Technical Rope Rescue Level 1 & 2 Equipment List

This list represents a “worst-case scenario” for trips with significant weather. Some items may not be needed if conditions are mild, but it’s best to plan for the worst.

On day one of your course, an AAI Guide and an Equipment Specialist will help refine your kit, ensuring you have exactly what’s needed. Bringing extra gear or items you have questions about is fine. Unused items can be left at our Equipment Shop.

Provided Equipment

Climbing rope and anchors.

Rentals

Equipment available for rent through the AAI Equipment Shop is designated as “available for rent”. These items can be rented on the first day of your course.

Click each underlined heading to see examples and make online purchases of guide-approved gear from the Equipment Shop.

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-HEADWEAR-

• Beanie/Toque
  • Wool or synthetic. Must fit under a helmet. Easily replaced with hooded layers after the early season.
• Sun Hat
  • Ideally fits under a helmet. Ball caps with a button on top are NOT recommended. Visors or athletic hats are more comfortable, vent better, and are easier to clean and dry out.
• Buff / Neck Gaiter
  • UPF-rated is highly recommended. Lighter colors are better for warm conditions and darker for colder conditions.
• Sun Glasses
• Headlamp
  • Bring extra batteries or charger for rechargeable battery style. Ideal range is 350 or more lumens.

–GLOVES–

• Liner Gloves
  • Thin, lightweight, wool or synthetic gloves. Size to fit snug but not too tight. Phone-compatible fingertips and palm texture are nice to have. These could be worn alone in temps greater than 25°F when it is dry. UPF rated are ideal.
• Midweight Softshell Gloves
  • Bring 1 pair, 2 during the early season. These gloves are used for belaying, tying knots, rope management etc. Dexterity and durability are key. They provide slightly more insulation than a liner glove and are generally used in temps of 15°F to 30°F while actively using your hands. Comfortable but snug fit. Durable leather or synthetic palm. Water-resistant is recommended because they will dry faster.
• Hardshell Gloves
  • Waterproof and insulated. If the glove lacks insulation, size it to fit a liner glove inside. Mainly used in wet conditions, cold temps, or when not moving.
    • NOTE: April-May courses are often much colder and may require more heavily insulated gloves.

-BASELAYERS-

• Undergarments
  • Wool or synthetic. Long, compression-style undergarments can help reduce inner thigh chafing. Sports bras without shoulder buckles or clasps are more comfortable under a pack.
• Base Top
  • A lightweight, wool or synthetic sun hoody is ideal. UPF 30+ sun protection is best. UPF clothing works better than sunscreen.
• Base Layer Pants
  • Wool or synthetic. Typically thin. Bring 1 for the early or late season. Optional for mid-season (depending on weather).

-MIDLAYERS-

• Active Insulation Top
  • Lightweight “gridded fleece” or lightweight synthetic insulated jacket or pullover. Hood preferred. Active insulation weight – 40g/m2. Heavier insulation weight – 60-80g/m2. Alpha fleece works as well.
• Softshell Pants
  • Thin, weather-resistant, breathable, and stretchy. You will wear these a majority of the time.
• Softshell Jacket
  • A soft shell jacket is considered an “action layer.” Its materials are designed to stretch and breathe while also maintaining wind and water resistance. This allows the user to leave this jacket on for a wide range of temps and conditions throughout the day without the hassle of constantly changing layers. Windproof jackets are lightweight and packable but lack the breathability and stretchy nature of the soft shell. Windproof jackets are ideal for blocking wind and light precipitation during low-output activities.

-INSULATING LAYERS-

• Insulation Jacket
  • AKA the “puffy”. Down or synthetic. This piece is worn in cold conditions or when not moving. Hood preferred. If choosing down, water-resistant down treatment is preferred to help prevent matting and loss of insulating ability if the jacket gets wet.

-HARDSHELLS-

• Hardshell Jacket (Available to rent)
  • Non-insulated jacket with a waterproof and breathable membrane. Three-layer construction is recommended. It must have a hood, ideally helmet-compatible. When sizing, make sure it can fit over other layers. Not insulated.
• Hard Shell Pants (Available to rent)
  • Non-insulated, waterproof, and breathable membrane. Full side zips are recommended. Ideally has at least 1/4 length zipper from the bottom of the pant cuff in order to get pants on and off while wearing mountain boots. When sizing make sure it is able to fit over a base layer and soft shell pants. Insulated ski pants are strongly discouraged due to lack of waterproofness and heavy insulation.

-FOOTWEAR-

• Socks
  • Wool or synthetic socks that are at least mid-calf height. Modern boots are designed to insulate your feet, so a thicker sock is not recommended as these tend to lead to blisters and moisture retention. Using a lighter sock allows for a more accurate boot fit. Wearing a “silk-weight” liner sock beneath your hiking sock can reduce friction on the skin and mitigate blister development.
• Approach Shoes or Trail Shoes
  • Recommended for the 1-day of rock climbing. Used on good weather approaches for mid and late season and at camp. Early season tends to have too much snow on the ground, and it is recommended to hike to camp in your boots. Be aware that trail running shoes do not offer as much support when hiking with a heavy pack. High-stack shoes like Hoka are not recommended.

