---
title: "What it costs to kit yourself for a backcountry ski week"
description: "The kit for a backcountry ski week, priced from the winter backcountry lodge packing list: the essentials are about CA$12,900 (US$9,414) bought new, the whole list CA$13,174. What the operator provides, three things worth buying, and the lists and cost tools that go with it."
canonical: "https://wildernessledger.com/kit-for-a-backcountry-ski-week"
list: "https://wildernessledger.com/backcountry-lodge-winter-packing-list"
author: "Ben Taft"
---

# What it costs to kit yourself for a backcountry ski week

> The kit for a backcountry ski week, priced from the winter backcountry lodge packing list: the essentials are about CA$12,900 (US$9,414) bought new, the whole list CA$13,174. What the operator provides, three things worth buying, and the lists and cost tools that go with it.

A week at a helicopter-access lodge is the trip on this site where the kit costs real money, because nothing on the hill is lent: the board or the skis, the boots, the skins, the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe, the harness for glaciated ground, and the shell that keeps a whiteout out. The lodge brings the beds, the meals, the guides and the sauna, and both Purcell and Mistaya will rent some of the safety kit if you ask in advance.

These are the prices behind the winter packing list, which I wrote from the splitboard after two winters at Purcell, added up two ways: the essentials, and everything on the list with the camera. One honest note on the first line: where the list offers a board or skis, the budget prices the cheapest part, the skins; a full splitboard setup is priced further down.

Two winters at Purcell Mountain Lodge on a splitboard, checked against Mistaya Lodge's published winter equipment list and Purcell's ski guidance. Where a number belongs to one operator it says so.

## Two ways to add it up

| Figure | Amount |
|---|---|
| The essentials | CA$12,900 (US$9,414), 29 items not marked optional |
| Without the camera | CA$4,707 (US$3,434), the essentials less the camera group |
| Everything on the list | CA$13,174 (US$9,614), 30 of 37 items name a product |
| Of which, the camera | CA$8,193 (US$5,980), 1 line, priced at what I carry |

Approx., at 1.37 CAD per USD. Street prices, not quotes; a sale or a used one changes the sum. Where an item offers a choice, the cheapest prices it and the line says "from". An item with no price is one nobody sells you: a form, a prescription, a weight limit.

