Getting ready to shred: 2016 version

Every Autumn I go through the same process of getting ready for the upcoming ski season. Winter is my favourite time of all and I don't want to miss a day of action if I can help it. Here are a few of the things I have come to rely on as a backbone to prepping for another round of powder, peaks and everything else. 

Thoughts on training

I don't have a scientific approach to training,  I have one general rule: Try and do something active everyday. Some days that is a one hour climbing gym session or a 5 km run and others its 15 km and/or a good bike ride or long gym session. In the fall I tend to taper my biking and start running to activate the stabilizer muscles that you use skiing. I have circuits that involve uphill sections and I set personal goals like trying to actually run up them instead of fast-walk, then I can see progress. I try not to sprint but maintain a similar aerobic rate as if I was skinning uphill at a good pace. The odd day I will do stairs or hill sprints but its rare. On the descents I try and focus on foot placements and being mindful of the connection between foot and ground. Near November I want to be running 15-20km without much pain or trouble which usually takes me about 2 months to arrive at. In the climbing gym I will focus on just having fun and climbing lots. 

More then anything in the fall, I try to rest my mind and body for the upcoming season as it is by far the most physical time of year for me, hopefully stacking many big days on top of each other week after week. Sounds nice! These runs and gym sessions are never more then 2 hours so that gives me lots of time for fall house tasks, working, organizing gear and spending time with Erin. 

The Gear Room 

The gear room is cleaned, switched over from biking and climbing and into winter mode. Everything can be grabbed quickly for a last minute outing. The Hooks on the wall left empty so I can quickly hang and sort wet gear after a day out. There is another row of hooks below the photo edge for packs and more organizing. To the right of the hooks on the wall is a 3 shelf unit for tupperwares full of gloves and hats and other crucial pieces. I like to present myself with 0 barriers to a day out so the better I can prepare ahead, the more likely I can swing a ski tour, even if its 4 hours before work starts at 0900.

 

The Typical Day Out Kit

Top Row: Lunch Bag, Licorice (always with me in the mountains! he only candy I don't binge on!), water, thermos and Insulated cup for really cold or storm days (Its pretty dreamy to pull out the steamy chilli or soup at the windy col!)
Emerg Kit: More on this later.
Radio: I'll bring sometimes if there is a repeater nearby or if its a large group so we can spread the weight out, nice if you need to communicate with a rescue team and helicopter. These are not easily available unfortunately.
Gloves: Big warm pair and lightweight pair (often two light pairs). I really like XC skiing gloves as they are cheap, have no leather (which stays wet all day) and are made for high output, perfect for the up track.
 Sun glasses, Buff, Sun hat and extra toque. 
Goggles: I really like the Julbo low light polarized lens, these are not cheap but man they are the best I've ever tried.
 Petzl Bag: Odds and ends, more on this later.
Crystal Screen: For cleaning skis and bindings from ice and doing the odd form identification.
Camera: This is a Canon G15, I like these bomber cameras, they are good in low light and take a beating. That's a waterproof Inate case.
Shovel: I like a big blade as I have felt the difference it makes in moving snow in many practice scenarios. I use the lighter 'G3 Spade' handle to save weight.
Avalanche Beacon: Ortovox 3+, I like the simplicity and functionality for multiple burial. All Beacons are good these days, practice is everything.
Probe: BD 265cm Alum. Good but there are arguments for a longer option certainly.
Pack: Modified Patagonia ascentionist, more on this later.
Helmet: Solomon Mtn Lab. I made a commitment to wear a helmet all last year and I am totally used to it now, its great and would likely make a difference in a really bad tumble or small avalanche sweeping me trough the trees.
 Rad Kit: More on this later.
Puffy: Patagonia Nano Storm. I use this 90% of the time, its waterproof and a long cut so offers great protection, allowing me to often skimp on other shells, knowing I have it. If its -15 or colder I bring the DAS parka, which is a freaking INFERNO.          

The Pack

I come from a climbing background so my bias is towards light and streamlined packs which are favoured by climbers, I am also just very attracted to these designs aesthetically. This is Patagonias lightest most technical climbing pack. It weights under a kilo yet has everything you would ever need. I removed the hip pads as all I have ever needed in the mountains is a webbing belt. The frame is taken out and replaced with a folded piece of 5mm evazote which contours and forms to my back better then any frame. This means packing needs to be done with a little more care but I am used to it and its very comfy

I asked a designer friend here in Squamish to add a simple compartment to the inside of the pack tube, near the back. it has 2 tubes and a big pod for the shovel blade. I really like it.      

The "Odds and Ends" Bag

This lives in the top of my pack and keeps the must haves separate from anything else in here. If this falls out in the snow, I can easily see it. Keys go in here too. Sun screen, skin wax, knife, headlamp with fresh batteries and ski strap. This little ski strap is very useful for repairs and medical scenarios.    

