Good gloves are vital in winter. A simple fleece or power stretch glove is easy to put on when it gets cold and can be wrung out when wet and still insulate. I prefer a windproof version as per item (9). Steer clear of gloves with a loose liner – they can be impossible to put on when your hand's wet! You need something that will work in wet conditions – Buffalo mitts are good and easy to put on. They seem expensive for what they are but have saved my hands from frostbite a couple of times. For full on winter work I carry heavier duty gloves and mitts.
11) Another optional extra is a spare pair of socks – useful for changing into if your boots leak.
12) Micro spikes. Generally only carried during winter time and in icy conditions but also very useful on wet grass, slippy stone, stream crossings and muddy paths. I think these are a game changing piece of kit – most people only feel they need them after having a winter nightmare by which time they've often sold out. There are many varieties including the cheap and cheerful Yaktrax which weigh very little. For me however, there's no other choice than Kahtoola Microspikes – the fact they're issued to most Mountain Rescue team members speaks volumes and I carry them year round.
13) Phone in waterproof case. Most folk have a mobile phone these days and despite some traditionalists decrying them you'd be bonkers not to carry it! But there's no point having it unless it's fully charged and you know how it can best help you on the hill. Finding a signal in the hills used to be almost impossible but coverage is getting better all the time now – EE seems to work best in the mountainous areas. You can sign up to the 999 text service which will transmit an emergency message over a weak signal where no voice can be carried. The phone can often be tracked by Mountain Rescue teams in order to locate you if lost or in distress.
There are many mobile phone apps out there to assist with navigation and to summon help – I'd recommend a basic subscription to OS Maps for planning and navigation plus the free OS Locate to pinpoint your position to relay to emergency services. Make sure you download the necessary mapping for the area your route takes so it's available 'offline' and will still display when out of signal. Relying on Googlemaps or similar basic online only phone mapping has got many folk into trouble. Of course, you could invest in a dedicated GPS with on board mapping, such as those produced by Garmin.
14) Some form of eye protection for sun, rain, hail and snow. I use Bloc Titan photochromic sport glasses which work well in virtually all light levels. Don't forget some reading glasses too if you're an old gimmer like me!
15) A small penknife such as a Victorinox Spartan.
16) Headtorch. This is a vital piece of kit on short winter days in case of finishing your route in the dark or being be-nighted. Don't rely on your phone torch – it's not bright enough and could run the battery down just when you need the phone for emergency purposes.
17) Spare batteries for headtorch.
18) Spare boot laces – 150cm or longer to fit all footwear. Also useful for making repairs to kit.
19) Food. Make sure you carry enough calories to see you through the day and beyond if there's a problem. The bars and gels in the photo would usually be supplemented by some 'real' food such as sandwiches. On really cold days it's also good to carry a small flask containing a warm drink or soup.
20) Heavy gauge polythene bivvy bag as previously mentioned.
21) An assortment of dry bags to keep pack contents waterproof. Not shown is a large rucsac liner bag (literage should be bigger than pack) that protects all the kit apart from the water bottle and poles from wet weather. Ortleib make an excellent range of such roll top bags but for those on a budget there are plenty of alternatives online or you could use strong bin liners.
22) Beanie hat for cold weather.
23) Neckgaiter for pulling up over face in serious conditions. Buff are a market leader in these garments.
24) The all important map and compass. Often the last resort for many when navigating but not reliant on batteries, signal or delicate technology. Mine generally stays in my pack as I navigate using GPS technology but every so often I practise with the map and compass. No point carrying the items if you don't know how to use them!
A. 8mm x 20 metre 'confidence' rope. Only carried if on terrain where a fall would have serious consequences. If taken, stow it in a small deployment bag rather than loose in coils that are likely to tangle if needed in a hurry. Learn the basic techniques for protecting yourself and others – simplicity is key and you shouldn't need additional slings and carabiners in a walking/basic scrambling environment.
B. If you're operating in a really remote area where there are known phone signal issues, you might want to invest in a personal locator beacon (PLB) that will summon help through a satellite link. The model illustrated is a McMurdo Fast Find 220.
The day pack size you use is down to personal preference and might range between 20 and 35 litres depending on how much of the above kit is carried and where your route takes you. When I need the whole shebang and want to carry copious amounts of food and water with maybe a flask too, then I use a 33 litre Osprey Talon pack. But just to illustrate you can go smaller with the right choice of equipment, my photo below shows ALL the listed kit in just a 25 litre Montane Trailblazer rucsac which I use on a weekly basis for both walking and running in the hills and mountains.
Not shown is the whistle I always carry attached to the pack. If all else fails - six blasts on the whistle repeated at intervals may alert rescuers. Even if you know help is on its way it’s worth continuing to signal in order to guide personnel in to you. After dark, use your torch to give six flashes to achieve the same effect. These measures should be taken if no phone signal is available.
Hopefully this article will give aspirant mountain walkers a framework of the gear needed to keep themselves safe and self reliant. Some of the kit might never need to be used in anger but is there as an insurance policy. With decent planning, navigation and an awareness of situation, it's unlikely that an issue will present itself that can't be comfortably handled with the equipment outlined above..."
