Packing for alpine touring

In Norway, we call alpine touring topptur – peak touring. While that’s a comparatively new term, there’s nothing new about summiting mountains on skis. It’s true that the term “topptur” has gradually been watered down. In our opinion, it’s become somewhat misleading. A little like the word “powder” isn’t as sacred as it once was. But that’s for another day.

You don’t have to chase maximum altitude for good skiing. Many of our most memorable skiing days haven’t involved conquering peaks at all but yo-yoing wherever the best snow is – preferably in the forest. It could be argued that the term “alpine touring” is more accurate than “topptur” for what we’re going to describe in this article: days out where the focus is the skiing, in alpine terrain generally. This includes avalanche terrain.

Avalanche terrain

Avalanche terrain is defined as terrain steep enough for avalanches to occur (around 30° and steeper), and terrain where the avalanche can freely run off into (this can be below 30°, but will be adjacent to slopes that are 30° or steeper). The most important thing you can do to avoid avalanches is to avoid avalanche terrain. If you’re going to do it anyway, then you should be 100% sure you can recognise it – break-off points, gradients and terrain traps – and deal with it. If you don’t have this knowledge, we recommend seeking out a qualified guide or instructor and get proper training. Alternatively, find yourself a qualified mentor, friend or acquaintance whose had some genuine education, rather than “experience” alone. Join them on a tour; soak up knowledge like a sponge! The Norwegian Tourist Association’s mountain sports groups and the Red Cross also have good beginner courses. All of these can also give you a lot of useful advice as well as teaching you navigation and avalanche-prevention skills.

The contents of your pack are vital

Alpine touring often takes place in avalanche terrain. And it’s basically a given that you’ll be somewhat off the beaten track, where it’s difficult to get assistance. This is something to keep in mind when choosing a pack and filling it appropriately. So what should be in there?

Be prepared for the unexpected

It’s a good idea to bring an extra change of underclothes, socks, a hat and, especially, gloves or mittens. Plenty of food’s important – this isn’t simply fuel for the ascent, it keeps the mood lifted in an environment where we expend an enormous amount of energy. No one likes you when you’re hangry. An old seating mat also comes in handy during the lunch break.

Those we’ve spoken to say that responsible skiers will take:

Avalanche rescue equipment is completely mandatory. A windsack, some rope for hauling and repairs, spare parts, multi-tools, good first aid equipment, a map and compass and a mobile phone – these are things you should go in automatically. Help’s often far away, so you should be confident in your party’s competence and equipment. Experienced mountaineers, rescue teams and professional guides leave nothing to chance when packing their bags.

In general, it makes sense to be sure that as much of the stuff you take is light, able to take a beating, and versatile, preferably covering several areas of use – an important trick of the trade.

Sports tape, clingfilm, a rubbish bag and multi-tool, for example, can be used for many things: first aid, repairs, warmth, and storage.

It’s a good idea to bring an extra change of underclothes, socks, a hat and, especially, gloves or mittens. Plenty of food’s important – this isn’t simply fuel for the ascent, it keeps the mood lifted in an environment where we expend an enormous amount of energy. No one likes you when you’re hangry. An old seating mat also comes in handy during the lunch break. Those we’ve spoken to say that responsible skiers will take: Avalanche rescue equipment is completely mandatory. A windsack, some rope for hauling and repairs, spare parts, multi-tools, good first aid equipment, a map and compass and a mobile phone – these are things you should go in automatically. Help’s often far away, so you should be confident in your party’s competence and equipment. Experienced mountaineers, rescue teams and professional guides leave nothing to chance when packing their bags. In general, it makes sense to be sure that as much of the stuff you take is light, able to take a beating, and versatile, preferably covering several areas of use – an important trick of the trade. Sports tape, clingfilm, a rubbish bag and multi-tool, for example, can be used for many things: first aid, repairs, warmth, and storage.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Remember avalanche beacon, shovel and search probe

ASSS – “Always shovel, sender-receiver and search-probe”

ASSS is the law: Always Spade, sender-receiver and search-probe. This is about as self-explanatory as it gets. You should always carry a shovel, an avalanche beacon (transmitter/receiver), and a search probe if you’re going into the mountains. Before we talk about anything else, it’s important to spend a moment on this. It’s selfish to go touring without having this equipment in your bag. You and the others in your party should all be able to help each other if something happens. The more people that carry this basic, standard, equipment, and have the knowledge of how to use it, the more prepared the entire mountain is: everyone can contribute if someone nearby is caught in an avalanche or injured.

