Thread: CO:How to get started in BC skiing

I consider my self a very experienced skier. I've been skiing ~18 years, competed in mogul skiing as a teenager and instructed through college. I've been in Colorado for 5 years now and have not had much luck in finding anyone willing to show me the ropes to getting into the back country safely. Are there any clubs on the Front Range that help BC noobies out?

Take an avalanche course first, then ask for people to show you around. I'm sure someone actually from Co could give some advise on the courses.

Originally Posted by Lurch

I consider my self a very experienced skier. I've been skiing ~18 years, competed in mogul skiing as a teenager and instructed through college. I've been in Colorado for 5 years now and have not had much luck in finding anyone willing to show me the ropes to getting into the back country safely. Are there any clubs on the Front Range that help BC noobies out?

Here ya go jong.

www.epicski.com

I took an avy course up at abasin several years ago. you meet lots of people with the same interests as yourself, and will aquire some of the necessary skills to venture into the backcountry safely.

Frequent shops like neptune in boulder, or bentgate in golden, I'm sure you'll be able to get some info from them. It also couldn't hurt to check in with either the ski club or the outdoors club at CU or CSU depending where you reside.

INDY

All good advice so far, the certification course is your best course of action. In the meantime buy some books and read, get Freedom of the Hills if you are interested in Ski Mountaineering to learn all about mountain travel, and Snow Sense is my favorite snow book because you can take it in the field with you. Learn to identify safe slopes then go out on one and practice digging pits and doing all the snow safety tests.

Ive tagged along with those more experienced than me over the past few years, but I will be taking AVI and AVII this year to learn from pros. The site www.raguides.com seems to offer some good courses and there are few others around that Im sure are just as good. In other words, there is a ton of resources around this area, you should have no problem educating yourself.

Level I Avalanche 10367 12/7/2004 12/12/2004
Patrol: R005 - Bryan Mt Nordic
Instructor: Jordan Lipp
jlipp@umich.edu
Location: Boulder, Colorado

Level I Avalanche 10368 1/18/2005 1/23/2005
Patrol: R005 - Bryan Mt Nordic
Instructor: Jordan Lipp
jlipp@umich.edu
Location: Boulder, CO

Level I Avalanche 10517 1/10/2005 1/15/2005
Patrol: R021 - Eldora Mtn Resort
Instructor: Matthew E. Arveson
arveson@hotmail.com
Location: Boulder, CO

Originally Posted by Lurch

I consider my self a very experienced skier. I've been skiing ~18 years, competed in mogul skiing as a teenager and instructed through college. I've been in Colorado for 5 years now and have not had much luck in finding anyone willing to show me the ropes to getting into the back country safely. Are there any clubs on the Front Range that help BC noobies out?

You can ski with us if you'd like. Send me a pm...

Gotta bring a beacon...

CU's freeheelers club is both for tele heads and AT wannabe's. they're website is the same as title, i'm pretty sure. if not, google.


very active club. link up even if not a student b/c they're great for centralized 411 resources.

I'll take you out for a tour sometime if you want an intro. always lookin' for more maggots to do BC with. I'll be up in summit this year but, I'm here in boulder til end of november, possibly shorter. PM me if you're interested.

I'm quite new to the bc scene myself, and would certainly join you for some bc turns. As has been said, the safety gear is essential, and some practice with snow evaluation & beacons through books/hands-on classes is essential as well. I'm new enough that I'd be open to going out when the skiing is mediocre and practice beacon searches, and digging pits/evaluation...not feeling in any rush to get to skiing, but really working on honing those skis. I know I want to be proficient all around so that I'm a good partner to others...and hopefully they can do the same in return. Practice is obviously a big part of that. If you, or anyone for that matter is interested in something like that, lemme know.

Originally Posted by BlurredElevens

Here ya go jong.

www.epicski.com

That was helpful, dick. ickawinkie

SheRa to the rescue!

Thanks for offering to take me out. I'm working on scoring some used AT gear, saftey gear and a new beacon right now. I should be ready to get out there sometime in the next month, I'll send a PM then.

Originally Posted by spthomson

I'm quite new to the bc scene myself, and would certainly join you for some bc turns. As has been said, the safety gear is essential, and some practice with snow evaluation & beacons through books/hands-on classes is essential as well. I'm new enough that I'd be open to going out when the skiing is mediocre and practice beacon searches, and digging pits/evaluation...not feeling in any rush to get to skiing, but really working on honing those skis. I know I want to be proficient all around so that I'm a good partner to others...and hopefully they can do the same in return. Practice is obviously a big part of that. If you, or anyone for that matter is interested in something like that, lemme know.

im picking up a beacon very soon, and i would be very interested in some search practice..

Originally Posted by Z

im picking up a beacon very soon, and i would be very interested in some search practice..

Shoot me a PM when you get the beacon. I'm seeing a little interest in something like this from others too, and with a more explicit solicitation (as in perhaps a separate thread), probably can get 4-5 to go do this with...hopefully relatively soon.

Originally Posted by spthomson

Shoot me a PM when you get the beacon. I'm seeing a little interest in something like this from others too, and with a more explicit solicitation (as in perhaps a separate thread), probably can get 4-5 to go do this with...hopefully relatively soon.

I'd also be in for an afternoon of search practice. I can only do Sundays and I definitely want to ski first. Just call me greedy.

And it'd be extra nice if we were searching for some beers.

or tequila!

Originally Posted by Yossarian

or tequila!

Cool memory. That was the first search I ever saw. And the first maggots, I guess.

Damn, I love my tracker. I wear it to bed sometimes.









slooooow pitch


k, i gotta go to work now.

Memory like a steel trap, my dear. Wait, where am I? What? Who..? Dang, forgot what I was saying.

Wasn't a very "formal" search, as I'm sure you know now, but still, we did find the stashed goodies, eh??


Thomson, I could benefit from beacon practice as well. Please post as things start to shape up, and I'll try to attend. Thanks!

http://www.cineposters.com/home/Posters/78-100.jpg

Watch this movie. Tells you all you need to know.

Originally Posted by Evil E

I will be taking AVI and AVII this year to learn from pros.

FYI, most educators recommend (and I believe for the right reasons) that you wait a year between a Level 1 and 2 to get some hands on experience.

Or just pack a bunch of nitro glycerine with you to blast out of the avie after you're burried.

Originally Posted by bad_roo

http://www.cineposters.com/home/Posters/78-100.jpg

Watch this movie. Tells you all you need to know.

http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/16/10/12m.jpg

This movie too. I learned so much about the effects of microscopic cracks in an oil pipeline causing vibrations that lead to a giant avalanche in which everyone survives.

I'd be interested in this beacon practice you speak of... still have not gotten one yet (Dear Santa...), but if something is organized please post it. It'd be nice to get a group together... although it should not replace professional knowledge, always a good thing to learn from each other as well.

I'm trying to organize some avi eduction throught the Friends of Berhoud Pass. Permitting by the FS and liabiltiy issurance are major issues currently. No promisses but I thought you'd be interested.

There is no substitue for field time. Get out there with someone you trust and poke around, open your eyes. Nobody worth their salt is going to put a newbie in harms way because they are looking out for themselves. BC safety is as much about a mindset as it is technical skills (beacons, pits etc.).

Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

BC safety is as much about a mindset as it is technical skills (beacons, pits etc.).

If not more, someone who is just into skiing mellow safe lines and needs to will live a long and affluent life in the BC. The mind set of always having to take it to the next level can get you in a lot of trouble. Most avy accidents involve very experienced BC skiers.