by Mollie Millington | Sep 23, 2019 | outdoors, ski, travel
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| View of the valley |
Skiing is one of my favourite ways to enjoy the winter. Unfortunately, London doesn’t get much snow but mainland Europe does. If you plan ahead, cheap flights can be obtained for a quick weekend getaway on Easy Jet or Ryan Air. Of course, you need to factor in the equipment you are taking in terms of luggage but their are ways to make it affordable. I don’t have much time or knowledge of the European resorts aside from Vernier, so when I saw No Boundaries (NB) was planning a short ski weekend in Italy with yoga in February 2019, I booked in right away (#ipaidforit). I knew it would be an intense weekend with long days and late night dinners with wine but I thought I could make it for three days. Just. With some energy drinks.
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| Hotel lobby |
The NB team can book flights for you with hopefully a discount if there are enough people booked in. I opted for this with a payment of £125 but there were not enough people to get a discount. NB kindly paid the difference for the ticket though. The cost of the weekend included accommodation, airport transfer, hotel breakfast, and lift tickets plus several yoga classes (in the morning and afternoon on full days). NB likes to work with local businesses and guides where possible and booked us at a family-owned hotel that was about 10-20 minute drive from the mountain. The hotel was a bit dated in its decor but very clean and had a state of the art spa and room for yoga in the disco. Unfortunately, I was too tired to spend a lot of time in the spa or take photos. It had a small pool, steam room, cold shower and place to relax. The annex of the hotel had a boot drying rack with a place to leave skis and snowboards overnight. This meant everything was dry for the next day and didn’t clutter up your room.
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| Yoga in the former disco in the basement |
Yoga was at 7am and about 5pm (depending on when the skiers and ice climbers returned) on the full days. We also had a session the evening we arrived and the morning we left. It was beautiful spring spring weather in the Brenta Dolomites (Pinzolo – Madonna di Campiglio -Folgarida/Marilleva Ski Area). It is a small mountain, perfect for families and beginner to novice skiers. There was a van that the hotel lent No Boundaries to drive us to the mountain. We left between 8-8:30am depending on the day and then headed back about 3-4pm. Some people who lived in Italy had driven to the resort, rather than fly, and drove to the mountain on their own. I was a little disappointed the first morning as we didn’t get on the mountain until after 11am. This was because we had to wait for people to get fitted for their rental gear and the company rep to obtain the lift passes in a long line.
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| Small bags and good snacks |
With a limited amount of time to ski, I prefer carrying snacks and eating on the chair lift. This also saved me some money too. The sunshine was amazing though and many people enjoyed a drinks and some french fries. The food prices were extremely reasonable for a ski resort but the lines were also long. We didn’t have time to stop at the grocery store for sandwiches either.
There are a few small shops within walking distance of the hotel and a large supermarket on the way to the mountain. The hotel has a three course dinner available for 15 Euros. Most of the group met about 7-7:30pm to have dinner together. We all shared common interests in travel, being outdoors and keeping fit. It was lovely to meet several other women who were also travelling alone. Although booking solo holidays isn’t always fun, I don’t want to wait around for someone else to join me. It is too hard to find dates off work, a destination, activity, and budget that matches up. Of course, there was plenty of delicious wine along with dinner to fuel the conversation (you have to pay for it but again, the prices were very affordable). Our last night, there was a grappa tasting at the hotel put on by a local distillery. Not sure how often this happens but it was a nice treat.
All in all, I had an awesome time. The only problem was the traffic on the way back to the airport (which should have been a three hour drive) meant I missed my flight. As I had to check in my skis, the airline counter had closed by the time I got there (30 minutes before departure). My tour guide who didn’t have any luggage was able to make the flight and was very helpful getting me in touch with the NB main office who paid for my hotel and new flight hoe the following morning. I am sure NB took this hiccup on board, as well as my feedback to obtain the lift passes ahead of time so that people who have their own equipment can do so asap.
I once again have extreme travel insurance which covers winter sports, so I am thinking about booking another weekend with NB. It will have to be after the Tokyo Marathon though so I don’t know if there will still be snow on the mountains. If you want to get away and ski or snowboard for an affordable weekend this winter, check out the ski/snow board page on No Boundaries website and let me know when you are going in case I can join you.
