Backcountry skiing and safety

Aside from the standard shovel, beacon, probe I typically bring an extra thin puffy, set of gloves, and goggles in case everything I'm wearing gets soaked. Also try to bring more food or water than I'll actually need for the day as well.

Always bring a partner and good two way radios. Communication is a huge part of staying safe.

Ski straps are helpful in so many ways, painkillers in case of bad injuries, snow study tools, and little shelter bivy sack in case of emergencies/getting stranded, if you're going deep.

Always be aware of human factors in your group and yourself - keep these in check as much as possible. Bring an insulation layer and enough snacks to get by if you have to spend an unforeseen overnighter out there.
My group has a rule that if even just one person is uncomfortable (in a bad way) or has a bad gut feeling about something we find other terrain to ski that day. No hard feelings.

Edit: Moleskin

**This post was edited on Oct 6th 2017 at 12:10:34pm

I usually am solo. I trust myself and my knowledge and know my risk and rewards.

I bring standard avalanche safety equipment as mentioned above.

I read the snow reports. I test the snow.

But usually I don't go somewhere where I'm going to die. I ski safe stuff. I keep myself out of danger. The amount of good snow and good terrain that is safe is amazing. Even on a red flag day there is lots of safe and fun stuff.

Use your brain.

I would add to never underestimate how easy it is to get lost in unfamiliar terrain. Especially when you are in the forest you can only see trees in every direction and you lose your bearings pretty easily. It has happened to me a few times where I missed a cutoff by accident and got way too low, had to hike out like a dumbass. Enough to know to pay attention to where you are.

When me and my partner go we always look at the treeline If you see areas where there are less trees than usual or a spillway in the trees we tend to stick to the sides because those places are usually more prone to slides.

Agreed with everything above.


The number one goal should be to make it back to the car. With that mindset, it's easier to decline something uncomfortable, even if the pow would be better.


Prior to going to a zone, spend some time on CalTopo and Google Earth learning the area. The slope gradient tools are helpful to identify hazardous terrain. On CalTopo you can build custom maps and mark your own features (skin track, best line, terrain traps etc.). Learn far more than the run you expect to ski. Conditions change so quickly that having plenty of backups will improve your day and keep you safe.
If possible, paper maps are great.

Bring a GPS, or use a GPS phone app. I use Topo + (it's free for both Android & iOS) and overlay my trip plans from Caltopo onto it. On Mt. Rainier that was a lifesaver keeping me on route in the fog.
If your battery can do it, keep your route marked. Again, helps when being lost, but also shows the fun terrain for you to look at at the end of the day.


Too much communication >>>>>>> Too little communication

No headphones in the bc. Listen to the snow, and talk with your group about what you see (journal it if you're on your own).
Before skiing a line, discuss with the group all risks and contingency plans.
Eg. "If it slides here, I will cut left at that island of safety, but if there was a slide below there, I would go right.
Let's meet there...."


And debrief back at the car. Be honest. "We did this well....." "it would've been safer to do this" "now we know....." "fun run but stupid idea"

Honestly if you die you die just gotta let fate decide.

Knowledge..... Take your Avi course seriously. You can have all the tools in the world but if you don't know what to do with them in a stressful situation, what good are they. I only ride with people I trust with my life. I'm not concerned with how good of a skier they are. I'm concerned with how fast they can get my ass dug out. I study the snow pack by digging pits and taking notes after each snowfall. Keep the Avi center for my area accessible and take their info into account every time I boot up. Keep my group small and no one gets to out vote anyone. If one person has a concern we are not dropping. Remember kids... Live to ski another day!

SkiBum.I usually am solo. I trust myself and my knowledge and know my risk and rewards.

I bring standard avalanche safety equipment as mentioned above.

I read the snow reports. I test the snow.

But usually I don't go somewhere where I'm going to die. I ski safe stuff. I keep myself out of danger. The amount of good snow and good terrain that is safe is amazing. Even on a red flag day there is lots of safe and fun stuff.

Use your brain.

