Packrafting/Ski touring gear

[James S]

(x-posting from Gear Lists):

Hi guys,

I am travelling in Scandinavia and am planning a ski/packraft/hike solo traverse of Lofoten, down to Kebnekaise, and along the Torne river. This will take around 2½ months, and I aim to reach the Torne river as it thaws in late April. Temps ranging from average lows in Lofoten of 0°C to -6°C around Kebnekaise. I have hiked in Lofoten and feel comfortable about bivvying there, further inland I am concerned about tarping with the possibility of big snow dumps. Here is my gear list so far:

https://lighterpack.com/r/1r670c

I am wearing a belt to carry camera gear, so do not include it in my base weight. Not included yet are skis, ski boots, bindings, skins, ice axe, crampons. As so much gear is required, I would appreciate all advice in cutting weight where possible.

Cheers,
James

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

For the ski touring setup, I’d consider something like the Voile Objective BC skis, Dynafit Superlite 2.0 bindings and maybe the Arcteryx Procline boot.

Having a fish scaled ski is awesome for rolling terrain where you can make better time by gliding downhill and it lets you save your skins for when you really need them (e.g. you can keep them dry during sloppy conditions). I’m using old Karhu Guide’s but the Objective BC’s look like much better skis for less weight.

The Superlight 2.0 bindings aren’t as light as you can get, but they’re a non-super expensive and well rounded yet light binding.

Boots are a tough one. Check out the options at Skimo.co, which only sells good stuff and has lots of info. I use the Scarpa Aliens which are okay but let a lot of snow in so you get soaked feet pretty easily (even with the rubber skirts). The Proclines are a bit heavier but look promising. The Aliens seem a bit stupid light for long traverses.

I don’t know the conditions of your trip, but you may not need an ice axe or crampons. I rarely bring these. I do have a super light pseudo-ice axe from Suluk46.com which is titanium/carbon and super awesome.

[Serge Giachetti]

I’d say the most imortant thing is to make sure that your boots fit extremely well and that you are comfortable covering big miles in them. Things that wouldnt bother you on a short tour could make your trip unbearable when covering distance day after day. So make sure to thoroughly test these with at least a couple of challenging multiday trips. Even if you have to buy some boots, try them and sell them on craigslist, the extra cost would be well worth it. I’ve used the dynafit pdg’s for the last few years and they’ve been great for cross country travel and capable enough on the descent, but will be looking to sell them after nearly messing up both achilles from an awkward crash. Other boots that come to mind would be the dynafit tlt7, 6 or 5. The atomic backland carbons have an incredible walk mode that beats anything I’ve tried. fischer travers carbon and arc procline look good and the la sportiva spitfire is also a great boot.

So anyway, a bunch of options, but thats one area in particular I wouldnt skimp.

Those objective bc’s seem like a good rec too for the reasons that dan mentioned. I’ve had significant problems with wet snow clumping on the vector bc’s in the spring, but if your trip happens before the fishscales get all scarred up, then you might not have the same problems. Bring some form of skin/ski wax either way.

From reputation, Movement skis are hard to beat for ultralight performance. Fischer also has some new light skis that are excellent in the transalp and hanibal. I’ve used the dynafit cho oyu in a 174 with race bindings and pdg’s for the last few years on multiday trips, and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend them. Volkl bmt light skis even better, but a little more fragile.

Race bindings are well worth the weight savings for your feet, but consider installing them with quiver killer inserts and bringing a back up toe and heel. Depending on how remote you are and what the snow pack is like, that could be a big deal. I’ve broken the toe of a race binding doing nothing special.

Also super important are skins.  I would absolutely recommend pomoco climb pro glides. They are ultralight, glide noticeably better most skins without losing much climbing ability, are durable and dont clump very much. The gold standard IMO.

I know all the ski stuff is gonna cost a lot, so i dont want to encourage you to spend too much, but I would consider selling your bivy and cuben flat for a decent sized cuben mid thats capable of sealing to the ground. You’ll get way more protection out of that then a bivy and flat tarp on stormy days. on a long trip like that I’d want the option of being fully enclosed, and to have a little more margin for error (or views!) In site selection.

I’d also go with a couple of 1L smart water bottles and the regular sawyer squeeze over the mini with collapsable bottle. I love the size of the squeeze, but the flow rate makes drinking kind of a hastle, they are harder to clean out and clog much easier. The collapsable bottles are also completley unreliable, i’ve easily gone through about 25 of these. The smart water bottles are more durable and easier to fill up. You can also get a tornado tube for backflushing in the field.

Personally I prefer downbooties (western mountaineering flash) with or without liners over sleep socks. I’ve suffered frostbite and my circulation is not great, so i consider these pretty essential for winter trips. A hot nalgene bottle for feet warming could also def be worth its weight.

