A PDF printable version of our clothing list

Read this carefully; if you have any questions, ask your teacher.

Although the weather at our Mountain Campus is often sunny and warm, it is also sometimes rainy, snowy, cold and windy. This clothing is designed to function as a layered system. Since all the items may be worn alone in warmer conditions or together to create a comfortable outfit for wintry conditions, it is imperative that you bring everything on the list unless it is marked optional.

Wool is the traditional outdoors miracle fabric. Unlike cotton, wool does not lose it's loft when it becomes wet, resulting in a much warmer garment for inclement weather conditions. Cotton, such as jeans, sweat pants, sweat shirts, and flannel shirts are not as useful for our purposes, as they become quickly saturated and lose their insulating ability. The modern equivalent to wool is any synthetic fleece or fiber pile fabric. Anywhere you read wool in the following list a synthetic alternative is acceptable.

Although today we often find comfort in technology and equipment, it is important to recognize that our closest base camp is a mile from the trailhead. Everything will be carried by the participant. Bringing extra is neither necessary, nor encouraged.

All technical equipment is provided by The Mountain Institute; this includes sleeping bags and mats, stoves, backpacks, tents, water bottles and helmets for caving. You may bring your own equipment if you wish. If you bring a tent you should expect to share space with other students.

Please bring the following items for camping

1 set polypropylene (or similar material) long underwear tops and bottoms.

3 pair light socks

2 pair wool socks

1 pair light nylon shorts

1 wool shirt or light wool sweater or vest

1 pair of wool pants

1 wool sweater or jacket

1 warm wool hat

1 pair wool gloves or mittens

1 rain suit - jacket and pants. Heavy-duty rubber/plastic is great, Gore-Tex is OK too, but not necessary.

1 pair comfortable waterproof boots. Leather boots are fine if you have broken them in; an extra pair of sneakers (high top) is OK if you don't mind wet feet now and then. Rubberized boots are also fine.

1 flashlight with extra batteries - to be used nightly as well as in the cave

1 small backpack (book bag)

1 cup, 1 bowl, 1 set eating utensils

1 journal or sketch pad with a pen and/or pencil

5 heavy-duty garbage bags

Please bring the following additional items for caving. Since caves are wet and muddy places, with an average temperature of 54 degrees, having the right clothes can really make a difference in your level of enjoyment.

1 set polypropylene long underwear - tops and bottoms

1 pair wool socks

1 wool sweater

1 nylon wind suit - jackets and pants

1 pair old sneakers

At the end of your course you will shower before boarding the bus to go home. Please bring the following, which will be stored at our base of operations during your course.

1 set of shower gear: soap, towel, and washcloth

1 set of clean clothes

SUGGESTED OPTIONAL GEAR

1 pair comfortable pants for walking

camera

binoculars

Some photo examples of our clothing list suggestions:

polypropylene (or similar material) top

polypropylene (or similar material) bottom

3 pair lite socks plus 2 pair wool (NOT cotton) socks (5 pairs total)

nylon shorts

polypropylene (or similar material) top