Only half meaning to be a smart ass.....but what's the point of a transceiver, shovel and probe when you ride by yourself? To make it easier for search and rescue to find your body? In case you watched someone else get buried on an adjacent peak or ridge?

I mean have at it, but riding by yourself just isn't a great idea and I wouldn't recommend to anyone really, especially beginners (not saying you are a beginner, referring to anyone who might read your post and take it as a cue).

Avalanches in steep terrain aren't the only hazards to mitigate. What about tree wells, stumps/rocks, good ole fashioned tomahawk trauma, etc.?

I don't really get how you say you don't go anywhere you might die. You could trigger a slow moving baby slide in dense trees on a 34 degree slope and die.

I definitely agree with the part about being able to safely ski on days with high danger though. All about terrain selection. I know there's people that have skied safely (well, at least safely in the sense of not dead) alone for years, but I don't get why you would wanna in this day and age where so many people are into touring and mountaineering. It's never been easier to find good partners down for the mission, and having someone within arms reach could be the difference between life and death in all kinds of seemingly innocuous situations.

I wish you nothing but the best and who knows maybe you're skiing 22 degree slopes with a few hundred vertical feet in a highly trafficked area or something, but either way, why not ski with someone?

People that hike and ski alone tend to be the ones that go missing and lead to 100 people devoting all of their time and resources to to go and find.

Like the joker on bierstadt that had a nine hour SAR operation launched because he got cliffed out like two weeks ago when he got caught by a hi elevation storm/bad vis

wrichmondAgreed with everything above.


The number one goal should be to make it back to the car. With that mindset, it's easier to decline something uncomfortable, even if the pow would be better.


Prior to going to a zone, spend some time on CalTopo and Google Earth learning the area. The slope gradient tools are helpful to identify hazardous terrain. On CalTopo you can build custom maps and mark your own features (skin track, best line, terrain traps etc.). Learn far more than the run you expect to ski. Conditions change so quickly that having plenty of backups will improve your day and keep you safe.
If possible, paper maps are great.

Bring a GPS, or use a GPS phone app. I use Topo + (it's free for both Android & iOS) and overlay my trip plans from Caltopo onto it. On Mt. Rainier that was a lifesaver keeping me on route in the fog.
If your battery can do it, keep your route marked. Again, helps when being lost, but also shows the fun terrain for you to look at at the end of the day.


Too much communication >>>>>>> Too little communication

No headphones in the bc. Listen to the snow, and talk with your group about what you see (journal it if you're on your own).
Before skiing a line, discuss with the group all risks and contingency plans.
Eg. "If it slides here, I will cut left at that island of safety, but if there was a slide below there, I would go right.
Let's meet there...."


And debrief back at the car. Be honest. "We did this well....." "it would've been safer to do this" "now we know....." "fun run but stupid idea"

Such a good post. Cal topo is an amazing tool. Pretty remarkable to be able to plan trips with it.

Is topo + an app? Did you say you can overlay your route from cal topo into the app and then real time track your progress and see whether you're deviating from your route? That's amazing.

Can you elaborate a bit?

One thing I'd recommend I haven't seen here is an extra phone battery or a couple of those devices that you can charge and it stores an extra charge or two for your phone.

I like the pain killers idea. Having an open tib fib or a femur or hell even a dislocated ac joint or whatever and having to be littered down some bumpy ass terrain or something would be a lot better high on oxycodone.

Also, pack beer. It's worth the weight.

casualSuch a good post. Cal topo is an amazing tool. Pretty remarkable to be able to plan trips with it.

Is topo + an app? Did you say you can overlay your route from cal topo into the app and then real time track your progress and see whether you're deviating from your route? That's amazing.

Can you elaborate a bit?

One thing I'd recommend I haven't seen here is an extra phone battery or a couple of those devices that you can charge and it stores an extra charge or two for your phone.

I like the pain killers idea. Having an open tib fib or a femur or hell even a dislocated ac joint or whatever and having to be littered down some bumpy ass terrain or something would be a lot better high on oxycodone.

Also, pack beer. It's worth the weight.

