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    The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure

    by Rob Coppolillo January 21, 2021
    written by Rob Coppolillo
    Sketchy snow in the high mountains? No stress, ski some 22-degree slopes (well) below! Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy, above the Chabod Hut. Photo: Matthew Kennedy

    Sketchy snow in the high mountains? No stress, ski some 22-degree slopes (well) below! Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy, above the Chabod Hut. Photo: Matt Kennedy

    “If avalanches are the problem, then terrain is the solution.” — Oft-repeated aphorism

    Put down the pitchfork and take the price off my head. I’m not advocating you actually, literally, for-real ski without a beacon. No, over the ensuing paragraphs I’m only going to ask you to imagine skiing and riding without your basic avalanche safety equipment.

    And why, you ask? Well, read on to find out, but in the meantime let me assure you of two things: one, I’m not above click-bait headlines and two, I’ve never skied backcountry without a beacon.

    So, we cool here? Everybody properly equipped and ready to go? Bam, let’s click in and get going …

    Solo Skiing and the No-Beacon Day

    No exercise I can think of better teaches the concept of exposure than imagining that you’re skiing without a beacon. Solo skiing should achieve a similar effect.

    I think we all agree, the easiest way to get smoked in the backcountry is avalanches. Sure, you can implode a knee on a stump, fall into a creek without your water-wings, get popsicle’d on an unplanned bivy in the Canadian cold, but for the most part, our biggest hazard in the backcountry is avalanches.

    Avoiding this hazard really means eliminating exposure to it. Don’t want to lose money gambling? Don’t gamble. Not psyched on pancaking after jumping out of a plane? Don’t go skydiving. Eliminate exposure, eliminate the risk. Simple. Common sense.

    Disclaimer

    Again, I’m not telling you to solo-ski and certainly not to ditch your transceiver. I solo occasionally (and even on those days I bring safety gear), so I recognize some of us occasionally do it.

    When in the mountains alone, it distills our awareness and focuses our attention, and why? Consciously or unconsciously, we recognize that even a tiny mistake will be far more serious if we’re alone. And if we agree that avalanches are the likeliest way to die in the backcountry, and that our only hope of surviving an avalanche is our team and an effective transceiver search and rescue, then skiing without teammates and a beacon leaves us two options: perfection and/or no-exposure riding.

    Newsflash: none of us are perfect, so that leaves eliminating exposure.

    Continue Reading
    January 21, 2021 3 comments
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  • Simple and Dependable — Black Diamond Helio 145 Binding Review

    by Aidan Goldie January 20, 2021
    by Aidan Goldie January 20, 2021

    Review of the Black Diamond Helio 145 binding, a simple, lightweight binding for ski mountaineering and randonee racing.

  • Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry — Shaun Deutschlander Q&A

    by Manasseh Franklin January 18, 2021
    by Manasseh Franklin January 18, 2021

    Interview with Inspired Summit Adventures Shaun Deutschlander on positive aspects of more ski tourers and a busier backcountry.

  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    by Aaron Mattix January 15, 2021
    by Aaron Mattix January 15, 2021

    The arched cliffs rising like an oversized, un-finished Parthenon south of town were an obvious visual focal point. Less obvious was the meadow to the east, the overgrown roof of the Parthenon. The cliffs, while majestic, were a no-go zone.…

  • Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review

    by Aidan Goldie January 14, 2021
    by Aidan Goldie January 14, 2021

    Review of the WNDR Vital 100 Cambered ski, a versatile tool for a variety of skiing conditions. Fun in powder too.

  • Euro Puro Amoro — La Sportiva Orizion Touring Pant

    by Lou Dawson January 13, 2021
    by Lou Dawson January 13, 2021

    Las Sportiva Orizion ski touring and hiking pant review, simple lightweight togs for sleek adventures.

  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    by Guest Blogger January 12, 2021
    by Guest Blogger January 12, 2021

    Review of the the Meidjo 3.0 telemark binding, marking an evolution in technical backcountry telemark touring equipment.

  • Griffin Post Stays Home — Totally Deep Podcast 83

    by TheEditors OfWildsnow January 10, 2021
    by TheEditors OfWildsnow January 10, 2021

    Interview with Griffin Post, Kaestle and The North Face athlete on getting to know Jackson Hole and the Tetons, planning expeditions and gear.

  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    by Guest Blogger January 7, 2021
    by Guest Blogger January 7, 2021

    Ski traverse of Colorado Elk Mountains, 1980, trip report and narrative by Richard Compton.

  • Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

    by Aaron Mattix January 5, 2021
    by Aaron Mattix January 5, 2021

    Overview of telemark tech setup designed to maximize efficiency and featuring Voile Ultra Vector BC skis, 22 Design Lynx binding and Scarpa TX Pro boots.

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Recent Comments

  • DavidB on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
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  • Peter m on Simple and Dependable — Black Diamond Helio 145 Binding Review
  • Jon Paulding on Simple and Dependable — Black Diamond Helio 145 Binding Review
  • Kevin S on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure

Gear Reviews

  • Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review

    January 14, 2021
  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    January 12, 2021
  • Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

    January 5, 2021

Trip Reports

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    November 14, 2020
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    October 6, 2020
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    May 26, 2020

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • Totally Deep Podcast 81 — CAIC Director Ethan Greene

    December 9, 2020
  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Avalanche Education — Totally Deep Podcast 80

    November 16, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 2020
  • Buying Used Gear Guide Part II — Poles, Avy Gear, Packs

    November 25, 2020
  • Save Your Ski Day — Emergency Car Kit Essentials

    November 24, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020

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