Being Smart and Staying Safe Out of Bounds: Backcountry Responsibility (2024)

Tragically, there has been one fatality and one injury reported after an avalanche was triggered at Palisades Tahoe yesterday morning. We are sending positive energy to those affected. While Backcountry Responsibility (2024) addresses safety, preparation, and risk aversion in the backcountry, the slide today at Palisades Tahoe serves to tell us that these things can happen in bounds, too. We must recognize and always remember that snow sports are inherently dangerous. That said, it is all of our responsibilities to be prepared, well-practiced, and knowledgeable when playing in the mountains.

Backcountry Responsibility (2024) serves as a quick, 20-minute overview of some essential aspects of backcountry responsibility, including how to can mitigate risks, prepare for emergencies, and more importantly avoid rescue situations in the first place through sound and informed decision making.

The best way to avoid getting into trouble in the backcountry is to be well-informed before you go. As we see pro skier Kai Jones do in the film, the best in the sport do this all the time. Some days striking out is the best option: much better than a heli ride home, or worse. Gathering as much information about the conditions as possible before trekking out is an essential practice for enjoying the backcountry responsibly. While it may seem like a bummer when faced with a gorgeous powder day, the best way to prevent an accident is to stay home when the conditions are unstable. Staying humble in the face of untamed terrain is the key to staying safe. Knowing when not to go seems to be about 90 percent of the deal here.

If the conditions are right for a day out, there are still some basic rules of thumb to keep in mind. You must have the proper equipment: shovel, probe, and beacon, for starters. But the right equipment doesn’t do any good unless you know how to use it. Thus, the importance of training often— ideally, avalanche response should become second nature. In stressful situations, our ability to think is often challenged, emphasizing the need to be truly prepared and well-practiced. In addition to carrying a shovel, probe, and beacon, the experts recommend preparing for overnight scenarios, too. Sometimes, helicopters can’t fly into the rescue because of bad weather, so you’d better be able to hunker down and stay warm enough to make it through a cold night. Carrying a way to make fire or at least a tarp for basic shelter could be the difference that gets you home safe.

Respect for Mother Nature, both in her unrelenting beauty and terrifying power, is the name of the game. This is a respect that extends also to search and rescue personnel, who risk their lives to save others from these incidents. Everyone who enjoys time in the mountains is indebted to these folks. While the task of staying prepared and vigilant may seem daunting, it is a way of showing respect that pays dividends. When we heed the signs of the backcountry, everyone wins. More epic days are had, and search and rescue teams can finally take a very deep, well-earned breath.

For more resources on avalanche awareness and safety, visit TGR's 2024 Safety Week.

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