Equipment List For Backcountry Skiing Courses | Ascent Outdoors

This is a list of everything Backcountry Alpine Guides recommends for students of it’s Backcountry Ski Courses.

Contact your instructor for information about Gear Nights.

Rentals available

Touring Gear

Equipment
Ski poles
Description	Adjustable Ski poles with powder (big) baskets
Click to Buy/View Item	MSR DynaLock Trail Backcountry Poles

Equipment
Powder Baskets
Description	Powder (big) baskets
Click to Buy/View Item	Black Diamond Powder Baskets

Equipment
Skis
Description	Skis or snowboard. Skis should be equipped with alpine touring bindings or telemark bindings. We prefer split decision snowboards w/ skins because you do not need snow shoes
Click to Buy/View Item	Alpine Touring Skis

Equipment
Ski boots
Description	Alpine touring, telemark, or snowboard boots
Click to Buy/View Item	Alpine Touring Boots

Equipment
Snowshoes
Description	Snowshoes for snowboarders
Click to Buy/View Item	Snowshoes

Equipment
Glop Stopper
Description	Skins with glop stopper (skin wax)
Click to Buy/View Item	Black Diamond Glop Stopper Skin Wax

Equipment
Beacon
Description	Avalanche Beacon. (Triple Antenna)
Click to Buy/View Item	BCA T3 Beacon

Equipment
Probe
Description	Avalanche Probe 265cm or longer
Click to Buy/View Item	Mammut Carbon Probe 280 Speed Lock

Equipment
Shovel
Description	Shovel
Click to Buy/View Item	Mammut Alugator Ride 3.0 Hoe Raw

Equipment
Helmet
Description	Helmet for riding and climbing adjustable to fit over hats
Click to Buy/View Item	Ski Helmet

Equipment	Description	Click to Buy/View Item		Required
Ski poles	Adjustable Ski poles with powder (big) baskets	MSR DynaLock Trail Backcountry Poles
Powder Baskets	Powder (big) baskets	Black Diamond Powder Baskets
Skis	Skis or snowboard. Skis should be equipped with alpine touring bindings or telemark bindings. We prefer split decision snowboards w/ skins because you do not need snow shoes	Alpine Touring Skis
Ski boots	Alpine touring, telemark, or snowboard boots	Alpine Touring Boots
Snowshoes	Snowshoes for snowboarders	Snowshoes
Glop Stopper	Skins with glop stopper (skin wax)	Black Diamond Glop Stopper Skin Wax
Beacon	Avalanche Beacon. (Triple Antenna)	BCA T3 Beacon
Probe	Avalanche Probe 265cm or longer	Mammut Carbon Probe 280 Speed Lock
Shovel	Shovel	Mammut Alugator Ride 3.0 Hoe Raw
Helmet	Helmet for riding and climbing adjustable to fit over hats	Ski Helmet

Upper Body

Equipment
T-shirts
Description	Lightweight base layer T-shirt or long sleeve polypropylene shirt
Click to Buy/View Item	Patagonia Men's Long-Sleeved P-6 Logo Responsibili-Tee Smartwool Women's Merino 150 Baselayer Pattern Long Sleeve

Equipment
Jacket
Description	Soft Shell
Click to Buy/View Item	Softshell Jacket


Description	1 Down/synthetic jacket with hood
Click to Buy/View Item	Synthetic Jacket


Description	1 Hard shell jacket with hood Waterproof and breathable. roomy enough to fit over multiple layers.
Click to Buy/View Item	Hardshell Jacket

Equipment	Description	Click to Buy/View Item		Required
T-shirts	Lightweight base layer T-shirt or long sleeve polypropylene shirt	Patagonia Men's Long-Sleeved P-6 Logo Responsibili-Tee Smartwool Women's Merino 150 Baselayer Pattern Long Sleeve
Jacket	Soft Shell	Softshell Jacket
	1 Down/synthetic jacket with hood	Synthetic Jacket
	1 Hard shell jacket with hood Waterproof and breathable. roomy enough to fit over multiple layers.	Hardshell Jacket

Hands

Equipment
Gloves
Description	1 pair light gloves
Click to Buy/View Item	Hand Gloves


Description	Shell gloves or mitts
Click to Buy/View Item	Hand Mitts

Equipment	Description	Click to Buy/View Item		Required
Gloves	1 pair light gloves	Hand Gloves
Gloves	Shell gloves or mitts	Hand Mitts

Head

Equipment
Warm hat
Description	Warm hat Wool or synthetic
Click to Buy/View Item	Fjallraven Byron Hat

Equipment
Balaclava or Buff
Description	Fleece, wool, or synthetic. Be sure it covers ears well, and will not easily blow away
Click to Buy/View Item	Outdoor Research Option Balaclava

Equipment
Shade hat or baseball cap
Description	Outdoor Research Shady 7 Panel Trucker Hat
Click to Buy/View Item	Outdoor Research Shady 7 Panel Trucker Hat