As I said earlier, I paid for 100% of this trip. No Boundaries is not compensating me in any way for sharing my experience or their links. I enjoy supporting small businesses that promote leading an active lifestyle and spending time outdoors.
by Mollie Millington | Aug 19, 2019 | travel
It has been a while since I posted. Of course, I feel guilty about this because a “good” blogger posts on a regular basis. When you don’t see me much on the blog, that is because I am out living life in a big way. This month has been no different. Most of my time outside work as been spent outside. I had the London Triathlon (race report coming soon!) and then was in the USA for a week visiting family and friends before a week-long course in Bar Harbor, Maine. I had never been to that part of Maine before and highly recommend for those who also love the great outdoors.
The sun was shining something fierce on the East Coast during our stay and I have happily developed a slight tan despite wearing sunscreen every day. My time was spent hiking up mountains, swimming in lakes, exploring American history, shopping at Goodwill (an American charity shop) and eating a lot of donuts. The #augustrunstreak has been a success so far too. Having an aim of just one mile a day made it very achievable and dare I say, fun.
Check out my Strava profile to see the places I explored on foot.
I am now back in London, feeling refreshed and excited about the things to come. My list of blog posts to write is long and there are a few more adventures I have booked in that need some additional planning. Somehow, I will find the time as all of these things make me happy. I am also re-branding and can’t wait for you to see the fantastic design ThinkMarsh Studio has come up with.
As my tan starts to fade, I will be thinking fondly of the good times I had in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Maine this summer. Hopefully you were able to follow the highlights of each location on Facebook and Instagram. If there is anything in particular from these trips you would like me to write about, please leave a comment below and I will do my best to get an answer up by September.
by Mollie Millington | Jul 12, 2019 | product review, running, travel
Summer race season is here. Many committed runners have ultras booked in (any race longer than a marathon) and some even are looking forward to an ultra in an extreme location, such as high mountains, hot jungles, arctic snow, or in the desert. I only have experience with a desert ultra so far so I thought I would share the things I am glad I packed. Of course, this list is not exhaustive nor specific to your event. Be sure you read all of the race info when packing as some races, like Marathon des Sables, you have to carry everything you pack while you run. But others, like Ultra X Co’s events, will transport your luggage for you. These are important details you don’t want to overlook.
In no particular order, here is a short packing list. Items marked with a ✓ are for if you do not have a weight restriction. I will say that a local Jordan man joined us last minute with a regular rucksack, plain old trainers, and a baseball hat and was able to finish the race. No sunglasses or fancy equipment. Mind over matter, eh?
Salt/hydration- In the desert, you are going to sweat more in order for your body to deal with the heat. Plus you will be running, which is another reason to sweat. Staying hydrated is very important. Drinking plain water on its own will affect your body as osmosis in your cells won’t work properly. You need to add salt in some shape or form to your drinks and food. I used Aptonia Salt capsules* during my race, along with nuun tablets and salted pretzels. I kind of made up my own dose and luckily didn’t have any problems. Please speak to a professional when determining how much salt you should take and when.
Poles- I used my Leki Micro Trail poles (similar to these Micro Trail Pros) every day except the first when out in the desert. I didn’t strength train enough, nor practice enough in sand, to move efficently. With the poles, I could use my upper body to pull myself along, as well as keep steady in the shifting sand. My poles have a minimalist ‘glove’ which protected my hands and secured the poles. They easily unclipped from the poles for ease (rather than having to remove the entire glove). The poles were super-light and folded up if I needed to attached then to my rucksack instead of using them. Poles tend to be a personal preference. If you are new to desert running, I would say give them a try. The majority of the competitors used them.
Sunscreen- This is a no brainer. Adding a sun burn on top of fatigue would really put a damper on the race. My Race Kit recommended Tingerlaat SPF50 because the sand won’t stick to it. It was expensive but I used it and can report that the sand didn’t stick to me at all.
Cap or scarf- You need to have something to cover your head from the sun. I picked up the RaidLight Sahara cap and loved it as the cloth attaches with velcro.
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| My snazzy cap and Salomon Agile 6 with Camelbak |
Bag to carry stuff- If you don’t have to carry everything with you, but just what you need for the day, a small rucksack could do the trick. Of course, you should try running in the bag before your race. Figure out how/were a hydration pack will go too. The Salomon Agile 6 worked for me. I had two water pouches (one for plain water and one for nuun tablets) plus it fit my 2L hydration pack. I would have preferred zippered pockets on my waist for easy access to snacks but I guess that is why the bag was so light!
Snacks you crave- As I mentioned, I had pretzels for the salt, but also Haribos, protein cookies, Lucho Dillitos, and more to keep me sane. The one thing I didn’t pack but wish I had was Diet Coke (hello- no weight limit!).
