A quick word on blocking ads
It looks like you are using an ad blocker. That's okay. Who doesn't? But without advertising revenue, we can't keep making this site awesome. Click the link below for instructions on disabling adblock.
Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!
Zennanwas wondering if I have a probe, shovel, and beacon and know pretty well how to use it all but have no proper avalanche training if it is safe to ski out there? So ya, what other prepping do I need to have for safety and how necessary is the probe, shovel, beacon set up out there? (guys I am planning on going with doesn't have any of it).
MinggWell look at it this way, if you're the one who gets caught in a slide, you're pretty fucked since the only people who can help you are pretty helpless without proper gear.
Profahoben_212This is absolutely fucking retarded. Not only are you putting a heavy risk on your life...but everybody else you are with as well.
I don't care how much gear you have or how much you can use a beacon...there is a fuck load more that goes into it.
gusestompAbsolutely fucking not. I just finished my AIARE level 1 course yesterday and you really should take one.
Basically, all of Colorado is getting dumped on making a lot of the snow unstable, be careful. And without everyone having the correct equipment is useless
ZennanAlright thanks a lot for the response. Do you recommend taking a course in the area I am gonna be skiing in? (sw colorado) or does it really matter where I take the course? I am assuming it does since snow pack varies across states and counties?
gusestompI took my course at CMS up in Estes Park, you can take it anywhere really but Colorado's snow is really different compared to places like Cali so take it where you'll be touring the most i'd say.
The referenced post has been removed.
Profahoben_212NS was flipping out for me too lol.
I would suggest taking it close to where you would be skiing, because general snowpack can be different...like California or Washington compared to Colorado, but a general avi 1 will do you plenty of good no matter where you go.
ZennanAlright that's great to know! I for sure will take it in the rado then! I am assuming then that a level 2 course isn't necessary but probably a good idea if I wanna go to ski some more dangerous stuff like spines and what not? (not gonna think about doing that my first BC trip lol)
wrichmondThe different avy classes don't teach different types of terrain, they just go more in depth about the snow science and how to read terrain.
Generally at the earliest you can avy 2 one year after avy 1, to allow for practical experience.
Colorado avy conditions are TERRIBLE, so stay inbounds til you have the training.
ZennanAlright that's great to know! I for sure will take it in the rado then! I am assuming then that a level 2 course isn't necessary but probably a good idea if I wanna go to ski some more dangerous stuff like spines and what not? (not gonna think about doing that my first BC trip lol)
californiagrownHopefully the avy 1 class scares you straight. Cause right now you are straight retarded. You don't have equipment, don't have theoretical knowledge, have no practical field based knowledge, and have no partners with any of the above either.
And you think it is a good idea to ski rowdy terrain on THE sketchiest snowpack in America with the above.
Fuck.
You're the guy who thinks getting slid is NBD and your boyz will just dig you out no problem.
ZennanWell thanks for the response but I actually do have the equipment, and did not think it was a good idea. That is why I decided to ask, to double check. I appreciate your response but NS is here to get informed and help each other out on topics they are not as informed about as others are. Not to bash on people for no reason. So where I appreciate your response, I would enjoy if in the future you would be a bit nicer and realize that everyone is not born with the knowledge of everything about accessing the bc. I came here to get information and make sure I do not end up in a bad position. That right there proves my point of I actually am the guy who cares about his safety and wishes to be informed on everything I need to be. Again thank you for responding, just I would appreciate it if you went about it in a much nicer way in the future. Last thing... I would appreciate you not using the word "retarded" out of a medical context.
all the best, and have a good season!
Mr.BishopHey man -
While 99% of the time I would totally say you are right to feel people were overly harsh in this situation... I think it's really important for you to take in the level of what you tapped into here.
There's a lot of stuff out there romanticizing the backcountry, and it's awesome as Fuck out there. However the mountains are an unfathomably dangerous place when you are outside of controlled resort conditions.
It is important to note as well that actions in the BC don't just get you killed - they can get others killed who aren't even skiing with you. For instance if you skied something stupid, you could trigger an avy that kills a group of seasoned BC professional skiers just because they were below you.
Howtility towards people thinking about making stupid moves In the backcountry is designed to put the fear of god into you - and to in turn spread that fear to everyone you encounter.
Everyone could have been nicer for sure - but you also have to appreciate the level of danger that your post shows you were considering putting yourself and your fellow skiers into.
Think of suggesting to go into the backcountry without education as the same as some bro from school suggesting that he was going to get wasted, do 3 tabs of acid and then go drifting in his car around an elementary school play area in the middle of recess.
You wouldnt calmly tell that guy to maybe do that when recess is over - you'd berate him for even considering any part of the idea.