Yes Topo + is an app
iOS- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/topo-maps/id672246353?mt=8
Andriod- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atlogis.northamerica.free&hl=en

On Caltopo, you can make custom layers and objects.
Once finished your overlay (routes, hazards, lines, skin track etc.) on the top bar click Export and DOWNLOAD as GPX file.

It's clunky since Caltopo is best on a desktop, but transfer that GPX file to your phone (I email it to myself) and open it in your GPS app.
Then the new map will overlay.
Wahlah, a custom ski map.
(There's probably a better way to do this, so if anyone has one, please comment)

And to track yourself, in the app, start a new route.

I always keep 2 lighters and a headlamp. Several packs of hand warmers. You usually don't plan to get stuck somewhere overnight when it happens. I have a compass/whistle in my jacket. I should throw some firelighters in there as well. I've used paper I had chillin in my bag before to start fires but that could help.

It might seem ridiculous compared to the avy risk but I've known people who got lost, or stuck with injuries overnight. You never know.

casualOnly half meaning to be a smart ass.....but what's the point of a transceiver, shovel and probe when you ride by yourself? To make it easier for search and rescue to find your body? In case you watched someone else get buried on an adjacent peak or ridge?

I mean have at it, but riding by yourself just isn't a great idea and I wouldn't recommend to anyone really, especially beginners (not saying you are a beginner, referring to anyone who might read your post and take it as a cue).

Avalanches in steep terrain aren't the only hazards to mitigate. What about tree wells, stumps/rocks, good ole fashioned tomahawk trauma, etc.?

I don't really get how you say you don't go anywhere you might die. You could trigger a slow moving baby slide in dense trees on a 34 degree slope and die.

I definitely agree with the part about being able to safely ski on days with high danger though. All about terrain selection. I know there's people that have skied safely (well, at least safely in the sense of not dead) alone for years, but I don't get why you would wanna in this day and age where so many people are into touring and mountaineering. It's never been easier to find good partners down for the mission, and having someone within arms reach could be the difference between life and death in all kinds of seemingly innocuous situations.

I wish you nothing but the best and who knows maybe you're skiing 22 degree slopes with a few hundred vertical feet in a highly trafficked area or something, but either way, why not ski with someone?

People that hike and ski alone tend to be the ones that go missing and lead to 100 people devoting all of their time and resources to to go and find.

Like the joker on bierstadt that had a nine hour SAR operation launched because he got cliffed out like two weeks ago when he got caught by a hi elevation storm/bad vis

All super valid points. All of which I have thought of as well. You can die anywhere, tree well, fall hit a rock, get hit by a car at the trail head.

I bring probe/beacon/shovel solo in case i meet up with someone. Which happens a lot, no doubt there. I don't have many friends, hard to find people so ski with that are at my level (which is not lets go get crazy, lets go ski mellow pow and have fun. Save the crazy stuff for spring).

Wasatch is in my back yard, and its a zoo. So you always see or find someone if you go up there. Keep the gear in case you need it elsewhere, like you said, someone else somewhere else. Or you meet up with someone.

I won't argue solo stuff is not the best, but I usually trust myself better then anyone else. Again, not the best way to go about it, but I know my risks and rewards and its always in my head.

Hell, I used to bring my sled out into Uintas alone. I used to bring enough gear where I could live a few days if needed. Again, not smart, but its what I do.

SkiBum.All super valid points. All of which I have thought of as well. You can die anywhere, tree well, fall hit a rock, get hit by a car at the trail head.

I bring probe/beacon/shovel solo in case i meet up with someone. Which happens a lot, no doubt there. I don't have many friends, hard to find people so ski with that are at my level (which is not lets go get crazy, lets go ski mellow pow and have fun. Save the crazy stuff for spring).

Wasatch is in my back yard, and its a zoo. So you always see or find someone if you go up there. Keep the gear in case you need it elsewhere, like you said, someone else somewhere else. Or you meet up with someone.

I won't argue solo stuff is not the best, but I usually trust myself better then anyone else. Again, not the best way to go about it, but I know my risks and rewards and its always in my head.

