Winter Ecology
- WHAT TO BRING!
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Be sure to bring
- your laptop
for use in exercises
- cell phone
for emergency
Note -- You will need gear for both the field and for staying overnight at the lodge, and
you'll need to bring food. **
FIELD EQUIPMENT
FIELDWORK
| BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS | DAYPACK | WATER |
CLOTHING/BOOTS | EMERGENCIES
Gear rental note: Snowshoes, skis,
and some other equipment can be rented through the CU Rec
Center (http://www.colorado.edu/rec-center/facilities/outdoor-equipment.html)
and most sport shops in Boulder (such as Neptunes, REI) and
Nederland (Happy Trails, Guru Sports)
| The Big Picture -
In putting together
your field pack, be ready for high-elevation
wintertime environments with -
- High
exposure to cold and wind
- High
radiation (including high UV) and very low
humidity
- Low oxygen
(subject to altitude sickness)
In addition, you need
to be prepared for both -
- High
exertion
- Periods of
standing in the cold and wind.
The Personal Gear List
is compiled with these issues in mind. What you
bring with you will affect your safety and ability to
participate in class activities.
See also notes re Health
Matters
A good reference for Winter gear,
travel, and safety is:
- "Allen & Mike's Really Cool
Backcountry Ski Book," by Allen O'Bannon and Mike
Clelland. 2007. Falcon Guides, Guilford
CT. 122p.
|
Personal
Equipment
required or recommended for field work includes -
- For course excercises and
individual projects fieldwork -
- Required
-
- Field journal
- Compass (and for
emergencies)
- Topo map - either:
- National
Geographic/Trails Illustrated "Indian Peaks/Gold Hill"
(#102)
- USGS 7.5' map
"Ward", and to get the Divide: "Monarch Lake"
- Highly
Recommended (bring if you have) -
- Hand lens
- Binocs - Needed for the weekend we do winter
ornithology -
- Camera
- Field guides - e.g.
to Animal Tracks, Birds, Trees & Shrubs
- Snow shovel
- Altimeter
- Backcountry access equipment -
- Snowshoes (with
sufficient floatation on unpacked snow and grip
on packed/icy surfaces)
- or: Skis/board
(telemark,
touring,
or splitboard) with climbing skins
- See
note above re possibilities for rentals
- Ski poles
- Ski/Snow goggles
- for protection
against wind, blowing snow, sun (UV-rated)
- optionally,
I
also bring sunglasses for sunny and calmer days -
UV-rated, wrap-around or w/ sideshades
- Sun
protection
-
speaking of UV... UV at higher elevations is
intense, plus reflection off the snow adds to your
exposure. It's easy to get sunburned without
realizing it because of the cold and wind.
- Sunblock,
at
least 30 SPF
- Chapstick
or
equivalent, best if SPF rated
- I recommend putting on sunblock before going
out, and periodically reapplying it during the day.
- Day pack -
- Comfortable for snow
travel
- Big enough to carry
your gear, water, lunch & snacks (see FOOD), and that day's course
equipment
- Water/Beverages
- see also Food
- either:
- Water bottles,
carried inside Day pack or in an insulated pocket
- Hydration pack (with
insulated tube recommended)
- Drinking plenty of
water is a crucial factor for enduring the stresses of
altitude and cold.
- I recommend carrying at least 2 liters (70 oz) of
water, and filling bottles/hydration bladder with warm
water to start off with.
- Also
bring
some Sports drink - i.e. any drink that helps restore
electrolytes - an important part of rehydration
- You
may also wish to bring a light-wt (stainless steel)
thermos with your favorite hot beverage (hot chocolate,
tea, ) or soup
- Extreme cold weather clothing and boots -
- Sufficient to stay warm
while standing about for substantial periods (e.g. 1 hr)
- Use a layering system
that works for you - that keeps you warm, yet mobile.
- Wind-proof outer-shell
jacket and pants - e.g. ski jacket/pants, nylon rain
jacket/pants
- Pile (or equivalent)
jacket
- Pile (or equivalent)
vest
- Cap
- Ski face mask or
balaclava
- Neck gaiter
- Sport tights/shirt or
full-length undergarmets - wicking and thermal
- Gloves and/or Mittens
- Insulating.
Some wind-proof
- bring 2nd pair! crucial if other set gets wet
- plus Overmitt
shells (water- and wind-proof)
- Boots -
- Whatever type to
match your access gear (above), hopefully ones that keep
your feet warm
- For snowshoeing
consider insulated boots (e.g. Sorel's), if they work for
you
- If leather/canvas -
Waterproof your boots! e.g. with Nikwax products.
- Gaiters - to provide an
extra layer of wind projection, as well as keeping snow out
of your boots. Some come insulated.
- Socks
- Whatever combination
of inner and outter pairs that work for you
- Wicking, warm
- Bring backup pairs!
if others gets wet. Carry an extra set in the field, have
additional backup sets in the lodge.
- For emergencies -
- Whistle
- for emergency
signaling
- keep handy, e.g. on a
lanyard about your neck.
- Cell
phone
(coverage intermittent at Lodge, usually good at higher
points) -- Program-in instructor & Station
phone#'s:
| Tim |
303 588-8657 (cell)
303 258-0908 (home) |
| Kelly |
303 492-8842 (station office)
303 588-0292 (cell)
303 249-8363 (home) |
Bill Bowman,
MRS
Director |
303 530-9327 (home)
303 492-2557 (CU office) |
| Sheriff |
911 or
303
441-4444 |
- Heat packs!
- e.g. 'Heat Treat'
Hand/Toe Warmers - available at REI and elsewhere
($1.50/$1.80 2-pack)
- I suggest having at
least 2 with you each weekend
- First Aid kit - small,
light-weight
- Headlamp, w/ extra
batteries
OVERNIGHT AT THE
LODGE
For staying overnight at
the lodge, you'll need:
- either Sleeping
bag or Bed linens & blankets
- Pillow (provided,
but your own good idea)
- Towels
FOOD
Bring food for:
- Breakfasts
- Lunches
- Most lunches will be in
the field (see schedule for each week)
- Bring lots and lots of
food that can be easily consumed when you're cold!
Having extra food goes along ways for staying warm and
feeling energized in the field.
- Prepare field lunches
during breakfast, before morning class.
- Snacks
- Lots and lots for time
in the field - nuts, energy bars, chocolate - be prepared to
share ;-) , mint cake, ...
- For 'energy bars', if
you're a fan of those, I recommend ones that don't get
superhard when cold -
- for
example: Cliff & Odwalla bars generally still
chewable, Powerbars bricklike when cold.
- Keep a couple bars in
inside pockets so they're warm
- Dinners - bring your
contribution to Saturday group dinners, as you've arranged as
a group.
- Beverages -
- Non-alcoholic only
(sorry, per CU/MRS rules)
- Sports
drink
for the field (see WATER)
- Your
favorite
hot
beverages - Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, ...
COMPUTER,
INTERNET ACCESS
We will have access to 5 PC's
in the Marr Lab's library, which is not too far from the
Lodge. If you have a laptop, I recommend bringing
it.
The Lodge has internet.
In addition, the Marr Lab has both wire and wireless
connections.
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© 2012 T.
Kittel. All rights reserved.
rev 20 Jan 12