That is an extreme example, but it's not entirely far off.
cydwhitI'm not usually a fan of taking anything about skiing too seriously, but avalanche knowledge and safety is worth it.
Start reading the avy report for the zones you're visiting now, buy Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain and scare yourself straight, then come up with an actual intelligent post asking for beta.
ZennanAlright awesome, thanks for letting me know! I appreciate your response -- sorry I don't know much about it, that's why I felt the need to ask! May I ask, should I try and just find someone that has been bc skiing before since currently the people I know have not?(obviously after training) It sounds as if it would be pretty dumb then to go out even with avy training with a group of people, all of whom have not accessed the bc skiing before. Or is the training really gonna be enough to go?
ZennanWell thanks for the response but I actually do have the equipment, and did not think it was a good idea. That is why I decided to ask, to double check. I appreciate your response but NS is here to get informed and help each other out on topics they are not as informed about as others are. Not to bash on people for no reason. So where I appreciate your response, I would enjoy if in the future you would be a bit nicer and realize that everyone is not born with the knowledge of everything about accessing the bc. I came here to get information and make sure I do not end up in a bad position. That right there proves my point of I actually am the guy who cares about his safety and wishes to be informed on everything I need to be. Again thank you for responding, just I would appreciate it if you went about it in a much nicer way in the future. Last thing... I would appreciate you not using the word "retarded" out of a medical context.
all the best, and have a good season!
cydwhitThe training should be enough to scare you into not going out with a group of terrifying newbs.
Find someone more experienced than you who's kind enough to take you out and mentor you a little.
californiagrownHow are you planning to access the skiing? Bootpack it?
What research have you done prior to announcing your plans to go ski the BC gnar with your boyz? Watched a few ski flicks?
How do you know how to use your equipment? You've practiced beacon searches in snow, practiced digging, probing etc? Or did you just skim through the manual once and put together your shovel?
I think the description of a mentally handicapped person fits well in this instance.
ZennanYa thanks for your concern but I have done quite a bit of research. I know that I can go to an AIARE class list to see where and when I can take a class. I just wanted to make sure I guess that spending the money on the AIARE level 1 avy class is a good idea! I do though appreciate everyone's concerns and helpful comments!
ZennanI know you can check online at avalanche reports and snow reports to see the dangers of areas you are going to on a 1-5 scale and currently with the weather in the area I am looking at its a 3, so I wouldn't plan on going right now.
ZennanI know to take extra stuff such as extra layers, gloves, med kit, water, food, lighter, headlamp, GPS, etc.
ZennanI've used my stuff before (not because I was required to) and know how to throw everything together and start searching. I know I am not as proficient in using it as I should be, but obviously everyone can improve, so for sure I am going to do a few more practice runs before heading out, and obviously will do it with the whole group so we know how to work together and can trust each other in a potentially deadly avalanche.
ZennanAlright thanks for the heads up! We may head out somewhere else or maybe just do some cat skiing or something instead? Do any of ya guys know of some good cat skiing in the southwest that won't break the bank? Colorado, Utah, New Mexico? When I was looking, for the most part it looked like most of the places were near Vail or Aspen area coming in around $600 per person for like 2 days of skiing. Does that sound about what is gonna happen?
Profahoben_212Elko Nevada has a heli skiing operation that is very low key and very awsome...all of my roommates are from there and they know the owners. Sick stuff
ZennanSick ill for sure check out what up over there! Thanks for the info my man!
ZennanYa thanks for your concern but I have done quite a bit of research. I know that I can go to an AIARE class list to see where and when I can take a class. I am planning on skinning up because if I were to like snowshoe up (which I never thought about doing) then when I get to the top my boots are gonna be frozen and crazy stiff, it would be less efficient, and just why wouldn't I skin up if I can lol. I know of relative places I am thinking of going based on asking people I have met that lived or are living in SW Colorado of safer places to go out in the BC so that I don't go and access for instance to Bear Creek my first go and get cliffed out and set off an avalanche since it is one of the more dangerous areas in my impression. I know you can check online at avalanche reports and snow reports to see the dangers of areas you are going to on a 1-5 scale and currently with the weather in the area I am looking at its a 3, so I wouldn't plan on going right now. I know to take extra stuff such as extra layers, gloves, med kit, water, food, lighter, headlamp, GPS, etc. I know of relative stuff in relation to avalanches such as try and keep track of the last seen sight of the person and start from there, and stick the probe in depending on how deep the person is (after you've located em) tells you how downhill you need to start to dig. I know there are ways to look at the snow and tell if the area you are in is more prone to an avalanche than others, I am just not 100% sure on how to do it since I don't have hands on experience with that... which I'm sure ill learn in AIARE level 1. I've used my stuff before (not because I was required to) and know how to throw everything together and start searching. I know I am not as proficient in using it as I should be, but obviously everyone can improve, so for sure I am going to do a few more practice runs before heading out, and obviously will do it with the whole group so we know how to work together and can trust each other in a potentially deadly avalanche. I obviously know you need a full AT setup lol (**I did do all of that research before posting here, I just wanted some reassurance on what I was thinking of doing was a good idea. Which was to take the class and overall just become more knowledgeable**). Really this thread post I feel might have come across a bit different than I wanted it to. I just wanted to make sure I guess that spending the money on the AIARE level 1 avy class is a good idea! I do though appreciate everyone's concerns and helpful comments!
