How to gear up for a summer mountain bivouac?
Preparing your gear for a comfortable bivouac without being loaded like a mule.
About to set off on a mountain bivouac?
Here's the individual gear list we suggest to people coming hiking on a 2-day Vercors trip with a bivouac night.
The philosophy of this list invites participants to equip themselves reasonably, to find the right balance between carrying your comfort and walking with light shoulders, without pushing your gear budget too high. We can lend gear within the limits of our stock.
This list should be adapted to your wishes and needs.
When we meet for the start of these two days of hiking, your mountain leader will go through your gear, check the weight of your backpack and share final advice on how to pack it.
This list is suited to 2-day / 1-night outings (hiking weekend format) led by a Pied Vert mountain leader, who handles the shared gear for cooking, meals and sleeping.
On you
- a t-shirt and underwear
- light trousers suited to walking
- a pair of closed shoes suited to walking (with a sole offering some grip)
- a cap or hat
- sunglasses (mandatory for children, strongly recommended for adults)
- walking poles (if you feel you need them, not recommended for children) *
In the bag or on you, depending on the weather
- a jumper or fleece-type jacket
- a waterproof jacket or rain cape
- a warm jacket such as a light down jacket (or a second fleece-type jumper)
Note: if a fire is planned during your bivouac, we suggest a second jumper rather than a down jacket, since stray embers sometimes leave small holes and a down jacket is more fragile.
In the backpack
- a flask or water bottle (2 litres)
- a sleeping bag suited to hiking (weight/volume/comfort temperature) *
- a sleeping mat *
- a change of clothes including a t-shirt and underwear (warm tights are a plus)
- A small first-aid kit with sunscreen, plasters (for blisters), a few sheets of toilet paper, your personal medication and a small soap. Your leader carries a more complete first-aid kit.
- A headlamp *
- a beanie, a pair of light gloves, a neck warmer
The backpack
The backpack can also be loaned. We suggest a 30 to 40-litre bag for adults and a 20-litre one for young children. A bin liner makes a good waterproof inner bag to protect your gear from rain.
Gear loan
Items marked with an asterisk (*) can be loaned within the limits of our stock. To agree at booking.
See also the recommended gear list for a day hike.