What We Provide...

Below is a list of the gear needed/provided for our Spring Trek backpacking trip. This is not a complete packing list for your semester or J-term. Additional required/recommended items can be found in your Student Handbook.

Full gear pic we provide (11 × 8.5 in) (3).png

If you own any of these items and prefer to use your own you may bring them with you. We will do a full gear check before leaving for any trips. Personal gear must be approved by the Tahoe Semester staff to be used. All gear used will be recorded and students must sign a gear waiver before receiving gear.

What you need to bring...

Waterproof Shell Jacket

This should be a hooded waterproof (not water resistant) jacket. Materials to look for are Gore-Tex, Nikwax Analogy, Polartec NeoShell, Pertex Shield+, Porelle Dry, OutDry Extreme.

Compare Jackets Here

Insulated Puffer Jacket

This should be a hooded or non-hooded thick puffer style jacket. Look for down fill of 600+ or synthetic insulation of 100-200g.

Learn more here

Long Underwear top/bottom

Long-sleeved and pants under layers CANNOT be made of cotton. A merino wool blend is best, other materials such as nylon or polyester will work but will not be as warm.

Insulated Gloves/Mittens

These should be thick waterproof gloves or mittens. Knitted gloves/mittens are allowed but they cannot be your main pair of hand coverage.

T-shirts

Any style shirt you would prefer is fine. These CANNOT be cotton. The shirts should be moisture-wicking and quick-drying. You will not need more than 2 shirts for the trip.

Down Booties

These should be hard bottomed above the ankle booties. Do not get the short ankle style as you will get snow in your booties. There are varying ranges for these booties and although you can find them on amazon, we would caution you to read reviews and check materials before purchasing.

Water Bottles (2)

These should be wide mouth plastic 32 ounce water bottles. Spring trips require melting snow for water and this style is required for easy filling purposes. DO NOT get metal water bottles as they will freeze and or burn you when hot water is poured in.

Sun Hat

Any visor, baseball cap, hat etc. will work. Wicking material is encouraged, but not required.

Personal Hygiene Kit

You will not need many toiletries on this trip, but the following items will be helpful to have. All items should be travel size if possible

toothbrush
toothpaste
unscented body wipes
medications (prescription)
unscented lotion (optional)
brush (optional)

Wool Socks

You need to have 3 good pairs of wool socks. This is necessary to keep your feet warm and dry. You may pack extra socks to layer but you should have these pairs for each day of the trip.

Merino Blend 3 Pack

Merino Wool 4 Pack

Merino Wool 3 Pack

Waterproof Shell Pants

These should be full length waterproof (not water resistant) pants. Materials to look for are Gore-Tex, Nikwax Analogy, Polartec NeoShell, Pertex Shield+, Porelle Dry, OutDry Extreme.

Compare Pants Here

Fleece Jacket

This should be a zip up or quarter zip/button fleece jacket. Anything found at a local Costco/Sam's club or an outdoors/clothing store will suffice.

Fleece Pants

Full length fleece pants. Jogger style recommended. Anything found at a local Costco/Sam's club or an outdoors/clothing store will suffice.

Wool/Fleece Hat

Any wool or fleece beanie you find will work, make sure it fits your head well. Having a warm layer on your head will help to keep you warm!

Hiking Boots

Boots are by far your most important piece of gear. These MUST be waterproof for you to have a safe trip. In addition to waterproof above the ankle boots, you can also buy wax and sprays to better prepare your boots. It is best to purchase your boots in advance and break them in as much as you can. We highly recommend reading reviews thoroughly and looking for an official Waterproof or Gore-Tex tag before buying.

Boot Options

Cup, Bowl & Spoon

These should be plastic and light weight. Many stores offer kits that included all of these pieces. These should not be overly expensive. Check reviews and dimensions before purchasing.

Sea to Summit Set

Headlamp

Any type of headlamp will suffice. Some headlamps come with dimming and red light options. These are not required but can be nice to have. Check what size batteries are needed and be sure to purchase extra to bring in your pack.

Sunscreen & Lip Balm

It is very easy to get wind chapped lips and a major sunburn on backpacking trips so this is very important to have. Liquid items tend to freeze so keep this in mind when purchasing. Small travel size items that can fit in your pockets are best.

Sunglasses

We recommend bringing a inexpensive pair of sunglasses for this trip. However, you may chose to bring whatever you would like while keeping in mind their is potential for damage. If you wear glasses, make sure you have a pair that can fit over your glasses or attaches. The sun reflects off of the snow and protecting your eyes is very important!

Below are some websites we recommend using to purchase your gear. Always check for sales and discounts before purchasing. If you shop instore for anything, tell a sales associate that you are doing a winter backpacking trip and they can help make recommendations as well.