Powder skiing with a backpack

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probe and shovel perhaps? ....seriously

Apr 28 2013 10:15AM

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OP is probably talking about inbounds. Inbounds probs Sandwiches and drinks/food especially in Europe, it's really safe to go BC just out of bounds and then cut back in. ABS is only a few people because they cost way too much

Apr 28 2013 10:27AM

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i'd still carry both on a powder day inbounds

Apr 28 2013 10:51AM

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fortyvalve

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even inbounds on a powder day is still normal, majority of the backpacks you see out now have camelbaks in them so it kills two birds with one stone. i always have it on me cause i'm usually carrying film equipment and i always have extra gloves. i also don't like leaving anything expensive in my car or in my transpack if there's no bagcheck.

Apr 28 2013 10:56AM

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Troy.

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Avy gear always because it isn't worth it.

Most people: extra gloves, baselayer, lenses, snacks and water.

Apr 28 2013 10:57AM

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Session

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Pretty much all this.

And to make sure I look core as fuck when I pass the resort photographer. This is paramount.

Apr 28 2013 11:01AM

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just read your post properly, didn't realise people were this stupid? really?

Apr 28 2013 11:03AM

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VD.

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.

Apr 28 2013 11:20AM

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Switzerland has good avalanche warning systems and they tell you on signs when you leave an unpatrolled, unblasted area. I've only done that like 4 times and you can be pretty far out till they stop blasting here. Same in Austria, but not in France or Italy. They're more sketchy. I'm not stupid either, I would definitely wear an ABS backpack if they didn't cost both my kidneys. BC here is waaaaaaaaaaaaay safer than the US or Canada

Apr 28 2013 11:40AM

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not at all i'd say that the us and canada have some of the best patrolling in the world, and just because they've blasted does not mean it's safe you can still get isolated unstable pockets very close to the piste

Apr 28 2013 11:45AM

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Not wanting to shitstorm, I agree that patrolling there is really good but it really is on another level in Switzerland. Seriously, one day there's a crack when it gets above 0 and then an hour later they've blown it up, even at places like Flumserberg, which is tiny.

Apr 28 2013 11:51AM

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we're kind of destroying this thread but i've felt most safe in the US purely because of their legal system forcing them to be super thorough to prevent costing their resort serious money

Apr 28 2013 11:54AM

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You are seriously talking out of your ass right here. If you go into unpisted powder, you bring avy gear, no exceptions! As mentioned above blasting is by no means a guarantee, i've seen plenty of slides on faces that was blasted in the morning. If you ski regularly in Switzerland, it's mindblowing that you are this ignorant. If you don't smarten up, it will only be a matter of time before you get into serious trouble.

And I don't know where you have skied, but where i ski in Switzerland, they do not signpost dangerous areas?

Apr 28 2013 11:56AM

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Filmore

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My friend got stuck in a tree well inbounds, and without his shovel (which was in his backpack) he would probably still be there.

Apr 28 2013 12:11PM

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Drail

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Water, lunch, avy gear, touring gear, and other random stuff I have with my that day (camera, 2 way radios, ropes, etc). Even on an inbounds pow day I still bring my pack with me in case we want to go for a slackcountry mission in the afternoon.

Depending on what hill I'm at, I'll either leave my backpack at the bottom of the lift as I lap it. Of course, if I'm at a hill where I'm either not lapping the same lift all day or if I'm at a hill where I don't trust to leave a couple grand in ski gear in my back at the bottom of a lift unattended for the majority of the day I'll just wear it. I spend a lot of time in the backcountry so I don't really mind wearing the pack while skiing. Barely notice it's there most of the time while actually skiing - it's just annoying while on the lift.

Apr 28 2013 1:23PM

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djensen

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Rocks??? Vanilla ice cream? Maybe next season I'll tackle someone skiing with a backpack and take a nice long look inside. Then, I'll get back to you!

Apr 28 2013 1:27PM

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TheBigApple

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That doesn't make any sense. If he was able to get his shovel out of his back pack I'm sure he could have figured out a way to unstuck himself without the shovel...

People die in tree wells because of asphyxiation, not just getting stuck for a long time.

Apr 28 2013 1:43PM

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you can get stuck in them as well

Apr 28 2013 1:44PM

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gotti

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Can somebody please explain to me how you get stuck in a tree? i live on the east coast (never skied out west) and if you hit a tree usually it just hurts and you bounce off not actually go inside of it and get stuck.

Apr 28 2013 1:50PM

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bieberhole69.

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Tree wells. When it snows hard the low hanging branches block snow from going right by the base of the tree so it forms a pit of sorts. Its not all trees though, just evergreens. When you hit it you fall into the trench, which sometimes goes all the way down to the ground

Apr 28 2013 1:57PM

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PON3

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I carry a shovel, mitten liners, flask of water, snacks, and use my backpack to hike up with my skis on my back. its useful

Apr 28 2013 1:59PM

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TheBigApple

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Only if you are fucking retarded.

Apr 28 2013 2:18PM

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Squaw6

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Well I always carry my BC gear (skins, beacon, shovel, probe, water, snacks, spares of everything) just in case I feel like switching it up throughout the day. I also carry around my camera equipment.

