Later, I learned my partner had no idea I was still in the chute. A single call on the radio could have prevented the whole mess. That incident burned a key lesson into me: in the backcountry, clear and timely communication is mandatory. Ever since, no matter how small the mission, my VHF radio comes with me.

Related: Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Etiquette: The Dos and Don’ts

VHF Radios

A VHF (Very High Frequency) radio is a two-way communication device that operates between 30 MHz and 300 MHz. They provide handy two-way, line-of-sight communication (i.e. you can transmit and receive a signal) when out of cell service. Out in the bush, they’re commonly used in a mountain environment when driving on forest service roads.

The backcountry skiing and splitboarding communities use VHF radios to communicate key information when travelling apart. For instance, VHF radios are often used for group coordination when travelling through avalanche terrain and for emergency communication. They’re more reliable than cell phones in remote areas without cell service, but the radio’s range depends heavily on terrain. You’ll have a hard time reaching someone on the other side of a mountain pass or high ridge.

Communicating In The Field

After having been burnt by poor communication in the backcountry, I’ve noticed something: a group that talks well skis better. Not just in terms of safety, but in flow. Concise, timely radio transmissions or even simple shouts are great ways to share key information, such as an unexpected change of plan due to poor ski conditions or an increased avalanche hazard. Here are a few handy examples of backcountry communication:

• Call out “dropping in 3” or “all clear” so no one skis above someone else, and risks triggering an avalanche. That would have been handy during the incident that I described in the introduction.
• Give brief updates like “transitioning here” or “meeting at the trees” to avoid splitting up your group in complex terrain.
• Keep tabs on each other when the terrain or avalanche hazard forces you to spread out or lose line-of-sight.
• Yelling “stop” or “go” when travelling on a glacier roped up to maintain the correct spacing between your group. This is especially important in whiteout conditions – you may not see your group’s leader.

It’s simple stuff, but it makes a huge difference in improving your group’s safety and flow through the mountains. Obviously, radios are great at sharing information, but hand signals or your voice are great tools for staying in touch.

Ski touring and splitboarding isn’t just about reading the snowpack – it’s about reading your partners, too. Periodically checking in with your ski buddies helps maintain a clear mind and a common understanding of the risks when making hazard-related decisions. It’ll also prevent foreseeable injuries. Speak up when you’re faced with unnecessary risks, unreasonable exposure or ski conditions beyond your skill level. This is especially important as the weather turns for the worse or the route has to change due to unexpected hazards. In short, clear and timely communication keeps everyone safe and turns a tour into a shared adventure instead of a series of solo missions. These days, my radio is as essential as my avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe. Silence can be the most dangerous thing of all in the backcountry.

Morning Talks & Evening Debriefs

Learning how to communicate when backcountry skiing or splitboarding involves mastering morning briefings and evening debriefs. Heck, there’s a reason why they are an integral part of the workflow in the professional avalanche world – guides and forecasters alike.

Morning Briefing: In preparation for a great day of ski touring, we first discuss possible objectives the night before. We identify a few interesting tours in accordance with the weather forecast and avalanche conditions. In the morning, we update our plan based on the overnight weather as well as the weather and avalanche forecasts. In my locale, the Avalanche Canada bulletin is a great resource for daily avalanche conditions and weather forecasts. This process is a crucial part of trip planning and involves clear communication within your group. Everyone has to be on the same page; otherwise, you’ll risk having spicy, mid-uptrack arguments.

Evening Debrief: A good day in the backcountry doesn’t end when you click out of your skis. Taking five minutes at the trailhead, in the parking lot, or even back at the cabin to debrief can be just as important as checking the forecast. Talk about what went well, what felt sketchy, and where communication or decision-making could have been sharper. It doesn’t have to be formal – sometimes, you’re just exchanging thoughts over an ice-cold beer. Those conversations build trust, sharpen your team’s awareness, and make the next tour smoother and safer.

Emergency Communication Devices

Emergency devices to communicate in the backcountry should be a crucial item on your packing list. When backcountry skiing, you can’t always count on cell service when it matters most. Even if you stack the odds in your favour, do everything right, injuries still happen. A blown knee or a fractured arm isn’t that uncommon. That’s why carrying an emergency communication device is just as important as packing your avalanche tools in the morning. We’ve touched base on VHF radios and how they keep your group connected in real time—calling “all clear” or “hold up” can prevent accidents before they happen.

For reaching the outside world in the event of a backcountry rescue, satellite messengers like an InReach or ZOLEO let you text for help, while a personal locator beacon fires off a one-way SOS. I always carry a Garmin InReach Mini for its two-way text feature and Bluetooth pairing with your phone. I’ve used it in the past when faced with a serious injury in the Whistler backcountry. The helicopter rescue was surprisingly fast and efficient. Granted, the resources were at the ready before we placed our SOS call. This is Whisler after all – the busiest skiing destination in Canada. Most importantly, knowing how to use your emergency communication device and practicing its functions means you’re not relying on luck when the unexpected happens.

