Please come properly prepared to make your trip most enjoyable. Include warm clothes, rain gear, sun protection, and water bottle. (Items will be available for sale in the shops in Estes Park and at the YMCA main lodge, but they may be expensive.) Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only poor clothing choices. So be prepared with choices!

When hiking, it is best to dress in layers. By layering clothing you can adjust to the changing temperatures as needed. Some prefer to stay away from cotton when hiking in the Rocky Mountains'  temperamental weather. Synthetic shirts, jackets, jackets and sweaters wick away moisture and dry more quickly than cotton. All of these layers combined are a safety measure that will keep you comfortable.

Clothing

Suggested base-layer essentials for June:

• One set of long underwear top and bottom
• Wool socks or other warm socks; you may want cotton socks under wool
• Two layers of shirts such as T-shirt and long-sleeve flannel shirt, sweater, or sweatshirt
• Hiking boots or sturdy shoes

Outer-layer essentials for June:

• Warm winter jacket (down or similar)
• Thick corduroy pants, jeans, or other warm pants
• Polar fleece jacket and/or an ultra-warm vest (down or similar)
• Waterproof rain jacket
• Warm hat
• Gloves

Miscellaneous

• Sleeping bag for extra warmth at night — for those who are sensitive to the cold (all rooms have individual thermostats, but the thin blankets provided by the Y may not be enough for some people)
• Personal pillow with your own pillowcase for a better night's sleep
• Ear plugs if you might be sharing room with snorers
• Shawl, scarf, or small blanket
• Flashlight
• Umbrella
• Backpack to carry water, jackets, miscellaneous items
• Sunscreen, sun glasses, sun hat or ball cap
• Water bottle
• High-energy snack foods: nuts, chocolate, energy bars. Mountain air builds appetites!
• Whistle for taking on hikes, in case you need to summon help
• Camera
• Musical instuments, drum, favorite CDs to share
• Electonic equipment, laptop, cell phone (spotty reception in the mountains)
• Binoculars for distance viewing and magnifying glass to see small organisms and flowers in the tundra
• Slippers for indoor wear

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