Warm clothes for evening- Depending on the time of year and where you are sleeping, the desert can get a bit chilly in the evening. The nights we were in tents, I was fine. We did have one windy evening outside on a rock, for which I wore my beanie cap and everything I had that was dry.
Biodegradable loo roll- Lessen your environmental impact but using biodegradable loo roll. I found it basically disintegrated when it got wet but it was better than nothing when in the middle of a 50km run.
Sunglasses- You need to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays, as well as have a slight barrier for blowing sand. My SMITH Attack Max with Chromo Pop were amazing. They wrapped around my eyes and had a maximum view of the landscape ahead of me due to the single lens design. The other cool thing, is that the lenses are interchangeable so I could choose a lens to suit the weather (but never had to swap as the sun was bright every day). This option is perfect for like in the UK.
Music for the long days ✓- I bought a £10 MP3 player off of Amazon and only used it on my longest day. I went for something cheap as I wasn’t sure how the heat and sand would affect the technology. To be honest, I don’t usually run with music, so for not having music the majority of the race wasn’t a problem.
Solar powered battery pack ✓- This should be the first extra thing you pack when you discover you can. I used it to charge my fitness tracker and activity camera (or faux pro as I like to call it). Of course, I was not running to win the race which meant I had plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the scenery.
Blister kit- This is a no brainer. Do your research to figure out exactly what you need. Practice taping your feet up beforehand too.
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| Getting blisters fixed by the pros |
Hand sanitizer- For the wild wees and camping without running water. Nobody wants to get sick in the middle of the desert. Along the same lines, don’t high five anyone until after the race.
Camera ✓- As mentioned above, I had a faux pro for snapping the scenery and taking some videos (which will some day be a vlog). The serious competitors did no bother with this or used their mobile phones. It depends on how you want to remember and commemorate the experience.
Diary and pen to write memories ✓- This would be the thing I pack after the battery pack. I have a terrible memory so I needed to take a few minutes each evening to record what happened that day. After a while, everything becomes a blur! If weight is precious, you can download an app, such as Evernote, to type in your memories each evening. It works without internet.
Head torch- Because it gets dark. Make sure it had red light so you don’t wake up your tent mates and is strong enough to light the path ahead of you when running before sunrise.
Container and spork for eating food- Depending on what you pack, you will probably need a bowl of some sort (although I think for MDS you can use water bottle) and a spork. You will be hungry.
Comfy shoes with insoles- In Jordan, I wore the Salomon S Lab Sense 6* (similar to these Sense 7s) with SOLE active medium insoles*, plus sand gaiters. Because of my history of Achilles tendinopathy, I am very particular about what trainers I run in. I need something stable and cushioned. The Senses were super comfortable during my training before I had the velcro for the gaiters sewn on. Unfortunately, that is a risk with any pair of shoes when you have to add on velcro. I was so bummed I couldn’t wear them any more! I have worn SOLE in the past and went with the medium thickness to allow for sandy conditions where my foot would be flexing over uneven terrain. I then transferred them to one of my other pairs of running shoes and am very happy with the fit.
If you have ever run a desert ultra, let me know if there is anything I have missed off of this list by leaving a comment below. If you want a packing list for a regular race, click here to have a read of my head-to-toe packing list.
Interested in the Ultra X Jordan race (read my review of the 2018 event here)? Entries close 21 July 2019. You had better register asap if you want to join the team this year.
Items marked with an * were given to me pro gratis to review. As always, all opinions are honest and my own. This post also includes affiliate links which cost the buyer nothing extra, but help contribute to running this website.
by Mollie Millington | Jun 19, 2019 | outdoors, travel, water sports, yoga
After the dance floor, being on the water is my favorite place to be. It is hard living in London, though, to find bodies of water that are not crowded, polluted and/or freezing cold. A few weekends ago, we headed to a wedding in Cornwall during which time we spent a lot of time on coastal trails (and dancing on the dance floor). Even though it was slightly overcast, and stormy seas meant we couldn’t SUP or go on a boat tour, we still manged to get sand in our shoes and take in amazing views.
Two weeks later, I found myself back in Cornwall. Freewave Surf Academy invited me to their site in Bude for their three day surf and yoga retreat (#gifted). The weekend was jam packed but I will try to fill you in on the key bits of info. If you have any questions though, leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer. The weekend kicked off at 4pm on a Friday night with welcome drinks, a yoga lesson and an introduction to surfing lesson on the beach. To finish the evening, a two course vegetarian dinner was served at the house. Unfortunately, I was unable to arrive until 10pm as I was on a course in London until 5pm. I had to take a train to Exeter and was collected my another attendee (who had a car) from Exeter Central Station for the two hour drive to Bude. They did put some food aside for us to enjoy when we arrived. Everyone waited up but quickly went to bed as they already had a yoga class and surf lesson that evening.
