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Backcountry Travel: Play it Safe Now that the snow's flying, it's time to head to the hills for some winter fun. But first, be sure to bone up on backcountry safety. Check out our layering advice, avalanche clinic information, and gear picks for a savvier time in the great white open. By Wendy Roberts
The elements you're up against are cold, wind, and precipitation -- and they can strike anywhere. I've known folks who've gotten hypothermic 15 minutes from their front door and frostbitten their hands camping in a local state park over spring break. Hypothermia is a serious concern. And it doesn't necessarily strike those in the coldest conditions -- it can hit people who get wet in 30- to 50-degree weather. Fortunately, winter hazards such as hypothermia and frostbite largely are preventable, and the following tips will help keep them at bay. What to Wear
For day trips, comfort and safety start with the right clothing. Go with three layers: a base layer next to your skin, an insulating layer on top of that, and a wind/precipitation layer -- sometimes called the shell -- on the outside. The base layer should be made from a synthetic material that absorbs sweat and wicks it away from your skin. Yes, I know, you probably adore the feeling of cotton, but you simply have to leave it at home. Cotton is the anti-wicker: When it gets wet, it stays wet -- and that means you get cold. You may not associate sweat with winter, but slogging uphill on snowshoes in any weather can soak your clothes in short order. Don't forget to wear warm gloves and a hat as you lose most of your heat through your head. Also, carry and drink lots of water. Hydration helps prevent frostbite and hypothermia. Gearing Up for Overnighters
When heading out for overnight trips, take the time to go over all your gear for its cold weather and snow worthiness. Will your tent entrance keep snow out? Are your water bottles insulated? Make sure you have a warm sleeping bag -- preferably with a waterproof covering -- that's rated for the temperatures to which you'll be exposed and a thick pad to insulate from snow. Check all your camping gadgets and the zippers on your clothes to make sure you can handle them with gloves on. You'll probably want to start with a single night out to give your gear a complete shakedown. If you can walk, you can snowshoe, so don't plan on hiking in snow, as it will rapidly turn into energy-draining postholing. Avalanche Dangers
Once you venture out of flat or gently rolling terrain, you need to consider winter's most mercurial hazard: avalanches. If you stay on slopes lower than 25 degrees, and don't get below slopes that steep or steeper, you needn't worry about avalanches. Once you've decided to snowshoe, ski, or ride in terrain steeper than 25 degrees, however, you need to get serious and educate yourself, starting with a good avalanche safety course (see below). No single rule or piece of gear will keep you out of all avalanches, but avalanche safety clinics will teach you how to identify and avoid most avalanche terrain, and how to find and extricate your friends if they are buried. I recommend an inclinometer as the first piece of avalanche gear you buy and carry. In addition, modern avalanche safety dictates that you wear an avalanche beacon and carry probe poles and a shovel. Of course, carrying the right gear won't do you any good if you don't know how to use it. Be sure you're comfortable with your equipment before heading out. With the proper practice and education, you'll be able to enjoy your time in the snow this season -- and for many seasons to come. Avalanche Safety Clinics
The following are clinics exclusively for female students or coed clinics taught by female instructors. For information on coed clinics in other parts of the United States, visit www.avalanche.org. Women-Only Clinics
Colorado Idaho Clinics Taught by Women
Alaska Utah The Goods on Safety
Silva Ranger Model 515CL Inclinometer : You have to judge slope angle to know if you're in avalanche terrain, and most of us aren't skilled at eyeballing angle. The Silva Ranger 515CL combines a compass (which you'll need anyway) with an easy-to-use inclinometer. Voile Telepack Shovel : This shovel is small and light enough to encourage you to carry it all day, on every run. It features a sturdy aluminum blade and a T-handle that's easily stowed in your pack. Many lightweight backcountry shovels are made with plastic blades, but I've known people who broke their plastic shovel the first time they used it in hard snow. Thus, I favor aluminum over plastic. Tracker DTS Avalanche Beacon : The Tracker was the first digital avalanche beacon on the market. People new to avalanche searches find its interface user-friendly and relatively easy to learn. Dual antennas let the beacon separate incoming signals from two different buried beacons. Remember: No matter what beacon you buy, practice, practice, and more practice is the key to using it effectively in an emergency situation. G3 230-centimeter Probe Pole : I like a probe pole that's separate from my ski poles. I can whip it out quickly and don't need to fuss with removing baskets and handles or deal with assembly of two pieces when time is critical. This 230-centimeter probe is lightweight and small enough to toss in a daypack. Dana Humbug Spire Pack : You'll want a good daypack that's large enough to carry extra clothing, food, and water. The Humbug Spire has a shovit pocket to accommodate your shovel and straps on the sides to hold your skis. A women-specific pack, it also features an adjustable suspension system to ensure a good fit to your torso. Wendy Roberts has a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of California, Berkeley. She has led climbing expeditions to Mount Hunter in the Alaska Range and to Aconcagua in Argentina. She lives in Montana, where she telemark skis, snowboards, and mountain bikes.
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