New baby. Is backcountry season on hold?

JNK, welcome to the most meaningful and rewarding part of your life. Cheers, man. Don't let the bogeys even cause a ripple. I cherish the memories of the first two years in the backpack (my son was an August baby) while skinning and gently lolling down easy stuff. I'll never forget my 1.5 year old son gleefully chanting "up, up, up" and then "down, down, down." The first few years out of the pack are best treated with a long view, keeping it fun on their terms, but in our meager year last winter, I had a priceless year of such precious experiences as my son, then 6, had his breakout year skiing lifts. Sure, my touring days are a tiny fraction of what they used to be and will be again later, but I am so excited for those days he and I share on the mountain together, no matter what the medium is, until he flies the coop and dusts his old man. We are truly blessed. Welcome, JNK.

There is only one thing a dedicated ski powder hound can do in such a situation as yours and that is to jettison the extra baggage that is going to turn you into one of those family guy skiers who are giving you all of their advice on how the juggling act has worked for them. Ditch the mom ditch the kid and dedicate your life to the snow, but then maybe that is too real to contemplate. There probably aren't that many hard core, extreme, on the edge, totally rad, shitbag, ski bums left to tell you what truly works for a guy in your situation who is looking for help. I guess the big question is how much money do you have to consider all the options. The less the better, if you get my drift.

I've just been through this, now with a 1 and three year old. I echo a lot of the above- You'll probably do less, more carefully, now.

But listen - There is a window right after birth where all they do is sleep and you'll have more help from relatives. Strike while the iron is hot. When they are older, they do more stuff you will want to pay attention to. So go when you can.

Haha, or there is a window right after birth when your wife and that little baby need you more than you could ever imagine. You just can't know how it's going to go. For me the first month was an immersion and bonding experience with my wife & child that I wouldn't trade for anything. The few times it did snow and my wife told me I should go skiing, I knew I was needed at home and stayed. No regrets at all, and I never thought I'd be able to say I didn't make a single turn last season.

Unless you live real close to the hills, it's not a bad idea to start thinking about interests you can cultivate close to or at home for a while. Get stoked on something you'll be able to do without leaving the family all day, it'll help keep any resentment from building if it turns out you're not able to carve out time for as many ski days as you like.

You can backcountry ski and not die or get hurt, so there's no reason not to keep it up as a family man. With any luck your kid will be into it, but if not, maybe they'll turn you on to something else. There's definitely a balance to strike in finding personal and family harmony, which is quite different for everyone.

Dawn patrols and home by noon. Only go when you know it's going to be "worth it" which is completely redefined after you have a family at home.

Remember you are raising your next ski/climbing partner......out early back by after nap time and you are good as gold............now I am taking the grand kids out. Life is good. Think Snow!