Testing my winter gear limits: 1 night in fairytale-like snow-covered mountains

Preview

Saw an opportunity to test my winter gear!

Hoped on a cable car, put on my new trekking skis and shoved my backpack on my shoulders.

Short glide through a good amount of fresh powder. Set up camp at dusk and then went for an extra ski-stroll under the stars.

The temperature dipped to -16,5ºC this time!

"Well, I learned a lot about my gear on this little expedition!"
— In the morning

Watch

Testing my WINTER GEAR LIMITS

Conditions

Ideal: sunny, almost no wind, no precipitations.

Temperature -16,5ºC to -12,8ºC
Altitude 1 600 m
Snow cover 50 cm to 60 cm
Avalanche risk level 1 (out of 5)

"I went through the coldest night I ever got so far in a tent!"
— Still under my quilt, hesitating to go out

Tested gear

OAC Skinbased - XCD BC 160
Cross-country downhill skis
ZenBivy - Light Bed 10F
Quilt + hood
Amok Equipment - Fjøl Winterlight
R-5 sleeping pad
Durston - Xmid Pro 2
Trekking pole tent
MSR - PocketRocket Deluxe
Stove (w/ 4 seasons gas cannister)

Clothes

On the move

Base layer

Warm and highly breathable merino base layer (top + long johns)
Aclima WoolNet Hybrid
Light merino boxer shorts
Aclima LightWool Shorts
Mid-warm merino socks
Aclima Trekking Socks
Light merino beanie
Aclima Lightwool
Light merino buff
Aclima Lightwool
Merino liner gloves
Aclima Lightwool

Mid layer

Light fleece
Fjällraven Ked Fleece Hoodie

Outer layer

Shell jacket
Fjällraven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket
Trekking breathable pants with double wax coating
Fjällraven Keb Gaiter Trousers with Greeland Wax
Winter hiking boots
Salomon Climashield Waterproof
Warm Gloves
Hestra Fält Guide Gloves

At camp

Base layer

Warm merino base layer (top + long johns)
Aclima WarmWool
Warm merino socks
Aclima WarmWool Socks

Mid layer

Light jacket
Fjällraven Keb Padded Hoodie

Outer layer

Down jacket
Fjällraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie
Trekking breathable pants with double wax coating
Fjällraven Keb Gaiter Trousers with Greeland Wax
Hiking boots
Salomon Climashield Waterproof
Warm Gloves
Hestra Fält Guide Gloves

In bed

Warm merino base layer (top + long johns)
Aclima WarmWool
Warm merino socks
Aclima WarmWool Socks
Down jacket
Fjällraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie
Warm merino beanie
Aclima Warmwool
Merino liner gloves
The Heat Company Merino Liner Pro
Sleep Mask
Colocastle Sleep Mask

Other worn items

Cross-Country Downhill Skis
OAC Skinbased XCD BC 160
Trekking poles
Decathlon MT500
Sunglasses
Ombraz Classic armless
Satellite communicator
Garmin inReach Mini 2

Pack

Base weight: 10,57 kg

The Big Three

Backpack 55 L waterproof pack
Durston Kakwa 55 + Nylofume Backpack liner
Tent
Durston X-Mid Pro 2 + TOAKS V-shaped Pegs + custom Tyvek footprint
Sleep system
- Quilt and sheet
  Zenbivy Light bed 10ºF + in Sea To Summit eVent Compression Drysack M
- Mattress
  Amok Equipment Fjøl Winterlight R-5
- Pillow
  Cocoon Pillow Case (filled with unused clothes)

Food

Bottle 1
Smarwater 1.1L
Bottle 2
Smarwater 0.6 L
Hypotonic Electolyte Blend
Waterdrop Microlyte
Stove
MSR PocketRocket Deluxe
Canister
Pinguin 4 Season Mix100 g
Cup with lid
TOAKS LIGHT Titanium 650 ml Pot
Lighter
Bic Mini
Cup lips protection
Snow Peak Hot Lips
Wooden Spoon
Waterproof dry bag
Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag

Electronics

Headlamp
Nitecore NU25 UL 400
Power Bank 1
Nitecore NB10000 Gen 2
Power Bank 2
Nitecore NW5000

Hygiene

Toiletry kit
Hand sanitizer
Pee bottle
Nalgene 16oz wide
Poop kit
Lixada Titanium Shovel + CuloClean Portable Bidet

Safety

Safety kit
Pocket knife (Victorinox Signature), whistle (Fox 40 Classic), repair tape, sewing kit, mattress repair kit, dyneema cord (2.5 mm, 8 m), waterproof matches
First aid kit

Comfort

Chair
Helinox Chair Zero
Hot water bottle
Platypus SoftBottle 1L
Pillow 2
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow Cinch
Swedish cloth
Seat pad
Thermometer
Elitech RC-5+
Air pump
Flextailgear Zero Pump

Filmmaking

Phone
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Tripod
Camolo Phone Tripod Horizontal