**This post was edited on Jan 13th 2017 at 3:59:23pm
MGKAlso I was talking to some patrol earlier today at copper and they said because the snow is much thicker/ wet this year. Making it much more Avalanche prone and dangerous.
CaseyIf there are back country gates at the resorts you are going to ask the ski patrol to show you around. At Alpental they used to require back country passes, which meant you basically had to take a run out there with some patrollers and they show you around and decide if you are too much of a moron to ski out there. It's a good way to introduce yourself to skiing out of bounds in a somewhat controlled and populated environment, there are a lot of people out there typically, patrol is maintaining the traverse, bombing in the mornings, closing the gate when AVY danger gets high, if I am by myself it's pretty common practice to just informally latch onto a group for a run so you aren't skiing alone.
Chances are you're going find plenty of challenging terrain inbounds. Unless you have a perfect learning opportunity with people that can show you around it's not a good idea.
JibberinoI feel like you're at the level where you would still be skiing inbounds, and getting your bearings straight. Where do you live and how often do you ski?
CaseyIf there are back country gates at the resorts you are going to ask the ski patrol to show you around. At Alpental they used to require back country passes, which meant you basically had to take a run out there with some patrollers and they show you around and decide if you are too much of a moron to ski out there. It's a good way to introduce yourself to skiing out of bounds in a somewhat controlled and populated environment, there are a lot of people out there typically, patrol is maintaining the traverse, bombing in the mornings, closing the gate when AVY danger gets high, if I am by myself it's pretty common practice to just informally latch onto a group for a run so you aren't skiing alone.
Chances are you're going find plenty of challenging terrain inbounds. Unless you have a perfect learning opportunity with people that can show you around it's not a good idea.
ZennanThose "backcountry" gates are normally still just inbounds slackcountry type suff that's all still controlled and not actually BC. I've done that stuff hundreds of times. I'm just looking for something new. Not necessarily harder. But better snow and just the whole BC expirence. Thanks for the recommendation though!
californiagrownI've never known anyone to be as good of a skier as you claim, and have so very little knowledge about snow and avalanches.
You literally asked if your friends really needed beacon/shovel/probe to ski in the southern Colorado backcountry.
And most gates I know of serve actual backcountry. It'd behoove you to confirm with patrol at the area of your skiing.
Stay safe out there.
californiagrownI've never known anyone to be as good of a skier as you claim, and have so very little knowledge about snow and avalanches.
You literally asked if your friends really needed beacon/shovel/probe to ski in the southern Colorado backcountry.
And most gates I know of serve actual backcountry. It'd behoove you to confirm with patrol at the area of your skiing.
Stay safe out there.
ZennanI've heard of people that say that it is useless to buy it because you will never use it... and they worked in a ski shop (my co-workers).
ZennanI've heard of people that say that it is useless to buy it because you will never use it... and they worked in a ski shop (my co-workers)
californiagrownAaaaaand you took it too far and outted yourself as a troll lol.
kung_powpowI wouldn't take any future advice from your co-workers lol the ignorance is almost overwhelming
ZennanWell I'm a rarity I guess ;) lol... I've heard of people that say that it is useless to buy it because you will never use it... and they worked in a ski shop (my co-workers). So ya I literally did ask that on NS your right, because I have been told it was not necessary. Believe me I would have been gone skiing the BC ages ago if I actually did think my buds didn't need the gear! I just wanted to double check since those guys were like nah don't waste your money on it. Plus It is very possible for someone to have my knowledge about snow and avalanches. I just literally haven't had to have any experience with it yet so why the heck would i bother learning about it until now ya feel? I bet you have also never known anyone to be as good of a skier as I claim and have very little knowledge about snow and avalanches and know almost everything there is about building skis and what makes a good ski and how all of the little tiny designed marks in a ski add up to the total performance of it, and also is starting to build his own pairs, and also works in a ski shop lol... It's possible. I just haven't ever had the opportunity to go BC until like literally late this season. Knowledge about snow does not = capability of skiing or knowledge about other aspects of skiing!
You stay safe as well!
JibberinoWow. The fact that you had to ask if avy gear was necessary proves the whole point. You have no business going in the BC until you get some common sense, and a whole lot of training.
