deathcookieDoes anybody have experience traveling and skiing with only a backpack? I am considering traveling Chile and Argentina this year, perhaps for several months and most likely solo. I would like to carry everything on my back, including a four season tent, my ski gear, sleeping bag, and cooking tools, among other stuff. This journey would involve ski touring to huts, camping out, hitchhiking, taking buses etc.
My main goals are to spend as much time as I can in South America, ski as much as possible, and not get robbed.
Any tips or experiences would be excellent.
I do, a little bit. It's actually really weird to ski with. I put everything in my Mission 75 (great large ski pack, btw) and skin up and out, then ski places. My recommendation would be to leave as much stuff at a basecamp as possible when you want to ski something serious. Keep your avy gear. Don't ski real stuff with all the camping gear. It REALLY messes with balance, you'll notice that.
When you sleep at night, keep all the upper vents on your tent open. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it will actually keep you warmer. Since all the moisture vented from your body will go out of the tent, not as much will gather on the sidewalls and drip onto your bag (which can get really bad if you have a down bag!).
Dry as much stuff out as possible whenever you have the chance. It's difficult to dry bags in your pack, so if it's possible to leave it in your tent fluffed out to air out while you ski for the day, then try to. Nothing is worse than trying to sleep in wet gear in the winter. People can die.
If you're really cold at night, jetboil some water into a nalgene, then seal the nalgene really well and sleep with that. It holds heat well and will help keep you warm.
General advice is to ski with wet gear, sleep in dry gear.
Keep your boots in your vestibule of your tent. They should be outside the inner wall, but not outside the tent. This will help avoid warm moisture evaporating into your tent and getting you wet, but also keep blowing snow out of your boot during the night for an unpleasant morning surprise.
Pack emergency food. You never know when you'll need it.
Remember to care for your skins. They, too, need to be dried and glue tended each day. If ice freezes onto the glue overnight then you won't be able to effectively bond them to your skis.
Since you're going solo, be very cautious about what you ski and when. We've lost quite a few very competent skiers down there, even with companions. It can be a dangerous avalanche area. Know the conditions, and if something seems off, don't risk it. It can wait. Your life is more important than a cool chute. I know you said mostly solo, but if you can find someone to shred with, do it. You can look out for each other.
I don't have much experience with the countries; However, I know whenever my friends have gone down to ski in that region, something from them has been stolen. Whether it be skis, money, boots, food, etc, something happens. Since most of your gear will either be on you or secluded in the middle of nowhere, you'll probably be fine. I'd be cautious and keep an eye out though. I'm guessing you probably have some pretty nice gear, and people may notice that.
Good luck. Keep us updated on your adventures, sounds like it will be amazing.