Solo BC Skiers

I prefer a partner. Wife's knees crapped out long ago, kids have either moved away or are too busy with other stuff. When you live in East Jesus like I do, you can find lots of partners to go kill wildlife but not to go BC skiing. I skijored for the last 20 years but have wound that down. There was a zero percent chance of finding anyone to do THAT with. Solo is consequently my primary mode. I should spring for a PLB but I do tend to stick close to 2M repeaters and cell phone coverage.

I will say that the recent explosion in wintertime BC users has increased the risk of getting an avalanche knocked down on you from above. This is how it is suspected that Monte Busby died last season when out solo. A partner helps there assuming both don't get caught. If you have an accident there is always the likely chance you can press the SOS on a GPS locator if it came to it. Avalanche and you are likely out of luck.

That being said, if I go solo its likely just for the exercise and the views and not for the turn quality unless I can mitigate the risk of other users which limits terrain choice substantially.

The biggest thing about solo travel and safety is that the consequences of many small mishaps are amplified, some to the ultimate degree.

Making sure that your body can be found is important. Searchers will look for you; their risk and effort deserves respect. A plan shared with a responsible party, an active satellite tracker, a Recco tag, and a turned-on cell phone can all aid a recovery effort (not necessarily in that order).

I've loved skiing alone for many years, the freedom and efficiency is unmatched. "The sensation is akin to coasting down the motorway after being held up at every set of traffic lights in Glasgow" -- Tom Patey

Great partners are really wonderful, and lower some risks; I haven't skied alone this season. I'll ski alone again in the future, but for now, it feels good to come home.

Remember Monty Busbee.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/remain...se-of-missing-skier/

To me solo trips have a completely different feel than touring with other people, especially in isolated areas where you know no one would find you for quite some time. A few years back I bought a DeLorme Inreach so friends and family could track my progress, communicate and if there was an emergency my location could be sent out. As Charlie said I also wear a beacon as a potential body recovery tool, it may be morbid to think that but it is also realistic. I've had the good fortune to do a few solo week long traverses and I always went to areas I was familiar with and had the perfect weather windows. For the most part I will tone down the riding and as always be careful with exposure both riding and navigation wise. Yes it may be frowned upon but I would never take back those sunrises I watched by myself and taking a nap on top of the 3rd Burrough in early spring for however long I chose.

As for powder day single day laps I will also tour solo but will attempt to minimize my exposure to slabs and sluffs both from myself and above but in all honest I don't do this any differently when with others.

The key issue in solo travel is no one is there to tell you are wrong. No one to give you feedback on how you can be safer. Cognitive Bias and Confidence make it difficult be honest about how much risk you are actually taking. Solo travel is not safer, just a choice you make.