What is Backcountry Skiing - Gear Recommendations

admin September 18, 2007

What is backcountry skiing?
Imagine pointing your skis down the face of mountain covered with pure, untouched virgin snow. It is that very feeling that draws experienced skiiers into the sparsely populated backcountry. In backcountry skiing, snow packs aren’t groomed by anyone other than Mother Nature, and the land is untouched by human hands. There are no runs, no trails, no ski patrol, no lift. Simply the backcountry skiier and the mountain. Backcountry skiing is an extreme winter sport, and it can be dangerous. There is the risk of avalanche, communication may be limited in extremely remote areas, and skiiers may experience some level of exhaustion from the climb. The reward, however, is skiing where no one has gone before, and the sheer beauty of the outdoors.

Backcountry Skiing Gear List
Here is a list of gear commonly used by backcountry skiiers.

	Cold Weather Sleeping Bag At 0 degrees Marmot’s Never Summer sleeping bag is a good all round bag with 600 full down. The hood area uses Nautilus 6-baffle hood that has 6 chambers of down around head for better down control and fit. The hood cord is positioned for easy access with a velcro free face muff. The footbox uses a classic trapezoidal foot box with a heater pocket for heat pockets if, if you ever need it.
	Backcountry Backpack If you plan on doing alpine summits or some backcountry exploring, the Stratos 32 backpack by Osprey is the ideal backpack. It has everything you need for a day on the crags or fastpacking to your next peak. The AirCore mesh backpanel and suspension will take the pressure off your back. For all your essentials the Stratos has plenty of pockets, from the front and side stretch woven pockets to pockets on the hipbelt.
	Insulated Sleeping Pad Backpacker’s magazine gave the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad their Editors Choice award in 2004. If you are looking for a good night’s sleep the Air Core are insulated with Primaloft that as been treated with an anti microbial. Big Agnes use an I-beam construction technique that is functionally superior to the typical welded-through construction of other air mats.
	Camp Stove For over 15 years, the WhisperLite hiking stove has been the leader in backpacking stoves for its reliability and simple design.Shaker Jet technology makes cleaning as simple as shaking the stove. Made to last with durable stainless steel and brass.
	Headlamp The Petzl Tikka XP headlamp provides a powerful, even and adjustable white light, with long light duration. A single light source in a compact headlamp for multiple uses. With 3 lighting levels (maximum, optimum, economy) and a blinking mode, to adapt the light to the activity at hand why would you need anything else.
	Cooking Equipment The BlackLite Classic Cookset is perfect when weight reduction is priority number one, take this minimalist cookset that includes 1.5- and 2-liter pots, a lid that fits either pot, PanHandler, stuff sack and Packtowl to separate the pots.
	Water Purifier The Hydro Photon Adventurer Purifier is the ultimate tool to take on outdoor adventures for safe drinking anywhere in the world. The SteriPen uses ultraviolet light to destroy DNA microorganisms making them unable to reproduce and cause illness. There is no pumping, no test strips, no timekeeping, no aftertaste and no clogging and it weighs only 4oz.
	Backcountry Trekking Poles If you are looking for a dependable, adjustable, packable pole at a great price then the Life-Link Teton Backcountry Trekking pole is worth taking a look at. Weighing just over 1lb they are easy to carry when not in use and will not weigh you down on long hikes.
	First Aid Kit The Adventure Medical Trail kit is one of AMK’s most popluar selling kits because of its compact and compartmentalized design, versatile component package, and attractive price.CPR items: 8×10 and/or 5×9 Trauma Pads Wound Care: Wound Closure Strips, Sterile Dressing, Strip & Knuckle Bandages Fracture/Sprain Items: Elastic Bandage w/ Velcro Medication: 2 Extra Strength Tylenol, 1 antihistamine, 2 Motrin, 1 sting relief pad.