What do ya haul for gear?
- Thread starter alexhack
- Start date
I carry the essential avalanche gear (beacon, shovel, probe), and basic supplies that will allow me to survive overnight on the mountain (extra clothing, matches, winter candles, energy bars, etc) and a small first aid kit. All of this goes in my backpack or on my person. Some food and water for the day and I'm good to go.
A quality layered clothing system is a must, as well as good boots. If you're stuck in an emergency, you want to be up there with some stuff that will keep you alive.
A quality layered clothing system is a must, as well as good boots. If you're stuck in an emergency, you want to be up there with some stuff that will keep you alive.
Take what you can and start with your essentials first and work down from there, like it would be nice to have this or that. As they come to mind:
Map, compass, gps
matches, fire starter
knife
small candles with alum bases , sold in camping sections of stores
flashlight (those small LED strap headlamps are great)
water - more than 1 container in case on gets a leak
snacks
shovel/beacon/probe
spare socks
spare gloves
ziplock bags - can be used many ways, good to keep things dry
garbage bags- multiple uses, can keep water away from lower legs if needed
stocking hat
first aid stuff
paper towel sheets
wet wipe packets
zip ties
duct tape - small roll
electrical tape
stainless cup for melting snow
strapping tape - stong stuff
wire
tarp - 5x7
tampon - good way to soak up fuel for fire starter
msc nuts, bolts - just a handful of things you think most likely to need
Map, compass, gps
matches, fire starter
knife
small candles with alum bases , sold in camping sections of stores
flashlight (those small LED strap headlamps are great)
water - more than 1 container in case on gets a leak
snacks
shovel/beacon/probe
spare socks
spare gloves
ziplock bags - can be used many ways, good to keep things dry
garbage bags- multiple uses, can keep water away from lower legs if needed
stocking hat
first aid stuff
paper towel sheets
wet wipe packets
zip ties
duct tape - small roll
electrical tape
stainless cup for melting snow
strapping tape - stong stuff
wire
tarp - 5x7
tampon - good way to soak up fuel for fire starter
msc nuts, bolts - just a handful of things you think most likely to need
In my pack:
- SPOT Communicator - mounted on pack shoulder strap
- Shovel / Probe
- First Aid Kit
- Bivey blanket
- Waterproof matches and fire starter
- Emergency whistle & reflective mirror
- LED Pocket Flashlight - 120 lumens
- Spare batteries
- Extra pair of socks
- 2 extra pair of gloves
- Stocking cap
- Lunch for the day, 2 energy bars & snacks
- And of course...mountain money
(travel pack of baby wipes)
- Beacon
- Garmin 650 GPS/Radio
- Zippo lighter
- Saw
- 50' coil of rope
- H20 and Gatorade
- 2.5 gal reserve fuel tank on tunnel
- Fully stocked tool kit with misc repair parts, (hose clamp, blk tape, bailing wire, zip ties, etc.)
Things to have.
Friends! And at least one person with good sense. If one person does something dumb, you need the other guy who say's no thanks. There are many other items that can help also.
Friends! And at least one person with good sense. If one person does something dumb, you need the other guy who say's no thanks. There are many other items that can help also.
gps, flashlight, 2 way radio, folding saw, decent tool kit, fire starting kit of some kind, extra gloves/goggles, you will need dual lense goggles, single lens goggles are worthless in the pow, zip ties, black tape, spare belt, make sure you get an aluminum shovel, plastic ones are useless, s.o.s makes a good one and you can get it with a saw in the handle. just be careful they are very sharp, i've got the scares on my fingers to prove it!!! i'd also carry your shovel in your backpack that way you'll always have it with you. hatchet, i use a gerber, plastic handle and very sharp. forest service map of the area you plan to ride. compass, knife, first aid kit, i wear a breath defelctor to keep my face and neck warm, beanie hat for those days its snowing when you take your helmut off. spare plugs, toilet paper, to wipe your goggles as well as other things sunglasses for those few precious sunny days, of course you'll want some munchies and plenty of water. tow kit. a goggle bag for your engine compartment is nice to warm your burritoes or thaw out your extra set of goggles/gloves on those not so nice days. some type of survival kit with at least one space blanket. cell phone, extra batteries, i might be forgetting a thing or 2 but basically thats what i have everytime i leave the truck. always let someone back home know where you plan on riding for the day and when you should return. who to get ahold of if you don't make it back. i also have peeps i contact when i leave the truck and when i get back.
G
Going West
Well-known member
I cant believe that everyone has missed the most important thing.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I might get slammed for this and I like my beer just as much as anyone, but I quit drinking beer while sledding a few years ago. Booze and gasoline just don't mix. Plus it seems that with the new technology, my style of riding has changed and I need all the help I can get to stay on top of my game. I'll drink my beer back at the cabin.