The post Communicate In The Backcountry: How To Stay In Touch appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: The Early Season Snowpack: How It Affects Your Winter

Pre-Season Gear Prep

A significant part of pre-season preparation for the ski touring season involves inspecting your gear. There’s no doubt – ski touring and splitboarding are gear-intensive sports. Keep an eye out for unusual wear, visible cracks, frays and verify the equipment’s functionality.

Skis, Boots and Poles

Starting with the basic gear, it’s worth checking the ski’s edges and top sheet for delamination, where it separates from the ski’s core. Slide your hand across your bases, feeling for deep gouges. It’s a great time to pull out that smelly PTEX stick and fix those gouges. Alternatively, a reputable ski shop can do the needed repairs for you. Inspect your bindings to ensure they clip in easily and that the rear turret risers are in good condition. To check the binding screws, gently attempt to pry off the baseplate from the ski’s topsheet.

Related: How To Choose Touring Skis

Regarding your ski boots, inspect the upper and lower cuffs to ensure there are no cracks in the plastic shell. Glance over the steel tech inserts and toe/heel welts to ensure they’re still securely embedded in the shell. Try on your boot liners – they pack out over time and often require a few tweaks by an experienced bootfitter throughout the season. It’s best to get it over early on so you can tour comfortably.

Fix your bent ski poles, keeping in mind that aluminum poles snap if forcibly bent in the cold. Heat aluminum poles with a torch, then bend them back into shape. If you’re using telescopic poles, make sure your ski poles can fully collapse and verify their locking mechanism. Trust me: you don’t want to have poles slip when skiing down an exposed feature. In the past, I’ve also forgotten to swap my pole’s low-profile hiking baskets for the oversized powder baskets. Learn from my mistakes.

Climbing Skins

Take a moment to dig out your climbing skins from the back of your freezer. You’d be surprised – some folks store their skins in their freezer to preserve the skin glue. Inspect both the plush for cuts or odd frays and verify that the glue is working properly. Take a look at your tip and tail connectors as well.

Related: How To Choose Climbing Skins

Avalanche Rescue Gear

Here’s another crucial tip regarding ski touring pre-season preparation: inspect your avalanche rescue gear. That includes your transceiver, shovel, and probe. These days, a transceiver with three antennas and multiple burial functionality is standard. If your device doesn’t meet that, it’s probably time to consider an upgrade before hitting the winter season.

Related: How To Choose An Avalanche Transceiver / Beacon

Practice companion rescue scenarios with your touring partners. It’s the fastest way to see if your avalanche tools actually work and to build muscle memory for high-stress situations. In the fall, I always run a full transceiver function check. Take a close look at the depth markings on your probe as well. They tend to wear down inside your backpack. Without accurate depth readings, even a well-practiced rescue can be slowed or complicated.

Backcountry First Aid Kit

A solid backcountry first aid kit isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s an essential piece of gear for ski touring. Before your first tour of the season, take the time to check every item and make sure your kit is fully stocked. Small but critical items, like blister bandages, moleskin patches, or rolls of KT tape, often vanish over the winter months. Don’t wait until you need them in the middle of a backcountry skin track or a remote descent. Resupply basics such as gauze, adhesive tape, antibiotic cream, and pain medication. Consider also including items for cold-related injuries, like chemical hand warmers, extra gloves, or a space blanket, and any personal medications or allergy treatments you might need.

A well-prepared kit can make the difference between managing a minor incident efficiently or turning it into a serious problem. In the backcountry, help is not just around the corner, so being ready means not only having the supplies but knowing how to use them. Below is a suggested list of common first aid items to include in your backcountry kit.

• Assorted adhesive bandages
• Large gauze pad (abdominal pad)
• Gauze rolls
• Non-stick wound dressing
• Medical tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Blister care bandages (moleskin, KT tape)
• Small scissors
• Elastic bandages with safety pin
• Triangular bandages
• Pain management medication (ibuprofen, acetamenophen)
• Allergy medication (antihistamine)
• Gloves (nitrile)
• CPR pocket mask
• Immobilization splint (SAM splint)
• Heat-refracting tarp (space blanket)

Backcountry Repair Kit For Ski Touring and Splitboarding

Before your first backcountry tour, take a close look at your repair kit and make sure it’s fully stocked. A well-prepared kit should cover all the essentials to handle common gear and clothing issues in snowy, remote environments. Think about skis, splitboards, boots, poles, and even your outer layers, anything that could fail or need quick adjustment on the skin track or descent.

Check your inventory of screws, nuts, and other hardware and update it to match your current setup. If you’ve changed bindings, ski boots, or other gear since last season, you may need to swap out certain screws or small parts in your kit. It’s also worth including a multi-tool, spare straps, duct tape, ski crampon screws, and a small roll of climbing wire. Even minor fixes, like a loose binding or ripped gaiter, can turn into a frustrating or dangerous situation if you’re unprepared. Regularly reviewing and refreshing your repair kit ensures that when a problem arises in the backcountry, you can fix it quickly and safely without cutting your day short. Preparation in the garage before you head out can save hours and headaches on the mountain. You’ll find below a list of suggested items to complete your backcountry first aid kit.

