Knowledge

They say you master something after 10,000 hours but I can contest that it is not the case as I’ve been on a Splitboard longer than that and still am learning new stuff every day BUT this this is a spot where potentially you can learn from my mistakes as well as successes.

What is Recco and is it Useful in the Backcountry

Recco Rescue System

It seems that most high end ski gear these days are equipped with a Recco reflector. The marketing has really pushed that you should have one if you are going to go on a backcountry ski. Many people ask if it is it really something you need. If you are going to head to the mountains is it just marketing hype or vital.

In this post I will break down what it is before focusing on whether or not it is vital to have Recco in the Backcountry.

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What to Watch for to Avoid Avalanches in the Backcountry

Putting in a skin track to Tamanos Mountain in Mount Rainier National Park

From the moment you get out the door to when you are on a ski tour, there are obvious signs to watch for to avoid avalanches in the backcountry. Through both experience and learning from qualified guides I’ve learned the five red flags. These are used to judge if conditions are potentially dangerous. If you see these signs there is a good chance the lines are unstable.

Through these observations you can get a general idea of what to expect and more importantly what not to ski. Whether you are driving to the ski hill or putting in a skin track look for these Five Red flags. It will make your backcountry ski tour a much safer trip.

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The Danger of Avalanche Airbags

The Danger of Avalanche Airbags and the changing of mindset

Have you ever been on the top of a mountain and decided to go first because you are the person with an Avalanche Airbag? I know I have and this is the big issue. In this post I will review the truth and the Danger of Avalanche Airbags and survival statistics.

Now before I start I should mention that I am not anti airbag at all. I see it as a tool that if used efficiently can help, but it is not a Golden Pass to ride whatever you like.

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What I learned after Avalanche Beacon Training. Buy a New Beacon

What I learned after Avalanche Beacon Training. It’s time to buy a new Beacon

I know what you are thinking “Man…. but a new avalanche beacon is expensive and my old one is perfectly fine”. Trust me I have been there thinking “yeah it’s a bit old but I could really use a new set of skins” as it seemed to work perfectly fine and a beacon is a beacon but as technology has changed beacons have changed as well. Basically the thing I learned about beacons after Avalanche Training was “It’s time to get a new one”

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Beacon training should be hard because body recovery is much harder


Over the years I’ve been fortunate to learn a lot about avalanches, from the weather to the terrain that causes it. In the beginning I learned through experience but in the past few years I’ve had the good fortune to get training though the Canadian Avalanche Association receiving my professional level 1. In the near future I hope to give clinics not only about avalanche education but a well rounded knowledge of what, when, where and why when it comes to Splitboarding. But here is a quick breakdown of what I learned and how I feel is a good way to apply it.

A taste of terror with the avalanche running on both sides of the rock

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Kyle Miller and the history of my Splitboarding

Who

My name is Kyle Miller and I was born and raised near Seattle Washington where my family immigrated from Finland back in the 1880’s and was the third generation to call that corner of the world home. Growing up I was the exact opposite of sporty with a life filled with video games, television and more video games until I turned 20. After experiencing a fatal car crash and developing PTSD I was introduced to snowboarding. What was supposed by be a quick fix became an obsession as I bought a seasons pass to my local ski hill (Crystal Mountain) after the first few days of snowboarding not realizing that this would forever change my life. After a single season of riding the resort daily a friend had bought a splitboard and basically said if you want to keep riding with me you need to get one too. At the time (2001) Splitboards were unheard of and through the kindness of the local Burton rep he gave me one that was collecting dust in his storage and I was off on yet again another life changing sport.

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