Safety equipment

Helmet

Helmets are cool. They can save your life. This is why they’re considered standard equipment. New helmets are light, comfortable, and multi-use, approved for both skiing and climbing. A helmet protects against head injuries. You will categorically want one in an avalanche. Find a helmet that fits your head, works for your use, and fits your ski goggles. It’s a good idea to take your goggles with you when to go shopping for a new helmet.

First aid and other life-saving equipment

We can’t count on rescue teams reaching us in the mountains, and certainly not in good time. A first aid kit and something to keep us warm can therefore be essential to enable us to deal with unexpected situations or injuries.

Bivvy bag and down jacket

The bivouak bag (aka “bivvy bag” or “windsack”) can be wrapped around an injured skier to prevent hypothermia. A warm jacket can also be used as a pillow or for cushioning, even as a neck collar, if necessary, when transporting a casualty. Hypothermia is a constant danger in the mountains. These things can save lives. Furthermore, the bivvy bag can be used to transport the injured. It’s also very, very handy in wind and storm: it turns into a proper sauna if you sit together inside it for lunch under cover.

Clingfilm

Clingfilm’s great in first aid kit. What we do is saw a roll in half and take a half with us. It weighs little and takes up little space, but can be used for so many things. Among others, for repairing things. The beauty of clingfilm is that one side will almost always be clean enough to use on injuries. It can be used to wrap large open cuts, seal punctures on the skin and wrap burns. Mechanically, it can be used to splint and as a support bandage, and so much more. If someone’s very cold, you can wrap them in it too, and they’ll quickly warm up. Spade shafts, poles and search rods work well as splints in case of broken injuries.

Ski straps

Rubber ski straps, made by Åsnes among many others, are completely brilliant. They can be used for everything. They’re great for repairs and hanging things, and for medical emergencies: splints and tourniquets.

Rubbish bags (bin liners)

Rubbish bags can serve as a sort of cross between a bivvy bag and cling film. They’re an emergency sleeping bag, instant waterproofing (they can even go in boots) and they way nothing whatsoever. You can even use them to collect rubbish, so it’s win-win. It really doesn’t hurt to have bin-bags in your ski-bag. With a little creativity and a solution-oriented approach, you can treat a number of injuries with relatively few items in the your kit. Find solutions where things have multiple uses. Take some courses in first aid; learn the art of improvising with what you have.  

First aid kit essentials – the minimum, in waterproof packaging:

 

Painkillers

 

Sterile compresses

 

Sport stape

 

Clingfilm and a black bin bag

 

Compeed blister plasters

 

Matches

 

Resealable bag (fill with water, puncture, use pressure to wash cuts and wounds etc.)

Consider also bringing:

 

Sling or support bandage

 

Rescue foil (not necessary if you have bin-bag or clingfilm, but more handy)

 

Wound wipes and/ or disinfectant

 

Eye wash

 

Safetypins

 

Scissors

 

Sterile gloves

 

Plasters

 

Splinting roll

Hodelykt – ikke glem hodelykt

Vi har alltid med hodelykt, uansett hvor vi skulle måtte gå. Blir det mørkt, så er det skikkelig dumt og ikke ha den. Den er også gull verdt om man må reparere noe – eller noen. Ved førstehjelp er hodelykten et nyttig verktøy uansett, selvsagt også nødvendig når det blir mørkt.

