introduction to backcountry skiing: how to stay alive and have fun!

I N T R O D U C T I O N T O B A C K C O U N T R Y S K I I N G

“ Y O U ’ V E G O T T O L O O K G O O D ”F I R S T R U L E O F B A C K C O U N T R Y S K I I N G :

- L O G A N , T H E A VA L A N C H E S A F E T Y I N S T R U C T O R

B A C K C O U N T R Y S K I I N G

• Not cross-country skiing

• Not extreme skiing

F O R O V E R 4 H O U R S …

F I R S T Y O U G O U P

F O R L E S S T H A N A N H O U R

… T O S K I D O W N

N O T J U S T B E T T E R P O W D E R

• Heli-skiing

• Snow cat skiing

• Side country (lift served backcounty)

E A R N Y O U R T U R N S

• Gadgets

• Adventure

• Teamwork

• Solitude + Scenery

F R E E H E E L + S K I N SG A D G E T S

S K I N S

T E L E M A R KF R E E H E E L

R A N D O N N EA . K . A “ A L P I N E T O U R I N G ” O R A . T.

F R E E H E E L

S P L I T B O A R DF R E E H E E L

A D V E N T U R E

D AY T R I P S

• Lake Tahoe

• Yosemite

• Sequoia + Kings Canyon National Parks

S K I H U T S

• GETTING OFF THE GRID

• APPRECIATING EVERY DAY CONVENIENCES

S N O W C A M P I N G

• MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

• SNOW CAVES

AVA L A N C H E ST E A M W O R K

S L A B AVA L A N C H E S

• 24 deaths last season

• 3 fatalities inbounds

• Avalanches happen at ski resorts

M O R E G A D G E T S

• Avalanche Transceiver (Beacon)

• Avalanche Probe

• Snow Shovel

AVA L A N C H E B E A C O N

• Receiver: Search for a buried friend

• Transmitter: Sends a signal for a friend to be able to find you

AVA L A N C H E P R O B E + S H O V E L

• Pinpoint the victim under snow

• Dig out

AVA L A N C H E R E S C U E

L O W C H A N C E S T O S U R V I V E

• One typically survives 20 minutes buried under the snow

• It takes on average 30 minutes to find a victim with one searcher

• Injuries

• One should NEVER go backcountry skiing alone, help will never arrive on time

E V E N M O R E G A D G E T S

• Avalanche Airbag

• Avalung

P R E V E N T I O N

W W W. S I E R R A A VA L A N C H E C E N T E R . O R G

S O L I T U D E + S C E N E R Y

R E S O U R C E S

• www.sierraavalanchecenter.com - Tahoe Avalanche Forecast

• www.avtraining.org - AIARE

• www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges - Ski Huts

• www.alpineskills.com - Avalanche Safety / Backcountry Skiing Classes

• http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Backcountry-Snowboard-Summits-California/dp/0898866561 - where to go in california.

C R E D I T S

• Yuri Yuryev & Eli Levine - photography

• Jane - staying home with the kids, while I ski