HUT-BASED SKI TOURING GEAR LIST

This list is for any of the following trips:

• Wapta Traverse

• Yoho Traverse

• Wheeler Hut

• Asulkan Cabin

• Fairy Meadows

You need to have everything on the list!

WHAT I CAN PROVIDE

I can provide the following:

• Transceiver (charge of $15/day applies)

• Shovel (no charge)

• Probe (no charge)

• Harness and glacier travel gear (no charge)

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

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS

• We only allow MODERN DIGITAL TRANSCEIVERS on our trips.

• A TRIPLE ANTENNA transceiver is REQUIRED.

• 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.

• A transceiver with a “marking” function that is “persistent” is highly recommended.

• Note that BCA Tracker transceivers do not have a persistent marking function. BCA Tracker transceivers are allowed on the trip but one of the transceivers listed below is recommended.

• I can recommend the following transceiver manufacturers:

  • Pieps

  • Black Diamond

  • Mammut/Barryvox

• Many manufacturers have a “professional” level transceiver. If you have never used a transceiver before it is recommended you buy or rent a simpler, recreational-level transceiver as long as it has a persistent marking function.

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

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.

  • Make sure they are in good working order and bring any specific spare parts you may need.

• 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

• Sunglasses

• Goggles

• Water bottle and/or thermos

• Small headlamp

• Skin wax.

• 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

• 55-65 L capacity pack (NOT required for Fairy Meadows).

  • For Wapta and Yoho Traverse trips you need to be able to carry all your gear, your share of the food for the trip, and some group safety gear. Please have a pack big enough to do that.

  • For Wheeler Hut and Hilda Hostel you need to be able to carry all your overnight and skiing gear gear a short distance to get to the huts

• WHEELER HUT, FAIRY MEADOWS CABIN AND HILDA HOSTEL TRIPS: an additional 35-45 L capacity backpack for the day trips.

  • All your gear and clothing for the day trips must fit in your pack

  • Nothing should be strapped to the outside

OPTIONAL SAFETY GEAR

• Ski helmet (required for trips in April or later)

• Avalung

• Balloon pack. Although most airlines will allow the canisters and batteries for balloon packs on the aircraft there are special regulations involved. Please check with your airline well before you arrive at the airport.

Glacier travel EQUIPMENT (I CAN SUPPLY THIS IF REQUIRED)

Most trips will require this equipment. Your guide will tell you if you DO NOT need this gear but if unsure please inquire.

• Harness

  • Any sit harness will do but one that it can be put on easily while wearing ski boots and skis is preferred

• 3 locking carabiners

• 1 - 5 m x 6 mm prussik cord

• 1 - 120 cm webbing sling

• You may bring more crevasse rescue equipment if you are trained with its use. EG Micro-Traction, Tibloc, additional prussiks

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 all trips in April or later.

CLOTHING SYSTEMS

• Average temperatures at this time of year are normally about -5 to -12 but you need to be prepared for temperatures from -20 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

HUT GEAR

• Hut slippers or shoes (lightweight and easily packable)

• Toiletries and toilet paper

• Prescriptions and basic pain medications for those sore muscles

• Ear plugs

• Headlamp or flashlight (I bring a headlamp for the hut and another one that stays in my pack)

• Sleeping bag - the sleeping quarters are relatively warm so a bag rated to about 0 degrees is fine

• WHEELER HUT, FAIRY MEADOWS CABIN AND HILDA CREEK HOSTEL TRIPS: one set of street clothes if you want something else to wear around the hut. For other huts you will want to make do with your outdoor gear as we have to carry everything long distances.

THE hut WILL have:

• Outhouses, no paper

• All cooking utensils

• All eating utensils

• Propane stoves with lots of propane

• Propane lighting

• Mattresses

• Some huts have heating systems but many do not. However, they are small enough that cooking and body heat keep them at a comfortable temperature.

Travelling

• U.S. and foreign participants need passports to travel to Canada. Ensure the expiry date is well after the trip ends.

• Airplane tickets

• Health insurance and mountain rescue information (carry this on you during the ski day)

GROUP GEAR

Each guide will provide:

• Group first aid kit

• Group repair kit

• Emergency toboggan

• Emergency shelter

• Radio

• GPS, compass, map etc