Backcountry courses aim to keep both newcomers and experienced safe this winter

Now is a better time than ever to prepare for heading into the mountains (File Photo)

Our group of four skiers and riders stood at the base of New Hampshire’s famed Tuckerman Ravine, discussing the options for our first ski line of the day, when the word every skier dreads most reverberated through the cirque: “Avalanche!” 

Moments later, a cascading wall of snow pummeled toward the bottom of Left Gully —the line we had hoped to ski first — seemingly in slow motion, stopping only a few hundred feet to our left.

“Everyone switch your beacons to search mode,” shouted a member of our group.

Without hesitation, we all activated the “search” feature on our devices and headed toward the debris field to ensure there wasn’t a skier buried under the now-concrete heavy snow.

After deeming the debris field clear and having an additional conversation to decide how we’d move forward with our day, we began our climb up the gully, which we concluded would be extremely unlikely to slide for a second time in a row. 

It was April, and as we approached the top of the gully, we found what you might expect to find on a bluebird spring day in Tuckerman Ravine — a conga line of skiers, many without crampons or ice axes, trying to negotiate the steep, icy headwall above. Recognizing the hazard of having at least a dozen people directly above me, I traversed right toward an uninhibited slope, but not before another skier above took notice and decided to do the same, traversing in unison just uphill. If he were to fall, he would take me with him.

A lack of education and skill in the backcountry isn’t new. But in recent years, a frustration with corporate ski resorts, along with an elevated interest in getting into the mountains, has resulted in a greater number of backcountry users. And as the number of people skiing and traveling in the backcountry continues to grow, so does the number of preventable accidents.

With a multitude of backcountry safety courses offered throughout New England, now is a better time than ever to prepare for heading into the mountains. If you plan on backcountry skiing this winter, here are a few reasons to take a course and what to consider before signing up.

Learning to make smart terrain choices

One of the most basic and, arguably, essential courses to consider before taking your skis from the resort to the backcountry is the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Level 1 course.

This three-day, 24-hour course focuses on basic avalanche skills like terrain assessment, different types of avalanches and how they can occur, what to look for while traveling in the backcountry, and things to be wary of, from both a technical and non-technical standpoint. The course also touches on what to do in the case of an avalanche, giving students room to practice using their gear and to conduct mock rescues in simulated scenarios.

Taking an AIARE 1 course can be beneficial not only for those who are hoping to try backcountry skiing for their first time, but those who may have been skiing in the backcountry with no official training — or even as a periodic refresher for backcountry veterans. The benefits of spending time in this educational environment, with other like-minded individuals, is not only valuable to you, but to your ski partners as well. And you might even meet a new ski partner or two yourself. 

Getting comfortable with gear and performing rescues

If you ski in the backcountry, it’s only a matter of time before you come face-to-face with an avalanche, regardless of whether or not you’re involved. Well, you could get lucky (and your odds of getting lucky increase with the proper education), but it’s better to be prepared in the event you are involved, or nearby, when an avalanche occurs.

On that April morning in Tuckerman Ravine, the knowledge I had gained via avalanche education helped me understand how to use my avalanche gear. So, when the time came to search for a potential buried skier, I didn’t have to waste any time figuring out how to switch my beacon to “search” mode or how to conduct a search.

While this is touched upon in the AIARE 1 course, there is an additional full-day rescue course available that is focused solely on using rescue gear, conducting searches, and what to do in the event of an avalanche. If an incident does occur, things will go much smoother if you don’t have to take your beacon out of the box and figure out how to use it in a moment when every second counts.

Spending time in the backcountry

While getting the necessary avalanche education is critical to a successful time in the mountains, it isn’t the only factor. When trading the lift line for the skin track, there is a lot to consider.

It’s important to learn and understand which systems work best for you, like how to pack your skis on your pack, how to dress properly, and efficiently move through the mountains. Of course, there are a number of resources online about layering (Hint: avoid cotton at all costs), but nothing serves as a substitute for spending time in the mountains.

For your first time, consider traveling uphill at a local ski resort that allows uphill travel. This is a great way to learn how to use touring gear and what does and doesn’t work for you without putting yourself in a remote and dangerous situation. It can also be wise to head out with someone experienced who can share tips, be that a professional guide or a friend.

Where and how to get educated

There are a number of guide services throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine that offer avalanche safety courses, guided backcountry trips, and introductory backcountry travel courses.

Checking the AIARE website, which lists course providers by state, is a good starting point for avalanche safety and rescue courses. In New Hampshire, companies like Synnott Mountain Guides and Northeast Mountaineering not only offer AIARE courses, but also intro to backcountry skiing courses. In Maine, Acadia Mountain Guides, which operates largely in Baxter State Park and the White Mountains has similar offerings, as does Vermont’s Petra Cliffs.