Backcountry Skiing or Splitboarding Setup

• Skis or Splitboard
  • For skiers
    • 95-110mm underfoot for a quiver of one (100-105mm best)
    • 95-100mm and 110-120mm if bringing two pair
    • CMI recommendation: Voile Hyper series skis
• Climbing Skins (nylon-mohair mix recommended)
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Glidelite Mix
  • Skin wax & scraper required for trips & courses March through May
    • CMI recommendation: G3 Skin Wax & Scraper Kit
• Touring Bindings (with leashes for skiers)
  • Tech bindings for skiers
    • CMI recommendation: ATK Haute Route 10 Plus
  • Ski crampons (depending on conditions & objectives)
    • Required for trips & courses March through May
    • Ensure compatibility with bindings and underfoot ski width
    • CMI recommendation: ATK, Plum, or Dynafit models

• Boots (consider that you’ll be spending far more time touring than descending)
  • Crampons (depending on conditions & objectives)
    • Required for ski mountaineering trips & courses
    • Recommended for all trips & courses if interested in steep terrain
    • CMI recommendation: Petzl Irvis Hybrid
  • Consider overboots (e.g. OR X Gaiters) for cold days and emergencies
    • Recommended for trips & courses December through February
  • Consider Billy Goat Tech ascent plates if interested in steep & deep

• Poles
  • 2-piece adjustable for skiers
    • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Traverse Pro
  • 3-piece adjustable for splitboarders
    • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Traverse 3
• Self-Arrest Device (depending on conditions & objectives)
  • Axe w/hammer required for ski mountaineering trips & courses
  • Axe and/or Black Diamond Whippet recommended for all trips & courses if interested in steep terrain
  • CMI recommendation: Petzl Gully or Sum’Tec, Black Diamond Venom or Venom LT Tech
• Repair tools & parts specific to your touring setup
  • Ski straps (CMI recommendation: Voile Straps)
    • 6 straps (sized to secure skins to boards in case of glue failure)
  • Multi-tools (these two tools combined should cover most field needs)
    • Leatherman: light, compact model that will function best with your gear
    • Binding Buddy: will cover most field needs w/appropriate Leatherman
  • Bailing wire (CMI has used it to save clients’ days more than once…)
  • Extra pole basket (deep snow without a basket is a real bummer)
  • Extra skin tail clip (save your glue, save your day)
  • Duct tape (can wrap around ski pole for storage)
  • Extra fasteners and parts for skis, bindings, and boots

Avalanche Safety & Rescue Gear

• Beacon/Transceiver (with spare batteries)
  • Model must be a recent 3-antennae digital model, with directional arrows, and marking feature
  • CMI recommendation: BD Guide (aka Pieps Pro BT) or BD Recon X (aka Pieps Powder BT),
    • Arva EVO5+ (if you prefer a small & compact model that fits in pocket)
• Probe (with durable cable, solid lock mechanism, cm markings)
  • Shorter 240-260cm probe suffices for general touring
  • 320cm with each cm marked better for snow science and glacier trips
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Quickdraw 280cm model
• Shovel (quality model made from metal, built for backcountry use)
  • CMI recommendations: Black Diamond Deploy (light, compact, 1-piece, quick to deploy, T-handle), Voile Telepro Mini (2-piece with D-handle)
  • You don’t need a long handle and huge blade

• Snow Saw (mandatory for all courses, optional for guided trips)
  • Consider a model that attaches to ski pole for isolating ECTs
  • CMI recommendation: BCA Snowsaw
• ECT Cord (mandatory for all courses, optional for guided trips)
  • ~3m of 3mm cord with overhand knot tied every ~15cm
• Compass with Inclinometer and Folding Mirror
  • Mandatory for all courses, optional for guided trips
  • CMI recommendation: Brunton TruArc 7, 15, or 15 Luminous
  • Smartphone app as an additional means
• GPS Mapping App
  • Mandatory for all courses, optional for guided trips
  • CMI recommendation: Gaia or CalTopo
• Small Rite in the Rain Field Notebook & Pencil
  • Mandatory for all courses, optional for guided trips
  • Consider a SnowPit Technologies Field Notebook

Layering System

• ABSOLUTELY NO COTTON
• Top & bottom base layer
  • Wool recommended due its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties (reduces odor and feels cleaner longer)
    • Especially important for multi-day trips and courses
• Midlayer (i.e. fleece hoody)
  • CMI recommendation: Patagonia R1 Fleece Hoody)
• Insulating layer (i.e. puff jacket)
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody
• Shell jacket (wind & waterproof with hood)
  • CMI recommendation: Patagonia Triolet Alpine Jacket
  • Consider a Patagonia Houdini Jacket as a very lightweight alternative for good weather days
• Pants (with belt or suspenders, style will depend on conditions and personal preference)
  • Hybrid (all-around) recommendation: Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Tour
  • Hardshell recommendation: Black Diamond Recon Stretch
  • Softshell recommendation: Outdoor Research Cirque III
    • For multi-day trips and courses consider a softshell and full-length side-zip hard shell like the Patagonia Triolet pants
• Emergency layers (puff pants, extra puff jacket, booties, & mittens)
  • Puff pants (CMI recommendation: Patagonia DAS Light pants)
  • Extra puff jacket (CMI recommendation: Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody)
  • Puff booties (CMI recommendation: Western Mountaineering Down Booties)
  • Mittens (CMI recommendation: Outdoor Research Coldfront Down Mitts)

