Last spring, the evo marketing crew went to one of our favorite zones in the Cascade Mountains to test Helly Hansen’s backcountry-focused Odin line. Spring in the Cascades can bring any number of different weather conditions, and we experienced the full range as we skinned up from the valley and dropped into a classic couloir.
Backcountry enthusiasts have plenty of options for what to wear while touring; most people have their own preferences and items that they swear by. Softshell jackets and pants are stretchy, highly breathable, and minimize the techy "swishing" sound while walking, which makes for better range of motion and an overall more comfortable experience on the skintrack. Hardshells, meanwhile, are designed to withstand challenging weather like wind, snow, and rain with ease. The Odin line features a mix of hardshell and softshell outerwear that pairs well with Helly Hansen’s insulators. This meant we were well-prepared to take on a variety of different conditions, from the warm skin up through the forest, to chilly ridgetops, and of course the skiing.
Moving Uphill
This is where your turns are earned. Touring uphill is physically demanding and can cause you to quickly overheat, which makes having breathable outerwear like the Odin line a must. You are likely to break a sweat no matter how hard you’re working, so layering is essential. Once you stop moving it can get cold fast, and being sweaty will only accelerate the process. On exposed ridgetops, having a balance of breathability and protection from the wind made the Odin line stand out.
Resting & Refueling
Resting and pacing yourself on a backcountry tour is important to ensure a successful adventure, and you need to be able to stay warm when you’re not moving. We stopped several times along the way as we climbed through old growth forests towards our objective on the ridgetop above. We had the Helly Hansen LifaLoft Insulator Jackets on hand for snack and water breaks. A layer like this that can pack down small in your backpack and provide serious warmth on demand is a must when touring.
Skiing
Once it’s time to click into your skis and descend, the last thing you want to be thinking about is how you’re staying warm and dry. It was windy on the ridge that marked the entrance to the couloir, so we left our insulators on and donned our shells to protect us from the wind and the powder below. Both the hardshells and softshells held up to the elements without a question, although the skiing was so good that we might not have noticed anyway...
What's in their pack for a day tour?
We reached out to some pro riders and guides for their recommendations on what to bring for a successful day in the backcountry.
Robin PendaryCrystal Mountain Ski Patroller, Mountain Guide, and Avalanche Educator
| Josh DirksenPro Snowboarder, Dirksen Derby Race organizer, and Climate Activist
| Ingrid BackstromPro Skier with first descents in Baffin Island, Greenland, Antarctica, and China.
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