ULTRALIGHT winter travel THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIGHTWEIGHT WINTER CAMPING, HIKING, AND BACKPACKING JUSTIN LICHTER | SHAWN FORRY FALCON GUILFORD, CONNECTICUT HELENA, MONTANA An imprint of Globe Pequot Falcon and FalconGuides are registered trademarks and Make Adventure Your Story is a trademark of Rowman & Littlefield. Distributed by NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK Text copyright © 2017 by Rowman & Littlefield All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. All photos by Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry unless noted otherwise British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Information available Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Lichter, Justin, author. | Forry, Shawn, author. Title: Ultralight winter travel : the ultimate guide to lightweight winter camping, hiking, and backpacking / Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry. Description: Guilford, Connecticut : FalconGuides, [2017] | Includes index. | Identifiers: LCCN 2017033263 (print) | LCCN 2017039415 (ebook) | ISBN | ISBN 9781493026104 (paperback) | ISBN 9781493026111 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Snow camping—Equipment and supplies. | Hiking— Equipment and supplies. | Backpacking—Equipment and supplies. Classification: LCC GV198.9 (ebook) | LCC GV198.9 .L54 2017 (print) | DDC 796.9—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017033263 The authors and Rowman & Littlefield assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992. Printed in the United States of America This book is dedicated to the endless pursuit of wild places, the curiosity of the unknown, the draw of self-propelled adventuring, and the humility to see mistakes as milestones in judgment. CONTENTS Introduction CHAPTER 1:BACKGROUND AND TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS Goals of the Trip Mental Preparation Safety Winter and Snow Conditions Minimal Daylight Hours Terrain Mode of Travel Other Factors Groups and Group Dynamics CHAPTER 2:WINTER CAMPING GEAR Clothing and Equipment Shelters Cooking and Stoves Sleep Systems Water Treatment and Hydration Backpacks Electronics Outdoor Attire CHAPTER 3:MODES OF TRAVEL Hiking Snowshoeing Skiing Crampons and Ice Axes Poles Other Gear CHAPTER 4:WINTER CAMPING AND TRAVEL: TECHNIQUES AND TIPS Campsite Selection Shelters: Tricks and Tips Sleeping Warm Getting Moving CHAPTER 5:SAFETY Decision Making Weather Forecasting Orienteering, Navigation, and Signaling Winter First Aid and Ultralight Winter First-Aid Kit Avalanche Considerations Accessing and Assessing Snow Bridges and Ice Rescue and Signaling Building Fires CHAPTER 6:GEAR MALFUNCTIONS AND BACKCOUNTRY REPAIRS Repairing Equipment Appendix A: Winter Grab and Go Gear Checklist Appendix B: Gear List from Our Winter Pacific Crest Trail Trip About the Authors