Headwear & Eyewear

• Helmet (CMI recommendation: Petzl Sirocco)
• Warm beanie (that will fit under lightweight helmet)
• Ball cap (that will fit under lightweight helmet)
• Neck gaiter (for extra warmth, wind, and sun protection)
• Sunglasses: photochromic or 2 lenses (1 for intense sunshine, 1 for low light)
  • CMI recommendation: Smith w/Glacier Photochromic lenses
• Goggles (with 2 lenses: 1 for intense sunshine, 1 for low light)
  • CMI recommendation: Smith w/ChromaPop Storm Yellow Flash for low light
• Headlamp (with spare batteries)
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Distance LT 1100

Other Gear & Attire

• Backpack: 35-45 liter with both diagonal and A-frame ski carry
  • Consider axe attachment, external helmet stow, rope carry, internal access, and avalanche gear storage features
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Cirque 35 or 50
• Gloves (bring at least two pair)
  • Light-mid weight pair (Outdoor Research Stormtracker Sensor)
  • Heavier weight, waterproof pair (Black Diamond Guide)
• Socks (wool-synthetic blend recommended, consider bringing an extra pair)
• Water Bottle
  • CMI recommendation:
    • Nalgene Wide Mouth 32oz
      • Fill with hot water in the morning, store inside emergency mitten, add snow after drinking for additional water in the field
    • Hyrdo Flask Wide Mouth 32 oz
      • Fill with hot water in the morning, add snow after drinking for additional water in the field

• Snacks & lunch (you provide your own for day trips, all meals and snacks provided by CMI on multi-day, overnight trips)
• Sunscreen & lip balm
• Toilet paper, lighter, and small bottle hand sanitizer
• Personal medicine & 1st Aid
  • CMI carries 1st Aid kit, but if you have items that you know you may need and that work for you, bring them
• Debrief food & clothing
  • Consider bringing a change of clothes and food to leave at the trailhead for apres ski discussion

Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue

• Mandatory for ski mountaineering trips & courses
• Crampons (CMI recommendation: Petzl Irvis Hybrid)
• Axe with hammer (CMI recommendation: Petzl Gully or Sum’Tec, Black Diamond Venom or Venom LT Tech)
• Harness (CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Couloir)
• Helmet (CMI recommendation: Petzl Sirocco)
• Petzl RAD SYSTEM
• Ice screw 21-22cm with tip cover (CMI recommendation: Petzl Laser Speed Light)
• Alpine draw (CMI recommendation: Black Diamond Oz 60cm)
• Locking carabiners (2-3 extra in addition to RAD SYSTEM )
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond LiteForge 3-Pack
• 120 cm dynex runner (1 extra in addition to RAD SYTEM)
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond 10mm Dynex
• Belay device (for thin ropes 6-8mm)
  • CMI recommendation: Black Diamond ATC Alpine Guide
• Autoblock (Sterling 6mm Auto Block or make your own)
• Cordlette (i.e. ~20′ of 6mm accessory cord)

For Multi-Day Trips

• 4 Season Mountaineering Tent (CMI has limited tents available for client use)
• Sleeping Bag (CMI recommends -20ºF to 0ºF hydrophobic treated down for the best warmth to weight ratio, packability, and weather resistance)
• Sleeping Pads (lightweight, packable, and inflatable with repair and patch kit)
  • Gold standard for winter and use on snow is Thermarest NeoAir XTherm NXT
  • Gold standard for general use is the Thermarest NeoAir XLite NXT
    • Will need to be combined with foam pad like Z Lite Sol for use on snow
  • Nemo Tensor All-Season or Extreme Conditions sleeping pads are an excellent alternative to Thermarest
    • All-Season will need to be combined with foam pad for use on snow
  • Bring an additional foam pad for insulating inflatable pad and sitting on around camp (CMI recommendation: Thermarest Z Lite Sol)

• Stuff sacks to organize, compress, and pack items
• Toiletries (toilet paper, lighter, toothpaste & brush, eco-friendly soap, hand sanitizer, body wipes, Gold Bond powder)
• Mess kit (light and packable eating & drinking utensils)
  • Spork or spoon, bowl, mug for hot drinks, small sponge (cut a normal kitchen sponge in half), scraper
• Battery pack with charging cord(s) for electronics like phone and headlamp
• Duffel bag: sized appropriately for your trip and what doesn’t fit in your ski pack (CMI recommends Patagonia Black Hole)
  • Needs to be rugged, water, and weather resistant for transport via sled and to be stored outside tents

• Camp footwear (Western Mountaineering Expedition booties recommended)
• Camp parka like the Patagonia DAS or AlpLoft
• Camp puff pants like the Mountain Hardwear Compressor
• Urine bottle (and funnel for women) – so you don’t have to get out of tent to relieve yourself (e.g. HydraPak Seeker 2L)
• Extra pair of baselayers (i.e. top and bottom long underwear)
• Extra water bottle for drying boots (16 oz wide mouth Nalgene recommended)
• Extra socks (3 pair total recommended)

Anchorage is the best place in AK to purchase or rent gear