Back Country Safety: Ideas for solo travel

Practical advise: Don't list Solo Backcountry skiing under hobbies on your life insurance application.

I very seldom go solo but on the rare occasions I have it's always been to an area I know well. Places limits I know.

But apart from that... have at it. As you said in the previous post... I'm glad we all have the right to determine our own level of risk.

I think that in MRNP you still officially need permission from the Climbing Rangers to attempt a solo attempt of Rainier so regulation of soloist does exist which I find interesting and wrong.

Thanks for starting this thread Snowolf.  Having read your T.R. which elicited such a wide range of responses from the knowing and unknowing,  I too was reluctant to weigh in given the range of response and emotions rampant.  However this is a good venue, so I'll share some thoughts.  I struggle with skiing solo.  Though I know the risk is higher, I sometimes need to get out when partners are unavailable.  So I do.  But I think I try to  ratchet down the risk, by chosing terrain less than considerable in risk.  And try to ignore the tempations of better snow in steeper terrain at better aspects (ie, more dangerous).  In addition to making sure my wife knows where I'm going, I try to do the following if heading out solo:
1) Check out the NWAC report in detail, and integrate its forecast into my trip plan; because the NWAC observations and forecast are sourced from telemetry, reports from pro-patrols from all the region's ski areas, DOT reports, Friends of NWAC and TAY repors.  This gives me what I consider good regional forecasts, though not slope-scale.
2) Choose plans A & B, & C, to give me a prime objective and alternatives - I don't need spontaneous, ill-considered alternatives.
3) Choose safe up routes, and for down routes usually choose a path adjacent to trees, or amidst them - I like those big anchors.  I usually avoid runs with big open bowls, or big open bowls above my trees.
4) I avoid all the usual crap - convex roll overs, steep open pitches amidst the trees, hanging out in the avalanche patch, runout or starting zones, terrain traps.
5) Don't do any ski cutting.  In my opinion, one should only be doing this when someone is watching, and on small enough slopes that if it goes wrong, I've got competent companion rescue in reserve.  You never know when ski cutting if its going to break out below you, at your skis, or above you.
6) I only join up with others if I know who they are and what their knowledge and experience is.  I don't need to join a herd, in fact I would probably feel less safe.  Not only are you putting your own potential rescue at risk (if they don't have the gear, knowledge or training), but I might be lured into their disaster.
7) I may not dig any snow pit, other than be constantly poking the snow, observing how the snow reacts to my kick returns, doing hand shear tests, ski penetration, pole penetration; all the stuff you do while moving.  If I dig a pit, it will be to verify/find a weak layer, or layer of concern.  I will not make any decision based on a snow pit - whether by my self or with others.  As described recently by a guide/avalanche instructor/extremely experienced snow traveler, 'any snowpit is statistically insignificant'.  Numerous studies have been done, including by Bruce Jamieson, recognizing the variability of the snowpack, often within very small distances apart; one pit designates stability, the next right next to it designates instability.  In my opinion, a snowpit's indication of poor stability will deter me from skiing it; a positive result will mean nothing unless all other observations and forecasts support it.

It is an interesting game skiing alone.  There's always the risk of the normal crap - hurting oneself taking a ski fall, falling into a tree-well (it helps to have bindings one can release out of), running into a tree, etc.  But assuming we're comfortable with those risks, our bigger challenge is balancing safety with fun, not succumbing to some silly human factor element - blue sky syndrome, fun, goal seeking, back to the barn syndrome, risky-shift (safety in numbers), overconfidence, etc)  Usually after considering all of these potential factors in the risk equation, I chose shallower angle slopes, not leeward nor shaded - those boring stabler slopes.  This is why I enjoy skiing with skilled friends - we can ski a greater array of slopes without necessarily amping up the risk.  Companion rescue is a wonderful thing.

Now that there^^^^^ is some very good stuff. Kudos.... great post.

@ markharf:

I am totally on board with you here on a philosophical level. Your point of view appeals a lot to my inner Libertarianism. I am very much a lone wolf and like you, I whitewater raft solo, backpack solo ( including multi day trips off trail in the Grand Canyon ) One of the Canyon's hiking pioneers wasthe late Harvey Butchart who mapped more of that canyon than anyone before or after him and almost all of it he did as a solo hiker. His routes are in use to this day. By the way, he died peacefully of old age at his home in Flagstaff.

I think what most of this comes down to is individual acceptance of risk. I personally am at a level between you and Gerryh. I tend to do more route planning in advance and leave a detailed route with friends and family. I also leave a copy with rangers, patrol or in my car in case I am overdue. While I don't have SPOT, I do use a 401 MHz GPS PLB for all solo travel and group travel.

@Gerryh:

Wow! Very well thought out post and I try to behave very much like this in my Solo touring. You brought up a great point about finding a false sense of security in seeking others out. I have to admit that is a trap I have fallen into without the cold logic you have pointed out. My abilities and experience level is a known while a stranger's is a random. That random element may be substandard to my own. I guess humility can be a bad thing when you assume others "must" be more experienced and trained. Definitely something I am going to re evaluate!

I like your thoughts in regards to NWAC forecasts as being "the big picture" but not alwas gospel. One thought though that surprised me was your position on slope cuts. I do mine always at the ridge tops on the convex roll over ( after checking for cornice of course ). My thoughts here have always been that if it goes ( as my cut at WP did ), I am on top of anything. I have always been of the opinion that mid slope calls for a light footprint and I do not do anything high impact on my way down if I question the stability. Is my thinking here flawed and how should I better approach assesing stability other than all of the afore mentioned things including digging a pit?

I am glad to see such productive dialogue and ideas being shared. While I do solo travel most of the time, I do want to be as safe as I can while doing it. For my part, please accept my apologies for any discomfort I may have generated. I do not respond well to baseless attacks that have no constructive value.

I'm confused. I thought the danger of a tree well was suffocation. How would rope and knife help in that situation?

When I am touring solo, I always try to leave information with my wife.  ...  I am less likely to carry a probe or beacon ...   

I tour bc alone 68.4% of the time (say 50+ days of solo skiing/year). I took up skiing because I wanted to experience fully the bc snow-covered environment, not a as social endeavor. I love being alone. I hate being in groups (might as well go to the mall). I do enjoy touring with my wife. I do all of what Gerry does, but I am adaptive about it--relaxing some of the rules when it seems appropriate.

However, Snowbell, I too am tempted to leave shovel, beacon, and probe sometimes. I rarely do. There are other people out there sometimes. I would feel bad if they got into trouble and I couldn't assist, especially if it was some other bc soloist I know. I would expect others to search for me if they saw me (or my tracks) in an avalanche, and I would want that search to be as easy as possible. And, if by some chance I was caught in an avy and buried with no one around, I hope my beacon would keep on ticking to aid search and rescue people in corpse recovery because I know my wife would call them if I failed to return home.

Finally, I wish a safe and fruitful bc-experiential New Year to all (except those in large groups ).