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