On Jan 26, 4:44*pm, "
wrote:
Ever camp on snow?

- Oh, ***no*** to this. Planning to bring 2 thermarests and 2 sleeping
bags (don't have a 4-season sleeping bag). I've slept in sub 10 deg
nights before, but not on snow (racetrack, death valley).

If you have never done an overnight in the snow you may want to give
it a try by skiing in a short distance with your loaded pack, spending
the night with what you think you need before trying expedition
travel. By short, you should be close enough to your vehicle so that
you can self-evaculate without having to trouble search and rescue.

You may also want to try skiing with a loaded pack, both climbing and
descending terrain and trails similar to your proposed trip.
Executing a turn with a full pack on wild snow is a lot different than
turning on groomed Tahoe Donner XC trails.

You may or may not need metal edged skis, but you need a ski that will
support your weight with pack without breaking. Also 100 percent
carbon fiber poles may not survive your calling on them with your
pack.

You may want to take along one of those satallite beacons that send
GPS "cookie crumb" trail locations to a designated E-mail address.
That will simplify recovery if it turns out that you really don't know
what you are doing. That said, wild skiing in nice places is a great
experience. Personally, I'd prefer to do a DNT hut to hut carrying a
lighter pack with guides who know what they are doing.