What’s in Matthias Scherer's pack?

Matthias Scherer empties the contents of his pack after his successful circumnavigation of the Gran Paradiso range in Italy. The specificity of his ambitious endeavor was to complete the tour in 20 hours instead of the usual 5 days. In this article Matthias explains his choice of gear for this endurance adventure.

1. A pair of light but stiff skis with a 75mm waist for strong edge-hold on icy sections, and a 107mm tip and 94mm tail for enough float in the afternoon slush. My 171cm La Sportiva Maestro skis weigh 940g, and when combined with the ultra-light but sturdy Trab Gara Titan Release bindings that means just over one kilo per foot without having to compromise on stability or safety. I also use leashes since the last thing you want is to lose a ski.
   A pair of light but strong carbon fiber poles with few wraps of duct tape for quick repairs or fixing skins.
2. A 30-liter pack with a functional diagonal ski carrying system and a crampon pocket that is accessible from the outside to speed things up. A pocket on the waist belt serves to carry a tool, wax, knife, and tech cord.
3. A very warm down jacket: it always gets cold above 4000m before sunrise, and when you add a bit of wind and exhaustion you need a very warm jacket. If you have to stop for a long stint, for whatever reason, this jacket might just save your life. Never leave home without it!
4. Light but warm and skiable boots that work well with crampons.
5. An ACTIK headlamp: my emergency headlamp. I did not end up using it, but you never want to be standing on a crevassed glacier or an airy ridge in the dark...
6. The NAO+ is my go-to headlamp: one battery lasted the entire night. REACTIVE LIGHTING technology automatically adjusts brightness to allow you to focus on the terrain, your next step, or your gear while saving precious battery power. I switched the NAO+ on when I set out in the dark and I switched it off when the sun began to rise. During the night I didn't fiddle with it one bit! The rear red indicator light works perfectly, especially to remain visible for your partner, even while skiing fast downhill.
7. Extra batteries for the NAO+ and ACTIK: while I did not end up needing them, I cannot emphasize enough how little they weigh when compared to the huge difference between spending a night out in the cold and finding your way...
8. A 2-way radio: for everyone on the team, including one with access to the rescue network. In addition we carried a FastFind Ranger GPS beacon for emergency situations.
9. A RAD SYSTEM kit: if you plan to spend time on a glacier, you bring the RAD SYSTEM.
10. An ALTITUDE harness: so lightweight you don't even feel it. It carries ice screws extremely well with dedicated slots on the leg loops.
11. A RIDE ice axe: lightweight but still designed with a full steel head for technical sections along the tour.
12. A LASER SPEED LIGHT ice screw: half of the tour traverses across glaciers...
13. LEOPARD crampons for sections firm snow: I never bring ski crampons. If I cannot more move safely on skis, I switch to crampons. The LEOPARD crampons are quick to put on and work perfectly on icy windblown snow.
14. An avalanche beacon.
15. A carbon shovel and a lightweight probe.
16. A red elastic pull cord: if you or your partner is tired, it's great to get or give a pull. The cord attaches to a pack.
17. A first-aid kit with the right contents to stop major bleeds and temporarily secure broken bones until search and rescue arrives.
18. A bivy sack with minimal insulation: just in case, it's always in the bottom of my pack.
19. A SIROCCO helmet: not only for protection from falling ice or rock but also to protect my head from the impact in case of a fall. The SIROCCO is well ventilated and very comfortable to wear since it is so incredibly light.
20. Three different pairs of gloves: one very thin lightweight pair that provides good grip for my poles, gear, or rock; a second pair of over-mittens worn over my lightweight gloves with an opening for the fingers; and a third pair of warm insulated gloves that allows me to grip my poles properly.
21. Two cameras: one for stills and a GoPro for video.
22. White sliced bread without the crust and cream cheese: it's easy to swallow, digest, and is low in sugar.
23. Energy gels with complex carbohydrates, and flasks filled with electrolytes.
24. Full sun and eye protection: yellow glasses for skiing at night, and UV 4 rated glasses during the day. My Gloryfy sunglasses automatically adapt from 2 to 4, which is very practical when the fog rolls in. The same goes for my goggles, they automatically adapt from 1 to 3 and have a strong contrast. I also bring a light headband and a cap to keep my head cool when the sun burns bright.
25. Spare socks: I did not need them but 60km is a long way to go...
26. Extra powdered energy drink with electrolytes, complex carbohydrates, and a little protein.
27. Soft flasks and a bladder: I started out with 2.5 liters of liquids. We refilled on water once at the Vittorio Emanuele hut.