Apr 28 2013 2:21PM

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king.tubby

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a six pack of 16oz coors lites, a fat bag and device for safety meetings, a sharpie or two for tagging shacks, thats about it.

Apr 28 2013 2:47PM

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I don't really understand this post but from what I understand, you're dumb. If you go skiing powder, take your avy gear with you. I ski in Austria, I mostly ski powder inbounds, I look at the Avalanche Forecast but I still take my avy gear with me. Also I don't know where you ski in Switzerland but most people here actually wear an ABS

Apr 28 2013 2:48PM

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Fucking sorry not everyone has the money to get a goddamn 1000 franc backpack, overpriced shovel and equipment which works like a mobile phone, which they use in Grindelwald now, check the Schilthorn you can check in on a freeride check in with your mobile. Some people have to afford getting the gear to ride first and earn for a season pass, not worry about what equipment I "need"

Apr 28 2013 2:51PM

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PON3

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Im guessing you have never been stuck in one?

Skiing Vail two years ago, went off a cliff, ski caught an object and shot me over into a tree and almost fell headfirst into a treewell and got stuck for quite sometime, and no one was around to hear me or see me. Scariest moment in my life, and the reason why I always carry a shovel on me, even in bounds.

Hope you never have to experience being scared like that

Apr 28 2013 2:55PM

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I also don't own an ABS, but if you think it's safer with your mobile phone than with a beeper, shovel and probe. I actually don't care with what gear you ride, just wanted to enlighten you

Apr 28 2013 2:57PM

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Everyone on this thread has money to just throw around, thing is I don't.

Apr 28 2013 2:58PM

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Seriously, invest in one. It's better than diying in an avalanche. Of course that is unlikely to happen but it may. It is indeed expensive but it's a better feeling. Save some money, and find a "cheap" for 180 euros or so

Apr 28 2013 3:02PM

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It's a matter of priority. So if you can't find the money for the necessary equipment, don't go in the BC, simple as that. You are unbelievably ignorant if you think an app will do anything for you if there is a slide. Stop bitching, if you go in the BC, you do indeed NEED beacon, shovel and probe. Things like ABS is not mandatory, but up to yourself.

I'm amazed that someone who apparently comes from Switzerland is this nonchalant about avy awareness.

Apr 28 2013 3:03PM

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bieberhole69.

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Look, you don't carry around a shovel and beacon etc. for just yourself. You have it so that if someone else gets stuck in an avi, you will be able to help them and save their life.

Apr 28 2013 3:04PM

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borrow some? i use my dad's beacon and only bought my shovel and probe this year having previously borrowed those as well. just make sure you figure out how to use the gear before you set out and make sure your beacon's charged. to be honest you're better off not skiing powder until you've invested in some safety gear.

Apr 28 2013 3:05PM

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Quoting for emphasis, forgot to include this in my post.

Apr 28 2013 3:05PM

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Anyone remember the video with the pro in it saying how "the equipment makes you think you and others are safe and you're really not"? That's Handjobberino

Apr 28 2013 3:15PM

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http://www.blue-tomato.com/en/Avalanche-Transceiver/Mammut-Pulse-Barryvox-Package/product.bto?product=301033314 fucking look at this shit. seriously, why is it even this price? It costs more than my setup!

Apr 28 2013 3:17PM

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PON3

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This, I dug out two people this year I was riding with when they got caught in tree wells at vail. Necessity.

Apr 28 2013 3:17PM

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You really don't get it do you? I'll give it one last shot. It's true that your equipment will only do so much, it has to be combined with knowledge and common sense.

You can't argue your way out of this, so stop trying.

Apr 28 2013 3:19PM

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Piste.Off

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as many keystone lights as my helipro can handle

Apr 28 2013 3:25PM

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What do you "get" about all this? You live in Denmark. You just pretend you have all this stuff and act like you're super safe and considerate online.

Apr 28 2013 3:26PM

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You aren't safer with this shit. You have better chances to not die.

And that Mammut set is one of the best sets hence the price. There are cheaper ones

Apr 28 2013 3:29PM

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LC.

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You can get a Tracker 1 for €125. You have no excuse.

But yeah, the backpack is really for sandwiches. It's hungry work skiing powder.

Apr 28 2013 3:31PM

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Drail

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This thread sure got off topic, but I'll roll with it.

Is this what you are referring to? You said video, so maybe not - but it's an interesting interview none the less:

http://freeskier.com/stories/why-decision-making-is-greater-than-a-beacon-with-drew-tabke

an interesting not is that the interviewer was involved in the Stevens Pass avalanche last year, before the interview took place.

I don't believe anyone could actually be an advocate for skiing in the backcountry without the minimum (beacon, shovel, probe), even if it can give you a false sense of security. I mean, no person in their right mind would say "I choose not to wear a helmet, because when I put it on I try things that are too hard and hurt myself." The logic is flawed.

Skiing in the backcountry without avy gear is like going all in blind while playing poker. Sure, you might win the odd time, but one bad hand and you're done.

Or something like that.

Apr 28 2013 3:52PM

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