BC Snowboarding tips

I can't help myself.  Don't listen to the yahoos talk about snowshoeing.  I've been snowboarding since 1985 and snowshoes have worked great since.  Those who have a problem with snowshoes obviously don't know how to snowshoe or are as close minded as Skiing-only newbees.  Don't listen to the hype and save yourself some green.  Couple of thoughts on my snowshoe experiences:

1.  Snowshoes work great with mountaineering boots.  The most comfortable boot I own is my leather mountaineering boots.  Which I snowboard in...how nice.
2. (good) Snowshoes have cleats, which make them almost like crampons, which are great tools for high mountaineering (welcome to the BC!).  There is nothing more reassuring than a firm cleat into windboard at 12,000' on a steep mountain.  Except maybe crampons...which, refer back to point #1, fit nicely on your Mountaineering boots.
3. (good) Snowshoes are light and fit nicely on my pack for the descent.
4.  Snowshows go on and off in minutes and do not require a change of my descent gear.  Can you imagine a transition to boarding in a 40 knot wind at -30F (welcome to the BC!)?  How about unclip the 'shoes, through on pack, clip into board and go?  Easy-cheesy.
5.  Snowboards are cheap.  Splitboards are not.
6.  Snowshoes kick ass in climbing uneven terrain (ala Cascades or NE glade skiing)

I'm probably forgetting a few things, but you get the picture.  A good pair of 'shoes will cost you $150.  And they last forever (I still have my first Tubbs pair, and they still kick ass), and you can use any one of your snowboards  - the shorty, the longboard or the fatty for that particular type of snow day.  So much to love!

Now, if your ski outing brethren are all going skiing and you'll be the only one boarding, well, go get your skis and skin!  What, you can't ski?  Oh, that's another matter now isn't it?

Snowshoes are fine, but if you actually want to ride deep pow (as your name suggests) in remote areas, you will get left far behind and exert a lot more energy than your skinning friends, who won't even agree to let you tag along in the first place.

"It's not the canoe, it's the Indian."

The first person up the trail will always have to break trail, and that will be hard whether you're skinning or shoeing. Those following will have a better time and will not be left behind, except if you're weak - skinning or shoeing. And as a rule of BC, you won't get left behind, unless you're with people you don't want to be with in the BC in the first place.

It's kind of ironic that snowboarders of all people would be prejudice considering the history of the sport. When I started snowboarding you couldn't even ride the lifts "cause you couldn't ski down in control". Hmmm, guess I can't climb the mountain either, eh?

"It's not the canoe, it's the Indian."

The first person up the trail will always have to break trail, and that will be hard whether you're skinning or shoeing.  Those following will have a better time and will not be left behind, except if you're weak - skinning or shoeing.  And as a rule of BC, you won't get left behind, unless you're with people you don't want to be with in the BC in the first place.

It's kind of ironic that snowboarders of all people would be prejudice considering the history of the sport.  When I started snowboarding you couldn't even ride the lifts "cause you couldn't ski down in control".  Hmmm, guess I can't climb the mountain either, eh?

It's the backcountry.  Do what you want.  You got to start somewhere.

There is also the mountaineers Backcountry Ski + Snowboarding course that covers basic winter travel, camping, and avy skills and is run by our own JW. You can find more information about the course here: www.mountaineers.org/source/aTrips/TripRegister.cfm?Event=13003

I say give up on the snowboarding thing and take up skiing.

Nah just kidding. If I were a snowboarder I'd have a set up for all conditions; slow shoes, split board, and even some approach skis.

But I'm a skier.