Strategic weight management and efficient packing systems define a successful hut-to-hut ski tour. This equipment list outlines the mandatory clothing layers and hardware configurations required to move efficiently between alpine refuges without carrying unnecessary weight. A specialized 35 to 45-liter touring pack is the strict standard for these itineraries, ensuring adequate capacity for avalanche safety gear, specialized glacier hardware, and personal hut essentials while maintaining ski performance.
Please pack all the items on this list as it will be difficult to acquire gear once we are in country. Please call us if you have any questions.
There are many brand/model options of clothing and gear. You do not need to arrive with these specific brands or models – the links below are examples of items that have worked well for us.
CLOTHING
- Long Underwear – Wool or synthetic. Men’s top Woman’s top Men’s bottom Woman’s bottom
- Lightweight Fleece Top – Men’s Woman’s
- Softshell Top – Men’s Woman’s
- Insulated Jacket – Men’s Woman’s
- Waterproof-breathable Pants or Bibs – Men’s Woman’s
- Waterproof-breathable Jacket – Hardshell jacket with a helmet-compatible hood. Men’s Woman’s
- Warm Socks – Wool or synthetic ski specific socks. Men’s Woman’s
- Light-weight Touring Gloves – Men’s Women’s
- Medium-weight Gloves – Men’s Woman’s
- Heavy-weight Gloves – Waterproof and insulated. Men’s Woman’s
- Warm Hat – Wool or synthetic and fits under a helmet. Unisex
- Neck Warmer – Unisex
PERSONAL GEAR
- Sun Hat – Light packable ball cap or brimmed hat. Ortovox trucker hat
- Sunglasses or Glacier Glasses – High quality sunglasses with dark lenses or photo-chromatic lenses. Julbo Mountain Glasses
- Ski Goggles – Low light and high light lenses, or photo-chromatic lenses. Julbo Goggles
- Sun block & lip balm – SPF 15 or higher
- Water Bottles – Two 1-liter bottles required. Nalgene
- Headlamp – Full charge or fresh batteries. Petzl headlamp
- Passport – Ensure that this is valid for 6 months after your date of travel
- Outlet adapters – for European Outlets example
- Sleeping bag liner – This item is required in the huts. Cocoon Coolmax Liner
- Earplugs – Hut essential
- Cash for currency exchange at the airport
- Debit card for ATM withdrawal
SKI/SPLITBOARD GEAR
- Alpine touring skis or splitboard – please adjust your binding to your boots prior to the course. *Splitboards only allowed with hard boot setup on Mt Hood Summits Ski Descents
- Touring ski boots / snowboard boots *Soft snowboard boots not allowed on Mt Hood Summit Ski Descents
- Ski poles
- Climbing skins – Please cut your skins to match your skis prior to the trip.
- Helmet – rated for mountaineering and skiing. Solomon MTN Lab
TECHNICAL GEAR FOR SKI MOUNTAINEERING
- Avalanche Transceiver – Ortovox Diract
- Avalanche Shovel – Modern metal avalanche shovel. Ortovox Shovel
- Avalanche Probe – Ortovox Probe
- Boot Crampons – 10 or 12-point Petzl Vasak
- Ski Crampons– Must be compatible with your touring binding and ski width.
- Ice Axe – 45 to 60cm long. Petzl Ride Axe
- Climbing Harness – Alpine-style. Petzl Altitude
- Ski Pack – 30 to 45 liter ski specific backpack. Ortovox Peak Pack