SKI TOURING GEAR LIST for Day trips

This list is for town-based day ski touring trips.

You need to have everything on the list!

rental equipment

I may be able to provide the following (trip location and trip date dependant):

  • Transceiver (charge of $15/day applies)

  • Shovel (no charge)

  • Probe (no charge)

  • Harness and locking carabiner (no charge)

Let me know as soon as possible if you need any of this.

Safety and ski equipment may be also be rented at the following locations:

MEC Calgary

Gear Up Canmore

Snowtips-Backtrax Banff

Wilson Sports Lake Louise

Higher Ground Golden

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS

  • We only allow MODERN DIGITAL TRANSCEIVERS on our trips.

  • A transceiver with a MARKING FUNCTION IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

  • Your transceiver must have been tested in both transmit and receive modes – it needs to have a signal at a minimum of 30 metres in both modes.

  • I can recommend Pieps and Black Diamond transceivers.

  • It is best if your transceiver is less than 10 years old.

  • Your transceiver has to have been manufactured since 2001 (so it meets EN 300718 standard).  

  • If your transceiver does not meet the specifications above you will not be going skiing!

Let me know if you would like more information on transceivers.

COMMON EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS

Issues we see with ski equipment include the following. Some of these problems might end your ski week or at least make life very frustrating! Make sure you have these things sorted out before the trip.

  • Slow skis/boards

    • Make sure your bases are smooth and waxed! A tune-up for your skis/board is essential.

  • Inappropriate backcountry skis/snowboards

    • Too heavy, too narrow or skis and boards that are not backcountry specific.

    • Try to keep your set-up as light as possible.

    • Ski width under your foot in the 95-105 mm range is best. Narrower than this and you may have issues in deep snow or crust conditions, wider than this is often too heavy.

  • Old skins

    • Make sure your skin glue is in good shape and get them fixed if the glue is dirty, in clumps, or the glue has worn off at the edges or ends of the skins.

    • Avoid G3 “Alpinist”, “Scala” and “Expedition” skins - this is old stock with glue that does not work. “Alpinist+” and other G3 skins are OK.

    • New skins are well worth the investment if yours are looking old.

  • Boot problems

    • Ill-fitting boots will give you blisters. I recommend a professional boot fitting.

    • All boots have bolts and rivets that may come loose. If your boots are brand new or well-worn make sure fittings are tight and in good shape.

    • Bring specific tools to tighten the bolts/screws on your boots and check them a couple of times over the week.

  • Binding problems. Beware of the following bindings:

    • First generation Diamir Vipec bindings (manufactured 2012-2013)

    • Dynafit Radical 1.0 (manufactured 2011-2012) - see information for a recall here.

  • Poles that are too long for skiing in deep powder snow

    • Adjustable length poles are best

THE LIST

SKIING EQUIPMENT

  • AT touring skis or telemark skis or splitboard

    • Understand that telemark and snowboard bindings may not be releasable and greatly increase your risk if caught in an avalanche.

    • No snowboard/snowshoe combinations, splitboards only.

  • Skins

  • Touring specific boots

  • Adjustable length ski poles

EQUIPMENT THAT YOU SHOULD BRING SKIING EVERY DAY

  • Digital avalanche transceiver (marking function recommended)

  • Avalanche shovel

  • Avalanche probe

  • Helmet - recommended but optional except for ski mountaineering trips and all trips in April or later where a helmet is required.

  • Sunglasses

  • Goggles

  • Water bottle and/or thermos

  • Small headlamp

  • Skin wax: I find a simple candle works fine.

  • Small personal first aid/repair kit: band aids, blister kit, headache pills, hand and toe warmers, extra batteries for transceiver and headlamp, duct tape, pocket knife, special binding and boot parts.

  • Toilet kit: toilet paper, baggie for used paper, hand sanitizer

  • Camera

  • Health insurance and mountain rescue insurance information

  • 35-45 L capacity backpack. Consider an avalanche airbag pack.

    • All your gear and clothing must fit inside your pack

    • Nothing should be strapped to the outside.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN TRIPS

  • Ski crampons are required for all trips in April or later. If you have ski crampons bring them no matter when your trip is.

  • A helmet is required for ski mountaineering trips and all trips in April or later.

  • For glacier and ski mountaineering trips a climbing harness and 1 locking carabiner. Your guide will inform you if you need a harness. A harness is not required for BanffLife or MountainLife trips.

CLOTHING SYSTEMS

  • Average temperatures are normally about -5 to -15 but you need to be prepared for temperatures from -25 to +5

  • Several thin layers are better than fewer thicker layers. No cotton!

  • Long underwear tops and bottoms - wool or synthetic

  • Ski pants – softshell or light hardshell pants both are fine

  • Thin windbreaker/softshell - for walking uphill in warm conditions

  • Warmer softshell jacket – I prefer a hooded jacket but it’s absolutely necessary

  • Shell jacket – to keep the wet out, Gore-tex or similar seems best

  • Down or synthetic insulated jacket – for breaks and emergency use

  • Lightweight gloves – for walking uphill in warm conditions

  • Warm gloves – 2 pairs (mittens are optional but recommended if you get cold hands)

  • Hand warmers if you get cold hands

  • Warm toque for skiing down

  • Lightweight toque for walking up

  • Balaclava or neck tube – essential for cold conditions

  • Sun hat

GROUP GEAR

Each guide will provide:

  • Group first aid kit

  • Group repair kit

  • Emergency toboggan/shelter

  • Radio

  • GPS, compass, map etc

  • Ropes etc for glacier travel

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