newbie looking for advice...

... Let the religious wars begin..... Thank you Charles for allowing those of all faiths to worship and proselytize here:  Board, Fixed, and Free.

<br><br>Actually, Silas, your denominational classifications are a little out of date. A splintering has occured and there are now four religions in the backcountry -- tele, board, AT and Dynafit! <br><br>Note, these denominational divisions don't really occur in the backcountry, just on Internet sites discussing the backcounty. Big difference!)<br><br><br>

I parked right at the base, in the large ski area parking lot. I believe Kendall does need a SnoPark, at least when approached from the Hyak highway exit. You can also access it from the PCT, see the recent trip report. Can't tell you about the Silver Fir base.<br><br>As soon as I posted the first reply, I started thinking about telling neophytes where to ski. You should learn about snow conditions and avalanche safety at the same time that you learn how to do a telemark turn. Last night Tim Place wrote a much more appropriate reply to a similar question about Baker:<br><br><br>tim_place<br>Member<br><br> Re: Safe Touring near Baker<br>« Reply #5 on: 12/01/05 at 20:57:01 <br><br>

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<br>Jason, I appreciate your attitude of taking this stuff seriously and wanting to learn to do it right, instead of just doing it. <br> <br>My first and foremost suggestion is to sign up for a beginning avi class, such as the Baker Mt. Safety Seminars: www.mtbaker.us/mec/100.html

Not only will this get you started down the road of snowpack analysis, you will meet folks in the same boat you are in. They can be valuable partners in learning.

Until such a class becomes available, read anything everything you can about avalanches, get to know the basics and the language. You will get much more out of the seminars if you have a little knowledge going in. I would suggest Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper, or anything by Jill Fredston, Doug Fesler or Ed LaChapelle. (I can loan you some of this -- PM me)

You should be able to travel safely on the road past Austin Pass to the Artist's point area. You should be able to find folks up there digging pits; they are usually willing to talk. You will probably also get invited to tag along with some folks, once you get the requisite avi gear (Transceiver, shovel, probe). Be carefui on this one -- there seem to be no short supply of backcounty posers up at Baker who know dangerously

For Jessica -- fix the heel, fix the problem?<br><br>For Paul -- randonee is french for "can't ski"?<br><br>Let the religious wars begin..... ??? <br><br>

<br><br>As long as we're bandying about the cliches, don't forget telemark - Norwegian for "hey guys, wait up"<br><br>But Tim Place said it best - the division is bigger on the internet than on the hill.<br><br><br><br><br><br>