It is easier to ruin a trip by having too much gear rather than too little. The issue with too much gear is weight, and too much weight means reduced mobility. As Ray Jardine, the master of ultralight backpacking says “If you need something and you don’t have it, then you don’t need it.” This may be pretzel logic, but it is the thought that counts. At best, cold-weather ski mountaineering is a heavy prospect, so don’t make it worse than it already is.
How much is too much? It depends, but if you are packing for a trip find yourself thinking “Oh, this doesn’t weigh too much… I’ll just bring it.” you can probably do without it.
Ben Ditto (140 lbs) with a 100 lb pack on the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap. Pure misery.
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One of my favorite pieces of travel advice came from a hokey little magazine article about family road trips, but the advice is applicable to ski mountaineering trips or expeditions as well. The basic idea is to force yourself (and your partners) to spend one minute of contemplation before you take off going through a list of things you need to bring. Skisbootspoleshatglovesgogglesmoneydrugsfood?
Prepping for a trip always takes longer than expected and often ends with a last second dash for the car, squealing wheels and a mad rush out the door. It is only when you are twenty minutes down the road that you remember that your wallet/boots/jacket are right where you left them… safely back at the house.
Now you have to turn around, go all the way back, then back again, which makes you REALLY late.
The trick is to nip the panicked exit before it begins, which is right as the car key is heading for the ignition. Put the key down, look at the clock and force yourself to think for a full minute before you begin. The minute you spend could save you hours afterwards.
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