What to Bring

It is important that you bring every item listed here, unless specified as “(Optional)”. If you do not currently have all of these items, do not worry, many of the most important and expensive items are also available for rent. If you have any questions about renting or purchasing equipment, or what to bring for this trip don’t hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help guide you.

Everyone

  • Ski Goggles

    • (Optional) Interchangeable lenses are very useful. Prefer low light lens if possible, as sun glasses can be used instead in high brightness conditions.

  • Ski/Snowboard Helmet.

    • Check your goggles fit.

    • (Optional) A ski/snowboard helmet specifically designed for touring, with ventilation is preferred.

  • Avalanche kit - Avalanche transceiver, collapsible aluminium snow shovel and avalanche probe. If you have not used these before, don't worry, we can rent a kit to you for $100, and we will provide the necessary instruction for their use at the beginning of the trip.

  • Batteries in transceiver above 70% power.

  • Touring backpack 30-40L

    • You will need to find a way to fit your sleeping bag inside or on the outside.

    • Avalanche Airbag is not required, you can bring yours if you want but make sure it fits all your equipment.

  • Clothing:

    • No Cotton.

    • Outer waterproof shell layer (jacket and pants).

      • Something breathable GoreTex style material is strongly preferred.

    • Thermal Underwear (wool or polyester).

    • Mid layer, perhaps lightweight fleece and/or shirt.

    • Beanie.

    • Buff (neck gaiter).

    • Down jacket (Feather or synthetic).

    • Two pairs of ski/wool socks, one to wear and one is spare.

    • Dry bag big enough to fit your spare clothes and keep them dry.

  • Ski Gloves or Mittens, two pairs, a spare pair for when the first gets wet.

    • (Optional) Liner gloves or fleece gloves can also be nice to have in addition to this, but not required.

  • Head-torch.

  • Sunglasses - polarised.

  • Winter sleeping bag, comfort rating  -5°C to -10°C

    • Wrapped in a waterproof bag (dry bag or garbage bag).

  • Toiletries, personal hygiene, tooth brush, toothpaste, etc

  • Any medications you may require.

  • Sunscreen and lip balm.

  • Water bottle or bladder, containing at least 1L of water.

    • (Optional) Small thermos with hot drink

  • Mobile phone - Fully charged.

  • (Optional) Personal favourite snacks.

  • (Optional) Battery pack for charging your electrical devices.

  • (Optional) Hand warmers, especially if you are prone to cold hands.

Skiers (Alpine Touring or Telemark)

Telemark skiers are very welcome to join on our trips, we love you! If you do not know how to Telemark ski, you should be bringing some Alpine Touring skis instead.

  • Skis designed for off-piste, touring bindings and skins for climbing slopes.

    • If you are bringing pattern base skis, we still require that you bring a set of compatible skins.

  • Ski crampons for safely climbing or traversing slopes with icy surface conditions.

    • Compatible with the width of your ski and your specific ski binding.

  • Boots that are compatible with your touring bindings.

  • Ski poles (either extendable or fixed length are fine).

Snowboarders (Splitboard)

As a snowboarder, you can choose to take a splitboard (A snowboard that splits into two pieces like skis for the uphill, and joins together again into a snowboard for the downhill), or, continue on to the next section if you want to use snow shoes and carry the snowboard on your backpack instead. We recommend taking a splitboard if possible, but we’re happy to accommodate you if you’re on snowshoes for the uphill.

  • Splitboard with splitboard bindings and skins for climbing slopes.

  • Splitboard crampons for safely climbing or traversing slopes with icy surface conditions.

    • Compatible with the width of your splitboard and your specific splitboard binding.

  • Boots that are compatible with your splitboard bindings.

  • Collapsible ski poles.

Snowboarders (Snowshoes)

  • Snow board.

  • Snowboard Boots.

  • Snow Shoes.

  • Ensure your touring backpack can safely and effectively carry your snowboard.

  • Collapsible ski poles.

Equipment Rental

If you will be renting, It’s a very good idea to book in your rental early as some equipment is in limited supply. For your convenience we have a list of some stores and what equipment they rent. Let us know if you’re intending to rent skis from one of the stores, so that we can coordinate on requesting ski crampon availability.

Everest Sports (Bright)

28A Ireland St, Bright VIC 3741

03) 5755 2227

https://everestsports.com.au/categories/hire.html 

  • Alpine Touring Kit (Skis, skins, boots, poles).

  • NTN Telemark Kit (Skis, skins?, boots, poles).

  • Ski crampons are probably a possibility if there is demand and you book early enough.

  • Touring backpack + beacon, probe and shovel.

  • Snow Shoes

Tirol Sports (Mount Hotham)

42/1 Great Alpine Rd, Hotham Heights VIC 3741

(03) 5759 3063

https://www.tirolsports.com.au/ 

  • Alpine Touring Kit (Skis, skins, boots, poles).

  • Splitboard Touring Kit (Splitboard, skins, boots, poles).

  • Limited ski crampons available for hire, if there is enough demand they may be able to add some more to the rental fleet.

  • Avalanche Kit (Touring backpack + beacon, probe and shovel).

One Tree Sports (Mount Hotham)

1 Great Alpine Rd, Hotham Heights VIC 3741

(03) 5759 5332

https://www.mthotham.com.au/on-mountain/during-your-stay/retail-shopping/one-tree-sports

  • Back Country Day pack (with Beacon, Probe and Shovel)

  • Back Country Touring skis (and skins)

  • Back Country Split board (and skins)

  • Back Country Collapsible poles

Bumps (Elsternwick)

481 Glen Huntly Rd, ELSTERNWICK. Victoria 3185,Australia

(03) 9528 2701

https://bumps.com.au/hire 

  • Alpine Touring Kit (Skis, skins, boots, poles)

  • Avalanche Kit (Touring backpack + beacon, probe and shovel).

  • Limited ski crampons available for hire, they are however available to buy, and if there is enough demand they may be able to add some more to the rental fleet.

Bogong (CBD)

374 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

https://www.bogong.com.au/hire 

  • Sleeping Bags (-9°C, -13°C)

EMC (Deepdene)

68-72 Whitehorse Rd, Deepdene VIC 3103

https://snow-ski.com.au/emc-rental-rates/ 

  • Snow Shoes

  • Sleeping Bags (-10°C)

Ajays (Heathmont)

121 Canterbury Rd, Heathmont VIC 3135

https://snow-ski.com.au/ajays-rental-rates/ 

  • Snow Shoes

  • Sleeping Bags (-10°C)

  • They do offer Telemark skis but without ski crampons, so not a great option as these are required.

Outdoor Clubs (ROC and MUMC)

In addition to the mentioned stores, the outdoor clubs Melbourne University Mountaineering Club (MUMC https://www.mumc.org.au/ ) and RMIT Outdoor Club (ROC https://roc.org.au/ ), also have touring and camping gear available for rent at very reasonable rates, however you will need to sign up as a member and there may be other conditions attached to renting gear for a personal trip like this.