Mountaingirl

Note:

*please consider labelling or marking your gear, especially for the Trad courses, as its easy to mix up gear. We like Tags4 (www.tags4.com).

** We've found it helps a lot to print this off and double check it in the mornings as you pack your kit up, so nothing is forgotten..

*** don't panic if it seems like a lot of items. We can lend you many of the things listed below, and some you can live without (we have marked what is really necessary and what is just ideal to have if you can find it) - and if you are in Chamonix, you can hire almost anything at an inexpensive cost.

"Endless Summer" Coaching Weeks

This includes our Sardinia, Croatia, Kalymnos and Spain courses, fyi, in case you didn't
get the "Endless Summer" reference....(The courses are always in May and October...Geddit?)

Manditory:

Insurance that covers rock climbing in europe. (The BMC offers this type of policy)
passport and emergency contact info to give to us
harness
rock shoes
helmet
Chalk bag and chalk, or liquid chalk
belay device and carabiner, gri-gri or atc-style device ok

Optional/Recommended:

quickdraws, at least 12
50 or 60 metre single rope (if you check it regularly, and know its history and its in good condition. It is your choice if you prefer to climb on your own rope, as some prefer it. We'll also be bringing some ropes for you to use. If you are thinking of buying a rope, we're happy to advise you.)
a couple slings and carabiners for ropework practice and lowering off routes
tea towel (v. useful for getting the sand off of your shoes!)
sunblock
comfortable climbing clothes - layers (It can be boiling hot or can get quite cold if it gets rainy.)
warm jacket (or gillet duvet/ sleeveless puffa)
trainers or somewhat sturdy shoes for approaches (most are short and on a dirt track or sand.)
swimming cossie if you fancy a dip in the sea
towel
camera
torch
sunglasses
pen and paper if you want to make notes of rope-work techniques etc.
finger tape
sun-hat or baseball cap
climb on balm or salve
water bottle
personal medication and toiletries (nail clippers useful too)
guidebook (we have them too but if you have one already several copies are useful)

Bouldering Technique Workshop Kitlist

Mandatory:
-Insurance covering rock climbing or bouldering
-Rock shoes

Optional:
-Warm clothes/gloves/hat
-Bouldering mat (if you have one. The more mats, the better)
-Comfy shoes for walk-ins (easy and short approaches generally)
- Tea towel or old cloth (really! good to clean your shoes on it...)
-Personal medication if needed

Learn to love trad kit-list

Mandatory:
-Insurance (covering rock climbing)
-Rock shoes
-Harness
-Helmet
-Personal belay device (not a gri-gri, ideally an ATC/Bug/or Black Diamond XP or BD Guide -type device)
-acouple locking screwgate carabiners
-Personal climbing clothes (it will probably be reasonably cold, we recommend you layer and wear comfortable warm clothes and bring some gloves and a warm hat if weather is very cold)
-Lunch and Water

Optional:
-A couple long slings or cordelette (if you don’t have or don’t know what a cordelette is, don’t worry)
-Your own rack (If you have one- if not, there will be a range of gear for you to try out)
-3-4 screw-gate carabiners
-Warm jacket – one that is good in the damp
-Pen/paper
-If you are camping or staying at a bothy, equipment for your stay, be it sleeping bags, stove, etc.
-Personal medication and toiletries
-Comfy boots or trainers for walk-ins (which are generally short and easy)

Intro to Ice

Mandatory:
-Insurance (covering ice climbing in an alpine environment)
-Harness
-Helmet
-Technical Ice axes (that is, curved shaft and dropped pick, with or without leashes is fine)
-Crampon compatible “B3” boots - Plastic boots are OK, or those similar to La Sportiva Nepal Extremes
-C3 Crampons, mono-point or vertical point orientated is preferred over horizontal front points
-Compatible anti-bott (plastic or rubber plates that fit your crampons to keep them balling up with snow)
-2 Slings (dyneema or similar) suitable for cow-tails etc
-2 prussics (made from a loop of 6ml-8 ml cord- we can help you make it if you give us your cord.)
-3 screwgate carabiners
-personal belay device - make sure the device is suitable for ice lines and thin ropes- The new Petzl Reversos (the ones with a ridged edge) and Black Diamond XP or BD Guide type devices are good, or an ATC will do. No gri-gris or smooth braking-edged Reversos please!
-Several pairs of warm socks- often a thin pair under a warmer looped-wool pair works well. (Socks that make your boots too tight will just make your feet really cold! Don’t bring cotton, please.)

Optional:
-Thermals for top and legs (wicking and warm is best- like thin wool Icebreakers or similar- not cotton!)
-Waterproof (or very good water-resistant) trousers
-Gaitors (Breathable and snug is best; really for if your trousers bag a bit around your ankles or are not made of a very sturdy fabric- it’s easy to catch a crampon on them and either trip up or tear a big hole in them.)
-Warm fleece x2
-Water-proof or water resistant jacket
-Puffa Duvet jacket or Gillet ( They’re often too warm to climb in, but if they are small they are great for keeping warm at belays - especially if you have a small stuff sac, and they are good for hanging around in the cold)
-Thermos for hot drinks
-Warm hat (wool or warm fleece -like windstopper- with a tight weave, that cover your ears are best; make sure it fits under your helmet!)
-Sun glasses
-Goggles
-Blister kit
-Headtorch
Whistle, compass, map (not strictly necessary, but it’s a good habit to always have it.)
-Gloves- If you have a system that works, stick with it, otherwise:
Light liner pair of gloves
-Warm waterproof gloves that pad your knuckles
-Any extra pairs or mittens are good for walk-ins (if they have very good grip, they can be worn for belaying)

(N.B. The right glove system can make an ice climb fun and comfortable, the wrong system can make it extremely uncomfortable! Everyone eventually finds a system that works for them. We usually use a light ice climbing pair (like the Cloudveil womens ice glove) that is dextrous and padded for climbing. Often, with thick gloves, one grabs the axes too hard and cuts off blood flow, and gets colder hands. Then we also have a pair of grippy warm mits or gloves that we keep warm in the chest of our jacket while we climb - the harness over your jacket keeps them from falling out the bottom of your jacket- and use those at the belay. Then we swop according to whether we are climbing or belaying. We always reccommend an extra emergency pair too, in case one pair gets too wet and cold. Mountaingirl has some extra pairs that we can lend out but we have limited stock.)

