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Sunrise in GTNP: a place to be prepared for all possibilities. Photo: Aidan Whitelaw.
We’ve all got opinions about what is best for layering in the backcountry. Settling on what works best for you often includes a bit of experimentation, hits and misses, and some knowledge of how your body thermoregulates. One need only scroll through the high-value comments from WildSnow’s layering archives to understand that not all human thermoregulatory systems are alike. Some of us run cold; some run hot; some split it right up the middle.
Before we dive into the topic at hand, apparel layering with an eye towards backcountry emergencies, here’s a solid layering resource from WildSnow.
Gary Smith’s comprehensive piece details what works for him from “skin to shell.” Smith guides us from socks, base layers, mid-layers, shells, and suggestions for hands and head. Manassah Franklin also adds some thoughts, allowing for another person’s perspective.
With emergencies in mind, layering may have a different look than simply the layers you set off wearing (presumably while skinning). A key mantra, either way, is to layer with wicking underlayers that can dump heat on the uptrack. When the moisture we produce cannot evaporate or permeate a mid-layer and possibly shell, sweaty skin has a chilling effect.
A ridge ascent in the Oregon Cascades packing many of the emergency essentials. Photo: Joe Madden.
A quick guide to daily driver tops:
I run cold unless I’m putting in a reasonable effort. Up top, I begin with a synthetic or synthetic/wool blend T-shirt; I go long-sleeved on colder, windier days. I layer next with a lightweight fleece hoodie. I vacillate between a Patagonia R1 hoody and The North Face Summit FUTUREFLEECE L2 hoodie—both in full zip. The TNF L2 seems a tad more air permeable, so I pick that if it’s recently washed. If it’s snowing lightly or there’s predicted precip, I bring a Norrøna Lyngen jacket made from Gore-Tex Active. I wear a Patagonia Pluma jacket constructed with Gore-Tex Pro, a more moisture-resistant fabric than Active when it’s actively dumping snow. If zero precipitation is forecast, I stash a Black Diamond Distance wind shell in the pack. It’s similar to the Patagonia Houdini with a slightly different fit. For extra insulation, I always pack a Patagonia Das Light Hoody. The Das Light is synthetic and features a dual zipper. There are several options like this out there.
A quick guide to daily driver bottoms:
I wear a TNF Summit FUTURELIGHT full-side zip pant if it’s colder or spitting snow. If warmish outside, I opt for an Arc’teryx Procline (the new version after eight years using the old softshell iteration). I’m a bit more flexible with pants, and I break my temperature rules often. But this is a solid rule for me: If it’s 25° F or below and windy, I wear 2/3 length cut-off lycra tights as a bottom base layer for added warmth. (Note: Lycra is pretty useless when wet.)
Layering for Emergencies:
So far, in terms of layering for safety, the basic system I’ve laid out allows me to dump heat or warm-up while skinning or skiing, moisture to wick, and remain somewhat dry in a snowstorm. For potential emergencies or emergency prevention, I pack additional items if I might be benighted (broken equipment, faulty navigation, or rerouting due to poor conditions), lying still as a patient, or attending to a partner requiring emergency care.
Indigo skies, but deep into puffy country.
Emergency Tops:
I’ll first revisit the puffy. When chilled on the ups or downs, I wear it. Ninety percent of the time, I use synthetic puffies. No chance of snow or rain; I might use a down puffy. That’s just my preference. The puffy is my first line of defense in an emergency: both for the victim and non-injured partner. I always bring a puffy on backcountry tours no matter the tour plan or weather conditions. The puffies I’m thinking of are on the lighter side—not full-on Alaska grade down jackets. This is an item I’m incentivized to take, meaning it is packable and lightweight. If you insist on down or live in the Rockies, we are reviewing an ether-light option: the Crazy Idea Levity jacket, a 950 fill-down jacket aimed to please gram counters (no measured weight yet, but…unobtainium light). The Levity seems like a winner for an emergency piece, or a warm but minimal down puffy with Italien styled sweetness built-in.
If it’s predicted to be cold, which for me might even mean my arbitrary 25° F threshold, I bring along an extra synthetic vest to supplement the hoodie in case of an emergency. For the past year, I’ve used Patagonia’s Micro-Puff vest. This medium vest sits nicely under my medium puffy. If I’m out on a day when it’s downright cold, in the 15° F range for me, or my group is going deeper, I consider bringing a second minimalist down puffy, not the vest.