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• Belay Device
  • Bring an auto-blocking device that accepts 2 ropes.
• Helmet (Available to rent)
  • Must be UIAA-rated for climbing. Be aware that foam, break-away style helmets like the ones listed are susceptible to damage if being loaded in a checked bag.
• Harness (Available to rent)
  • Make sure the harness has a belay loop and gear loops. When sizing, it should fit over your clothes when you have multiple layers on. An alpine-style glacier harness works well for this program. If you plan on continuing on to our Alpinism 2, AMTL 2, or Alpine Ice a padded harness is more versatile.

• Slings
  • One 48in (120cm) and one 24in (60cm) pre-sewn sling. Slings must be UIAA-rated for climbing.
• Carabiners
  • Must be UIAA-rated for climbing. Must have:
    • 4 large pear-shaped munter-style locking carabiners
    • 5 non-locking wire gate carabiners
• Tubular Webbing
  • One 12-foot section of tubular webbing and one 5-foot section of tubular webbing. The 12-foot section is for a chest harness. If you have a full-strength chest harness, it may be used instead of the 12-foot section of webbing.
• Cordelette
  • Bring at least 21 feet of 7mm perlon/nylon climbing cord.
• Purcell Prusik
  • Purcell prusiks are specific prusik cords used in rescue applications. Most people will require 32.5-feet (10 m) of 6mm prusik cord. (Precut lengths are available for sale at AAI.) We will make these in the class. They do not have to be pre-rigged.
• Rappel Backup
  • The Sterling Hollow Block or Beal Jammy are recommended for their heat resistant properties. A 4ft length of 6mm nylon accessory cord will also suffice.
• Trekking Poles (Available to rent)
  • One is required, 2 are highly recommended. Poles help with balance while hiking with a heavy pack and increase security during stream crossings. They also decrease the pressure on your knees during steep descents. For early season, poles should have snow baskets.
• Prusiks
  • You will need 3 lengths of 6mm nylon cord: 13ft, 6ft, and 5ft. We have these as a kit at our Equipment Shop, and it is encouraged that you use these as they have been specifically chosen for this course. We recommend getting 3 different colors for easy identification.
• Day Pack (Optional)
  • A 25L to 35L is an ideal size. This will be used during rock climbing and can also be used as a summit pack. Ideally, this pack is frameless so that it can be packed inside your larger pack if you decide to bring it on the mountain.

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• Technical Rescue Riggers Guide
  • Third Edition by Rick Lipke.
• Notebook and Writing Utensil
  • A small Right-In-The-Rain notebook and mechanical pencil work best.
• Hand Sanitizer
  • Required. Used after going to the bathroom and before eating. Wet wipes can be used for the “mountain shower.”
• Toilet Paper
  • The provided solid waste bags have a small amount of toilet paper with them, but most people do not find this to be adequate. Estimate how much you’ll need for a program of this length and place that in a plastic zip-lock bag. An extra zip lock bag can be helpful for pack-out of used paper. If you plan to use wet wipes, be wary of scented or exfoliating types as these can be an irritant for some people.
• Pee Cloth (Optional)
  • A reusable, antimicrobial pee cloth, used in place of toilet paper or wet wipes. Note that everything is pack-it-in/pack-it-out for Leave No Trace purposes. If toilet paper is used, it will have to be packed out. This also helps keep pack weight down.
• Urination Device (Optional)
  • Pee funnels such as the GoGirl or Freshette.
• Menstrual Cup (Optional)
  • As with toilet paper, everything in the backcountry must be packed out. Menstrual cups can help with waste needing to be packed out.
• Suncreen
  • At least an SPF of 30+, zinc-based is preferred. Small travel-size tubes are recommended so you can put them in a close-by pocket for easy access.
• Lip Balm
  • Make sure it is SPF-rated.
• Personal First Aid Kit
  • Band aids
  • Blister Treatment
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Ibuprofen, etc
  • If you wear contacts, make sure you have spares if you can’t see without them

These items are not required, although many are nice “luxury” items that can make your expedition more enjoyable. Remember that a few ounces here and there add up to extra pounds on your back and knees during your expedition.

• Navigation App
  • Optional smartphone app such as CalTopo, OnX, or Gaia.
• Belay Gloves
  • Lightweight and breathable glove with a durable leather palm. They protect your hands from rope burn, pinching, and sharp elements.
• Entertainment
  • Books, games, cards, music player, kindle, etc. For evenings or other downtime.
• Portable Charging Device
  • Phone charger, battery pack, or solar panel. You are responsible for your alarm clock each morning. If you are going to use your phone, be sure you have enough power to accommodate this.
• Insect Repellent
  • Biting insects such as mosquitoes and blackflies can be prevalent during different times of the season, depending on conditions and location. This is a nice item to have just in case. Sometimes, even a headnet is a nice item to have.
• Camera
  • Phone cameras or small point-and-shoot cameras are preferred. Large cameras and lenses are not recommended due to their size and bulk.
• Comfortable Clothing and Footwear
  • Breathable footwear – like flip flops – as well as some comfortable cotton clothing can be nice to change into after you get back to the van.
• Car Charger
  • Consider bringing an extra battery pack as well; having a lot of people using car charger cables is difficult.

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