Ski Camping Gear List

 

For multi day, non-glaciated tours in the Chugach, Talkeetna and Kenai Mountains

 

Comments 

  • Think light and count ounces! This is the easiest way to make your trip more enjoyable. Don’t bring unnecessary items such as crazy creek chairs, backpacks over five pounds or heavy cameras.
  •  Nov-Feb temperatures may be down to -20° F at night. Otherwise 0° F will probably be the lowest.
  • This list, while not the gospel, should be followed closely when deciding on equipment. Give me a call if you have questions.  

I Provide

  • Guide services
  • Transportation from Anchorage or Girdwood to the trailhead and return
  • First aid, repair and navigation kits
  • Cook gear (stove, pots, fuel)
  • Breakfast, dinner and camp drinks
  • Emergency communication
  • Available for rent: beacon, shovel probe, tent, backpack

Ski Gear 

􀀀 Skis. 88 mm minimum at waist. For bindings, bring dynafit or free-pivot telemark. Fritschi bindings will work, but are heavy and will shorten our days.

 

􀀀 Ski Boots. Alpine touring boots (dynafit compatible) or plastic telemark boots.

 

􀀀 Skins. Cut to fit the skis, with metal edges exposed.

 

􀀀 Poles. Lightweight, adjustable are ideal.

 

􀀀 Avalanche Beacon. Backcountry Access Trackers are the simplest and safest.

 

􀀀 Shovel. Metal only.

 

􀀀 Probe. Carbon fiber probes are lightest.

 

􀀀 Ski Crampons. Recommended for tours in March-June. www.bndskigear.com sells ski crampons for odd combinations of bindings and ski widths.  

 

Clothing 

􀀀 Lightweight Underwear. Tops and bottoms.

 

􀀀 Schoeller Pants. Like the Patagonia Guide Pants.

 

􀀀 Insulated Wind Breaker. Such as the Marmot Driclime.

 

􀀀 Windshirt. Nice but not required. Like the Patagonia Houdinini.

 

􀀀 Insulated Jacket. With hood like the Patagonia DAS parka.

 

􀀀 Gore-Tex Jacket and Pants. To stop wind, snow and rain. Since this is a shell, and not an insulating layer, so get lightweight versions. The pants must have full-length side zips.

 

􀀀 Gaiters. Required if your pants don’t have tight elastic that stays fixed around the cuff. Shorty gaiters are okay as long as they protect your boot cuffs.

 

􀀀 Warm Socks. 2 pair of thick wool or synthetic.

 

􀀀 Liner Socks. Optional. 2 pair to slow down blisters.

 

􀀀 Booties. These are extra weight, so try to go without.

 

􀀀 Warm hat.

 

􀀀 Balaclava.

 

􀀀 Sun hat.

 

􀀀 Bandana. White to shade neck.

 

􀀀 Liner Gloves. These slide inside your mitts during super-cold conditions.

 

􀀀 Work Gloves. These will be your main gloves. Durable leather such as the BD Patrol glove.

 

􀀀 Mittens. For very cold conditions.

 

Cooking 

􀀀 Cup. 16oz minimum, like the GSI Fair Share Mug or an insulated gas-station mug with snap-on lid that retains heat and is spill-resistant.

 

􀀀 Spoon. Lexan. No knife or fork.

 

􀀀 Trail Food. You provide your own lunches and snacks. We provide breakfast and dinners. Aim for high fat, high calorie food, which provides the most calories for the weight. Bring about 1,500 calories per day in trail food. We suggest bars, gorp, bread, cheese and salami. Also bring a few caffeinated energy gels per day. When ski touring, lunch starts right after breakfast and continues up to dinner.

 

Personal Equipment 

􀀀 Backpack. 3,5000-5,000 cubic inches. Keep it simple and light (5 pounds max), such as the Osprey Exposure 66.

 

􀀀 Sleeping Bag. Down, good to -10°F, with compression stuff sack.

 

􀀀 Thermarest. Full length Prolite 4 works well.

 

􀀀 Headlamp. Small and lightweight. Bring extra batteries.

 

􀀀 Small Personal First-Aid Kit. Simple and light including Ibuprofen, moleskin, molefoam, athletic tape, Band-Aids, personal medications, etc. The guides will have extensive first-aid kits, so leave anything extra behind. Please indicate medical issues on the application and let your guide know about any medical issues before the climb.

 

􀀀 Glacier Glasses. With side covers or wrap-around. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient.

 

􀀀 Sunscreen. SPF 30 or better, 2 small tubes of 1 oz each. We recommend Dermatone Z-cote.

 

􀀀 Lipscreen. SPF 30 or better, at least 2 sticks. Dermatone Z-cote Lips n Face works best.

 

􀀀 Water Bottles. Two one-liter wide-mouth bottles. No water bags or bladder systems, which freeze and are hard to fill.

 

􀀀 Pee Bottle. Nalgene 2 liter collapsible canteen. Optional, but recommended.

 

􀀀 Freshette. Pee funnel is helpful for women. All women mountain guides use these.

 

􀀀 Toiletry bag. Include one small roll of TP in a zip-loc with a small hand sanitizer and light. Also absorbent foot powder—like Goldbond for warming feet. Do not bring soap, shampoo, deodorant, or cosmetics.

 

􀀀 Compass. With sighting mirror and declination adjuster such as the Silva Ranger.

 

􀀀 Knife. Medium sized. No heavy multi-tools please.

 

􀀀 Lighters. Two disposable, adjustable lighters for lighting stoves.

 

􀀀 Camera. Optional. We recommend a small point and shoot. Please do not bring large SLR cameras with extra lenses. Simple and light.

 

􀀀 Car Duffle. Leave a small bag in the car while skiing with a thermos of hot drink, snacks such as chips and fruit and a change of clothes if you want.