Magnificent scenery, how relaxing to be out there camping and savouring nature. Can't believe you were trekking in the dark, wow you're far braver than I am!
That is gloriously beautiful. Incredible light. For some reason this one almost feels like you're on another planet. I'm learning a lot about winter camping from your videos as well as enjoying the footage of the wild beauty of Canada. Fantastic. I sure appreciate the work that goes into this.
I find that hiking in the winter, I'm very cautious. The days are so short and I don't like being on the move when the dark sets in winter time. I don't know why, but I think I worry about the "negative cone", which means, that in a cold environment I don't want to many things that could go wrong. I need to be in camp when the dark sets....In summer, I can hike all night😃 Good work! Beautiful scenery
I live in the Pacific Northwest of the US and there is such a huge difference between the kind of snow Kane is navigating and the snow we get in the Cascades. That’s tough going in that powder for sure.
Love you videos dude! Beast mode hiking is the best, setting a goal you have to get to!! After wanting to since 2018, finally got the guts to post one of my own!... This editing shit is hard, basiced alot of mu videos off of yours!
2022 was a big snow year, I crossed from the Ghost into Banff via the Carrot Peak route on the May 24 weekend - It was still winter. I remember waiting out June for the snow to melt before getting into anything serious. Where did you start from to get to Porcupine? Shark?
Completely different landscape - when we were there in the summer there was a lot of smoke. I don’t remember being able to see Assiniboine from the pass.
I use my phone with GaiaGPS since I have access to several layers of maps (Gaia topo, Canada Topo, slope angle, satellite etc). A also use my watch (cheap garmin instinct) for quick access to a compass and altimeter. I always have a small compass but almost never use it anymore. Mostly navigating using landmarks and terrain features. There's practically no way to follow a trail unless it's a major cut through forest since there are no blazes here. This is another factor that slows winter travel vs summer trail hiking.
Enjoyed this video! Thanks for sharing it. I'm just starting to break into this backcountry/XC ski camping. The amount of options for skis is overwhelming! I've got some classic skis with metal edges but I'd think they'd be narrow for off trail in all but the firmest conditions. Do you mind sharing your ski setup/thoughts on a good all around setup for this kind of trip? I'm more interested in this type of ski trip than something more downhill focused. I've been considering approach skis too. Any experience with those? Thanks!
It’s pretty minimal - gopro for handheld and a sony zv1f for locked off shots. The zv1f does pretty well in low light & is inexpensive enough to not stress over breaking it.
Quick question: Why didn't you camp on the pass ? Was it because of permits (european here)? Conditions seemed okay. I consider the ability to turn around or prematurely ending a trip one of the most important backcountry skill. Thank you for highlighting this. Great content as usual.
There are designated camp sites in Banff NP that are reserved with a permit. I would hope that if there is a need to re-route due to inclement weather or a real emergency they wouldn't punish you for camping somewhere else, but when you put videos out on RU-vid it's pretty important to follow the rules. The area where I was contemplating pushing to the pass at 2:45 would have been a phenomenal spot to camp though... A bit less exposed compared to where I took a break.
Have you tried double layer foil insulation mats sold on Amazon? Is it important to insulate ground around the mat as well? I've got 2 person tent and thought about insulating the whole floor...
Depends what you're doing and how you're carrying your gear. It's nice to have some insulation next to your pad but I can't afford all the extra weight and bulk. I tried a cheap Amazon mat once and it was a disaster, completely useless. Nice on paper, but not in practice... Hard to beat evazote CCF, folding Z style pad, or TR ridgerest. They are durable and insulate very well.