• Multi-tool with scissors
• Binding tool (if not included in multi-tool)
• Adhesive tape (gorilla or duct tape)
• Stash of zip ties
• 2-3 ski straps (voile straps)
• Small roll of bailing wire
• 5-10m of accessory cord (4-5mm)
• Spare binding screws
• Spare boot screws
• Spare binding toe piece (important for multi-day trip)
• Extra tip and tail clips/connectors for climbing skin
• Extra powder pole basket
• Ski scraper
• Clothing patch (tenacious tape)
• Firestarter kit (lighter, waterproof matches, chunk of bike inner tube or dry cotton balls)
• Backup mini-headlamp
• Small tube of threadlock (Blue Loctite)

Pre-Season Vehicle Prep

Getting your vehicle ready for winter might not feel like part of ski touring pre-season preparation, but it’s every bit as important. Around Revelstoke, my home base, winter or mud/snow tires are mandatory for driving through mountain passes like Rogers Pass. I run dedicated studded winters on my AWD rig, and the difference on icy, snow-packed roads is night and day. At highway speeds, good traction and smart driving habits matter far more than having an AWD or 4×4 badge. If you’re renting a vehicle, know that most companies only supply all-season tires with the standard fee. My advice? Pay the premium for proper winter tires. They’re worth their weight in gold.

I also keep a small emergency kit in my truck: first aid supplies, road flares, tire chains, and a stash of canned food. That kit has already paid for itself during long road closures from accidents or avalanches. Once, I was stuck for more than four hours while crews cleared avalanche debris off the Trans-Canada near Rogers Pass. Out here, delays are part of winter travel. Drive slow, drive smart, and be prepared.

Pre-Season Training

Working as a ski guide, I spend a healthy chunk of my pre-season training for emergencies. This ranges from dusting off my avalanche rescue training, practicing my crevasse rescue rigging skills and refining my first aid skills. While my emergency response trainings are based on an operational context, whether I’m heli-skiing or ski touring, recreationalists should practice those skills on a seasonal basis. Sadly, too few dedicate the time required to do it properly.

Avalanche Rescue Training

Avalanche rescue is never as simple as it sounds. On paper, it’s just three steps: find the victim with a transceiver, confirm their location with a probe, and dig them out with a shovel. In reality, it’s messy, high-stakes, and often chaotic. That’s why I put myself through regular practice scenarios. The most useful drills, I’ve found, are the ones that push me outside my comfort zone: multiple burials in treed terrain. Forests are disorienting; they force you to slow down, build a mental map, and really think about how you’re moving through the scene. Those details matter because in a real emergency, you won’t have the luxury of clarity.

Early in the season, many operators run Avalanche Skills Training (AST) courses that mix avalanche terrain management with rescue scenarios. For those who want to strip it down and focus purely on emergency response, companion rescue courses are another option. Either way, the practice pays off because, when the chaos is real, the training kicks in and the response becomes automatic.

Crevasse Rescue Training

If you’re planning to travel in glaciated terrain, a crevasse rescue course and regular practice are non-negotiable. It’s an important pre-season preparation for ski touring or splitboarding. Rope systems like the Z-pulley (3:1 advantage) or the Canadian Drop Loop (6:1 advantage) provide the mechanical advantage needed to haul a partner out of a crevasse – but they require detailed rigging skills that are easy to forget under pressure. Even as a professional, I find myself re-learning the finer points each November during pre-season training. Effective crevasse rescue comes down to precision and repetition. The only way to truly be ready is to practice, again and again.

Backcountry First Aid Training

When you travel into the backcountry, you step into an environment where professional medical help may be hours or even days away. In these settings, first aid training is not just useful, it’s essential. The ability to assess injuries, manage medical emergencies, and improvise with limited resources can make the difference between a manageable situation and a life-threatening one.

Backcountry first aid differs from the classic occupational first aid in key ways. Hazards in the mountains result in injuries from sprains, fractures, and multi-trauma to illnesses from hypothermia to altitude sickness and allergic reactions. Unlike urban settings, you can’t rely on a quick ambulance ride or a nearby emergency room. Backcountry first aid training equips you with the skills to stabilize a patient, relieve pain, and make critical decisions about evacuations over more than 48 hours. For example, knowing how to splint a broken leg with poles, manage shock in freezing conditions, or recognize early signs of hypothermia can save lives. In short, it’s not optional – it’s a must.

Physical Conditioning

And then there’s pre-season physical conditioning, the part everyone knows about but too often skips. Ski touring and splitboarding demand far more than just strong legs. It requires endurance and stability. Long climbs, heavy packs, and variable snow conditions push your cardiovascular fitness to its breaking point, while steep descents and tricky terrain test your strength and balance. Pre-season conditioning reduces the risk of injury, helps prevent fatigue, and makes long days in the mountains more enjoyable. A mix of aerobic training, strength work (especially core and legs), and flexibility exercises will prepare your body for the uphill grinds and downhill rewards that define ski touring and splitboarding.

