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| Powder to the People. Yes, splitboarders are people too |
"I knew the resorts were going to be packed so I just skied the backcountry this weekend."
"Hey Dude, want to go on a ski tour this weekend?"
It seems the terms Ski Mountaineering, Backcountry Skiing, and Ski Touring are used interchangeably. Some may argue that they mean different things. Some may say they are in fact interchangeable. I don't really care what they mean in the abstract. Really, all I care about is where we're going and what kind of gear I'll need to be safe and have a good time. The purpose of this article is to distinguish between Ski Mountaineering gear and Backcountry Skiing gear, and give some potential buyers some thoughts on what type of terrain and objectives they will face when going on a "tour."
I guess to know the important things, like what gear is appropriate for ski mountaineering versus backcountry skiing, we should delve briefly into the abstract. In my mind, ski mountaineering typically involves a summit, a traverse, or some other specific route or destination. You're going somewhere. Backcountry skiing on the other hand, is more about the finding interesting terrain and quality snow to ski. Ski touring is kind of a general term that can mean either.
So with those general thoughts in mind, I'm going to go through what gear I bring for a ski mountaineering trip vs. a day of crushing powder snow in the backcountry. I'll draw distinctions between ski mountaineering gear and backcountry skiing gear where I can, but a lot of this comes down to personal preference.
Essentials
I like to keep a little stuff sack with all my essentials in it that goes on every trip. It travels easily between backpacks, and I always know that I have everything I need when I put it in my pack. I know it's not the original ten essentials, but it works for me.1. Headlamp
2. Sunscreen
3. First Aid Kit
4. Space Blanket
5. Extra Headlamp Batteries
6. Lighter(s)
7. Leatherman Multitool
8. Spot Locator
9. Astro glide (good for chafage and blisters)
10. iPhone (or Garmin GPS depending on the length of the trip)
11. Seam Grip
Part 1: Backcountry Skiing
Backcountry skiing to me is less about where you're going, and more about skiing untracked snow. Sometimes it's powder. Sometimes it's Cascade Cement. But the gear I bring is very much focused on the descent.
First, we'll start with packs. If you're regularly skiing powder in avalanche terrain, there's no reason not to have an avalung, if not a an airbag. Both technologies have been proven to improve your chances of surviving a burial. My Black Diamond Covert is still in great shape after years, and a great backcountry ski pack. But it lacks good places to attach mountaineering gear, so it stays at home on most trips that require any technical equipment.
1. Skis, Boots, Bindings
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| Mmmm...Rocker |
My backcountry setup is designed to ski powder. It's almost double the weight of my ski mountaineering setup. I run with a stiff, four buckle touring boot from Black Diamond, the Tyrolia Adrenalin 16s, and a fat, rockered powder ski. Is the weight worth it? I think so. Sometimes I will be cursing my heavy setup when I'm out of shape or tired. But when the snow is good, I want to enjoy it. Quality over quantity.
I used to use Dynafits for all my touring. Tech bindings are the lightest, most efficient bindings out there. But often I found myself shying away from bigger lines out of fear that my gear would be insufficient. The absence of elasticity in Tech systems will punish you if your landings are anything other than perfect. With this burly setup, I feel confident that my body will fail before my gear does.
2. Avy Gear
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| Snow study Kit |
Avy gear is truly critical in a backcountry kit. For me backcountry skiing is about seeking out deep, soft, powder. And where there is powder, there are avalanches. Where there are avalanches, you could get buried and die. So really, Avy gear is kind of like a condom: if you don't use it, you could be fine, or you could get AIDS.
I also carry a snow study kit with me. My kit includes a compass with a slope meter, measurement cards and a magnifying glass, and two analogue thermometers. The most important item is the slope meter. If you think you're a good judge of slope angle, you're not. It is surprising how often even the most experienced skiers are mistaken about slope angles. Yet, those angles can be critical in determining whether a slope is safe to ski.
3. Layers
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- Mountain Hardwear Softshell
- Black Diamond Gloves
- Gas Station Gloves
- Arc'teryx Kappa SV Insulated Jacket
- Homemade wool hat
- Bern Helmet
- Patagonia Rubicon Pants
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My layering system for Backcountry skiing tends to err towards durability and warmth rather than light weight. I like touring in a base layer and a soft shell. I keep a windproof and water resistant puffy for breaks, pit digging, or when it gets really cold. Typically I leave my hardshell at home. If there's powder to be skied, hopefully there's not rain to worry about.
I'll usually bring a baseball cap, one of my warm wool ski hats (with an obnoxiously large pompom) and/or my ski helmet to keep my head warm. Again I like to bring both a thick and warm pair of gloves, and a breathable and cheap pair of gloves.
Next Time...
I'll be talking about what I typically bring for ski mountaineering in the Oregon Cascades. The skis are skinnier, the boots are softer, and and the worry is less about avalanches, and more about safely navigating hard snow and ice.
For Part Two, click here: http://kickturner.blogspot.com/search/label/Mountaineering%20Gear
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