Zahan Billimoria, noted big mountain guide and Samsara Experience founder, recently posted a great “how to pack for backcountry skiing” video. In it, he reminds us to stash a light, but spare, baselayer top in your pack. Removing a wet baselayer from an injured skier/rider can go a long way in their rewarming efforts.
Emergency Bottoms:
Backpack designer and man about Wilson, Wyoming, Gavin Hess, often packs a 3/4 length TNF product called the L3 Ventrix insulated knicker/overpant (no longer sold.) He says the overpant is “an underrated layer,” he stashes in his pack or wears on cold inverted mornings.
The weight cost-benefit to bringing this layer could go either way. But on those cold-blowing days, having insulated pants/knickers to layer over your ski pants can be miraculous when things don’t go as planned. Something to note, and it’s a fact often told: down loses its insulating properties when wet. Many down-filled overpant options are available. Norrøna’s Lyngen down knickers are one example. Think wisely – maybe go with synthetic insulated pants, as someone in an emergency may lay in or near the snow. Side zips are essential too, to fit over ski boots without taking boots off, or there are crampons involved.
Several companies make climbing-specific insulated belay pants. BD makes the Stance (530g), Rab makes the Photon (536g). They check the boxes for me: full zip, synthetic. They are, however, bulky to pack. On bigger missions or full-on expeditions, this is not a deal-breaker. But yes, semi-bulky.
(Head to eBay, I see a few TNF Ventrix knickers for sale.)
Patagonia’s new Das Light pant is coming online next fall (we’ll have a sample in our hands to test this week). Light (approx: 310g), synthetic, full-zip, packable. These insulated pants look like something I’d bring on any mid-winter tour and longer, more remote, spring tours/traverses, too. This item could be a trendsetter in the insulated pant category.
Emergency Hands:
Do I have Raynaud’s? I’m not sure. But I’ve diagnosed myself with it countless times: My hands quickly get cold. Maybe your hand circulation is not as suspect as mine. Having a pair of reliable, weatherproof mittens in the pack certainly can make a downed backcountry skier more comfortable, and in rare circumstances, could save digits.
Outdoor Research’s Alti Gore-Tex Mitts: a burly, waterproof, emergency mitten.
I’ve added burly mittens to the always-bring-along category. Over the years, I’ve experimented with numerous brands, none of them duds. But, a lesson I’ve learned, spending the extra cash on something durable, warm, and waterproof keeps the screaming-barfies at bay (usually). Overkill? Maybe. I’ve been loving the Outdoor Research Alti Gore-Tex Mitts. These are modular mittens, meaning they have an inner mitten that can be worn as a stand-alone mitt. These too will be reviewed soon, but I’ll note here, after being submerged in water for five minutes, there was no seam leakage, the mittens remained 100% dry. But…400g for the pair.
Camp’s Hotmitt’n, what Hess calls a sleeping bag for your hands.
Other options are out there for mittens, and they don’t necessarily need to be engineered for 8000-meter peaks like the ORs. Hess says he stashes “sleeping bags for your hands,” Camp’s HotMit’n (150g/pair) for emergencies.
Some prefer heavy gloves as a backup. That’s understandable, as they allow for more dexterity.
Emergency Head:
I do love my hats and buffs. Another always-bring-along is an extra mid to heavyweight hat I can place under a helmet–that means sans pom-pom. A dry hat is a warm hat. Imagine a worst-case scenario; having the ability to top off the clothing system with a warm, dry hat is key. Bring an extra. Even while going lighter in the spring, I stow an extra hat.
Bring a buff. They’re light and help keep your head warm when it’s windy or cold. Buffs can double as a snot rag too.
Extra Socks:
Extra socks don’t always make the pack list cut. But, if you’ve got room in the pack on your day outing, and it’s brrrr cold, maybe not a bad idea. On spring traverse, I pack an extra pair of socks to swap out if my feet are wet. They can easily serve as an emergency backup or for wet sock replacement for someone injured.
Apocalypse Equipment’s large and small Guide Tarps: The tortilla in the emergency layering system that bundles everything up. Photo: Apocalypse Equipment.
The Burrito Layer (sort of a clothing layer):
The last emergency layer is the wrap, like the tortilla, neatly capturing all the good stuff inside a burrito. In this instance, I’m thinking of a simple windproof and (maybe) weatherproof tarp. Options are out there. Shameless plug, the guy from Wilson makes a nifty guide tarp.
