Unnamed Valley, Val Thorens. Pic by Rob Rees.
Here's a list of what I carry with me on day tours which fits easily in to my Scott Patrol E1 30 avi backpack:
On Person:
- Transceiver
- Lift pass
- Lip salve
- Whistle (built in to my avipack chest buckle)
- Piste map
- Insurance card
In Backpack (with ski carry facility):
- Water (2 x Camelback 500ml bottles)
- Food/energy bar/chocolate etc
- Hat
- Face mask
- Snood
- Skins
- Ski crampons
- Clothing layers (usually a mid weight fleece &/or gillet &/or down jacket)
- Spare gloves
- Spare goggles
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream
- Mobile phone (c/w emergency numbers)
- Inclinometer
- Shovel
- Probe
- Compass
- 1:25000 map
- Headband torch
- Binding/boot de-icer tool
- Leatherman multi-tool
- No.2 pozi screwdriver (for QK screws)
- Spare pole basket
- Cash & credit card
- Pen & paper
- Thermal blanket
- First Aid kit
- Duct tape (a length taped around the shaft of each pole)
- Cable ties
- Alu-oxide stone (or Edge Trick tuning tool)
The European emergency services telephone number is 112.
The international distress signal is six short sharp blasts on a whistle (or torch flashes) followed by a one minute break/silence, then repeat.