Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sat, Apr 15 2023 - Introduction to Back Country Skiing (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Warren Lane
Participants:		Warren Lane, April Seubert, Greg Adams, Ginia Hauf

Write Up:
GMS Introduction to Backcountry Skiing Four of us attended the Intro to backcountry skiing activity at the Blacktail Cross Country ski area on April 15, 2023. In attendance were Warren Lane, April Seubert, Greg Adams and Ginia Hauf. The weather was sunny but cool. The parking lot conversation covered transceiver range and use. Discussion also focused on the need for every member of the group to access local avalanche bulletins and share their opinions and thoughts on the proposed trip. The logged clear cut below the parking lot was melted out except for a patch of snow that allowed a few turns. We visited about downhill safe travel techniques and made a few turns below the parking lot. Transitioning to skinning was covered as well as skinning techniques. We then ascended with skins through the trees above the parking lot to a higher clear cut with a different aspect. There we encountered a few inches of spring snow on top of a consolidated base. We covered transition to skiing. Safe descent techniques were practiced in two laps on fun snow. We returned to the parking lot via the cross-country trail. There we visited about the importance of a trip debrief. By discussing errors that may have occurred during the day the odds of repeating those errors during the next activity will be decreased. The goal of the activity was to discuss and practice travel techniques for avalanche terrain during winter GMS ski activities. By covering safe travel and developing relationships with members who are also interested in winter ski activities members will feel more comfortable in participating in these outings. An additional comment: During a GMS round table discussion, a member asked the question about electronic devices and possible interference with avalanche transceivers. The member did some outside research and shared the following information: 1)In transmission mode- Always wear your transceiver at least 20 cm away from anything electronic, metallic, or magnetic. No heated jackets, foil lined jackets, magnetic jacket closures or chest-mounted cameras. In search mode increase the distance to 50 cm. Heated gloves and electronic watches must be taken off and stored away before a transceiver search. Heated socks can interfere with your fine search when you are holding your transceiver close to the snow surface. 1)https://utahavalanchecenter.org/blog/74828#:~:text=The%20guidance%20be low%20will%20help,away%20from%20electronics%20while%20searching.

Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Tim Anderson at twamontana@gmail.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.