Why do ppl ski backcountry and risk to get burried...

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Drunkenmaster

Member
simple question...I need you to post what u think of backcountry skiing and why are u doing it? fun/risk/feeling/being in nature/being alone out there...to think..I dunno

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In a year around 100 ppl die in avalanches...why are u taking the risk...

it's for a research paper on avalanches...
 
If you are trained and know what you'd doing, skiing in the backcountry is a hell of a lot safer than say, driving on the freeway or eating McDonald's. Almost every fun activity in life involves some kind of risk or danger, and backcountry skiing is no exception. For anyone who's into it, the incredible scenery, solitude (except, of course, for the presence of your BUDDY), and of course the sick lines you're skiing are more than reason enough to "put yourself in danger." And if you're trained and smart about it, it's not dangerous at all. Sure, there's always the chance of a freak accident, and they do happen - but a good analogy is that of driving a car. If you don't know how to drive and you head right out onto the interstate, there's a good chance you're going to get hurt. If you've taken driving school and have a lot of driving experience, there is a much reduced risk of getting injured or killed - but the possibility is still there, even if it occurs through an event which isn't your fault at all.
 
I ski in the backcountry for the snow. There are less people willing to hike for their turns, therefore the snow stays untracked longer. It's also very gratifying to earn your turns. Other reasons, in Colorado, many mountains have backcountry gates, Vail, Beaver Creek, A-Basin, Steamboat, etc. It is easy to hike for an hour or less, and still be able to ski to a lift. A lot of the terrain that we ski is borderline avalanche terrain. It gets the snow, but isn't always super steep. Generally, an avalanche won't break unless you are on a 30 degree or steeper slope. The risk generally goes up as this slope gets steeper. We'll ski a lot of powder fields that are in the high twenties to low thirties, minimizing risk. If we go into steeper areas, we follow some guidelines to reduce our risk. Making sure everyone has a shovel, probe, and beacon is just a start. There are a lot of resources on the web. Check out http://geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche/

and they have some good links too.
 
if i could helli ski every day i would love it, skiing fresh fuckin pow, down a steep ass mountain that NOBODY else is on. it would a crazy adreanline rush
 
because all the pros say backcountry is where it's at!

Seriously, a good powder day is just something beyond words to describe it
 
The thing for me is the concept of skiing a line in untouched snow and then being able to look back at it and see no one elses tracks.
 
back country skiing is real skiing... thats where you seperate the park rats from the real skiiers who can ski everything... thats my opinion... oh yeah... and its fun as hell to ski untouched powder... but thats just me
 
its not that dangerouse if u kno what u are doing and have the right equipment.........
 
Because the snow is better, it's a different experience, it's more serene and peaceful...there are plenty of reasons.
 
I want to get into backcountry but I wouldnt do it until I learned about what I was doing and new all the safety stuff
 
Actually less than 30 people die every year in avalanches while skiing or snowboarding. I don't know where you got 100 from.
 
I know a guy who owns this ski shop who has gone into the backcountry atleast +250 over his lifetime, and he has gotten buried once. He was testing out a new pair of skis that he was unfamiliar with and he tried to ski to the safe zone where he wouldnt get hit by the slide befind him, and then he crashed. If you know what your doing, the backcountry is just as safe as skiing inbounds. Also, the powder and the fact that nobody is out there is epic.
 
The snow's usually a lot better in the backcountry.

I like being away from people.

Earning your turns is really rewarding.

And most of all, I don't see any thugged-out Tanner wannabes in the backcountry.
 
well .. the backcountry thatr most people ski isnt that dangerous.... plus, theres less people, more snow and varied terrain. And i live in the east so if i go out west theres no way in hell im gonna just ski park or normal traillls. I go outwest for the pow, and bowl type things
 
why do we go outside in the cold... you know evry time you do you risk death. Your body isnt made to go outside in cold temperatures...so evrytime u go skiing...u run a risk of dying
 
Everything a human being does can be risky in some way. andfor all the people who say that not many people die in avalanches brings up a valid point. BUT take into consideration that not many people realistically travel into avalanche prone zones without proper knowledge. Those who travel into the zones without equipment arethe ones who set off avalanches and die. a park deaths to backcountry deaths ratio will obviously go to the park becasue tens of thousands of people make runs in the terrain park everyday. so realistically the backcountry IS more dangerous. I live in the backcountry. There is also no ski patrol in the BC so in the time it takesfor search and rescue to find you and help you out,you may have gone into shock and died.
 
because if it snows at a resort in north america or europe you need to be up at 4 in the morning to get fresh adn its tracked out 10 minutes after the lifts open..
 
To fully understand why you must ski a line where you are coughing out snowballs every turn and can't see most of the time. You will then understand. This is something you just hafta do and not here about from others.
 
because skiing 2 - 3 laps of thigh deep is far and beyond better than skiing 20 runs of hardpack at a resort
 
yeah..........

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becauses its the coolest thing on the face of this planet, it this solar system, in this universe.
 
you might want to add that over 100 peeps a year die in avalanches, but only around 10 are skiers and snowboarders usually. We ahev had like 5, and its like 2 climbers and 3 snowmobilers.
 
where do u take those numbers from..thats total bullshit...

skiing magazine sais around a 100 in europe every year ...a statistic from '94 said around 100 worldwide...

in the last month more than 30 died in europe...u should back ur informations up a little more before u say that...cuz someone who doesnt know any numbers doesnt seem to know any of the dangers either...

I like backcountry skiing so much...I do it as often as I can..but for a proper research paper my opinion isnt enough thats why i asked u guys to back it up
 
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