Newbie Tips - Acquiring BC Knowledge & Training

Hi all,

My name is Fes.
I started snowboarding last year and a friend that's in the Mountaineers pointed me to this site. I lurked for a while and then finally registered myself as a user on the site.

My eventual dream is to leave the resort behind as the snowpack in backcountry has a lot more to offer than any resort might in terms of better riding conditions.

The question I need to ask where does a relative n00b like me go to get the proper training and skills to become a proficient rider in the backcountry as those riding conditions come with a price aka snowpack instability and avalanche danger?

Also looking for eventual riding partners, either skiers or boarders, to go up with.

Thanks

Welcome, Fes,

Great questions, and ones that seem to be coming back more and more as folks seem to be heading for the backcountry in ever increasing numbers.

This may be our opportunity to separate you two main questions which may each develop into a thorough treatise on each of your questions for those that follow you.

While obviously related to your first question, I have nonetheless, taken the liberty to remove your telemetry question to a separate thread to be embellished upon by those of the group that like to focus on that data set in their trip planning.

So the question that still remains here is where does one go to get the proper training and skills to become a proficient backcountry rider or skier? 

These skills presumably come with a barrier of entry which is an understanding and knowledge of snowpack instability and avalanche danger. Thus folks becoming interested in the backcountry, once they realize the risk of unprepared travel in the backcountry, need to know where to go to acquire the necessary skills.

There are a number of good books and DVDs available that are really useful (do a Google or go to Amazon.com). But what is really helpful is a week-long backcountry course at a helicopter-in lodge in B.C. with a certified instructor. Beacon searches each day, multiple burial retrieval exercises, route-finding & discussion in different terrain each day, snow pits (sometimes multiple each day) with evening/morning mini-lectures. The reinforcement gained by day-after-day practice and discussion is very good. Then following SOPs of reviewing mtn weather, snowpack, and avy forecasts daily. Also helpful is summer visits to areas you are likely to ski in winter to look at the slopes and under-snow structures.