Equipment	Description	Click to Buy/View Item		Required
Warm hat	Warm hat Wool or synthetic	Fjallraven Byron Hat
Balaclava or Buff	Fleece, wool, or synthetic. Be sure it covers ears well, and will not easily blow away	Outdoor Research Option Balaclava
Shade hat or baseball cap	Outdoor Research Shady 7 Panel Trucker Hat	Outdoor Research Shady 7 Panel Trucker Hat

Lower Body

Equipment
Socks
Description	1 pair heavy wool/synthetic socks Check boot fit with liner and wool socks on
Click to Buy/View Item	Socks

Equipment
Long underwear
Description	1 pair lightweight long underwear
Click to Buy/View Item	Outdoor Research Men's Echo Boxer Brief's

Equipment
Pants
Description	Soft shell pants
Click to Buy/View Item	Mens Softshell Pants Womens Softshell Pants


Description	Shell pants Waterproof/breathable with full side zips, Gore-Tex or equivalent is best
Click to Buy/View Item	Mammut Courmayeur So Pants Men's Mammut Courmayeur So Pants Women

Equipment	Description	Click to Buy/View Item		Required
Socks	1 pair heavy wool/synthetic socks Check boot fit with liner and wool socks on	Socks
Long underwear	1 pair lightweight long underwear	Outdoor Research Men's Echo Boxer Brief's
Pants	Soft shell pants	Mens Softshell Pants Womens Softshell Pants
Pants	Shell pants Waterproof/breathable with full side zips, Gore-Tex or equivalent is best	Mammut Courmayeur So Pants Men's Mammut Courmayeur So Pants Women

Packs

Equipment
Backpack
Description	Internal frame pack 2000-2500 cubic inch capacity, avoid unnecessary options that add weight
Click to Buy/View Item	Gregory Backpacks

Equipment	Description	Click to Buy/View Item		Required
Backpack	Internal frame pack 2000-2500 cubic inch capacity, avoid unnecessary options that add weight	Gregory Backpacks

Miscellaneous Equipment

Equipment
Googles and Sunglasses
Description	Googles and Sunglasses 100% UV protection
Click to Buy/View Item	Smith Optics Guide's Choice Sunglasses

Equipment
First aid kit
Description	Personal first aid kit Basics: moleskin/blister kit, Band-Aids, first-aid tape, ibuprofen, personal medications, etc
Click to Buy/View Item	Adventure Medical Kits Ultralt Wtrtght

Equipment
Lip balm
Description
Click to Buy/View Item	Sol Lip Balm Spf 30

Equipment
Sunscreen
Description	Sunscreen At least SPF 40
Click to Buy/View Item	Sol Altitude Spf 40

Equipment
Headlamp
Description	Headlamp compact LED
Click to Buy/View Item	Petzl Headlamps

Equipment
Water bottles
Description	2 water bottles 1 liter wide-mouth Nalgene and 1 bottle holster
Click to Buy/View Item	Everyday Wide Mouth 1 Qt

Equipment
Multi-tool
Description	Multi-tool
Click to Buy/View Item	Gerber Dime Pocket Tool (Clam)

Equipment
Bandana

Equipment
Hand wipes
Description	Sanitising Hand And Surface Wipes
Click to Buy/View Item	Sea To Summit Sanitising Hand And Surface Wipes

Equipment
Thermos (Optional)
Description	1 small stainless steel thermos (Optional)

Equipment
Food
Description	Lunch & snack food(no more than 2 pounds)
Click to Buy/View Item	Backpacking Food

Equipment
Camera

Equipment
Guidebook and Map
Description	Beacon Snoqualmie Pass Guidebook and Map
Click to Buy/View Item	Snoqualmie Pass BC Ski Map

Equipment
Compass, GPS or GPS app
Description	Compass, GPS or GPS app
Click to Buy/View Item	Garmin InReach Mini Compass

Equipment	Description	Click to Buy/View Item		Required
Googles and Sunglasses	Googles and Sunglasses 100% UV protection	Sunglasses
First aid kit	Personal first aid kit Basics: moleskin/blister kit, Band-Aids, first-aid tape, ibuprofen, personal medications, etc	Adventure Medical Kits Ultralt Wtrtght
Lip balm	Lip balm At least SPF 20	Sol Lip Balm Spf 30
Sunscreen	Sunscreen At least SPF 40	Sol Altitude Spf 40
Headlamp	Headlamp compact LED	Petzl Headlamps
Water bottles	2 water bottles 1 liter wide-mouth Nalgene and 1 bottle holster	Everyday Wide Mouth 1 Qt
Multi-tool	Multi-tool	Gerber Dime Pocket Tool (Clam)
Bandana
Hand wipes	Sanitising Hand And Surface Wipes	Sea To Summit Sanitising Hand And Surface Wipes
Thermos (Optional)	1 small stainless steel thermos (Optional)
Food	Lunch & snack food(no more than 2 pounds)	Backpacking Food
Camera
Guidebook and Map	Beacon Snoqualmie Pass Guidebook and Map	Snoqualmie Pass BC Ski Map
Compass, GPS or GPS app	Compass, GPS or GPS app	Garmin InReach Mini Compass