Solo BC Skiers

Over the last few years, I feel like I've noticed an uptick in the number of solo BC skiers I come across out there. Call me old-fashioned, but when I can't find a partner, I just don't go. Even to the "safe" places. (OK, I've skinned up Hyak face and skied back down by myself before work.) Yeah, it's a bummer when I can't find a partner on a powder day, but it feels like the right decision to me.

Curious about what others think. Have you noticed more solo BC skiers? Do you go solo or stay home and do your house chores?

I end up doing most of my touring alone, and often prefer it that way. I don't know that there's a whole lot to this conversation aside from the same differences in risk/reward perception that are the basis of most safety disagreements. Being alone is obviously worse in the event of an accident. Whether you're more or less likely to get into an accident alone depends on you and your partners.

I carry a bunch of stuff. I ski conservatively, whatever that means. I'm vigilant about watching changing weather and conditions. I'm quick to back off if I see something that I'm not comfortable with. I'm aware of whether anyone is around that could potentially render aid, while accepting that I'm probably still on my own most of the time.

I might not take on quite the same objectives that I would with a partner, but there's also nothing about a partner that makes the mountains a care-free playground for me. In practice my behavior isn't all that different when I'm solo.

Thanks for the perspective. Just curious to hear people's thoughts. I'm often tempted to go solo but have rarely done so. You're right, it is a similar risk/reward discussion that you can have about many of the things we do in life, and it's probably one that's been debated on TAY before.

I choose to head out with someone not only to be able to help each other out in an accident (like the fluke fall I took that sliced open my leg on the way down to Melakwa Lake last year), but also for bouncing thoughts off of one another about avy conditions, terrain, etc. Having a partner certainly doesn't ensure a care-free journey; but for me, I think it makes it a more careful adventure. Again, risk/reward ...

I think it's indisputable that having a partner in the event of an accident like the one you describe is better, and this is mostly what weighs on my mind when I'm out alone.

I think it's much less clear and highly variable that partner input on avalanche decision making leads to better decisions. It seems like it would totally depend on the disposition of you and your partner and the dynamic between you. So far my own intuitions have served me pretty well and looking back I can't put my finger on any cases where I would have made a more conservative decision with partner input, at least not since being a complete newbie. This is all said with the caveat that I'm not usually skiing the most exciting terrain when solo, or even with a partner for that matter.

When I'm out alone I also have nothing to prove and no one to disappoint if I back off of something. This makes it very easy to do when I have doubts.

In some ways I feel that skiing solo is safer because I ski more conservatively and it's easier to make decisions to back off. It's easier to make the decision to ski something more dangerous when you're in a group. I think the people I ski with make good decisions and have good experience but you definitely tend to push it more when you ski with partners.

Do you ever hike or bike alone in remote areas? It's really no different. When I'm alone I'm always way more conservative than when I'm with a partner. I do most of my backcountry travel solo or with the dogs, year round.