Advice for new guy.

You've got 10 years of experience so you are most likely skilled enough for the down. Like hyak.net said, to find out if you like the up start with the low budget approach before dropping a lot of cash. There are plenty of low commitment, high traffic places to go where you can work on fitness and your climbing system. A couple laps at Hyak or Skyline Lake will give you a decent idea of what touring is like and boost your confidence.

There was a group of Mountaineers up at Moonlight last weekend that included a snowboarder, so that is an option too.

And what everyone else said about the avy class...

Splitboards are good tools in the right conditions, but why not just ski then??

not sure what that means.

i grew up alpine skiing and have found spliffboarding to be the ultimate combo of all of my favorite winter past times.  some of which include xcountry skiing, snowboarding, and hiking in the mtns away from babylon.

it also includes some elements new to me...like ballet.  and when you see someone performing a kick turn balancing on a steep slope on one ski trying to get the other ski tip around w/o burying it in pow you'll know what i mean. this ties into the post above about kick turns.  fortunately my pop was also a ski instructor and he used to make me learn all kinds of unorthodox things.  kick turns in the slackcountry being one of them.  he also used to make us go up t-bars with one ski on.  but i digress.  

x2 on the have fun part!

Hi Mike - to elaborate, I randonee ski (and that's a blast); I telemark (rather poorly in a lot of conditions, so I use the "Mike Bein" school of paramarking a lot in challenging snow conditions I must admit); and I snowboard (quite a bit, really).

I guess I find it impractical to change from one tool to another in the field when with my quiver I can make the right choice in the comfort of my living room?

If you have your avy 1, avy gear, and a split, (plus your 10yr experience and reasonable fitness) you are welcome to come out with me. Some days I am more goal oriented and like to know my partners are up to it, but most of the time, I am just looking for turns in good company. I agree with the snowshoes/Hyak as a great place to start. The Mountaineers course is also a good choice. They are probably one of the best in terms of experience/$ ratio. You get instruction as well as being able to participate in outings with more experienced partners. I think if you stick with it you will outgrow both The Mountaineers and your snowshoes. A split is generally more efficient unless your tour is straight up and straight back down. You are also more compatible with AT partners. Snowshoes are great for spring corn and after the avalanche cycle, lapping a summer patch can be done without everyone having to move up and down together. Learning kick turns is a whole other topic. It may be miserable at the time but you can look back on it as one of life's important experiences. I learned by getting a split, strapping on skins, and then chasing some very fit AT skiiers up the Phantom. All you need is a little motivation but after you've done it well once, it is amazing how fun uphill can be.

After you take your level 1 class consider renting a board and posting on here looking for a partner. Second Ascent in Ballard used to rent splits and I think Pro Guiding services in North Bend also rents them. If you like it then drop the $1000+ on one.

You can also spend $150 on a split board kit and cut your own used board. I bought the kit a couple years ago after I heard a lot of successful news on others success with this kit. So far I've cut one of my old boards but have not completed the kit work yet (need to make the time).

snowboarding.transworld.net/1000085697/u...tboard-with-dirksen/