Outdoor Skills and Advice: What’s in Your Winter Day Pack?

By Contributing Writer Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin, Faculty member and Diversity & Inclusion Manager at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), with help from Lindsay Yost, NOLS winter instructor. Photo courtesy of Brad Christensen/NOLS

Oh adventurer, be not tempted this winter by the thought of lounging languidly on your La-Z -Boy in front of the hearth with a warm mug of liquid in your paws! Instead, strap on your skis and skins the head outside to shred the nar nar. Besides what we’ve already told you to stash in your summer and fall daypack, senior NOLS field instructor Lindsay Yost urges you to take these few extra items to beat the winter chill.

1. Chocolate
Sugar and calories are essential when you’re burning those extra calories to stay warm. So besides that hot cocoa you’re carrying in your thermos, take some extra chocolate. Lindsay prefers Chocolove Dark Chocolate with Peppermint. I’m a huge fan of the Lindt Touch of Sea Salt Bar. And then there is always the good ol’ Snickers Bar.

2. A multi-tool
Whether you’re on skis and skins or on snow shoes, a multi-tool (like the Black Diamond Binding Buddy) is always great to have on hand to fix any gear problems.

3. Avalanche essentials
If you’re getting vertical, you must take an avalanche shovel, probe, and saw, and keep an avalanche beacon on your body. Read here for more tips on how to be more avy savvy.

4. A puffy jacket
Light but toasty warm, a down or synthetic puffy jacket is a must pack for the winter.

5. Sunscreen, visor, and sunglasses with UV protection
What’s more dangerous for your skin than a sunny day? A sunny day on snow! (And don’t pack those sunglasses—wear them!)

6. A balaclava
“Just ‘cuz it’s fun to say,” says Lindsay. I suggest fleece.

7. A straw
To suck it up when things get cold and miserable!

Packing for more than a day trip in the snow? Check out what NOLS students take on a two-week backcountry ski expedition.

Comments

[David Ng]

Great Post!
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/vietnam-adventure-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/vietnam-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/indochina-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/halong-bay-cruise-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/mekong-cruise-tours.html

[Hai]

Thank you Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin for sharing the useful experience in your nice post.
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/
http://www.indochinadeluxetour.com/

[latex mattress]

It is the most amazing article ever read on this earth. Guess what!!! Today for the first time I read your article and in one shot I liked your article and the way you write.

[Account Deleted]

Cheap NBA hats:http://fashion-saler.com/

[Dani]

Make sure you've got waterproof layers. Changing weather patterns can mean a snowstorm comes out of nowhere and getting chilled and soaked in the backcountry can only spell trouble!

Dani @ ONNO Bamboo Clothing

[Flights to Amritsar]

Awesome post!

Thank you for sharing this and keep writing to advise some nice tips!

[הסרת שיער]

Great adventure. It's not an easy task to do such impossible work. Great job done by you.

[peru travel packages]

Very nice! I am looking for this type of info and sometimes I get lucky like today...:-). Thanks for your post.

[Philadelphia House]

Thanks for sharing these tips, i'm sure this is helpful

[Cheap Flights]

Nice advice u have represented here for the winter days pack.

Igor Kopmar,
"Cheap Flights" Advisor

[camp for summer]

I’ve had your blog in my bookmarks for a couple of days now and just wanted to say that I really love your articles!

http://www.unclesamsnewyork.com/tours/32/Heroes_of_the_World_Trade_Center_Tour/

[idaho dui lawyer]

A must to remember. This will put us to safety.

[cheap D&G Belts]

the information of this post is very relevant for what i am looking for, thank you so much for sharing this one

[cheap sale uk]

A memorandum among the papers seemed to specify the http://www.uk-bbc.com
respective sums in notes and gold that had been depositedhttp://www.iugov.com
in the box. A document of some kind had been torn into http://www.fckmusa.com
minute pieces and thrown into the waste-basket.

[rip dvd to mkv]

Useful tips for us, I think we should learn some tips from this site before we go outside for adventure.

[Ken Griffey Jr Shoes]

We want to eliminate this reef, it is necessary to wait, opportunities and favorable conditions.

[north face outlet]

I am looking forward to the next show, I hope it will be full of passion and exciting things.

[north face outlet]

I completely agree with you. I have no point to raise in against of what you have said I think you explain the whole situation very well.

[Dallas Locksmith]

Nothing beats finding some useful information, for my research, keep em coming.

http://www.speedysocial.com/

[walking morocco]

woww nice post!

[hemisync]

Perfect! These articles written too great,they rich contents and data accurately.they are help to me.I expect to see your new share

http://www.sculptedfigures.com/

[SEO Bath]

nice article, i just finished bookmarking it for future reference. i would love to read on future posts. how do i configure the rss again? thanks!

http://www.ecolinewindows.ca/

[bathroom tiles]

Awesome.I like to do some adventure in life.I also like to slip on the snows.

[cheap trainers uk]

a Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God! O my friend -- but it is too much for my strength -- I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visionshttp://www.cvcos.com
http://www.iscvc.com
http://www.bvcvv.com

[cheap trainers uk]

a Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God! O my friend -- but it is too much for my strength -- I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visionshttp://www.cvcos.com
http://www.iscvc.com
http://www.bvcvv.com