• Laptop for use in exercises (WiFi is available at the Lodge and Marr Lab classrooms)
  
• Cell phone for emergencies in the field (recommend that you add course emergency numbers to your phone contacts)
• Skis or snowshoes and required - see personal equipment
  

• You will need gear for both the field and for staying overnight at the lodge, and you'll need to bring food.

• FIELD EQUIPMENT -
  
• FIELDWORK | BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS | DAYPACK | WATER | CLOTHING/BOOTS | EMERGENCIES
• OVERNIGHT at the LODGE 
• FOOD 
• INTERNET/COMPUTERS

FIELDWORK | BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS | DAYPACK | WATER | CLOTHING/BOOTS | EMERGENCIES

Gear rental note: Snowshoes, skis, and some other equipment can be rented through the CU Rec Center (https://www.colorado.edu/recreation/outdoor-program/outdoor-equipment-rentals) and most sport shops in Boulder (such as Neptunes, REI)
 
 

The Big Picture - In putting together your field pack, be ready for high-elevation wintertime environments with - High exposure to cold and wind High radiation (including high UV) and very low humidity Low oxygen (subject to altitude sickness) In addition, you need to be prepared for both - High exertion Periods of standing in the cold and wind. The Personal Gear List is compiled with these issues in mind.  What you bring with you will affect your safety and ability to participate in class activities. Each weekend activity may also require specific gear.  These are listed under "Bring" on the webpage for each activity - link to these from the main webpage calendar. See also notes re Health Matters A good reference for Winter gear, travel, and safety is: "Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book," by Allen O'Bannon and Mike Clelland. 2007.  Falcon Guides, Guilford CT.  122p.

Personal Equipment required or recommended for field work includes -

• For course exercises and individual projects fieldwork -
• Required -
• Field journal
• Compass (and for emergencies)
• Topo map - 
• Topo of lower Niwot Ridge (pdf, 650k)
• Annotated topo (pdf, 750k)
  
• Published maps:
• National Geographic/Trails Illustrated "Indian Peaks/Gold Hill" (#102)
• USGS 7.5' map "Ward", and to get the Divide: "Monarch Lake"
• Highly Recommended (bring if you have) -
• Hand lens
• Binocs - Needed for the weekend we do winter ornithology -
• Camera
• Field guides - e.g. to Animal Tracks, Birds, Trees & Shrubs
• Snow shovel
• Altimeter


• Backcountry access equipment -
• Snowshoes (with sufficient floatation on unpacked snow and grip on packed/icy surfaces)
• or:  Skis/board (telemark, touring, or splitboard) with climbing skins
• See note above re rentals
• Ski poles
• Ski/Snow goggles, or sunglasses that are UV-rated, wrap-around or w/ sideshades
• for protection against wind, blowing snow, sun (UV-rated)
• Sun protection - speaking of UV...  UV at higher elevations is intense, plus reflection off the snow adds to your exposure.  It's easy to get sunburned without realizing it because of the cold and wind.
• Sunblock, at least 30 SPF
• Chapstick or equivalent, best if SPF rated
• I recommend putting on sunblock before going out, and periodically reapplying it during the day.


• Day pack -
• Comfortable for snow travel
• Big enough to carry your gear, water, lunch & snacks (see FOOD), and that day's course equipment


• Water/Beverages - see also Food
• either:
• Water bottles, carried inside Day pack or in an insulated pocket
• Hydration pack (with insulated tube recommended)
• Drinking plenty of water is a crucial factor for enduring the stresses of altitude and cold.
• I recommend carrying at least 2 liters (70 oz) of water, and filling bottles/hydration bladder with warm water to start off with.
• Also bring some Sports drink - i.e. any drink that helps restore electrolytes - an important part of rehydration
• You may also wish to bring a light-wt (stainless steel) thermos with your favorite hot beverage (hot chocolate, tea, ) or soup


• Extreme cold weather clothing and boots -
• Sufficient to stay warm while standing about for substantial periods (e.g. 1 hr)
• Use a layering system that works for you - that keeps you warm, yet mobile.
• Wind-proof outer-shell jacket and pants - e.g. ski jacket/pants, nylon rain jacket/pants
• Pile (or equivalent) jacket
• Pile (or equivalent) vest
• Cap
• Insulated
• Wind-proof
• Ski face mask or balaclava
• Neck gaiter
• Sport tights/shirt or full-length undergarmets - wicking and thermal
• Gloves and/or Mittens
• Insulating.  Some wind-proof
• bring 2nd pair! crucial if other set gets wet
• plus Overmitt shells (water- and wind-proof)
• Boots -
• Whatever type to match your access gear (above), hopefully ones that keep your feet warm
• For snowshoeing consider insulated boots (e.g. Sorel's), if they work for you
• If leather/canvas - Waterproof your boots!  e.g. with Nikwax products.
• Gaiters - to provide an extra layer of wind projection, as well as keeping snow out of your boots.  Some come insulated.
• Socks
• Whatever combination of inner and outer pairs that work for you
• Wicking, warm
• Bring backup pairs! if others gets wet. Carry an extra set in the field, have additional backup sets in the lodge.


