Hamish Gowans Fourteeners Update, and 10 Tips for Spring Backcountry Skiing (03-15-05)
Just in, Hamish Gowans Fourteeners Update:
“It had become difficult to avoid, then necessary to admit, that the project would not reach fruition this year, after almost a month of inactivity. For four weeks Colorado was locked in with a pattern of unsettled weather that brought snow showers to the peaks at least every other day. Drinking coffee in Colorado Springs after going for a run, and listening to the CAIC forecast, or looking at weather.com, I kept hoping for a break that would let me return to my mission. It’s just that…” Read more here.
10 Tips for Spring Backcountry Skiing
Today’s Tip: Sun Defense
3. What are the worst backcountry skiing hazards? Avalanches? Ripped knees? Perhaps. But sun induced skin damage has arguably more heinosity than plunging slides and popping ligaments. More than a million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year — one person dies every hour from skin cancer — and most of those cancers are caused by exposure to excessive sunlight. Yuck!
Big C aside, if you’re looking at a lifetime of backcountry skiing, do you really want your face to resemble alligator hide by the time your’e 45 years old?
 |
|
Even tough Aussies wear sunscreen and hats.
|
Clothing is your first line of protection. While backcountry skiing, use a layering system that covers as much skin as possible, yet still allows cooling and venting during hot sunny climbs (see clothing tips below). Remember your hands. Wear lightweight gloves for sun protection and to prevent abrasions if you trip and fall. Marmot and other backcountry clothing companies make such gloves — or go budget and use a cheap pair of gardening gloves from the hardware store.
Hat choice is the big quandary. Ball caps look the most stylish, but offer little protection unless the sun is in front of you and you keep your head down. Hats with a full circle brim are much better (otherwise known as “full-brim” or “safari” hats), but may embarrass backcountry skiers under 30 years old. To prevent violation of your youthful sensibilities, stow your big-ol-hat in your pack and bring it out once you’re climbing. Funny, but once the adventure starts, fashion issues seem to fade (at least ’till the cameras come out).
Hat construction is important. The bar none absolute best fabric for sun hats is Cool Max, second to that is thin generic nylon or acrylic. It’s amazing how well Cool Max wicks sweat and cools you off. Look for a hat that at least has a Cool Max head band — or best, is made entirely of the stuff. A few small vent holes also help, so look for those as well.
Full brim hats may interfere with your backcountry skiing pack if the brim is too big. A 2 1/2 inch brim is good compromise but somewhat minimal for true sun protection while backcountry skiing. Larger 3 inch brims may look geeky and hit your pack when you tilt your head up, but they offer MAJOR protection.
Full-brim backcountry skiing hats are tough to shop for on the web. On most websites they’re poorly categorized and describied, and most people prefer to try before they buy. Thus, forget web shopping for hats. Instead, visit your local specialty sporting goods store where they have a mirror, and a wall full of hats (…we hope, or perhaps they prefer you’d web shop?).
 |
| Watership Trading Seabird sun hat. |
A good and widely available full-brim yet minimal sun hat for backcouintry skiing is a Columbia UPF Booney. I’m not sure if the band is Cool Max or not, but it wicks well. The brim is a bit floppy, but at a somewhat narrow 2 1/2 inches it can droop a bit and stay out of your eyes. The best REAL full-brim (3 inch) hats we’ve found are the Watership Trading Vinyard Haven and Seabird. These hats are well made, the brim is stiffer than the Columbia (it has a plastic support hoop in the rim) yet still packs well, and they combine a dark under-brim with nice light colors to reflect the sun.
Essential backcountry skiing hat features: Be sure your toque has a chin string so it doesn’t end up in flight when the wind gusts. Lighter colors will keep your head cooler. Underside of the brim should be dark, so it doesn’t reflect glare to your eyes. Brim should be stiff enough to stay snappy when it’s damp, but not so stiff it pushes the hat off your head when you brush against things.
Chemical sunscreen is the other component of sun protection. Three main considerations with the gunk: Does is stay on fairly well when you sweat, how bad does it sting your eyes, and is it SPF 40 or better? We like Banana Boat brand — it seems to satisfy all the above specs. Remember to put sunscreen on before you leave house or hut in the morning, and re-apply several times during the day.
Suncscreen tip: Keep a super-size tube at home, and get a small tube for your pack. Replenish small tube by firmly holding both tubes together opening-to-opening and squeezing suncreen from larger to smaller tube. Slightly enlarge the hole in the smaller tube if you have trouble with this.
It’s easy to protect your skin from sun damage, but you have to be consistent with it. Sun damage is cumulative. More, if you do a good job of protecting your skin, it’s even more prone to damage if you forget your hat and sunscreen.
Please visit again tomorrow for more tips.
