What you are about to do may sound like a simple “walk in the park,” but after my five years as a volunteer Search & Rescue Hasty Team member in Tahoe, I have to point out that most people get in trouble in the backcountry because:

1. Denial: they honestly believe that “nothing will happen to me out there”
2. Ignorance: they have no clue what they are walking into
3. Haste: they don’t allow enough time to prepare, then hurry along the trail
4. Laziness: they forget what to bring because they don’t know why
5. Foresight: they don’t research the conditions present where they want to go
6. Presumptive Declination: they decline to bring things because they don’t understand the need
7. Snowball: that little detail missing or minor disregard snowballs into a major panic
8. Education & Experience: they don’t know how or why they are doing what they are doing
9. Leadership: they trusted another to lead and protect…and they didn’t
10. Distraction: exposed to the whiles of a foreign environment, they pay attention to something else

This gear list, therefore, may read long and unnecessary for a little day out on the mountain, but I assure you that there are factors, situations, and conditions out there that can turn against you in a second and to which you need to be aware and prepared. That is why you’re taking this introductory clinic – to learn how to be safe in the backcountry! (Everything on this list will be explained during the clinic).

Consider bringing, wearing, or carrying the following items. In totality, having all of them will make you prepared for whatever conditions (snow or weather) exist when you get to the top of the tram. Do you need all of them for this clinic? Of course, not!

So, the first Gear List, below, includes everything I’d bring, if I didn’t have a clue what I was walking into. The “Essential Gear List” has the absolute minimum of items required to get something out of the class.

Regarding Rentals:  I do not know of any local mountain shops where any of the “essentials” can be rented, but check with REI, first!

If you have questions, please contact your clinic instructor for answers before you arrive in class.

If you are not prepared with the right gear that enables you to learn what is taught, your instructor may prevent you from attending the class or participating in specific skills practices!

Closet:

1. Long underwear or equivalent (tights, etc.; usually worn)
2. Insulative pants (for cold days); Normal pants (for warm, spring days; worn)
3. Waterproof pant shells (waterproof/breathable is ok for rolling around in the snow; worn or carried)
4. Synthetic upper tee shirt or equivalent (worn)
5. Insulative upper layer or equivalent (worn)
6. Optional thicker insulative upper layer (down sweater/down jacket; usually carried)
7. Down parka or equivalent (for when we are taking lunch on a cold, windy day; usually carried)
8. Waterproof jacket shell (waterproof/breathable is ok; carried)
9. Insulated gloves (cold day); liner gloves (warm, spring day; worn or carried, as needed)
10. Knit/Insulated/Fleece hat or equivalent (cold day; worn or carried, as needed)
11. Wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap (warm, spring day; worn)
12. Tall gaiters for over your shoes/boots (worn)
13. Extra gloves and socks (carried)

Kitchen:

1. A couple liters/quarts of electrolyte-filled water (bring a liter of regular water if having a hot lunch)
2. Quick snacks, bars, gorp, fruit, etc. (whatever you like that can be handy)
3. Main Lunch meal: sandwiches, hot lunch option (bring stove, fuel, etc.), crackers, cheese, meat, etc.
4. Stove with winter fuel, pot, plate to put in on, and windscreen (if you’re enjoying a hot lunch)
5. Knife or multi-tool
6. Spoon, fork (as needed)

Office:

1. Camera/phone
2. Compass
3. GPS (if you have one, bring it. The need for this will be explained during the clinic).
4. Topo map of area (to be provided)
5. Loud whistle
6. Dark glasses that fit the face (“Glacier glasses” are preferred; worn)
7. First Aid kit

Link to the Palm Springs Tramway for online purchase of tickets and parking info.

Bathroom:

1. Toiletries: TP, wipes, carry out zip-lock, lighter, hand sanitizer
2. Lip balm, skin cream, sunscreen

Garage:

1. Snowshoes (any brand, rental or owned. We like MSR, “Lightning Ascent”) for winter’s soft, powder snow or Springtime afternoon soft snow,*
2. Snowshoe Footwear: Insulated snowshoe boots (“Snopac” boots of various brands, other insulated winter boots, or rental snowboard boots),*
3. Footwear for hard, consolidated snow: 1) tall, hard-soled shoes similar to traditional leather hiking boots will allow you to learn and practice “edging,” “Heel-Plunging,” and crampon use, 2) soft-soled, “trail-runner” type shoes will leave your feet cold and wet and will not let you do the above skills (if you bring this type of footwear, you will not be allowed to learn and practice these valuable skills),*
4. Adjustable poles with snow baskets
5. Day Pack (that fits you, can hold everything, and can take weight comfortably). Any kind of pack will do, really. I often bring my huge Kelty frame pack because I have to carry too much.
6. Sit-pad (something to put down on the snow to sit on during lunch)
7. Traction Device: 1) Hiking crampons (10-point, like the Kahtoola KTS or K-10 models) or microspikes
8. Poles: 1) two of anything with snow baskets, or 2) Durable, two-section aluminum hiking poles with snow baskets (you can bring carbon designs, but they can break easier), or most specifically, 3) the Black Diamond, “Whippet,” Self-Arrest pole and their “Traverse” pole.
9. Self-Arrest Device: 1) a long wooden or aluminum ice axe with leash, or 2) a Self-Arrest Pole, like the one mentioned, above.
10. 3-season Tent (if you want to be sheltered from the sun and wind during lunch)
11. Insulated sleeping matts, if you want to lie down (like those from Exped)
12. Snow shovel (if you are bringing a tent; you’ll learn why)

The Essential Gear List:

1. Warm clothing for living on snow, in cold temperatures, in the wind, with sun and without it. Read the weather forecast for San Jacinto the day before.
2. Waterproof shells for upper & lower body, gloves, and gaiters. (For practicing glissading and self-arrest).
3. Footwear: whatever you have that has deep lug soles for gripping the snow. (Shoes with hard-edged soles are preferred as soft soles may prevent you from learning certain skills).
4. Traction aids: chain or crampon styles are both fine (one is better, but you will find out why)
5. Poles: must have snow baskets (2-section, heavy duty aluminum models are best)
6. Self-arrest tool: ice axe or self-arrest pole
7. Snowshoes aren’t necessary unless there has been recent snowfall

Contact your instructor or Mountain Education before class to find out what kind of snow to prepare for (which dictates what kind of footwear to use) and whether snowshoes will be needed.