When we were first able to get out on the Duffey coverage was less than optimal... I learned quickly that rushing to get out in the backcountry can be a bit dangerous with hidden hazards. I was also feeling a bit terrified going out with Darryl (who also has no experience) because we had no avalanche training. Therefore, I enrolled in my AST1 to gain some knowledge. It was a great course, and I certainly understood how little I really knew even with this new knowledge. Predicting avalanches is a very complex thing. AST1 only gives you the building blocks to start with. For example, the different types of snow, how weather impacts the snow, the different layers and how they interact, and how to dig out a friend, hazard identification, and how to determine if the terrain you want to travel into is too complex. The course was two days long and left me thirsty for more knowledge. However, I was able to start feeling like I could contribute to conversations with my more experienced ski buddies. I hope to do my AST2 next winter.
Because of low snow coverage at home I went to work back in Victoria for a couple weeks. As I was working in Victoria, the Southern Interior was hammered by a couple good storms that brought plenty of new snow. Now it was a race to get home! When I got back I started going out any day I could. One thing that was darn obvious is that skiing from the road sucks for the most part. Other than a couple quick access places close to Joffre, most of the best and less popular terrain has a long approach on road. Thus, my ski pals introduced me to snowmobiling. While I find it terrifying and difficult, it is certainly gets you the most bang for your buck. |