I’ve never been caught in an avalanche. And luckily I’ve never had to dig anyone out. But I’ve known several people who have taken the unsolicited ride on a slab avalanche. One tragically lost his life. Living in a town like Bozeman, knowing someone who has had an encounter with an avalanche is not that uncommon. Risk seems to be an inevitable part of the backcountry skiing experience. There’s always a chance, however slim, that you won’t come out of the mountains alive. Yet every year there are more and more people venturing into the backcountry to ski in avalanche terrain.

Those who don’t ski in the backcountry may ask, “why?” Why would you risk your life when there’s three perfectly safe ski resorts right down the road? The reasons are varied. Some use it to extend the ski season. Even though most resorts don’t open until late November, skiers can usually be spotted skinning their way up Bridger Bowl by late October. The mountains surrounding Bozeman can sometimes hold snow well into June. In fact, some of the year’s best snow can fall in late Spring, well after the bull wheels stop turning.  Others see backcountry skiing as a way to explore the mountains in the winter. They seek the same experience of communing with nature and getting in a workout that hiking deep into the mountains in the summer affords, only with the added benefit of being able to ski back down.

But what most backcountry skiers are ultimately after are the knee-deep powder days and the stashes of untouched snow, still pristine even days after a storm. Leaving behind the resort crowds, you quickly discover that skiing in the backcountry means you have the mountain to yourself. You don’t have to hunt for untracked powder. It’s everywhere. It’s like discovering the proverbial pot of gold, and then realizing it’s all yours.

But with all that fresh snow comes responsibility. You need to make sure you and your partner make it back to the car in one piece. Because, while skiing in the backcountry really is that good, it isn’t worth the ultimate price. So, for anyone who is thinking about skiing outside the resort, there are some things you should know. And if you already know them, perhaps a little refresher is in order, since, even in November, avalanche dangers are quite real.

“In the early season there are a couple things to remember. First, if there’s enough snow to ski, there’s enough snow to avalanche,” says Doug Chabot, Director of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. “Don’t get lazy because winter hasn’t kicked into full gear. Carry a beacon, shovel and probe and ski one at a time. Every autumn we hear of people getting caught, which brings us to the second item to remember: although an avalanche may not be deep enough to bury you, it’s most certainly powerful enough to pinball you down a rocky slope or off a cliff, sometimes with deadly consequences.”

Backcountry skiing is as much a science as a sport, and it requires a lot of skill to stay safe. Like any sport where you risk your life, it’s better to be well educated and practiced before you attempt it. A good place to start is with a little research. First, find out what kind of gear you’ll need. Visit your local backcountry gear shop and talk to the staff. They can usually give you a good idea of what you’ll absolutely need and how much it will cost. Because of the equipment needed to ski the Ridge at Bridger Bowl, many alpine skiers and snowboarders already have a beacon, shovel, probe and pack. That’s a great start, but you’ll want to buy touring bindings and a pair of skins if you’re a skier. Split boards are usually a must for anyone seriously interested in backcountry snowboarding. You or your partner should also have the equipment necessary to evaluate the snowpack. At a minimum, a snow saw will help you create more accurate snow stability tests. Other gear to consider are a slope meter, snow study kit and an AvaLung.

Remember, just buying avalanche gear is not your ticket into the backcountry. You’ll also have to learn how to use it. This is where proper training comes in. There are several opportunities coming up to educate yourself about winter backcountry travel and the use of avalanche safety equipment. The first is a Basic Avalanche Awareness workshop offered on November 30th, December 1st and 3rd by ASMSU. For just $25 this class introduces you to the basics of avalanche awareness, travel and using your gear to stay safe in the backcountry. Montana Backcountry Adventures offers the first Level I avalanche course December 9 – 11 at their Bell Lake Yurt in the Tobacco Root Mountains west of Bozeman. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the backcountry skiing experience as well as find future (and well-educated) ski partners. The American Avalanche Institute also offers several Level I Avalanche courses in Bozeman throughout the winter.

Equipped and educated but don’t know where to go? A backcountry skiing guidebook for the Bozeman and Big Sky areas is coming out in mid to late November. The Bozeman and Big Sky Backcountry Ski Guide includes well-established backcountry ski routes in the Bridger, Gallatin, Madison and Absaroka Ranges. Each description includes route beta, maps, avalanche information and directions to the trailhead and the best ascent and descent routes. The guidebook is $39.95 and available at Northern Lights Trading Company and select bookstores.

Matt Parsons works at Northern Lights Trading Company. His first backcountry ski experience was buildingkickers in his parent’s back yard in West Virginia at the age of nine. It was definitely not avalanche terrain. Check out backcountry Ski and Avalanche Gear at www.northernlightstrading.com or call Matt at 586-2225.

Avalanche Training Resources
Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center
–  www.mtavalanche.com or 587-6981
American Avalanche Institute
–  www.americanavalancheinstitute.com
or 307-733-3315
Montana Backcountry Adventures
–  www.skimba.com or 995-3880