Picture this: it’s early November, your skis are freshly tuned, your pack is dialled, every feature checked. You clip into your bindings for that first day back in the mountains, buzzing with excitement. Then, in a split second, a sloppy fall leaves you with a blown knee and a broken arm. Just like that, your season is over before it even began. The truth is, a stronger, better-prepared body might have saved you from that fall. With the right conditioning, you’d still be skiing today. That’s why your pre-season preparation for ski touring or splitboarding is so important!

The post Pre-Season Preparation For Ski Touring: Get Ready To Shred appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: Packing For A Backcountry Hut Trip: Tips For A Great Ski Tour

The Ski Touring (Splitboarding) Essentials

Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe: This is the first thing that I pack. Going in the backcountry without the potentially life-saving avalanche equipment is a big no-no. While the shovel and probe live in my daypack, I usually stuff my avalanche transceiver in my “car” bag (a simple grocery bag) along with my climbing skins, a pre-hydration water bottle and some snacks.

Touring skis, ski boots, poles & skins: They are all bundled together so I don’t forget anything. Make sure your touring skis have workable bindings and ski boots, a selectable walk mode. I prefer two-piece adjustable poles, since they can be shortened when bootpacking and easily strapped to my pack. To avoid cold fingers, pre-mount your climbing skins in the comfort of your home.

Related: How To Choose Touring Skis, Bindings, Boots and Skins

Backpack: A well-fitted, comfortable backpack makes your day fly by. After conducting extensive research over many years, I’ve identified the key features to look for in a backpack suitable for ski touring day trips. I’ve found a 35-40L backpack works best for standard day trips, while a 40-45L pack, for technical ski-mountaineering missions. For a deeper insight into backpack features, check out How To Get Into Ski Touring (Backpacks).

Ski googles: On a wintery day, ski googles are a must when I pack for a ski tour. Bring an appropriate lens for the expected weather. On most days, I carry a low-light lens in the Interior British Columbia as it works for overcast days and skiing in those shady, north-facing bowls. By springtime, I’ll bust out the sunny lens. Nowadays, unless I’m expecting snorkel-deep powder, I wear “visor-like” sunglasses such as the Smith Wildcat with a photochromatic lens and low-light lens. The ski googles stay at home until it’s truly storming out there. Those sunglasses are lighter, more packable and work as well in knee-deep powder as your typical googles.

Skin Wax: On a warm spring day, moist snow will tend to pack under your climbing skins, hampering your glide. Skin wax is essentially a waterproof coating for your skins, making it harder for snow to stick to those prickly hairs. While it reduces grip slightly, having an unimpeded stride is far more important. Pro-tip: apply skin wax across the entire skin base, at the trailhead, before the climbing skin gets saturated with water. I usually leave the wax at home until mid-February when the temperatures soar.

• Avalanche transceiver
• Avalanche shovel
• Avalanche probe
• Touring skis (or splitboard)
• Touring boots (with walk-mode)
• Touring poles (adjustable ideally)
• Climbing skins
• Backpack (35-45L)
• Ski Googles (or visor-type sunglasses)
• Skin wax (optional unless expecting warm weather)

The Clothing

Base layers and socks: It’s hard to forget the base layers when you pack for a ski tour. You’ll hopefully be wearing them. I heavily recommend merino wool base layers. While they dry slower than their synthetic counterpart, they breathe well, wick moisture effectively, and don’t hold on to body odour. Also, I’d avoid driving to the trailhead with your ski sock. Do your best to keep those heavenly foot bags dry until you begin your ski tour. Slipping wet socks into your ski boots at the start of your tour is the absolute worst! You’ll know when you make that mistake.

Midlayer “active” jacket: This midlayer goes under your outer weatherproof shell. Since you’ll often be wearing this jacket on the uphill, it’s best to choose a midlayer that’s lightly insulated, breathable and wind-resistant. Striking the balance between warmth, breathability and wind-resistance involves much trial and error with different brands and models. It depends on how your body manages heat and sweat during high-output exercise.

Uphill and downhill gloves: Why carry two pairs of gloves? For starters, you’ll need a backup pair when the first one eventually wets out. You also want to avoid soaking your downhill gloves in sweat to maintain their insulating property. Since I get clammy hands, my uphill gloves are breathable, quick-drying and dexterous. I also get cold fingers, so my downhill gloves are ultra-warm and relatively water-resistant. As for ideal material, I favour leather treated with a waterproofing wax such as Nikwax. Leather offers a great balance of durability and dexterity.

Puffy jacket and pants: When it’s truly arctic out on your ski tour, you’ll want to pack a large puffy jacket (either synthetic or down). While down tends to pack smaller, synthetic insulation such as PlumaFill (Patagonia) retains heat when wet. Nevertheless, I always carry a light, midlayer puffy jacket. The puffy pants are entirely optional, and whether you get cold legs. I don’t see a need for it unless I’m winter camping in frigid weather.

