CTA's 2024 "Multi-Day Tour #7"
Tips
Marie and I have done quite a few of the Multi-Day Tours, here are some of the things we've learned, please feel free to send me your own.
Things to Bring
Besides all the things on CTA's equipment list (but you already read that, right?) here are some non-essentials which may make your day easier:
* Delorme or other atlas for WHEN you get lost driving to a trail head. Here are maps and directions for the shuttle drives. Be very careful using your GPS, the databases are not very reliable for this 'neck of the woods'. Sometimes you really "can't get theah from heah". I guarantee someone will get lost on this trip trying to follow their GPS. Of course, someone will probably get lost using a map, too, I certainly have.
* If you are staying at an Inn or Motel/Hotel, bring a drying rack. You'd think in ski country they'd have this figured out... An electric boot drier is nice if your boots tend to get wet.
* A reliable car with good all-weather (or better, studded snow) tires. A ski rack or roof box is always appreciated, we need to move a lot of other people and gear.
* Goodies to share along the trail or at the end, or to gobble up yourself if you get left behind.
* Extra ski boots, skis, poles, if you have them, so if your equipment fails on Day 1, you can still ski the rest of the days. Don't ski with these, just keep them in the car or lodging.
* Mark your skis and poles. You'd be surprised how many pairs of the more popular skis can show up on one of these trips. Marking them with your name, or tape or something, can simplify the equipment loading and unloading at trail heads.
* Ski straps. Your skis are going to get thrown into pickup trucks, station wagons and ski boxes. And you will be carrying them along roads from time-to-time. Even rubber bands can be helpful.
* A sense of humor and a determination to have a good time no matter how crabby the tour coordinator gets.
Pet PEEve
Hydration is important in the winter, and one way to check your hydration is to make sure your pee is fairly clear. But please keep that information to yourself. I don't care if we can see you as you answer nature's call, but I really don't like skiing past yellow snow. Even if you are last, some other folks may be coming along. I know this is harder for some sexes than for others, but you can do it. And remember to leave a pack, pole, friend or something in the trail so the sweep knows you are there when she goes by, in case you are out of sight.
"Don't forget your lunch!"
Pray for Snow!
Go to the CTA's 2024 "Multi-Day Tour #7" Main Page