Reparasjonsutstyr

Noen runder Duch-tape på staven, tau, stålwire, et par strips og viktige reservedeler til bindingen (som f.eks noen skruer) er sammen med multiverktøy uvurderlig. Det meste kan fikses med dette, og det tar ikke mye plass.
Vi anbefaler også å ha med sportstape, litt tau og GladPack uansett – ting som kan dekke flere behov og er nyttig om man f.eks skal reparere noe. Skistropper av gummi – veldig allsidige til å feste, fikse og ordne med.
Vi tar alltid med oss fellevoks også. Dette er turglede i lommeformat, og kan redde mang en tur fra fiasko på grunn av klabber på fellene. Vi har ikke tall på hvor mange ganger vi har hjulpet turfølget med dette!  

Ikke stol på mobilen

Mobiltelefonen er hendig til båre varsling, til å ta bilder med og har gode apper som kan være hjelpsomme. Men det er likevel viktig å huske at i den norske fjellheimen er det mange steder uten dekning og at telefonen kan gå tom for strøm.
Det er også flere undersøkelser og forskning som tyder på at mobiltelefonen kan forstyrre skredsøkeren. Derfor anbefales det å ha telefonen avslått eller i flymodus lengst mulig vekk fra skredsøkeren, gjerne i topplokket på sekken. Da har du strøm til du trenger deg, og som en bonus kan du nyte turen og naturen istedenfor bildene på Instagram.

Kart og kompass (GPS?)

På grunn av alt vi allerede har nevnt om mobiltelefon, er det derfor fornuftig å ta med seg kart og kompass. Man vet aldri når tåka setter inn eller har behov for kartet.
Det gir også mye glede å orientere seg på kart, og man finner kanskje en spennende skilinje på kartet som man ellers ikke ville lagt merke til.
En GPS er også et veldig nyttig hjelpemiddel, men kan på lik linje som en mobiltelefon også gå tom for batteri – derfor kan den på ingen måte erstatte kartet og kompasset.
Tenk på GPS’en som et tilskudd til kartet, som gjør det enklere å finne ut hvor man er og for å gjøre navigasjon på kartet enklere og mer effektivt. Sørg for at man tilegner seg kunnskap og trener på hvordan kart og kompass skal brukes, slik at man vet hvordan det fungerer når man virkelig trenger det.

Mat, snacks og drikke?

Vi anbefaler å alltid ha med matpakke på tur. Og minst 1-2 liter vann!
Topptur er slitsomt og kan tære på kropp og sjel om man ikke er forsiktig. Om det så er enkel matpakke med det pålegget som finnes i kjøleskapet den dagen. Det meste går ned når man er sliten og sulten. Frukt, bær og nøtter er bra og gir langvarig energi.
Mange liker også å ta med en Snickers eller annen sjokolade som påfyll. Babysmoothie er også et tips, som er billigere, sunnere og like energieffektivt som all slags energi-gele.
Veldig lite «supermat» er egentlig så veldig supert, så det som tradisjonelt har fungert for deg er ofte det beste. Som vi nevnte tidligere, har du med deg barn eller «hangry» venner så kan du redde dagen fra katastrofe med litt ekstra mat eller snacks. Tenk alltid at du bør klare deg ute i et døgn om noe skulle skje.

 

Always take your avalanche beacon, probe and shovel

 

Find a pack that sits well on your shoulders – light, solid and functional.

 

Pack things with multiple uses – preferably three different uses.

 

Eye wash

 

Safety pins

 

Scissors

 

Surgical gloves

 

Plasters

 

Splint roll

Packing list – alpine touring bag

 

35–50 litre pack designed for ski touring

 

Spade and probe

 

Beacon – on the body

 

Map and compass with clinometer and mirror

 

Bivvy bag

 

Sitting mat

 

First aid kit

 

Mobile

 

Painkillers

 

Small repair kit with knife, tools for bindings, steel wire, cable ties, etc.

 

Sports tape

 

Crampons

 

Skins and skinwax

 

Toilet paper and matches

 

Headlamp

 

Extra batteries for headlamp and beacon

 

Small binoculars

 

Camera

 

Goggles / skiglasses

 

Sunglasses (in season)

 

Water flask

 

Primaloft / down jacket

 

Food

 

Extra mittens and gloves (large)

 

Change of clothes

 

Crampons and ice axe (if necessary)

Glacier equipment (if traversing glacier)