Blue Lake Ice Climbing – August 12-14th

Climbing Food:

• Boil in a bag meals, 6 -10 double size meals per person
• Gu Shots x 40 per person
• Gu Chomps 20 packets per person
• Energy Bars x 30 per person make sure they are ones that don’t freeze to easily
• Gu Brew Tabs x 50 per person

Equipment:

Climbing

• 2 x half ropes 60m. We use Tendon Master Half Ropes 
• 1 x cragging rope for Hatun Machay
• Crampons
• 2 x ice axe and/or mixed climbing tools per person with hammer/adze
• 1 x small file for sharpening crampons/picks
• 1 x spare pick for ice tools.
• 1 x allen key or spanner for tightening axes
• 1 x travel bag for crampons
• 12 light weight 60cm extendable quick draws
• 2 x 120cm light weight spectra sewn sling
• Pitons (approx 6, 3 each of knife blades and angles)
• 2 x auto locking screw gate style biners for ATC and for fixing anchors per person
• 2 x light weight screw gates per person
• 2 x snow stakes
• 1 x ATC guide style belay device per person
• 1 x daisy chain or safety sling per person
• 2 x alpine light weight etrier
• A mix of hooks and beaks for aid [optional]
• hand drill and small selection of bolts [optional]
• 1 x helmet per person light under 400g
• 1 x climbing harness per person (needs to weigh less than 350g)
• 2 x sets of wires number 1 – 8 + 1 set RPs & offsets
• Double set of cams 0-4 camalots (this allows us to have gear stashed in two seperate climbing locations)
• 1 x light weight biner per cam
• 12 x ice screws for team, 2 long, 8 med 2 short, Petzl light weight screws 
• Ice screw sharpener
• 1 x v-threader per person
• Spinner leash for attaching ice axes to harness
• Ice clippers for harness
• 2x screamers
• 1 x chalk bag per person
• 1 x spare pot of chalk
• 1 x crack climbing gloves
• 1 x fifi hook
• 1 x grigri
• 3 x tibloc
• 3 x micro traction
• 1 x binoculars

Route bivvy gear:

• 1 x shovel (light weight) [optional]
• 1 x double bivvy quilt (Macpac prototype), if taking bivy bags x single bivy bag Macpac Alpine Cocoon
• 1 x light single skin tent
• 1 x bothy Bag 3 person Rab Sil Bothy
• 1 x sleeping mat each (3/4 Z rest with clip in point)
• 2 x 120L Macpac Duffle bags each for travel 
• 1 x 35 – 45 L climbing pack (under 600g) NZAT Macpac Pursuit 40
• 1 x 1L water bottle per person
• 2 x 1L bladders per person
• 1 x 1.5L piss bottle
• 1 x 10L water bladder
• 1 x pen + notebook per person
• 1 Jetboil 800ml variety
• 1 spoon per person
• Drybags for gear at least five large ones per person. (and stashing kit at high bivvy sites)
• Sat Phone is handy for getting up to date forecasts while away in the mountains and emergencies.

Base camp gear:

• 1 x leatherman multi tool per two people
• 1 x light climbing knife i.e. petzl knife that can attach to harness one per person
• 1 x long flexible drinking straw per person for use on route and glaciers each person, 30cm or longer.
• Lighters, gas, soap, other cooking supplies can be brought in town.
• Sleeping bag for base camp Macpac Epic 400
• Individual tent for base camp we took Macpac Olympus Tents a good sized 2 man base camp tent.
• 1 x silk sleeping bag liner per person
• 1 x small dry bag for top of pack per person
• Stuff sack for organising clothing or a Macpac cram sack

Footwear:

• 1 x alpine boot mid weight like Salewa Pro Series or for longer , higher routes where a bivy is planned a double boot is ideal.
• 1 x pair jandles per person
• 1 x town shoe
• 1 x pair approach shoes per person Salewa Mountain Trainer
• 1 x spare laces for climbing boots per person
• 1 x tight fitting rock shoe per person for sport climbing in town.
• 1 x climbing shoe that can fit a mid weight sock snugly per person.
• 1 x spare laces for climbing shoe per person
• Lube for boot zippers
• Wax or waterproof boots before departure
• Walking poles

Clothing: (all items for each person)

• 1 x Pro Thermal Leggings Macpac
• 1 x Pro Thermal Hoody Macpac
• 1 x Fitz Roy Soft Shell Pants
• 1 x Fitz Roy Soft Shell Jacket 
• 6 x sports style underwear Macpac Merino
• 2 x mid weight sock Macpac Tech Ski Socks
• 2 x thin sock (running, approach walks) Macpac Fast Hiker Sock
• 1 x thick sock (Bivvy’s) Macpac Expedition Sock
• 1 x travel sock
• 1 x Macpac Sonic Windshirt
• 1  x Macpac Pitch Fleece 
• 1 x Macpac Supanova light weight down jacket 
• 2 x Macpac Dash gloves 
• 2 x Macpac Stretch fleece gloves
• 1 x Macpac Equinox down Jacket 
• 1 x waterproof shell to go over the wind  stopper gloves if it starts to rain.
• 2 x warm water proof gloves Macpac Powder glove
• 1 x warm mitt is useful if going early season and doing ice routes.
• 1 x pair of light walking pants Macpac Trekker pants 
• 1 x casual travel pants
• 2 x tee shirts casual
• 1 x small travel towel
• 1 x sun hat with neck protection
• 2 x sun glasses with neck strap and cleaning case, nose cover could be useful
• 1 x snow googles
• 1 x thin thermal balaclava
• 1 x face mask
• 2 x short sleeve thermal shirt / sports top Macpac Warp range 
• 2 x long sleeve thermal shirt / sports top Macpac Warp range 
• 1 x silk or non cotton long sleeve shirt for climbing on hot day/approach walks, not for use on actual route
• 1 x synthetic Macpac Pulsar jacket
• 1 x light weight rain coat, Macpac Hightail Anorak
• 1 x light weight rain pants Macpac Hightail Pants
• Shoe Gu for shoe repair
• Aqua seal for clothing repair
• Bees wax for keeping gloves and boots waterproof
• Sewing kit
• Shorts
• In town warm jacket/fleece. Macpac Mountain Hoody Fleece

General Equipment: (for each individual person)

• 1 x medium size tube of sun block
• 1 x Lifestraw filter bottle for drinking water on approaches and base camp
• 1 x re usable mini sun block case
• 1 x lip balm with sting so it can hang around your neck
• Baby wipes as many as you feel you need (purchase on arrival)
• 1 x personal first aid kit, you can buy basic pain medication in town, however bring any specific strong pain medication you think might be necessary plus general antibiotic.
• 1 x small bottle of detol / hand sanitiser
• 2 x rolls of dental floss
• 1 x tooth paste
• 1 x small tooth brush
• 1 x tube of mouth ulcer gel
• 1 x tube of canastine style unti fungle cream
• 1 x small travel alarm clock
• 1 x alpine climbing watch with altitude and barometer (need 1 between 2 minimum)
• 1 x compass
• 1 x area topo map
• 2 x head lamps and 2 sets of spare batteries
• 1 x digital camera + spare memory card if required
• Charger for digital camera
• Spare camera batteries and memory cards
• Spare batteries watch
• Spare batteries travel alarm
• Personal toiletries
• Vitamin supplements
• Power adaptors specific for Peru
• Eye patch & ear plugs for bivvys
• Solar panel with double USB adaptors
• Tablet or e reader

To congratulate you for making the end, contemplating a very sore back and empty wallet, here’s a poem.