Okpik Gear List
Okpik strives to make winter camping as easy as possible by providing crews with almost everything they need for their expedition. All food is prepacked by your interpreter, and ready to go on arrival. All cooking gear – stoves, fuel, pots, utensil kit, etc. – await inspection upon arrival. All the tools necessary for spending several nights in the elements, from snow shovels to four season tents.
In addition, almost all significant recreational equipment is available free of charge. Snowshoes, cross-country skis, and basic ice fishing equipment are all stocked ready-for-use in our Bay Post.
Similarly, Okpik has the capacity to outfit participants with almost all personal clothing. Participants must bring their own hats, long underwear, socks, sleeping bag, flashlight, bowl, and spoon; Okpik can provide the rest. Cold-weather sleeping bags, sleeping pads, fleece pants, fleece tops, wind pants, wind jackets (anoraks), mukluks (snow moccasins), boots, water bottles and more are provided by Okpik's outfitting.
However, better prepared scouts and advisors have more satisfying trips. While Okpik provides most of the gear you might need, acquiring your own gear (which you can break in beforehand) may increase your comfort. Okpik participants are strongly advised to read the Okpik Coldweather Camping Guide to give themselves a basic understanding of cold-weather camping practices before they arrive.
What to bring?
Okpik provides almost all of the gear required for a safe and satisfying winter camping adventure. However, each individual and each crew will need to bring some of their own personal gear.
Group Gear:
-
All crews are required to bring their own First Aid kit (see page __ for a list of what to include it).
- Map and Compass (maps for your trip can be purchased at the Trading Post after you arrive)
- Leather Gloves***do we need this?
- Repair kit (Duct tape, soft wire, sewing kit, leatherman, etc) ***do we need this
Personal Gear:
- Required:
- 2 Winter Hats (preferably fleece)
- 2 pairs of synthetic long underwear (tops and bottoms; no cotton)
- 2-3 pairs wool socks (bring more depending on length of trip
- Sleeping bag. If you have a cold weather sleeping bag, bring it. Otherwise, a summer or 3-season bag will be sufficient (we can outfit you with a cold weather bag)
- Headlamp or flashlight (MUST HAVE – days are short in the winter)
- Toiletry articles (toothbrush, toothpaste)
- Cup, bowl, and spoon
- Optional:
- 2-3 pairs of mittens (mittens are warmer than gloves)
- 2-3 sweaters (preferably wool or polar fleece – NO COTTON)
- 1 winter jacket
- 1 pair wool or fleece pants
- 1 pair snowpants or rainpants
- Scarf or Neck Gaitor
- Warm/winter boots (Sorels or Kamiks) – preferably with removable liners
- Pocketknife/matches/bandana
- Sunscreen and chapstick
- Sunglasses
- Skis and snowshoes (we provide these, but feel free to bring your own)