Please use this list in a modular form according to what type of ski mountaineering you are doing e.g non glacial tours may not require harness, ice screws etc. Aim to ‘pack light’ and ski with a light pack as much as possible whilst still carrying all the required safety & technical gear and sufficient warm clothing, food & water.
Remember that:
light + light = heavy and that the only thing that ‘weighs nothing’….is nothing!
Personal Gear
- Skis, fitted with ski touring bindings and set up ready for your own boots. A medium waist of around 80-90mm and turn radius of less than 20m is ideal for most tours where a variety of snow conditions will be encountered.
- Ski touring bindings fitted to your skis, ideally with brakes attached. Dynafit, Plum or Kingpins are generally the most popular in Chamonix.
- Poles (non telescopic ski poles are generally better unless there is a lot of mountaineering on the tour)
- Ski Boots, heavier weight touring boots for improved ski peformance, lighter for climbing & saving energy!
- Skins (modern skins in good condition, Black Diamond or Gecko glueless recommended), must be fitted accurately to your skis
- Transceiver with fresh batteries. Should be a modern digital transceiver e.g. Barryvox Pulse / S
- Shovel (with a metal blade, plastic blades don’t work!)
- Avalanche Probe
- Harscheisen – ski crampons – couteaux (choose your language!), must be compatible with your ski bindings
- Lightweight rucksack (35-45L). Think about how you will attach your skis to it when mountaineering
- Tough & windproof ‘soft shell’ trousers are ideal but you will still need an outer shell layer for bad weather
- Lightweight thermal top and light soft shell or fleece jacket
- Waterproof / windproof jacket and trousers
- Spare warm layer / light duvet jacket
- Gloves, thin dexterous pair and a warmer thicker pair (mitts not really recommended as too clumsy)
- Warm hat, sun hat & neck gaiter / ‘buff’ (to protect your neck, lower face and nose in cold windy conditions)
- Goggles
- Sunglasses, sun cream & lip barrier stick
- Personal blister kit, any required medication, painkillers and plasters
- Velcro ski tie, important for carrying skis on your rucksack
- Headtorch, lightweight model like ‘Petzl Tikka’
- Mobile Phone
- Camera ? Think about making your camera highly accessible whilst skiing / skinning as once in your pack you may not want to get it our and team member may not want to wait for you to do so!
- Food (snacks) & water bottle (at least 1L)
Additional Equipment Required for Steep and / or Glacial Terrain
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Harness
- 2 X Prussiks
- 1 X 8ft Sling, 2 X Screw-gate Karabiners, 2 X snap link Karabiners
- 1 X Ice Screw
- Petzl micro Traxion or Ropeman or similar device with clutch / pulley for crevasse rescue
- Helmet
For Multi-Day Hut to Hut Touring
- Larger Rucksack ?
- Spare socks
- Spare Shirt (or buy one in a hut when you start to get smelly!)
- Tea bags ?
- Wash kit, very small and lightweight
- Sheet sleeping bag, as lightweight at possible
- Earplugs, for noisy huts!
- Cash (which currencies?)
- Credit Card
- BMC / Austrian Alpine Club / Reciprocal Rights Hut Card
- Passport?
- Insurance details – see our Insurance FAQ
Group Gear – Provided by the Guide…But Carried by the Whole Group!
- First aid kit
- Group shelter
- Rope
- Spares kit (separate list below)
- Guidebook / Topo
- Map & Navigation Apps
- Phone numbers for huts, weather, emergency, tourist info
Spare Equipment – Provided by the Guide
- Spare telescopic pole
- Spare skins (size?)
- Leatherman (pliers, knife, screwdriver, can opener!)
- Super glue
- Wax ?
- Scouring pad / scraper ?
- Cord
- Plastic ties
- Strap with buckle
- Duck tape
- Spare screws or replacements for equipment that commonly breaks
- Spare transceiver batteries (AA or AAA?)
Please follow our Sanglards Ski Hire link below to access your 15% discount (more in quieter periods), or tell them in the shop you have a booking with High Mountain Guides for the same discount. Sanglard’s have shops in Chamonix, Argentiere Les Grands Montets & Vallorcine.