I would also scrap the packed long johns for some ultralight puffy pants. I have some with 3/4 zips from borah gear that weigh 6.5 oz  and make a world of difference comfort wise when stopped or at camp. Easy to put on without taking off boots too.

Anyway, sorry for the epic read, but i hope it helps. Sounds like an amazing trip!

 

 

[Gunnar H]

It will be some trip, make sure to post a report for us!

I cant help you much with the gear but just to doublecheck, from Kebnekaise you woluld normally go to Abisko and get into Torne River at Torne Träsk, but I belive Torne Träsk normally thaws around June 1. (Around May 3 at Haparanda). You have probably considered this, it should normally be reliable snow Kebnekaise-Abisko to beginning of May and I guess you will always have to wait for a while somewhere between skiing in snow and packrafting in water.

Also, I don’t think anyone in Sweden would bring water treatment for this trip, I surely wouldn’t.

I would also not go packrafting Torne River in spring flood with anything I can carry, but on the other hand I don’t do packrafting at all. If you look for such local information try the forum at utsidan.se, you are allowed to post in english if I remember right. It should be people hanging there with a lot of knowledge about kuckkola rapids and other things. If you have problems finding your way on the site I can post on your behalf if you want to.

[Danny Milks]

This trip sounds amazing.

[James S]

For ski gear, I’m thinking TLT6s with Superlite bindings, not decided on the skis but I want to use the same setup on the Haute Route in the summer so will have to make some compromise on weight. Ice axe and crampons will only really be a necessity on Kebnekaise so might try and rent these from Abisko for that section only.

With the water filter, I agree with Gunnar – I just finished the Kungsleden northbound and never used it, but carry the mini as it is minimal weight penalty.

Would you ever be skiing in puffy trousers? I thought baselayers as it gives me an extra layer if there’s real windchill. I’ll check them out. Down booties sound sweet. I have a sil duomid but haven’t used it in big snow yet and could save some weight bivvying, probably not worth it for the camp discomfort though.

Gunnar – the plan is to take the detour to Kebnekaise before Singi and then head to Kiruna via Nikkaluokta. I’ll put in at Jukkasjarvi and portage the big rapids. This is part of a bigger RTW cycle/packraft trip, when I get some time I’ll definitely write up a report/make a video.

[Gunnar H]

That all sounds workable. Thinking about it again, I can maybe add somethig about shelter. It may well again be in your planning already, but since you ask about the shelter…

It is likely you will have to deal with large amount of snowfall that may be a problem for your tarp, but I dont have the experiende to give really good advice on this. However most critical is that you can handle a winter storm in the moutains that you get every now and then. There was one April 2013 (65mph average, 90mph in the gusts) and one April 2015, so for April 2017… The good thing is that the solution will not increase your pack weight, you need to know how  to make an snow bivy with your paddle – regardless of what shelter you bring, since if its snow and 90mph, you will not be able to pitch it anyhow. And you need to practise before you stand in the storm. You also need to know where to expect to find deep enough snow. Then – with a bivy sack, a reasonably dry sleeping bag and good clothing you should be fine (sort of) the 24 hours or more it may take before anyone can help you even if you activate the plb. (Good choise, the Spot is not really fully reliable in Nothern Scandinavia.)

 

However, my best advise is to drop a line to Jörgen Johansson (the one that writes articles for BPL). He has a lot of winter experience with this mountains and you can trust him not to put an extra once on you back unless it is essential. I have a feeling he will advice against the tarp… He also seems very approachable when not occupied with some project, and probably would find it good fun to help you with this project.

You will get a lot of info only from going to his site http://www.fjaderlatt.se/ and search for “winter”.

[Serge Giachetti]

If they fit well, I bet the TLT6’s will be perfect. Thats been my main boot for the last few years. I usually wear a light merino base layer with thin softshell pants and carry a pair of light wind pants and down pants. The wind pants are for when its snowing a lot (CO=dry snow) or quite windy, and the down pants are for camp and long stops. I’m also experimenting with patagonia nano air pants to replace both. These are nice for moving too. I’m a photographer and I’m often quite active and then stationary when I’m shooting and the nano airs seem perfect. They vent air extremely well while moving, and yet are warm enough for me at camp. I just need to get them modified to have side zips. Anyway, what I like about this system is that its additive. I never have to take something off in order to put something back on. I’ve just noticed the puffy pants are the difference between me being able to hang around comfortably at camp and being stuffed into my sleeping back at like 5pm on a winters night. I bet that duomid would do you well. I don’t know your specific plans, but I’d see if I could find a way to get the packraft shipped to you where necessary. Even with your quite light gear, its probably not going to feel very fast or mobile with a full load. Man, envious of your trip though. Gotta find a way to save the time and money for something like that.

