backcountry question

O

ono

New member
hey all
wondering about something for a while now... i have some experience mountaineering, but not with skis. and i love backcountry skiing. now, combining the two...

well, basically first and foremost i know is knowledge and experience (and safety). knowing where you are, and where you're going is huge. but in the event that you end up cliffed out, and in a precarious spot- the ski-rappell becomes a good tool.

does any one out there carry a static rope for this? what setup is required (anchors, two-rope)? i'm curious- i know that most situations won't (or shouldn't) require setting up a rope to get down- but sometimes the need may arise?

anyone have any experience/info/techniques they can share? i know you'd want an unpadded harness that has clips on the leg loops, some biners and static line- some cordelette throw in for good measure. dead manning when above treeline, or no suitable anchors? anyone? bueller? bueller?

i figure a simple anchor system, a static rope (which seems a heavy item to carry around) and a muncter hitch is all you'd really need- aside from balance and practice.
 
While I have no experience repelling, I do want to say, if you are going in the backcountry, you should know your route very well, and of course, the avalanche conditions. You should have taken a few levels of avalanche safety courses or at least have someone in your group with said experience. For this, I hire a professional guide or go with friends with such experience.

I would hope that you would have had a good enough plan of where you are going to ski and what the terrain looks like before going in. If not, you are taking some serious risks.

You might present your question on Telemarktips.com where there are many more folks with backcountry experience.
 
yeah-
safety is #1. i plan on taking avi 1 (and probably 2) soon enough. i'm no fool in this area. i actually have a friend who's a american avalanche association professional who's involved with developing the avi level 3 certification (there are a limited number of level 3 courses out there- but they aren't standardized) should be interesting to see what comes out of that.

i've spoken with him at length about avalanches and backcountry safety- and was under his tutelage in the field with basic snow travel and situation study (albeit in the summer months on glacier- so actual snowpack observations were not good as far as snow observation and readingl)

i'll check out teletips. i wouldn't be going in any dangerous backcountry to start with. just wanted some info on the techniques- just rock skis and 10-20ft rappels on small hills for practice with solid anchors. it would be good practice, and fun.

i am interested in the equipment folks carry with them- i know of some folks who do pack a simple rope-harness setup when skiing in new england- my stomping grounds- for safety if cilffed-out or an emergency arises.
 
Ahh Backcountry! Your on the right track, and if you combine all the suggestions you've gotten so far, you've basically got it. You will defiantly want to do an AVY I course, and then find some experienced partners. (something I am still looking for lol)

I carry a static rope, two carabiners, a harness and all my rescue/snow study equipment of course. There are various ways you can anchor, one of which is outlined on Lou Dawson's site wildsnow.com here

Grab a guidebook for your area to learn the classic routes around and the known slide paths etc etc. The common knowledge that is good to know about any area you frequent. Find your own private stash too! This is especially needed in the Wasatch area were the tri-canyon area can look more like a ski resort than the backcountry on weekends.

Oh, and second on the Ttips.com. Ask your questions, expect some obligatory trolling, as well as some quality info.
 
30 meter 7 or 8 mil cord will generally get you down most of the rappels you'd have to do. Not too big of a panalty with that sort of rope. You can use static or dynamic cord in that length. I forget which is the more popular offering. Should cost around $60 usd.

Knowing your route and what you are committing to is key. A 30 meter cord may come up way short on a lot of objectives. Just depends on what you are doing. You may need a full length rope. In most scenarios I can think of around here, a 30 meter will do the trick.
 
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