Printable View
Things I know about skiing in the backcountry:
It is all about execution -- knowledge, while invaluable, is worthless without near perfect decision making.
Group dynamics -- Go with your friends, know your friends, as if your life might depend on it. Insist on safety.
Always know what is below you.
If you plan on skiing a sketchy slope make sure you are not going to send a slide down the uptrack or across a HEAVILY traveled road.
This is all well and good.
But I thought we were going to get stoned?
I'll meet you in the gondy for the 4 bowl shuffle.
Discuss safety zones before anyone decends.
Safety zones trump visual contact.
Don't underestimate runout zones.
-If she says she's on the pill, use a rubber anyhow.
-If she says she's between flare ups, don't go there.
-If you often encounter whiskey dick, keep a spare zuchini handy.
Rev, I'm trying to be serious. Take your sophmoric shit back to the playroom.
300 Canadas out for office window all day. 10yds from the desk.
Group communications at all times either visual (establish hand and arm signals, practice them), voice, or electronic (HAM, cellphone, FRS/GMRS)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles
first, you are never as prepared as you should be. those without basic medical training should not consider themselves prepared. and beacon drills are nothing like the real thing. terrain and adreanalin play a factor even if you don't panic. it is not like practice.
second, don't ever be in a hurry. you are tired, hungry and the sun is setting. your thoughts are clouded by a long day of skiing and what you may be doing an hour later. you know the safe way out but think of it as the long way out instead. stop and think what's above and below you. routine can lead to a horrible mistake.
Werd. Safety zone over visual contact at all times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Summit
AltaPowderDaze
Good to see ya back on board. Let us know what we can do.
Definitely get some medical training, CPR and First Aid. I take this course with the Red Cross every year and I learn something new each year.
2nd, don't let your rescue gear give you a false sense of security, if you wouldn't ski the slope without a beacon you shouldn't ski it. The likelihood of surviving a slide has way more to do with luck than skill.
3rd, don't be afraid to turn around, the moutain isn't going anywhere. Plus it's much more satisfying to tick something if it's on your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th attempt.
4th - discuss what you are doing and going to be doing constantly with your partners. If your partners don't like discussion, get new partners.
5th - stay the heck away from convex slopes around 35 degrees. I swear it seems like 9 out of 10 slab avalanches release from the same point, right at the cusp of an approx. 35 degree convex slope.
Fine, Foggles, I'll be serious.Quote:
Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles
--Friends are great but I wouldn't tour with most of mine. I tour with people who I know will respect me when I say "I've got a bad feeling about this" and vice/versa. Patience and discipline are invaluable commodities in the b/c and you shouldn't tour with people who don't have 'em.
--The B/C is NOT the place to try new things, tricks, styles, etc.
--Cletus and I have spoken about the phenomenon of deterioration of a given situation starting with the most minute detail. i.e. Cletus forgets the straps that keep his tips together on his pack. As a result, he straps his skis differently than normal which then throws his ballance slightly off, causing him to slip just a tad bit which makes rev miss his ladder step. Rev slips down 15 feet but is able to arrest, however one of his skins falls out of his coat in the process and slides down the slope 2000 feet. They were planning on skiing the south face down to a 5 mile skin out, but now they decide to ski down the north face to a 1 mile hike because of the missing skin. Suddenly everything has changed due to one forgotten strap. So slow down, take your time with gear, decisions, dynamics, etc.
--The obvious: Let someone who's not going know where you're going before you leave.
--Expect the unexpected.
--My mt. rescue teacher in college used to say that "diagnosing a snowpack is a lot like dating a beautiful woman. No matter how rotten they are you can always talk yourself into continuing on." Don't ski sketchy shit and don't date rotten skanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater
This is sound advice.
Exactly! People need to have comms that allow them to break visual if necessary in order to stay safe without loosing communication. Sadly most people do not and those that do are often unfamiliar and unpracticed with their gear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles
Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice.
Then, do it again.
Searches, getting your probe out, digging, CPR, the whole thing. Your "routine" is called that for a reason.
Practice is all well and good, but sound evaluation and avoidance is much more important Once you are caught in a slide, no matter how well prepared your partners are, if you're not lucky you don't stand a chance.
So true, so true.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater
I think the approach you take to travelling in the bc is vital. Weighing all the information you have, (like knowledge of snow science, first aid, how far is it to help, is there a safe way out, what is your time frame, what gear do you have, can you fix a broken ski if you had to, etc) with your route finding skills and ability to ski, perform searches and rescues, first aid, etc. will help you avoid most problems. There are obviously unforseen situations that pop up, but if you are prepared going in, you can usually handle them. For other situations, the only thing you can do is gain experience by practicing.
Mine is "Stay the fuck out of the backcountry when the danger rating is High."
Man, this is NOT the safety meeting I was expecting. As for BC safety, stay out of the backcountry and just leave the pow to me.
link to a good stats site
homer, i hope that wasn't a pot shot at me. i think this thread should be helpful to readers and hopefully confined to constructive, thoughtful information.
No way, dude. Sorry if it came across that way.Quote:
Originally Posted by AltaPowderDaze
i didn't assume it but it did hit close to home. i can take people questioning me, i just want to know so i can respond. i will respond honestly to all.Quote:
Originally Posted by homerjay
you are correct though. a high danger day is a day to give the snowpack a rest. even if you generally have good route finding skills, the mountain leaves little room for error and is unforgiving.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater
If I may: ...someone who's not going (and isn't a flake, and truly gives a shit about you, and won't get shitfaced and forget) know where you're going (and when you'll be home) before you leave.
It may be worth noting that this can be done by phone, a-la aircraft flight following, long-distance if necessary. It can be the most important BC rule in some situations. Make sure your dumbass friends write it down and set the alarm on their watch if they have to.
Sorry, just looking at this from a dispatcher's perspective.
Thx.
Heads up kids. Another cycle is coming.
Know your safe zones. Have every turn planned before you drop in.