[James S]

I could pick up the packraft in Kiruna, but I really would like to traverse Lofoten from island to island in the raft so will probably put up with the 5kg, unless it makes ski descents no fun. It carries pretty well folded in the ULA Epic and I don’t need to carry too much food in Lofoten so might be ok. I get the point about the trousers, it’s much easier putting on a puffy than taking jacket off to put a fleece on etc. Having said that, I tend to jump in my bag and stay there, plus there won’t be much light anyway so might not need extra warmth in camp. I know how to make snow shelters but never tried with a paddle, will give it a go. If you’re considering a long trip, my main advice would be to get skills that you can use anywhere (e.g. working online) and set up some form of passive income. Once you get going, it’s not really that expensive to live on the road/trail, the biggest commitment is time!

[David Chenault]

Ski gear is tough for something like that.  If you’ll be doing steeper skiing than a tech system is the only option.  If nordic type stuff could work keep in mind that getting rigid soled double boots to fit well and not eat your feet alive on a 3+ day outing is not easy.  Still a work in progress for me. Size up, mold with double toe caps, and expect to have to get your shells punched in a few spots.  The benefits of CCF liners in situations where your feet will get wet is massive though, I’ve had my Sportiva Siderals totally flooded multiple times while packrafting in weather barely above freezing and my feet stayed warm with almost no effort.  For future winter-spring skiraft stuff I’ll stick with tech nordic, and keep trying to get my boot system better dialed.

Get your ski lash points set just so on your raft.  I’ve seen a few folks lately put them way down on the side of the tubes, which seems like a good idea as it eliminates hand/binding interference, but adds tons of drag in choppy water and can vastly increase ice buildup on your skis.

Only thing that stands out on your list in the merino base.  I’d go synthetic for fast drying, and potentially modify your raingear for better boating performance.  If you don’t have the WW deck, get one.

[James S]

David -I haven’t put a drysuit on the gearlist but I am considering a split suit and replacing my rain shell with that if it will work for hiking/skiing too, probably won’t due to the neck gasket. Do you know of any blogs with pictures of raft ski tiedowns? I’m a bit concerned about the edges in case the boat flips. Hoping to run up to grade 2+ with the skis attached. Are you paddling with ski boots on? I was planning to wear neoprene booties, think I’d put my foot through the bottom wearing ski boots. Do you think it’s worth carrying a CC pad to use as insulation on the packraft? I just use the stock inflatable seat with a kayak style backrest.

[David Chenault]

Here’s my boat. Not shown are dual webbing loops on the rear tiedowns, which really help eliminate any movement. Very happy with this rig.

Here are my feet after a four day skirafting trip this March (only one full day boating). My insteps looked worse.

[James S]

Thanks for the photos, that looks like a pretty neat way of rigging, I don’t think I’d want to have the skis much lower. Have you glued new loops for the rear of the skis? Did you consider putting the skis inside the tubes, secured similarly? I guess it increases the chance of a puncture but less chance of losing a ski. Definitely packing plenty of compeed and climber’s balm for the feet! Have you tried skiing using a drysuit as a shell?

[David Chenault]

I sewed and glued on the rear ski lash points. The round sections of tube fabric Alpacka now includes with boats are ideal for this.

I haven’t put skis in the boat, but you certainly could. Probably a bit dodgy as you mention.

Never skied in a drysuit. I’ve thought up many solutions for making rain gear even drier for boating, but beyond a neo waistband and thumb loops nothing seems worth the hassle (and added heat while walking).

[Gunnar H]

How did the trip work out for you? Are you planning a trip report?

[James S]

Gunnar – I forgot to check back on this thread but you can read reports here: Kebnekaise & Packrafting the Torne

Gear wise – I ended up using Nordic rather than AT skis. These were actually perfect for this route, as there was a lot of rolling terrain and the boots are a lot lighter. I wish I had carried a UL axe as Kebnekaise’s slope was still icy and fairly runout. The weather was good in the mountains bar one stormy day. At Jukkasjärvi, there was still a lot of ice on the river (I had to haul over the ice in sections). I didn’t carry a drysuit and took one swim, this was a tough choice and there were a few sections in the north where I would have been a lot happier in a drysuit. I took a Duomid but more often than not bivvied in the open beside the river, as the mosquitoes were not out in force. I portaged the larger rapids as I was paddling alone. All in all, it was an incredible trip and I would recommend the Torne for a long paddling tour.

[Gunnar H]

Thanks. Good to hear you enjoyed yourself!

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