Hell, I used to bring my sled out into Uintas alone. I used to bring enough gear where I could live a few days if needed. Again, not smart, but its what I do.

To piggyback on that, 5 reasons I advocate a few solo bc days a year-

1) You get random time off work and no one else can ride at the time.


2) You can bump into different crews and make new friends.


3) You can set a mellow place to explore a new zone. Feel out the snow the entire time, make a pit every 10min... with no group pressure of riding more. (At least for me, with a group I like to rally more, but maybe that's a group mentality I should improve on)


4) Similar to 3, you can experiment with different skinning techniques, practice z turns, learn maps, improve skin-ski transitions, play with GPS.... An odds and ends day that is more backcountry experience than skiing. I think this is better alone since solo terrain choices are far more conservative. It's prep for a real day with friends that's GAME ON.


5) You develop the best backcountry mentality. There is no safety net. It's reminiscent of a Drew Tabke interview in which he supports skiing with no rescue gear (beacon, probe, shovel) because that encourages safer decision making. I don't share that opinion (and still have rescue gear when out alone), but I will say I have improved my backcountry safety protocols so much from my days alone.

Am I near a terrain trap?
Hmmm is that roll over 34-degrees?
If someone drops from above is this a safe place to be?
Have I read the map correctly that this is a safe line?
Hmm, is the roll over a good idea?
Do my observations match the forecast?
What was the forecast?
Am I doing the correct tests for the forecast?
This shouldn't slide, but if it does, where are my islands of safety? What should I do?
Can I find a test slope?
Is this an appropriate test slope?
Should I just turn around and go home?
Is it safe enough at all?
How do I safely turn back?


These questions carry so much more weight being alone. It's a great time to build confidence and learn your risk profile.

****Note: When alone I ski non-slide terrain, or spring conditions and even then ski it early and conservative.
I have also taken an avy 1 and have ski with several wonderful backcountry mentors the rest of the time, so I have a basis of skills to work with. And I'm taking an avy 2 recreation this winter
Alone without prior knowledge and experience is a darwin award

PODCAST RESOURCE- Slide: The Avalanche Podcast

Worth a listen. Linked for various platforms-

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slide-the-avalanche-podcast/id1175086450

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/slide-the-avalanche-podcast

https://soundcloud.com/user-660921194

Complacency is what gets people killed - Doug Combs.

Re: the solo touring

There have been plenty of really experienced riders who believed that the could safely manage all the risks associated with backcountry travel solo, who have died in the mountains.... backcountry skiing, is easily one of the most of the dangerous activities that you can undertake. the list of variables is astounding.

Its also import to consider heuristic traps. Doing something repeatedly and being successful doesn't necessarily mean you are doing it right, or the safest. in may of these instances, we are just lucky.

People in general are actually really poor at judging risk. Use all the tools available to you stay safe. this includes skiing with a partner, and limiting exposure to high risk days.

RE: skiing on high risk days

avalanche forecasting is actually one of the best risk mitigation tools you can use. On a high risk day, consider the probability of triggering is slide is VERY likely, and travel is not recommended.. If someone said to you, crossing the street today its very likely that you will get hit by car. or, if you eat this sandwich, its very likely that you will die .. I bet the vast majority of people wouldn't bother crossing the street or eating the sandwich... so what makes you evaluate your risk related to backcountry travel differently? .. somehow you believe that YOU, are better or smarter than most people, and you will be able to mitigate the risks on your own. this is a fallacy, and a trap you can get lulled into. Its easy to be exposed to risk unknowingly, or to have to expose your self to a small area of risk during your travel in and out of the area.


I am not trying to get preachy, just laying out some facts. I myself have learned some really hard lessons over the years... people with experience will always try and pass on their wisdom, and people will always fail to heed their call...thankfully, it will work out for most...but sadly, we will continue to lose really good people every year, because they somehow thought that they didn't need the two best safety supports available to them... avalanche forecasting and a solid a partner.

Some great posts and discussion in here. I hear you guys about the solo travel, and I suppose everyone's risk tolerance is different.