• Synthetic or wool base layers (top & bottom)
• Synthetic or wool ski socks
• Midlayer “active” jacket (preferably wind-resistant)
• Weatherproof puffy jacket (down or synthetic)
• Weatherproof ski shell & pants (waterproof/breathable membrane)
• Neck warmer (Buff)
• Neck warmer (Buff)
• Brimmed “active” cap and toque (wool or synthetic)
• Light uphill gloves
• Warm downhill gloves (weatherproof outer shell)
• Puffy pants or shorts (optional)

The Personal Items

Sunglasses: Sport sunglasses with a lens of at least category 3 rating are an important part of the ski touring quiver. You’ll find yourself wearing them on overcast days, as the sunlight gets amplified by the reflective snow surface. As previously mentioned, I favour visor-like sunglasses since they provide optimal coverage for both the ascent and descent and shelter from the wind. On a truly deep day, the googles will come out of my bag.

Sunscreen and lip cream: Even in the dead of winter, the solar radiation can still pierce through the clouds and affect your skin. It’s crucial to apply sunscreen, with a minimum rating of SPF 50, regularly throughout your ski tour. Zinc-oxide paste becomes especially handy during spring ski tours to protect your face, neck and arms from a nasty burn. You’ll always find a small tube of SPF 50 sunscreen at the top of my pack.

Insulated water bottle: With temperatures dipping below -15 °C regularly during our Canadian winter, water will freeze in a bare water bottle, and you’ll be left with nothing to drink. A quality insulated bottle will keep your tea or water warm throughout the day. There’s nothing better than a hot tea in bitterly cold weather. When spring rolls around, my water intake goes through the roof. Instead of my usual 1L, I tend to drink about 1.5-2L of water, especially when the blazing sun is beating down on my neck. I pack a 500mL-1L Nalgene to supplement my 1L insulated mug.

Repair Kit: Slip a repair kit at the bottom of your bag when you pack for a ski tour. While we all want to avoid being stranded in the backcountry, your equipment will fail at some point. That’s where the repair kit comes in handy. A simple collection of zip ties, bailing wire, pole splint, binding screws, pocket screwdriver, ski straps and gorilla tape will get you back to the trailhead.

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• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen and lip cream (minimum SPF 50)
• Insulated water bottle (1 – 1.5L)
• Wide-mouth water bottle (1L)
• Food (stored in a lightweight bag)
• Pocket knife
• Repair kit (for boots, bindings and poles)
• First aid kit (with pain & blister care)
• Headlamp (with spare batteries)
• Smartphone & camera
• Toilet paper

The Group Gear

Some equipment can be shared between your group, which spreads some heavyweight items across your party.

Emergency toboggan: Not many backcountry skiers or splitboarders carry an emergency toboggan. To be fair, they are expensive, and you’re probably never going to use a toboggan. Think again! The reality of ski touring in the high mountains is that a helicopter rescue may be impossible in some locations. You’ll be travelling through complex, unforgiving terrain. The only solution is to drag the injured person using a toboggan to an area where an air rescue works or back to the trailhead.

Emergency shelter: Using the same line of thought, you’ll need an emergency shelter to cover the injured person while waiting for a rescue or to spend the night in the backcountry. Some products, such as the Ski Guides Rescue Tarp by Alpine Threadworks, can double as a toboggan.

Bush saw and fire starter kit: If you’re spending the night in the mountains, you’ll want to make a fire. Staying warm is paramount. A bush saw that doubles as a snow study saw and a fire starter kit will go a long way to keeping you alive in an emergency.

• GPS
• Emergency satellite comunication device
• Emergency toboggan & shelter
• Snow/bush saw
• Fire starter kit
• Map (paper or digital), altimeter & compass
• Snow study kit (optional)

The Ski-Mountaineering Gack

Ski-mountaineering rope: You’ll bring different ropes depending on the objective. Glacier travel, rappels or even lead climbing introduce specific requirements on your rope systems. Gone are the days when you’d have to haul a burly 11mm single rope up a mountain. During most ski-mountaineering trips, I’ll bring a 6mm glacier cord for glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and sometimes rappelling (depending on the complexity of the rappel). If I’m expecting complex scrambling or technical climbing, I’ll bring a lightweight 9mm single rope to belay my partner or short rope.

Glacier harness with gear: While a regular climbing harness works fine, a lightweight ski touring harness will help reduce your pack weight and size. While not the most comfortable if left dangling above a crevasse, the harness will hold your weight. For the most part, you’ll forget you’re wearing it as you slide along the glacier.

Ski crampons: Nobody enjoys wearing ski crampons. They slow down your stride, but they’ll get you out of an uncomfortable situation in a pinch. They are useful – especially in Spring – when you’ll often travel over wind-scoured ridges and refrozen crusts. Verify that the ski crampons are compatible with your bindings and fitted tightly to your skis while moving freely around their pivot. Trust me – too wide of a crampon will ruin your stride – and your day.

