What to bring and how to prep for a ski tour

Planning for a safe and successful ski tour can feel overwhelming. Here are a couple ways to simplify the process.

BY PETE TERWILLIGER
Make a Ski Trip Checklist

As a first step, make a checklist of all of the equipment you bring with you on regular ski tours. Because there is a lot of gear involved in a successful ski tour, it is critical to have a list of equipment that you can physically check off before you leave the house. Then, make sure to look at the conditions and adjust your packing accordingly. In addition to the basics (beacon, probe, shovel, etc), it’s a good idea to pack slightly more than you anticipate using. If you break a binding deep in the backcountry, or worse, sustain an injury, you may spend a prolonged amount of time in a cold environment.

01

Emergency handwarmers, paired with an emergency pair of very warm mitts
02

Large insulated parka
03

Warm hat
04

Backup sunglasses or goggles
05

Food & water
06

Repair kit
07

First aid kit
08

Headlamp
09

Tarp / bivy (for shelter or as a tool for transport)
10

Rub on skin wax / micro scraper (for skin failure or glopping)
11

Communication device (satellite communication device, cellphone sos)

The next big step in prepping for a ski tour is to decide who to ski with. The best backcountry partners are those with whom you can have open and honest communication. You’ll want to feel comfortable speaking your mind to, and problem solving with, your touring partner. Ideally, your risk tolerance and goals align and they bring great snacks.

These pieces usually live in the bottom of my bag in small compression sacks. With new research showing that 50% of avalanche fatalities may be caused by traumatic injury, my first aid kit is equipped with a tourniquette, 4x4 gauze pads, and other tools to control bleeding and respond to traumatic injury. Repair kits should be individualized to each user’s gear. Be sure to have the appropriate replacement pieces required for the bindings you ride, along with a spare screw or two. Zip ties and wire are invaluable for jerry-rigging things back together. Ideally, everyone in your team has the equipment necessary to be as self-sufficient as possible in solving problems that arise in the field. It is perfectly acceptable for groups to split up this safety gear.

Check the forecasts

Once you’ve made your backcountry list, you’ve found a partner or two, the next step is to read the avalanche forecast and check the weather. A great place to get this information is www.Avalanche.org, which allows you to locate your local avalanche center. The website also provides helpful links to weather forecasts. Using avalanche and weather forecasts, you should create a tour plan for your day out. If you have any uncertainty regarding the conditions or the hazard, you should choose lower angle terrain less likely to produce avalanches. Once you pick a Plan A tour, don’t forget to have a couple of backup options in case your group needs to bail or alter course for any reason.

About Pete Terwilliger

Pete is a Climbing Ranger on Mount Rainer in Washington and a Ski and Alpine Mountain Guide at Alpenglow Expeditions in Truckee California.