As far as what to take, think about what you would need to spend a night in the worst conditions. #1 is some form of fire starter. I carry several different ways to start a fire, in case one method doesn't work for some reason. I could survive a night without food and water, but without fire, chances drop dramatically.
Most of what is needed, everyone else has covered. It seems that every time we have an incident with a broken sled, you learn what to bring. For example, last year, my buddies sled broke the steering post. Luckily some passer-by's had some hose clamps that allowed hose to mend the post with some small wrenches clinched between the two pieces of the post. Next trip out, I was carrying hose clamps. If you think about all of the suspension pieces etc that could be repaired with hose clamps it's a no brainer.
Also, it's a good idea to bring along a friend that likes to carry everything.
Where's Bagger at? LOL
We went out late fall last year cutting sled trail in the bush. There was 2" fresh snow, (wet), we spent over 1 hour getting fire going to cook a hot dog. We had lots of gas, made shavings with chainsaw from center of log, had fire starter etc.
There are times when it's so wet almost nothing will burn!
I carry a small alcohol stove that will boil a liter of water in 10 min.
24 ft. terry travel trailer, fully equiped with both 7 gal, propane tanks full, pottable water tank full, honda 3500 wat gen, with enough race gas to run it for the weekend, it pulls not to bad on the groomed trail but you can definatly tell its behind you going uphill in the powder
The longer lists are what you are looking for to go off of. I would add one of those ready make fire starters. Usually made from wax and wood chips or a road flare. Make a big bed of branches and build you fire on top of that. Also, sitting in front of a huge fire can be very cold, sitting inside 2 or 3 smaller fires is better. Lot of work but you usually have all night.
In addition to the things already mentioned, i take several of those foot/hand /body warmer packets that you shake up once you open the plastic wrapper. They sure do feel good when you are chilled to the bone 
Plus it makes the Ladies smile when they are getting cold fingers and you just happen to have a couple of these little buggers they can stuff in their gloves
Most important....make sure you have at least 3 different ways to start a fire and have practiced actually doing it!! Also know how to build a snow cave or make a shelter of some kind. Without heat and shelter, you are DOOMED!!
Cheers!
Plus it makes the Ladies smile when they are getting cold fingers and you just happen to have a couple of these little buggers they can stuff in their gloves Most important....make sure you have at least 3 different ways to start a fire and have practiced actually doing it!! Also know how to build a snow cave or make a shelter of some kind. Without heat and shelter, you are DOOMED!!
Cheers!
safety
and then here is the stuff you need to carry in the truck.
- strong kinetic energy / snatch ropes
- adequate size screw pin shackles to attach rope to ball mount
- ball mounts (without the ball to put your shackle through: don't snatch with a ball!)
- piece of tarp to through over top of rope in case equipment failure so does not fly through your truck window and take off your head.
- chains
- air tank / slime for flat.
- shovels
other stuff to consider on he snowmobile if not already mentioned
- snowmobile jack
- snowbungie
other safety stuff if not mentioned
- chest protector
and then here is the stuff you need to carry in the truck.
- strong kinetic energy / snatch ropes
- adequate size screw pin shackles to attach rope to ball mount
- ball mounts (without the ball to put your shackle through: don't snatch with a ball!)
- piece of tarp to through over top of rope in case equipment failure so does not fly through your truck window and take off your head.
- chains
- air tank / slime for flat.
- shovels
other stuff to consider on he snowmobile if not already mentioned
- snowmobile jack
- snowbungie
other safety stuff if not mentioned
- chest protector
B
Biglizard1
Member
several people may overlook if you take prescription medications, especially for cardiac or other very important life functions, dont forget a day or two worth of medications.
Dryer lint and tampons make gr8 fire starter! My wife always wonders where her's disapear to in the winter time.
Jeesus, how many you need?
Sure they're just for fire starters?
hahaha, j/kuntil about christmas around here one of us will have a small chain saw, lots of bug killed timber coming down, until snow gets real deep, a downed tree on a tight connecting trail is a pain or worse, so a real saw can be a life saver, and after that its all the out of handle or loop pull saws.
O
Oregongirl
Well-known member
Along this same line, if you wear contacts, you should always carry an extra set. I also have a couple of vicodin in my pack in case of serious injuries. Getting out of the backcounty can be a long, painful ride for the injured.
Another thing I discovered is that those handwarmers expire. Make sure, if you carry them, that you buy new ones every couple of years. They take FOREVER to heat up when expired. It's a real PIA when you need them in an emergency situation, which we did. Ugh!