Alpinists have a long tradition of shiver-bivies. They know to use the removable foam back pad in their packs as ground insulation. Removable or not, skiers can do this too: sit on a backpack for insulation. I’ve also carried a small section of foldable Z-rest as emergency ground insulation.
A tidy section of a Z-rest can provide some ground insulation in an emergency.
Layed out here is no dogma, just suggestions to get us all thinking about the what-if scenarios. Let’s hear about what you carry in terms of clothing layers for those unexpected events we all hope we are prepared for.
Jason Albert comes to WildSnow from Bend, Oregon. After growing up on the East Coast, he migrated from Montana to Colorado and settled in Oregon. Simple pleasures are quiet and long days touring. His gray hair might stem from his first Grand Traverse in 2000 when rented leather boots and 210cm skis were not the speed weapons he had hoped for. Jason survived the transition from free-heel kool-aid drinker to faster and lighter (think AT), and safer, are better.
27 comments
Another emergency bottom option when temps are on the warmer side are full zip thermals, ex: https://www.kuiu.com/products/peloton-97-fleece-zip-off-bottom-gunmetal?variant=40340236533918. 150ish grams, light fleece options like the link hold a surprising amount of heat, but they’re not so unbreathable that they can’t also double as an active warmth layer in a pinch.
Thanks Ben, and for under $100, a reasonable price too.
I’ve definitely got the opposite problem. No matter how cold (ok, down to -20°C) I’m always hot and sweaty.
At regular temps 0 to -10°C I hike up in baselayer on top (maybe a light softshell if
very windy), no gloves, no hat, and pants pulled up like shorts. Which is a problem. I’ve got clothes for the down hanging everywhere. Certainly no extra room for emergency clothing. And should there be an avalanche on the way up (or I just fall on the skin track) I’m quite exposed. But unless they come up with active cooling and sweat removal (boots included) I’m stuck doing it this way.
I envy people whose feet and hands don’t produce a ton of sweat rendering gloves useless in 10min and turn boots into a turkish steam room blister bonanza.
I’m bummed just reading this. Blisters, those are always tough. But I’ve had luck with these when breaking in new liners/boots: but it might add to your heat dumping issues. As for tops, and it sounds like I run colder than you, I’ve had good luck with this Airshed Pro Pullover. I have worn this next-to-skin in spring high in the Wind Rivers. Provides some wind protection (panels in front), but also some air permeability- this is not a windbreaker. The two-way zip allows for dumping heat, and the sleeves easily pull up (some sort of lycra blend) to make it more of a short sleeve. This might be a great mid-winter jkt for you. Wish I had more answers. Those TNF pants I’m wearing, full zip, don’t run crazy hot, I often wear them with no base layer (it has been warm here)…and the full zip allows for lots of heat dumping options.
I’m with you, J, especially in the Northwet.
Jason, very well written! This is something that many skiers seem to forget about, or underestimate.
2 things I really liked, that you called out:
1: The importance of managing moisture while active, to prevent extreme cool down when inactive (in an emergency).
This is hammered home to me every time I have a small mechanical on a fat bike ride, or talking to others at XC ski practice.
2:A foam pad: last fall I did a W. First Aid course, just below freezing. It’s amazing how quickly an immobile victim gets cold, lying on the ground (and this wash that cold, the people were dressed heavily, ground was relatively warm!) Snow melting underneath them makes this worse. Bring a thin pad folded to fit your backpanel, but at least twice as large when unfolded. Makes a nice sit pad too for snack breaks.
My one remark is that people should bring much thicker emergency layers than (most) do. Lean more towards those Alaska level parka’s than all the fun coffee shop weight (and style) stuff.
I spend a fair bit of time outside, with limited movement, and I can tell you, even at 15 degrees, you need a lot of warmth (like a 1/2 pound/225 grams of down in a parka or more) to stay warm for several hours if you are not moving,
A lightweight vest, or Pata micro puff, is not going to keep anyone warm below freezing!
I lean more towards down, partly due to location, but also because, when it’s below freezing, down does better than many people think, and it allows me to bring much warmer layers. Usually, when people say: choose synthetic, they end up choosing much thinner layers, due to packed volume.
Gloves do tend to get wet quickly, and since they are smaller in overal fill weight, there isn’t as much downside to synthetic, so so go with that there.
I too always pack some emergency “sleeping bags for my hands” . Hestra Extreme Liners usually because I have them already. Pretty light and thick. Need a Mitten shell to keep out snow though.