The accommodation was a beautiful five bedroom house with large garden, decks, outdoor BBQ, air hockey table, games, and two sitting rooms. We spent most of our time around the kitchen table for breakfast and snacks for lunch. There were two double bedrooms (one with en suite), three bedrooms with two single beds (one with en suite) and then another full bathroom and a half under the stairs. Elle from Keep it Simpelle and I shared a twin room. Loads of windows and sliding glass doors meant the sunlight (when available) illuminated the rooms. There was parking for about five cars and an outdoor shower to rinse out wet suits and feet of sand. We had to move some furniture for yoga when it was raining outside which made all of the spaces very versatile. Plus the beach was close enough to walk to.
Saturday and Sunday are structured differently, depending on the tides. A typical schedule may look like this (although we had 6:00am start on Saturday). The key points are one surf lesson each morning and two yoga classes per day.
7am yoga
8:30am surf lesson
10:30am brunch and video feedback
free time until…
1pm cake and tea
3pm yoga
5pm surf film and chill time on Saturday
7pm dinner on your own on Saturday (we went to a great restaurant, The Beach House, down the road) / BBQ at the house on Sunday
The surf lessons started with basics of how to line up on your board, how to keep it stable as you push up and several options on how to stand up. I was fairly confident that I would not be able to stand up as I cannot do a squat thrust or burpee well. Although I didn’t manager to stand up at my first lesson, I did on my second and third. Robin (Freewave Surf Academy owner) and Charlie (instructor) were there to keep an eye on the six of us, offering tips, providing real-time feedback and keeping our boards stable when a big wave was approaching. In addition to watching us in the water, Robin and Charlie took turns videotaping us from the beach and with a GoPro in the water. After our lessons (which lasted about an hour), we had time to shower and get dressed before Robin put together the clips and reviewed points each of us needed to work on. The primary observation for me was that I needed to keep my head up (looking at where I wanted to go rather than the board) when I tried to stand up.
As I mentioned earlier, we had yoga indoors on the first two days. On Sunday, there was enough sunshine to have one practice in the garden and the second on a clifftop overlooking the sea. There are too many amazing photos (taken by Tommy Hatwell, Plymouth-based commercial and portrait photographer) of both sessions to share here but I have included a few of my favorites. Yoga was taught by the talented Anna Young who is also one of the Freewave Surf Academy instructors. She has a real calming presence and fantastic choice of music. She also helped with breakfast in the mornings and tidied up after us (thank you Anna!).
A fun surprise was taking part in a beach clean up with Ado, who works for the local task force. He explained how much plastic washed up on the beach but also how much the local community works to keep the beach tidy. There were litter pickers and bags at the beach entrance for a #2minutebeachclean movement. We were out there for an hour and filled up one bucket worth of items. Another group had been through earlier, and they collected a lot more than we did. Her told me about how Legos from an old sunken container are washing up on the shore (ironically a sea-themed design) and how his Jack Russel can sniff out stranded seals in the dark.
Most of the guests left Sunday afternoon and evening to get home before work on Monday. With only three people left on Monday, we had an early yoga class and a quick surf session before brunch at 10:00am. There weren’t many waves but I did catch a few small ones before heading back to the house. Robin was kind enough to cook up eggs and bacon at our request. It was a family meal as Charlie and Anna joined us before Elle gave me a lift back to London and Amanda headed back to Staffordshire.
Similar to my ski weekend in Italy with No Boundaries, it was a jam-packed weekend with little time for sleep. My goal for the weekend was to be outside as much as possible. I packed my snorkel, running shoes and trail shoes for hiking. I also had my iPad for reading e-books, and my laptop for doing work (which I only used on the train). The stormy seas were too cloudy for snorkeling and I was too exhausted to run (aside from a few shots with Tommy in the dunes on Sunday night). The weather wasn’t great either so I was happy to stay inside and chat to the other ladies staying that weekend.
