What's in your pack when you go BC skiing in the east?

[billski]

I'm thinking that in addition to the stuff that I usually take day tripping, adding a shovel, some rope and an ice axe might fill the bill for wintertime BC expeditions.

In general my kit includes:
a) First aid stuff
b) rescue stuff when I get in a pickle (i.e., rope, whistle, shovel)
c) Extra and sufficient (wintertime) clothing and food, matches for an overnight survival
d) all the usual BC navigational and other daytrip stuff like a knife, etc.

I see no need for avi gear, at least where I'm skiing in the east.
What do you think?

 

[riverc0il]

For me, it depends on where I am going. But I notorious pack light (probably lighter than I should). Extra clothes as need, water, food, screwdrivers, whistle, radio, phone. I think that is about it. But then again, I don't usually get too wild with my locations. The places I should probably more emergency gear, interestingly enough, are the most boring ski destinations such as lost areas, due to possibly being the only person on the hill when I solo.

 

[redalienx11]

ALWAYS list (no particular order)
............
compass/map
avy gear in possible avy zones (beacon probe shovel partner)
puffy jacket
zipties
multitool
food
water
cell phone
basic first aid stuff (don't forget the tampon for nosebleeds )
..........



SOMETIMES
..................
rope
harness
climbing gear
ice axe
crampons
bivy sack
..............

probably forgetting some stuff that is just permanently in my pack

 

[ski220]

What's in YOUR backpack

For true backcountry, East or West, it's the same:

Probe, shovel and transciever
Skins (just in case we meet those Canadian chicks again)
Down jacket and neck gaiter
Extra goggles
Water, Cliff bars and more food

Permanent safety sack items:
Rope (40ft marine cordage)
Swiss army knife
Fire starter and wind proof matches
Heat packs
First aid tape
Mylar bivy sack
Various medications and alcohol preps
paper towels
luminescent stick

maybe a couple of other misc. items in my safety sack.

 

[ta&idaho]

Related question: where do you guys go backcountry skiing in the east? I've seen the Mt Washington TRs, but I'm curious where else people tour.

 

[JD]

For true backcountry, East or West, it's the same:

Probe, shovel and transciever
Skins (just in case we meet those Canadian chicks again)
Down jacket and neck gaiter
Extra goggles
Water, Cliff bars and more food

Permanent safety sack items:
Rope (40ft marine cordage)
Swiss army knife
Fire starter and wind proof matches
Heat packs
First aid tape
Mylar bivy sack
Various medications and alcohol preps
paper towels
luminescent stick

maybe a couple of other misc. items in my safety sack.

I think this is overbaord for most BC days in the East...I would not bring rope unless I planned to be somewhere I needed it., and if I did...it would be more then 40 feet, plus harnas, belay device, webbing beaners. Bivy sac is also a pass for me.
Puffy jacket, liquids (warm), TP, medical tape, duct tape, compass, map sometimes, phone, light, multitool, lighter, grass, boul, extra goggles, food, extra gloves. Light cordage(10 feet of 550). That's about it. Most places in VT, if you skinned for 2 hours in one direction, you would hit a road. Also, a good pregame is key. Most places I go i have poured over the topo maps and know what is N, S, E, and West of our ski location. Having a map, but thinking you're somewhere you're not is no help. One thing that is really nice to have is visability. I almost slept out last winter in the Northfield range becasue I lost vivibility, didn't check my compass enough when I tried to skin out, and skinned in a circle for an hour. Always a good idea to explore on those blue bird days when the snow is shit...

 

[JD]

Related question: where do you guys go backcountry skiing in the east? I've seen the Mt Washington TRs, but I'm curious where else people tour.

Look at a map. Find NE facing Mtns over 2500 with good pitch....go nutz. Goodmans book will get you into some promising areas.....but mostly go and explore. I'm always suprised to find cut lines in the middle of nowhere miles from any resort on some bump that tops out at 2900. Researching the historical snow bands of any given area is a good way to go. With good snow, small hills can be great. Generally, for me, 800 vert of good pitch is plenty worth it. Also, Hardwoods end at around 3200-3500ish, unless there is some feature like a creekbed or slide path, or massive cutting (big J), most good skiing in VT will happen below that elevation.
Here's a few easy ones. Tear Drop, Mansfield. Bolton Traps Traverse. Woodard Trail, Waterbury/Bolton. Moosalaki, NEK. Bruce trail, Mansfield. Skytop, Stowe.
Some you'll have to hunt for....Camels Hump, Taconics when there's good snowpack down south has fantastic sustained pitch AND vert. Worcesters, Backside of pretty much every resrot. Thunderbolt trail in N. Adams mass. is a gimme too!
That's about 2 seasons worth of bushwacking for ya. Have a ball.

 

[JD]

BC stoke...
http://www.facebook.com/#/photo.php...lobal&view=global&subj=760819152&id=760819152

 

[snowmonster]

ta&idaho: you mentioned the Goodman book in another thread. I would pick up both books (VT/NY/MA and NH/ME). Good info there on tours. Me? I'm just getting my feet wet so around Mt. Washington for now. I plan to do some around Mansfield, Jay, Burnt Mountain and some NELSAP areas this year. It would be great if I had company. Me going solo holds me back because I don't want to be that guy that gets lost and is found in June.

Pack: I usually do day-trips so: compass, map, first aid kit, swiss army knife, a real knife, matches, headlamp, spare jacket, sox, glasses, gloves and baselayer, energy bars, trail mix and jerky, water in the camelback, duct tape under poles, ski straps, beanie, helmet, liner, balaclava, skins. Phone comes along and since that has a GPS device, that's helpful. If it's icy and climbing is involved, I'll bring crampons and ice ax. Since I go out alone, I don't venture into avy territory when the danger is high (e.g., Gulf of Slides after a snowfall) so I haven't felt the need for the avy trinity: shovel, probe, beacon. Of course, if I go with a group to sketch terrain, then the trinity comes along.

I try to pack light as much as possible. I try not to repeat what a friend of mine (and fellow AZer) did on a trip to Tux a few years back.

Lastly, it's corny, but the best thing to pack along is a head full of common sense. If it looks dangerous out there, turn back. I always remember to ski conservatively in the BC. Patrol does not sweep Mt. Washington.

 

[JD]

I complelely agree about skiing conservatively. A small injury on a 10 degree day at 1:30 in the afternoon could mean some major suckage. Ski to ski tomorrow.

 

[witch hobble]

Puffy sweater, maybe a rain coat (depending on the forecast), couple a PB&Js, water, a pipe, a book, a boo boo kit. Perhaps some blackberry brandy.

 

[andyzee]

All my worldly possessions :

 

[snowmonster]

Andy, classic! I wonder what idiot snapped that photo?=) BTW, weren't we carrying a couch too?

 

[andyzee]

Andy, classic! I wonder what idiot snapped that photo?=) BTW, weren't we carrying a couch too?

That's tied to the rope that's tied to my left ankle.

 

[kingdom-tele]

2-4 hour ski

extra layer/shirt/fleece
water
a couple budweisers
bag of almonds
extra hat/gloves
compass always with me/multitool
first aid kit/duct tape

4-10 hour ski

all the same as above
puffy jacket
shovel to dig a spot on top for changing/de skin/eat
pack a sandwich
headlamp
extra budweiser

 

[snoseek]

Same east or west for me.

Shovel
some cord
food (light)
space blanket
whistle
water
dog food
dog
weed
pipe
one 24 oz beer
duct tape