Better option is you don’t carry Mitten shells are the Enlightened Equiment Apex Mitts. They have a slightly grippier palm, and drawcords.
https://enlightenedequipment.com/stronghold-mittens-custom/
Last fall I got my daughter the Mountain Hardwear Phantom Down Parka. We have several down parkas in our house, and this one comes out on top for warmth/weight and functionality:
Truly warm, thanks to full box baffle construing and ~8 ounces of 800FP down.
Shell is a good balance of weight to strength fabric
Long cut, tall collar, interior elastic in the small of the back, cuffs fall over hands
Drop in pockets and insulted handwarmer pockets.
Unlike many other big brand down jackets, it doesn’t have any useless double fabric layers on the inside. This helps pack ability a lot.
And, it is often on sale for $240
https://www.mountainhardwear.com/p/womens-phantom-down-parka-1850601_S.html?dwvar_1850601__S_color=636&dwvar_1850601__S_size=XL&&mid=paidsearch&eid=Google+PLA+US&nid=1674133143&oid=60430452410&did=&s_kwcid=AL!3937!3!351071027510!!!u!!&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxoiQBhCRARIsAPsvo-wWRH1BXA_cDxbO1D7I_GfZWAUMo8mMTsgq8onS3s4pgkV4o3_3y1IaAk3IEALw_wcB
Thanks for the suggestions. That looks like a sweet down jacket. I’ve coveted my ski partner’s Mtn. Hardware Ghost Whisperer for years. This looks like a bump up in warmth but is still light/packable.
The Ghost Whisperer is one of those types of jackets that I see/hear people taking out as an emergency layer.
In fall? Maybe, but in winter (even mild ~20F/-7C), there is no way something like that will keep someone warm if they are immobile for a few hours. And that can happen easily, even on tours that are only a mile or so from the road.
Overnight? When temps drop? And for 8 hours or more?
To be clear, I love those thin jackets with ~2 ounces of down, and total weight under 10 ounces/290 grams. But either as an static insulation layer in summer and fall, or as a layer for use while skiing, or even skinning, in very cold conditions,
Although, for the latter, I am preferring synthetic, since your body produce more moisture then.
Also, when there is so little down in there anyway, even if synthetics are 50% heavier, that is only 1 ounce (28 grams) extra in total, most of the weight is in the fabric and notions.
I’m with slim, if you’re going to carry something for an emergency carry something that will work in an emergency. Buy the lightest high loft down jacket with a hood you can unless your state borders Mexico.
+1 On the Ghost Whisperer. It’s a good jacket for hiking or cycling, but not much use for skiing except perhaps at the very last gasp in spring. In winter something more serious is needed IME, or else multiple layers
Hard to argue with your justifications for all these things. What size pack do you bring, and how much does it weigh?
I ski in an area with longish dense bushwacks, highish (relative to lower 48!) latitude shorter days, and volunteer SAR response times that means an injury is likely to result in an overnighter. In particular in Dec/Jan season I try to religiously pack personally emergency warm gear., I always carry and use a light puffy with waterproof membrane that is part of my regular day kit (almost never pack hardshell jacket). My personal emergency clothing/warm kit includes: synthetic insulated full zip overpants, synthetic belay jacket (I have a DAS), and extra high calorie food. As part of group kit I like to have divided: sil tarp with velcro additions to make it a burrito or bothy, full length pad (foam or thermarest or foil/insulated/air). The full length pad is invaluable if you actually have an injured person prone on ground. I have not purchased yet, but a small canister and pot system for boiling water would be very valuable for actually generating heat for overnight injured patient who cannot move to stay warm. It is a very different situation to be an ambulatory person stuck overnight who can move around to generate warmth vs injured person laying down. I think most people have sufficient supplies for the first scenario, and very few have sufficient for the second.
I always bring a serious alaska belay puffy unless the wx is calling for very warm temps. In the event of an injury and being benighted I want to be alive in the morning and capable of some action. Hopefully between the puffy, sitting on a pack and a snow cave I could do that. Mittens are essential if you want to use your hands for anything on cold days.
Hooray for a call out to the TNF Summit Ventrix Knickers. It is always in my pack – summer and winter.
Great article. Agree with everything said.
Don’t know if this counts as layering, but for emergencies I’ll always take a hand saw and fire starter with me.
I too bring an overkill down puffy on all trips.
When the weather is poor I’ll bring 4 pairs of gloves: Skinning gloves X 1, Gore text gloves X 2, water proof mitts X1.