Boot crampons: Boot crampons are critical when bootpacking up icy or wind-scoured slopes. While backcountry skiers can often get away with kicking in steps, snowboarders on soft boots are left in the dust. Avoid those heavy steel crampons like the plague. Nowadays, hybrid designs, such as the Pezl Irvis Hybrid, combine the durability of steel front points with the weight savings of aluminum construction and packability of a flexible spine. Some opt for full aluminum boot crampons. Keep in mind that they will wear down quickly when scrambling on rocks.

Related: Spring Ski Touring Gear: The Essential Goes A Long Way

• Ski-mountaineering rope (for rappelling and glacier travel)
• Glacier harness with gear
• Ice axe
• Helmet (can be ski helmet)
• Ski crampons
• Boot crampons

How To Pack Your Backpack

Packing your backpack smartly will get you further up the mountain. It’s crucial for comfort, balance and both uphill and downhill efficiency. In the long run, it’ll help avoid nasty back injuries. Let’s divide the backpack into three sections: the main compartment, top lid, and side pockets (if available).

Main compartment in three layers from bottom to top:

• First aid kit, pocket mask (for CPR), repair kit, rescue toboggan (which doubles as a tarp shelter), and spare accessory cord at the very bottom of my bag. Some would argue that the emergency gear should be stored at the top of your pack. I’ve heavily trained with my emergency gear, and am pretty quick at getting to them. I would rather locate its bulk at the bottom of the pack, right above my hip belt.
• Food, an insulated bottle, and googles in the middle of the main compartment.
• Spare gloves, jackets, and a neck warmer at the top of the main compartment. The lightest items are stored at the top, where there’s the most side-to-side sway.

Top Lid: The top lid houses small, light items such as the sunscreen, granola bars and toilet paper. An emergency satellite communication device, such as a Garmin InReach, also lives in the top lid.

Side & Accessory Pockets: Some bags have side or accessory pockets, perfect to store all the other knick-knacks.

Packing Tips:

• Make sure externally strapped items are secured to your pack so you don’t drop key gear on the uptrack or, even worse, lose it in an avalanche.
• Avalanche safety tools should always be stored internally, ideally in a designated quick-access pocket.
• Store your water bottle in an internal pocket to avoid the water freezing.
• The water hose on Camelback-type hydration systems will freeze in sub-zero temperatures.
• Adjust your pack so that it’s comfortable during your tour.

The Complete Checklist

After all this talk about specific equipment to pack in your bag, I’ve compiled an interactive packing list that you can use every time you go out in the backcountry.

The post What To Pack For A Ski Tour: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: 1. Spring Ski Touring Basics: Weather, Corn Skiing And Avalanches 2. Planning A Spring Ski Tour: Optimize Your Peak Pursuit

The essentials of spring ski touring

Skis: While you can use any ski to get around in spring, I recommend skinnier skis. I’d target an underfoot width ranging between 90-100mm with a wider shovel in the front (130-140mm). Ideally, you’re looking for a ski that can handle the wide variety of spring conditions from firm snow to blower powder. It’s important to strike a balance between the following goals:

• Hold an edge on firm snow, which you’ll encounter often in spring
• Offer a low weight to optimize your energy expenditure on long ski-mountaineering days
• Have a wide enough shovel and underfoot width to handle those awesome spring powder days.

No ski can check all the boxes perfectly. You’ll have to sacrifice in some way. Now, it’s up to you to decide where to sacrifice. I prefer a slightly heavier ski that can hold an edge when skiing variable snow down a steep couloir or that can open up the throttle on a massive alpine face. Being a fervent downhill skier, I naturally prioritize “skiability” over weight. Some choose a skinny lightweight ski, compromising on skiability, but maximizing uphill efficiency. A little soul searching and experience in varied snow conditions will help you find your perfect balance. For more details on picking the right ski, check out the following post: How To Choose Touring Skis.

Bindings: Pin bindings (low-tech bindings) are an essential part of your spring ski touring gear quiver. Nowadays, modern pin bindings are anything but low-tech. Designers and engineers figured out how to build low-weight, user-friendly and durable pin bindings perfectly suited for spring ski touring. Gone are the days of hauling 3kg frame bindings up the hill!

Here’s one question I get asked all the time: Do you run ski brakes and ankle leashes on your setup? I run brakeless bindings and no leash. In my opinion, going brakeless removes a failure point on my setup. I often eavesdrop on folks complaining about their brakes releasing unexpectedly while touring. In powder, brakes don’t do much to stop the ski as it rockets down the slope. As for leashes, they cause more harm than good. I usually don’t run them on my setup after taking a bad fall where the leash failed to break. The one exception: I use leashes when travelling on glaciers, where the risk of losing a ski in a crevasse far outweighs the risk of a leash mishap when falling. For better insight on choosing the right bindings for you, check out the following post: How To Choose Ski Touring Bindings.

Climbing Skins: I recommend using 100% mohair skins in springtime. The increased glide truly maximizes your uphill efficiency throughout the day. I also find mohair skins tend to avoid snow buildup on a wet skin base, called glopping in the ski touring and splitboarding world. Applying skin wax preemptively at the beginning of the day or when the snow moistens helps reduce glopping. For a deeper dive on ski touring bindings, check out the following post: How To Choose Climbing Skins For Ski Touring.

