Packin light

[AllAboutTheTele]

Hey all,

Early post because for once I and my snowy compatriates are actually organising early. This will no doubt mean even more grandiose and unreachable plans since we have more time to think them up.

Currently we are thinking a 5 to 7 day trip, starting by heading out from Charlotte's Pass, towards Kozzy, then making our way north every couple days or so. i.e. Breaking camp, and hiking north for a bit, then setting up camp again later that day.

So the issue then is, what's the best way to keep it light and be most efficient in breaking and establishing camp? We were thinking trying to keep it light, with taking out only 3 days food for the first part, then heading back in to Guthega to pick up supplies one day.

Has anyone attempted anything like this? It's kind of like an up and over mountaineering trip.

[John Deere]

What about a food drop the week (or more) before..... guthega is 4 hours out of your way.

To keep it light, share as much stuff as possible, especially kitchen gear. Dont take anything spare but fresh undies, but take one set of spare clothes between you if you guys are similar sized. Dont all get wet!!

Keep the luxuries down......if your not set on breaking/reforming camp, find a spot with water close by and build a snow cave.....suggest somewhere near Twyham/Carruther (there is lots of stuff within one hour of Twyham!!)

Have fun, stay safe....welcome to BC (no need to shower here!! ;) )

[ 15. April 2009, 09:06 PM: Message edited by: John Deere ]

[karen97]

Just give the kitchen sink to Cabby tongue.gif

[John Deere]

Oh and how could I forget...Titanium EVERYTHING!!! :D

[AllAboutTheTele]

Is there any problems with dropping food out with foxes or anything getting into it? Will a pack or dry bags be enough to keep any critters out?

[AllAboutTheTele]

John, I don't have too much experience building snow caves - just the essentials for an emergency shelter. Do you know anywhere within a day hike range or Guthega/Perisher that is good to practice? i.e. has sufficiently deep snow.

Does anyone know how to build an igloo or similar? I have slept in a quinzhee a few times, but bloody oath its a lot of work making one of those!

[John Deere]

For food drops I am thinking dried food packed in plastic air tight lunch boxes (I know you have to carry them out, but at least they will be empty)and have an escape plan in case a critter gets it.

plenty of places very close to guthega where snowcaves can be built.....grab a book called Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book http://www.amazon.com/Really-Backcountry-Falcon-Guides-Skiing/dp/1575400766

Look for lee snow drifts for your cave.....igloos are very hard work....A bit of a risk to go without a tent.

[AllAboutTheTele]

Does anyone have a winter bivy bag that they would recommend?

And out of curiosity does anyone have strong feelings about down vs synthetic fill bags? I am not looking to buy (well other then a new 3 season bag for the rest of the year) having bought a lovely new down bag last winter which served me very well. So well that sometimes I just get the urge to pull it out and sleep in at home... I mean hmmmm.... :-p

[AllAboutTheTele]

Oh and doesn anyone know if there is any downsides to using skins that have been cut for a narrower ski of similar length on slightly wider skies? I am thinking of spending my Kevin money on a pair of Karhu Jak BC's which I have been covetting for years!

[SA]

Slightly (marginally) less grip uphill.

If the difference in width isn't large, say under 10mm, you won't notice the difference except perhaps on the very steepest pitches anyway.

I have a pair of Jaks (non-BC) for which I did a straight-cut on the skins - I was too lazy to do a shaped cut; my technique is by far the limiting factor rather than the fact I have a few less mm of skin coverage.

[John Deere]

For a five day trip I strongly recommend not doing the Bivvy thing.....for one night or two it is ok, but would get very old very quickly after that, especially if you had to wait out a storm!

Macpac Cocoon are a good bivvy!

[AllAboutTheTele]

SA: Did you get your Jaks here in Australia? I haven't found any one who sells Karhus in Oz, at least online. With the exchange rate as it is and the cost of international shipping for skies as ridiculous as it is on most American online stores, I thought I would try a local distributor even though skies are notoriously expensive here at home.

John: Hahahaha no not looking to do the whole trip in a bivy bag! I was thinking for the food drop I might save a bit of weight, and get in a bit extra skiing, if I headed out for a single overnighter to drop off the food and get some good skiing in and check out the conditions.

[SA]

See if Paul can get them in; he is surprisingly resourceful with special orders

;)

[ 18. April 2009, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: SA ]

[John Deere]

Down V Synthetic.....Down for the snow.....lighter and warmer!

Narrow skins will work fine as SA says. In theory you wont be able to skin as steep, and ideally the more skin the better, but they will still be more than serviceable!

[AllAboutTheTele]

John do you use your down bag in combo with a bivy? No issues of condensation or water leaking through in a snow cave?

I just wanted to make sure that having a significant gap between the edge and the skin wouldn't mean snow or water gets in under the skin detrimentally. Last season my skins provided me with more then enough traction in the backcountry, by which I mean they could go straight up anything I be bothered to walk straight up and not take an easier zig zag line.

[SA]

What kind of a significant gap are you talking about here?

My skins are cut to about a 2mm gap between edge and skin at the waist; the gap widens out to probably 5mm at the tail and even more than that at the tip. I haven't experienced snow getting under the skin.

If you can walk straight up anything it sounds like your technique is good enough to get the best out of the skins, in which case you might appreciate and use the additional grip from a shape cut the whole way along...

[John Deere]

I dont use a bivvy, I have never bothered to build a snow cave, just a tent and a down bag.