The biggest challenge of the weekend was transportation to Bude. It isn’t easy to get to if you don’t have a driving licence or car. The house we stayed at is about 15 minute drive from town, but a short walk from the beach where there is a small snack hut. The fridge and cupboards were stocked with a variety of foods (including dietary requests such as vegan and dairy-free) and drinks (including wine, beer, and gin) but you might want to bring your favorite snacks. For example, I should have packed Diet Coke. The seven of us went to town on Saturday afternoon for grocery shopping (as a few people choose to cook their own meal on Saturday night) and the chemist. We also discovered Temple, a very Instagramable coffee shop and bar that Charlie also works at.
Would I do it again? Heck, yes! I suggested before we left that we schedule a reunion retreat and I hope we do in the autumn before it gets too cold. Robin was open to feedback from us as it was the very first time he held the retreat and he had another group coming in right after us. He was a fantastic host with lots of laughter from everyone over the weekend. I think it would be an active alternative to a birthday party or hen do. You could also make it a couples weekend or travel on your own to meet new people who are interested in the same sports as you. Freewave Surf Academy is happy to arrange any extras that you need (within reason, of course).
Is surfing something you have been meaning to try but haven’t yet? Don’t be shy but instead book in to this intensive weekend and let me know how you get on.
Thanks to Freewave Surf Academy for this complimentary weekend experience. All views and opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 21, 2019 | travel
Wow! Part of my recent feeling low was not having any trips to look forward to. I love to travel (maybe due to the escapism of real life?) but in the last few weeks a plethora trips have firmed up making 2019 look pretty darn adventurous.
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| Hoping this is actually a photo of Cornwall |
Our first trip is to Cornwall on southwestern coast of the England. We are going to a wedding for the Bank Holiday weekend. I have never been to that part of the UK and I miss being near the ocean. Plus I am looking forward to exploring a new bit of Britain. It seems like in the last eight years, I have been limited in the places I have visited in England because Europe and Africa are also close. This year, I hope to visit a few new corners, far and wide. Back to Cornwall though! All of my fingers and toes are crossed for sunshine while we are beach side. Aside from the wedding, we have booked on to a sea life cruise to see grey seals and puffins in the wild, a SUP session (will the water be chilly?) and James is packing his bike. I decided I can ride my bike in London anytime but I can’t sit by the sea.
A few weekends later, I find myself back in Cornwall. Freewave Surf Academy has kindly invited me down for a weekend of surfing and yoga (#gifted). It will be my first attempt at surfing and I am not feeling confident as I can’t do a burpee or squat thrust. I should probably start some sort of burpee challenge between now and then to ensure I succeed. Anyone care to join me?
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| Marshes in the tidal zone at Love Trails 2018 |
In July, I am headed back to the Gower Peninsula for Love Trails Festival (and James is coming along too!). Last year, I had the best time (the weather definitely helped) and I can’t wait to do it all over again. Once again, I am volunteering to lead a few runs. The organizers have also marked trails to the Blue Lagoon so people can go on their own and also arranged a free shuttle bus around the peninsula to help people explore.
Somewhere between now and November, I will be joining No Boundaries (NB) for a three-day hiking tour in Italy. A few friends and I have bought our trip credits and are waiting to hear on the possible dates. Back in February, I went on a three-day ski trip with NB (which I still need to write up) and had a blast. It was lovely being away with people with common interests (skiing, being in nature, and of course, wine). Hiking will be a bit of change (aside from Kilimanjaro) in terms of an active holiday. I have no idea how rigours it will be but I think being outdoors with my friends will make it unforgettable.
My day job is sending me a week-long training course in Maine, USA in August. To take advantage of being stateside, James and I are spending a few days in Boston and Philly before I head to Maine. I went to university in Boston and can’t wait to take my nephews to the New England Aquarium (where I worked part-time during uni) and dine with old friends (as in I have known them for a long time, not that they are old LOL).
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| View of Edinburgh beach |
My mom arrives for her annual visit in September, along with her friend, Donna. They have visited us twice now. Each time we explore somewhere new. Their first trip we went to Bath and the next one we did an Irish roadtrip. This year, we are spending a few days in Edinburgh for a change of scene. I see castle tours and whiskey tasting in our future! If it isn’t too far, I would also like to visit Loch Ness and St. Andrews, but I need to consult with the geographer before booking anything.
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| Hiking on mountain tops |
My big adventure for 2019 is the Orbis Challenge in October. 2018 spoiled me bit between Kilimanjaro and Jordan. My lack of mojo at the start of this year was partly due to lacking a sense of adventure. Just like Kilimanjaro, I saw a tweet that sparked my interest and I was quickly connected to the team. Slowly, I am being introduced to the team and helping sort out brand sponsorship. This is an amazing opportunity to train/travel with Dame Kelly Holmes and interact with local people in Malawi, while learning about their plight with malnutrition. There are three spaces left if you want to join me. We are also gathering sports kit for the local school and monetary donations for feeding the local children. (I totally get that I fund raise a lot. What can I say? I like helping people!)
