LODGE BASED SKI TOURING GEAR LIST

This list is for any lodge based ski touring trip. For example:

  • Town based ski touring trips

  • Sorcerer Lodge

  • Sol Mountain Lodge

  • Burnie Glacier Chalet

  • Battle Abbey

  • Hilda Hut

  • Carlyle Mountain Lodge

You need to have everything on the list!

what i can provide

I can provide the following:

  • Transceiver (charge of $15/day applies, $120 for a normal 8-day trip)

  • Shovel (no charge)

  • Probe (no charge)

  • Harness and locking carabiner for trips with glaciers (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.

  • I can recommend the following transceivers:

    • Pieps Powder BT

    • Black Diamond Recon BT

  • 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 with a triple antenna (marking function recommended)

  • Avalanche shovel

  • Avalanche probe

  • 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

    • All your gear and clothing must fit inside your pack

    • Nothing should be strapped to the outside.

optional safety gear

  • Ski helmet (required for trips in April or later; required for the Icefall Traverse)

  • Airbag 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.

Additional equipment required for certain trips

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

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

  • Climbing harness and 1 locking carabiner for the trips with glaciers. I can provide this if you do not have it but please let me know as soon as possible. The following trips require a harness and carabiner:

    • Town based ski touring trips (Golden, Revelstoke, Lake Louise) if indicated by the guide

    • Sorcerer

    • Burnie

    • Battle Abbey

    • Campbell

    • Selkirk

    • Kokanee

    • Fairy Meadows

CLOTHING SYSTEMS

  • Average temperatures at this time of year are normally about -5 to -12 but you need to be prepared for temperatures from -30 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

around the LODGE

  • Lodge slippers or shoes. Best if they have a sole that you can walk outside with.

  • Casual street clothes for the lodge.

  • Toiletries

  • Prescriptions and basic pain medications for those sore muscles

  • Towel for the sauna

  • Ear plugs

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

  • Battery pack for recharging phones and devices. Although most lodges have some electricity, a charge pack will often be more convenient.

The lodge will provide:

  • Bedding

  • Toilet paper

Travelling

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

  • U.S. and foreign participants may need additional travel documents to enter Canada. See here for details.

  • 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

  • Good looks and bright personalities

EXTRA SKI GEAR

  • There usually is one extra pair of AT skis with bindings and skins at the lodges that should fit most people.

  • If there are telemarkers or snowboarders on the trip it is worthwhile to consider bringing one extra pair of skis or board.

  • We will have one extra pair of ski poles.

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