To me, if a partner isn't willing to sacrifice some downhill time in order to improve some hard skills, well then they're just a shitty partner imo. But again, I'm not judging anyone, just chiming in with my own two cents. Nothing but the best of intentions.

And the last post....well I pretty much just wholeheartedly agree with it.

I personally don't ski out of bounds on high risk days, and almost assuredly never will, but I do recognize that skilled folks can travel in the BC on high risk days given proper terrain selection and extra precautions around navigating and whatnot, but it definitely isn't my cup of tea.

Hugh_Conway_jrComplacency is what gets people killed - Doug Combs.

Re: the solo touring

There have been plenty of really experienced riders who believed that the could safely manage all the risks associated with backcountry travel solo, who have died in the mountains.... backcountry skiing, is easily one of the most of the dangerous activities that you can undertake. the list of variables is astounding.

Its also import to consider heuristic traps. Doing something repeatedly and being successful doesn't necessarily mean you are doing it right, or the safest. in may of these instances, we are just lucky.

People in general are actually really poor at judging risk. Use all the tools available to you stay safe. this includes skiing with a partner, and limiting exposure to high risk days.

RE: skiing on high risk days

avalanche forecasting is actually one of the best risk mitigation tools you can use. On a high risk day, consider the probability of triggering is slide is VERY likely, and travel is not recommended.. If someone said to you, crossing the street today its very likely that you will get hit by car. or, if you eat this sandwich, its very likely that you will die .. I bet the vast majority of people wouldn't bother crossing the street or eating the sandwich... so what makes you evaluate your risk related to backcountry travel differently? .. somehow you believe that YOU, are better or smarter than most people, and you will be able to mitigate the risks on your own. this is a fallacy, and a trap you can get lulled into. Its easy to be exposed to risk unknowingly, or to have to expose your self to a small area of risk during your travel in and out of the area.


I am not trying to get preachy, just laying out some facts. I myself have learned some really hard lessons over the years... people with experience will always try and pass on their wisdom, and people will always fail to heed their call...thankfully, it will work out for most...but sadly, we will continue to lose really good people every year, because they somehow thought that they didn't need the two best safety supports available to them... avalanche forecasting and a solid a partner.

In Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain they make this point like right off the bat.

There is a positive feedback loop in making bad decisions and having it turn out fine over and over again. Which reminds me I should probably re read that book. Good read

For school project, work on the physics aspect.
Avalanches are an inclined planes problem. Think vectors on an incline plain. Then, research tensile strength and mass of humidity content of ice and snow and friction surfaces of different types of snow.

Ask engineers

avvy forecasts are a great tool
id urge ya to stay away from basing to many decisions on someone elses one word descriptive adjective
and strive to be your own forecaster and apply others insight into your plans and actions and form a big picture
i think more about consequences than predictions these days
safely toured lots of high and extreme danger days
best days to learn about instabilities
yet watched a partner take a spooky 1200 ft ride on a low danger day in a low danger week
and lost someone i knew to an inbounds slide
spend enough time in the backcountry or wilderness shits gonna hit the fan in some form
mother nature doesnt care about much
and its been my experience that most of them wont necessarily be avvy related
shame woofers and 1st aid skills aint as cool as avvy certs

SFBv420.0shame woofers and 1st aid skills aint as cool as avvy certs

What is a Woofer?

Wilderness First Responder. It's like a mini EMT course with more of an emphasis on injuries sustained in the backcountry, whether that's hiking, biking, skiing, or whatever.

I sometimes ski tour on my own.

And FYI, I don't have a Level 1 either. What are you going to do about it?

Mmmmm OEC. Very handy to know/have like said above. Hope to never have to use those skill sets.

Hello,

Wow your school project sounds interesting. Are you still looking for advice? If so, this blogpost basically covers everything safety from being safe with other skiers to avalanche safety! https://www.alltracksacademy.com/blog/ski-safety-stay-safe-slopes/

Good luck with your project! :)

Best wishes.

AllTracks Academy

**This post was edited on Nov 15th 2017 at 10:35:45am