Taking advantage of a northern latitude spring. Photo: Alex Lee
More daylight, firmer snow, and warmer temps make spring the time for bigger missions. Here’s our rundown of what to carry in the pack for a spring tour to keep things fast and relatively light.
Keep things in perspective. For a six-day ski traverse, it’s not uncommon to get away with a 35-40 pound pack. As the seasons trend from colder to warmer, the goal is to cut pack weight for daylong spring tours. Using the 35-40 pound pack as a heavyweight benchmark, it’s not unreasonable to pare the spring pack down to a reasonable, maybe aspirational, 12-17 pounds. You’ll still carry safety essentials within that spring pack weight range while cutting weight elsewhere. Remember, too, that when packing for spring, you are likely taking full advantage of the lengthy daylight and the ability to cover large distances with considerable vert. In other words, get an early start to move efficiently across locked-up and firm snow and milk those daylight hours while still traveling light.
The Pack
The idea is to keep the pack’s volume at or below 30L. The truth is many ski-specific packs meet these criteria. Ensure the pack is comfortable, has quick access to water (spring is typically warmer than winter), and carries skis well, as you’ll likely be cramponing some steeper sections and carrying skis on your back.
Additionally, in spring, as temps warm, access to on-the-fly water is essential if you and your partners want to keep on the move.
Safety Gear
Non-negotiable: Shovel, Beacon (worn), Probe
Negotiable: In some instances, we forgo radios. This is usually the case when skiing the PNW volcanoes in spring; the slopes are often above treeline, where the line of sight on each skier is easier.
The spring essential sharps: lightweight axe, crampons, and ski crampons.
The Spring Staples
- Headlamp for dawn starts and the potential late arrival
- Skins (on your skis)
- Skin wax, apply this often.
- Plastic scraper for potential ski skin scraping.
- Dermatome for lips (Some are also compulsive about Sierra Madre Sun Cream SPF 30. It slays. Great for the face, nose, and any exposed skin.)
- Ball cap to reduce sun exposure
- Buff to reduce sun exposure and provide extra insulation in the AM
- This liner gloves that provide good dexterity
- Pair of Showa gloves
- Beefier gloves like the BD Enforcer (they are not cheap, but they help keep the hands dry when cramponing/axing up a slope).
- Windbreaker or hardshell if expecting inclement weather
- Spare socks, socks tend to get wet and sweaty in the spring
- Sunglasses
- Three ski straps to assist with field repairs
- The Camp Bottle Holder is great if you are not using a running vest-type pack. It holds a .75L water bottle and secures to most shoulder straps.
- Collapsible 1L water bottle or a reservoir—Ensure it doesn’t leak.
- A lighter weight puffy
- Wag bag
- Garmin InReach mini and mini 2 are good options for communicating
- Ski crampons. (We include these in the staples category. They can be indispensable in spring when choosing steeper and firmer skin tracks. And, for a spring ski, which might top 95mm underfoot, there’s little weight penalty considering the upsides.
Group Gear
- Rescue sled/tarp
- Small repair kit
- Basic first aid kit
Mission Specific
- 30m Petzl RAD Line
- Lightweight harness
- Ice axe
- Crampons
- Love it or hate it, the BD Whippet elicits opinions. Either way, it can be a handy tool on some ascents and mental security while descending. You choose what’s right for you.
- Have a method to purify water if you’ll access open water on a spring tour. The Lifestraw Peak or Katadyn BeFree are dependable softflask options.