Gettin into Backcountry

K

KootenayGuy

Active member
I wanna get into backcountry this year or next, cuz im gettin some trainin soon and one of these days ill buy the equipment. Do most ppl go by the avy report or do u test the snow everytime and shit? Is there a specific certificate i should get? and how do most ppl begin to venture into this kinda thing?

...For I have dined on honey dew and drunk the milk of paradise! --------------------I like to jam
 
1. go with a guide 2. take classes and shit over the summer and some in the winter for a hands on thang 3. go with friends who no what there doing. 4. start SMALL

 
Well there are a few things you should really know. First, if your gonna go deep in the BC, and I don't just mean ducking ropes you need the right gear.

You should have a small, comfortable pack w/ hydration system, a beacon (depends on where and how far you go, a telescoping shovel, a probe, and I always take a little thing of rope. If you have the room and weight to spare other gear may be helpful such as carabeaners(sp), some power bars, or more first aid gear. Most ski towns or resorts offer BC training or information classes. Hope this helps.

better to burn out...

...then fade away
 
Definitely take an avy course. Don't fuck around with the backcountry- it'll fuck you if you don't respect it.

____________________

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Learn the snow forcast from the past week, it will give you an idea of how stable the snow is, check the avy report for the day, always carry transciever, shovel, probe, and ride with a partner. Yes every time before dropping into a new bowl, anywhere without tracks, make cuts, read the snow layers, And don't start slides above your friends! you'll kill 'em.

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take an avy course and ski with people who know what theyre doing, dont be dumb and die.

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Teddy

Member Number: 431
 
come to the east coast and you wont have to worry about avalanches, unless you're at tucks.

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They slide on the face fingers at Jay somtimes, somtimes they will if you can really get a slide goin it'll all crash down Valhala.

better to burn out...

...then fade away
 
Better yet, know the snowpack conditions for the last month. Once you find a place or two that you like, study conditions everyday for a few minutes. You can find these reports on some states avalanche websites or other such organizations or from people who ski/board there. Also, take a level 1 avalanche class, most of them should give you about half classroom, half real mountain experience.

'I would be embarrassed to constantly complain about my life considering all the freedom and opportunities we have today. People that can't find anything they enjoy in life simply aren't giving it a real try.' ~Nick 311
 
if you're getting into the back country there's alot of preparation that you should do. avalanche awareness is your main priority. you should start off by taking a course for sure and it wouldn't hurt to read a few books as well.

second is you equipment. the necessities are peeps, probe and shovel. before you start any gnar lines, you and your buddies should play hide and seek at night with your transceivers. once you guys get good with that, then explore.

some equipment which i recommend but isn't always needed are alpine trekkers, skins, camel back, head lamp, compass, and radios. if you're really getting off the broken path you'll want crampons, lots of rope, and some other crazy gear that starts to cross the line between backcountry skiing and mountaineering/ice climbing.

before venturing out you should also check your local avalanche conditions bulletin. canada has the Canadian Avalanche Association (avalanche.ca) and i recommend you go there to research this subject further if you are serious. you should keep track of past snow conditions and based on that information you can help predict avalanches better. a general rule of thumb is to keep it within resort for the first 48 hours after a storm. a day or two of consolidation is generally enough to stablize a slope but sometimes a weak layer can present problems weeks and months after falling.

knowledge is your friend and the more you know the better decisions you will be able to make. visit the CAA see what they have to say. in the jungle, a dumb monkey is a dead monkey.

 
ya dont just know the snow from the last week like reefsider or whatever said, you got to know if from the whole winter, cause that shit can slide all the way to teh bottom of a snowpack

'Don't fuck with me 'cause I'm going to delete everything you ever post and have ever posted - Flanker, A moderator
 
1) get a probe 2) take lessons and shit 3) Never trust hippies 4) most emportant never go in to the backcountry without your good friend Mary Jane Oh and ski responsably...

 
please don't kill me with your pot-induced avalanches...

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I'm from the east coast and just picked up some alpine trekkers and skins for x-mas so I can do much more exploring around Stowe. Tons of shit planned. Even though the east coast isn't famous for avalanches (except for tucks) there are still tons of backcountry knowledge you need. You need to know your route, many east coast woods can lead you to a flat runout and before you know it, its dark and your slogging through waist deep snow. Last year at least 10 people got lost in the Jay/Stowe woods throughout the year.

2nd you need to know first aid, more than basic first aid is better. Always have waterproof matches/lighter, space blacket, compass and maps (know how to use both and know generally where you are in the first place), a whistle as well. The list goes on.

Going in to the backcountry sounds cool, but its much cooler to go in prepared and with knowledge, but like everything it doesn't matter how much you study, you still have to go out and experience it and get into trouble and get out of it. Start with small trips and work your way up. In the end its alllll worth it.

 
i'll guess i'll just repeat everything that's been brought up by saying that you need to gain as much knowledge about snowpack, terrain, weather, ect., bring a buddy who know's what they're doing and will watch out for you and have all the right gear.

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with hydration packs how do u keep the water in the tube from freezein?

...For I have dined on honey dew and drunk the milk of paradise. --------------------I like to jam

 
read november POWDER the article in there was pritty correct...

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'dont keep it in the tube, blow it back into the bag'

Thats a good idea i never thought about that. I was having that exact problem lately with the recent cold spells (-25).anywhere else though that quote would be really damn funny. Anyway other than reiterating what everyone else said the next best thing is to make sure you are with people that you absolutely trust with your life. Im not even kidding. if you're in a slide, your life is in their hands. And practise with your transceivers all the time. If in doubt about a slope ever, just dont ski it, theres always another time when the conditions are better, or youre more sure of waht is and isnt safe.

 
yo. before you do anything you need to read as much shit as you can and watch as many videos as you can about people dying in avalanches. i don't wanna discourage you from hitting the back country, but you just really need to fully understand that everytime you leave the gates or go for a hike you are putting yourself at risk to die - as well as all your friends. bad shit happens and you can never be entirely safe. remember when craig kelley died last year, remember all the shit in BC and the northwest? some of those people that died knew about avalanches and were extremely educated and expereienced, granted the conditions were bad last year, but sometimes bad shit just happens. you just really need to know that you might die if you go out, period. i know it sounds dark but its just the truth. then if you can accept that, then educate yourself, classes are absolutely worth it - books aren't hands on. but most important is that you have faith in your partners and that you realize that other's lives are in your hands. good luck dude.

the white n word
 
no matter how much knowledge you have of the backcountry anything can happend, you have to prepare for the worst, ive just been doing minor backcountry skiing untill i take my level one avalanche course and acmg assistant guide

'proud citzen of the NS Isle'

BE YOURSELF
 
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