You’ve got the ski’s/split-board, poles and climbing skins ready to go but before you eagerly race to the mountains there are a few things you need to ensure are in your pack.

Dreaming of skiing steep mountain faces, knees trembling before dropping in? Maybe your fantasies are filled with fresh untouched powder, snowboarding the perfect line through tight gaps in the snow gums. These are the idyllic thoughts steering snow lovers away from the ski resorts and into the backcountry. You’ve got the ski’s/split-board, poles and climbing skins ready to go but before you eagerly race to the mountains there are a few things you need to ensure are in your pack. Water and food are the most obvious items, but this is my list of backcountry essentials for beginners.

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