BC with your kids

I started my kids doing BC at Chinook Pass in the summer where it was not going to be miserable for them. We hiked up a ways on Naches Peak and came down. They were 6-9 yrs old at that time of this photo and we've done it a few times since. They are now 9 and 12 yrs old but only my 9 yr old son is starting to appreciate powder where my older daughter still likes the groomers, or harder snow in the summer at Chinook.

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.

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.

I strongly disagree with this statement- akin to saying don't go overnight backpacking with kids until they've taken a wilderness rescue class.

It is very easy to select terrrain and snow conditions that are appropiate for ANY level of skiing ability and temper expectations accordingly, and leave travel in avalanche terrain until they are old enough, strong enough, and mentally aware enough to understand the consequences.  Touring up Hyak, trips up to Muir, late season to Chinook and or Sunrise all present opportunities to expose kids to ski touring while minimizing avalanche potential.

I began touring with my kids when they were each 7, and skied the SW Chutes on Adams a few yeears ago with my 10 yro.  I have been blessed with 2 kids that absolutely love skiing and the outdoors in general as much as their dad, and a great tour with my kids is every bit as important to me as mid winter pow seeking.

The driving analogy is a good one. Despite the danger of driving though, it is a socially accepted norm.

And the socially accepted norm is to sit inside in front of the computer on a sunny day? I say err on the side of fresh air. Just turn your avy risk tolerance way down. Think mini golf terrain and keep it fun. Just being there is usually good enough.

X 2 for Mofro. Sounds like he knows what he's talking. I did it backwards. I gave the love of snow to them early and then they hooked me up on the back country idea. Did my first BC tour at 59. Enjoy the ride.

Agree with Mofro.

Pick your time and place and you don't have to worry about much of the objective hazards that we seem to dwell on when we push deeper into the wilderness.  That does not mean you cannot give them the wilderness experience.

We concentrated on ski skills development with my kids so that they had (actually "had" with my son and "will have" with my daughter since she is currently eight) the confidence to actually enjoy the descent after the effort of climbing up a slope. 

I do understand what Mtnfreak was getting at, but there are a good number of kid friendly trips to be had and working the technical stuff in gradually as they get stronger is pretty easy to do.  Having said that, I always strapped a beacon on my son even early on, just to get him used to its need and reasons for doing so.  Also he always carried a shovel and pack with the basics.

I think that it is critical to not overload the kid and let them tell you when enough is enough.  Pick good routes with interesting things to see, good weather so that you can see it and go at an easy pace.  Once my son seemed to catch the fire on touring, I began to push more to reach destinations, but be ready to teach and inform them of what will happen.  Also, we as adults tend to carry extra energy reserves that our kids to not.  If you kid seems to be pooping out earlier than you would have expected from experience and they seem to want to stop or quit, stop and have lunch, even if it is a lot earlier than you planned.  That food will do wonders for the morale and I have found is often enough for them to regroup mentally to complete the objective.

I think that Martin Volken stated in his book that the best way to get good at skiing in the backcountry is to put many miles on skis.  He makes it plain that the easiest way to do that is lift served.  Well that does not only apply to adults.  Your kid may be the strongest hiker in the world, but if they spend most of the time on the descent on their butt, then their enthusiasm for backcountry skiing will likely be diminished.  It will shorten your trips and that will make it even harder to get them excited about doing it.

After stating all that I have above, my concern is that at age 4 I am not sure that your daughter will have developed enough of the basic skills (not just technical skiing skills) to enjoy what you seem to be referring to as a backcountry tour.  If you could get the gear to fit, little legs trying to slide skis uphill for even a couple of hundred feet would be a challenge.  If your intent is to drag her up on a sled or carry her gear while she hikes up summer snow or on trail to get a few laps in at some of the locations already mentioned then that seems reasonable.

I started taking my son once or twice a year to places like Paradise or Baker for very short trips when he was 8.  At that age a pair of small Fritschies were able to fit his downhill gear and those binding were swapped onto longer skis until he grew out of them.  After two years of intro trips, we did more real trips and at 11 yr old we were out meeting objectives and ripping snow at Washington Pass, Baker and the like.  All spring trips, where avalanche was remote and days were long.  Powder is a major negative for little kids.  Bogs them down either up or down and the hazards increase.  Trips chosen for scenery, a little adventure and high chance of success so the interest persisted even after the trip was over.

One problem with having my kids do a lot of lift served is the issue that arises when they ask, why bother climbing up a hill when we can just ride a lift?  Well spring tours after the ski areas close helps logically.  But the total experience is what beats anything that a lift serve operation can provide so remember that when choosing an area and designing a trip for them.

At 4 yr old, I would certainly be concentrating on ski skills development.  Get her some lessons at a downhill resort.  Also get her out at a cross country venue such as at Snoqualmie or Stevens touring center and get her used to moving on flat ground with skis on her feet.  All the basics such as stride, sidestepping, herring bone, wedge, etc.  All important when moving with downhill style skis in a tour but not generally stressed so much in lessons.  Also easier to perfect with light skis.

Then find some summer snow and do some simple laps, possibly tied to a hike.

Alan