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BACKCOUNTRY 101:
How to be a good backcountry partner
By Lori Schwilling
Whether you’re on a split-snowboard, touring skis, alpine trekkers, telemark skis, or snowshoes, this article is going to share some of the rules of backcountry touring. I’m going to give you some credit, and assume that as a responsible individual you will choose to educate yourself before venturing out into avalanche terrain.
Preparation:
First, you should have taken an avalanche course, or at the very least studied a copy of Bruce Tremper’s book, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain or Snow Sense by Jill Fredston and Doug Fessler. There is a certain learning-by-doing element to the backcountry, but at the very minimum you should have a good understanding of traveling safely in avalanche terrain and a working knowledge of avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions. A good partner is someone who is strong, enthusiastic, willing to learn and not afraid to turn back.
Secondly, be in shape. Being tired and reckless in the backcountry is a bigger liability than at the resort. For starters, try an hour on the Stairmaster at the gym. A good rule of thumb: if you can hike to the top of the resort and ski or board back down, you should be ok for a short tour.
Learn about where you’re going, and be sure it’s right for you. Be patient and honest about your abilities. If you don’t feel comfortable skiing the NW Couloir of the Pfeifferhorn, then go another day--the Pfeifferhorn isn’t going anywhere. Mill B in Big Cottonwood Canyon is a great place to start touring.
Gear:
There are plenty of publications out there to advise you on gear, since this article is aimed at sharing unwritten rules we’ll keep this short. Whatever your mode of transportation, there should be heel lifters on the bindings that act like high heals, shortening your step for skinning uphill. It’s a good idea to try them out in the living room before you get out on the snow. If you’ve got brand new climbing skins—a removable adhesive layer for the bottom of your skis with a one-way nap that grabs snow one way and glides the other—have them properly fitted at a local shop like Wild Rose or the Black Diamond Retail Store.
Remember to carry enough fuel, fluids and insulation. If you eat a lot, bring a lot. Carry extra gloves or mittens and dress in layers. Avoid cotton unless you like soggy underwear. Pack sunglasses and sunscreen along with a first aid kit. Some other important items include athletic or duct tape, a multi-purpose tool, spare wire and extra binding parts, headlamp, extra batteries, map, and a compass or GPS along with a beacon, shovel and probe.
Hydration:
Try some sort of hydration pouch for easy access to water. This works great if the temps are above freezing. To prevent the tube from freezing in colder temps you can either make sure to always blow the liquid back into the reservoir, or instead, carry an insulated thermos. If the tube does freeze, curl it up in your pack against your back and your body heat will thaw it out.
Urination:
Figure out how you’re going to pee out there. For men it’s not too tough: unzip and let it fly. For women it gets a little more complicated. Get drop-seat pants and get over your fear of peeing in front of people. I can pee standing up thanks to a pair of pants from Isis, a company that makes gear for specifically for women. The bibs have a front to back zipper and the coordinating long underwear is a “split p” design. A couple of other companies make pants with a butt zipper or a drop seat design that works well but you’ve still got to squat.
Some women use a fake penis called the Lady J. I’ve never seen one in action but hear they work well for peeing in a bottle and for writing your name in the snow. Whatever your strategy, come prepared with all the tools you’ll need, and the resources to ship out any garbage.
The Day:
Be on time, with your gear sorted and ready to go. All you should need to do is put on your boots, affix your skins, click in and start hiking. But before you run up the hill check that everyone’s beacons work and make sure the intended route is through safe terrain. Check in with the staff from the Utah Avalanche Center at 801-364-1581 for current avalanche and weather information. Have a plan for how long you’ll be out, and let someone know when you should be home.
Now you’re off. For safety reasons, spread out on the trail (commonly referred to as the skin track). This will also ensure that you stay off the tails of the person in front of you. If for some reason you’re boot packing please don’t do it in the skin track.
When you start hiking, cool off without having to stop: Shove your hat and gloves in the waist belt of your pack; unzip pant legs and pit zips. Be terrain aware: because they are avalanche prone, wide-open bowls are rarely the best place to stop to adjust your skins, get a drink, or strip off a layer.
At the top of your hike, it’s time to get sorted for the descent. Ridgetop winds can chill to the bone quickly. You’ll be really glad that you packed a puffy coat and lugged along a thermos of hot tea. Put some snacks (energy bars, gels or homemade cookies) in an inside pocket to keep them from freezing so you have something to munch on while enjoying the view.
Take care of your climbing skins. Do your best to keep them clean; snow or dirt mired in the sticky severely affects how well they stay on. If you’re doing laps, wipe the snow crystals off the bottom of your skis before putting the skins on, and stash them in your coat if they start freezing. Oh yeah, don’t forget the little flip switch on the back of your telemark or randonnee boots that adjusts them between walk and ski mode.
Now it’s time to do what you came for. Before dropping in, remember a few important rules:
1. Cut the slope by traversing quickly across the top at a 45 degree angle.
2. Always plan an escape route before you drop in.
3. Go one at a time and only stop in safe areas.
4. Stop below the group and never ski directly above people. If the slope goes or you yard sale, they’ll get taken out too.
5. Never cry wolf. Imagine this scenario: You drop into Cardiac Bowl hollering like a skinned cat. Later, at the top of the Coalpit
Headwall, you hear your partner yelping and assume the snow’s great. Wrong. It’s actually an “oh my gawd, that’s a huge avalanche” kind of yelp. Yelling is a way of letting everyone know about danger.
Finally, a good attitude and a keen awareness go a long way toward making a good backcountry partner. Yes, dropping the big fresh lines is a rush, but take time to pay attention to the details. Watch your partner, the terrain, the weather, the snow. What you learn may not hit you like a ton of bricks the first time you go out, but over time the experiences you have in the backcountry combined with your observations will add up to considerable knowledge.
Most likely you’ll develop a pack of your own and next thing you know someone else will be hanging around the water cooler at work mustering up the courage to ask if they can tag along. Remember how you got to where you are now, and take the time to share your knowledge with others. But for now, just get out there and enjoy your fresh tracks!
—Lori Schwilling is an ex-resort skier who lives at the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon; this is her first contribution to the Sports Guide. She says, “ I didn’t move here for the snow. Really….”
Learn More:
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper The local avalanche guru speaks!
Snow Sense by Jill Fredston and Doug Fessler a short but sweet look at avalanche safety.
Allen and Mike’s Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book by Allen O’Bannon and Mike Clelland Two experiences skiers give great advice on backcountry skiing in a comic book format.
Wasatch Winter Trails by John Veranth A comprehensive collection of beginner and intermediate terrain for skiing and snowshoeing in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains.
Wasatch Tours Volumes 1, 2 and 3 by David Hanscom and Alexis Kelner. Companion maps available at Kirkhams, Wasatch Touring, and other outdoor shops around the valley.
Backcountry Skiing Utah by Tyson Bradley The latest definitive guide to Utah Backcountry.
The Chuting Gallery by Andrew McClean Local bad-ass shares his favorite shots.
