Required and Recommended Gear

Winter BEAST (January 31, 2010)

Racers are required to have certain gear to participate. The required items may change a little from race to race.

Each participant, required:

• snowshoes suitable for groomed and ungroomed trails
• cross-country skis, if taking on the cross-country skiing challenge
• light (in case of emergency)
• capacity to carry at least 1 liter (33 oz) of water or sports drink at all times (bottles, bladders). You may want to carry more than this, since you could be traveling for an hour or two between convenient water sources.
• warm hat (e.g. wool or fleece stocking cap). (A skull cap or Buff does not qualify.)
• clothing appropriate to the weather including, fleece or equivalent warm layer, waterproof coat or shell
• mylar emergency blanket (also called, "space blanket")
• whistle for use in emergency (three short blasts in a row means, "come help me")
• personal identification (driver's license or Road ID, for example)
• emergency contact person (ideally reachable during race) and phone number for race staff
• card or paper with emergency and medical information, to be carried on course:
  • emergency contact person (ideally reachable during race) and phone number
  • any allergies (for example, peanuts or bee stings)
  • any drug allergies
  • important medical conditions that could affect emergency treatment
  • HMO information

Each participant, recommended:

• extra clothing appropriate to the weather (probably cold and damp): for example, a rain suit, multiple insulating underlayers, booties or extra socks
• adequate food and drink for energy and hydration, such as Clif Bars, nuun, gels, drinks, trail mix, etc.
• reflective or light colored clothing to make you more visible to drivers and other pedestrians and cyclists
• a change of clothes for the finish, so you can enjoy the ride home in comfort

Each team, required:

• a plastic bin for staging team equipment/supplies at the Re-Supply Area. (Similar to a TA, the Re-Supply Area is an opportunity to re-supply water, food, socks, etc.) 3- or 4-person teams may have two bins at the Re-Supply Area.
• one folding blade knife or scissors
• time piece
• compass
• writing implement (pencil or waterproof pen)
• plastic bag or map case to protect course map (each participant who wants a map will receive one, so multiple bags/cases are recommended)

Each team, recommended:

• a sunny disposition and tons of energy