what do you carry on trips?

I'll be working from home so the HOV lane issue shouldn't be to much of a problem. As far as being from TX. Yes I'm from TX and everything here is bigger including our egos!

And yes, skinning to Muir is something I plan on doing a lot, done it once already, and i've never been on the mountain where I didn't make it to Muir so I Don't think Amar would be to upset!

Though speaking of that, can you say you tagged Rainier's summit if you only stood in the crater and not the true Columbia Crest? If that's the case then I've only summited 2x vs 3, but hey who's counting.


132 days baby!

BTW My pack essecentials for climbing include (not to sure about skiing) however here's what I would take for skiing.

Shovel
Probe (For avalanche stuff nothing else, us Texans aren't that crazy)
Saw - don't have one
Beacon - PING
Down puffy will always be in there regardless, you just never know.
Fire starter kit
Compass. YOu can ADD a GPS, but you can never subtract a compass
Water
Wands? Depending on what I'm doing
Whistle
About 8 AA batteries (WTF)
Entire ROLL of toilet paper (WTF)
And I end up always takign way more food than I need for some reason.

On a side note, we should start a thread of things we've taken on trips that just stand out.


However, I can say my stats are a bit different because they've mostly been for mountaineering not skiing when weight is a HUGE thing. My first trip to Rainier my pack weight around 55-60lbs, my last trip I had it tagged under 33lbs including group gear
Such as, my entire wallet, phone, entire HUGE key chain, and beer are things I've taken that I should have left in car. Mountaineering boots + AT Boots.

Saxybrian didn't you say your from Texas?  :

Hell Yeah I'm from Texas. And only 2 things come from Texas, Steers and Queers. And I sure an't no steer, so when you're skinning above me on the slopes you better keep eyes on the back of your head!

I always bring the Three Essentials of duct tape, cell phone, and Red Bull:
1. Duct tape to fix anything that breaks.
2. Cell phone to call for a helicopter rescue if whatever broke can’t be fixed with duct tape.
3. Red Bull to drink while waiting for the helicopter rescue.

In more detail, spring & summer pack:
www.wildsnow.com/5309/backcountry-skiing-rucksack-packing/

Thoughts on fix-it tools to bring (or not):
www.wildsnow.com/5308/multi-tools-backcountry-skiing/

Bunch of good stuff here.

I always have a space blanket or two, as well as a 8x4' SilTarp (packs to about a soda can size), to fill out the emergency shelter.  I left the SilTarp behind on the day of the Phantom slide and it would have been a big oversight if we'd been farther from help.

Lots of Voile straps -- I have 6 in my first-aid/repair kit.

I use a GPS with some regularity, but I rarely rely on it solely.  Carry a map of the area and know how to use it.  Like Chris said, you should always know where you are and have good "spatial awareness". 

I always have a big trash compactor bag lining my pack too -- great for emergency wind-water protection.  My wife carries her Montbell UL bivy sack (again, soda-can size) and between that, the tarp and my trash bag, I think we'd be able to get some decent protection if we were stuck out for the night.  Know how to make some quick snow-shelters and augment them with the above.

Be familiar with what you have and spend some time thinking about why you're bringing it and how you think you'll use it.  Ingenuity with limited gear is just as important (if not more so) as carrying the kitchen sink.

3. Red Bull to drink while waiting for the helicopter rescue.

Swap the red bull out for a 5hr energy to save a little weight on the emergency energy boost.

Swap the red bull out for a 5hr energy to save a little weight on the emergency energy boost.

With four calories, sounds like it should be more aptly named five-second energy.