OK. Because I'm an idiot, I (outloud) stated I was going to skin up my home mountain 6 times on my birthday; once for each decade. Since I don't want to die doing it, along with (finally) getting serious about working out, I'm going through my gear and want to make sure I'm only carrying what I need to and I can easily access it on the move. I'm set for skis, poles and boots (mostly because I'm too cheap to change them out). I have a wide assortment of outerwear that I can figure out but I don't have a dedicated small backpack for skinning so I want to look at that.
The mountain isn't that big; roughly 1K vertical. I'm not sure exactly how long the zig zag path up is, but I think it is something like an hour climb. I really don't remember.
I'll be on telemark gear and plan on carrying a helmet, water (camelback), goggles, warmer jacket, warmer gloves, sunscreen and probably a snack. On the way down I'll carry the skins, hat, sunglasses light glove and depending on the weather, there might be a light jacket or shell. This is going to be in February and my plan is to go rain, snow, sleet or even if it is a blue bird day.
I would like to be able to not have to stop to get things out of the pack, just slow down a little, so easy on and off would be good.
I've looked a a few backpacks but there are so many to choose from I'm getting lost. Since I've only skinned up a few times, I'm hoping some more experienced folks can point me in the right direction.
While I'm at it, if there there are any tricks of the trade to skinning up or things I should or shouldn't carry, please feel free to offer that. I'm still at the "I can make it up and do something that looks like telemark skiing on the way down" mode but am a stone cold novice at this. I'm hoping getting in much better shape and practicing each weekend will allow me to push through this.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Ken
The mountain isn't that big; roughly 1K vertical. I'm not sure exactly how long the zig zag path up is, but I think it is something like an hour climb. I really don't remember.
I'll be on telemark gear and plan on carrying a helmet, water (camelback), goggles, warmer jacket, warmer gloves, sunscreen and probably a snack. On the way down I'll carry the skins, hat, sunglasses light glove and depending on the weather, there might be a light jacket or shell. This is going to be in February and my plan is to go rain, snow, sleet or even if it is a blue bird day.
I would like to be able to not have to stop to get things out of the pack, just slow down a little, so easy on and off would be good.
I've looked a a few backpacks but there are so many to choose from I'm getting lost. Since I've only skinned up a few times, I'm hoping some more experienced folks can point me in the right direction.
While I'm at it, if there there are any tricks of the trade to skinning up or things I should or shouldn't carry, please feel free to offer that. I'm still at the "I can make it up and do something that looks like telemark skiing on the way down" mode but am a stone cold novice at this. I'm hoping getting in much better shape and practicing each weekend will allow me to push through this.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Ken