Getting Started in the Backcountry

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Before you even think about heading for uncontrolled slopes you need to do a few things. Learn the basics from a few good books. Listed in order of thoroughness: -- Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper is the most complete avy book for recreationalists that I have come across. It leads you through the basics and even takes you into snow metamorphosis. -- Snow Sense by Fessler/Fredston is a great starter since it is a quick and easy read. It also covers the bases. -- The ABC's of Avalanche Safety by Ed LaChapelle has older terminology but is still an effective book. It includes real life accident cases. He also has a great visual book called "Secrets of the Snow". It will jump start your on snow clues learning curve.

Putting that knowledge to use comes in the form of a multiday avalanche class taught by professionals. To get the most out of this class you need to come into it with some idea as to how and why avalanches occur. The prior reading will accomplish that plus give you knowledge of common terminology and allow you to fully participate in class discussions. Ask plenty of questions there because it is the place for answers.


After completion of the course your instructor will likely congradulate you and greet you as "the most dangerous people in the backcountry". Now that you are fresh out of an avy course you probably have more knowledge and confidence than when you went in. Unfortunatly this can cause you to overestimate your avy savy and consequently place yourself in more danger. It is important to keep your ego grounded at this time and continue your education. I haven't met an avalanche professional yet that thinks they are done learning. In fact, most of them grow more humble as their knowledge increases.

Continuing your education takes many forms. Re-reading your books will keep the knowledge fresh in your mind when you can't practice your new found skills. Just out of that avy1 class is the best time to start applying what you have learned. Find someone that you know has been touring for years that can safely show you how to travel on and assess the snow. The learning curve and harsh lessons can be cut in half by just having someone show you the ropes. Good bc practices start from the first time you tour. Likewise, bad ones do too so make sure you are learning from someone who is going to start you off right.



please add any stories of how you got started or things you think can jump start safe education.

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Originally Posted by AltaPowderDaze

Find someone that you know has been touring for years that can safely show you how to travel on and assess the snow.

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and make sure they really show you all that's going on. A lot of trips with experience gap parties althought here is a high potential for learning end up with a lot of unenlightened watching.

Learning from an experienced mentor is a two way street but requires determined effort from the mentee.

edit- great post APD

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Originally Posted by lemon boy

and make sure they really show you all that's going on. A lot of trips with experience gap parties althought here is a high potential for learning end up with a lot of unenlightened watching.

Learning from an experienced mentor is a two way street but requires determined effort from the mentee.

edit- great post APD

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very true LB. often people go out and let one "experienced" person lead without adding in there two cent. or finding out why the "leader" is directing things a certain way. usually because they don't know what to add or because of laziness. i like to be around for the block test and see what is happening and i usually have a different take on skin route selection than a lot of my friends. but most of them haven't had the pleasure of getting rolled by an avy. which by the way is a great way to reduce your ego out in the godforsaken wilderness.

I loved the approach Summit and Telekoptero took with me teaching me to do a compression test and a shear test and other simple stuff in a snowpit. Aaron taught actively, and Telekoptero sat back and watched, adding any necessary details and asking novice questions. He was pretending to be a student but also a collaborative teacher at the same time.

I would say that if you could find two mentors on the same day--find a small group of a lot of collective knowledge, even if you are with another inexperienced group member--that is the ideal approach to take, at least for the first couple days (of friend-to-friend instruction... avy classes are different, obviously).

And novices: ASK QUESTIONS. Try to get your mentor to ask you questions! Get engaged!

Edit: thanks, guys. ;)

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Originally Posted by AltaPowderDaze

Putting that knowledge to use comes in the form of a multiday avalanche class taught by professionals. To get the most out of this class you need to come into it with some idea as to how and why avalanches occur. The prior reading will accomplish that plus give you knowledge of common terminology and allow you to fully participate in class discussions. Ask plenty of questions there because it is the place for answers.

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going through avie 1 right now. just want to say the above statement is completely true and some super good advice. I feel like i would be lost quite often in class if i did not have any prior avie knowledge from both books, free lectures, and short clinics. I feel like alot of topics may have been overlooked by the instructors had the "students" not brought up the questions.

I plan on going out west next year and going on some BC adventures. Thank you for posting it. I'll be checking those books out soon. How hard are those books to come across? Would I be able to find them at border's or would I have to scour the web a little?

Those books are pretty easy to find. The Tremper book in particular is very well thought out.

I'd like to add another link that I thought is useful - the Canadian Avalanche Associations online course - http://access.jibc.bc.ca/avalancheFi...onse/index.htm

I would think it would be most useful as a refresher to someone who's taken their RAC (Canada) or Avvy 1 (US) course and used as supplementary to books and actual time out in the field.

Edit - this is one of those topics where there are almost no stupid questions. Please ask if you have questions; I learn all the time from other people's questions.

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Originally Posted by LeeLau

this is one of those topics where there are almost no stupid questions. Please ask if you have questions; I learn all the time from other people's questions.

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Thanks. Until I crack one of those books open, I don't really know what to ask, but I'll be sure to ask as they arrise.

Does anyone know of a good source of info (preferably online) on the quality of fracture /shear idea that has come out in the last 2 years?

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Originally Posted by Redskea

Does anyone know of a good source of info (preferably online) on the quality of fracture /shear idea that has come out in the last 2 years?

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How much contraversy is there? There's "spring loaded", clean shear, and rough shear. How much more is there to it than that? I'm not cunting... I'm actually curious. Discuss.

Books:

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...valanche+Books

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Originally Posted by Redskea

Does anyone know of a good source of info (preferably online) on the quality of fracture /shear idea that has come out in the last 2 years?

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Redskea - Bruce Jamieson was recently cited in a Vancouver Sun article stating something along the lines that pops and drops should have special significance attached to them. I don't have the article but have been meaning to look for it. HEre's some attached literature -http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=25343743028 46877

Is this kind of what you mean?

Redskea, check out these articles. Search that page for "quality" and there's some stuff about it there.

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Originally Posted by dirtybryan

How hard are those books to come across? Would I be able to find them at border's or would I have to scour the web a little?

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http://www.thebackcountry.net/cart/home.php has all of the books mentioned above, plus you can support a cool shop in north lake tahoe.:biggrin:

All I can say after my recent BC injury is avy training is great, but first aid training is also NECESSARY. Wilderness first aid courses are short and affordable and can prove to be highly valuable.

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Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

All I can say after my recent BC injury is avy training is great, but first aid training is also NECESSARY. Wilderness first aid courses are short and affordable and can prove to be highly valuable.

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good call art.


it's hard to find time to take a 7-8 day WFR course but if you tour it is worth it. atleast take a short first aid/cpr course. knowledge of how your own body functions is vital to keeping it running when something breaks down.


in order of completeness for a bc tourer:


1- wilderness first responder or EMT-B

2- outdoor emergency care

3- first aid/cpr

there are more courses out there but few teach you to take care of yourself like a wfr or an emt course. most of it is learning to diagnose and treat problems but most major injuries require definitive care. getting them there requires knowledge and luck.

Yeah WFR is a commitment, but WFA can be completed in a weekend and is a pretty good course. My boss tells me they now make CPR training a pre-req for WFA so they can make the most of the time they have.