YES…another day of learning about this SNOW thing we spend so much time in. At 8:00 am we all met up at Jackson Hole Mountain Guides (the classroom). Here we logged on to our local avalanche forecast report. After reading over the forecast we then applied the factors to the information we learned yesterday. We spent time painting a picture with our new avalanche eyeballs and created a preliminary prediction of what we might find in the backcountry today. Check out www.avalanche.org to find your local avalanche forecast.

All geared up and yes, highly caffeinated, we all headed to Grand Teton National Park. At the parking lot we divided into 2 groups. The agenda today had us enter into real backcountry terrain and apply all of the techniques and rules we learned in class yesterday. With the avalanche forecast fresh in our brains, we headed out to make our own assessment. As we made our way up the mountain, we spent time discussing the questions that should be asked while traveling in snow country. We stopped and learned how to dig a snow pit so we could study the snow pack. Through various tests we were able to make our own decisions on the stability of the slope we were about to ski. Today, our instructor Lynne Wolfe conducted the snow pit tests for us to examine. Tomorrow we will be leading these tests for more hands on practice.

We headed up to 9,200 ft where we reached a decision making point. This is where the human factor comes into play when traveling in the backcountry. We stopped for lunch and discussed how everyone was feeling and if they could make the 800ft to the summit. We did have one woman who was on Alpine Touring equipment for the first time and was feeling a bit tired. Rather than chance injury from fatigue we decided as a group to head down from there. After gearing up and discussing good skiing etiquette we headed for the powder!!

We skied one at a time always communicating with the skiers above us. Having visuals and communication are vital in skiing avalanche terrain. We leap frogged our way down with big smiles on our faces. Back at the parking lot we met up with other group who also had a very productive day….learning and playing.

There is a ton of information to take into account when you are traveling in the backcountry. It is good to learn solid techniques and rules that you will religiously practice. Taking a local avalanche course is the best way to start this process. Tomorrow we will learn more about the human factor and actually lead our own pit studies. This practice will give us all the extra confidence to go out there and make some good decisions in the snow.