Finally, we are dreaming of powder ski days in Colorado for Christmas. A few ducks need to be put into a row so stay tuned for this one. Let it snow!
by Mollie Millington | Apr 1, 2019 | product review, ski, travel
Spring skiing season is here and many people are headed out for one more epic session on the slopes over Easter break. It can be hard to know what to pack and how to maximize your luggage space, so I though I would share my tips on how and what to pack for a ski and/or snowboarding holiday.
Check airline regulations for baggage. I learned this the hard way on our recent trip to Switzerland. Some airlines consider ski boots and skis to be one item, while others count them as two bags. Be sure to read the ‘sports equipment’ policy of the airline you are flying with. Snowboard bags can usually hold boots too so you just need to check your bag fall within the allowed oversized luggage dimensions. I would also recommend checking how much an extra luggage bag is when booking flights, just in case it is cheaper to pay for a “more expensive” flight that includes one luggage bag.
Use clothes to pad equipment in luggage. When I went on my trips this year, I was able to put all of my clothes (long underwear, ski socks, snow pants, change of clothes, and swim suit) into my ski bag. My toiletries and sneakers went into my boot bag so I didn’t need to check any bags at an additional cost. By wrapping the clothes around my skis and poles, I knew my kit would be protected from being damaged in the hold.
Wear snow boots and helmet (read my tips on how to choose one here) on plane. You probably know this, but wear your bulky clothes on the plane to save room in your luggage. This means if you have big boots for the snow, you should wear these on the plane. Also, it is best practice to carry your helmet on the plane with you. Checking it in the hold puts it at risk for damage from being crushed or banged up from other bags which means it will be less effective or need to be replaced earlier.
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| WED’ZE jacket and trousers |
Dress for the weather. My ski jacket is a WED’ZE AM580 All Mountain from Decathlon* (now on offer) and my snow pants (also from Decathlon) are the WED’ZE Piste Skiing 580 Slim trousers*. The jacket I have been wearing all winter in London and it has always kept me warm. On both my ski trips this year, the weather was warm and my jacket kept me at the right temperature on and off the slopes. The trousers fit well while allowing me a good range of motion even with a layer of long underwear underneath. I would have liked them to be a little warmer though after I got covered in snow after a fall. But when I was able to stand standing on my way down, they were perfect insulation.
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| Icebreaker Bodyfit |
As I am always cold, I was excited to test the Ice Breaker Bodyfit zone 200 leggings and long sleeve top base layers. I am probably merino wool’s #1 fan. It keeps your body temperature in check, doesn’t smell (which means you don’t have to wash it after every use), and it is super soft. The Bodyfit line also has mesh panels to help you release heat from key areas, while other panels help keep the heat in. I wore my set in Italy and Switzerland this year, as well as a few chilly nights here in London and have never been disappointed. Icebreaker merino wool comes in different thicknesses which you can mix and match based on your destination and activity.
Snacks and packed lunch. We make GORP (equal parts peanuts, raisins, M&Ms and granola) to eat on the mountain and pack protein bars too. Food and drinks on the mountain can be very expensive and take a long time to queue for. I prefer having portable snacks I can eat on the chair lift to maximize my time on the slopes. A big breakfast and proper dinner balance me out. The trails and lift lines tend to be empty while everyone is getting lunch, so try to plan your day around that. What you pack for snacks is up to you and your budget constraints.
Invest in a Trixski* to carry your kit. This simple strap is really handy if you have small kids and need to carry their kit. Or if you are clumsy like me and can’t carry your skis without them falling out of your arms. You can also get an additional strap to carry a snowboard. It is easy to store off the slopes and fits into your jacket pocket while you on piste.
Little things you should not forget. Don’t forget tissues, sunscreen, lip balm with SPF, a water bottle that doesn’t leak, hand and/or foot warmers, and sunglasses. I also like to wear a small rucksack to hold these things, and my snacks. It is also handy to hold your hat, gloves, and goggles when walking to and from lift.
These are my top seven tips for packing for a ski trip. If your accommodation has a washing machine, you can do laundry and pack even less. I prefer to bring two changes of long underwear and regular clothes in case something gets wet.
Did I forget anything? What do you always pack when you are headed towards the slopes?
Items marked with a * were given to me for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
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