BC with your kids

I'd consider making sure your kids are old enough - more importantly, big enough - to be able to dig out a buried avie victim, and to take an Avie Level 1 class.

Exactly the kinds of thoughts going through my mind as I was looking forward to family BC. I don't know why I hadn't thought of Paradise in the spring/summer, maybe I was just so focused on powder now that winter seems to have returned.

Thanks for all of the great input. I think corn snow this summer or next will be doable, she just needs a little time on the skis first. I can see going up to Paradise and yo-yo-ing a short section. It would be nice to get above Alta Vista for the view, if that is within her comfort level.

I think I started this thread because I was looking forward to sharing BC but felt it was so many years away. I am even more excited now, imagining that huge grin she is going to have playing in the snow even though it is not winter.

Peter

Every kid is different.

My son is 14 and still luke-warm about backcountry skiing. I keep offering him opportunities, but I don't drag him out if he's not really interested. All the trips we've done (not that many really) have been in spring with corn snow conditions. I haven't taken him out in mid-winter conditions with avalanche potential.

The first few non-lift trips we did together were to the TAY spring picnic at Crystal Mountain. When he was seven I pulled him up to the Campbell Basin lodge with a rope. When he was nine I convinced him to make a self-propelled trip with climbing skins. We've done some Muir snowfield trips in spring. There was a trip to the Silcox Hut on Mt Hood a few years ago and another one to Mt Baker after the lifts closed. I hope that eventually he'll catch fire about the sport but if he doesn't, that's his decision.

I've said it before and will repeat at the risk of people sending me nasty PM's and accusing me of some sort of personal attack or other misbehaviour because, I am apparently the anti-christ........

Get them good at skiing DOWN first. Until they love and are skilled at going down you may have a hard time convincing them to go up. First things first. Even then it will probably take some time. Mofro fam is a notable and admirable exception to the rule.

I did qualify my post with "consider." I don't argue that they must have these skills, just that you may want them to - especially if their skiing is up for it!

I especially agree with Offpiste's post. This is relevant for introducing adults too! Consider making sure their competent intermediate skiers, on and off-piste, so that the downhill is fun!!

Get them good at skiing DOWN first.

Skiing down is evil (recommended by the Anti-Christ), skinning up is good for you, when we get to the top, you can have some broccoli.

Lots of good advice.

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How young is too young? Take your children touring and you'll find out if they're too young. As others have noted, when you tour with children, you tour on their terms.

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As a teenager, I was allowed to do many incredibly dangerous things: climb, ski, hike, drive cars, have sex, use drugs, drink alcohol, bike across the US/Canada, travel. By allowed, I mean that my parents either said "yes" when I asked, or they didn't punish me when they found out.

Is there some idea that children don't get into anything dangerous by themselves? I sure did.