maximpactphotography

Preparing my crew for true winter conditions expected in the High Sierra (east side) in 9 days.

I demonstrated use of a hanging stove in an ultralight hybrid snow shelter/ teepee-style tent (Black Diamond Megalite), use of wands and GPS navigation, and basics of constructing snow blocks for caves and igloos in 20’s F weather with approx 25 mph winds and blowing spindrift.

Here’s my finalized equipment list for the outing. I’m extremely impressed with certain items in my inventory for winter including the <2 pound Jam 70 pack, ❤ pound Megalite tent,the WM Vapor jacket, MHW Mithral hard shell jacket, and WM Antelope sleeping bag- these are highly recommended!!

Little Lakes Valley Eastern Sierra Winter Camp/ December 2012

Equipment Planning-William Hooks (final draft)

My personal gear:
Camera body: D600/ Kata weather cover, wired remote, spare batteries, SD cards, GP-1
Carrier: LowePro Toploader 75/ chest harness
Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor

GoLite Jam 70 pack (modified*) w mini-carabiner, pack cover
Western Mountaineering Antelope +5F, 850+ fill down sleeping bag/ REI Minimalist biv sack
Therma-Rest NeoAir XLite air pad*
BD (AAA) -LED headlamp
Freeze-dried food and drinks, Titan mug, spoon, trash bag, OP sack; packtowl, snacks
WAG bag in OP sack; snow collection bag (for melting)
GU/carrier, and other snacks
Smartwool shirt/leggings
Marmot Scree soft shell pants, WM Vapor (Windstopper) 850 down jacket
Mountain Hardwear (MHW) Mithral hard shell jacket
La Sportiva Batura boots, full mtg socks, liner socks
U-reservoir
1-liter Nalgene Lexan bottle, 1 water bottle parka; 1LPlatypus flexible bottle; Potable Aqua ClO2; REI storm matches
MHW (XL) SubZero Parka
toiletries, sun protection= sunglasses/carrier, Croakies, sunscreen, goggles, lip balm
Marmot Alpinist semi-mittens, MHW Altitude gloves w liners; MHW Ozone thin gloves
Sleeping clothes= MHW pile hat,1 pr socks, REI pile shirt, Icebreaker leggings
Leki trek poles, MSR Lightning snowshoes
REI Snoqualamie eVent hat, midweight balaclava, neck gaiter
TR closed foam sit pad

GROUP GEAR:
Permit and map , compass/inclinometer, Garmin GPSMap62
Micro-light table tripod with attachment to axe
2 Jetboil stoves w hanging kit, fuel canisters, matches; option- MSR Reactor stove
Rx (bandages, antibiotic, decongestant, XS Tylenol..)
Snow gear=2 snow saws ,2 shovels, 70 wands/ 3 pockets, av probe pole
Black Diamond Firstlight, Megalite, and/ or TNF Assault 22 single-wall 4season tent/ footprint, snow stakes

Optionals:
[Alpine climbing gear= hardware, helmets/helmet liner, ice axes, rope/s, pickets, crampons]
[carbon fiber or basalt ultralight Gitzo tripod/QR]
[whistles, transceivers]

Apparently full support does not (at least yet) include tethered capture for my camera. No word yet as to how much longer the wait might be… so I’ll use Camera Control Pro2 from Nikon and head east to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway tomorrow with my film crew to resume winter preparations- for the third segment of ETERNAL GRANITE. Temperatures expected in the 20’s F with significant wind, perfect for snow shelter demos and shaking out the crew’s gear for the High Sierra after Xmas.

It would be nice if winter came in late October or November the way it did here in the 1980’s…