• For emergencies -
• Whistle
• for emergency signaling
• keep handy, e.g. on a lanyard about your neck.
• Heat packs!
• e.g. 'Heat Treat' Hand/Toe Warmers - available at REI and elsewhere ($1.50/$1.80 2-pack)
• I suggest having at least 2 with you each weekend
• First Aid kit - small, light-weight
• Headlamp, w/ extra batteries
• Cell phone (coverage intermittent at Lodge, usually good at higher points) --
  


• Add to your Cell's Contacts the following Instructor & Station phone#'s:  [Download as pdf]



Contact	Phone	email
Dr. Tim Kittel Instructor	Cell/text: 303 588-8657 Home: 303 258-0908	kittel@colorado.edu
Derek Sweeney Instructor	Cell/text: 720 979 4693	derek.sweeney@colorado.edu
Kris Hess MRS Station Manager	Cell: 720 474 6378 (Facility Emergency only) MRS Office: 303 492 8842	kris.hess@colorado.edu
Dr. Scott Taylor MRS Director	Cell: 607-227-1374 (Emergency only)	scott.taylor@colorado.edu
Dave Hill MRS Facilities Management	Cell: 720-628-6125 (Facility emergencies)	David.J.Hill@colorado.edu
CU Facilities Management	303 492-5522 5522 (Facility emergencies if you cannot reach Kris Hess or Dave Hill)
MRS Lodge landline -- in foyer	303 735-0641 (direct dial 911)
MRS Marr Lab landline -- in SW corner of the Marr Lab breezeway = to the right as you go in the main entrance; 24-hr access	303 735-0547 (direct dial 911)
C1 Emergency phone.  Located in the "emergency phone box" near the sheds at C1; 24-hr access	303-735-0376 (direct dial 911)
Sheriff	911 Identify your location as: CU Mountain Research Station 818 County Road 116 Nederland, CO 80466 Say specifically where you are on the MRS campus, e.g. The Lodge, or the Marr Lab...   If enough people are available, have someone wait at the T-intersection near the Marr Lab to direct emergency vehicles.

Staying at the Lodge - guidelines (pdf)

For staying overnight at the lodge, you'll need:

• Bedding and pillow(s) - the bedrooms tend to sleep warm, I suggest twin-sized linens and one or two light blankets.  
  
• Sleeping bags work fine, just a bit more difficult to regulate temperature indoors.
  
• Pillow  (provided, but your own good idea) 
• A headlamp and/or flashlight will serve you well.   As we all know this time of year the sun sets between 5 and 6, and exterior lighting around the MRS is very limited, makes for great stargazing this time of year.   The headlamp or flashlight will be a nice item to have if you decide to wander outdoors after dark.   
• Personal toiletries and towels.
• Slippers or sandals are nice to have when coming in from the cold and while wandering about in the Lodge. 
  
• Leave boots/outdoor shoes in the Foyer.
  
• Layers of clothing.   The main room of the Lodge can be on the chilly side, nice place for an extra fleece or wool sweater.   
• Cell phone coverage is available with AT&T and Verizon, but can be spotty; AT&T provides the best service in the area.
• I suggest using Wifi Calling if your phone and carrier support that.
• Wi-Fi is available in the Lodge and the Marr Lab (the main administrative building) (also noted below)

• Safety Guidelines
  
• Station Policies and General Info
• Directions to the MRS and the Lodge from Boulder:  Map – pdf file (60k)
• Dorm rooms: Women upstairs on the second floor, men on the first floor.  
  
• You are welcome to leave gear or bedding in your room each week, unless we've been told that another group is using the Lodge during the week.  When in doubt ask.
  
• Please keep your rooms, restrooms and common areas tidy.   This greatly assists us in tidying up between the weekends.   
•  Please take special care in cleaning-up the kitchen and rooms.  Thank you.
  

• We'll talk about carpooling during the 1st Weds' Orientation Meeting. 
  
• Appropriate vehicles to bring up -- MRS Campus staff does a nice job keeping the roads plowed through the winter months, but the road gets snowpacked, slick, and narrow in places -- so cars with All-wheel/4-wheel drive with good tires are strongly recommended.  Front-wheel drive usually ok, especially if have studded tires. 
•  If you are in doubt of your car making it … park in the Sourdough Parking Lot on the Rainbow Lakes Rd. and ask someone with a 4WD to come back to retrieve you there.   A stuck vehicle not only blocks the road but it will potentially also take a great deal of time and energy to get dug out. 
  

Bring food for:

• Breakfasts
• Lunches
• Most lunches will be in the field (see schedule for each week)
• Bring lots and lots of food that can be easily consumed when you're cold!  Having extra food goes along ways for staying warm and feeling energized in the field.
• Prepare field lunches during breakfast, before morning class.
• Snacks
• Lots and lots for time in the field - nuts, energy bars, chocolate - be prepared to share ;-) , mint cake, ...
• For 'energy bars', if you're a fan of those, I recommend ones that don't get superhard when cold -
• for example: Cliff & Odwalla bars generally still chewable,  Powerbars bricklike when cold.
• Keep a couple bars in inside pockets so they're warm
• Dinners - bring your contribution to Saturday group dinners, as you've arranged as a group.
• Beverages -
• Non-alcoholic only (sorry, per CU/MRS rules)
• Sports drink for the field (see WATER)
• Your favorite hot beverages - Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, ...

• Bring your laptop, needed for class exercises.
• If you don't have a laptop, we will have access to several PC/Mac's in the Marr Lab's library, a bit of a walk from the Lodge. 
  
• The Lodge has WiFi.  In addition, the Marr Lab has both wired and wireless connections.

© 2024 T. Kittel.  All rights reserved.
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