Tag Archives: Cross-country Skiing

What’s In Your Pack?

Gear Shot Web

By Steve B

With the start of the season it is time to go check your gear and make sure that everything is ready to go when the snow flies. The following is a list of items that I will usually take on a back country, mid-winter, day tour. The list may change a bit depending on the tour and the season but this will give you some idea of what goes into my 30 – 40 liter pack (1).

The first thing that I load up on is knowledge and training. This may involve a refresher first aid and avalanche course and checking the avalanche forecast before heading out.

Safety Gear:

  • Digital Avalanche Transceiver (11)
  • Metal Shovel (6) (No Plastic Shovels Allowed)
  • Avalanche Probe (10)
  • Snow Saw with home made sheath (7)
  • Personal Locator Beacon (9)
  • Waterproof Matches & Whistle (4)
  • Snow Study Kit (8)
  • First Aid/Survival/Repair Kit (4)
  • The knowledge to use the items you pack.

Most of this kit fits in an aluminum box that can be used as a pot to melt snow.
We will try to do a future article on what goes into a First Aid/Survival/Repair Kit.

Navigation Items:

  • LED Headlamp (13)
  • Map, Compass, GPS, Monocular and Guidebook (14)

Ski Gear:

  • Skis, Boots and Poles appropriate for the terrain. Climbing Skins (1)
  • Ski & Skin Wax, Ski Crampons (15)

Other Items:

  • Spare set of Mitts, Socks and Balaclava (12)
  • Down Parka (5) for lunch breaks or unexpected overnight stays
  • Disposable Hand & Toe Warmers
  • Sunglasses & Goggles (17)
  • Sunscreen & Lip Balm (16)
  • Food, Water in insulated wide mouth bottle (2) (The bottle is a great place to store some Duct & Fiberglass Tape)
  • TP & Hand Sanitizer
  • Spare Batteries
  • Two 24” Voile Straps (18) (These rubber straps have a 101 uses)

**Camera so you can send in your spectacular photos for the newsletter and website.

I have probably forgotten something on my list so let us know what you like to have in your pack?

Wilcox Pass & Glacier Lake Tour

Glacier Lake

Dave watches as Debby crosses some open water on the Howse River on the trail towards Glacier Lake

By: Jane

Departing Ramparts Hostel the temperature was -23 at 8:30 am.  30 mins later as we began are climb up to Wilcox Pass the temperature had risen to -8.  It remained a cloudless sky for the full day with temperatures reaching around +5.  The snow through the trees was good, but once out of the trees there was little snow and lots of bare areas for a while.  We lunched opposite a gently slope which became a ‘play area’ for a few people, the others choosing to languish in the sun.  We skied to the far end of the pass and contemplated skiing down Tangle Creek.  (Its definately not only women who have difficulty making decisions,it seemed the pros and cons were tossed around for ages by the gentlemen in the group!)  We returned the same way and floundered down the trail for a while before finding the good snow in the trees.

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Long Sunny Days In Assiniboine

Mt. Assiniboine

By: Jane

We all gathered at Donna and Ron’s place in Canmore to make the final plans for our trip.  The group skiing in, Jane, Steve, Donna, Ron and Margo were on their skis by 8:30.  The weather was overcast with no wind and gently falling snow.  It made for excellent skiing conditions.  Fortunately the group were able to follow tracks so trail-breaking was very moderate for the majority of the route.  However, the group helicoptering (Jeff, Debbie, Ivan, Steve Bennett and George) experienced a 3.5 hour delay in departure. There was a window in the weather that lasted about an hour, just enough time for the passengers and gear to get into Assiniboine safely.  The group skiing in were able to contact the Helicopter outfit and were aware of the delays.  A group decision was made to continue onward and snuggle together in the huts to keep warm, if necessary, knowing that their gear may not be waiting for them. (Margo was missing her man at that point!).  The skiing group arrived around 6:15 pm with a warm welcome from the others and good food prepared.

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Tonquin Valley Marathon

DSCF4207

Family Day Weekend 2012 Authored by the group of 5

—-12 members of the ski club say “put the Tonquin Valley ski on your list“.

Good snow, warm temperatures, and a great adventure.  We had heard that it is a long ski in and by God it was- in fact a  ½ marathon long.

Our welcome at the lodge was warm and satisfying with waiting hot coffee, tea, juice, fresh chocolate chip cookies (hot cinnamon buns the next day) and with the reception of our generous and friendly hosts Sara and Caroline.   Our very abundant and delicious, made from scratch, meals were served at a round table comfortably seating all 12 of us and equipped with a lazy-susan.  One had to be quick with the self-serving as hungry ski- mates around  the other side of the table wanted to “spin the wheel” to avail themselves of lasagne, greek salad, scalloped potatoes, ham, pancakes, bacon …and the list goes on.

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