-Ruc-sac (35l, is plenty big enough. Additionally, a small, light, well fitting pack that holds water, extra gloves, food etc., is very useful for multi-pitches. The Lowe Alpine Attack is a good example.)
-Sunscreen
-Waterbottle
-Camera
-Lunch (can get in supermarkets here)
-Personal Toiletries and Medications
-Clothes for around town (the sidewalks can get wet, snowy, or muddy in winter.)
-Pen and paper for evening lectures

Intro to Mountaineering Kitlist

Mandatory:
*Insurance covering ice, rock and mixed climbing in an alpine environment
(N.B. The lighter the equipment you have for this course, the better. Wherever you can save weight and space, its encouraged.)
*Harness
*Helmet
*Alpine Axe (straight shaft, ideally without drop nosed pick please)
*Technical Ice axes (with or without leashes, as you prefer - we may not use these on this course, depending on the wishes of those on the course, if you want to try any altitude ice climbs and conditions are good.)
*Crampon compatible “B3” boots – Plastic boots are often too warm for summer climbing, and can be really heavy sometimes. We like those similar to La Sportiva Nepal Extremes.
*C3 Crampons, horizontal front points is preferred, but mono or vertical front points are OK as long as you definitely have anti-bott (see below)
*Compatible anti-bott (plastic or rubber plates that fit your crampons to keep them balling up with snow)
*2 Slings (dyneema or similar) suitable for cow-tails etc
*2 prussics (made from a loop of 5-7ml cord- we can help you make it if you give us your cord.)
*3 screwgate carabiners
*personal belay device – make sure the device is suitable also for Ice Lines and thinner ropes- The new Petzl Reversos (the ones with a ridged braking edge) and Black Diamond XP devices are good, or an ATC or figure 8 will do. No gri-gris, nor the older smooth-edged Reversos please!
*Several pairs of warm socks- often a thin pair under a looped warmer wool pair works well. (Socks that make your boots too tight will just make your feet really cold!)
*Thermals for top and legs (wicking and warm is best- like thin wool Icebreakers or similar- don’t bring cotton!)
*Gloves- a few pairs is best, including a light pair, warm liners, as well as a very warm water-resistant pair (like ski gloves, for example)
*Gaitors (breathable is preferable)
*Rock Shoes (we often have a ropework day that includes some rock climbing)

Optional:
*Water-resistant trousers (breathable is preferable)
*Warm fleece x2
*Water-proof or water resistant jacket
*Thermos for hot drinks
*Warm hat (wool or warm fleece, with a tight weave, that cover your ears are best, make sure it fits under your helmet!)
*Sun-glasses
*Goggles
*Rucksack- around 35 l.
*Blister kit
*Headtorch
*Sunscreen
*Waterbottle
*Camera
*Lunch (can get in supermarkets here)
*Personal Toiletries and Medications
*Clothes for around town (it can get warm in the valley during the day and can be cold at night.)
*Sleeping bag liner (for huts, they provide the rest)
*Earplugs (for noisy huts)*Pen and paper for evening lectures

Intro to Alpine Rock Kitlist

Mandatory:
*Insurance (covering alpine rock)
*Helmet
*Harness
*Rock shoes
*2 slings
*3 screw-gate carabiners
*2 prussics (made from a loop of 5-7 ml cord- we can help you make it if you give us your cord.)
*personal belay device (no gri-gris please)
*Boots (rigid sole, rated B2 or B3 for approaches over glaciers and snowy terrain.)
*Crampons (Horizontal front points are fine, ensure they’re compatible in terms of fit and crampons rating - i.e.C1, C2 or C3- for your boots)
*Alpine Axe (Straight shaft, without drop nose pick)

Optional:
Sunscreen
Waterbottle
Rucksack-(35l, is plenty big enough. Additionally, a small, light, well fitting pack that holds water, extra gloves, food etc., is very useful for multi-pitches. The Lowe Alpine Attack is a good example.)
Lunches / Snacks (Can get in Chamonix)
Camera
Personal toiletries and medication
Sleeping bag liner (for huts, they will provide the rest)
Earplugs (for noisy huts)
Hat (tight weave wool or windstopper is good, make sure it fits under your helmet)
Gloves (light weight gloves are fine, but just liners aren’t sufficient unless they’re quite thick and warm)
Sunglasses
Water resistant jacket
Fleece
Personal climbing clothes (we recommend sturdy trousers)
Trainers or light boots (for easy short approaches)

Improvers/Learn to Lead on Ice Kitlist

See Intro to Ice kit list, plus:

For those who want to work on leading:
Rack for ice screws to sit well on your harness is useful, especially that made by Simmond which is available in Cham, or the Black Diamond rack is OK too)
Your personal rack (if you already have one, or any particular pieces of pro/gear you especially prefer based on your past experiences. We can go over it with you to ensure its appropriate for your routes.)

Alpine Rock Improvers / Learn to lead on Alpine Rock

Same as Intro to Alpine Rock, plus:

Your own rack if you have one, or any pieces of gear or pro you especially prefer based on your past experiences. We can go over it with your to ensure it is appropriate for your route.)

Intermediate Mountaineering

See Intro to Alpinism list