The Ski Tourer's Repair Kit

For a multi day trip or even a very large day, a repair kit is sometimes considered a valuable addition to the pack. Often one will decide to go disaster style, foregoing the R.K and just hope for the best, most of the time that will work but when you truly need a proper fix, some basic pieces are needed. Depending on the nature of the trip, you can add or take away ingredients like a witches brew, ie: Thermarest Repair, extra dynafit toe pieces, stove repair, etc.

Described is the 'backbone' of my kit...(there are many variations!)

A small stuff bag serves as a holder for the kit, I can add and take away pieces and it all fits into this bag, either way.

The backbone: sandpaper, Thermarest repair (hotbond and patches) - This stuff works awesome and very fast!

Thin metal sheet w/ pipe clamps - For ski pole and tent pole splinting

Bailing wire - Super strong thin wire has many uses (making a skin tip, fixing bindings, etc)

Sewing kit - Amazing how often you need a sewing kit

Zip ties, duct tape, safety pins (take a bunch!)

Stove repair kit, mini leatherman, #3 Phillips for binding screws (leatherman has a flathead, file, etc, etc), spare pack buckle 1.5''. spare skin clips, 10m of 3mm cord.

Things that are sometimes in the RK1000 - Spare ski pole basket, whole front piece of a dynafit binding including coils to reset the thing into the ski, epoxy. A whole backup stove pump for long trips.

For day trips I'll remove the stove and thermarest stuff but honestly I almost never bring it on day trips unless its a very very big one in the spring in some remote corner of some zone.

And last but certainly not least, the super amazing 2' voile ski strap. This little thing has saved the day so many times. Like in the above photo, being used on a boot that for a season or two, would eject buckles like cloves from a holiday ham, wrap this guy around the instep and keep skiing all day! If anyone in the group is on a certain type of binding I will always bring one as I have seen the heel pieces have a tendency to explode, never to be seen again - the things get some serious air time! Strap around the bar and over the boot and you can still limp out.


There are a lot of other things you could consider for your trip RK. Depending on type of bindings used, skins used, stove used, etc, etc. I know some people that bring a hand drill for full binding replacement capability. A tube of seam seal is nice if you foresee tent repair, its endless really. Take a good hard look at your team, the gear used, the duration of your trip and trim as much fat as possible.

Happy RK making to everyone!

R

Whats in the pack - Ski Touring.

I have been working towards having the least amount of equipment for a SAFE (prepared) day in the backcountry for a quite a while...

Having run into a few 'snags' over the years (bone breaks, injured skier evacuations and the need to clear timber for a helipad) there are a few things I will never leave at home and a few items I will throw in if the trip is a little more committing, described here is the minimum set up for a day of skiing without glacier travel.

Clockwise:

1) Patagonia Winter Sun Hoody: A warm up jacket is key, even for short trips - The ability to stay warm at tea or sandwich stops, pad or warm up an injured skier or throw on for the descent,  powder trying to find its way into every orifice; I won't leave home without it! Gore Windstopper being used very well in this piece for added weather resistance...

2) FA Kit with SPOT, Radio...more on this on another post..(SPOT has saved the day for my group on one occasion..)

3) Shades - Something polarized is a nice luxury but the wayfarer type with the neon arms are really cool in whistler right now.....your call.

4) Goggles - Key, I like a low light lens...If its bright I ski down with shades, just like Bernie Schiesser.

5) Thermos and bottle w/Insulated sleeve - Hydrate MAN!

6) G3 Alpinist skins - Apologies to my 2 friends that work for other skin manufacturers (that I haven't tried) but I do love these skins, now that the tip doesn't whip off when you do the anti-terrorist skin removal (while standing, very advanced) they are even better! The glide man, its all about the glide, if your slipping back with any skin its TOO steep ;-)

7) GPS, Transciever, Sunscreen, Headlamp - On every trip!

8) Sun hat (I'm a bald man, a very bald man)

9)  Gloves x 3 (warm, medium and leather work glove)

10) BCA Stash 30 pack, Awesome. It came with a bunch of extra straps and gizmos which I cut off...(3 ways to hold skis, helmet holder, etc)

11) Probe, Shovel (You can judge a persons character by their shovel, serious)

12) Volie Ski strap, the LONG one. Always leave the house with one of these babies, I've seen the Fritschi binding explode too many times not to, these will fix that (by strapping the boot to the rail), a broken boot buckle, pack buckle and many other backcountry ailments.

13) Bone Saw - This thing has saved my bacon a few times now so I bring it everywhere, getting the mail included...It can rip a 8" tree apart in 30 seconds and it does wonders for your fore arm training in the off season.

Next up...First Aid and Repair Kits!!

 Happy Skiing!
R