Clothing Layering System

Absolutely NO COTTON: it absorbs moisture and hinders your ability to stay warm and dry in Alaskan mountain and wilderness environments.

• Wool or synthetic t-shirt (wool is more odor resistant and feels cleaner longer)
• Wool or synthetic underwear (again, no cotton: it produces a miserable chafe)
• Additional wool or synthetic top & bottom baselayear (i.e. long underwear)
• Mid layer (e.g. fleece hoody like the Patagonia R1)
• Down or synthetic insulating layer
  • Down (e.g. Black Diamond Approach) is very light and packable, with a high warmth to weight ratio, but loses its ability to insulate when it becomes wet.
  • Synthetic (e.g. Patagonia Micro Puff) will insulate better if it gets wet but isn’t as warm, light, and packable as down.
• Additional down or synthetic insulating layer (especially important for multi-day trips and associated camp time)
• Waterproof hardshell jacket (CMI recommends a 3L material with helmet-compatible hood like the Arc’Teryx Beta AR)
• Lightweight softshell pants like the OR Cirque Lite (it’s nice to have your pant leg bottoms cover your boot tops so debris doesn’t get in your boots)
• Waterproof hardshell pants (CMI recommends a 3L material with at least 3/4 length side zips, to take on and off easily without removing boots, like the Patagonia Torrentshell)
• Consider lightweight, packable puff pants like the Patagonia DAS Light or Arc’teryx Cerium for colder weather trips

• Gloves (bring at least two pair)
  • Lightweight, breathable pair (could be an inner liner glove)
  • Waterproof pair (could be an outer shell glove)
  • Consider bringing a pair of lightweight, packable mittens for colder trips

Footwear

• Sturdy backpacking or mountain boots (that are broken in)
  • If Scarpa boots fit your feet, CMI recommends the Zodiac Plus for backpacking and non-technical use. CMI recommends the Ribelle HD for mountaineering and technical use (can also be used for backpacking)
• 3 pair mid to heavy weight wool-synthetic socks (2 pair for normal wear and 1 pair for sleeping bag use only)
• Water crossing footwear: generally a lightweight, packable pair of sneakers that drains and dries readily is best for this purpose.
  • Crocs may be suitable, but inquire with CMI relative to your trip and route
  • This footwear can also serve to get you out of your boots during camp time
  • Consider a lightweight, packable pair of booties for camp time on colder trips
• Gaiters
  • Optional for most backpacking especially if your pant leg bottoms cover your boot tops well enough to prevent debris from getting in
  • Recommend for some trips and mountaineering, inquire with CMI about your specific trip and route
  • A couple examples: OR Helium and Black Diamond Talus

Headwear

• Sunglasses (a photochromic pair or pair with interchangeable lenses, one for intense sun and one for low light)
• Ball cap (sun protection & works great under jacket hoods)
  • Consider helmet compatibility if your trip and route requires a helmet
• Warm beanie (again, consider helmet compatibilty)
• Headlamp (with spare batteries or means to recharge battery)
• Neck gaiter or synthetic bandana

• Adjustable 3-piece trekking poles (CMI recommends the BD Trail)
• Backpack (with waterproof rain cover that fits securely)
  • For multi-day trips 65-75+ liter is recommended as you’ll need to be able to fit a CMI-provided BearVault BV500 or similar sized Ursack inside your pack along with all your other gear. Look for a pack that will compress nicely when you don’t need all the space on shorter hikes from camp.
  • 30-40 liter recommended for day trips
  • For technical climbing and mountaineering trips, consider pack attachment features for ice axe and trekking poles
• Sunscreen & lip balm
• Bug repellent (small picaridin spray bottle recommended for field application as it won’t damage synthetic clothing and gear, consider permethrin treated clothing)
  • Headnet optional (usually not necessary but you can inquire with CMI about your trip and route)
• Personal medicine and prescriptions (CMI guide carries an extensive 1st Aid kit, but if you have items you know you may need and that work for you, bring them)
• Water bottle (standard wide mouth Nalgene recommended)
• Snacks & lunch (you provide your own for day trips, all meals and snacks provided by CMI on multi-day, overnight trips)
• Quality smart phone (optional)
  • Compass & GPS mapping app (e.g. Gaia or CalTopo)
  • Better than carrying an additional camera
  • Digital reading material lighter than carrying a book

For Multi-Day Trips

• Tent (CMI has a variety of tents available for client use)
  • Lightweight backpacking tent with inner mesh body and outer rain fly like the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL is recommended
    • Note that, in general, the 2 person sized ultralight tents are a tight fit for 2 average-sized adults. A 3 person will be more comfortable, especially on an extended trip.
  • For trips mid August through April, when bugs aren’t an issue, a pyramid style tent like the Big Agnes Gold Camp is hard to beat for size and weather resistance to weight ratio.
  • For higher elevation mountaineering and snow-based trips, a tent like the Black Diamond Mission or MSR Access will withstand the high mountain elements better

• Sleeping Bag (CMI recommends hydrophobic treated down for the best warmth to weight ratio, packability, and weather resistance)
  • For general use, a 20ºF like the Thermarest Parsec is hard to beat
  • For winter and use on snow, consider a -20ºF to 0ºF rated bag

• Sleeping Pad (lightweight, packable, and inflatable with repair and patch kit)
  • Gold standard for general use is the Thermarest NeoAir XLite NXT
    • Combine with a foam pad like the Z Lite Sol for use on snow
  • Gold standard for winter and use on snow is Thermarest NeoAir XTherm NXT
  • Nemo Tensor sleeping pads are an excellent alternative to Thermarest

• Stuff sacks to organize, compress, and pack items
• Toiletries (just the basics: toilet paper, toothpaste & brush, eco-friendly soap like Dr. Bronner’s, hand sanitizer)
• Mess kit (light and packable eating & drinking utensils)
  • Spork or spoon, bowl, mug for hot drinks, small sponge (cut a normal kitchen sponge in half), scraper
• Battery pack with charging cord(s) for electronics like phone and headlamp

For Climbing, Mountaineering, & Technical Glacier Travel

CMI has some of these items available for client use

• Helmet (lightweight like the Petzl Sirocco)
• Crampons (CMI recommendation: Petzl Irvis Hybrid)
  • Make sure you have mountaineering boots with semi auto crampon compatible heel welts
• Axe with hammer (CMI recommendation: Petzl Gully or Sum’Tec, Black Diamond Venom or Venom LT Tech)
• Harness
  • For lightweight mountaineering and glacier travel CMI recommends the Black Diamond Couloir
  • For more general use CMI recommends the Black Diamond Vision airNET, Technician, or Arc’teryx AR

Anchorage is the best place in AK to purchase or rent gear.

Very little is available outside Anchorage and Fairbanks.