## The list, priced

| Group | Item | Product | CAD | USD |
|---|---|---|---:|---:|
| The board, or the skis, and what goes on your feet and head | Splitboard with bindings and skins, or touring skis with skins | Climbing skins (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-touring-skins/primary) | from CA$274 | US$200 |
| The board, or the skis, and what goes on your feet and head | Snowboard boots, or touring boots | Burton Moto BOA snowboard boots (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/burton-moto-boa-boots/primary) | from CA$411 | US$300 |
| The board, or the skis, and what goes on your feet and head | Collapsible poles with powder baskets | Touring poles with powder baskets (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-touring-poles/primary) | CA$164 | US$120 |
| The board, or the skis, and what goes on your feet and head | Board crampons, or ski crampons | Board or ski crampons (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-crampons/primary) | CA$110 | US$80 |
| The board, or the skis, and what goes on your feet and head | Helmet | Ski helmet (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-helmet/primary) | CA$206 | US$150 |
| The board, or the skis, and what goes on your feet and head | Light indoor slippers | Light indoor slippers (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/indoor-slippers/primary) | CA$55 | US$40 |
| Avalanche safety | Avalanche transceiver | Mammut Barryvox transceiver (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/avalanche-transceiver/primary) | CA$548 | US$400 |
| Avalanche safety | Shovel, metal blade | Backcountry Access Dozer 1T shovel (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/avalanche-shovel/primary) | CA$96 | US$70 |
| Avalanche safety | Collapsible probe | Backcountry Access Stealth 300 probe (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/avalanche-probe/primary) | CA$96 | US$70 |
| Avalanche safety | Lightweight harness and a locking carabiner | Lightweight alpine harness (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/climbing-harness/primary) | CA$151 | US$110 |
| Layers | Base layer tops and bottoms, synthetic or wool | Smartwool merino base layers (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/base-layers/primary) | CA$110 | US$80 |
| Layers | Mid layer | Burton fleece shirt (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/fleece-shirt-sweater/primary) | from CA$123 | US$90 |
| Layers | Shell jacket with a hood | Burton GORE-TEX jacket (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/burton-goretex-jacket/primary) | CA$480 | US$350 |
| Layers | Shell pants or bibs with side zips | Shell pants or bibs (Patagonia or Burton) (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-shell-pants/primary) | CA$411 | US$300 |
| Layers | Insulated pull-on pants (optional) | Insulated pants (Patagonia or Burton) (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/insulated-pants/primary) | CA$274 | US$200 |
| Layers | Down jacket or vest | Down jacket (Patagonia or Burton) (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/down-jacket/primary) | CA$343 | US$250 |
| Layers | Warm toque and a sun hat | Sun hat (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/sun-hat/primary) | CA$75 | US$55 |
| Layers | Mitts, gloves, liners, neck gaiter | Lightweight liner gloves (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/liner-gloves/primary) | from CA$34 | US$25 |
| Layers | Snowboard or ski socks | Ski socks (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-socks/primary) | CA$34 | US$25 |
| Layers | Indoor clothes |  |  |  |
| Eyes, skin, lips | Goggles | Goggles (Smith) (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-goggles/primary) | CA$206 | US$150 |
| Eyes, skin, lips | Sunglasses | Smith sunglasses (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/sunglasses/primary) | CA$137 | US$100 |
| Eyes, skin, lips | Lens cleaning cloth | MR.SIGA microfibre cloths, 12-pack (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/mrsiga-microfibre-12/primary) | CA$16 | US$12 |
| Eyes, skin, lips | Sunscreen and lip protection | Sunscreen (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/sunscreen/primary) | CA$23 | US$17 |
| The day pack and the small things | Day pack, small to medium | Ski touring pack, 30 to 35 litres (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-touring-pack/primary) | CA$247 | US$180 |
| The day pack and the small things | Water bottle or thermos | BLACK+BLUM insulated steel bottle, 850 ml (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/black-blum-bottle-850/primary) | CA$55 | US$40 |
| The day pack and the small things | Blister kit | Blister kit (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/blister-kit/primary) | CA$21 | US$15 |
| The day pack and the small things | Pocket knife | Pocket knife (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/pocket-knife/primary) | CA$55 | US$40 |
| The day pack and the small things | Headlamp | Nitecore USB-rechargeable headlamp (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/nitecore-headlamp/primary) | CA$48 | US$35 |
| The day pack and the small things | Camera, spare batteries, charger | Sony A1 (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/sony-a1/primary) | CA$8,193 | US$5,980 |
| The day pack and the small things | Toiletries and your medications |  |  |  |
| The helicopter | Soft duffel, 60 litres or under | Soft duffel, 60 litres (WANDRD, MEC, REI, Dakine or Patagonia) (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/soft-duffel-60l/primary) | CA$178 | US$130 |
| The helicopter | Weigh the lot at home |  |  |  |
| The helicopter | A bagged lunch for the first day |  |  |  |
| The helicopter | Declare anything flammable |  |  |  |
| The helicopter | Board, poles and tripods as separate items |  |  |  |
| The helicopter | Waiver signed |  |  |  |

## What the lodge provides, and what it rents

From the packing list, which was checked against Mistaya's published equipment and rental lists and Purcell's winter guidance. Anything else, assume is yours to bring.

- Beds, meals, guides and the sauna: In the package at both lodges.
- Towels, soap and shampoo: Mistaya provides them; the list says to assume nothing else.
- Loaner snow boots for stepping outside: Mistaya keeps them at the door; bring light indoor slippers.
- Avalanche kit, for rent: Purcell rents a transceiver, shovel and probe at $30 a day; Mistaya at $60 for the week (transceiver $40, shovel $10, probe $10). Book it with the reservation, not at the hangar.
- Skis and skins, for rent at Mistaya: $40 a day; boots must be rented in the valley before you fly.
- An avalanche rescue practice on arrival: Purcell runs one before anyone tours; expect the same anywhere serious.