I have carried a Sea to Summit inflatable seat for years. Doubled up it gives a couple inches of cushion and could be used as a splint w some Voile straps in emergency situations. Prefer the long lunch in the sun scenario.
One of my big questions here is how do most skiers fit this (and other!) key equipment in a 30-35l pack? I just cannot do it and find a ~45l essential for comfortable packing of both emergency gear and some technical stuff on certain days (harness, axe, crampons, rope etc).
Same. I think the answer is simple: they don’t. I use 35 L where others use 20 , 45 where others use 30, etc. I’m often the only one with the extra gloves somebody needs.
I agree. As I mentioned above, many gear lists I see, people only have some kind of lightweight down jacket, in the “summer insulation” category. Let alone pads, rescue sleds and insulated legwear.
The other point is gear choices. Some (most big brand) parkas are not very efficient in weight:warmth ratio. Same with choosing other gear. You can easily end up with the same list of items weighing almost double the lightest option and certainly double the packed size.
Agreed, if you are bringing climbing gear, 30 liters means you are not bringing any emergency gear, OR all the climbs gear goes on the outside (and harness on body)
This is one of my biggest peeves with airbag packs: the lack of decent, lightweight ~40l packs.
Mid-winter: 38L Blue Ice Kume. Relatively good organization, and capacity to pack/stuff much gear.
I think about this topic of emergency warmth often since I tour solo often in a pretty cold region. The scenario I plan for is a immobilizing injury, like a broken leg from a hidden log. A couple thoughts:
Is it better to pack a lightweight sleeping bag and bivy bag than a big puffy and insulated pants? You can get a 500g 20-30 deg bag/quilt, 300g waterproof/breathable bivy bag for $500-600. That’s 800g, less than, say the MH Phantom parka (570g) and 500g insulated pants. You also don’t have to either upsize your shell to fit your puffy or wear the puffy on the outside, exposing it precipitation or melting snow. I think you could skip the oven mitts and extra socks this way too. I never use my puffy when solo touring anyways, it sits in the bottom of my pack.
You can carry a stove, cup, and canister for under 500g and have hot liquid to drink. I don’t know how low temp you can use a canister stove, though.
I carry a bunch of handwarmers that I can put anywhere inside my clothing as some extra heat.
It still boggles me why more ski pack manufacturers don’t include a removable foam frame sheet in their packs. As said, climbers have done it for years. Keeping a patient warm is critical for improving survival rates after major trauma. Plus a foam sheet can be used for a splint, padding in a sled, and so much else.
As far as other items, I typically will put a pair of chemical hand warmers inside the mega mitts at the bottom of my pack. If things are serious enough to require the huge mitts, having a source of external heat is going to be really nice. Good to know that those things always live together.
A thought about a stove: all together a small Jetboil or Windburner stove system with a small fuel canister weighs about the same as a full 1L waterbottle (and a Pocket Rocket is even lighter/smaller), but has the capacity to make 4-5L of water by melting snow. On long days it makes more sense to bring the stove and a small water bottle than to bring all that water from the trailhead. Plus you have the capacity to make a hot drink to give to a patient or yourself for warmth and comfort.
I’ve rationalized the same Matt but have not pulled the trigger on small canister stove. Seems good value both for emergency use and really long spring day trips to rehydrate. I think I will look for one.
For spring trips yes, for winter: no.
Upright canister stoves don’t work (a few degrees) below freezing. They are pressurized at room temperature. As the temperature drops, so does the pressure, at some temp you loose sufficient pressure to run the stove. This is made worse by the fact that adiabatic expansion cause the canister to actively cool down as you run the stove.
You gain a few degrees of temperature with an air pressure drop(at high altitude), and there are tricks you can do, like keeping the canister inside your clothing, putting it in a bowl of water, or using a heat shunt. Still, those do not seem practical to me for emergency, winter use.
Liquid feed stoves are an option, but they are bulkier and heavier.
Liquid feed canister stoves, like the MSR Windpro, have a hose to the canister, and a control valve on the stove body.
Oh, and if you do choose a stove, bring a decent size pot. It takes a lot of snow to make a tiny bit of water.
I do have Raynaud’s, official diagnosis and everything. I also run hot, and part of the way I manage that is by uncovering my hands. It’s a conundrum, and recovery from a mistake can be difficult.
My secret weapon is RBH Designs “Vapor Mitts”. They are immediately warm without the bulk of Dachstein Mitts or their modern descendants. The RBH mitts are always at the bottom of my winter pack