hike the aspen highland bowl like a baddie
Equipment:
In addition to your normal ski/snowboard gear, you’ll need:
Ski pack or other carrying system to strap your skis or snowboard to your back. Here are my top picks:
Osprey Kamber 32 (red pack pictured) - perfect for both resort or backcountry trips. Fits lunch and extra layers, has an insulated hydration tube to prevent your water from freezing, goggle stash, helmet carry, horizontal or vertical snowboard carry, and plenty of room for avalanche gear. Folds fairly flat to reduce bulk when you aren’t carrying as much (aka for resort days).
Osprey Kamber 22 - smaller version of the Kamber pack. Has all the same features, just more compact. The 32 felt pretty big on me so I’m opting for the 22 as I plan to mainly stick to resort hikes due to the instability of the backcountry this season.
Osprey Kresta 30 - the women’s specific of the Kamber. A bit smaller and straps etc are catered to better fit a women’s body. I personally didn’t like the colors available this season so I’m getting the men’s version.
Osprey Kresta 20 - again, just the women’s specific version in a smaller size.
Top features to look for - insulated hydration tube, carrying system that aligns with your preferences (I personally like the vertical carry for a snowboard which is not available in all packs), goggle stash, internal frame (not a deal-breaker but a nice feature if you are going to be carrying weight for an overnight trip let’s say).
Adjustable poles
As a snowboarder, I managed the hike without poles but if you have a set, it definitely helps! Adjustable is nice so you can stash them in your pack when it’s time to board down and also come in handy if you plan to do any split boarding.
Getting to the trailhead:
Take the Expedition lift up and hop directly on the Loge Peak lift. As you come off the lift, you’ll want to gather as much speed as you can as you follow the traverse between the ski patrol lodge and Deep Temerity lift. It’s fairly obvious where to go as things are well marked. Once you make it up over the small hill you’ll see the conga line of people already on their hike up. Scoot on over to the little base camp area where people are organizing their gear and prep for the hike. *Remember to take your pack OFF while you are on the chairlift. Loose straps can get caught in the heavy equipment which is not a cute look.*
Prep to Hike:
Attach skis/snowboard to pack:
Fortunately there isn’t a ton of prep required! Unclip from your skis or snowboard and decide if you want to carry your equipment horizontally or vertically. I recommend getting a system that allows for vertical carry but some gear is limited to horizontal only. Vertical is more aerodynamic so if it gets windy at the top, you won’t get tugged every which way.
If you’re doing a vertical snowboard carry, you’ll want the bottom strap of your pack positioned just below your lower binding. Be sure to look up how to attach your equipment prior to the hike as each system is slightly different.
Switch sunglasses for goggles:
On a sunny day, you may want to stash your goggles and opt for sunglasses on the hike. Goggles can fog while you’re sweating and sunglasses are bit more comfortable.
Headware:
Really up to you on this one. A helmet will keep your head warm but is bulky and can restrict your head movement. For full range of motion and comfort, strap the helmet to your pack and switch to a beanie or headband.
Footware:
If you have AT ski or snowboard boots now is a great time to switch into hike mode. Otherwise, you’re ready to hike as is!
Hike:
Time to hike! Take it as slow as you need as it can be easy to get gassed at altitude. I drink Wingman Smart Energy 30ish minutes before I hike to help give my body a natural boost. If you get tired and want to take a break, be sure to move off the path so other hikers can pass. Keep powering through until you find a good line to drop in or reach the flags and bench at the top of the second peak - a great spot for a photo op! From there you can’t go wrong - drop in and enjoy the pillowy powder!