## Three that earn their place

1. Mammut Barryvox transceiver (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/avalanche-transceiver/primary), about CA$548. Three antennas, fresh batteries, and practised with. It is the one item on the list you buy for other people as much as for yourself.
2. Burton GORE-TEX jacket (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/burton-goretex-jacket/primary), about CA$480. The shell for the skin track and the whiteout, long in the body with a hood that goes over a helmet. GORE-TEX is the whole point.
3. Goggles (Smith) (https://wildernessledger.com/go/gear/ski-goggles/primary), about CA$206. A lens for flat light is the one that earns its place; a bluebird morning and a whiteout can be the same afternoon.

## Questions about the kit

**What does the essential kit for a backcountry ski week cost?**

About CA$12,900 (US$9,414) for the 29 items on the winter list that name a product and are not marked optional, at street prices. Without the camera that is about CA$4,707 (US$3,434). The board-or-skis line is priced from its cheapest part, the skins. A full splitboard setup as I ride it, the Burton Flight Attendant splitboard with its bindings and skins, is about CA$1,918 on its own. Renting the avalanche kit from the lodge (Purcell $30 a day, Mistaya $60 for the week) takes about CA$740 off.

**Do I need to buy an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe?**

You need to arrive with them. The list says bring your own kit or arrange a rental with the lodge in advance: Purcell rents the three at $30 a day and Mistaya at $60 for the week. A harness and a locking carabiner are on the list too, for glacier travel. Buying is the right answer for anyone who will tour again; renting is the right answer for a first week.

**What does the lodge provide?**

Beds, meals, guides and the sauna at both lodges; towels, soap and shampoo and loaner snow boots at Mistaya. Nothing on the hill is provided: the board or skis, boots, skins, poles, helmet, layers, shell, goggles and the day pack are yours, and the helicopter weighs the lot. Mistaya allows a soft duffel of no more than 60 litres plus a day pack, 35 lb in total.

## The experiences this kit is for

- Mistaya Lodge: https://wildernessledger.com/experience/mistaya-lodge (plain text: https://wildernessledger.com/experience/mistaya-lodge.md)
  Mistaya Lodge: from $2,400 CAD per person for 3 nights, sharing, summer 2027 (2 July to 20 September), with all taxes and the helicopter from Golden included; winter 2026/27 is from $3,400, and every winter week from 31 January to 11 April 2027 was already full when read on 14 September 2026. Read from Mistaya Lodge, winter rates and availability on 14 September 2026.
- Purcell Mountain Lodge: https://wildernessledger.com/experience/purcell-mountain-lodge (plain text: https://wildernessledger.com/experience/purcell-mountain-lodge.md)
  Purcell Mountain Lodge: from $2,598 CAD per person for 3 nights, double, winter 2026/27 (December to April), plus tax, with the helicopter from Golden, meals and guiding in the price, and the lodge says to call for the best rate. Read from Purcell Mountain Lodge, home page (winter 2026/27, starting-from rates) on 14 September 2026.

## Sources

- The winter backcountry lodge packing list: https://wildernessledger.com/backcountry-lodge-winter-packing-list
- Mistaya Lodge winter equipment list: https://mistayalodge.com/winter-equipment-and-information-list/
- Mistaya Lodge rental equipment: https://mistayalodge.com/mistaya-rental-equipment-rates/
- Purcell Mountain Lodge, winter: https://www.purcellmountainlodge.com/winter
- Prices: street prices in USD from the gear catalogue at the time of the build, converted at 1.37 CAD per USD; not quotes.

Every product link above goes through the site's click receipt (/go/gear/), which picks the vendor from the catalogue; some are affiliate links and pay a referral fee at no cost to the buyer. Canonical page: https://wildernessledger.com/kit-for-a-backcountry-ski-week

Written by Ben Taft, Photographer and filmmaker, The Wilderness Ledger (https://wildernessledger.com/about). Ben Taft packed from this list himself and priced the products he carries; the operator's side of the list is in the operator's own words. Every photograph and film is his. Publisher: The Wilderness Ledger. Corrections: hello@wildernessledger.com.