Equipment for the backcontry...
One of the questions, as a snowboard guide that I get asked a lot is, what equipment do I take with me when I go freeriding or touring.
I thought I would answer that question here, and give you guys a list of everything I take with me. Below you will find two different lists because depending whether I’m going for a splitboard tour or just going freeriding in the resort I take different equipment. A lot of the equipment is the same for both freeriding and touring. There are a few things I keep in my bag that are there from my experiences as a guide and problems that I have seen with guests while out in the backcountry.
When I go freeriding within a resort, I have the following things with me:
1. Airbag backpack, 10L.
2. Helmet and goggles
3. Avalanche transceiver
4. Shovel
5. Probe
6. Mobile phone (fully charged)
7. First aid kit
8. 2x rescue blankets
9. Bivy sack
10. Sam splint
11. Sun cream SPF50
12. Cable ties
13. Material strap (spark r and d, strappy strap)
14. Multi tool
15. Spare screws
16. Rub on wax
I always ride with an airbag; they are not essential but the statistics about the chances of survival for riders with or without an airbag speak for them self. Numbers 3, 4 and 5 are things no one should leave the slopes without, and it’s not enough to only have a transceiver on and a shovel and probe in your backpack but you should also know how to use them and train with them regularly! A modern mobile phone is an amazing tool, you have access to weather reports, avalanche reports, maps, tracking tools and if something goes wrong you can call for help (Austrian Mountain Rescue, 140). Numbers 6, 7, 8 and 9 all make up my extended first aid kit. Sun cream because the intensity of the sun in the mountains can really damage your skin, if you don’t believe me talk to a dermatologist. The last 5 things I have with me just in case me or my guests have any problems with the equipment.
Splitboard Touring
When touring I still have everything with me form the first list. The next list are the extra things I take with me when going on a splitboard tour
1. Airbag backpack, 25L
2. Skins
3. Poles
4. Crampons
5. Sunglasses
6. Hat
7. Headband
8. Extra layer of clothes
9. spare gloves
10. Food
11. Drink
12. Snacks
13. Part of a fat bike innertube
When touring I need a bigger backpack with me just to fit in the extra stuff I need. The airbag system I have allows me to swap the size of pack on it, which is very handy. You’re not getting far without numbers 2 and 3. Touring up when its icy can be very annoying and hard to get a grip, so its always good to have crampons with you just in case. Number 5 because I don’t want to have my goggles on when walking up. 6, 7 and 8 because the weather can change quickly or maybe you have sweat a lot while walking up and want to put a dry shirt on for the ride down. I always have two pair of gloves, a thinner one and a thicker one for different temperatures. The correct amount of food and drink is very important, better to take too much than too little, and snacks are a good way to keep energy and motivation up. Number 13 is there, just in case me or a guest has problems with the skins not sticking to the bottom of the ski, which can happen if you have to do multiple ascends in a day. I can then stretch the section of the inner tube over the skin and ski to hold the skin in place.
Hope you guys found that helpful. What I haven’t gone into, is the equipment necessary if the tour you are doing is over a glacier or has some alpine climbing in it. But maybe another day.