Neil’s equipment list for hut to hut walking  in the European Alps — he insists that if it’s not on this list, you don’t need it!

General comments from Neil

Total carrying weight was approximately 10 kgs each.

We had an extensive first-aid kit with repair stuff. At 1.2 kg, it is more than most people would need, though we certainly made good us of it! We mailed packages of maps ahead in advance, and mailed maps home as we used them.

Our ‘glacier kit’ was the minimum that you would need for crevasse rescue on a glacier. The ice axe is for an anchor. There is absolutely no point in anyone having this equipment if they do not know how to use it.

For general walking, I do not see why anyone would carry an ice axe, particularly if they have walking poles, which are excellent on steep snow slopes. Crampons are most useful. You never know when snow will cover the higher tracks, and if it should then freeze up over even a short section, the walker without crampons would be stopped.

We posted gear we wouldn’t use again home at various stages.

We sent our via ferrata kit home along the way. Whilst doing the via ferratas in the Dolomites was a real highlight, we had carried the kits a long way for little use, and thought we had to make decision whether we were walking or climbing. As it happened, we then walked right past some via ferratas in France which we would have loved to have done, but we didn’t have the gear.

clothing

overpants

rainjacket

gaiters

fleece or softshell jacket

gloves — powerstretch, or similar

long pants, quick dry
shorts, quick dry
long-sleeve shirt, quick dry
Tee-shirt, wool mix

thermal top

thermal long johns

Tee-shirt, sleeping

3 X thick socks

1 X thin socks

3 X undies

2 X hankies

sun hat

beanie

lightweight boots

running shoes — good for walking around towns or in case of blisters

equipment 

45 litre rucsac

pack rain cover

walking poles

aluminium crampons

head torch

2 lire hydration pack

water bottle

wallet with cards, money, etc.

silk sheet and pillow slip

packtowel

map case, map, compass

novel

sunglasses

wristwatch altimeter

combined

spare map case, spare maps

toilet paper and trowel

first-aid kit

bathroom kit

spare head torch

sunscreen and lip balm

pegless clothesline

mobile phone, spare battery, Bluetooth folding keyboard, charger

camera and charger

optional

via ferrata kit — harness, helmet, vee-lanyard with integral shock absorber

glacier kit

ice axe — lightweight

20 metres of 8mm rope

2 long prusik loops

3 short prusik loops

3 karabiners with 2 Petzl Tibloc ascenders

cooking kit

2 spoons and knives

2 bowls

titanium pot

gas stove and cylinder (French blue type)

food