Backpack contents for skiing

[billski]

The packs I see skiers wearing, especially going tree skiing don't seem to have much in them. I bring a boatload of stuff to prepare for an injury, rescue and overnighter.

What assumptions are made before packing? What incidents are you preparing for? Is it sufficient? Why?

 

[Black Phantom]

Do you carry ropes and flares?

Where exactly do you plan on spending the night?

 

[drjeff]

Do you carry ropes and flares?

Where exactly do you plan on spending the night?

Bingo! If i'm at a ski area, pretty much there isn't anything I bring with me that won't fit in one of the pockets of either my coat or pants. These days, from a safety perspective, a cell phone and a partner to ski/ride with are about as much as one really needs. If you fall and hurt yourself to the point where you can't reach your phone or physically call out to the person(s) that your skiing with, chances are that all the medical gear one might have in a pack will be useless, since you won't be able to access it, and you're friends probably won't know that you have it. The only the time that I bring a backpack with me would be if i'm bringing my DSLR camera out on the mountain with me that day.

If one is going backcountry - different story though. Then the boyscout adage of "be prepared" applies

 

[billski]

Do you carry ropes and flares?

Where exactly do you plan on spending the night?

Didn't your debate team teach you not to answer a question with a question? :roll:
This isn't rhetoric :roll:

 

[Black Phantom]

If I have a backpack with me, it will contain a large volume of booze- typically margaritas that will take hair off your chest, or put some on. Add at least a six pack and a flask of whiskey.

 

[billski]

Bingo! If i'm at a ski area, pretty much there isn't anything I bring with me that won't fit in one of the pockets of either my coat or pants. These days, from a safety perspective, a cell phone and a partner to ski/ride with are about as much as one really needs. If you fall and hurt yourself to the point where you can't reach your phone or physically call out to the person(s) that your skiing with, chances are that all the medical gear one might have in a pack will be useless, since you won't be able to access it, and you're friends probably won't know that you have it. The only the time that I bring a backpack with me would be if i'm bringing my DSLR camera out on the mountain with me that day.

If one is going backcountry - different story though. Then the boyscout adage of "be prepared" applies

Thanks. My question stands. What do people put into these packs? So far all I hear is an SLR.

 

[Cannonball]

Thanks. My question stands. What do people put into these packs? So far all I hear is an SLR.

Jerky

 

[o3jeff]

If I have a backpack with me, it will contain a large volume of booze- typically margaritas that will take hair off your chest, or put some on. Add at least a six pack and a flask of whiskey.

Napkins too?

 

[Black Phantom]

Napkins too?

I learned a very valuable lesson.

BTW- How do you keep your backpack safe?

 

[jaja111]

Water (camelback)
Couple tools (leatherman, bike wrench tool that fit binding screws / parts)
Few ziplocks to cover anything that might get wet in r^%$
Eye drops for contacts
Granola bar
Very small first aid (bandaids for ski edge cuts etc.)
Extra neck gator
"Safety" gear
Tons of Nicorette
Maybe a flask of Scotch, but not often
Maybe spare gloves, spare hat
Duck tape
handful of zipties

And that's just a small backpack weighing 4lbs at most without water.

At big resorts I'll play sherpa and wear a large pack. I'll carry food, extra clothes and whatever for others plus the above. Once I did get bent as the courtesy was abused by friends at Whistler after a first tracks breakfast where they raided the buffet for muffins, bagels, and all sorts of other food for lunch. That day I purposely took some fantastic falls onto my back and then over exaggerated the tumbling motion as if filming a stunt for a movie. Payback was multiple ziplocks filled with unidentifiable baked goods / mush.

I just haven't ever minded wearing a pack and in fact have felt it balances me out a bit on skis. If its too full though some lift chairs suck.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I have a Dakine, touring pack that I use. When I am away from my home hill, I pack the following.

Camelback (70 or 100 oz)
Snacks: usually a few cliff bars and maybe some trail mix
camera
Multitool
extra hand/toe warmers for the wife and kid

It's usually a pretty slim pack. I mainly cary it for the water as I like to drink a lot.

 

[Riverskier]

Never skied with a backpack, and not sure I ever would. I feel no need to have anything more than what I can fit in my pockets (keys, cell phone) for inbounds skiing. I don't do any backcountry skiing, but that would certainly require different preperation. I have friends that occasionaly ski with a backpack, but only to carry beer if we are planning on drinking on the mountain.

 

[Cannonball]

I have a Dakine, touring pack that I use. When I am away from my home hill, I pack the following.

Camelback (70 or 100 oz)
Snacks: usually a few cliff bars and maybe some trail mix
camera
Multitool
extra hand/toe warmers for the wife and kid

It's usually a pretty slim pack. I mainly cary it for the water as I like to drink a lot.

I carry all of these things too. But they all fit in pockets. Except the water which I run in and drink rather than carry.
.....and jerky.

 

[deadheadskier]

Don't see the need for a backpack with any of the side country skiing I'll be doing in the east. Only time I've wished I was wearing a pack is when hiking is involved, such as the Chin at Stowe. That's just for carrying the skis though. Doubt I'd have anything in the pack except a spare set of goggles in case the ones on my head fog up.

 

[Nick]

I used to carry my wallet, cell phone, keys, stuff i didn't wantt o leave in the lodge. if it's between temps; bring a baclava or neckwarmer, some snacks, glove liners, glove warmers. If I'm in media mode, camera or video camera.

 

[Hawkshot99]

On the East coast in bounds I never wear a pack.

When I went to Utah I wore a a pack every day, but mainly for the water bladder at altitude.

Backcountry I do were my pack. I carry some first aid stuff, water, some food, and a extra pair of gloves, necky, ect.... On the way up it carries my helmet goggles and jacket, as I get pretty warm skinning. On the way down it carries the skins and I put on the jacket, helmet goggles.

I have always had full service on my Cell everywhere I have ever gone, so that is my most important tool.

 

[AngryHugo]

if I'm going out-of-bounds, two things I always make sure to have in my backpack are a small roll of duct tape and travel-size roll of TP.

 

[Cheese]

It depends on the day.

If I'm just skiing a NE mountain I'll leave the pack at home and carry a cell phone, whistle and multi-tool in my coat.

If I'm at a larger resort where I'll be an hour or more away from a lodge I'll wear the pack and fill it with anything I might wish I had later (water, protein bar, dry mittens, balaclava, chemical heat, powder straps and goggles for the opposite light of what I'm currently wearing).

Out of bounds and where required I add the beacon.

 

[ski stef]

never carried a backpack

 

[vdk03]

The only time I carry a pack is if I am riding backcountry. Even then I've been know to leave it at the bottom of the slides. At the resorts I can fit everything I need in my pockets (wallet, multi-tool, phone, and occasionally a point and shoot).