HVA — THE MOST QUINTESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT LIST ESSENTIALS: *see below for details Raingear (this includes rain coat and pants, and should be durable) MUST HAVE! Wool or fleece sweater/jacket Polypropolene/synthetic thermal underwear) Windbreaker overshell Hat with brim that blocks both sun and rain Warm hat (wool or fleece) Mittens (lightweight/polypropolene Windbreaker overshell Hiking boots (waterproof!) Sneakers Close toed water shoes or another pair of sneakers to get wet (We will be in water frequently!) 8 pairs of socks (4 wool) 6 t-shirts 3 long sleeved shirts 2 pairs of pants, one of which must be non-jean (i.e. wind-pants, nylon pants) 5 pairs of shorts 6 pairs of underwear Bathing suit 3 large towels Sleeping bag (We don't recommend flannel or down; use synthetic alternatives.) Ensolite sleeping pad Waterproof "dry bag" pack (about 4,000 cubic inches or 2-3 cubic feet) Large backpack, internal frame is preferred (No duffle bags; they are difficult to carry over long distances.) Daypack Basic toiletries in small containers Feminine products for girls Sunscreen Flashlight and batteries Sunglasses 2 water bottles (total capacity 2 quarts) Insect/head net Travel cup RECOMMENDED / OPTIONAL: Camera Reading and writing material Jacknife 2 bandanas Fieldglasses Small musical instruments Cards/games/CD's to share (no iPods!) REMEMBER,when we are in residence at HVC, you will have to carry everything thatyou pack up the mountain to the log cabin. It is quite a hike ifyou're not used to it, so please don't bring a trunk, or any bag thatyou can't carry yourself. EXTRA EQUIPMENT INFORMATION Dry Bagshould be between 3500 cubic inches (cu. in.) and 4500 cu in. The mostconvenient are the kind with shoulder straps, similar to the SealLine35HD and 70HD kind found at the www.campmor.com website. They run around $60.00 Backpack: In general you want your backpack to be between 3500cu. in. and 5500cu. in. A general example is the LL Bean Katahdin Weekend Pack whichcan be found on their web site www.llbean.com.You may also consider borrowing a back pack from cousin Bob. Just besure you try it out (with weight in it) well before you come to camp. Sleeping Pad:Thermarest is a high-end ($50+/-) ensolite sleeping pad that fills withair (when it’s new and hasn’t run into anything sharp yet!). A foampad or a ridge rest is less expensive and more durable if not quite ascomfortable. It’s well worth it to invest in a good Rain Jacket (Gortex or similar material, hood with a brim, elastic or Velcro wrist closures and ideally drawstring waist.) and Rain Pants (again Gortex, elastic or Velcro ankle closures). Layers are the next key. Besides your rain gear, which will serve as your outer layer, you’ll want a next-to-your-skin layer:Mid weight top and bottom long underwear. These come in a variety ofmaterials—get something that wicks moisture from your skin andbreathes. (Polypro, Capilene, Polartec Powerdry, etc.) The next important layer is your “keep me warm” layer. This is most often a really great wool sweater or a nice windblockfleece. Cotton’s nice if you are in perfect conditions but if it’s arainy cold day out on a river or mountain then cotton is the worst thing you can have on your body. Head and Feet:“If your hands and feet are cold, put a hat on.” Don’t leave your wool(or wool blend) socks and gloves at home, but be absolutely sure youhave a good ski cap (wool or one of the good synthetic blends.) Bringa baseball cap (something with a brim) as well. You may be thinking, "I don’t get cold, I won’t need long underwear." Remember, you’ll bein Maine! And trust our experience in this regard… When you get out ofyour tent in the morning and you’re on fire crew, you’ll be glad youtook this message seriously! (Also, keep in mind if you get to camp and you don’t have an item of the required equipment, we’ll purchase it for you and bill your family.) Refer to the original equipment list for other items and as always, don’t hesitate to call or email if you have questions.