Solo Tours - think they're alright

[AltaPowderDaze]

aron ralston gives them 1 thumb up!

RLMFAO

[monkeywrenchMoose]

aron ralston gives them 1 thumb up!

FKNA!

[SPREAD EAGLE]

I usually take a dull knock off leatherman just in case I need to cut my arm off. That way I feel safe.

On the serious note, and as others have quipped about...skiing solo helps me to get in touch with my surroundings, enjoy the quiet of nature (no ipod here), and gives me the "man vs. wild" opportunities that our predecesors enjoyed before modern times.

Sure I ain't no Jim Bridger but being out in a canyon, on a ridge, or skiing the steep pow solo (without others, roads, or distractions) brings me some incredible inner peace. The meditative state of mind and ability to go at my own pace are uncomparable.

I also like skiing with a few partners that are into the same things. Small parties contribute to what I am after when I go out into the BC. The most important is my wife.

[marshalolson]

1. can you accurately access risk?
2. do you know your skill level?
3. can you accept the of consequences of a worst case scenario?

these 3 things are ALL required, be it with other people or not. its that the ANSWERS to these questions vary depending on the situation. ie: partners? conditions? setting?




and i mean SERIOUSLY what the fuck. if i broke my ankle by myself i would not sit down and wait to die.

[Kyle Miller]

I have done a few solo trips and while I don't like doing it sometimes its hard to find partners.When in that situation I try to venture out to busy places and/or drastically minimalize exposure.

[Micol]

and i mean SERIOUSLY what the fuck. if i broke my ankle by myself i would not sit down and wait to die.

duct tape is your friend.

A person can tour on flat and low angle and never engage slope or run out terrain. You don't have to expose yourself to risk from avy. That's a choice. Just being out in the quiet and beautiful country solo can be very satisfying.

a spot, yuppie shit or not

For the record, I think people that deploy S&R should be billed heavily. I think in most cases that is what happens. This will deter repeat offenders on the "quick" press of the help button.

other stuff to consider
avalung for a descent (not a burial)
abs airbag (float not bury)
body armor (protect against trauma)
helmet
good knife
space blanket
always extra gloves
shovel for pits
sno kit
probe for deciding where to dig
100 + ft small rope (belay and stomp)
harness for rope (ice screws, pinions, anchors, whatever)
small amount food, water container
matches, lighter (melting)
mini weather station
compass
light
$3 insurance card

[Mofro261]

I've done quite a few solo trips, but I typically limit these to areas/terrain I have skied before. I prefer to tour with others but often time constraints/work/kids/wife commitments mean I can't always plan that far in advance. I think i'm probably more cautious solo due to a heightened awareness of consequence should something go wrong. But on a whole I think I'm also willing to accept more risk than many of the people I have toured with.

[hutash]

It is interesting how some people feel fine hiking, biking, fishing solo, but winter touring is "so" dangerous. Each activity has its challenges, each of which can be mitigated. The only difference I see about touring is avi danger and cold. Both of which can be dealt with relatively easily.

I also find it interesting how many claim to be more cautious when solo. I think falling off a cliff has just as serious of consequences with a partner as it does solo. You are still dead at the bottom either way. I think I am as cautious in a group as I am solo, if not more so. With a group I am often the defacto leader, so I feel responsible for each group member, and the group is only as strong as its weakest member. Solo I know my abilities and limits and feel more comfortable staying within those limits.

I always has the ability to spend a night out, which means an emergency bivy, lighter, and some food like a power bar or two. I may not spend a happy night out, but I know I can survive. And I always carry a head lamp.

[Mofro261]

I also find it interesting how many claim to be more cautious when solo. I think falling off a cliff has just as serious of consequences with a partner as it does solo. You are still dead at the bottom either way.

In the context of a group I might scope a cliff as part of my line, solo I'll more than likely ski around it since the added consequence shifts the risk/reward balance.

[Conundrum]

I'm waiting for the government to chime in with level of personal responsibility I should have.








