Haute Route Gear List
Ski
touring in the Alps offers the unique  advantage
of being able to ski with light packs and arrive at a well-provisioned
hut for the night. While food and blankets are provided at the
huts we are still in the high mountains and must bring clothing
to deal with any weather conditions. We can be baking in the hot
sun or on a windy ridge in a blizzard. Many days in the spring
start with cold mornings and icy snow, then turn hot as the day
progresses especially when we ski down to a low valley.
One
of the keys to enjoy ski touring in the Alps is to make sure that
your pack is light, preferably under 20 pounds. While the weather
may be severe, we are seldom standing still in cold weather and the
huts are warm. Try to minimize the amount of extra gear that you
bring. Each day we will be moving from hut to hut with all of our
gear on our back. It is not only safer to have a light pack, but
much more enjoyable.
There
is a luggage room at our hotel in Zermatt, where you can leave extra
gear or luggage for the rest of your trip. This luggage will meet us
at the end of our trip in Chamonix. There will be two other stops in
towns along the way to top up on lunch food.
Technical Gear
-
skis with alpine touring bindings
-
alpine touring boots with walk and ski mode, they must be able
to fit crampons. Make sure you have worn your boots on several
tours before this trip and that they are comfortable. If you
have a problem with blisters make sure that you bring moleskin
or second skin and apply it before problems develop.
-
adjustable ski poles
-
climbing skins, make sure they are cut to your ski
-
avalanche transceiver (457 KHz), these can be provided, just
be sure to let me know before the trip
-
shovel
-
probe
-
backpack, medium size about 35 litres
-
ski crampons
-
harness, lightweight without padding is best
-
locking carabiner
Note: People often ask whether they can do the trip with
telemark gear. While it is possible for a very strong skier to
do the trip on telemark gear, it is not recommended. The
sometimes difficult snow conditions, deep heavy snow or
windcrust, make it much more difficult without the heel locked
down. It can be done if you are a strong skier but it takes a
lot more energy, especially with your pack. Another difficulty
is finding ski crampons to work with a telemark system. Ski
crampons are necessary on steep icy slopes especially in the
morning when the snow is still frozen hard. Manufacturers do not
make ski crampons for telemark systems. The ski crampons for
telemark that I have seen are adapted from alpine touring
systems. One possibility is using a Dynafit binding plate on
your ski, which will fit Dynafit ski crampons. I have yet to see
a telemark ski crampon that works as well or is as easy to
change over as an alpine touring system.
Personal Equipment
-
sunglasses
-
sun hat
-
warm ski hat
-
water bottle or thermos, minimum 1 liter. The huts will sell
bottled water or tea for your thermos.
-
goggles
-
sunscreen and lip protection
-
ski gloves
-
scarf or neck gaitor
-
long underwear tops, this should be synthetic and lightweight
for the hot days
-
lightweight fleece jacket
-
medium weight fleece jacket
-
cotton t-shirt, luxury item for wearing around the hut. Many
huts also sell these.
-
windproof jacket, lightweight is best, it does not have to be
Gortex, but should be breathable and water resistant.
-
Windproof pants, for when the weather turns foul. Again they
should be lightweight, breathable, and you should be able to
get them on over your ski boots.
-
ski pants, something that is not cotton, offers protection from
wind and snow but is not too hot when the sun shines. Patagonia,
Mammut and Schoffel all have excellent pants.
-
gaitors, unless integrated into your pants
-
socks, 2 pairs
-
earplugs, the huts can be noisy
-
lightweight cotton or silk sleeping bag liner for sanitary reasons,
wool blankets are provided at the huts
-
headlamp, small lightweight such as the Petzl Tika
-
camera
-
personal items toothbrush, toothpaste, medication, contact lenses
etc. Try to keep it to a minimum, for instance buy a smaller
tube of toothpaste or share with a friend. There are no showers
or running water at the huts.
-
money (mostly Swiss Francs and some Euros), for buying drinks,
snacks or lunches while on the tour
-
snacks, chocolate and sandwiches can be purchased in the huts
-
lunch food, this is less expensive if purchased in town but
you can also get it at the huts
-
very lightweight shoes or slippers for town. Hut shoes are provided
at the huts, I usually use my inner boots to walk around town.
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