The one stop shop for articles about backcountry gear, with a style that's toned down for those wanting to know about the basics.
Not much is static in the backcountry. The same is true of what’s in a pack as we shift from winter to spring. While much of the kit remains similar between winter and spring, the pack’s contents adjust to meet the changing hazards that we are most worried about.
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The ski/ride objective you have in mind dictates the technical gear you’ll bring along.
Do you plan to climb steep snow? Will you be on rock at all? Will there be sustained icy sections? Will it be necessary to belay or rappel? For me, these questions lead to the right answer for gear selection, starting with the most important part of your kit: crampons. The right choice in crampon can make the difference between a sketchy, terrifying climb up (or down), and a casual hike.
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When all or some of it hits the fan, having a repair / hits-the-fan kit can help keep peace of mind. Dr. Patrick Fink keeps us grounded with a lightweight kit to assist with repairs, medical emergencies, rescues, and possible bivy.
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There’s a saying to help us remedy the glop buzzkill: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In other words, to prevent glop, use skin wax and have a scraper handy.
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It’s worth a bit more verbiage to dissect the helmet standards. The helmet standard primer is just that, a primer, but more details make us better informed. In short—not all standards are created equal. Let’s dig in some more.
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We side with the notion that you should bring along the helmet you are most likely to wear. Here’s a THR primer on ski helmet standards.
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