Packing list: Ski touring

Tips

• Check varsom.no the evening before — danger level, avalanche problem, exposed terrain. At danger levels 4 and 5, travel outside avalanche terrain is advised. Do not unpack your skis if the forecast says no.
• March and April are statistically the most accident-prone months for avalanches in Norway. Classic ski-touring time, but also high-risk time. Experienced skiers call off more planned trips than they complete.
• Skins on before, not after. Fit the skins before you set off — doing it in steep terrain with a cold wind is technically difficult. Consider mohair (best glide, cold) or a mixed-hair skin (more drag, copes with moisture).
• A glide aid or scraper for the skins is smart if you have synthetic or mixed-hair skins — they pick up ice in mild weather.
• A helmet belongs on the descent. A light climbing or ski helmet works. On the climb it is in the rucksack; at the top you put it on.
• A probe is not only used for avalanche searches — also for checking snow depth before you dig a snow pit, or confirming that a cornice is large enough.
• Practise with your kit before your first real trip. Training in the search procedure matters as much as the kit itself. Clubs and mountain-sports groups run search training regularly — make use of it.
• A spare battery for the transceiver and new batteries each season. A low battery means reduced range.

Source: Varsom.no — avalanche forecast and an NVE-approved basic course, adapted by Snuitide.