Brooke, Backcountry Ambassador
Several years ago, as John and I were heading into REI to rent some snowshoes, I saw a flier advertising about a free “Know Before You Go”, avalanche awareness class. To be honest, up until that point I had recreated very little in the winter, and had never spent much time considering avalanches. Although ski resorts, Nordic tracks, or closed summer roads can be beautiful places to spend time in the winter, I wanted to EXPLORE the back country. I wanted to hike up the mountains across the street from the ski resorts and walk along the ridges. I wanted to hike to my favorite waterfalls and see them frozen. I wanted to hike away from the crowds with my husband to soak in the silence. The backcountry was my destination.
“Point to all the signs of avalanche danger you see in this photo” instructs our teacher. Honestly, I couldn’t recognize anything dangerous. Hands go up in the room as others call out warnings I would have never considered. Usually a fairly cautious person, I expected I would be hearing information I had already thought of on my own. Nope! While I felt totally inadequate and overwhelmed at the beginning of the class, by the end of the class I was beginning to point out safe routes up a mountain and understand how weather can effect the avalanche danger.
When friends ask for beginner tips to explore the backcountry I ALWAYS recommend spending a little time learning about avalanche danger.
- Attend an introductory avalanche course. Outdoor recreation retail shops sometimes offer them for free. Call around!
- Find out if your area has any avalanche resources. Luckily in Utah we have an amazing source of information from the Utah Avalanche Center. By reading daily reports I can choose the safest possible terrain, and look for avalanche danger signs when I am in the backcountry.
- I love watching The Thin Line, by Sherpas Cinemas, each season as a nice refresher. Entertaining and informative.
- Before entering more extreme avalanche terrain, I always recommend getting avy certified, and obtaining avalanche safety gear (beacon, shovel, and probe).
While it’s fun to escape into the mountains and enjoy the beauty and solace of the backcountry, it’s important to always be thinking and observing. Over the years, I’ve realized that my constant observations have helped me understand and love my mountains more!