When skiing, do you carry a back pack or a hydration back pack with you?

Question

When skiing, do you carry a back pack or a hydration back pack with you?

Answer 1

When I ski backcountry I have a full day pack with a water bladder. I take all sorts of stuff with me into the woods, because you'll never know what you will need. (Food, Tools, Extra parts, climbing skins, etc.)

At big resorts I take a smaller hydration pack. I can shove a few Clif bars, my Gerber tool, a can of Carmex, and my rainshell if it looks like I might need it.

At small hills I normally don't ski with a pack at all unless I'm on patrol...then I have a pack with all my patrol needs. Most of the time I can walk to my car and get a drink from my thermos faster than I can if I wait for a coffee in the line at the cafeteria.

Answer 2

Though I should, I don't.  I also ski at a small mountain and can get to the lodge from anywhere on the mountain rather quickly.  I would suggest that one should have a way to stay hydrated if skiing at any altitude, or big mountain.

Answer 3

Usually, no because i dont have one. I wish i did though because i kept going to the lodge for a drink.

Answer 4

No.

The mountain I go to has a little snack shack by some lifts and the others are close to the main lodge so it's easy enough to take a five minute break and grab a drink between runs.

I try to take as little as possible on the slopes with me - just a car/locker key, ID and a few bucks and stash everything else in my car or a locker at the lodge.

Of course, if I was off somewhere that I didn't have access to a lodge or car to store something in I'd definitely have a small pack with a drink, granola bar and that type of thing in it.

Answer 5

When I cross country ski, yes...with a couple of water bottles in them.

When I downhill, ski...no.  I usually stop at one of the food places they have on the slopes or at the base.

Answer 6

XC skiing, yes...its a must as you sweat a ton...

Answer 7

My water pack goes on just over my turtleneck shirt and under my jackets.  I teach 4-7 hours a day and at altitude you will respirate off 1-2 L a day, add talking a little and the pack is empty at the end of the day.  I won't ski without it.

Answer 8

Backpack for me. I am a Boy Scout type; always prepared. I carry snack, extra (dry) gloves. Gives me a place to stash a layer when I take one off, have a scarf  or balaclava if it is windy/nasty. Of course I mostly ski where there is no lodge, so if I don't carry it, I can't have it!  

gr