Alpental backcountry

Its backcountry... its usually a good idea to have all the avy stuff. People get lost there every year, so if you do wanna go, at least bring a buddy that knows the area. Getting cliffed out up there sucks.

Besides that fact, you sometimes do get checked for passes by patrols. Get the gear, get certified.

get a bc pass first. And just ask any of the ski patrol at the top. All of them are more then willing to give you a good tour of the bc up and around that area.

yeah, you really need to be careful in the bc. i've been skiing there my whole life, and i still find myself having to re-think my line from time to time.

yes, you need gear. Yes, it it dangerous, probably some of the most dangerous easily accessible BC in the country.  There are many lines there that end in huge fucking cliffs.

Get BS gear, take a class, learn your shit. Then go and get a tour with the patrol.  Even then, I wouldn't recommend going out there unless you have a good idea of where you are. Many people have died there in the past.




And the last thing.....where the fuck does the notion come from that if you only ski BC a few times a year that gear/knowledge may not be required?  I am just curious.....cause it is completely illogical if you truly new what you were getting yourself into.  Seriously.....get the gear, learn how to use it, learn how to avoid avalanches, then begin to put yourself in the BC only when you know, not think, you can safely travel and avoid avies.