We get a few clues about the ski objective in episode 3 of the podcast. We know Adam Fabrikant and Billy Haas will head to South America. We know it’s going to be windy at times. And we know a specific post-expedition empanada stand where the two plan to offset their expected calorie deficit. Otherwise, they are off to another season.

 

The Southern Hemi’s Spring Equinox fell late last month. And by the time this podcast drops, the packing will be near complete for what Fabrikant and Haas expect to be a several-week expedition to ski a new line in the Andes. The two will haul heavy loads, likely over 60 pounds, for 4-5 days on the approach. And as they do, they’ll ascend some technical ground to access the line, and, if all things align, like the weather, health, and snowpack, plan to do what they do, which is to ski a first descent.

Before all that, there’s the less glamorous side of expedition life: winnowing the gear to an acceptable load to haul and packing it all up for the trans-hemisphere flight. Like any of us before a big trip, there are discussions about how spare one can go, how hungry, and what creature comforts one is willing to forgo—all in the spirit of finding that perfect balance of carrying just enough and nothing in excess.

Adam Fabrikant and Billy Haas in the Tetons.

Adam Fabrikant (left) and Billy Haas (right) head to South America and a strict audio diet of one tune per evening for entertainment during their ski expedition.

 

Expedition packing.

And…the packing begins for Adam Fabrikant.

Historically, on their trips, Fabrikant and Haas are mindful of their battery and energy harnessing systems: they limit themselves to a single song per night in the event expedition entertainment is in order. (On this trip, it sounds like maybe—and a very tentative maybe—they’ll be bringing a lightweight solar panel system.)

From the skis (think the red Freebird from Black Crows), the boots, and bindings, and even what sounds like a very spare diet of couscous and seasoning, we get the “what to pack” low down for a lean and keep-it-bare-bones human-powered ski expedition.

 
The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you’ve spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, “Beautiful Alien” is a good tune to begin with.