The Bits and Bobs Of Ski Mountaineering Gear

Ski tourers and splitboarders love sharp, pointy tools. Ice axes, ski crampons, ice screws, you name it! They’re a crucial part of spring ski touring gear and rather situational.

Related: What To Pack For A Ski Tour: A Comprehensive Guide (Ski-Mountaineering Gear)

Ski Crampons: Those are constantly strapped to my hip belt starting in April when early morning conditions are icy due to the spring freeze-thaw cycle. They are essential when ascending refrozen snow and exposed features where slipping would be treacherous. A good pair of aluminum ski crampons should be slightly wider than the waist width of your skis. Too wide and they’ll interfere with your touring stride.

They’re especially important for splitboarders with less of an effective edge. Splitboards in uphill mode tend to offer less grip on firm snow than skis. Always ensure to test fit the ski crampons to your setup before heading out in the backcountry. Ski crampons aren’t universal and fit specific binding brands.

Boot Crampons: Your spring ski touring gear closet always includes a good pair of lightweight boot crampons made of either aluminum or steel. Aluminum boot crampons sacrifice durability in favour of low weight. If your planned route involves drawn-out scrambles on bare rock, aluminum crampons will wear quickly and often break.

I use hybrid crampons which utilize steel where it truly matters – on the front points – and an aluminum rear piece which offers a balance of durability and weight. The Petzl Irvis Hybrid boot crampons strike that balance with ease. Practice strapping them to your ski boots and verify the fit before heading out for a big ski-mountaineering day.

Ice axe: A lightweight ski touring ice axe provides an additional layer of safety when travelling on glaciers or climbing steep snow slopes. It can also be used as an arm extension when scrambling up peaks.

Some manufacturers sell all-aluminum ice axes specifically designed for ski mountaineering on snowy slopes. While acclaimed for their low weight, I prefer an ice axe with a steel pick and an aluminum shaft as a good compromise between weight and durability when climbing technical rock routes. Since you’ll be using it on steep snow slopes, ski-mountaineering axes are typically shorter than their summer mountaineering counterpart. Double up on the axes if you’re expecting to climb a particularly exposed section. The added safety is a great idea!

Harness & All The Dangly Bits: A ski touring harness is designed with low-weight and all-day comfort in mind. You’ll be amazed at how light those things are. How on Earth do they hold a crevasse fall? Well, they do, a testimony of advanced material science and careful engineering. The harness and the bits & bobs dangling from it are required when travelling on crevassed glaciers or skiing technical routes involving rappels and belays.

Specific objectives can require advanced rock protection or extra accessory cord/slings to build bomber anchors. Do your research to avoid heading out the door unprepared. For standard glacier travel, I typically carry enough gear to rescue from a crevasse fall effectively. It includes the following:

Hyperstatic Ropes: While a single ropes (9-10mm in diameter) work fine to arrest crevasse falls and rappel into big mountain lines, they are rather heavy to carry up a mountain. Most people now use lightweight, hyperstatic ropes (6mm diameter) engineered for glaciated travel, crevasse falls and technical rappels.

Hyperstatic ropes are designed to minimize rope stretch under load. It increases their efficiency when rigging rescue systems and hauling people out of crevasses. However, those fancy (and expensive) ropes have their limitations. Hyperstatic ropes aren’t designed to take lead falls and shouldn’t be used near sharp rocks. Their skinny diameter makes them prone to slicing. On the flipside, a study by Petzl has shown that hyperstatic ropes are more effective at arresting crevasse falls than regular climbing ropes due to how the shock load is absorbed. The skinny glacier ropes only work in tandem with approved hardware such as the Petzl Micro-Traxion.

Springtime Extras

There are a few extras that should be included in your spring ski touring gear bag: alpine sunscreen, shaded headwear and glacier sunglasses. Those components are indispensable when the sun is beating down on your head. They will save you from getting gnarly sunburns in weird places.

Alpine Sunscreen: If there’s one thing that’s constantly on my mind in spring, it’s the strong solar radiation and how easy it is to burn my skin. The beaming late-season sun reflects off the white snow and tends to irradiate often overlooked body parts such as the bridge of your nose, nostrils and underside of your chin. I’ve even burnt my palate (my mouth’s roof) on a boiling-hot ski traverse many moons ago. Some days, the solar radiation makes it feel like an oven outside. I carry a bottle with 50+ SPF sunscreen for my hands, arms and neck. For my face and lips, a hydrating zinc oxide paste. I wear breathable and UV-protective tops and gloves to shield my skin even more. I apply sunscreen in the morning, lunch and mid-afternoon to guarantee maximum sun protection.

Shaded Headwear: Protective headwear is key to shielding your head from sunburn and potential heat exhaustion. While a breathable cap works well enough, I prefer a wide-brim hat such as the Patagonia Quandary, which provides 360-degree shade and covers the back of your neck. It’s also very packable. On the downside, you can hardly wear it under your downhill helmet.