The "Emerg" Bag

The Emerg Kit: Its probably a good idea to carry a little insurance in case shit hits the fan, this is what I have narrowed it down to after some thought and unfortunate learning experiences. 
Spot and Padded Case: This thing has saved the day once and I carry it on every outing now. I cant imagine how the outcome would have been if we wouldn't have had it. 
Spare Beacon Battery: Wrapped in duck tape. I wrap a lot of these little things in tape as you never have enough when you actually need it. 
AMK Bivi Bag: Waterproof. 
Lighter: For making fire in case of a forced bivi. 
Water Purifier Tabs: These weigh nothing and for me are worth keeping on hand for peace of mind in case we come across open water and need a drink. Probably over kill. 
FA Kit: This thing is focused on major wounds (ski edges, branch impalements, head wounds) so lots of gauze and dressings, about 2 x as much as a standard kit. Tape and moleskin for blisters. Meds are 4oomg IBUPROFEN and T3 as well a s Benadryl.  All of this fits in a waterproof bag which is nice for the S Coast.

The RAD Kit

  I bring this on every tour now, leaving the screw behind for days without glacier travel. I use it sans screw for controlled on belay ski cuts. This technique has taught me more about ski cutting, snow and avalanches then anything else and turns potential day ending decisions into learning experiences while being safe. It then converts to a glacier kit when adding the screw. 

Rope: 30M 6mm Petzl RAD Kit. While not cheap, this rope is a 'game changer', it is super light and very strong, certified for use as a single line, unheard of for this weight and size.  Altitude Harness: The lightest harness in the world and actually comfy. 
Micro traction: I like to have this when you actually need to use this stuff in a crevasse rescue situation. 
Tibloc, biners, mini Prussia and 120 cm sling: With this I can make an anchor and turn a 3:1 into a 5:1. 
Screw: Petzl Laser Speed Light, the lightest in the world. 13cm is fine as if I use it, it will be in blue glacier ice and I'll be wanting to expedite the placement. This all fits neatly into a med size G3 skin bag.  

The Glacier and Steeps Kit

Petzl has brought out the lightest and most compact ski mountaineering kit to date: Leopard Crampons: Aluminum and very packable Glacier Literide Axe: I added the grip rest as I really dislike leashes, save those for my dreams :-)

The crampons are very secure once attached and I can pack them away very small and out of the way. Combine this with the RAD and I can get into all kinds of nasty situations.   

Clothing:

I like to outline and figure out my clothing set ups in the early fall so there is less shenanigans when its time to go. I break mine into two different set ups, the 'mission' or spring set-up which is aimed towards big days, usually with lots of KMs and vertical and likely with good weather. The second kit is for mid-winter pow skiing or day to day wear all season long when the weather is bad. This kit fails when under big aerobic asks but is excellent for typical lower cadence days in the winter. Both kits or subsidized by a big puffy of course, its a real bummer when you don't have one and don't want to enjoy your sweet turkey sandwich and peanut butter cookie cause you cant feel your face. There is so much inovation happening in clothing right now, especially around active insulation, that in which you can truly be aerobic in and I think will completely changing the layering paradigm, pretty exciting.

Day To Day Set Up:

 

This Kit focuses on daily driver type of days in the Spearheads, Duffey Lake environs and the mountains around Squamish where I live. This kit emphasizes protection from wet snow and is warm and more windproof so conversely, less breathable. I am OK with this trade off for the upswing in protection from the big pacific storms that hammer us on a typical cold mid-winter day out. 

Jacket: Patagonia weather resistant softshell (proto), supposed to be near waterproof but very breathable. Will supplement with a waterproof shell some days I am sure. 
Pants: Patagonia Refugative, the best I have ever had for a hard shell using GORE C-Knit 4 way stretch fabric. Side vents for big time heat dumping. 
Base Layer: Patagonia Merino Air, I have yet to find a merino system that doesn't completely disappoint me as the stuff absorbs over 70% of its own weight in water and basically does not wick, but abosrbs.

However, this stuff is blended with 50% poly and has a very open and breathable knit. I am stoked to try it.   

Another Option with Refugative jacket and Nano Air vest for cold and storm days with maybe a bit of rain down low.

Spring Mission or 'Big Day' set-up:

All Softshell: For me, nothing works better then clothing with high CFM breathabilty ratings for high output. Again, XC skiers have been wearing this stuff forever and even in inclement weather, it keeps you warm and comfortable unless its really hectic out. 

Jacket: Patagonia Houdini, this is the best jacket I own. It fits in my pocket, is basically wind proof and is super light. 
Pants: Patagonia prototype, these are great and made out of one of my favourite fabrics patagonia has ever used, that of the levitation line of jackets. Great durability and wind resistance but also water resistance and breathabilty. 
Vest: Patagonia Nano Air Vest, breathable insulation is very cool and I can leave this on for way longer then a lot of other insulations i've tried. This thing comes with me 99% of days. 
Hoody: Capilene Thermal Weight, the warmest but still very breathable. My go to desert island piece. The hood can replace a toque for surgical alpine strikes or just a second back up toque for peace of mind.    

Spring Suppliment: For Spring when its extremely hot and sunny, I have stumbled uptown these hoodies designed for fly fishing. They are really breathable and have 40 + UPF, the hood covers your ears and nose as well and allows you to wear less sun screen as I always end up with a big splotch of it that stays there all day somewhere awkward. I can wear this next to skin and survive the epic heat and insolation of the spring.

That's it, hopefully this allows someone to learn from the many mistakes I have made and consequently learned from! Always good to have things sorted out before the season takes hold, happy preparing!