Backcountry snowboarding without splitboard

Hi everyone-

I'm brand new to the backcountry (or non-resort) snowboarding and am hooked!  Last year I took a snowboarding trip to CO with friends and on my last day after most of the group left, a friend took me to Loveland Pass.  We didn't skin with split boards but parked at the top (and bottom with another car) and hitchhiked all day.  We just hiked around the ridges and areas, boarded down, and got a ride back up.  I was extremely surprised that every truck or SUV with room almost expected everyone and just picked us up no-questions-asked.  One or two trucks didn't stop and were heckled hard-core.  Apparently, they weren't locals!

Now, does this exist in Washington?  Actually, does this happen close to Seattle (where I live)?  I'd love to do more non-resort boarding but without getting a splitboard and skinning.  Hiking is ok but I don't even know if people even do this.  Maybe with snowshoes or on a bootpack that is popular?

This year I'm buying the appropriate avalanche gear which I may need to sell my right hand for and I'm going to take the classes to become educated/informed/etc.  Does anyone have any places I can check out?  Or maybe people to talk to?

Thanks.  Advice is always appreciated!

The Yuki Award

Check that out as one possibility for your avy course/gear -- if you're interested, get an application in fast, as I think they only have one or two left to award for this year.

Re: your other questions, I think there's a similar sort of board/hitchhike dynamic at Baker, to a small degree, but it doesn't seem anywhere near as common as it is in CO.

Your priorities are definitely right re: avy gear and education before splitboard/skins, if you're going to be spending time in the back/sidecountry. You can get a pair of snowshoes for a lot less than a split and you can do a ton with that -- MW88888*, one of the posters here who's since moved to Colorado, used to (still does?) do all of his tours with snowshoes. They have some advantages and disadvantages, for sure. I think you'll find that most folks use skins and skis or splitboard, but if you get with the right crew that probably won't matter.

Hello JNK and welcome.  

For quite a few years I made it out in the BC without a split.  Snowshoes are ok if the snow is not too deep.  If you aren't feeling like snowshoes then I would recommend heading up around Rainier, particularly the Paradise area where there is usually a good boot track up to camp Muir.  Then it's an "easy" walk up the neverending staircase, and a sweet ride down.  

As far as trying to hitchhike, the only place I have found where lots of people were willing to give you a ride back up the hill is Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula.  There is a great community of locals in that area.  There are places to ride down to the road around Crystal but for some reason people are unwilling to give you a ride back up.  In fact most of the time I had to walk back up to the shuttle stop.  

Since you are already hooked on backcountry snowboarding it's only a matter of time before you find yourself skinning up the hill with a splitty beneath you anyway.

Thanks for the advice, so far, guys. I really appreciate it! Keep it coming. It sounds like there are people in the same boat as me, too, which is encouraging.

I'm thinking that this site is going to help me find the tools and people to get me started!

Now, let's get some serious snow.......

I agree that Mike or his brother will have great advice since I learned everything from him/them. I ski and also snowshoe with a board as does he and others. I never really found snowshoeing a problem but there are fewer and fewer that do it since splitboards came on the scene. I could afford one if I wanted but I am cheap and actually still prefer to snowshoe with the board just because it mixes it up a bit, uses different muscles than skinning, and allows steeper and more varying routes to be comfortable than I would choose with skis. I use a pair of MSRs snowshoes and like them. The only real advise I would have on the snowshoes is to get a sturdy pair that has nice cleats or claws for hardpack or icy conditions. For some conditions crampons are necessary. I still use mountaineering boots and found they worked well with most bindings. Mike did too last I rode with him. It does seem that most splitboarders and others thought that was primitive and used ski boots or snowboarding boots. I always found that it was a great comfort to do approaches in my old mtn leather boots because they fit like slippers compared to ski boots and worked great with crampons. Resort style snowboard boots don't work well to kick steps with or with crampons. They may be awkward in a snowshoe too but it has been a bit since I have used them. Snowshoes are great, you can pick up cheap boards all over the place and have an entire quiver for the price of one splitboard (tho perhaps I would look at it differently if I didn't also have a pair of skis). Point is get out there as much as possible and ignore anyone who has allegedly better or more expensive gear than you unless they are getting out there more than you or will let you borrow it. Years ago I hiked up a ridge across from Alta and dropped into a bowl with chest deep powder on a big ol burton supermodel. I haven't looked back, don't feel right in a lift line anymore, and could care less if anyone picks me up after a run or keeps on driving. I didn't have a clue about avy danger that first day but I was hooked. I fortunately took a class and apprenticed with the good tho peculiar people I met thru this site. I still ride that supermodel when there is a big dump of heavy snow even tho it is more than a decade old, wait maybe 15 years old. I could probably upgrade that to a 180 plus winterstick swallowtail just for big days and still have savings over a splitboard. Or better yet, you or Mike should get one of those and let me borrow it on your off days in return for all this bad advice.

RonL-

Who is Mike? I know, stupid question but it doesn't make sense. Is that "M88888*"? If so, he lives in CO. I'd rather "befriend" someone local still.

However, you've learned everything you need to know from him? Maybe YOU are the new Mike? A little passing of the torch?