Glacier Sunglasses: The strong solar radiation during springtime is deadly to the eyes. In the alpine world, this is called “snow blindness”, resulting in unbearable stinging eyes and temporary eyesight loss. It’s a key piece of your spring ski touring gear. Look for sunglasses with flexible side & nose shields, CAT-4 glacier lenses and comfortable temples.

Smart Layering Goes A Long Way

The spring season brings a wide array of weather patterns from endless storms to scorching sun and bluebird days. Wearing the appropriate layer for the atmospheric conditions makes your day a whole lot smoother. I typically carry five layers:

• A moisture-wicking layer
• A lightly insulated jacket
• An insulated puffy
• A windproof and waterproof layer
• An insulated parka (larger overcoat-type puffy)

With experience and common sense, you’ll figure out which layer to wear to minimize overheating and protect yourself from our temperamental Mother Nature. It’s a question of striking a perfect balance, like most things, ski touring or splitboarding. For more insight on picking the right layers, see How To Get Into Ski Touring (Layering).

The post Spring Ski Touring Gear: The Essential Goes A Long Way appeared first on The Uptrack.

Related: 1. Planning A Spring Ski Tour: Optimize Your Peak Pursuit 2. Spring Ski Touring Gear: The Essential Goes A Long Way

Temperamental spring weather

While advancements in weather forecasting models and access to free data have made planning for ski tours a lot easier, there’s no denying that spring weather patterns are temperamental and hard to predict. As the sun hangs high in the sky and warms up our snow surface, it creates a vertical air mass movement called convection. In terms, this forms convective clouds that can develop into convective storms, the same storms that generate hail. They come in with very little notice, oftentimes accompanied by strong winds and tend to generate a ton of snowfall. What it all boils down to: spring weather is unpredictable. You may find yourself skiing a sweet glacier on a bluebird day and navigating crevasses in a whiteout on the same day. Generally speaking, Spring weather is characterized by warm daytime temperatures (possibly above freezing) followed by cold nights and a re-freeze. That’s called a melt-freeze cycle.

Timing is everything!

When I say spring ski touring, you probably think of “corn” skiing. Let’s backtrack for a moment and discuss the “crust” cycle, daytime warming and overnight recovery. It’s called the spring diurnal cycle. In the BC Interior, the cycle usually starts sometime in April when a thick melt-freeze crust forms on the snowpack’s surface by either warm temperatures, high-elevation rain or solar radiation. During bouts of clear weather, daytime warming and solar radiation warm the surface snow until it begins to melt. Overnight, the melted surface snow will freeze if temperatures dip below 0°C, which they usually do. This phenomenon is called overnight recovery. Over many days of repeated solar radiation, a thick, supportive crust will form on the surface. That’s when the famed corn skiing comes into play. Timing is everything here! If you hit it at the appropriate morning timing and on the correct aspect, you’ll find snow that has just begun the melting process and where the crust is still supportive to skier traffic. The first time you get that feeling, it’s magical! Alternatively, you can also find great corn skiing at the end of the resort skiing season. Just seek out the solar groomers!

The fabled spring corn cycle

Corn skiing is a part of a cycle – all good things must end. With increasing temperature and solar radiation, the partly-melted snow will eventually turn to slush, worsening ski quality and making it more difficult to get down the slope. At the end of the spectrum, the entire snowpack will be slush: an isothermal snowpack. There’s no one way to describe the feeling. It’s like gliding through a thick stew and is especially hard on the lower joints. I’ve spent many days slogging up and down slopes in isothermal conditions on spring ski traverses. It’s horrible, downright dangerous and should be avoided if at all possible. Similarly, I’ve skied on refrozen snow where my skis were chattering to the point my teeth might fall out. The reality of spring ski touring is that you have to go out with a clear objective, knowing the ski quality might be lacking. At the very least, you’ll have a grand tale to discuss at the bar!

The spectrum of avalanche hazard in spring

Due to the spring diurnal cycle, the avalanche hazard varies widely throughout the day. At first light, when temperatures are cool and the surface is capped by a widespread crust, the hazard may be at an all-time low. The avalanche problems are essentially frozen in the snowpack. As the day rolls into the afternoon, solar input and daytime warming will break down the melt-freeze crust, spiking the avalanche hazard. Dry loose avalanches will begin to pour down headwalls, and the likelihood of skier-triggered avalanches will naturally increase. Snow shedding from trees and pinwheeling is a telltale sign of rapid warming (see signs of avalanche instability). That’s why timing is so important when planning ski tours in Spring, whether you’re travelling on northerly aspects to avoid the sun or on southerly aspects to chase some corn. For more information on the logistics of spring ski tours, see Planning A Spring Ski Tour: Optimize Your Peak Pursuit.

Here are a few avalanche problems commonplace in Spring.

Fear the heat

Drastic warming events happen all the time and are becoming more frequent with climate change. I’ve seen those stinking-hot weather systems barrel through the middle of January. Most often, they’ll arrive in two forms during the bulk of the spring ski touring season, in March and April.

The post Spring Ski Touring Basics: Weather, Corn Skiing And Avalanches appeared first on The Uptrack.