How to Safely Ascend in the Backcountry

When most of us get into backcountry skiing and snowboarding our minds are focused on the descent. We all dream of putting first tracks down wide open slopes in waist deep snow. What most people don’t realize is for those 10 minutes of turns it can takes hours of climbing. It is vital to know … Read more

Backcountry Knowledge for 2021 Season

John Scurlock photo of the Mount Baker Backcountry while flying by

It seems like the perfect storm has arrived in the backcountry. With the popularity of ski touring growing year after year places were already starting to get crowded. Now add a certain virus as well as reserved ski resort and it has kicked the backcountry into overdrive. With already crowded trailheads and a mindset focused … Read more

A Great discussion on the Digging of Snowpits

From showing weak layers of snow, to the depth of the seasonal snowpack. Snowpits can be a vital source of information when traveling into the backcountry.  But are they always nessasary? This link will take you to a great discussion and breakdown of when and why digging a pit is vital.

How I Use the Weather to Help Me Plan a Backcountry Snowboard Trip

Looking at the freezing level while safely ascending in the backcountry

During a typical season, I usually travel a little bit, but for the most part, I tour here in my home range– The Cascades.

The Cascades offer a more stable snowpack than other areas, as well as a longer lasting seasonal snowpack. Plus, when the seasonal snowpack melts, there’s always glaicer riding.

I often sit at my house in Seattle or in Greenwater, Washington (that’s right near Crystal Mountain) and think about where might be a good place to get out and go touring, and the first place I always look is to the weather forecasts.

Whether it’s spring touring with perfect corn or powder hunting midwinter, there is a lot of planning that goes into a good backcountry trip. While I maintain a list of places I’d like to go and lines that are asking for a slayin’, I ALWAYS plan my trip around the weather. I can’t emphasize this enough.

If you were to ignore this very important step, and venture unawares into an area where the avi conditions are terrible or it looks like it’s gonna rain, you’re almost guaranteed to have a trip that’s somewhere between dangerous and unenjoyable, so appropriate planning is absolutely crucial.

For weather-based trip area planning, this is a breakdown of my process for here in the Cascades.

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