Snowshoes and Skinning

Take an Avy 1 together instead -- you can both snowshoe for the field days, then work on touring together from there.

I agree. My wife and I just went to the Avalanche Awareness seminar at the Issaquah REI. She was very positive and found it interesting. I have my AIARE Level 1 certificate and am thinking about taking it again with her. I think it would be best if we both were certified before heading into the backcountry.

I agree. My wife and I just went to the Avalanche Awareness seminar at the Issaquah REI. She was very positive and found it interesting. I have my AIARE Level 1 certificate and am thinking about taking it again with her. I think it would be best if we both were certified before heading into the backcountry.

Good to hear. Personally, I think you can have fun on snowshoes/skis as long as the skier doesn't actually plan on skiing. I've done plenty of short hikes and day trips as the lone skier in a group of snowshoers and it works out just fine, as long as you keep your "turns" expectation pretty low.

I've done plenty of short hikes and day trips as the lone skier in a group of snowshoers and it works out just fine, as long as you keep your "turns" expectation pretty low.

Marcus, you have much stronger will power than I. It seems that when I see fun turns I don't really have much choice but to ski them. Hence my bad experiences.

Heh -- well, the most success has been on trips with very little elevation gain/loss, like Source Lake or similar, where the turns-temptation is pretty minimal.

I agree. My wife and I just went to the Avalanche Awareness seminar at the Issaquah REI. She was very positive and found it interesting. I have my AIARE Level 1 certificate and am thinking about taking it again with her. I think it would be best if we both were certified before heading into the backcountry.

Great thread. As at least one other poster noted given the easy blue nature of your wife's skiing, you have your work cut out for you bro. Skiing backcountry has nothing at all to do with skiing easy groomed runs, powder is a different beast altogether never mind breakable crust, isothermic, ice, etc, etc. I've taught girlfriends to snowboard for the only reason that it was easier in the backcountry than skiing (thinking learning curve here).

I Also didn't particularly like the splitting up idea someone mentioned, not only for the avy factor but also the injury and getting lost factor. Be careful with the idea that you and your wife will be "certified" following taking a level 1 rec course. This is only an introduction to a lifetime of learning in a subject that confounds even the "experts".

I end by saying good on you mate. I've done numerous tours carrying a snowboard on my back along with my normal pack, while a GF snowshoes up behind. It's great to introduce your significant other to the beauty of the backcountry. However pick your objectives carefully, and if your wife's going to ski (think about the snowboard too), make sure she gets lots of days in at your hill and gets off the groomers. Having her sit around and wait for you while you do some laps sounds like a recipe for hypothermia. Good luck skier hiker, I'm sure you'll figure it out and it's a good and noble thing you propose. Be careful out there though.

Heh -- well, the most success has been on trips with very little elevation gain/loss, like Source Lake or similar, where the turns-temptation is pretty minimal.

Source Lake was where I got the BC bug. I was skiing the Alpental sidecountry with my oldest daughter and we went all the way to Source Lake. When we got there I looked up and saw these tracks going to the top then coming down. I thought whoa that looks like fun. So maybe this could be a good beginner trip? Ski (skin?) to Source Lake then skin up as high as your comfortable and ski down?