SPRING TOURING ESSENTIALS FOR DAY TRIPS, OVERNIGHTS, AND SKI MOUNTAINEERING

It’s spring. Freeze and melt the snow bag. The days get longer (or more daylight, actually only 24 hours). And non-skiers start talking about brutal things like mountain biking in the desert or deep sea fishing in Baja (they’re both fun, but we never admit it).

While waiting for the spring missions to arrive, I thought it might be useful to share my spring travel gear. I carry the same basic equipment (touring gear) for each mission. If accommodation is on the menu (because spending more time abroad is more fun) I would take Night Gear with me. When it comes to climbing or technical descent, I try hard and / or steep things (climbing). Be open to ideas, reader: what’s missing? What can be eliminated?

Touring equipment

1.  (Apocalypse Equipment SaC): 30 to 40 liters is small enough not to affect the capacity of the ski and large enough to carry everything in the bag for a two-night mission.

2. Transmitter, Shovel, Probe (Mammut Barryvox S, Mammut Algator Light, Mammut Carbon Profile): The transceivers have a search range and marking function of 60m, the excavators have a traceable handle and I prefer to carry 240cm of carbon . spring probe to save weight.

Wet Gloves and Dry Gloves (Showa Temres 282-02, Midweight Black Diamond Softshell Gloves): I use wet gloves and boots for skiing on the slopes when my hands are normally cold and/or wet. I use dry gloves for warm alpine walks and for skiing when I want something more breathable, less warm, but windproof at the same time.

4. Soft Bottle x2 (Final Guide Body Bottle II Bottle 500): 1L between two separate bottles is suitable for me. The electrolyte drink mix makes the water taste more pleasant. Drinking water from plastic bottles is more fun. These models are locked in place, which is crucial. Empty the soft puddles that fall from something I like.

5. Full-length sunglasses (Julbo Explorer 2.0, REACTIV High Mountain 2-4, Aerospeed) are good choices: CAT 2-4 Photoshoot Full sunglasses offer a cool and comfortable combination of sunglasses and sunglasses Sun. Unless very windy or rainy weather is expected, don’t bring ski goggles for spring skiing.

6. Sun Hat & Buff: A lightweight five-panel nylon hat with a mid-length sandal is the perfect combination of face and head protection for me. The hat goes under my helmet. There is a buffet under my hat. Complete protection from the elements and a full smile.

7. Repair / First Aid Kit: If your equipment breaks, bring something for repair. Also bring medical equipment tailored to your experience and / or education. See our other article for Advanced Repair and First Aid Kits.

9. Rescue Sled / Shelter (Apocalyptic Equipment Rescue Sled): This equipment allows you to “stay in the game” or “fall and pull” in an emergency, providing shelter to sit and rescue you, who are waiting for you or drag the sled. Do. Victim from behind. However, practice lifeboat / shelter before starting the exercise.

10. Skins: These fun soft tools are used to enter mountainous terrain without the cramping and atrophy mechanisms commonly known as lifts. When skiing in spring, it is important not to forget skin wax like Black Diamond Globstopper. Even skiing in hot weather works.

11. Ski helmet (not shown, Salomon MTN or Scott Couloir): I like double face helmets. The dual rating means they have CE 1077 (alpine skiing) and EN 12492 (climbing) certificates, which meet the requirements to influence both sports. They work from top to bottom for their intended purpose.

Everyone should carry the best ski boots with them while skiing. This helps to get a premium level of performance.

12. What do I have in my pocket: I keep the transceiver in the inside pocket of my pants. In the second bag I have a plastic snow blower to melt the ski, a microfiber cloth to clean the sunglasses, lipstick (I like it) and sunscreen (my ruler is sunscreen if it rubs, I don’t trust). .> 50 CC). I wouldn’t have solved the problems these tools would have solved if they weren’t in my pocket and easily accessible.

Housing assembly

1. Curtains: The curtains are single-walled with light, but not against condensation, and the double-walled curtains are heavier. The halls are great when you know bad weather is coming. It is now the best single tent on the market [in my experience] TNF Attack 2. The patented Assult fabric resists moisture well. A separate preview of The North Face Assault 2 is here.

2. Sleeping Mat (Reflective Insulation & Thermarest NeoAir XTherm): Closed cell foam padding and inflatable pillow are well insulated for winter camping. I use a foam cushion to sit at the camp while I spend time. My foam pillow is cut to the third to fold it 2/3 the length. This way, it can act as a back wall for my bag to save space. The MUTE rectangular inflatable pillow is more comfortable than the mummy shape and worth the extra grams.

3. Sleeping Bag (Vireo UL with Feather Friends): I like to use a three quarter zip sleeping bag with play rope to save space and weight. The Vireo UL Friends Watch is currently the best choice on the market due to its size, weight and warmth.

