Winter Equipment List

If you are bringing your own food please pack it in small parcels, and make liberal use of packing tape to keep things together. Anything that can fly off under a heavy wind will, when the helicopter approaches (such as loose box lids).

Safety Equipment

Avalanche transceiver: Industry standard 457 kHz beacon, single frequency only. Old frequency (275 kHz) beacons are incompatible, and not acceptable. All guests must wear and know how to use an avalanche transceiver. Instruction will be provided on guided trips. We can arrange a rental for those who need to.

Avalanche shovel: Everyone must carry a shovel when skiing. We do not sell or rent these so you must either purchase or borrow one.

Avalanche probe: We suggest everyone have a probe. Ski poles that screw together are not acceptable for a probe.

Harness: Most guides will request that skiers have their own harnesses.

Rope: Most guides will provide ropes (guided trips). If you are unsure, please phone; there should be at least two ropes per group.

Additional Info...

Alpine touring, Telemark, or Backcountry Snowboard gear is acceptable.

Gear Rental

Please make sure your gear works prior to coming to Golden. Boots must fit bindings, skins must fit skis, etc. It's also a good idea to hot wax and tune your skiis prior to your trip. It is possible to rent gear in Golden but the choice is limited and finding the right size could be a problem. The ultimate enjoyment of your trip could be jeopardised if your gear is inappropriate, or improperly fitted. If you have a problem finding gear, give us a call. We do have some suggestions.

Skis

We like them soft and fat! Tip width should be no less than 100 mm. Skis should be wide underfoot, single camber, soft flexing and short. Most skiers here are using lengths of 170-190 cm, with smaller lighter people skiing 160s. Traditional telemark skis, usually not very wide underfoot, are not appropriate for powder conditions.

Boots

Please don’t buy new boots for your trip! If you must, give yourself time to do a few days of hard skiing in them.

Poles

B.D., Leki, and Lifelink all have excellent adjustable lenght poles which are popular. Plain old downhill poles seem to be dependable. No bamboo or Fiberglas please.

Climbing Skins

Climbing skins are a must! Use a skin that covers the waist width of your ski. Make sure the glue is still sticking. Ascension's glue seems to be best, and works with any brand of skin. Some skins come from the factory with little glue and need extra right away