BC with your kids

I have been looking forward to the day when my 4 yr old is ready for the BC. Yesterday I saw her really ski on her own for the first time and now I find myself thinking about all the ramifications of exposing her to risk. I usually have the mentality of "take her to the top, strap on her skis and see what happens". Fortunately, while she is athletic and aggressive, she also seems to have more common sense than her dad.

What about all of the objective hazards in the BC that will be mere abstractions to her? I know there are relatively safe choices but I also want to share with her the exhilaration of dropping in from a lonesome summit or down a steep chute as well.

How young were your children when you first took them out? Did you think twice about it? How did (does) it affect your route selection?

Thanks,
Peter

Mine is almost 2. No answers for you, but I have been wondering some of the same things, for what it's worth. But for some perspective, think about this - we are eventually going to teach them to drive.

Keep your ego in check and remember their back country is smaller than your back country. Fun is the name of the game. My 2 cents.

Wooley, I foresee plenty of low ego years. I plan on enjoying every minute, it was such a thrill to watch her first turns. Still can't help dreaming of even moderate tours together. By the time she is ready for the big ones, my back coutry will be the smaller version.

The driving analogy is a good one. Despite the danger of driving though, it is a socially accepted norm. Even while I have to think about the risk of BC, I can't imagine not sharing it with her.

All in good time I suppose. What are the smallest BC skis and bindings that they make anyway? I was thinking about that today as I finally got my 4 yr old down Armstrong without falling then I got BC reality check and thought tree well and got all scared. He's got to demonstrate the ability to ski all conditions 1st before we start that lark. There are however lots of places simple enough to do that in a few years I'm sure, such as Muir on a good day.

Haggis, if you pick up some size small Silvretta bindings, they can be modified/trimmed to fit much smaller boots. Haven't done it yet personally, but seen the mod several times.