In all seriousness, people should do whatever the fuck they want as long as they can pay the reaper. I tour, ride, paddle, etc by myself. Hell, I even masterbate by myself sometimes.

I bet a lot of people who post that you shouldn't go bc by yourself also might smoke, eat poorly, don't get enough exercise or sleep, hump bareback with multiple partners etc and the potential outcomes of those are fairly poor and well known but yet they can take the high horse and tell others how to go about their days.

[The Duke of Hurl]

This guy almost always rides solo, and is clearly safer when he does.

[ame="http://vimeo.com/7289196"]http://vimeo.com/7289196[/ame]

Seriously, as was stated earlier, as long as those you leave behind are taken care of, what business is it of anyone's what you do solo?

[jfost]

It is interesting how some people feel fine hiking, biking, fishing solo, but winter touring is "so" dangerous. Each activity has its challenges, each of which can be mitigated. The only difference I see about touring is avi danger and cold. Both of which can be dealt with relatively easily....
I always has the ability to spend a night out, which means an emergency bivy, lighter, and some food like a power bar or two. I may not spend a happy night out, but I know I can survive. And I always carry a head lamp.

fair point, but a "night out" is a WAY bigger deal in the winter. On a summer mt. biking solo, you might survive a week or more immobile after a crash. In the winter, you have less time. Being prepared is good, but 2 power bars and a lighter may not be enough. I am not knocking your point at all, you need to be ready for conditions, but it shouldn't be ignored that winter brings HUGE additional risk.

[Wiilbert]

I solo tour on a fairly regular basis. I've skied big lines by myself and I've gone touring during high or extreme danger by myself. I feel that the only elevated risk that I've ever exposed myself to is the consequences of a tree well or a head injury.

The big lines that I've skied have been in fairly benign conditions and if any mistakes happen, the consequences would be fatal. Having a partner available to watch me fall off a 300ft cliff won't be much help. Likewise, when touring during high danger I have significant doubts about any of my partner's abilities to rescue me when I get whacked by a size 4. To even put yourself in a position where that's possible is an unacceptable (to me) risk regardless of whether or not I have a friend with me.

I think safety in numbers can give a false sense of security. As has been brought up before; if you aren't prepared to be where you are solo, should you really be there in a group?

It is entirely possible to be perfectly safe when solo touring. It's all about knowing the risks you face and mitigating or avoiding them entirely. I'm pretty sure somebody here has this quote as their sig, but here it is if any of you missed it:

"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom."

[Ted Striker]

But for some reason I still carry a Shovel, Probe, Beepin! also have Radio and Cell phone. ++ other random stuff

And that reason is that you may be in a position to help someone else. I usually carry my gear inbounds at Baker for that exact reason.

[byates1]

i ski a lot solo, all bc

i was out yesterday in the adirondacks, -10 air temp. i cut the day short because of the cold, also because of the high risk associated with extreme cold

i had cell reception, and others were around, but essientally i was skiing a 35 deg. rock landslide in the shade, coverge was great, but the most possible injury happening i could see was levering/high siding into a shark rock/stump, and things getting real bad quick because of the bone cold conditions

last season one of my last days in the adk was skinning down a mellow icy short down section on a super narrow hike trail, didn't see a 4" diameter log sticking out about ribcage level. as i picked up speed, i slammed into the log, breaking off a 1.5 ft section of it. i was on the ground before i know what happened, and the noise i made startled me. i got up, turned around, and started hiking/skinning back towards others, fearing internal bleeding/injuries. thankfully the spruce log was dead and dry, if it had been young and hard, i definetely would have broken plenty of ribs, and lacerated internals.

then there was the time i tried to ski a line with a big rollover, got cliffed out above ice and rock, lost an edge, cartwheeled 100 feet down 45-50 deg slope, w/2 whippets, severed my main tendon and arteries in one thumb, broke a bone in my other hand, bruised my ribs and generally got the shit kicked out of me. solo, 3k and 4 mi from the car. april, warm weather. self extracted and drove 3 hrs to a hospital, was out of work for 5 weeks

so, yeah, i'm a total fucking moron by most peoples standards