20130224

Avalanche!!

Level 1 avalanche classes are always interesting, even if the snow isn't.  I don't just try to teach my students why this or that slope may slide, to think about what questions we should be asking on any given day for the given snow conditions.  Its an important distinction to me - the former teaches a rote, "cookbook" methodology, but that latter emphasizes evaluation and judgement. In the end, I think it makes a better backcountry skier.

Today's forecast:  snow.  Yes, this was good skiing.

Getting ready for a companion rescue drill.

A lot of relevant observations of the snowpack can be
made while moving, and can answer a number of questions
without stopping to dig a pit.

Digging a pit is a fun way to really get your head into
the science of snow and avalanches, but can be a real
time-suck on a ski day.  Its important to be able to decide
1) if a pit needs to be dug at all, and
2) what we're looking for when we dig that pit - different
conditions dictate what the pit is for.