4. Breakfast and Dinner: Freeze-dried foods seem to be a restaurant reserved only for overnight stays abroad. It was because of this exclusivity that I liked Pavlov. They are always very tasty after a full day of hiking in the mountains. Lyo Foods is a foreign brand that surprised me with the quality of their food: dinner, soups and breakfast. Interesting ingredients that look healthy and nutritious.

5. Dromedary (MSR 4L Dromedary): This water bladder makes collecting and / or dissolving water much more convenient when you are at the camp. Some people like to use it as a water bottle during the day, but I’ve seen too many dreams (at noon, not near water, in a dream flood, and / or an explosion flowing through my back and the stomach). ) prescribe this method. The volume of 4 liters is enough for 2-3 people on a 1-2 night trip.

Plate and Bowl (GSI Pocket Spoon and Fozzil Clip Bowl): Non-metallic long spoons that won’t cool your hands in the process are best for filling dry food bags. Fozzil bowls are great because you can lick them to clean and they can serve as a cheese board or other regular snack.

7. Inflated Gloves (CAMP Hotmit’N): they are resistant to frost on cold days. I pull my sleeves on before going to bed and my feet like it. CAMP mugs are the lightest version I have found due to their warmth.

8. Fluffy hat: When the sun comes under the brush at night, I replace the sun hat with a fluffy hat. It makes life more comfortable. The next day, when I walk for the first time, I eventually get too hot and go back to my sun hat.

9. Cooker System (MSR Windburner): The cooker system (usually) is for boiling water and the oven for cooking. I prefer simple foods that only need boiled water, which is why I prefer cooking systems. Don’t forget gasoline and lighter. I found the MSR Windburner more reliable than the Jetboil.

10. Raised jacket and trousers (Plasma Mount Bell 1000 and light trousers): I will leave the field once and change the jacket and raised trousers. Mont Bell is many years ahead of other brands in the warmth and weight of fleece clothing. It is a small brand that allows them to purchase a small amount of up to 1000 stuffed goose feathers (bark). The plasma hedgehog is smooth, so stay calm and you’ll get annoying warmth in the pen in return (presumably pun). Pair this jacket with the Light Down pants and you won’t notice the weight of this two-legged jacket.

11. Puffy Boots (not shown, Flash Mountaineering Western Booties): It is important to remove your feet from wet boots, dry your inner shoes, and prepare your feet for the second day of skiing. Before I switch from ski boots to puffy boots, I want to completely dry my sweaty feet in the air (in the sun I hope) with hand sanitizer, foot powder, dry socks, swollen shoes. Flash Down Booties is a high quality product from a small California manufacturer.

Climbing

Brackets (Petzl Irvis Hybrid): I use brackets to climb technical terrain. So much for more safety and savings for pedestrian fingers. Clips are cheaper and less important than hiking boots, so I prefer the condition of the boots to clips. I prefer steel toes and aluminum heels. These are gold plated coatings for performance and weight saving on the steel faceplate and the lightweight aluminum cable. Petzl stands out from almost all of its products, the Petzl Irvis Hybrid is a good example of this.

2. Ice ax (es) (Petzl Gully): I use an ice ax [or two] when I go upstairs when I think it will help me climb safely or recover if I start to fall. Petzl Gully goes well with the basics of Hybrid Irvis.

3. True (Beal Backup Line): 40m 5mm static rope provides safe shaking and skiing when needed.

4. Anchor rope and suspension carabiners: It is important and safe to build strong anchors or replace old anchors. If you come across an anchor that doesn’t look reliable but has no choice but to hope it will drop, that’s a bad position! When building / leveling anchors, do not slide on the anchor ropes or carabiners. Before putting trust in your life, make sure that the anchor is very strong. The anchor rope likes to build a 5m 6mm technical rope and the oval carabiner as a headband.

5. Freight and stops: The passive protection of building anchors such as bolts and gates is important for the same reasons as wearing anchor ropes and carabiners. The ability to build a solid anchor is far better than shifting your safety to an existing anchor of dubious quality.

Pear-shaped scraper and carabiner: for shaking and skiing. If you are using a small solid cable (5-6mm), pay attention to the folding device you are using and make sure it is strong enough. Edelrid Mago 8 is a great way to rap thin strings.

7. Double Long Runner with Small Locking Carabiner: This climbing tool is used to build a custom chain that attaches to anchors or to build an elaborate vibration system.

8. Friction clutch and small locking carabiner: This gear is used to create a backup of the reinforced system.

Harnesses (Light Choucas Ice Ice): Skim Mountain harnesses are a light and supple version of climbing harnesses, usually without additional loops or loops for the equipment. The ideal properties of the climbing ski harness are light and compact, just like the Choucas Light.

Climbing requires many techniques and skills that quickly become difficult. Do your homework and consider hiring a mountain guide to make sure you learn these skills properly. It is not worth risking your life knowing your technical systems in the mountains.