Last Degree Equipment Notes

A few suggestions as to items of kit worth considering and / or modifying :

• Face Mask / Goggles combinations. The classic polar conundrum: The face needs protecting from the sun and the wind / cold but sun glasses steam up and sun cream doesn't really cut it. Most folk opt for Goggles all the time and sewing a loose face mask into the base of the goggles is a good idea. It is more comfortable for long term wearing and steams the goggles less if the face mask is a bit looser fitting like this rather than a normal tight fitting neoprene mask or balaclava which is more effective and necessary in colder, windier conditions.
• Pogies. Think large, loose fitting insulated mitts for motorbike handles. Attached to the ski pole handles this gives your whole hand, wrist and lower arm excellent protection and insulation and even on cold days thin gloves can be worn meaning little jobs can be done efficiently.
• GPS & batteries. Unless you are familiar and proficient with a sextant a GPS is likely to be your main source of reference for navigation. Alternative methods can be used in the sort term e.g. direction of travel in relation to your shadow (following it exactly at C. 1520 Chilean time); direction of travel in relation to the regular pattern of Sastrugi. Worth having a good supply of spare Lithium batteries for your GPS and a complete spare unit.
• Strap-on (compass holder!) On bright, clear days sastrugi forms can be sighted up to around half a Kilometre away ensuring a straight course. In poor visibillity and contrast much more frequent reference must be made to the GPS or compass device. A platform so your GPS / compass sits in a good sighting position means you can leave your hands in the pogies, keep them warm and concentrate on efficient skiing rather than constant stops to hold and sight from the device.
• Kicker skins? The most energy efficient ski / skins / bindings / boots set up in our team was definitely 'The Norweigan set-up'....2/3rd Kicker skins on long light Scott Skis with Rottefella bindings and Alfa polar ski boots
• Hilleberg Tents. For ease of pitching, design and weight to size ration we used Hilleberg Keron 4 tents. Comfortable for teams of 2 and 3. Would be a bit too 'cosy' for 4 large blokes, but very warm! By only splitting each of the 3 poles by the marked halfway joint and rolling them into their large sledge bags we were able to put them up and pack away very swiftly which is a massive time and energy saving over an extended camping trip. To fit them into the sledge like this without any fuss or the need to bungy them on top we used one large expedition pulk and the rest of the team used:
• Paris Expedition Sledges. Light, simple, tough, effective. These sledges also leave a trail like a mini-piste which your companions will appreciate! They can be rigged with cord and a couple of bungees so the sledge bag is very simply kept in place for the flat and fairly smooth terrain expected.
• Bungee Sledge trace. Rigging a thick bungee to take the initial strain of the sledge means it will maintain a better momentum and not feel so jerky going over sastrugi etc. Worth doing.
• Stoves & Fuel. MSR whisperlites were used in preference over more modern and aggressive stoves as they are going for so long in the tent it is nice to be able to actually hear each other speak over the pur (rather than aircraft style roar) of the stove. The clean and efficient Coleman white gas burns well even at very cold temperatures and we allowed for 200mls per person per day with a 10% contingency for getting stuck in bad weather.