Our backcountry expert Andy Malton from thegemsstock is back with another helpful article, this time explaining everything you need to know to prepare yourself for camping out in the backcountry.

Being isolated from normality for a few days can really put life in perspective

Camping in winter can sometimes be a desperate affair, but it can also be one of the coolest experiences to be had in the mountains. A well placed camp can be the key to accessing to big, remote lines that might otherwise be out of reach and spending time camped out in the mountains also helps to become more in-tune with the surroundings and gain a better feel for snow and avalanche conditions. Plus, being isolated from normality for a few days can really put life in perspective.

It probably goes without saying that you need to be an adventurous kind of snowboarder to even consider this kind of thing, but for anyone prepared to put the effort in, the rewards can be big. Check out any of the’ Deeper, Further, Higher’ trilogy of films to see how camping in the backcountry can potentially up your snowboarding experience to the next level. It’s pretty essential you know what you’re doing though, so here’s our guide to the ins and outs of planning for camping and snowboarding in the backcountry.

A big element of the whole backcountry camp scenario is the gear involved. In some cases regular backcountry snowboarding kit is going to do the trick just fine. In other areas some pretty specialist equipment and clothing will be required…