Take a tip from the Tahoe pros

By Wendy Lautner, tahoe.com , wlautner@TahoeRenoOnline.com
February 12, 2008

Resort skiing is like room service. Scrumptious steeps, mouthwatering bowls and enchanted glades delivered right to your door. The only problem is that sometimes it’s nice to hang the Do Not Disturb placard from the doorknob and enjoy sweet, fresh tracks without all the fuss or fees.

Backcountry skiing is an excellent activity for skiers craving the natural experience and wishing to truly enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains. However, with the perks there’s also a long list of precautions – namely avalanches and injuries – backcountry travelers must consider before heading out into the wilderness.

To give some insight into the world of backcountry skiing, we went to Andy Anderson, professional avalanche forecaster for Sierra Avalanche Center (www.sierraavalanchecenter.org) the Tahoe area’s premiere resource for avalanche conditions. As part of his job (and also his life), Andy spends 80+ days in the backcountry per year and he’s been living and working that way since 1999. Check out what he had to say about backcountry basics.

Before you go
When getting started in backcountry skiing, Andy doesn’t hesitate with his first piece of advice. “Take an avalanche course,” he says. “A lot of people already have the skiing skills they need but they don’t know how to assess terrain and snowpack. Gear and technical skiing and snowboarding skills have advanced so much that many people have the skiing skills they need to enjoy backcountry skiing, but it’s very important they know how to safely travel and ski in the backcountry.” Check out these awesome options for learning more: ASI at (www.alpineskills.com) and Expeditions Kirkwood at (www.kirkwood.com/winter/expeditionoverview.php).

Invest in great gear
It’s one thing when you’re not dressed properly to duck in for hot chocolate in the main lodge, it’s another thing when you’re two hours in to a four-hour hike and you find yourself unprepared and out of your element. Be prepared. Dressing in layers and checking the weather forecast before traveling in the backcountry is imperative. Andy also recommends always bringing an extra layer, food and water.

Skins
Try out a variety of travel equipment before heading out. Snowboarders might want to look into getting a split board and applying skins – a sheath that fits to the bottom of your boards (skis or split board) and acts like velcro on the snow. Skins provide friction on the uphill and a controlled glide on the downhill. Andy likes Black Diamond’s Ascension skins because they’re durable (so far he’s logged 300 days on one pair). Alpine skiers will also want to invest in a pair of Randonee bindings to free the heel on the climbs.

Backpacks
Every body is different, and so Andy recommends folks try on a variety of backpacks before picking a favorite. However, looking for some key features might give you a starting point. You’ll want a pack that fits the must-have backcountry gear - shovel, beacon and probe – plus an extra layer and food. So try not to go too small. Next, you might want to look into features like a built-in Camelback so you don’t have to take off your pack every time you want a sip of water. Another neat and possibly life-saving feature is the Avalunge – a filter that provides access to air if you were to be buried in an avalanche. According to Andy, there’s plenty of air in snow but the problem with being buried is that as you exhale heat from your breath melts the snow around you creating an ice mask that over time cuts off the air supply. An Avalunge simply works like a snorkel and draws air from the snow without melting to prolong your chances of survival if tragedy strikes. Want to know more about the Avalunge? Check out (www.bedel.com).

In the event of breakdown
“I always carry spare parts for the bindings,” Andy says. “And extra long ski ties also come in handy. I’ve actually skied Castle Peak once just tying the ski ties onto my boots.” Duct tape, a first aid kit, cell phone, GPS, compass and map should also be part of the backcountry check list. And carrying a bar of skin wax can really come in handy if the snow starts heating up and sticking to the skins.

Where to go?
Communication and information go a long way in deciding where to go on any given day. First, Andy recommends checking the avalanche forecast and assessing where the avalanche danger is the greatest. Locally, check (www.sierraavalanchecenter.org). Next, have a discussion with your group about what type of terrain everyone would be comfortable skiing given the current conditions. Corn snow? Your best bet is probably a south-facing slope. A snow day? Tree aspects are generally a good pick.

Tahoe’s best of the best
When asked for his favorite Tahoe stashes, Andy stumbled for a definite answer. “They’re all good depending on conditions,” he said, laughing. “It’s hard to pick a favorite and it’s hard to go wrong.” One thing he does recommend is checking out backcountry guru Mike Schwartz’ online backcountry guide at ( www.thebackcountry.net/guidebook_sport.php). Not only does Schwartz practice what he preaches, he also owns Truckee’s Backcountry ski and bike shop – a longtime icon for Tahoe backcountry travelers.