backcountry..

I consider backcountry skiing outside of the resort, hiking or sled access. Before you get into backcountry skiing you def. should take a course, they offer them at most major mountain towns for free. It depends how far out your going but, if your going to really get remote you need to take a few things.

collapsable shovel
beacon
probe
pack with water and extra food, maybe a small first aid kit


....and never go into the backcountry by yourself. If your not used to skiing out west, you'll find the bowls and expert terrain plenty to keep you interested and challenged.




better to burn out...
...then fade away

From the sounds of it you know absolutely nothing about it. Which is understandable considering where you live. You should take a recreational avalanche course, and go with a guide. There's a lot to know when it comes to safety out there. And, going with an experienced guide is definitely worth the money, they can show you the good stuff. You will also need to buy all the equipment, or find a place that will rent it to you.

Dude sorry but if your asking that question then you dont belong under or past a rope. read some books or mags and get an understanding about what is involved. The gear basic will cost you at least 300 US new at least. that doesnt include skins trekkers snowshoes or bindings.

If you do want to try it once go with a guide that offers easy tours. Dont do the advanced tour right away. Why if you have never moved though deep snow uphill you just have no idea.

If you do decide to go without knowledge of the resort or the line your riding than your just stupid.
hint never ride alone
always carry gear
never drop in together that is only video
find a safe area then the next guy drops in
dont cut ontop of people
look for mellow routes to climb the longest route is usally easier and faster. ie the straight up climb is going to hurt.
etc
P.S. JAPAN HAS SICK POWDER

Like everyone said, take a course, and go with someone who knows what the hell they're doing. Oregon shouldn't be super bad as far as avalanches go, but safer is better.
As far as getting into the BC, however you can scheme to get there is good. Best is dropping off of roads on mountain passes and having a buddy pick you up at the bottom. That way, no hiking, but make sure you ski with someone so they can haul your lifeless carcas off the mountain.
Oh yeah, scope your lines. Taking apart a tech decent without even looking at it from below is scary as shit and dangerous as that too. Plus it looks better if you can flow down a line instead of hop turning and picking around above fifty foot cliffs trying to figure out how flat the landing is.
------------------------------------------------------
What's on the other side of that wall?
-'Death.' (Johnny D. after Kristi fell off the back of the PBP wall in 1242)

'I'm in his nigger crew' (my little brother in response to my statement that he was in my 'digger crew')

'My knee hurts' (Jeff Merat after grinding a lunch table for an hour instead of sitting in the ski patrol shack for his torm mcl and acl which he got earlier that day.)

'I'm not asking for any help, just mabe for you to get off your ass.'(my dad)

DO NOT GO ALONE OR WITHOUT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. and you really should take an avalanche course and have the propper gear. if you go alone, you could end up dead, or lost in the middle of nowhere for days.

-Logan

'Get pissed. DESTROY'-Seth
'You are only limited by fear, and even that you can overcome'-Seth
'It's Totally Doable!'-Shane McConkey
'Oh shit. Did i sound like a dork when i was crashing?'-Shane McConkey

good info from all. good to hear that some people know what's up and respect the mountain. it will always win and doesn't give a shit how sick your misty 7 is off that rock.
Once you understand avalanche baics, route finding,and snow observation.get used to checking out the daily avalanche reports. i'm sure they have one for the area your going to. be easy to find on the internet. these reports can tell you a lot from people that study snow more than you ski probaly. go to www.arlinc.com and get the ten steps
A guy just died in jackson a few days ago. he was by himslf but went in the backcounty everyday. don't go by yourself!

basically, dont be dumb and you dont die.

-Logan

'Get pissed. DESTROY'-Seth
'You are only limited by fear, and even that you can overcome'-Seth
'It's Totally Doable!'-Shane McConkey
'Oh shit. Did i sound like a dork when i was crashing?'-Shane McConkey

I dont think it comes down to not being dumb. Most BC riders have been stupid yet lucky when they first started. The first year I skied bummed I didnt hit any Bc until a month into the season cause I didnt know where to go. After that I did it with no gear even more stupid. I should have hit up my parents telling them to help me out to keep me safe, but I didnt. Now I buy all the gear and ski with it all day. If you ride in Places like Fernie whitewater or Castle the BC is right beyond the next rope. A good tight pack ie dakine heli pro or smaller will carry enough gear and it will not affect your balance much. In the BC dont rush. I used to do this get to the top of the run and rush right down. catch your breathe look at what your dropping into. ask yourself is they someone at the botton in way slide path. is there a cornice I should avoid. Kids cornices are great but they are the most dangerous things in the BC. If the cornice drops an avi can start or A cornice or wind lip tells us there has been loading on the other side that sick pillow landing is a satrt point. Remember that video shoots also have soon of the best guides out there with them sauceing out the terrain please think.
P.S. JAPAN HAS SICK POWDER

Yeah i would deffinetly have to agree with what fattwins first said. If you are asking this question you probably shouldn't be headed into the backcountry. The casades in particular have a notoriously instable snowpack which makes for high avalanche danger. I've never skied hood but judging by maps there probably is a lot of backcountry that is easily accessable from the chairs via a short hike. Also judging fron the maps most of the bc terrain is the perfect angle to slide. If you absolutely must go into the bc, which is a lot of fun, ask ski patrol what the snow pack is like. Also find some locals to go with. Make sure they know what they are doing. Ski on stuff that is skied regularly because it tends to be more stable. And if it has snow more than 6 to 8 inches in the last 48 hour don't go no matter what. I would recomend going into the bc to anyone but only after you have taken a few avy classes and have the appropriate gear (shovel, transciever, and probe). Also go on tgr's website and go to conway's corner. Download all of the lessons and watch them.. They give really go basic skills but there is a lot more to learn. Just don't push your luck. That is the biggest thing in the bc because if you do you'll get screwed. have fun I hope you get a chnace to ski some bc there.
This year I hope to see more kids incorporating newschol with big mountain ridning and getting out of the park- Matt Levinthal

wow u guys haev a lot to say bacountry is just when u go out of bounds u can hike or ski below the cattrack but hiking back coukntry is mrope called backcountry

-O M I

Ten Pin Bollers Cult

didnt get some of that 4front

Backcountry or OB is anything not controlled by the resorts ie anything past the boundary ropes. even the stuff people duck inbouds ie closed ropes is sometimes uncontrolled. Some idiot at Castle skied a chute over top of patrol while they were setting up bombs.

Most BC is marked. In Canada there are gates that usally never close cause its the system it doesnt make it safe though it just means you can only kill yourself and the others outside the resort. In the USA I think its gates if im correct. Here in Japan just about nothing is controlled so everything is skied with caution.
P.S. JAPAN HAS SICK POWDER