In my first installment - (click here for details) - I got very excited about skis and bindings. In this article its time to talk Goretex and grams. So you’ve got the planks, boots, skins and poles what next?
It’s essential when touring to carry - and know how to use - the essential avalanche safety kit. This includes a shovel, probe and transceiver - and yes, you need to have all three. When buying a shovel go for a metal bladed type, they're far better for digging in hard avalanche debris compared to bendy plastic versions.
Probes are less critical so buy one on a budget. BCA do a great shovel where the probe fits inside the handle to save you losing it...the BCA Tour Shovel There are lots of good transceivers on the market nowadays. Always buy a digital type as they are far easier to use than the old analogue ones. Go for ease of use rather than whistles and bells (avoid the Mammut Pulse and Ortrovox S1). Personally I use and give my clients the BCA Tracker DTS as it’s by far the most simple to use. Even with very little experience most people can find the burial within 5 minutes.
Next you need a Rucksack, go for one that’s short and fat rather than tall and thin like most climbing sac’s. Climbing rucksacks tend to overbalance you when turning due to the higher centre of gravity. It needs to be between 35 and 40 litres (for multi day tours) and have some sort of practical ski carrying system. I personally like the Ortovox Haute Route as it’s light and great to ski with!
Clothing on a multi day ski tour is always a personal thing. There is lots of light mountaineering clothing out there that’s ideal for skiing in. Again it’s critical you go light so you enjoy the skiing and bearing in mind your sac should only be around 35 litres.
On a multi day tour I tend to wear long sleeved base layer and some sort of soft shell like the ME Astron Jacket or the Berghaus Diffusion Lite. On my legs I have either ME G2 pants or the Berghaus Diffusion pants (which are lighter). Because these garments are water repellent I rarely wear waterproofs. In my pack I carry light waterproofs like the ME Particle jacket and trousers or the Berghaus Paclite series. For warmth I also carry a light duvet jacket like the Berghaus Blast which is great on cold descents! Depending on where and when I’m touring I may carry an extra thin fleece layer and a pair of thermal leggings.
Again hats and gloves come in lots of shapes and sizes. I carry a pair of thick ski gloves and a thin pair of thermal gloves for skinning in. Choose a hat which covers your ears and a sun hat for those furnace like ascents in the mid day sun.
Sun glasses and goggles are a must. Trying to ski in a white out with sunnies on isn’t funny! You’ll need a head torch for the huts but go for the lightest you can like the BD Ion or the Petzl E lite. Hydration is important on those ascents. I personally find all types of platypus hydration systems useless in the cold. They freeze, leak or people drink them within the first hour. Save your money and buy a plastic water bottle from the local supermarket.
So that should keep you shopaholics busy for a year or two! This is by no means a comprehensive list of things to bring on a tour it’s just a guide of how to keep the weight down. Remember your rucksack should be no more than 40litres and so if your kit won't all fit in...you’ve got too much!
For details of our 2009 Ski Tours - places still available - click on the Alpine Ski Touring page of our website
Olly Allen
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