Safety and What to Bring

Even though our trips are introductory, safety is the first and biggest concern. In winter at high elevation and

away from roads, events like breaking a piece of equipment, getting injured, experiencing a medical emergency,

or getting lost present immediate, serious challenges. Even near the highway, rescue typically takes more than an

hour. A mile or two away from the highway, rescue often takes several hours, and it is possible to get caught out

overnight.

In addition to appropriate skis, boots, and poles (see below for more information), each skier needs to carry the

following basic safety and survival gear.

- Sunglasses or snow-glasses. Protect your eyes from sunburn and from getting poked or slapped by a tree

  branch or bush.

- Layered clothing you can adjust for changing conditions and exertion levels.

- At least 16 oz. of water in a container you can protect from freezing.

- A generous supply of easy-to-carry food—energy bars, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, dried meat, etc.

  Bring twice as much food as you think you need in case we are caught out longer than expected.

- A rescue whistle, an inexpensive compass, and a little toilet paper.

- An extra layer of protection for emergencies. A small tarp, an “all-weather thermal blanket,” or an

  emergency “breathable bivy” is best, but they are expensive and bulky. A “space blanket” is small,2

  lightweight, and inexpensive, but it tears easily and does not breathe—when you wrap up in it,

  condensation will soon get you wet.

- You do not need to carry an avalanche beacon or a metal avalanche shovel,

  but I encourage you to carry a “Snow Claw” shovel (see photo). A Snow

  Claw weighs less, is more compact, and costs less than a metal shovel and is

  particularly effective for helping someone caught in a tree well.

  As trip organizer, Harry carries a basic first aid kit and gear for patches, repairs, and

  fire-building. He is an experienced backcountry navigator and carries maps,

  compass, and a satellite communicator that can contact search and rescue services,

  even without cell service. (On our trips, cell service is inconsistent. Near the top of

  ridges or peaks, service is sometimes pretty good, but in valleys between ridges or

  peaks, service is usually non-existent.)

A note about avalanche danger: For many of us, avalanches are the first backcountry safety concern that comes

to mind. We do not ski in terrain that is subject to avalanches.

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MORE ABOUT SKIS, BOOTS, AND POLES

Nearly all of us use metal-edged “wax-less” skis with fish-scale bottoms, and the fish-scales are generally

adequate for the climbing we do. Equipment options include:

- Traditional 3-pin cross-country boots and bindings with wide cross-country skis.

- Modern NNN (New Nordic Norm) boots and bindings with wide cross-country skis.

- Modern AT (Alpine Touring) boots and bindings mounted on wide cross-country skis or lightweight

  downhill skis.

- Lightweight Telemark gear.

- Note: Rottefella of Norway recently introduced a new backcountry boot and binding system called

“Xplore.” To me it appears to be a hybrid between lightweight Telemark and AT systems. It looks

promising but has not yet had stood the test of time in the field.

Each equipment style has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking about buying equipment, it is very

valuable to try two or three different styles and brands before buying.

In soft snow, adjustable-length backcountry poles with large diameter “powder baskets” are easier to use than

resort-style poles

Equipment rental: At least three shops in town rent backcountry touring gear. Backdoor Sports rents both

traditional 3-pin cross-country gear and modern AT (Alpine Touring) gear. Straightline Sports rents modern NNN

cross-country gear. Ski Haus rents both modern NNN cross-country gear and modern AT gear.

At all three shops, ask for a ski package for the Rabbit Ears ski trails, and they will know how to outfit you. DO NOT

just ask for “backcountry ski gear,” because you are likely to be given equipment that is far heavier and more

expensive than you will need.