Getting Started in Touring

Howdy all. 

I'm a life long alpine skiier of no distinction.  I can rally the groomers and intermediate terrain all day long.  But I find I don't because of the usual complaints: crowds, cost, etc.  I'm a wilderness junkie. 

But I don't get out overnight enough in the winter and snowshowing doesn't excite me.  So, I'd like to get into some back country skiing.  I'd love to earn some turns and do some actual downhilling, but I'm not a cliff jumping black diamond charging ski mountaineer. 

I'm looking for trips I can overnight with my winter backpacking gear, and get into some scenic backcountry camping.  Ideally I'd set a base camp then climb for turns on day 2. 

I've picked up some K2 Mt Bakers, and am looking for skins and bindings.  I know I need avvy training and a beacon, shovel and probe. 

what else should I be doing?  Are there meet ups or groups available to help folks like me make the transition? 

Cheers!
-Brian

the Washington Alpine Club has a good intro to backcountry travel class that covers the basics of beacon use, snowpack evaluation/safety, day touring, and snowcamping.
www.wacweb.org/Classes/backcountryclass/default.view

I imagine the local chapters of the Mountaineers also have a similar class but I don't know the specifics about it.

I recommend Martin Volken's instructional book on backcountry skiing & ski mountaineering. Comprehensive, with clear photos.

Definitely take a class ( as posted ) and get a book ( as posted ).

* You might want to head to Crystal Mountain and skin up to Silver Basin.
* See how well you do at managing your hydration, nutrition, and pacing.
* Do this a few times and get the kinks worked out of your day touring skills.
* Once you can summit the King safely and ski down comfortably, you're ready to try real touring.
* You don't have to descend the King via any difficult route.

IMHO, the skills required by this route are a pretty good minimum for basic ski touring.

Definitely take a class ( as posted ) and get a book ( as posted ).

* You might want to head to Crystal Mountain and skin up to Silver Basin.
* See how well you do at managing your hydration, nutrition, and pacing.
* Do this a few times and get the kinks worked out of your day touring skills.
* Once you can summit the King safely and ski down comfortably, you're ready to try real touring.
* You don't have to descend the King via any difficult route.

IMHO, the skills required by this route are a pretty good minimum for basic ski touring.

Cookie...!!!!! Jesus H Christ this is terrible advice.

Firstly Silver Basin is in an active and open ski area and is avalanche controlled with bombs so just doodling up there is not correct protocol.

Secondly, skinning up Silver Basin while skiers who have accessed from the  lifts are dropping in from above is hardly good protocol either. I remember once having to patiently wait with my partners while Silas insisted upon skinning up middle of Silver Basin on a huge zigzag skin track that took up nearly the entire basin. Like good skiers, we patiently waited until he was out of the way so as not to ski above him and risk setting any sluff or crap down onto him , but considerate to others...no he was not.
Sorry to single Silas out but it was what it was!

Then there is the famous occasion when people decided to tour into Silver on the Powder 8 day.

I think that my advice is good, but in light of Scotsman's remarks, I feel the need to make some additions:

* Pick a weekday when avalanche danger is low.
* Check in with the ski patrol beforehand.
* Watch out for uphill ski traffic.
* Do not enter Silver Basin during Powder 8s.
* Stay to the side of the ski runs and cat tracks.