When I ask Jake Urban how many avalanche instructors he鈥檚 trained over the years, he tells me, 鈥淗undreds for sure, but I鈥檝e lost the exact count.鈥澛營鈥檓 following a couple ski lengths behind him on Wyoming鈥檚 Teton Pass, watching him put in a skin track and peppering him with questions about kick turns, layering, and his path through the outdoor industry.聽
Urban knows backcountry skiing as well as anyone. With 25 years of backcountry-skiing experience, 12 years developing curriculum for the American Institute of Avalanche Research, and nine years training search and rescue teams around the Tetons (not to mention practicing as a licensed American Mountain Guides Association guide), he鈥檚 dedicated his life to learning and teaching others about how to mitigate and deal with risk in snowy environments. Three years ago, Urban founded the , an avalanche-education and emergency-medicine organization.
In between laps, Urban and I stop to look through his pack. The first thing that stands out is how methodically organized it is: gear that鈥檚 most likely to be used has been placed on top, where it鈥檚 easy to access, with less needed supplies pushed to the bottom. What follows is a list of the equipment he carries.聽
: Before opening his pack, Urban shows me his radio, which is attached to a shoulder strap. A good radio helps you communicate with your group and, if necessary, emergency services. This version of the Link has a longer range and longer-lasting battery than previous iterations,聽and it stands up to the elements better than most radios on the market.聽
A cell phone with the : Unzipping his shell, Urban takes his cell phone out of a bib pocket. He suggests downloading offline maps on an app like Gaia before heading into the backcountry, even if you know the area well. He doesn鈥檛 use Gaia on every tour but says it鈥檚 always good to have in a pinch if something goes wrong. (Keeping it inside his shell helps keep the battery from dying prematurely in the cold.)
鈥淧ossibles鈥 bag: Next came a small water-resistant stuffsack filled with items that he might need on a tour. This includes snacks, wipes for a bathroom break, sunscreen, and a Garmin satellite device for communication backup.
The and : The first thing to come out of 鲍谤产补苍鈥檚 pack is this lightweight helmet, ideal for fast alpine missions. Below it are a pair of the Skyline goggles, which boast a large field of view and easy integration with helmets.
: In a separate avy tool pocket, Urban stashes his shovel, probe, snow saw, and cord, which he uses for testing snowpack and making observations. He also straps a to his body; this transceiver is a cinch to use, light, and equipped with a long-lasting battery, but its most notable feature is that it offers spoken directions when searching for a signal.
Water: Urban carries at least a liter of water, depending on the length of the tour. He often uses a Nalgene, because it鈥檚 simple and durable. He says that staying hydrated on tours鈥揺specially lengthy ones鈥 is essential for safety, so you don鈥檛 crash if you have to stay out longer than expected.
Extra clothing: Most people aren鈥檛 prepared for the worst, says Urban, noting how even an accident in the sidecountry of a resort could mean an hour in the snow before ski patrol gets to you. He typically packs heavyweight mittens, a spare hat, and a buff, plus the , and .
A warm drink: Urban always totes along an insulated bottle filled with a warm drink, such as tea. He suggests that you save this for the second half of your tour, to help warm you up if needed. Even for short tours, he鈥檒l bring this just in case.聽
First aid kit: A well-stocked kit with tape, bandages, medications, a splint, scissors, and other tools is a given. Of course, getting proper first aid training is helpful to make sure you know how to use the kit correctly.
Repair kit: 鲍谤产补苍鈥檚聽kit encompasses a variety of tools鈥攍ike a multitool, skin wax, ski wax, a spare tail clip, ski straps, and quick-set epoxy, to name a few. He says it鈥檚 important you know how to fix your bindings, boots, and skis in the field, so you can always get back to your car.聽
: A small tarp is immensely useful in emergency situations. It can be used to help insulate someone from the cold, package an injury, create a bivy or shelter, or even serve as an improvised sled. Urban prefers the Apocalypse tarp because it鈥檚 durable, light, and packable.