New baby. Is backcountry season on hold?

We had our first child in Jan of this year.

My wife has let me get out at least once a month to ski still. I've been injured just as much or more than normal this year (picked up mountain biking). I do think that some of my risk is lower, and some of the stuff I just don't care as much. A lot of the times, I'd rather be at home hanging with the kiddo, but there are times where getting out is a need too.

Just make sure you respect your wife, and she respects you too. If she's cool with you getting out, then go play some, if not, then you need to respect her, but also let her know that you need your outings (if you do) to stay sane and not be a bitchy daddy (I tend to get bitchy if I don't get out often).

If you're doing TAY, I would recommend getting your turns in the month of your baby, before he/she is born. So if their date on the 8th, get it 1-7th of the month, because the first 1-2 months you'll feel like this.

Ha ha. Noted!

My situation may be slightly different than yours since I am a mom (think breastfeeding). But I didn't quit skiing. I don't think you should either. But you will have to modify how you do it.  I still ski 2-3 days a week during the winter/spring but don't do big backcountry tours often.  Lift skiing can be your friend in this situation. Get creative. Two hours of mogul skiing equals exhaustion and happiness for me.  Night skiing on the lifts or after dark tour up Hyak. Oh how many times I've toured Hyak!  Taking the kid in the backpack is a great joy and a good workout. (I love to work hard  )

Now my kid is 4 and has been learning to ski for a couple of years.  He loves chair lifts because they are machines. He loves the magic carpet because he can do it all by himself. He is so too heavy to take in the backpack now but sometimes I still take him anyway.

I find equal joy in making the skiing all about the kid vs all about me.

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=31708.0

Sounds like this is more of a risk issue than a time management issue (or so you think!).  My first question is what difference will a couple years make in that regard?   Other than they'll now be able to say "Daddy don't go I miss you!". 

Lots and lots of dads give it up no doubt.  Give it all up.   And you'll see them at dinner parties or social gathering (though boy those diminish with time too!)  and they might act very concerned about whatever it is you're still doing.  Open the windows, get the man some fresh air!  Though later you'll learn that their wife told your wife that they're depressed or anxious on this med or that.  Or maybe boy they are sucking down those drinks!

Then lots of dads also die out there.   And if you need to climb Shishapangma or maybe onsite the Coleman Headwall on a cold low visibility day or be the first one with your posse  through the backcountry gate after a 16" dump or climb the North Face during a warming trend immediately after a big late season snowfall well you might die too.

Maybe possibly there's a middle ground where backcountry skiing is not the inherently dice-rolling dangerous thing so many people (including backcountry skiers) now view it as.    Maybe you can foster strong partnerships, get out when conditions are acceptable, ski appropriate terrain you're familar with, learn to listen to your own judgement (the hard part).  Maybe, maybe thats possible.  Maybe.

My favorite story about dad-risk was mountain biking (of which I am a noob) in the Methow with a group of dads who had pretty much given up the climbing and skiing.  After rocketing down 5 or so miles of steep loose singletrack that asked me what I thought.  All I could say is they were kidding themselves if they thought they were leading a more risk adverse lifestyle.

Oh and I bought the airbag thinking safety (actually my thought process was I had the cash to blow and if I ever do end up dieing at the bottom of a pile of avalanche rubble I don't want my last thought to be "Your such an asshole why didn't you spend the cash.")    All an airbag backpack does other than slow you down is make you realize how in a vast majority of situations the terrain would shred you regardless.

Time is a different story and every relationship will vary in what you get.   My personal time diminished significantly and has picked back up years later but the kids are of an age now where I struggle between investing my time in the wilderness with or without them.  One of the better struggles I got!   Parenting is massively challenging but also massively rewarding for BOTH parents.   Your wife can take care the kids all day without you having to feel guilty about it now and then.  Get some!

Sounds like this is more of a risk issue than a time management issue (or so you think!).  My first question is what difference will a couple years make in that regard?   Other than they'll now be able to say "Daddy don't go I miss you!". 

Lots and lots of dads give it up no doubt.  Give it all up.   And you'll see them at dinner parties or social gathering (though boy those diminish with time too!)  and they might act very concerned about whatever it is you're still doing.  Open the windows, get the man some fresh air!  Though later you'll learn that their wife told your wife that they're depressed or anxious on this med or that.  Or maybe boy they are sucking down those drinks!

Then lots of dads also die out there.   And if you need to climb Shishapangma or maybe onsite the Coleman Headwall on a cold low visibility day or be the first one with your posse  through the backcountry gate after a 16" dump or climb the North Face during a warming trend immediately after a big late season snowfall well you might die too.

Maybe possibly there's a middle ground where backcountry skiing is not the inherently dice-rolling dangerous thing so many people (including backcountry skiers) now view it as.    Maybe you can foster strong partnerships, get out when conditions are acceptable, ski appropriate terrain you're familar with, learn to listen to your own judgement (the hard part).  Maybe, maybe thats possible.  Maybe.

My favorite story about dad-risk was mountain biking (of which I am a noob) in the Methow with a group of dads who had pretty much given up the climbing and skiing.  After rocketing down 5 or so miles of steep loose singletrack that asked me what I thought.  All I could say is they were kidding themselves if they thought they were leading a more risk adverse lifestyle.

Oh and I bought the airbag thinking safety (actually my thought process was I had the cash to blow and if I ever do end up dieing at the bottom of a pile of avalanche rubble I don't want my last thought to be "Your such an asshole why didn't you spend the cash.")    All an airbag backpack does other than slow you down is make you realize how in a vast majority of situations the terrain would shred you regardless.

Time is a different story and every relationship will vary in what you get.   My personal time diminished significantly and has picked back up years later but the kids are of an age now where I struggle between investing my time in the wilderness with or without them.  One of the better struggles I got!   Parenting is massively challenging but also massively rewarding for BOTH parents.   Your wife can take care the kids all day without you having to feel guilty about it now and then.  Get some!

. Omg the mountain biking risk assessment I agree with you completely. Even just if you are fooling yourself in to thinking that you are not downhilling. Every sport like this has progression whether we admit it or not. My go to mitigation phrase is that I am the one in control. Maybe I am or maybe not. In full disclosure I have been known to tuck down behind the three-wheeled stroller at 20mph on inline skates while my <1- year-old now >1-year-old, either slumbers on or creaks and squeaks in delight with the wind in his face and his ever increasing ability to bang his feet on the footrest, has no idea of the risks we are taking.

Btw. I wish I could post to you a photo of him right now. He has gone to sleep in the living room with his butt up in the air and his head cranked over to one side. You have so much fun in store for you.